Chapter 103: Chapter 90: Playing a Role, Great Terror (Part 2)

Ao Chengzhong’s expression was terribly grim.

“Things have gotten complicated. An unknown power has used a massive formation to seal off the entirety of East Sea City. This formation’s power is immense—I’m afraid it would be extremely difficult for even a True Immortal to get in or out.”

After a pause, he continued:

“This formation was set up with extreme stealth. The most obvious signs are the loss of signal and the continuous, dreary rain. It’s difficult to notice otherwise. If I hadn’t just gone out, even I might not have discovered it.”

Xiaoyan looked worried.

“Who could it be? The city is filled with Celestial Humans from various factions, and there are even Demon Kings from outside the pass… What could the person who laid this formation possibly want?”

“I don’t know, but I have a faint suspicion.”

Ao Chengzhong’s gaze grew deeper.

“Something like this has actually happened before. A few cities were sealed by great formations, and afterward… the entire city vanished from the Human World. It’s suspected that the inhabitants were slaughtered to the last person, with very few survivors.”

“That’s happened before?” the girl asked in astonishment. “Why have I never heard of it? Doesn’t the Federation or the Life and Death Second Floors do anything about it?”

Ao Chengzhong shook his head and said:

“In the past, whenever similar incidents occurred, the Federation suppressed the information to avoid causing mass panic and social unrest. As for the Life and Death Second Floors, they’ve never given a direct response.”

He began to pace back and forth as he spoke, an anxious look appearing on his face.

“Almost every year, one or two cities disappear just like this. Some have speculated that it might be a Great Grade True Immortal from some faction, performing a grand ritual in a vain attempt to break through to the Immortal realm.”

Xiaoyan’s expression also grew grave. Though she wasn’t very familiar with such matters, she knew what a Great Grade True Immortal represented.

True Immortals were divided into Nine Grades, with Grand Grade being above First Grade. A Grand Grade expert had already stepped halfway through the threshold to the Immortal realm. All that was missing was a world-shaking ritual—nothing more!

“Don’t worry,” Ao Chengzhong comforted her softly. “Even if the worst happens, I can protect you, Young Miss. At the very least, we can escape before the formation is fully activated.”

After a pause, he continued:

“But that boy, Lu Xuan, is in a bit of a bind. He’s deep inside that super ruin right now, and we have no idea what’s happening with him.”

At these words, Xiaoyan’s gaze shifted toward the shantytown, and she said confidently:

“Xiaolu should be fine inside the ruin. Didn’t you say it yourself? That ruin is magnificent, unshakable even by a True Immortal. As long as Xiaolu stays inside, whatever happens to East Sea City won’t affect him.”

Ao Chengzhong was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.

“I suppose that’s true… but still.”

As he spoke, he looked up at the dense black clouds again, an eerie light flashing in his eyes.

“Could it really be some Great Grade True Immortal trying to sacrifice this city? There are Celestial Humans from every major faction here, not to mention Demon Kings from outside the pass. How could they dare? Aren’t they afraid of inciting massive turmoil?”

“Perhaps…” Yan Jiangxue suddenly spoke up. “Perhaps it’s precisely because so many Celestial Humans have gathered in this small city that the caster targeted East Sea City? Sacrificing Celestial Humans and Earth Immortals would surely yield a greater reward than sacrificing commoners, right?”

Ao Chengzhong’s expression changed abruptly.

…

「Outside the Great Tomb.」

The three Earth Immortals were seated cross-legged. They all sensed something was off, frowning as they looked up at the incessant, dreary rain.

’Something’s strange…’ Kong Jisheng muttered, but he quickly shook his head and didn’t give it much more thought.

As Ao Chengzhong had said, the formation was extremely covert. Even Earth Immortals, being inside it, could not directly perceive its activation.

Kong Jisheng’s gaze returned to the Bronze Gate, and he muttered to himself again:

’Hmm, I wonder when those Celestial Humans will manage to lift the Great Ban in the depths of the tomb. Going by my calculations, it should be soon, right?’

「Just as he was muttering, inside the tomb.」

“Is this the end?”

Chong Shanhu looked at the door ahead and said with regret:

“We walked this whole path, through three treasure grounds and two medicinal fields, but it’s a shame I didn’t get my hands on much.”

Beside him, Chu Han, who had become friendly with him, whispered:

“It’s still pretty good. Even if you didn’t get as much as the others, it’s still a decent stroke of fortune.”

After a pause, she continued to whisper:

“Besides, who knows? Maybe an even greater opportunity lies behind this final portal.”

“True enough.” Chong Shanhu grinned, a fiery light kindling in his eyes as he stared intently at the portal at the end of the path.

The rest of the prodigies had clearly thought of this as well, and they all stared at the portal with the same intensity. Wang Zhiyao stood beside Zhang Jifeng, her expression cool and aloof.

“Sakata Izumi, if there’s another opportunity behind this door, you should know when to stop. Three treasure grounds and two medicinal fields, and your little group snatched up the vast majority of the Spiritual Objects. Don’t get too greedy.”

Sakata Izumi glanced sideways and sneered:

“What’s the matter? If you have a problem with it, go take it up with that Celestial Human from the Demon Race. I’m not stopping you.”

Wu Shangpin, standing beside him, chimed in with a wide grin.

“That’s right. That eminence said it himself: Brother Quan is to distribute the opportunities. If you don’t like it, don’t come bothering us…”

Wang Zhiyao’s brows shot up, and she let out a cold snort.

“There are dozens of prodigies here, and at least ten of us have an Earth Immortal in our family. My Wang Family, furthermore, has a living True Immortal. Others may fear you, but I do not.”

Zhang Jifeng raised his head as well, clearly displeased with how Sakata Izumi’s group had forcibly seized the majority of the Spiritual Objects. He said coolly:

“Wudang Mountain is also an ancient Daoist Lineage, protected by a True Immortal. Sakata Izumi, know your limits.”

Neither Wudang Mountain nor the Langya Wang Family were any weaker than Sakata Heavy Industries. With both of them speaking out, even Sakata Izumi felt a bit wary. He gave a cold snort and changed the subject. “Let’s talk about the other things later. First, let’s open the door and see what’s behind it.”

As he spoke, he casually pointed to a prodigy with no powerful backing, ordering him to push open the door in case of any hidden mechanisms or traps.

Meanwhile, the coldness on Wang Zhiyao’s face dissipated slightly. She couldn’t help but think of ’Wu Xiaoxu’ and sighed.

“I wonder how that ’Wu Xiaoxu’ is doing…”

Zhang Jifeng smiled and said:

“He completed his trial. The opportunity he received is by no means less than ours, and is probably even greater. You really don’t need to worry about him.”

“That may be true, but the problem is that three Celestial Humans followed him…”

As the two were talking, with a huge rumbling sound, the portal was slowly pushed open by that prodigy.

The group walked shoulder to shoulder, cautiously stepping through the portal. They scanned their surroundings. It was a vast, dark space. To the side was another portal, this one engraved with the character for “Heaven.” They figured it was the end of the path the other group of Celestial Humans had taken, but since the portal was still closed, they must still be inside.

At this moment, the sharp-eyed Chu Han covered her mouth and let out a low gasp of surprise:

“Over there… is that a person??”

All the prodigies were startled. They followed her gaze, and their expressions changed slightly.

About a thousand meters ahead stood a vast and majestic portal. Before it was a desk, and behind the desk, a mysterious figure wearing a mask and a Golden Long Robe sat upon a grand throne, completely motionless.

The mysterious figure was shrouded in darkness, wreathed in wisps of Chaos Qi that made them utterly indistinct. An inexplicable and profound majesty emanated from them, creating a sense of immense grandeur even from a distance!

It was like looking directly at the vast Celestial Vault!

“It’s probably just a statue or something, right?” Chong Shanhu spoke up. “Look, the figure hasn’t moved at all. It must be inanimate.”

The group visibly relaxed. It made sense. How could there possibly be a living person in the depths of a great tomb that was tens of thousands of years old?

That would be too horrifying.

Relaxed smiles appeared on their faces. They broke into groups of two and three and began walking toward the figure, hoping to investigate what they thought might be another fortuitous opportunity.

As the group drew near, Sakata Izumi swaggered forward, about to step closer, when suddenly—

The figure on the grand throne suddenly snapped its head up. The Golden Long Robe billowed as if in a nonexistent wind. From beneath the mask—which looked part ghost, part demon, and part human—its eyes opened. Its pupils blazed like two Great Sun Golden Lamps, unleashing an immense terror as their divine light instantly illuminated the vast, dark expanse!

It’s… alive?!

The prodigies felt their scalps go numb. Their hearts hammered in their chests, and cold sweat streamed down their backs like rain!!

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