Chapter 176: Chapter 175: The Dispute in the Secret Room_1
At this moment, Ling Chen and Xiao Muyu had already left the area of the Mechanism Hall and arrived at a square.
However, this square was permeated with the scent of blood and littered with bodies, including those of Righteous Path Disciples and Demonic Path Disciples. The deaths and injuries were numerous.
It seems a fierce fight just took place here.
Ling Chen scanned the surroundings; the majority of people had been killed with a single strike, signifying a great disparity in strength.
"Is that body over there Xu Chenshan of the Myriad Dao Sect?" Suddenly, Xiao Muyu pointed at the corpse of a burly youth not far away. The owner of the corpse was indeed Xu Chenshan.
Even Xu Chenshan was killed. Who could their adversary be? A trace of shock surfaced in Ling Chen’s eyes. Xu Chenshan was the twenty-fifth expert on the Heavenly List, and he had been killed here.
Moreover, Ling Chen saw that Xu Chenshan had only one wound; he had been pierced by a spear. This single spear attack was fatal. Xu Chenshan had been killed with a single spear thrust.
Perhaps even the top ten experts on the Heavenly List couldn’t have done it so cleanly. And it couldn’t have been those people, unless they harbored a deep hatred.
"Most likely it was the work of an expert from the Demonic Sect," Xiao Muyu speculated. "Someone like Xia Ji, whom we met earlier—her strength was terrifying. It could have been her."
"I don’t think so." Ling Chen shook his head. "Xia Ji uses a sword, remember? Perhaps another of the young experts of the Demonic Sect did it. After all, the Demonic Sect isn’t just composed of Xia Ji. The Ten Outstanding Talents of the Demon Sect are all rumored to be incredibly powerful, no ordinary individuals."
"However, as long as we keep a low profile, there shouldn’t be too much danger."
Xu Chenshan’s death was an isolated incident, not enough to make Ling Chen retreat. This was a place where experts gathered, but even the most formidable experts risked falling here. The place constantly teemed with people from both the Righteous Path and Demonic Path sects, who were mutual enemies. Moreover, the Tienzong Ruins were filled with traps and mechanisms, like the Bronze and Iron Giant they had encountered earlier, which even the likes of the Young Master of Myriad Dao could not overcome.
Opportunities always coexist with danger.
The two did not linger in the square, instead entering a dilapidated palace hall.
There were many palace halls in this Stone Temple Group. The one before them was severely damaged and unremarkable. After circling it several times, Ling Chen and Xiao Muyu found themselves underground. The surrounding air grew colder and damper, and the sound of dripping water echoed around them.
Looking around, Ling Chen found the environment to be pitch black. He was in a stone corridor. On the walls lining both sides, small stone platforms protruded every hundred meters. These platforms held candles as thick as a child’s arm, their faint flames flickering intermittently.
With his Sword Intent, Ling Chen was not frightened by the dim environment. He stepped forward, heading deeper into the corridor.
After walking for several hundred meters, a fork appeared on the right side of the corridor, and faint voices could be heard coming from within.
"It seems we’re not the only ones who have entered here."
Ling Chen looked at Xiao Muyu, and the two quietly slipped inside.
The end of the fork connected to a brightly lit stone chamber. Its walls were studded with glowstones that emitted a lasting, dazzling yet gentle light, bringing a sense of safety to the dark environment.
Ling Chen shifted his gaze downwards. On one side of the stone chamber was a secret room. Currently, a group of Sect Disciples were fighting fiercely, each trying to be the first to enter it.
"This place was discovered by us first and is now owned by Sky Void Palace! Anyone who opposes us is walking towards their doom! Hurry up and scram!"
"Hmph, can Sky Void Palace just claim everything for itself? We of the Myriad Dao Sect don’t agree. We certainly want a share of the Treasure in the hidden chamber!"
"Alright! Besides our Sky Void Palace and the Myriad Dao Sect, the disciples of other sects must wait here obediently and are not allowed to enter!"
"Ha! Do you think you can deny us the right to enter the hidden chamber with just a few words? Dream on!"
As the disciples of the two major sects tried to divvy up the Treasures in the secret room, disciples from other sects certainly wouldn’t agree. Instantly, the sounds of exploding Air Energy echoed back and forth, causing the pillars in the stone chamber to start shaking as if they might collapse at any moment.
When it came to Treasure, sect affiliation meant little. It was finder’s keepers, and no one was willing to stand aside and be a mere foil for others.
Ling Chen had initially planned to step in and control the situation, but at this moment, he sensed footsteps. He quickly held back Xiao Muyu, who was itching to take action.
The footsteps of this person seemed to contain a magical power, each step carrying the weight of a mountain. Though restrained, it exuded an oppressive aura, like an impending storm.
An expert is coming.
Ling Chen shook his head, signaling Xiao Muyu not to act rashly.
"Someone’s coming!"
The Sect Disciples in the stone chamber also heard the footsteps. Their gazes all focused on the other corridor. From the darkness, a figure was leisurely walking over with a rhythmic gait.
"It’s someone from Sky Void Palace!"
Everyone recognized the emblem on the figure’s clothing, identifying their sect.
"He’s not paying attention! Kill him now!"
The Myriad Dao Sect disciples, seeing it was someone from Sky Void Palace, exchanged glances and then charged at the newcomer almost simultaneously.
Some disciples from other sects also brandished their weapons and joined the Myriad Dao Sect disciples in their attack.
However, before they could even make their move, the situation in the fork erupted. Suddenly, a massive leg attack powered by True Qi shot out. This True Qi leg attack was incredibly condensed, like a mountain, and it tore through the entire area at astonishing speed.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Almost half the people were sent flying by the impact of the True Qi leg, their bodies scattering. The kick’s remaining force then shattered a thick pillar in the stone chamber.
Such powerful True Qi in that kick.
Ling Chen’s eyebrows shot up. The people present were all young elites from various major sects, yet they couldn’t even withstand a single kick, and half of them were killed or injured.
"This person is a Heavenly List expert! Retreat, quickly!"
"That’s the Tyrant Meteor Leg! It’s the specialty of ’Speed Surpassing Dust’ Huang Shenyi!"
Upon hearing Huang Shenyi’s name, the many young disciples in the stone chamber were chilled to the bone.
"It’s Senior Brother Huang Shenyi! This is great! These Myriad Dao Sect disciples actually dared to offend Senior Brother Huang Shenyi. They’re like moths to a flame!"
The Pupils of Tianxu Palace were overjoyed, as if they had suddenly found their backbone.
"I’ve long found these Myriad Dao Sect disciples an eyesore," a Pupil of Tianxu Palace said, his face filled with killing intent. "Since Senior Brother Huang Shenyi is here, let’s get to it and kill them all. The Treasures in this secret room can only belong to our Sky Void Palace!"
WHOOSH!
However, just as his words trailed off, a Blood-colored Sword flew from a third corridor at an unimaginable speed, piercing the chest of the Pupil of Tianxu Palace who had just spoken.
The Pupil of Tianxu Palace’s eyes widened. He collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
"You lowly ants! How dare you casually threaten to kill disciples of my Myriad Dao Sect?"
At this point, a young Swordsman dressed in gold-rimmed, blood-red garments walked out from the dark corridor. His face was cold, his eyes filled with murderous intent—clearly a cruel and ruthless person at first glance.
Leng Wu Xue!
Huang Shenyi had intended to use the other party’s killing of his Pupil of Tianxu Palace as leverage, but when he clearly saw the man’s face, his expression abruptly turned grave.