Chapter 102: Three Years!
Chapter 102: Three Years!
The Divine Wind Continent was divided into seven regions: Wuzhou in the east, the Western Deserts in the west, the Southern Seas and the Northern Domain, plus the central Suzhou, the Hundred Thousand Mountains, and the Land of Darkness.
Among these seven, the Northern Domain was the most vast, while the Land of Darkness was the smallest. The Hundred Thousand Mountains had the densest concentration of Demon Beasts, earning it the moniker ‘Paradise of the Demon Beasts’.
The Land of Darkness was only about a hundred miles in circumference, a mere drop in the bucket compared to the entire Divine Wind Continent. Yet, it was uniquely demarcated, indicating its unusual significance.
As the name implied, the Land of Darkness was a place filled with darkness and death. Not a single blade of grass grew there; devoid of life, it was a place that made countless Cultivators pale at its mention. It was a grave for countless Demon Beasts and Cultivators… a forbidden zone of death!
No one knew how the Land of Darkness came into being, much like the Hundred Thousand Mountains, seeming almost as if they had descended from the heavens.
It is said that about ten thousand years ago, this patch of darkness suddenly appeared at the edge of the Hundred Thousand Mountains. This stirred immense curiosity among countless Cultivators, and innumerable numbers attempted to seek the cause here. However, for some unknown reason, any Cultivator who entered retreated. And within a short span of ten years after returning, they would invariably go inexplicably mad and die. No one knew why. Gradually, it transformed into a forbidden land; neither Demon Beasts nor Cultivators dared to approach.
Yet, even within this dreaded Land of Darkness, a person lay quietly on the ground, his state of life or death uncertain.
…
Three months later, shocking news began to spread quietly throughout the entire Divine Wind Continent.
It was said that the most powerful force in the east, the Tang Family, which had remained glorious for countless years, was suddenly and utterly annihilated overnight. The area spanning hundreds of miles around the Tang Family was directly smelted away with immense Magical Power, turned entirely into dust. Even numerous small cities hundreds of miles away suffered collateral damage and varying levels of loss.
Regarding the Tang Family’s demise, several speculations circulated.
The first suggested that the Tang Family had accumulated wealth for millennia but had now weakened, attracting the covetous eyes of many major powers, which led to the calamitous extinction.
The second stated that it resulted from the Tang Family’s rivalry with the Corpse Dao Sect over dominance in Wuzhou because, after the Tang Family’s destruction, the strength of the Corpse Dao Sect rapidly expanded.
A third version claimed it was a declaration of war sent from the distant Floating-Sinking Continent. Their forces intended to invade the Divine Wind Continent, and destroying the Tang Family was merely making an example of them – a threat to others – since the Tang Family’s Wuzhou was located at the easternmost part of the Divine Wind Continent.
A fourth speculation held that the Tang Family had secretly offended a deity, and this destruction was divine retribution.
No matter which version was true, opinions were divided. After this event occurred, it was an undeniable fact that the Corpse Dao Sect’s power rapidly expanded. Furthermore, despite being proclaimed the guardians of the Divine Wind Continent, the Divine Wind Academy did not publicly step forward to thoroughly investigate the Tang Family’s annihilation. Instead, they acted as if nothing had happened. This instantly plunged the entire population of the Divine Wind Continent into apprehension.
…
As these tidings continued to spread ceaselessly, time flew by. In the blink of an eye, three whole years had passed. Three full years.
…
It had been a full three years since Tang Jinbiao, Tang Yilin, and the others were transmitted away.
In the very center of the dread-inducing Land of Darkness, a supposed ‘corpse’ that had lain there for three long years suddenly twitched.
It was called a corpse precisely because this figure had lain unmoving in that exact position for three full years. Yet mysteriously, despite lying there for three years, he was still alive.
“Ah!”
The man’s fingers twitched. He let out a groan of pain.
Thump!
Then, seemingly summoning all his strength, he struggled intensely, managing to roll over. Finally, he turned onto his back, staring vacantly at the sky.
His features were indistinct. Unkempt for so long, thick, matted hair completely obscured his face.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
After turning over, he shook his head vigorously, trying to fling the hair away from his face, seemingly attempting to get a clear view of the sky above.
Harsh!
But the moment he flicked the hair aside, an intense burst of light stabbed painfully into his eyes, forcing them shut.
After about a small half period passed, he felt he was almost adapted, so he slowly opened his eyes.
After he opened his eyes, he clearly saw three suns hanging high in the sky, and by the time, it should be noon.
“Heh, wasn’t this a dream?”
After seeing the three suns in the sky, a trace of sorrow appeared on his face, and he muttered softly.
Swish swish swish!
But just as he was saying this, tears in his eyes burst out like a collapsed dike flood completely without warning, swish swish swish flowing out, sliding down his cheeks to the ground.
If a familiar person were here, they would recognize at first glance that this person was Tang Jinbiao, only for some unknown reason, his young face bore eyes as if seeing through worldly affairs, making people feel a trace of decay emanating from them.
……
Back when he was being teleported together with Tang Yilin, an accident occurred, and he was dragged into a strange world. What he saw there, he did not want to recall, nor was he willing to recall it. Perhaps, no one would ever know what exactly he saw?
……
Without noticing it, more than two time units passed.
“How quiet, where is this place?”
Tang Jinbiao seemed to wake from that recollection, no longer thinking about what he had seen during the teleportation process, and instead planned to survive first.
“Ah!”
Tang Jinbiao felt extremely weak and tired all over. He struggled to sit up, intending to see the surrounding sights clearly. But when he saw the surroundings clearly, shock appeared in his eyes.
“What? Where is this place?”
During this time he was awake, he had not heard any external sounds, not even the wind outside. That already made him suspicious. Now after seeing the surroundings clearly, he was even more astonished.
At this moment, he discovered that he had been lying in a desert. However, the sand of this desert was black. Each grain seemed the same size, densely packed. For some reason, upon seeing this black desert, Tang Jinbiao felt as if he was lying in a pile of ants. Although these black sands were much smaller than ants, he could not help but feel his scalp tingling.
Chatter chatter!
Although it was broad daylight and the three suns in the sky were fiercely scorching the desert, Tang Jinbiao still felt a chill. Fortunately, the desert was not too large. Far in the distance, he could see forests and mountains. That made Tang Jinbiao relax slightly inside.
“Forget it, whatever it is, I will leave here first. I keep feeling this is not a good place!”
Tang Jinbiao slowly stood up. After choosing a direction, he started walking toward the distant mountains on foot.
……
While Tang Jinbiao was beginning to walk, miles away, at the gate of a huge city, seven or eight male and female Cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Stage were standing.
The male Cultivators wore blue robes, looking quite elegant and free. The females wore white dresses, looking delicate and graceful.
These Cultivators appeared like guards, but one by one, they were lowering their heads and talking about something.
“Senior Brother Zhang, have you heard the news about the extermination of the Tang Family?”
A Cultivator of the Early Foundation Establishment Stage carefully opened his mouth and asked beside a Cultivator of the Late Foundation Building Stage.
“Junior Brother Li, why are you bringing this up again? Didn’t those above forbid talking about it? Three years have already passed, what else is there to say?”
A trace of displeasure appeared on the face of that Cultivator of the Late Foundation Building Stage beside him as he spoke.
“No, I just recently heard that the Tang family member who came to report three years ago has now become a favorite in front of Vice Dean Li!”
That Li surnamed Cultivator of the Early Foundation Establishment Stage said somewhat mysteriously.
“What’s so strange about that? Vice Dean Li was originally on good terms with Vice President Wang. Although Vice President Wang hasn’t made an appearance for several years, Vice Dean Li still looks out for her junior. Besides, that person is exceptionally talented. Given Vice Dean Li’s relationship within this context, it’s natural to be closer. Even without that connection, upon seeing such a genius, one would definitely show favor. That’s not particularly strange, is it?”
The cultivator surnamed Zhang at the Late Foundation Building Stage said dismissively.
“Senior Brother Zhang, if you think that way, then you’re dead wrong! I have inside information; I heard it wasn’t like that at all!”
The cultivator surnamed Li at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage said with a mysterious expression.
“Huh?”
Cultivator Zhang frowned slightly, looking puzzled.
This comment not only drew Cultivator Zhang’s attention but also piqued the curiosity of the other gatekeeper cultivators nearby. They perked up instinctively, pricking up their ears to catch every word.
“Haha, Senior Brother Zhang, let me tell you, I heard the Tang Family’s extermination involved several forces working together. To carry out this plan, they intentionally lured Vice President Wang away. Rumor has it she’s still trapped on the Floating-Sinking Continent. And what’s more…”
Seeing he had their full attention, Cultivator Li wore a hint of smugness as he began speaking.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
But just as he reached this point, the sharp shrieks of something cutting through the air raced towards them from afar. Immediately after, a streak of white Escape Light shot towards them at incredible speed.
“Trouble! Who is it?”
“Alert! This is the Divine Wind Academy! How dare you act so recklessly?”
Feeling the immense pressure, the men paled and shouted warnings, trying to block or delay the incoming figure.
“Hmph!”
Before any of them could react further, a cold snort echoed. Simultaneously, an intense murderous aura and the mighty crushing pressure characteristic of a Late Core Formation Stage cultivator slammed into them.
Thud!
“It’s her!”
“Let her pass!”
The moment they heard that snort, all their faces drastically paled. They swiftly parted like reeds before a gale, standing aside to let the streak of Escape Light flash past them and vanish deep into the city.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, the Escape Light disappeared from their sight beyond the city gate.
“Whew!”
“So strong!”
“Such terrifyingly intense murderous aura!”
After the Escape Light vanished, expressions of utter shock settled on the cultivators’ faces.
“She truly is a genius… but it feels very much like she’s gone berserk!”
Cultivator Zhang, the highest cultivation among them at Late Foundation Building, stared after the vanished light, speaking with a trace of melancholy and loss.
“Mmm, Senior Brother Zhang, I heard when she first arrived three years ago, she was only at the Late Foundation Building Stage. Who would have thought that in just three short years, she’s already reached Late Core Formation! They say she has the potential to become the youngest Nascent Soul cultivator – the first ever on our entire Divine Wind Continent!”
Cultivator Li added, his voice still shaking slightly from the ordeal.
“Mmm, it certainly seems possible. She’s only twenty-one this year. At that age, the vast majority of cultivators, at best, have just reached Foundation Building. Yet she’s already at Late Core Formation. What kind of drive is pushing her to cultivate so frantically? And did you sense it just now? That overwhelming murderous aura radiating from her… it was terrifying! I’ve never felt that way even facing a Nascent Soul Instructor. Only confronting those Soul Refinement Stage Seniors can trigger that heart-stopping, bone-chilling dread! Can vengeance truly drive a woman to such extremes of madness?”
Cultivator Zhang said, his complexion visibly paler.
“Haha…”
Cultivator Li, unsure how to respond, merely gave a faint, shaky laugh. His interest in the previous intriguing topic seemed to have vanished entirely, and he felt no inclination to bring it up again.
For a moment, silence returned to the city gate.
Now, if someone happened to be standing at the city gate and glanced upwards, they would see four large, ancient characters carved prominently above the gate’s arch:
Divine Wind Academy!