Chapter 104: Spirit Hall
Chapter 104: Spirit Hall
Cheng Lingyu was shocked. After carefully observing Lan Xiaozhu’s reaction, he realized she didn’t appear to be lying. Could this flower truly be visible only to him?
Staring at the flower, an inexplicable unease settled in Cheng Lingyu’s chest. The pitch-black blossom seemed both illusory and transient—even he questioned whether it existed outside a dream. Yet the little plant in his mind stirred intensely, while the Fang Tian Bao Yin and Ghostly Magic Blade trembled violently in his palm. These reactions confirmed the flower’s reality.
Releasing Lan Xiaozhu’s hand, Cheng Lingyu ordered her to retreat as he stepped toward the stone wall. Sensing his strangeness, Lan Xiaozhu obeyed, her eyes shadowed with worry.
Cheng Lingyu activated the Third Level of Magic Eyes, Heart Invasion, channeling his psychic energy to probe the dark flower. His thoughts pierced through effortlessly, but the flower embodied boundlessness itself—an endless void that dragged him deeper until escape seemed impossible.
Though Cheng Lingyu’s spiritual strength surpassed ordinary humans, the obsidian bloom devoured it voraciously, draining him to the brink of collapse. At this critical moment, his Dreamless Technique triggered autonomously, severing his mental connection and plunging his exhausted mind into slumber.
Empowered by stolen energy, the flower writhed with hunger, poised to consume his soul—until the severed link left it thwarted. Refusing to relent, it pursued the broken thread into Cheng Lingyu’s consciousness, only to meet its own doom.
Within the dreamless state, Cheng Lingyu’s soul floated in an infinite void. The flower, now trapped, thrashed against the unfathomably mystical force emanating from the four-star pyramid in his mysterious space. Chaos churned within the pyramid as its radiance engulfed the flower, binding it despite desperate struggles. Reduced to a mere Black Dot, the bloom vanished into the swirling chaos, subdued entirely.
As the pyramid’s brilliance dimmed, Cheng Lingyu awoke mid-air after mere minutes. The stone wall now stood bare, while the pyramid pulsed with newfound mystery.
“Are you hurt?” Lan Xiaozhu rushed forward, voice trembling.
Cheng Lingyu shook his head with a faint smile, but a peculiar ripple halted his reply. Whirling around, he saw dust lifting from the Gray Figure’s withered form—an eerie aura swelling like an ancient ferocious beast rousing from eons of sleep.
“Go!” Grabbing Lan Xiaozhu, Cheng Lingyu leaped skyward.
Yet before escaping the Mist, the Gray Figure rose and turned. Their eyes met—Cheng Lingyu froze, pierced by a gaze where Stars crumbled and died, exuding primordial dread.
They burst from the Mist, leaving the figure behind. Landing outside the ravine, Cheng Lingyu staggered, blood spilling from his lips.
“You’re injured!” Lan Xiaozhu cried, clutching his arm.
Cheng Lingyu didn’t have time to answer. He grabbed Lan Xiaozhu and fled dozens of miles in one breath before stopping to rest.
Lan Xiaozhu asked, “What happened?”
Cheng Lingyu forced a bitter laugh. “It was the man in gray. Just one glance from him nearly killed me. Based on his power at that moment, he definitely surpassed the Soul Martial Realm—at least reaching the Spirit Martial Realm. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so terrifying.”
Lan Xiaozhu paled. “The Spirit Martial Realm? How is that possible? If he wanted to kill us, we’d have no chance to survive.”
Cheng Lingyu shook his head. “He might not have intended to kill us. That glance could’ve been an instinctive reaction, but it unleashed a divine might we couldn’t withstand. That man in gray is horrifying. There must be a reason he’s staying in that ravine.”
Lan Xiaozhu frowned. “Your guess makes sense, but healing your wounds comes first. Don’t dwell on this now.”
Cheng Lingyu swallowed healing pills and began recovering on the spot while Lan Xiaozhu stood guard.
Half an hour later, Cheng Lingyu leaped to his feet, his internal injuries fully healed.
The two hurried onward, pushing deeper into Guishun Valley.
On a flat stretch of land, an ancient palace loomed, drawing the gaze of hundreds of cultivators.
Cheng Lingyu, arriving from afar, stared in surprise. What was such a structure doing in Guishun Valley?
Lan Xiaozhu whispered calmly, “That’s the Spirit Hall. Rumors say there are five such palaces in Guishun Valley, each holding secrets about this place. A few cultivators who entered brought back news—the Spirit Hall is lethally dangerous. Fewer than one in a thousand survive.”
The palace stood weathered and crumbling, steeped in age.
Though surrounded by hundreds of cultivators, none dared approach. Fear held them back, yet none would leave.
Cheng Lingyu scanned the crowd—cultivators of all ages, all at the Soul Martial Realm except one.
A dull-looking young man in his twenties stood apart, dressed in faded blue robes. He stared vacantly at the palace from the outskirts.
What made him unusual was his cultivation—the True Martial Realm, a rarity in Guishun Valley.
Lan Xiaozhu eyed him curiously. “Another True Martial cultivator here to stir trouble, just like you.”
Cheng Lingyu chuckled. “His cultivation level far exceeds mine—he’s at the True Fire Stage of True Martial Eight Levels. The true fire within him burns fiercely.”
“Which makes him easy prey for bullies.”
As Lan Xiaozhu’s gaze swept the crowd, it froze on a handsome youth. Her eyes widened.
“Be wary of that young man in blue. He’s around your age but far stronger.”
Cheng Lingyu studied the youth—eighteen or nineteen, with mesmerizing looks. Six servants flanked him, ranging from elderly to young.
“If he’s so powerful, why enter Guishun Valley? Most above the Soul Martial Fourth Realm avoid this place.”
The blue-clad youth wore a faint smile, radiating calm confidence. An extraordinary aura surrounded him like an invisible shield.
Through his Magic Eyes technique, Cheng Lingyu sensed something unique about him—this youth differed from ordinary Soul Martial experts.
“We’ve waited here for days. This stalemate helps no one. Let’s send someone to scout ahead.”
The suggestion shattered the tense silence.
“Good idea—but who?”
Eyes darted through the crowd.
“That dullard seems perfect. True Martial Eight Levels—neither too strong nor too weak.”
All attention turned to the simple young man.
“I won’t go.”
The simple young man kept shaking his head, appearing rather foolish.
“Don’t fear. There are hidden treasures inside. If you enter first, they’ll be yours.”
“Stop lying. It’s deadly dangerous in there. I won’t walk to my doom.”
The simple young man retreated slowly, his delayed reactions amusing the crowd.
“He’s just an idiot. Sending him to scout is pure nonsense.”
“Fools have their blessings. Surviving this long in Guishun Valley proves his Luck is strong.”
True enough – a lone cultivator at the True Martial Realm surviving this long required immense Luck.
“Since his Luck’s so good, he *should* scout ahead.”
Several cultivators lunged toward the simple young man, trying to force him to lead.
The youth spun to flee but found his path blocked.
“Where you running, eh? Go inside nicely. With so many blessing you, think of the glory!”
A twenty-seven-year-old young man in white clothing strode forward, wearing a sly grin.
The simple young man shuffled backward, bluffing bravado: “Wh-what do you want?”
“Sending you treasure-hunting! Many fight for this first quota. What glory if you claim it!”
The cruel smile chilled the air, drawing jeers from onlookers.
“I… I… won’t go.”
Though clearly scared, the youth stubbornly refused.
“Stubborn worm. What’s your name?”
The white-clothed youth advanced, oppressive aura radiating.
Retreating unsteadily, the simple youth stammered: “M-my surname’s… Zu…”
“Rare surname. Full name?”
Avoiding the intense stare, the youth mumbled: “Given name… Zong…”
“Zu Zong? That’s… Wait! You dare mock me, brat?”
The young man in white flushed with rage upon realizing.
The simple youth suddenly grinned: “No need for formalities, dear grandson.”
“Formalities my foot! You begging for a beating?”
Enraged, the white-clothed cultivator swung a slap.
The simple youth yelped and stumbled backward, narrowly dodging.
“Unfilial whelp strikes his ancestor! Come see! Come witness!”
The deafening shout froze the crowd – nobody expected this result.