Chapter 275: Six People Going Together
Chapter 275: Six People Going Together
This was a tall hat; if Cheng Lingyu didn’t hand over the Heavenly Wolf Claw to her, he wouldn’t be a gentleman.
“Seems the price of being a gentleman is way steeper than I thought.”
Cheng Lingyu smirked wryly and passed the Heavenly Wolf Claw to Hu Yuer.
Taking it, Hu Yuer planted a kiss on Cheng Lingyu’s cheek.
“Your reward.”
Her bright eyes and playful smile made Cheng Lingyu’s heart skip a beat.
“Just one kiss? Doesn’t feel like enough.”
Cheng Lingyu feigned a lunge, but Hu Yuer dodged, grinning triumphantly.
He sighed. Their teasing, on-and-off bond was oddly alluring.
After toying with the claw briefly, Hu Yuer stored it away, her demeanor cooling.
Cheng Lingyu studied the two blood shadows. Their Spirit Armor bore dense, blooming floral patterns, dazzlingly vivid.
“Let’s move. Can’t lag behind the others.”
This was the ninth trial—where the man in black had failed, hinting at its brutality.
Side by side, they approached the blood shadows.
From trial one to nine, Cheng Lingyu had learned much. Battling blood shadows wasn’t like fighting regular cultivators.
Hu Yuer stayed composed. Though each trial grew harder, she kept winning, her true cultivation level shrouded in mystery.
…
Near the Blood Moon Wasteland’s ancient ruin entrance, thousands of experts monitored the area, hungry for updates.
A day after Zuo Yi left, Jiu Yang Sacred Palace’s scouts returned with startling news:
Sects from Xuan Star Palace had been teleported to the Blood Moon’s rising site deep in the wasteland.
The report caused a stir. Lou Ri City’s experts were stunned, silencing skeptics.
The Blood Moon Wasteland—a Tianyang Empire death trap—made listeners shudder at the mere mention.
Red Feather Spirit Master frowned. Who’d have guessed Xuan Star Saint’s ruin tied to this cursed place?
Most Blood Martial Realm disciples now lingered where the Blood Moon rose. What secrets hid there? None could tell.
Three Saints and Four Peerless sects deliberated cautiously. Charging blindly into the wasteland? Fool’s errand.
Luo Feng Spirit Master watched the leaders, then suggested, “If we send people, cap their numbers and cultivation levels. The wasteland’s legends are old, but real opportunities? Unclear. Don’t risk lives chasing myths.”
Binghuo Spirit Master of Heavenly Fire Sect nodded. “Sensible. We can’t abandon our disciples there, but sending how many? That’s the crux.”
Shanhua Alliance’s Changhe Spirit Master added, “Limit quotas by sect strength. Three Saints and Four Peerless get more slots. Others fewer. Let unwilling sects opt out. Set total limits and vet cultivation.”
Divine Martial Sect’s Tianye Spirit Master argued, “The wasteland’s deadly. Three Saints and Four Peerless sects need ten slots each. Fewer would be suicide.”
Notably, Divine Martial Sect had no disciples in Xuan Star Palace—thanks to Cheng Lingyu. They could watch from the sidelines, unscathed.
Since no one remained inside, they’d lost the chance to investigate further. Even if true opportunities existed, the Divine Martial Sect couldn’t claim them.
To resolve this, Tianye Spirit Master planned to dispatch a new group of experts into the depths of the Blood Moon Wasteland to gather information.
Everyone knew this, but the final decision required collective agreement, as it concerned the safety of disciples from all sects.
Spirit Master Fury Thunder of the Tianlei Sacred Church said, “With so many sects present, ten spots per group are too many. Six to eight would be better. Including others, the total should stay under two hundred.”
Spirit Master Celestial Tome of the Celestial Sanctuary asked, “Two hundred seems reasonable. But what cultivation levels should these individuals have?”
Spirit Master Crimson Cloud replied, “Each has pros and cons. Stronger experts survive longer but cause greater losses if they fall. Weaker ones face more risks but minimize losses.”
Luo Feng Spirit Master suggested, “Top-tier experts shouldn’t enter. Let capable disciples investigate while we monitor from here. Preserve our strength whether they find anything or not.”
Binghuo Spirit Master stated, “The minimum requirement should be Blood Martial Realm. As for the upper limit—even saints have perished in the Blood Moon Wasteland. None of us can guarantee a safe return.”
Most agreed, setting the lower limit at Blood Martial Realm without restricting the upper level.
This unsettled some sect leaders. Without an upper limit, what stopped experts from the Three Saints and Four Peerless factions from slaughtering rivals?
Red Feather Spirit Master addressed this: “This mission aims to investigate our missing disciples. Anyone ambushed by the Three Saints and Four Peerless factions may seek refuge under Nine Yang Sacred Palace’s protection. Perpetrators will face severe punishment.”
His words eased concerns. Sects began selecting their teams.
Tianye Spirit Master of the Divine Martial Sect shot a cold glance at Sunset City’s experts, ignoring Red Feather’s warning.
Notably, Red Feather’s statement didn’t forbid conflicts between the Three Saints and Four Peerless factions themselves—a loophole Luo Feng Spirit Master noted.
Each Three Saints and Four Peerless faction chose six to eight members. Sunset City had only twenty-four members present, far fewer than the Divine Martial Sect.
Luo Feng Spirit Master gathered his group: “This mission is perilous. We must plan carefully.”
Wan Fang said, “Send six. The Divine Martial Sect will ambush us there.”
Mu Bai warned, “They’ll seek revenge after their recent defeat. Sending average Blood Martial experts would be a death sentence.”
Feixue volunteered, “I’ll go explore the wasteland’s depths.”
Qiu Yu of Dark Demon Ridge added, “I’m joining.”
Luo Feng Spirit Master hesitated. “Qiu Yu…”
“Don’t worry. I’m just… searching.” Her calm reply puzzled the others.
Luo Feng sighed and said no more.
Mu Bai insisted, “I’ll go to stop the Divine Martial Sect’s schemes.”
Wan Fang objected, “Stay here, junior brother. Assist Luo Feng Spirit Master. I’ll go.”
Mu Bai argued, “Three aren’t enough. My presence would help.”
Luo Feng Spirit Master decided, “Mu Bai stays. Fang Mu and Tian Yi—both Spirit Martial experts—will accompany Feixue, Qiu Yu, and Wan Fang. We need one more.”
The final member was Zhang Bin, a fifth-level Blood Martial disciple from Sunset Ridge. Despite appearing forty, he was over a century old.
Sunset City’s six-member team eyed the Divine Martial Sect’s eight—six Spirit Martial experts and two sixth-level Blood Martial disciples, clearly intending to crush them.
Other Three Saints and Four Peerless factions also sent eight members each, mostly Spirit Martial level. Nine Yang Sacred Palace’s team was the strongest.
The total group numbered around 180. At Red Feather’s command, they entered the wasteland in formation: Nine Yang Sacred Palace led, followed by Tianlei Sacred Church, Celestial Sanctuary, Heavenly Flame Sect, Mountain River Alliance, Divine Martial Sect, Sunset City, and others.
By day, the wasteland appeared desolate, with sparse vegetation. They flew swiftly across its calm borders until the Nine Yang experts warned, “Stay alert—monsters ahead.”
A deafening buzz suddenly filled the sky. “What’s that…?”