Chapter 34 Realm Opened
For a moment, everyone's attention was focused on the opening of the Light-Shadow Realm. The fluctuation of light and darkness released all kinds of different auras. Some were blistering hot, while others were icy cold.
"Every time the light and shadow flickers, the place you will enter changes."
"That's some good news."
The Dou Huangs and Dou Wangs beneath the Dou Zongs all relaxed a bit. With their strength it would have been difficult to gain anything if they all entered at the same place. The Dou Di Realm naturally had all kinds of restricted areas, and it was definitely possible for them to be forced into those restrictions as cannon fodder by those stronger than them.
At this moment, Mu Gu coldly laughed and brought four Dou Zongs and over ten Dou Huangs in at the same time, taking the lead into entering that realm. All that could be sensed was a violent burst of spatial energy fluctuations that immediately wrapped around these people and in an instant brought them away.
Yao Chen cupped his hands at the Dou Zongs who had stood behind him just now. "Many thanks to everyone for just now. We're going to go now, but remember that what I said just now is still true. If you can find anything relating to alchemy then I won't let you exchange it for a loss."
"An influential person is like a tree's shade. We naturally believe grandmaster Yao Chen. An insidious person like Mu Gu isn't someone we'd make a deal with even without grandmaster Yao Chen's explanation."
"Haha, then hopefully everyone can all profit from this!"
Yao Chen laughed and exchanged a glance back with Feng Xian. Waiting for the moment when light and shadow exchanged, the two of them stepped into the realm at the same time.
Within the flashing of light and darkness, a scene suddenly appeared. Within an endless dark nothingness, a sun shot out endless light. Light and dark continuously clashed. The light dispersed the darkness while the darkness swallowed the light.
Yao Chen's heart shook. Inside his body, the Bone Chilling Flame emitted a burst of icy coldness, seeming to want to charge into that scene. But just at that moment, the rushing of light and darkness ended and Yao Chen appeared in a subterranean karst cave. However he didn't see Feng Xian.
Yao Chen looked around. So even though they had entered at the same time, the positions they were sent within the space were different.
Suddenly a figure flashed before him. Someone else had been transported here along with him.
"… grandmaster Yao Chen."
This person was a white-robed middle-aged man. He seemed to possess the power of a two or three star Dou Wang. His face turned completely green when he saw Yao Chen at this time.
"Uh-huh." Yao Chen naturally wouldn't bother with this person. Only slightly nodding, he looked around and said, "Since we're together, it is simply karma. Here are two medicinal pills. Take them."
Yao Chen randomly threw out two medicinal pills, one fire red and one jade green. The first was used to repel fire while the second could be used to escape from water. Within a subterranean cave, fire and water were the greatest danger. Although this two pills were just at the fourth tier, at a critical moment they could save his life.
After throwing over those pills, Yao Chen started to walk forward carefully, his spiritual energy spreading out to scout for him.
"This humble self is Huang Wendi. Many thanks for these pills grandmaster." That middle-aged Dou Wang watched as Yao Chen left, relaxing greatly. He had been worried that he would be used as cannon fodder by him, but seeing Yao Chen's attitude, he actually decided to quickly follow behind him.
Yao Chen turned back to look at Huang Wendi for a moment and lightly nodded his head, continuing forward. This subterranean cave emitted a strange power that would ripple out every few breaths. It was extremely hard to sense. Most people would only sense it as a light breeze, while only those with extremely powerful Spiritual Perception would be able to sense an indistinct berserk aura.
Over time it would cause people to enter a deranged state. They would become a puppet to this realm, unable to differentiate between friend or foe.
Suddenly a gust of wind blew over and that Huang Wendi's eyes turned scarlet red as he charged at him.
Yao Chen's gaze tightened and waving his palm, he completely blocked Huang Wendi's attack. However, Yao Chen's expression changed slightly from this encounter. Huang Wendi was just a Dou Wang, but his attack was on the level of a peak Dou Huang.
"By inciting the life potential and exploding out with one hit… how vicious."
As expected, after Huang Wendi's one attack, his black hair immediately withered and fell, the remaining strands turning a dried up white color. His smooth skin quickly aged and became full of wrinkles.
Huang Wendi let out a strange cry from his mouth, and dense blood flowed out from the corner of his mouth. His internal organs had already been destroyed.
In that kind of state, only something on the level of the Yuan Transforming to Life Pill would have a chance of saving him. Yao Chen felt pity for him, so his Bone Chilling Flame swept out and engulfed Huang Wendi, letting that middle-aged Dou Wang finally lose his consciousness through death.
But after the Bone Chilling Flame turned his body to dust, a six-winged eight-clawed insect charged out of the ashes and shot towards Yao Chen's forehead.
BOOM!
A stream of Bone Chilling Flame shot out and wrapped around the insect. But shockingly the insect actually wasn't immediately burnt to ashes by the Heavenly Flame, but instead ended up splitting open eventually from the heat.
Yao Chen couldn't help being alarmed. "Six-Winged Eight-Legged Poison Insect."
This was an insect that swallowed people's brains and used the host's body as their own strength.
Yao Chen properly attended to Huang Wendi's bone ashes and then continued exploring. As he walked forward, his foot suddenly landed in a pile of sand, and not far was the babbling of a stream of water and the laugh of a woman.
When he looked over, he saw a couple naked beautiful women bathing in a pool.
"Who!"
One of those women suddenly jumped out. Her skin glistened from water droplets, and there also a couple faint scales covering her, making it obvious she wasn't human.
"What are you?"
Yao Chen quickly twisted and retreated to the side. The place he had just been standing on quickly sank in from some strange power, forming a large hole in the ground.
"It's a human. Eat him."
Those women all shrieked.
However that first woman who had jumped out coldly said, "It's a male. First we'll take his seed before eating him."
"Whatever, as long as we get to eat him in the end."
Those other women all laughed and also jumped out of the pool, flying into the air. Only then did Yao Chen realize these women all had translucent wings on their backs similar to those of an insect.
"So it was some spiritually awakened insect ancestors."
Yao Chen coldly laughed and actually strode forward, two balls of Bone Chilling Flame igniting over his hands.
"Heavenly Flame!"
That head insect-woman was alarmed and quickly attacked. A couple strands of grass whistled over with a demonic rhythm towards Yao Chen's head.
He dodged them several times but then those strands of grass transformed into insects that continuously chased after him.
Yao Chen's Dou Qi broke out. He didn't use his Heavenly Flame, instead using his Dou Qi to capture those strands of insect and refining them as medicinal ingredients.
The grasses exploded, and from within them came dozens of strange poisonous insects that were disgustingly warped. Nine black eyes jumped out from their head.
"So that's what this was. You're a Nine-Eye Black Poison Insect, the mother of dark insects."
"Die human!" The mother insect roared and suddenly reverted to her original form. She charged at Yao Chen with endless might.
"Elder sister, make sure not to kill him. We still need his seed."
The other mother insects screeched. Although that was what they said, each of them reverted to their original form and also charged at Yao Chen.
The Six-Winged Eight-Legged Poison Insect Mother, the Jade Hook Seven Star Scale Mother, and all sorts of other poisonous insects released their own poisons as they charged forward. Each Poison Insect Mother had the power of a Dou Zong.
Yao Chen took a coupe steps back and violently released his Bone Chilling Flame. "Soul Devourer!"
The entire area became covered with Bone Chilling Flame. Yao Chen flew into the air and directly faced off against the Poison Insect Mothers' attacks.
The Poison Insect Mothers all had strange techniques, but they were actually all blocked by the Bone Chilling Flame. But that wasn't all. Yao Chen coldly smiled and pushed the Bone Chilling Flame's heat to its max, continuously roasting them.
"Human, you're not bad. We can let you live. In addition we can also give you many things that most men can only dream of."
The Poison InsectMothers were unable to do anything to Yao Chen so they tried to directly entice him.
"Believe in the insect race is just asking for death. Insects have their own reputation, plus I still want to take your corpses to refine medicine."
Yao Chen's eyes suddenly flashed. Spreading his hands, the extreme heat of the Bone Chilling Flame suddenly switched attributes, immediately turning to extreme cold.
Crack.
All the Poison Insect Mothers had their bodies shatter. They had had no time to react to that sudden change between extreme heat and extreme cold. Their insect armor was unable to endure it and split apart.
BOOM!
Yao Chen quickly followed up with a killing Dou Technique and completely exterminated the Poison Insect Mothers. Several sparkling crystals which were their insect cores floated in the air, the original insect's form suspended within the core. Occasionally the image of a beautiful woman would also surface. This was a result of the Poison Insect Mothers' destroyed souls also being refined into the insect core.
Yao Chen quickly collected these insect cores into a jade bottle. Those cores were divine items that could be used to refine eighth tier medicinal pills. Any such pill was priceless. But if the cores were left in the air for too long, then those Poison Insect Mothers' souls would completely fade away and the quality of it would lower by more than half.
He searched around this pool and eventually found a cave with many tools that humans used. Obviously those Poison Insect Mothers had been raised and kept by the master of the Light-Shadow Realm and were kept normally in human form. But since the master had disappeared, their poisonous nature had gradually returned and they began to devour the humans that entered the Light-Shadow Realm. In the depths of the cave were also many young poisonous insects and eggs. Yao Chen didn't hesitate to immediately obliterate them with his Heavenly Flame.
But within the light of his flame was a green glowing leaf. A ray of spiritual light blocked his Bone Chilling Flame from entering. The Bone Chilling Flame was actually completely unable to burn that leaf at all.
Yao Chen raised his hand and grabbed that leaf. A strange sensation immediately rushed into his mind. The Bone Chilling Flame in his body became agitated, cowering against that leaf.
"This is?"
On top the leaf was a grain-sized word: Flame. It was this word that was releasing the spiritual light that blocked the Bone Chilling Flame.
Carefully examining it, Yao Chen was shocked to find that the veins and patterns on that leaf were actually a map of the Light-Shadow Realm. The Flame character represented Yao Chen's current position. Along the main stalk of the leaf appeared the word Mantra which seemed to point to the location of the main treasure.
Following the markings on the leaf, Yao Chen finally walked out of the subterranean cave in two hours. But he also made some great gains. He had collected many precious spiritual medicines that could only grow to maturity after ten thousands year in a karst cave. Those were all precious ingredients used to refine eighth tier medicinal pills. In an alchemist's hand, they were things that not even ten cities would be able to exchange for. But here he just randomly walked around and found them. Precious ingredients and medicines were as common as stones here.
Arriving above ground, he saw the sky was azure blue. Clouds drifted around slowly, and there was also a blazing sun in the sky. But by using the spirit to sense around, he was able to sense that that wasn't the real sun and was actually some kind of divine object that the Dou Di had used through some kind of defiant technique to transform into a treasure that would emit light forever.
Continuing forward for another two hours, Yao Chen arrived at a meadow around fifty miles wide. On the other side of the meadow was a forest. Within this grassland were all sorts of beasts that were fighting. If you carefully looked at them you would realize these beasts were split into two sides: one light side, and one dark side. The dark beasts were continuously rushing out from caves while the light beasts were materializing from nothing within the sky.
Suddenly light and shadow flashed in the distant sky. A Dou Zong from the outside had been directly teleported to this area. Like a stone hitting a hornet's nest, over a thousand light beasts were provoked and charged at that Dou Zong.
Although each light beast's strength wasn't that great on its own and was merely around a one star Dou Wang, for over a thousand to charge at the same time and with them possessing a strange technique which allowed their power to combine, their strength had already surpassed the peak of the Dou Zong class. Even a Dou Zun might have to flee in the face of such an attack.
As expected, that Dou Zong only endured for a short moment before letting out a miserable scream as his defense was destroyed. Dozens of light beasts chomped on him and his blood splattered everywhere.
The Dou Zong let out a wild roar and his Dou Qi began to violently dash. He was planning on self-detonation, but just at that moment, an especially large light beast suddenly appeared. Reaching out two tentacle arms, it wrapped around that Dou Zong. That raging Dou Qi was actually dispersed into the sky.
Yao Chen only glanced back once before carefully going around that battlefield. His aim was that forest on the other side since he had to go through the forest to reach the location of that 'Mantra' character.
After travelling for several more hours, the sun in the sky gradually descended and shadowy full moon rose from the west.
In an instant, all the land was completely permeated with the power of darkness. The light beasts on the grassland all let out anguished howls. Their battle circle shrunk around to a couple portals in the sky that emitted light, however they continued their battle with the dark beasts.
Yao Chen noticed that those beasts that fell in battle were all swallowed up by the grassland. Who knew just where that swallowed energy went or how those light and dark beasts managed to be formed.
But it had been very obvious to him that when those light beasts had swallowed that Dou Zong's energy, all the light beasts had gained a subtle advantage on their battlefields.
Of course, now wasn't the time to think about those things. It was completely normal to run into strange things that he couldn't comprehend within a Dou Di's left behind realm.
Walking into the forest, the dark energy became even heavier. However there were still specks of light floating within that darkness. A glimmering flame light floated within the forest, lighting up every direction.
Ever since he had come up from that underground cave, the distant sky had always been an interweaving of light and dark.
He hadn't walked very deep into the forest when he saw three human corpses. There were also signs of an intense battle around them. This wasn't a battle of humans against beasts, but a battle of humans against humans.
Those three people were wearing familiar clothes; they were actually three Dou Huangs who had entered with Mu Gu. Their clothes were all similar and they should be from the same sect.
However what puzzled Yao Chen was how those three had managed to end up together. He and Feng Xian had entered at the same time but ended up in different spaces. Furthermore, spiritual communications were useless in this realm.
For Mu Gu to have such accomplishments today despite being kicked out of Pill City… it meant he most likely had had some fortuitous encounter. Could it be he had received the legacy of a senior alchemist who had once entered the Light-Shadow Realm?
That thought was absolutely terrifying. With the experience of someone else who had entered, the things you would be able to obtain would definitely be several times greater than those who were entering for the first time. In fact, you would probably benefit at least a hundred times more, plus you would be able to better avoid danger.
Yao Chen calmed himself down. Each person had their own opportunities and chances. Right now the best thing for him to do was to focus on his own goal. This 'Mantra' location on the leaf should definitely have an extremely important treasure.
After the Dou Di had disappeared, his remains here all had their own independent actions. Obviously these things were arranged by the Dou Di, most likely to choose who would inherit his things.
Yao Chen didn't know how much time passed, but only when the sky once more lit up as the sun rose did he walk out of that forest, arriving at a swamp.
There were many marks of humans passing through here as well as ash from a fire. Just by looking at it, anyone could tell that a group of humans had spent the night here.
Yao Chen suddenly had a gut feeling that this group was most likely Mu Gu's.
It wasn't far to the 'Mantra' character anymore. Right after this swamp should be the location of the treasure.
Treading through the swamp, he felt a bone piercing coldness. The howls and cries of countless ghosts filled his ears. But under the blazing the sun, those cries lost the majority of their power. Perhaps if they had been empowered by the darkness of the night, these cries would be able to easily shatter a person's soul. Even someone like Yao Chen at the peak of Dou Zong with a powerful spirit would find it difficult to endure.
Only then did Yao Chen realize that the reason this earlier group hadn't gone straight through the swamp but instead rested a night was because of this. He followed the trail this group had left behind. He saw signs of many more battles, and after walking halfway, he once more saw a couple Dou Huangs' corpses. However Yao Chen himself wasn't impeded in the slightest. Obviously that first group had cleared out the path. For a moment he had a feeling of reaping what he hadn't sown.
Gradually the air became scorching hot while a faint burnt smell drifted through the air. Yao Chen could clearly feel the Bone Chilling Flame in his body had become a bit unsteady. Could it be that a Heavenly Flame was ahead?
Quickening his steps, the land ahead of the swamp was a soil what was burnt black. It was a forest that had been burnt to nothing by a huge fire. The scorching sensation in the air became even stronger. The feeling of a Heavenly Flame ahead became even more intense.
A mile further was a building that was surrounded by a black wall. A cold terror came from it. This building was precisely the location of the 'Mantra' character on the leaf map.
"Quick, seal it! This isn't a Heavenly Flame but a Tian class cultivation technique! No, it might surpass Tian class!"
Suddenly Mu Gu's scream rang out from within that black wall's boundaries. Obviously they had reached a critical moment and even Mu Gu couldn't hold back anymore.
Following his shout came the rumbling of a large battle.
Yao Chen's gaze flashed. Just as he was about to go forward, the ground beside him rumbled and three mounds of earth silently rose. Three black-robed people dug their way out.
The Three Scorpion Devil Ghosts!
Yao Chen was startled to see them. Only when the Three Scorpion Devil Ghosts raised their heads did they realize Yao Chen was right beside them and were shocked.
"Shh."
The Three Scorpion Devil Ghosts all gestured at him to be quiet. They were a bit bitter inside, never expecting to run into Yao Chen here.
Yao Chen nodded his head slightly. He was also a bit depressed, feeling that he was the one who should be bitter about running into an opponent here.
"Yao Chen, fate brought us here at the same time. Do you want to join hands with us brothers?" proposed the eldest of the Three Scorpion Devil Ghosts.
At this time they could hear that the battle behind the wall was becoming even more intense. Miserable screams would sometimes ring out. It seemed that Mu Gu's group had suffered some heavy injuries.
The three of them were confident that if they joined hands and took a good opportunity then they would be able to immediately kill a peak Dou Zong. The only exception would be that Mu Gu, but if he had been injured and then they immediately killed Yao Chen… then all the treasures would be theirs.
Moreover they were also certain that two grandmaster alchemists like Yao Chen and Mu Gu would have many precious items.
Yao Chen indifferently smiled and the aura over his body gradually grew stronger. Bone Chilling Flame danced over his fingertips.
Although the Bone Chilling Flame he used at this moment was only the size of a thumb, the energy contained within it was enough to burn up an entire river.
The Three Scorpion Devil Ghosts were a bit disappointed at that, knowing they had missed the best opportunity to kill him.
"How does working together sound? We'll take the cultivation technique and you can take the Heavenly Flame."
"That's a good deal. Although you have the Bone Chilling Flame, you can leave behind a Heavenly Flame seed for your apprentice or someone."
"We're also not alchemists and so we aren't interested. How about we just put aside our differences?"
"Plus who knows whether Mu Gu really did do something to Han Shanshan. Everyone knows Mu Gu is an extremely vicious person while Han Shanshan was the reason he was kicked out from Pill City."
The three of them all tried to persuade Yao Chen to join hands against Mu Gu.
Yao Chen truly was a bit enticed. He had never actually ceased his suspicions of Mu Gu. Han Shanshan had never left Pill City before and never offended anyone other than Mu Gu. She had always been nice to others and never formed any enemies.
However, joining hands with those three was definitely not a good idea. He coldly laughed, "You three are welcome to do as you please. Everything will rely on your own ability."
After saying that Yao Chen focused on that huge building a mile away. After ten years of investigation, Yao Chen had a great understanding of Mu Gu. Shouting like that in panic was definitely not Mu Gu's style. He was someone who liked to control the rhythm and have everyone dancing in the palm of his hand.
"You!"
"How dare you!"
"Ha, what a great idea! It will rely on our abilities!"
Yao Chen only coldly smiled. "I'd advise you three not to fall for that insidious Mu Gu's traps."
The Three Scorpion Devil Ghosts could now hear that the miserable screams were gradually quieting down now, so they no longer hesitated. Exchanging a glance, they silently crept over, wanting to take advantage of this opportunity.
What trap? Those three had all obtained a senior's inheritance and knew that this place concealed a huge treasure house but was also extremely dangerous. Even a Dou Zun wouldn't necessarily be able to pass through safely. Mu Gu might be cruel and savage, but he wasn't on the same level as a Dou Zun. Most likely the danger had already passed. If they went now, they might be able to get the advantage and take the treasure. If they were late a step and let them recover, then this opportunity would not come again.
As for Yao Chen, they naturally were planning on taking care of him after making off with the treasure. If they joined hands, why would they fear anyone who hadn't reached the Dou Zun class?
Yao Chen didn't go over immediately. He still stood there in his original position, quietly waiting.
As soon as the Three Scorpion Devil Ghosts entered that wall, three shrieks rang out.
"Haha, as expected, it's you three." Mu Gu's pleased laugh rang out at the same time. "Did you really think you could conceal yourselves from me? You wanted to sneak in front of me?"