Chapter 58: The Teleportation Array |
A streak of sword light descended.
“Bang!”
The sword light struck the serpent’s head, erupting in a dazzling blaze. The giant serpent let out a shrill hiss as its entire body was blasted away, slamming heavily into the cave wall.
Rocks shattered and rained down.
The serpent struggled back to its feet; a deep sword scar marred its scales, blood slowly seeping out.
It was finally afraid.
It turned, attempting to flee.
Lu Fengmian immediately followed with a second strike.
This blow did not slash toward the serpent, but toward the cave wall above its head.
Massive boulders tumbled down, sealing off the serpent’s escape route.
The giant serpent turned back, its vertical pupils filled with terror and madness.
It knew it could not escape.
Then it would fight to the death.
It opened its blood-filled maw, gathering all its demonic power and condensing it into a colossal breath of demonic qi.
That devilish aura carried the scent of annihilation; even observing it from afar made one’s scalp prickle.
The serpent violently whipped its head, and the demonic qi surged toward Lu Fengmian!
Wherever it passed, the air warped and the ground was carved into a deep trench.
Xiao Jin watched from the corner, fear flooding his heart.
“Senior Brother!”
Lu Fengmian merely raised his hand, and a golden sword light fell.
The sharp sword qi collided with the demonic qi, cleaving apart that world-destroying force—along with the giant serpent itself.
The serpent froze.
It lowered its head to look at the sword scar that pierced straight through its body.
Even in death, confusion lingered within its vertical pupils.
Why had this human suddenly become so powerful?
It collapsed.
Its massive body crashed onto the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.
Lu Fengmian stood where he was, the golden giant sword in his palm dispersing into nothingness.
He did not spare the serpent another glance. Instead, he turned and walked toward the pool.
The crystal fragment still floated there, light and shadow interweaving, like a galaxy slowly flowing within it.
Lu Fengmian reached out and grasped it.
The instant it touched his hand, a vast and ancient aura surged into his palm.
The Chaos Sky Crystal.
Found.
But before he could inspect it further—
Rumble!
The cavern began to shake violently. Rocks tumbled down; the ground split open into bottomless fissures.
The place was on the verge of collapse.
Lu Fengmian turned, scooped up Xiao Jin—who was still standing dazed in the corner—and flew out through the opening he had cleaved.
The moment he rushed out of the cave, his view suddenly broadened.
But he had no time to appreciate it. He halted midair and looked down.
The entire secret realm was trembling.
The ground cracked, peaks crumbled, and the wilderness they had traversed was sinking. In the distance, forests seemed torn apart by an invisible hand, the mist dispersing to reveal shattered earth beneath.
Lu Fengmian glanced at the Chaos Sky Crystal in his hand.
This object must have been the source of the secret realm’s power.
Since he had taken it, the realm would naturally collapse.
He had no time to think further. Grabbing Xiao Jin, he sped toward the direction of the teleportation array.
The teleportation array was still there.
However, the lights upon it had begun to flicker, brightening and dimming as if running out of power.
Behind him, the sound of the secret realm collapsing grew closer and closer.
Lu Fengmian carried Xiao Jin and charged into the teleportation array.
The two of them tumbled onto grass.
The moment he exited the secret realm, he felt his cultivation begin to recede frantically.
Golden Core Great Perfection. Late-stage Golden Core. Middle-stage Golden Core. Early-stage Golden Core.
It stopped.
An overwhelming wave of exhaustion crashed over him, drowning him completely. Every bone in his body ached; he did not even want to move a finger.
Lu Fengmian lay on the grass, staring at the blue sky and drifting white clouds, unwilling to move.
“Senior Brother!”
Xiao Jin’s voice rang in his ears.
The moment he had been set down, he saw Lu Fengmian lying motionless and was terrified out of his wits.
He rushed over and knelt beside him, face streaked with tears, not knowing where to place his hands.
“Senior Brother! Senior Brother, are you alright?!”
Lu Fengmian’s eyes were shut, unmoving.
Xiao Jin’s voice trembled. “Senior Brother, don’t scare me…”
“I’m fine. Just a little tired.”
Lu Fengmian finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse, as though utterly spent.
“Help me up.”
Xiao Jin hurried to support him.
With great effort, Lu Fengmian slowly sat up.
Then he lifted his head and surveyed his surroundings.
Green trees. Grassland.
Sunlight filtered down through the gaps between leaves.
Where had this teleportation brought them?
Where was this place?
Xiao Jin was equally stunned.
He looked around, then said softly, “Did we teleport to the wrong place?”
Lu Fengmian was silent for two seconds.
With the teleportation array low on energy and the secret realm collapsing, it was not surprising if they had been sent astray.
He let out a sigh and leaned against Xiao Jin’s shoulder.
“Let’s rest for a while,” he said. “Once we’ve recovered, we’ll find a way.”
Xiao Jin nodded vigorously.
He supported Lu Fengmian, not daring to move.
Meanwhile, at the very moment Lu Fengmian closed his eyes, the system notification sounded.
【Side mission “Lead one hundred disciples to successfully clear the secret realm” completed.】
【Overall evaluation: Perfect. All members survived. Additional Chaos Sky Crystal obtained. Mission exceeded expectations.】
【Reward granted: Cultivation raised to Ninth Layer of Golden Core (effective after side effects end), and skill “Concealed False Realm” acquired.】
【Concealed False Realm: Able to freely conceal true cultivation, adjust and display any realm lower than one’s own, and simulate the aura of a realm one level higher than one’s actual realm.】
Lu Fengmian opened his eyes and gazed at the sky fragmented by leaves overhead.
Ninth Layer of Golden Core—just one step away from Great Perfection.
Though he had to wait three days, he had ultimately obtained it.
And this Concealed False Realm…
He activated it experimentally and immediately grasped the wonder of this skill.
To hide his cultivation—and even simulate the aura of a higher realm.
In the future, pretending to be weak like a pig to devour a tiger, or borrowing the might of a tiger to intimidate others, would become far more convenient.
As he was pondering this, he suddenly remembered he still needed to inform Zhou Wu and the others.
The secret realm had collapsed like this; they must be worried sick.
He retrieved his communication jade talisman and infused it with spiritual power.
The connection went through almost instantly after he dialed.
“Senior Brother!”
Zhou Wu’s voice burst forth, so emotional it nearly cracked.
“Senior Brother, are you alright?”
From his tone, Lu Fengmian roughly guessed the situation on their side.
“I’m fine. Xiao Jin is with me,” he explained. “When the secret realm collapsed, the teleportation array malfunctioned and sent us somewhere else.”
Zhou Wu clearly let out a breath of relief. “As long as you’re alright. If you had been any later, Elder Meng would have directly reported to the Sect Master.”
***
Meanwhile, time rewound to the span of one incense stick earlier.
At the entrance to the secret realm, Elder Meng stood calmly with his hands clasped behind his back.
He had lived for so many years—what scene had he not witnessed? Sending disciples into a secret realm was a trivial matter, not worth his concern.
When Zhou Wu brought the group out, he did not even lift his eyelids.
Until Zhou Wu finished counting the people and stepped before him.
“Elder Meng, Senior Brother told us to come out first; he went to find a missing junior brother.”
Elder Meng opened his eyes, glanced at Zhou Wu, then at the group of disciples.
Indeed, two were missing.
“Understood,” he replied coolly, closing his eyes again to rest.
After waiting a while longer—
The entrance to the secret realm suddenly began to tremble.
The light gate flickered, like a candle in the wind, ready to extinguish at any moment.
Elder Meng’s brows furrowed.
“This is…”
Before he could finish speaking, the light gate flashed violently and then vanished completely.
Nothing remained there—only empty space.
Elder Meng’s expression finally changed.
“Where is the teleportation array?” he turned to Zhou Wu. “Where are they?”
Zhou Wu was also stunned.