Chapter 1326 |
Chapter 1326: The Ancient Desolate City
When Su Jingzhen and the others stepped through the misty passage, a sudden dizziness washed over them, as if the world were spinning.
An overwhelming surge of ancient, dense spiritual energy rushed forward.
What greeted their eyes next was a dim, desolate expanse of yellow sand strewn with broken limbs, shattered remains, and remnants of ancient weapons. The scene resembled an abandoned battlefield.
Yet this place was entirely distinct from the outside world.
The spiritual energy here was astonishingly rich—far denser than even the Divine Flame Family’s territory.
Simply cultivating here for a month, doing nothing else, would bring immense benefits to any cultivator.
“This is the trial ground—an ancient battlefield and ruin,”
Huo Yang explained excitedly as they arrived.
“Legend has it that weapons wielded by ancient powerhouses remain hidden here, still intact. There are also countless legacies and treasures left by those experts. With a bit of luck, everyone here could seize tremendous opportunities.”
Her excitement was palpable. She had anticipated this Central Trial for a long time. Though she hadn’t mentioned it to Su Jingzhen or You Yue, without encountering the Demon Warrior Legion and securing their aid, she’d never have gained entry to this trial ground.
Su Jingzhen, however, smiled at her words. “True opportunities aren’t just about weapons or legacies. As the eldest daughter of the Divine Flame Family’s main lineage, do you really lack such things?”
As he spoke, he glanced at Huo Yang’s seemingly ordinary accessories. In truth, each was a potent magical artifact.
As the pampered darling of the Divine Flame Family, she certainly didn’t want for weapons or treasures.
You Yue nodded in agreement.
“Our Demon Warrior Legion has already reached the half-step Demon King Realm. One more step, and we’ll truly enter the Demon King Realm. This trial ground is the perfect place to make that leap.”
For the Demon Warrior Legion, the greatest opportunity lay in the thousands of legions that had entered alongside them.
Huo Yang’s eyes gleamed brighter. “Then let’s claim all the Heavenly Water Family’s legions for our Demon Warrior Legion this time.”
The Heavenly Water Family rivaled the Divine Flame Family in strength and had brought nearly five hundred legions into the trial.
Each was formidable, especially elites like the Red Water Legion.
After learning the Demon Warrior Legion could unleash ninth-stage Demon General power, they’d dared to challenge them.
This suggested the Red Water Legion’s strength hovered around the seventh or eighth stage Demon General level. Only a gap of one or two minor realms gave them a fighting chance—anything weaker would be crushed outright.
“Sister Huo Yang, can you sense where the Heavenly Water Family’s legions are?” Su Jingzhen asked directly.
Their focus wasn’t on weapons or legacies.
Their sole aim was to hunt down and eliminate the Heavenly Water Family’s legions, absorbing their killing aura.
Destroying all four to five hundred of their legions would propel the Demon Warrior Legion to unimaginable heights.
If they could wipe out every legion from other factions except the Divine Flame Family, reaching the Demon King Realm would be the bare minimum.
Huo Yang shook her head.
“I can only sense the Divine Flame Family’s main lineage. My brothers are already closing in fast with their legions—they must’ve left some mark on me when we entered.”
She paused, then added, “But this isn’t the first Central Trial. I know of special locations here that hold the greatest opportunities. If we head to those, we won’t struggle to find the Heavenly Water Family’s legions.”
Su Jingzhen and the others’ eyes lit up. The trial ground was vast—searching aimlessly for their targets would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Heading to key locations and waiting for their prey made far more sense.
With their decision set, they wasted no time. Under Huo Yang’s guidance, they sped toward the sites she’d mentioned.
“We entered through the Desolate Gate. At the heart of the Desolate Zone lies the Ancient Desolate City. Legend says it’s where the Ancient Desolate Demon King fell, leaving his legacy behind. That’s why it’s always one of the busiest spots in every trial. We’re bound to find something there.”
She paused before continuing, “One thing to note, though—after we started moving, the major Demon King-level factions’ legions also stirred. Since we took the Desolate Gate, many will likely avoid us.
So, in the Desolate Zone, the Divine Flame Family’s legions probably outnumber others. Finding the Heavenly Water Family’s forces here might be tricky.
After exploring the Ancient Desolate City, we can head to other zones. There’s a passage behind the city leading elsewhere.”
As the daughter of the Divine Flame Family’s main lineage, Huo Yang was well-versed in the trial ground’s basics.
Su Jingzhen and the others nodded and hastened toward the Desolate Zone’s center.
Meanwhile, across the Desolate Zone, many core disciples of the Divine Flame Family’s main lineage sensed Huo Yang’s rapid movement and grew anxious.
“What’s our little sister up to? Didn’t we tell her to wait for us after entering?”
“She’s clearly heading for the Ancient Desolate City. If we go straight there, we’ll catch up.”
“The Heavenly Water Family’s legions are heavily invested this time—most outmatch ours. Given our families’ current tensions, I’m not confident we’d win a clash.”
As they debated, the main lineage disciples led their legions toward the Ancient Desolate City at full speed. The other branches followed Huo Yang’s trail too, though less boldly than the main lineage.
On their way, Su Jingzhen and the others encountered a few legions from mid-tier Demon General-level factions in the central region. Spotting the Demon Warrior Legion, these groups retreated instantly, unwilling to engage.
After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a massive city loomed in the distance within Su Jingzhen’s sight. From afar, it resembled a giant beast crouched on the ground.
Most of its buildings lay in ruins, yet even from a distance, Su Jingzhen and the others felt the chaotic, violent energy radiating from it.
“This is the Ancient Desolate City!” Huo Yang exclaimed, her excitement surging anew.
Su Jingzhen’s eyes gleamed too. Even before arriving, he sensed fragmented Dao energies emanating from the city—exactly what his Pure Land of Extreme Bliss needed. For him, its growth outweighed even the Demon Warrior Legion’s.
“If we can seize everything in the Ancient Desolate City, legions will flock here eventually. Then, none of the Heavenly Water Family’s forces will escape,” he thought.
As they drew closer, the spiritual energy grew denser and more volatile. Five hundred zhang from the city, they hit a massive energy barrier. Though damaged, it pulsed with fierce power. Even You Yue, at high-level Demon Sage Realm, tried and failed to breach it. Bypassing it proved impossible too.
Su Jingzhen and You Yue frowned.
“Brother Jingzhen, Sister You Yue, the Ancient Desolate City may be in ruins, but the Ancient Desolate Demon King’s majesty lingers. To enter, we must use the main gate—at least, that’s how it’s been in past trials,” Huo Yang explained.
They nodded and led the Demon Warrior Legion toward the main gate. Yet even there, a formidable barrier persisted. You Yue’s high-level Demon Sage Realm strength couldn’t dent it.
Frustration flared in Su Jingzhen and You Yue.
“Demon Warrior Legion, gather the killing aura!” You Yue ordered sharply.
Instantly, the massive killing aura dragon materialized overhead.
A powerful energy sphere formed and hurtled toward the barrier.
The Demon Warrior Legion unleashed their full might, the sphere surging to half-step Demon King Realm strength. It struck with a violent explosion, the shockwave shoving the legion back dozens of zhang. Yet when the energy cleared, the barrier stood unbroken.
“This…” You Yue and Huo Yang frowned in unison.
That sphere could’ve devastated any legion it hit. How could the Ancient Desolate City’s ruined barrier, even with the Demon King’s lingering power, remain so resilient?
Unwilling to yield, You Yue readied another attempt. But Su Jingzhen stepped forward, clutching his black brick.
“Let me try first.”