Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
After returning to the camp of the Nether Heavenly Palace, Zhang Ruochen took out a pen and paper from his spatial ring. He pondered while writing.
He spent the entire night to finally finish the four letters. He placed them into envelopes and sealed them. The four envelopes had different names on them: Mother, Huang Yanchen, Kong Lanyou, Chi Yao.
He actually wanted to write more letters to more people and arrange more matters. However, there wasn’t enough time. He could only write to the most important people. Respectively, they were the one closest to him, the one he should be the most responsible to, the one he was the most apologetic to, and the one he hated and loved the most.
Before, he’d felt most apologetic to Kong Lanyou. He’d lied to her twice. He had no other choice.
They were friends from 800 years ago. After Kong Lanyou heard the name “Zhang Ruochen,” she personally came to see this stranger and had even come twice. It was obvious how important this name was to her.
Zhang Ruochen actually understood many things, but he chose to avoid it because of various reasons.
He took a deep breath. Putting the four letters and the Universe Spiritual Map together, he gave them to Blackie. “If I don’t return from the Bottomless Abyss, send these four letters for me.”
Blackie took them. “When you said you have things to do, did you mean writing wills?”
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “Not really! I just felt like there were some things I should make clear. If I don’t die in the Bottomless Abyss, these four letters would naturally lose meaning.”
“Actually, I feel like we should spread the news that the Bottomless Abyss has three gradients,” Blackie said. “That way, the Confucius Way and imperial court will definitely send strong cultivators to investigate the Saint Lady. You won’t have to go personally.”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. “First of all, if we do that, the people who want to kill the Saint Lady will definitely reach the first gradient before us. Second, I’m not going there just to check if the Saint Lady is alive. I have something more important to do.”
“There’s something more important?” Blackie asked.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes were very deep. “From what I learned from Discipline King Haiming, plus the Vampires we met yesterday at the Bottomless Abyss and the Saint Lady’s death, I feel that there is a world-shocking secret inside the abyss. Perhaps, I can find the answer if I go down.”
The sky had become lighter. It was a new day.
Zhang Ruochen decided that he would visit the Bottomless Abyss again today. However, just as he walked out of his residence, he heard the Banner King Wuliang summon him to the entrance of Cangtian Canyon.
“What’s wrong?”
Zhang Ruochen thought for a moment. Then he used a physical technique and disappeared from the spot, rushing toward the entrance.
Cangtian Canyon’s entrance was a vast snowfield. At the moment, 120 Banner Fighters in black armor stood in organized lines on the field.
Even the weakest one had completed the Heavenly Realm. More than half of them were in the Fish-Dragon Realm. Such an elite army was enough to defeat an entire Half-Saint family.
Whoosh!
A black pillar of light descended from the sky and materialized into Banner King Wuliang’s Half-Saint body. He hovered about 100 feet in the air.
“Greetings, Banner King,” the 120 Banner Fighters roared at once with a thunderous power.
Zhang Ruochen was outside the canyon now. He stood in the distance and looked at the 120 Banner Fighters and Banner King Wuliang in suspicion.
Banner King Wuliang looked in Zhang Ruochen’s direction and declared, “Eight hundred miles to the east of the Bottom Abyss is Mount Luofeng. Some traces of blood beasts appeared there. The Vice Palace Leader has ordered for them to all be killed today. Banner Lord Gu, you will be in charge of the team, okay?”
Zhang Ruochen had learned about the blood beasts from Blackie. He still pretended to be confused and asked, “Banner King, what are blood beasts?”
Banner King Wuliang landed on the ground. A ring of Holy Qi from his palm formed a territory around him and Zhang Ruochen. He studied Zhang Ruochen.
“There are some secrets of the Bottomless Abyss that only those at the Banner Lord level are qualified to know. Since I’m sending you as the leader today, I will tell you the secrets of the blood beasts today.”
With the territory around them, the Banner Fighters outside couldn’t hear their conversation at all.
Banner King Wuliang’s expression was serious. “You must have heard about the Blood Empress, correct?”
“Of course,” Zhang Ruochen said. “I’ve heard that the Blood Empress is the strongest Supreme Saint in the history of the Immortal Vampires, other than Pluto.”
Banner King Wuliang nodded. “Eight hundred years ago, the Blood Empress fought against Emperor Ming. In the end, she fell into the Bottomless Abyss.”
“In that battle, her blood splattered all over the first gradient. Some savage beasts absorbed the powerful Blood Qi in it and actually became blood-drinking beasts. The mission of the Nether Heavenly Palace is to kill all of them and prevent them from escaping out of the Ancient Snow Mountain.”
Zhang Ruochen’s heart jumped. “What is the first gradient?” he asked in confusion.
“The first gradient is in the Bottomless Abyss.” Seeing that Zhang Ruochen was still confused, Banner King Wuliang continued. “The Bottomless Abyss is actually divided into three gradients. If you enter the first and second gradient, there’s still a chance for you to return to the earth. Only entering the third gradient will really be a passage of no return.”
“This is top confidential information. Only those at or above the Banner Lord level are qualified to know about this. You must keep the secret. If you spread it, death will await you.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded. “Who discovered this secret first?”
“It’s obviously the founder of the Blood God Sect,” Banner King Wuliang said. “Apparently, 300 years ago when he was still very young, he came to the Ancient Snow Mountain to challenge himself and was attacked by blood beasts. After he killed them, he searched for their source by himself and went all the day to the Bottomless Abyss. He discovered that there are two layers of worlds inside the abyss. The blood beasts climbed out of the first gradient.”
“Have you gone to the first gradient?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
“No.” Banner King Wuliang immediately shook his head. “The founder has ordered that no one can enter the first gradient without his permission. Plus, the first gradient is extremely dangerous. A Banner King once snuck into it to investigate the secret there, but he never returned. The founder personally went to save him, but he only brought back a skeleton.”
Banner King Wuliang glanced at Zhang Ruochen. “Banner Lord Gu, you seem very interested in the first gradient. I must remind you that even a Banner King has died there. With your cultivation, it’s best if you don’t take the risk.”
“I understand,” Zhang Ruochen said.
“Go cleanse Mount Luofeng of blood beasts,” Banner King Wuliang said. “That is your first mission. You must complete it well.”
Zhang Ruochen led the 120 Banner Fighters away. They all rode elephants and galloped toward Mount Luofeng. They swept up endless wind and snow.
“There’s no reason to say so many things to someone who’s about to die. I’m already kind enough. The Deity should be waiting for him at Mount Luofeng!”
Banner King Wuliang smiled. He dissipated into a ball of black smoke and scattered in the air.
I’ll go to Mount Luofeng and find a way to escape, Zhang Ruochen thought from the back of the elephant.
The elephants ran very quickly. An hour later, Zhang Ruochen could already see the shape of Mount Luofeng.
Just then, Zhao Shiqi’s voice traveled into Zhang Ruochen’s ears with the Thousand-mile Communication Technique. “Young lord, Mount Luofeng is a trap set up by Banner King Wuliang and the Deity. They want to use this to kill you.”
Zhang Ruochen’s heart jumped. He spread his Spiritual Power in the direction of the sound waves and quickly located Zhao Shiqi. He was at Mount Luofeng.
The Deity had tried many times to kill Zhang Ruochen, successfully angering him. If he didn’t kill the Deity, he didn’t know what other tactics would be tried.
“Banner King Wuliang is also at Mount Luofeng?” Zhang Ruochen asked, eyes turning cold.
“No,” Zhao Shiqi continued saying. “The Deity thinks that you’re only a second level Half-Saint, so he only brought four Banner Kings. If we work together, we can kill them all. Shall we attack?”
“Of course.” Then Zhang Ruochen added, “Attack when I arrive. It’s best not to leave anyone alive.”
Zhang Ruochen continued riding the elephant as if he didn’t know anything. He led the 120 Banner Fighters toward Mount Luofeng.
Mei Lanzhu stood at the top of the icy abyss on Mount Luofeng. Seeing the approaching Banner Fighters, he sneered. “Gu Linfeng is an idiot. He really did come to Mount Luofeng. Banner King Qifeng, attack immediately.”
“Deity, rest assured. I have already set up the Divine Tornado Formation. Even if Gu Linfeng is a seventh level Half-Saint, he’ll still die.”
Banner King Qifeng leered. He opened his metal fan. Activating his Spiritual Power, he waved his fan. Blinding light poured from the fan. Thin streams of runes flew out.
Whoosh!
The runes activated the Divine Tornado Formation. All the snowy peaks within a hundred-mile-radius started shaking. Dense blades of wind flew out to try and swallow Zhang Ruochen and the 120 Banner Fighters.
“Ah…a trap…”
“Save me…attack the formation…”
Pained cries rose one after another in the mountain. The Banner Fighters couldn’t block the wind blades at all. Their bodies were split apart, creating piles of mutilated bodies in the puddles of blood.
Seeing this, Mei Lanzhu smiled in satisfaction. “The Divine Tornado Formation is indeed the most advanced Sixth Grade Battle Formation. Gu Linfeng must be totally dead now. It’s just a pity that we’ve lost a group of elite Banner Fighters to kill him.”
Behind Mei Lanzhu, Zhao Shiqi chuckled and said, “If the Banner Fighters didn’t die with him, who would believe that an important figure of the Blood God Sect would die here?”
“Gu Linfeng is just a clown. How can he be an important figure?” Mei Lanzhu peered at Zhao Shiqi and scoffed in disdain.
