Chapter 364: There’s Still Someone Lurking
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Although Ying Luozha was the first to enter the maze, he stopped immediately after entering. Standing at the entrance, he looked at the two diverging paths and did not proceed blindly. Rather, he closed his eyes while quietly sensing the Spiritual Energy flows within the maze.
He was rebellious and defiant by nature, but definitely not reckless. To the contrary, the experience of being a vagrant since childhood, drifting from place to place, has molded a survival instinct and ability that far exceeded his peers. When placed in an unknown environment, he was calmer, as well as more cautious.
He was like a gray wolf, which roams alone in the Alaskan wilderness. The wolf, by nature, was an animal that combined cold-bloodedness, savagery, cunning, and caution.
After a long while, Ying Luozha opened his eyes, his pupils flickering with a faint glow as he gazed at the maze in front of him. The air around him grew heavier as well as more wary.
If it was purely a matter of personality, if the maze appeared mundane and unremarkable, he would pick the same approach as Liu Xiafeng – sensing Spiritual Energy fluctuations and press on according to instinct.
However, at the back of his head, he has a subtle sensation – that the maze’s Spiritual Energy fluctuations might deceive him intentionally.
After a moment in thought, Ying Luozha suddenly extracted a piece of silk from his robes and carefully pulled out one of the threads.
He affixed one end of the thread to the entrance before cautiously walking deeper into the maze, all the while letting loose thread from the silk.
When he ran out of silk threads, he took out another piece of cloth, removing a thread and connecting it to the silk thread before continuing to walk.
Although Ying Luozha couldn’t see it, but outside the maze, Zhu Yi, Xiao Yan and the rest could see that in another spatial plane, Xu Yunsheng was using the exact same method as Ying Luozha.
This diligent and cool-headed teenager also used thread to position himself and identify directions in the maze.
Lin Feng watched this scene with considerable interest. “I remember it’s a Greek myth I’ve seen in my previous life – the protagonist also used this way to walk out of a maze that none before him could escape?”
“At this sort of moment, am I supposed to say ‘Wisdom is universal, always’?” Lin Feng’s lips curved upwards. “Never mind, since you evoked my memories – this time I’ll give you a break. Count that as a reward for you.”
If Lin Feng wanted to, he could still tamper with Xu Yunsheng and Ying Luozha’s threads – much like what he did to the marks left by Li Xingfei and the others.
Looking at the two teenagers in the moving images, a slight smile came across Lin Feng’s lips. “But, if you think that you can walk out of the maze like this – that would be naïve.”
Soon, Ying Luozha and Xu Yunsheng discovered the problem almost at the same time.
The two have explored almost the entire maze – but in the end, they received a rude shock. Every single path – every single one of them – led to a dead end.
Ying Luozha was enraged. “What sort of maze is this? Only an entrance, no exits? Playing me for a fool?”
In another spatial plane, Xu Yunsheng’s face was gloomy as a thundercloud as well. This purple maze was actually a completely sealed palace – there were only one entrance, but no exits at all.
After spending all that effort, they were played for a fool. Anyone, put in their position, would be raving mad.
“Stay calm, stay calm.” Xu Yunsheng gazed at the top of the palace. “It’s impossible that the Grandmaster set this challenge to play games with us – it must be that I haven’t found the correct way yet.”
Following the thread, he returned to the entrance. Gazing at the maze – spread out before his eyes like a deep, dark abyss, he was deep in thought, silent.
Meanwhile, after his initial outburst, Ying Luozha cooled down quickly as well, and just like Xu Yunsheng, he returned to the entrance of the maze and started pondering the problem.
Blind frustration and rage were both undesirable – they would only cause you to fall into the maze’s trap. Ying Luozha even suspected that the purpose of the maze was to provoke him into rashness and upset, such that his solid resolve would start to waver.
Gazing at Xu Yunsheng and Ying Luozha, who have calmed down and were deep in thought, Lin Feng nodded slowly. “Potential, both of them. Lots of potential.”
Lin Feng and the others watched the events unfold from the outside. Because every person was in an independent spatial plane – alone – when faced with setbacks and difficulties, their vastly differing mental states were naked for all to see.
Some disciples possess decent Innate Ability and Intelligence, as well as being above average in terms of Qi Cultivation. However, their determination appeared to be weak – the emotional toll of being trapped in the maze, ranging from anxiety and despondency to fury, severely affected their judgment.
As time passed, the gaps between the disciples widened even further. Some were stuck completely in the maze – you could tell with one look that without help, they would probably never make it out.
Meanwhile, a minority was consistently able to identify directions within the maze, but as they continued to be unable to find the right path, they were forced to return to the entrance first as they re-assessed the situation.
It was then that one of Lin Feng’s Voice-Projecting Crystals suddenly started vibrating. After shattering the crystal, a long-awaited voice emitted from the other side.
“Lord Lin, you’ve been well?” The person projecting the voice, somewhat surprisingly, was Yan Mingyue – the one who already returned to Mount Baiyun previously.
“Ah, it’s you, my friend. It’s been a while since I heard your voice.” Lin Feng answered.
“I must first congratulate you – to be precisely, for your disciples’ consecutive victories at the Spiritual Conference of Huanghai.” Yan Mingyue laughed quietly.
“You’re too polite, my friend.” After a slight pause, Lin Feng asked, “About everything that happened at the Conference…you’ve heard about it?”
“Mingyue does already know about the matter.” Yan Mingyue said, “Regarding the re-surfacing of the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation – I was shocked as well. Still, fortunately, with the intervention of Lord Lin, Prince Anliang and the others, the situation was still salvageable.”
“But the Nine Luminaries Heaven-Crushing Formation falling into the hands of the Demonic Clan once again – it is a disaster for the entire Divine Lands. Both Mingyue and Mingyue’s Sect are paying close attention to this matter. This time, Mingyue returned due to my Sect’s trust, to be responsible for investigating this matter.”
Lin Feng’s eyes flickered. “Oh? You’re charged with the investigation, then what about your new All-Under-Heavens Strider?”
Yan Mingyue halted slightly, and then answered calmly, “The Sect has other arrangments for Senior Lin. As for the specifics, I do not know much about that.”
Since it has already been revealed, Yan Mingyue did not evade any further but told Lin Feng directly. “Lin Daohan, my Big Senior, is the new All-Under-Heavens Strider appointed by the Sect after Junior Pang Jie stepped down.”
Yan Mingyue’s voice was infused with some uncertainty. “I remember three years ago, Mingyue’s body was destroyed because of the mutually destructive battle with Longye. Only a strand of my soul took refuge in a ring – afterwards, I finally awakened, and it was then that I met Lord Lin for the first time.”
“Among those present then, apart from Xiao Yan – who is now Lord Lin’s First Disciple – there was only your Little Disciple, Shi Tianhao.”
Lin Feng was rather perplexed at why Yan Mingyue would suddenly bring up the past. He did not interject, but listened quietly – Yan Mingyue probably has more to say.
As expected, Yan Mingyue continued. “At that time, I said that Shi Tianhao, Lord Lin’s Little Disciple, has extraordinary talent. The extent of his capacity and Inner Ability…I have only seen that on one of my Seniors before, none else.”
Lin Feng’s pupils contracted slightly. “The one you mean…that would be Lin Daohan?”
“Exactly.” Yan Mingyue said gently. After the words fell, she was silent.
Although she only mentioned that Lin Daohan has incredibly high Innate Ability and talent and did not comment on his other areas, but Lin Feng believed that, to deserve being regarded so seriously by Yan Mingyue – this person was definitely not a simple character.
After all, Yan Mingyue now – she has already accomplished Immortal Soul stage!
That time he met Yan Mingyue again at the Sect-Opening Ceremony outside Shazhou City, Lin Feng already realized this. That was why he congratulated Yan Mingyue then – that she not only was reborn, but managed to rise even further.
Lin Feng nodded slightly as he asked, calm, “Then, pray tell, within the Great Void Sect, this Big Senior of yours – is he a radical or a conservative?”
Yan Mingyue was not surprised that Lin Feng knew about the factions within the Great Void Sect, and there was no displeasure within her voice either. “Big Senior is the Conservative faction’s most outstanding successor in millennia.”
“Barring surprises, it is almost certain that Big Senior will eventually take over the reins of the Great Void Sect.”
Abruptly, some semblance of a smile appeared on Lin Feng’s otherwise composed face. “This sort of character – he did not cultivate quietly in Mount Baiyun, but came down suddenly. It could not have been without cause – I wonder who is his target?”
“Demonic Clan, Mount Shu, the Great Zhou…” Yan Mingyue chuckled quietly. “Maybe now, you, Lord Lin, are part of the list as well.”
“What a great honor for me then.” Lin Feng smiled.
Yan Mingyue’s lips curved upwards, wordless. She seemed to suddenly recall something and said, smiling, “Oh, right, Lord Lin, I came to know only recently that the Great Zhou Empire has planted a mole in your Sect.”
Lin Feng’s gaze flickered as he thought. “She is allied with the Great Zhou Empire now – why would she sell them out?”
As he thought, Lin Feng nodded. Without attempting to cover it up, he smiled. “So, he was sent by the Great Zhou Empire.”
“So, Lord Lin already knows?” Yan Mingyue’s tone was light-hearted. “This is Emperor Liang Pan’s scheme – he is used to planning ahead.”
She said quietly, “But to my knowledge, apart from the Great Zhou Empire, my Sect – the Great Void Sect – has also taken the opportunity of your Sect-Opening Ceremony to plant a hidden piece in Lord Lin’s Celestial Sect of Wonders.”
Lin Feng’s pupils contracted suddenly. “As I said, I should really feel honored,” He said quietly.
“As long as Lord Lin is sure.” After some more pleasantries, Yan Mingyue ended the transmission. After a moment in thought, Lin Feng raised his head and gazed at the moving images showing those within the maze of purple clouds now.
After a long while, a semblance of a smile came across Lin Feng’s lips.
At this moment, apart from Xu Yunsheng and Ying Luozha, Li Xingfei has also returned to the entrance of the maze. Almost at the same time, Liu Xiafeng was back to the starting point as well, shaking his head as he gazed at the huge maze before him with vexation.
Looking at this scene, Xiao Yan tilted his head at Zhu Yi. “Your prediction is rather accurate.”
“After all, it was me who enlightened them. Not to say I know them down to the last hair, but I have a rough grasp of things,” Zhu Yi answered.
He let out a quiet sigh. “But to walk out of the maze Master set up – they still have much to go.”
Xiao Budian chuckled. “Actually, before they entered the maze, Master’s hint was already quite explicit.”
