In the energy passageway.
Fang Ping could feel its difference from Magic City’s as soon as he went in.
In Magic City’s energy passageway, Mentality could not be expelled, hence it was very difficult to figure out that it was formed by the solidification of energy particles.
Whereas for Nanjiang, as soon as one entered, one could immediately sense that the passageway was saturated with immense energy!
At this moment, Wu Chuan and the rest were releasing Mentality. Not to seal off the passageway, but to stabilize it.
Old Man Li had walked to Fang Ping’s side some time ago, very much alert. “Be careful, all of you. Someone may enter on the other end. The passageway has just stabilized. This is also the most dangerous time!”
As he was speaking, the passageway shook all of a sudden!
Huge amounts of energy particles started exploding. Fang Ping’s Mentality and Celestial Bridges started quivering, absorbing madly. But, the absorbed energy particles were only a drop in the bucket!
The energy passageway that linked both worlds together had an energy that was beyond immense!
Fang Ping’s internal organs were slammed by the immense energy, so intense that they were quivering. Beside him, Qin Fengqing was the weakest. Blood was even spilling out of his mouth.
Luckily, the Grandmasters acted one after another then, releasing their Mentality, and started suppressing the particle outbreak.
“Someone has entered on the other end!”
After a while, Wu Chuan breathed a sigh of relief and said. Then, he added, “Might be a Rank-9. That person has retreated, though!”
Fang Ping and the rest could not quite understand. Old Man Li said in a low voice, “There’s a limit to how many of us can enter. It’s the same for them. Now that we’ve entered, the passageway will become unstable if they enter too. If the passageway is destroyed, both sides will be in trouble.
“Clearly, the other party does not dare to take the risk…”
Fang Ping’s pupils contracted, asking hurriedly, “Does that mean that if the other party is heartless, he can destroy us straightaway?”
“That person has to be a Rank-9 at least.”
While walking, Old Man Li chuckled. “For a Rank-7, although it can cause temporary instability, both ends are quite near to each other. Guardian Wu and the rest can still hold on for a moment. When they reach the end, that’s when they will kill the other party.
“If they have the intention to drag us to death, then a Rank-9 needs to come in to perish together with us. But, this does not typically happen.
“Even if it’s in the Catacombs, a Rank-9 powerhouse is also the lord of a city. Do you think that they will exchange their lives for ours in order to stop us from entering?”
“I have a feeling that it’s too risky.”
Fang Ping mumbled. Old Man Li was indifferent. “Entering the Catacombs itself is risky. This little bit of danger in the passageway is nothing.”
As he said those words, they were already nearing the end of the passageway.
This passageway was only a kilometer long. Right now, huge amounts of energy particles had yet to solidify.
Fang Ping did not say anything. Qin Fengqing, however, was jealous. “Other things aside, if one can cultivate in this passageway for a few days, it still won’t be comparable to a few months outside!”
“It’s too dangerous!”
Wu Chuan shook his head slightly, saying, “Besides, you can’t enter in the early stage. When it has been stabilized, these scattered energy particles will quickly be absorbed by the passageway. Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, it will go back to normal, hence cultivating in the passageway is not reliable at all.”
Fang Ping responded. “Mentality can strip off particles from the passageway, right? Isn’t this just a colossal energy mine?”
“The difficulty level is extremely high. After it solidifies, the energy won’t be as active. Even I find it difficult to strip them off. The loss outweighs the gain. It’s not worth it.”
It was not impossible, but unwillingness.
Rank-9 powerhouses could absorb free energy particles at a speed beyond the maximum limit. While if they absorbed them in the passageway, that speed would be slow beyond the maximum limit.
Although the energy in the passageway was almost limitless, the absorption was slow. It would be better not to absorb them.
When they arrived at the end of the passageway, Wu Chuan took a deep breath, saying, “Someone from the other end came in earlier. Clearly, the best possible outcome that we predicted did not happen!”
The best possible outcome was simply having no one on the other end, with no one discovering the entrance.
This happened before. At least according to past records, when the Xishan’s passageway was discovered, there was no one on the other end.
When a few passageways in the early stages were discovered, there were also instances when the other end was deserted and uninhabited.
However, in recent years, such situations no longer appeared. Once the passageway was opened, the other end was always heavily guarded.
Wu Chuan blew out the air in his lungs, stared at the exit for some time, and said with a deep voice, “Once I come out later, I will face the attack immediately. So, I’ll go out first and delay the other party. Commander Zhou and the guys wait 10 seconds before going out.
“Rank-6 martial artists, wait after Commander Zhou and the guys have gone for 20 seconds before leaving the passageway.
“As for Fang Ping and the rest… just act accordingly. Disengage from the battlefield the moment you get out. Life or death rests in the hands of fate!
“Also, remember!”
At this moment, Wu Chuan put on a much more solemn expression, saying, “If the ones in front kept failing to send news back, and when the individual who enters as the second wave did not return as well, whereas the Catacombs martial artists started charging outward, then, in a pinch, the Military Department might seal off the passageway.
“Once it is sealed off, if anyone is still alive, look for a place to hide and don’t show up anymore. Wait for the passageway to open for the second time!”
“We got it!”
Everyone responded. As for whether they could make it until the second opening, that would depend on luck.
The probability was that… they would not be able to make it.
Being all alone in the Catacombs, surrounded by enemies on all sides. If one had been discovered, one would almost never escape the fate of getting hunted by the Catacombs martial artists.
“Then we’ll act according to plan. Zhang Dingnan, once you have gone out with Liu Polu, both of you are mainly in charge of guarding the passageway! As for the rest of the Rank-6 martial artists, assist both of them. Guard constantly for two days and our reinforcement will come!”
In two days, the passageway would stabilize once more, and the second wave would be able to enter!
At this moment, with Wu Chuan and everyone else moving along the entire way, the energy particles in the passageway were once again fluctuating. This was an untimely moment for powerhouses to enter again.
Everyone continued to respond. As for whether they could defend for two days, it was hard to tell.
Typically, fights between martial artists ended pretty quickly.
Despite that, no matter it was possible or not, even if one were to truly perish in battle, one must impair the Catacombs’ high-end forces, so that when the next wave enters, they would not experience another round of tremendous loss due to the large number of powerhouses here at the Catacombs.
As they were talking, Fang Ping had already taken out a set of clothes from the sack that he had brought along, changing into it quickly.
On the ground surface earlier, he was too embarrassed to let others see him doing that.
Right now, Fang Ping had changed his clothes and put on a long wig.
Seeing that everyone was looking at him, he said quickly, “When I go out later, taking advantage of the chaotic situation, I will chase after Qin Fengqing and the rest. We’ll run out of the battlefield all the way. Elders, please don’t ever draw to us any attention!
“If you pay us any attention, we will be in much greater danger. Just treat us as mixed-up trash!”
This was no joke. It was better if the Grandmasters did not pay them any attention. If they did, then the Catacombs powerhouses would come after them immediately.
Wu Chuan could not suppress his laughter. Even Zhang Dingnan was slightly speechless. “You can’t fool them.”
“I might be able to!”
Fang Ping knew what they meant. When they start fighting, they would unleash Vitality Force outbursts. This was the largest difference between the Catacombs powerhouses and human powerhouses.
Martial artists could intensely feel energy waves.
Vitality waves and energy waves were different. As long as Fang Ping made a move, he would not be able to conceal his Vitality Force.
Nevertheless, that was them. Fang Ping was not completely out of options.
If the situation was in chaos later, then, by blending into the crowd, he might not get noticed.
Of course… if the other end was full of military martial artists… the Catacombs’ fort militants, then their attire would be different. Everyone’s attention would be fixed on him and he would be discovered in no time.
However, judging from past situations, folk martial artists and military martial artists would work together when the Catacombs sealed off the exit in the early stages.
Folk martial artists were dressed in various kinds of attire. If every Catacombs’ attire looked nearly the same, then he would stand a chance at deceiving them successfully.
With regard to Fang Ping’s idea, none of them had any comments.
It did not matter what he wore. It was best if he could blend in. Even if he could not, it would not make any difference. Whatever it was, he would be chased and hunted anyway.
Wu Chuan did not meddle in his affairs. There was no time anyway.
Taking a deep breath, a machete emerged out of nowhere in front of Wu Chuan.
Machete’s Qi activity was not noticeable. It appeared trite and insignificant, yet had Fang Ping and the rest gulping uncontrollably. This was Grandmasters’ weapon!
Between illusion and reality, just like Mentality, it could be concealed in the void or present in reality.
It was not that Grandmasters did not use weapons, but weapons were difficult to come by.
Forging a weapon like this could not be achieved merely with simple alloy materials. There were many requirements.
A typical Grandmaster powerhouse would not be able to forge it at all.
At present, out of the 7 Grandmasters on the spot, only Wu Chuan and Nanjiang’s Zhou Zhengyang owned them. Zhou Zhengyang’s Upright Sun Martial Arts Dojos were spread all over Nanjiang, or even the entire nation. He was also a wealthy man. Only after paying a big price did he manage to forge a Grandmaster weapon. It could also be called a Divine Weapon.
Able to conceal and present. Between illusion and reality, calling a weapon like this a Divine Weapon was not unfitting at all.
“I’m going out now!”
Wu Chuan did not delay any further. He took a deep breath and stepped into the vortex at the end of the passageway, vanishing from the spot instantly!
As soon as Wu Chuan left, everyone started to grow somewhat anxious, including Fang Ping and the rest. At this moment, they were also pursing their lips together, looking very stern.
Right now, there was no way of knowing how the situation was on the other end.
Although Wu Chuan was a highly powerful Rank-9 powerhouse, they could not afford a single mishap!
At this moment, everyone’s heartbeat could be heard distinctly in the passageway.
After a moment, Zhou Dingguo from the Military Department marched forward, saying, “I’m going now!”
Having said that, he sprung up, disappearing in the vortex.
As soon as Zhou Dingguo was gone, the remaining 5 Grandmasters exchanged glances, leaping forward one after another, leaving the passageway.
Old Man Li took a deep breath, gave Fang Ping a kick, and hissed, “Wait for a while before going out. Wait for us to lure them away. Remember, don’t linger too long at the entrance. This is a place of strategic importance!”
Humans were fighting for the entrance, and so was the Catacombs.
Regardless of whether the Catacombs would repel Wu Chuan and the rest, or Wu Chuan and the rest would repel the Catacombs powerhouses, this would be the central point for the upcoming battles.
“Exercise caution, don’t show off!”
Fang Ping answered quickly as well.
“I know!”
After saying those words, Old Man Li looked at other elderly men and women, roaring, “Let’s go!”
The next moment, without saying a word, the elderly stepped out of the vortex one after another.
At this moment, only Fang Ping’s squad remained in the passageway.
Fang Ping exhaled a mouthful of air, suppressing the uneasy and impatient feeling inside, saying quickly, “When we go out later, you guys go ahead and run outward. I’ll look for an opportunity. If I managed to blend into the Catacombs’ troops, I will chase and hunt after you guys, luring a few with me—killing them in return!
“The Catacombs powerhouses may be a lot, but they still have limited high ranks. Even their middle ranks were the mainstay. Ensnaring a few more people also means that fewer of our people will die.”
Wang Jinyang put on a grim face, saying, “Don’t be reckless. If someone finds out that you’ve casually staying among the Catacombs’ martial artists, you will be in even greater danger! We will most certainly be at the center of their attention when we leave the Catacombs…”
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
As Fang Ping said that, he suddenly took his coat off, putting it on the other way around.
Putting it on the other way… was actually Earth’s style.
Fang Ping shook his head again and again, saying, “Right, I was slightly confused earlier. I can’t draw attention in the beginning. They’re fighting, so there must be dead bodies near the Catacombs entrance. I’ll look for an opportunity to blend in first.”
Qin Fengqing was itching for action. Fang Ping said hurriedly, “Don’t give us more trouble!”
He had an energy shield, hence the idea.
Qin Fengqing did not have any. If he pretended to be a Catacombs martial artist too, he might easily blow up Fang Ping’s plan instead.
None of them said another word. All of them started waiting silently.
After about a minute, Fang Ping said in a deep voice, “Let’s go!”
The next moment, Fang Ping stepped into the vortex. The rest followed suit quickly.
…
Boom!
The moment Fang Ping left the passageway, a deafening explosion sent tremors all over his body, so intense that he was shaking constantly!
The next moment, Fang Ping could see everything in front of his eyes clearly.
At this moment, corpses already littered the ground near the vortex!
There were corpses everywhere!
Nearly all of them were of the Catacombs’ martial artists’…However, Fang Ping’s pupils contracted in no time. There were a few corpses lying on the ground wearing familiar-looking attire!
Someone had died in battle!
Boom!
The booming sound resounded continuously. At this moment, plenty of figures were constantly flashing on top of the vortex. The fight had split the heavens and cracked the earth!
Huge amounts of Catacombs martial artists were pouring in all around the vortex now.
Swoosh!
Fang Ping and the rest had just walked out, but with only a split second to observe their surroundings. In such a short window, countless arrows, carrying air-splitting sounds, were soaring in the air, launching toward them!
Everywhere around them were military troops wearing armor!
Not only military troops, but there were also many folk powerhouses clad in the Catacombs casual attire. At the same time the arrows were launched, they were also employing the Flight Step toward them!
Just as Fang Ping and the rest were about to launch a counterattack, a sword ray flashed across, and every arrow broke and fell. More than ten middle-ranked powerhouses who were coming over with the Flight Step were sliced into half instantly!
Not far away, Li Changsheng did not pull his sword out yet, waving the long sword covered in its scabbard wantonly.
After killing the enemies with one strike, Li Changsheng hissed, “Break the siege toward the east!”
Fang Ping did not utter a word, leaping over in one step. With one punch, he crushed the armored soldier on his right, asking hurriedly, “What’s the situation?!”
“One Rank-9, three Rank-8s, and nine Rank-7s!”
Old Man Li’s expression was completely grim, he said very swiftly, “The other party turned out in full force! Commander Zhou can’t hold it any longer! We’re entangled now. It’s really hard to fall back even if we want to. At least the Grandmasters find it extremely difficult to retreat. Go, quickly, all of you!”
Now, the powerhouses were encircling the Grandmasters.
The disparity between both parties’ abilities was almost double!
Five Rank-7s versus nine Rank-7s; one Rank-8 versus three. If this continued, they would be killed in the siege.
According to the initial plan, now the Grandmasters needed to retreat as they fought, to figure out a way to gather, strike the entrance, and wait for reinforcements.
Initially, Zhang Dingnan duo who was supposed to guard the Catacombs entrance were also forced to participate in the battle right now. Otherwise, the rest of them would be killed in no time.
The exchange between them happened rapidly. In the blink of an eye, Li Changsheng had already killed many.
At the periphery, however, there seemed to be no end to the huge amounts of martial artists, repeatedly surging into the direction of the vortex.
Everywhere around them, every Rank-6 powerhouse was fighting bravely whilst bathing in blood!
In the sky, Grandmasters spared no effort in delaying every high rank, stealing time for Li Changsheng and the rest. Even if they could not kill the enemy, they had to find an opportunity to break the siege!
Not far away, Wang Jinyang trio had made their way out, lost in the crowd.
Huge amounts of Catacombs martial artists were pouring in toward them. Some Peak Rank-6 powerhouses were looking for a chance, waiting to launch a sure-kill strike!
Fang Ping had no time to think. Right now, he should break the heavy siege first.
“Old Li, create a diversion, mess them up, and let me blend in!”
Fang Ping hissed. Old Man Li did not say a word, yet a blinding ray emerged in front of his body, so blinding that every Catacombs martial artist around shut their eyes.
In the blink of an eye, Fang Ping dissipated his Qi, changing his clothes swiftly, and laid on the ground. Countless wounds cracked open on his body automatically, even his face looked badly mangled.
Old Man Li who was killing the enemy raised his eyebrows slightly. Fang Ping had disappeared!
Of course, he would not believe that Fang Ping had died. This kid did have some tricks up his sleeves!
If everything went as planned, Fang Ping would be amidst the corpses nearby. Without staying at the same spot, Old Man Li leaped upward, launching an attack toward the side!
…
Midair.
A few powerhouses who were employing the Flight Step raised their eyebrows slightly as well. Did another one die?
They were not too concerned. The few of them who just came out did not have strong auras. Getting killed in the chaos was nothing surprising.
They turned their attention at the vortex once again. There might be no one left, right?
Even if there were, judging from the strength of the passageway, it would not be sufficient to support any more powerhouses of chieftain-level or higher than that.
Then, they exchanged glances. Without hesitating further, they launched their attacks one after another. Although it was insignificant in getting some typical middle and lower-ranked killed, if the damage was too big, it would be difficult for them to explain it to the chieftain as well.
Just as Old Man Li lured the crowd away, Fang Ping who was laying flat on the ground had also blended in with the crowd silently.
A few powerhouses employing the Midair Step saw that he was also employing the Midair Step, took a quick look and that was it.
Fang Ping breathed a sigh of relief. His Mentality repeatedly absorbed energy particles, yet they were not absorbed into his body but were left circulating outside.
As soon as his energy shield was activated, his Vitality and energy waves no longer seeped out. If there were no energy waves, that would pose a problem too.
Now, Fang Ping was absorbing energy particles, circulating them outside of his body. Although the waves were not strong enough, in any case, they were not too obvious.
“The Catacombs was indeed well-informed with certain information!”
The next moment, this thought flashed across Fang Ping’s mind.
Or else, the Nanjiang Catacombs’ side would not be so fully prepared.
Right now, the Catacombs’ ability was so much stronger than their side. Almost an entire city’s forces were sent for battle!
