On the other side, Chen Kun was also converging on their group.
The First Layer Martial Saint from Tianji Holy Land did not pursue, because pursuit would be pointless. He simply could not subdue Chen Kun.
Moreover, if Lin Xiao and his group turned back, he would be the one in danger.
At the same time, that First Layer Martial Saint from Tianji Holy Land, together with the Supreme Elder, turned their attacks on the two villains who had slipped away from Huo Ruyan and her companion and were fleeing towards the outskirts, blocking their escape.
On the Supreme Elder’s side, a single strike inflicted severe injury, and several more blows ended the villain’s life.
Yet at that moment, more figures charged out from the Tianji Holy Land exit. The Supreme Elder rushed straight to the opening, slaying those emerging and standing guard there.
In the distance, Long Tutian and the reclusive elder from Tianji Holy Land, locked in combat, suddenly ceased fighting and sped off together in the same direction, as if sharing some unspoken agreement.
A deep, rolling voice from the Canglong Gate Master reached Lin Xiao and the others. “Go after that person. Leave first. I will come find you afterwards.”
Lin Xiao and his group were startled. It seemed a villain had escaped, and the two pursuers had evidently coordinated to hunt him down together.
That person was very likely the first villain who had collided with him.
“Let’s go!”
Lin Xiao gave a low command, and the group swiftly flew towards the horizon.
This mess could be left for Tianji Holy Land to clean up.
After flying roughly tens of thousands of li, Lin Xiao’s group temporarily halted.
Everyone turned their gazes to the old man Lin Xiao had brought out.
“You really are the dean of Shengyuan Academy?”
Long Tutian was the first to speak.
“No mistake about it!”
The dishevelled, grimy old man replied. By now he had donned the robe Lin Xiao had given him during the flight.
Though it covered his scalded body, it could not conceal his wretched state. He even deliberately let his unkempt hair hide his burned face.
“What was it like on the fifth layer of the Tianji Demon Suppression Tower?”
The Kunshan Lizard elder asked.
Whether he truly was the dean of Shengyuan Academy mattered little to them.
They were not concerned he might be a villain. With their strength, there was no need for fear.
Even if he harboured ulterior motives, that was Lin Xiao’s affair, not theirs.
“Steamer. A living steamer hell!”
The dean of Shengyuan Academy said with weary eyes full of sorrow. “The fifth layer of the Tianji Demon Suppression Tower is a million zhang high and a million li across in every direction. Every inch of it is steamer hell, treating people like buns and steaming them alive.”
As he spoke, the dean still wore an expression of lingering terror.
Hearing this, a chill ran through Lin Xiao and his companions. Steamer hell, treating people like buns?
That was far too cruel.
Was the Tianji Demon Suppression Tower truly, as rumoured, a nine-layer hell tower?
“No wonder their bodies were all burned. Even Martial Saints suffered that way. Ordinary people probably could not survive. If the fifth layer is already like this, then the sixth layer…” Lin Xiao could not bear to continue the thought.
It would surely be no better.
Lin Xiao unconsciously clenched his fists. If the sixth layer was even more brutal, could his mother still be alive?
He forcibly pushed these thoughts aside to avoid losing his composure.
Taking a long breath, Lin Xiao regained his focus. Recalling the dean’s words, he felt fresh shock at the Tianji Demon Suppression Tower.
He had entered it himself and knew the conditions inside. Descending further, the space grew taller: hundreds of zhang, thousands of zhang, tens of thousands of zhang… By the fifth layer it reached a million zhang in height. Most astonishingly, the area spanned a million li in every direction, practically an entire world.
If the fifth layer was already so vast, what of the sixth, the seventh, or even the ninth?
How could a single tower contain such immense space?
The others were equally stunned.
The dean then briefly summarised the general situation inside, leaving the group astonished and deeply sympathetic towards him.
In such a horrific place, where even cannibalism occurred, survival had been utter torment.
“Everyone, let’s talk as we move. This area is not entirely safe.”
Lin Xiao addressed the group.
“Seniors, we will take our leave now.”
The Kunshan Lizard elder said. They had asked their questions only in preparation to depart.
After all, they too were deeply curious about the Tianji Demon Suppression Tower.
“Senior, Brother Chen, we discovered an excellent place with an Enlightenment Tree that can heighten comprehension. Cultivating there yields twice the results with half the effort. Why not come with us?”
Lin Xiao suggested to the two.
“Enlightenment Tree? It can heighten comprehension?”
The Kunshan Lizard elder was startled. Despite his long years, he had never heard of an Enlightenment Tree.
Yet anything that heightened comprehension was a heaven-defying opportunity.
“Little Kun, go with them. I have matters to attend to. Brother Long’s assault on the Tianji Demon Suppression Tower this time is not truly over. This was merely a display for the various beast clans. The real attack has yet to begin.”
The Kunshan Lizard elder said quickly.
“Merely a display for the beast clans?”
Lin Xiao and his group were all shocked.
Such a grand operation had been only for show?
The real attack had not even started?
“If the other beast clans move, other forces will become involved too. The situation will grow far more complex, possibly reshaping the balance of power. You must raise your strength as quickly as possible.”
The Kunshan Lizard elder offered no further explanation, only this advice.
Lin Xiao and the others were shocked anew. The Tianji Demon Suppression Tower clearly involved far greater stakes.
With other beast clans and additional forces joining, the number of experts on both sides would swell enormously.
Moreover, it seemed the beast clans’ ambitions extended beyond the Tianji Demon Suppression Tower alone.
“With Brother Long present, the people from Tianji Holy Land will not pursue you. Furthermore, once the Tianji Demon Suppression Tower is forcibly breached, it will only seal itself again after nine days. That will keep Tianji Holy Land occupied for some time. You are safe for now.”
The Kunshan Lizard elder added.
Lin Xiao and the others nodded.
Tianji Holy Land was inextricably linked to the Tianji Demon Suppression Tower. The villains imprisoned within had all been sent there by Tianji Holy Land. If they escaped and regained strength, Tianji Holy Land would likely be their first target.
Thus, they could not abandon the exit to chase Lin Xiao’s group.
Given their strength, only Tianji Holy Land’s reclusive elder could pose a real threat. Anyone else would be ineffective.
As for that reclusive elder, with the Canglong Gate Master’s deterrence, he would probably not stray far from Tianji Holy Land to hunt them.
For the moment, they were indeed relatively safe.
However, other clans would likely converge soon. They needed a more secure location.
“For the second assault, Brother Long will surely send word. Take care. I depart now.”
The Kunshan Lizard said once more.
“Take care, senior!”
Lin Xiao and the others saluted in farewell.
They understood that the “Brother Long” the Kunshan Lizard referred to was not Long Tutian, but the Canglong Gate Master.
The Canglong Gate Master also bore the surname Long.
“Grandfather, take care on the journey!”
Chen Kun also bid the Kunshan Lizard elder farewell.
The Kunshan Lizard elder departed at once, while Chen Kun followed Lin Xiao and the others towards the northeast region.
Their destination was the Enlightenment Tree.
This time, they had reaped great rewards. Yet the next confrontation would be far more complex. They had to elevate their strength as swiftly as possible.
