“Senior Brother!”
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Lin Xiao’s body was already hurtling into the void fissure.
It had all come too suddenly.
Long Tutian had countered the Sheji Cauldron and wounded the Ji family Great Elder. Everyone had assumed the other side could no longer threaten them.
Who would have thought that after the blood sacrifice, the cauldron’s power would become so overwhelming that even Long Tutian could not withstand it, forcing him to send Lin Xiao away?
Because one hand had flicked out the escape talisman while the other attacked, Long Tutian had only been able to summon five golden dragons and had suffered a grievous blow from the cauldron.
No one knew what would happen to Long Tutian next.
Would he be in danger?
That was, after all, the supreme treasure of a hegemonic power, the Ji family. If Long Tutian had not sensed mortal peril, he would never have sent Lin Xiao away.
Moreover, he had told him to seek a chance of survival inside the void fissure.
A talisman that carried him five thousand li would be useless if he fled outward. Ji Lian and Zhan Meng would only need a short time to catch him.
Without Long Tutian to shield him, he would undoubtedly die before Martial Saints.
His only sliver of hope lay inside the void fissure.
That was the helpless choice Long Tutian had made for him.
Even though the void fissure was deadly beyond measure, there was no other way.
At this moment, Lin Xiao’s heart burned with rage and shame. Yet everything ahead had already vanished from his sight.
CLANG!
Outside the void fissure, the Sheji Cauldron collided with Long Tutian once more. Long Tutian was sent flying again and spat another mouthful of blood.
Yet his injuries were not as severe as they appeared. He wiped the blood from his lips and sneered coldly. “Hmph. Killing me, Long Tutian, is not that easy. Let us see how long you can keep this up.”
With those words, terrifying fluctuations erupted from his body. He charged forward and hurled himself ferociously at the cauldron.
“Even if I cannot slay you, seizing the floating heavenly palace will be enough!”
The Great Elder glanced sideways and barked, “Why are you still standing there? Go after Lin Xiao!”
Ji Lian hesitated for a heartbeat, looked toward the void fissure, gritted his teeth, then shot inside.
Zhan Meng no longer hesitated either and plunged in after him.
Although danger that could threaten even Martial Saints lurked within, the floating heavenly palace was far too important. They had to take the risk.
Besides, as Martial Saints, they still had a chance of escaping even if something terrible appeared.
The only cost would likely be severe injuries.
At this moment, everyone was stunned by the sudden reversal.
Moments ago Long Tutian had held the absolute advantage. Now he was wounded and trapped.
Lin Xiao had been flung into the void fissure by Long Tutian’s life-saving talisman. Two Martial Saints had entered the fissure to seize the treasure.
The faces of Canglong Gate members were grim, their hearts aching.
They could have left with the floating heavenly palace. Instead, the situation had turned against them in an instant.
Lin Xiao might perish inside the fissure. The palace would very likely fall into the hands of the other two powers.
Even Long Tutian himself might fall here.
“You, stay here with some men. I’ll return to the sect at once and report!” the Second Peak Master of Canglong Gate transmitted to the Fourth Peak Master before shooting toward the horizon.
Hiss!
The Great Elder stamped his foot. A beam of force shot from beneath him, tore through the sky, and struck the Second Peak Master.
BANG! The Second Peak Master sprayed a great mouthful of blood and plummeted downward.
Yet his body was neither pierced nor killed instantly. The Great Elder had held back, merely inflicting heavy injuries.
“Second Peak Master!” The Fourth Peak Master’s expression darkened. He had planned to let the elders and disciples leave while he remained with a few others, but the Great Elder had struck directly.
The gulf between Martial Saint and half-step Martial Saint was vast. Even a casual strike was far beyond what they could resist.
“Except for members of the Ji family, no one is permitted to leave or enter the void fissure. If anyone tries, do not blame this old man for showing no mercy.”
While continuing to attack Long Tutian with the cauldron, the Great Elder shouted, “Ji family, listen! Divide into squads and guard the perimeter. Kill anyone who slips through.”
The expressions of Canglong Gate and the others sank.
They were not allowed to leave?
Nor to enter the void fissure?
They had to wait until the Ji family retrieved the floating heavenly palace?
Under the direction of their half-step Martial Saints, the Ji family split into several squads and surrounded everyone else. Their strength was more than enough to suppress both Canglong Gate and Sacred Heaven Gate.
Though the unaffiliated cultivators were numerous, their individual power was relatively weak.
Moreover, the moment anyone moved, the Great Elder would act instantly. He only needed to prevent anyone from escaping; he could easily manage that.
As for the void fissure, even without the Great Elder’s threat, few would dare enter.
The ten colossal abominations had all fled gravely wounded. To go in was to court death.
Countless beasts had entered, yet only their leader escaped. A hundred thousand skeletons had charged in, and only a dozen returned. The death rate was nearly one hundred percent.
Truly, almost no one dared rush into that fissure.
Otherwise, they would not still be watching from the sidelines even now.
“Elder Ji Yu, return to the clan at once and report to the patriarch!” the Great Elder commanded again.
The half-step Martial Saint named Ji Yu nodded and immediately flew away.
Everyone inwardly cursed the Ji family’s shamelessness. Others were forbidden from reporting back, yet the Ji family sent their own messenger.
But with no choice, they could only bow their heads.
Of course, for the unaffiliated cultivators, staying a while longer made little difference.
“Elder Ji Shu, send someone into the void fissure to scout the situation. If people are not randomly teleported elsewhere, come back immediately and report!”
The Great Elder addressed another half-step Martial Saint.
At those words, the Ji family crowd fell silent.
Entering might mean death. No one wanted to be the first.
Elder Ji Shu frowned. It seemed he would have to play the villain. He glanced around and pointed at an elder. “Elder Ji Wen, you go in and take a look!”
That elder’s heart jolted. With so many people, it had fallen to him.
But at this point he could only steel himself. Refusal would mean defying both Elder Ji Shu and the Great Elder; he would be executed on the spot.
He could only blame himself for not belonging to Ji Shu’s faction.
“Understood!” Elder Ji Wen finally nodded, gripped his long sword, and flew toward the same spot the two Martial Saints had entered.
Not long afterward, Ji Wen flew back out unharmed.
Seeing him return safely, the Ji family members sighed in relief.
“Reporting to the Great Elder and Elder Ji Shu: inside is an endless expanse of broken stone. It appears to be a profound domain. One is not randomly teleported upon entry, and there is no obstruction when leaving through the exit,” Ji Wen reported.
Relief was evident on his face.
At this time, the Great Elder no longer attacked Long Tutian directly. He simply used the Sheji Cauldron to keep him trapped, letting Long Tutian rage however he wished.
With the supreme treasure’s overwhelming might, no matter how ferociously Long Tutian struck from within, he could not break free.
“The ten colossal abominations must have gone to assault some specific location. As long as we do not force our way into extremely dangerous zones, it should not be that deadly. There may even be opportunities,” the Great Elder mused, then ordered, “Elder Ji Shu, select fifty veteran clansmen to enter. Send messengers back regularly with updates!
As for the rest, apart from heaven-tier geniuses, anyone may enter voluntarily. Remember: Lin Xiao is the primary target.”
“Yes!” Ji Shu acknowledged. Between selection and volunteers, a full eighty Ji family members stepped forward and charged into the void fissure.
After seeking permission from the Great Elder, several dozen from Sacred Heaven Gate also entered.
At this point, some of the others began to stir. Though danger certainly existed, Ji Wen had described the interior, and many were willing to gamble for possible opportunities.
The Great Elder permitted everyone except Canglong Gate members to enter.
A number of unaffiliated cultivators also went in.
Only the Canglong Gate group were left bewildered and furious.
…
