Immortal and Martial Dual Cultivation

Chapter 2314 (Raw 2421): Open Pit

In Black Wind Ridge’s depths:

Sinister winds blew, and demonic clouds churned. Everyone sensed something off and could not continue deeper.

“This place gives me a bad feeling. We cannot go any further,” the Geomaster Qin Zhuolin said as he looked at the increasingly intense, sinister winds and the strange atmosphere in Black Wind Ridge’s depths.

“Whoosh!”

The Golden Crow Empire’s Hao Kai rushed over from behind. He looked at Wang Yan and said, “Your Highness, it is as you expected; no one followed.”

Wang Yan released his bated breath when he heard that.

Now that Wang Yan felt sure of their safety, he said softly, “Everyone, let’s rest first. Those who are injured should circulate their energy and recuperate.”

Speaking of the injured, Wang Yan should be the most injured one. There was also the Heavenly Book Scholar.

After that, it would be Xiao Chen. The rest were still fine.

The three took out Medicinal Pills and consumed them. Then, they sat down cross-legged, closed their eyes, and treated their wounds.

The others protected the three, sizing up their surroundings at the same time.

“Black Wind Ridge? Senior Feng, why is this place a forbidden land?”

Qin Zhuolin seemed interested in this place’s origins, so he asked Senior Feng, who was the most knowledgeable of the group.

After some thought, Senior Feng explained, “Rumor has it that this place was an inheritance land as well. There was a tyrannical ruler of the Yanwu Dynasty’s history buried here. However, most people that went to the core of this place did not return alive; too many people died. So, this place eventually became a forbidden land. People rarely explore it, and it has been a mystery since then.”

Xiao Suo, who had done a circuit of their surroundings, frowned when he saw Qin Zhuolin interested in this place. He said, “This place seems to hide great danger. It is similar to some of the forbidden lands I ran into in the sea. Mysterious, evil, and inspiring fear. It is best not to come in contact with this casually.”

Qin Zhuolin smiled faintly and said, “Don’t worry. I was just somewhat curious about where Black Wind Ridge’s depths led. I won’t go and risk myself.”

The group chatted idly. Wu Meng remained silent as he guarded Xiao Chen, warily looking at the surroundings.

After a while, joy appeared on Wu Meng’s face. “Xiao Chen, you woke up.”

The others immediately stopped chatting and looked over.

Sensing everyone’s concerns, Xiao Chen said with a smile, “Yes, I’m awake already. I was not severely injured; I just suffered from the rebound of my Soul Tool. I’m fine after some rest. However, I can’t use Heavenly Slayer for a while. Oh, right, how much Dragon Essence have you all collected?”

“Hehe! I have collected quite a lot.” Qin Zhuolin smiled as he took out his jade strip.

Qin Zhuolin’s resplendent jade strip seemed to have clear spring water hidden in it, looking crystalline and transparent. Four dragon images moved around the jade strip.

The moment Qin Zhuolin took out the jade strip, it immediately elicited the others’ surprised exclamations. The eyes of Senior Feng and Hao Kai lit up.

“Your harvest is really startling. Both Hao Kai and I only managed to form two dragon images. However, you managed to form four alone.” Senior Feng could not help praising. The difficulty of forming a third dragon was several times harder than forming two.

Forming four dragon images like Qin Zhuolin had was truly incredible.

One four-dragon jade strip equaled ten one-dragon jade strips.

Qin Zhuolin smiled and said, “It’s still alright. This is the joint effort of the three of us.”

Just at this moment, Wang Yan and the Heavenly Book Scholar opened their eyes. Senior Feng said quickly, “His Highness is already awake. Let’s transfer over our Dragon Essences to the Ninth Prince, then.”

“Four dragon images?”

Wang Yan felt slightly startled when he saw Qin Zhuolin’s jade strip. He smiled and said, “You really gave me a pleasant surprise. The Dragon Essence I have is already sufficient. With this, I’m sure to rank within the top ten.”

After that, the others transferred their Dragon Essence to Wang Yan. The dragon image around the Yan Imperial Sword reached sixty meters.

“Hold on to this, but don’t use it for now.”

Xiao Chen stepped forward and handed his jade strip to the other party.

However, he had tightly wrapped his jade strip in a silk pouch, hiding the number of dragon images.

“This is?”

Wang Yan put the jade strip away, frowning in puzzlement at Xiao Chen.

“It’s nothing. With the Dragon Essence in your Yan Imperial Sword, you will definitely clear the first round. You should hang on to my Dragon Essence first; it might be useful later. If I guess right, there will not be any chance to collect Dragon Essence in the next two rounds.”

Xiao Chen did not explain, only telling Wang Yan not to use his Dragon Essence yet.

“Alright, many thanks.”

Everyone felt curious about how much Dragon Essence Xiao Chen had collected. However, since Xiao Chen did not say anything, no one pursued the matter.

“Ninth Prince, what are the contents of the second round?” Qin Zhuolin asked.

Not much time remained of the thirty days. The first round would end soon. Everyone felt curious about the answer to Qin Zhuolin’s question.

Wang Yan said, “After the first round, eight altars will appear in the core area of the Ancient Yan Emperor Tomb. The altars sit directly on Dragon Veins. Their purpose is to help the princes refine their Yan Imperial Swords, allowing the princes’ Dao to merge with the dynasty’s Dragon Veins.

“Each altar can be used only once. After the second round, only eight people can continue vying to become the crown prince.”

Xiao Chen entered deep thought. “The refining process is not easy, right?”

Wang Yan nodded. “During the refining process, aside from the prince having to receive the test of heaven, the altar will be attacked by various ferocious beasts. Normally, there are at least nine waves of ferocious beasts. Aside from this, there will be interference from the other princes and guests. If one fails, one will be chased off the altar.”

During the second round, one could no longer hold back one’s strength. There would be no wriggle room.

If two princes targeted the same altar, it would be a fight to the death.

Xiao Chen asked, “Can you tell us in more detail what ferocious beasts we will encounter?”

Wang Yan pondered for a while before saying, “It is hard to say. The specifics would be related to the Great Dao of the various princes. I cultivate the Massacre Dao, so the ferocious beasts that we will encounter might be harder to handle than what the other princes will face.”

“That is to say, we will meet with ferocious beasts that are even more ferocious and filled with killing intent. If another prince cultivated the Ice Great Dao, there would be ice-attributed ferocious beasts?” Xiao Chen verified his understanding with Wang Yan.

“You can say that.”

Hao Kai said after some thought, “Since there will be waves of ferocious beasts, then we have to prepare some large-scale killing moves. We have to prepare these in advance. Those who are good with area-of-effect moves should focus on the ferocious beast waves. The remaining people need to protect His Highness from the other princes’ guests.”

The group discussed how to deal with the second round, expressing their opinions. However, they still found their measures insufficient.

The Ninth Prince had only seven guests left. The advantage of numbers would show itself during the second round.

“Huh?”

Just at this moment, Xiao Chen frowned slightly as he looked towards Black Wind Ridge’s depths.

There, various mysteries appeared amid the pitch-black place filled with sinister winds and death Qi.

Xiao Chen was not sure if it was a misperception or reality, but he seemed to hear something calling.

Just as Xiao Chen felt puzzled, that call sounded in his heart again.

When Xiao Chen tried to grab that call, it vanished, and he could not find it again.

“Strange…”

Puzzled, Xiao Chen looked at the others and asked, “Did you all hear a sound?”

“No!”

“Xiao Chen, don’t scare everyone. This place is eerie enough as it is.”

“You aren’t thinking of going farther in, are you?”

Everyone felt greatly startled, quickly denying hearing anything aside from sinister winds and an evil air.

“I’ll go take a look. Wait here for me. Don’t follow me. If I don’t return, leave by yourselves.”

“Whoosh!”

Right after Xiao Chen spoke, his figure flashed before anyone could object. He entered the intense, sinister winds and disappeared from everyone’s sight.

“This…”

Wang Yan and the others felt confused at Xiao Chen’s decision.

“Wait for him, then. Don’t act rashly.”

Wang Yan felt helpless, but he did not overthink. He only worried for Xiao Chen’s safety.

After all, Black Wind Ridge was infamous. They only entered somewhat deeper into the place, and they already felt intense fear, not daring to go farther.

—

“Strange. It does not seem as dangerous as rumored…”

Xiao Chen traveled quickly, not running into danger as he dodged the seemingly substantial, sinister winds.

The sinister winds contained a strange cold. If he were careless and got cut, his mind and soul would sustain injury.

Even so, this still did not live up to Black Wind Ridge’s notoriety as a forbidden land.

At the very least, although these sinister winds were not to be trifled with, they did not give Xiao Chen too much trouble.

Most importantly, that voice kept calling, pointing out the direction for him. Even though Xiao Chen’s Spiritual Sense was limited in this forbidden land with sinister winds, he did not get lost.

Just at this moment, an incredibly vast pit appeared in front.

The pit was empty; there was nothing there.

However, this pit sent a chill running down his spine. There should be something ominous in it.

Xiao Chen frowned. Just as he prepared to enter the pit, the dirt in the pit suddenly cracked, revealing a face. Then, the owner of this face opened his eyes.

“Chu Chaoyun?”