Chapter 703 704: Bizarre Treasure Palace

Spatial distortion is an extremely dangerous phenomenon. It means the space ahead is in a highly unstable state.

If a Martial Artist were to enter, the distorted space would suck them into a spatial vortex. A normal spatial vortex might be manageable, but if it were a spatial rift, even a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor could perish.

"What should we do now?"

The appearance of this spatial distortion immediately stumped everyone present.

"Let's check other areas to see if there's a way through."

Yu Xiuneng, the Sect Master of the Langxie Sect, said after a moment of contemplation.

"That's a good idea." Everyone's eyes lit up.

Two hours later, the group returned to their original spot. The relaxed expressions they'd had at the start were gone, their faces now grim.

They had searched from several directions but failed to find any passage. It was as if the depths of the dense forest were completely cut off by this distorted space.

This gave everyone a massive headache.

If they couldn't find a way through the distorted space, their only option was to retreat the way they came. This joint exploration would have to be cut short.

"When did this spatial distortion appear? There was nothing like this here the last time we came to explore."

An elder from the Yuchi family said resentfully.

It wasn't just him; the experts from the other factions showed the same confusion. Apparently, the Yuchi family was not the only faction that had been here before.

Long Yuan glanced at the crowd and said in a deep voice, "Everyone has seen it. Before us lies a stretch of distorted space. I wonder if any of you has a way to break through it and open a passage. If someone can do it, we are willing to pay a certain price for their help."

A glint appeared in Ye Xuan's eyes.

'Spatial distortions aren't actually impossible to solve. Under normal circumstances, space doesn't just become distorted for no reason.'

'When this sort of situation occurs, there are usually several possibilities. For example, there might be a rare spatial treasure here affecting the principles of this space. Or perhaps a powerful expert once shattered the space here, and the residual principles are disrupting the balance. It could also be that this region is unique in some way, causing a poor connection with space, and so on.'

'There are also many ways to solve it. Certain spatial treasures can allow a person to pass through distorted space safely, or an expert with profound attainment in spatial arts could open a passage directly.'

Ye Xuan was also very curious as to why this space had become distorted.

He immediately activated his Soul Sense and swept it lightly into the distorted space ahead. However, the moment his Soul Sense made contact with it, it was instantly sucked in, severing his connection. At the same time, a sharp pain stabbed his mind.

'What powerful distorting force.'

Ye Xuan was shocked. His Soul Sense had been honed through long cultivation and was approaching the Peak of Seventh Grade. Coupled with his understanding of space, an ordinary spatial distortion shouldn't have been able to sever his Soul Sense at all.

But the distorted space before him had devoured his Soul Sense in a single instant, like a clay ox sinking into the sea—gone without a trace. This was far beyond the scope of a typical spatial distortion.

It wasn't just Ye Xuan. The Tier Eight Third Layer Martial Emperors from the major factions also unleashed their Profound Sense, attempting to probe the distorted space.

However, their experience was almost identical to Ye Xuan's. The moment their Tier Eight Profound Sense entered the distortion, it was swiftly severed and vanished without a trace.

A few of the Tier Eight Second Layer Martial Emperors couldn't even withstand the backlash; they spat out a mouthful of blood, their faces pale and their eyes filled with horror.

This scene made everyone's expressions turn even grimmer.

'If we can't even investigate it, how can we possibly find the cause of this spatial distortion, let alone hope to pass through?'

"I don't believe this spatial distortion is that terrifying."

One of the Long family elders who had just spat blood put on a ferocious expression. A Tier Seven battle blade appeared in his hand, and he fiercely hurled it toward the distorted space in front of them.

"Dammit."

"What are you doing?"

"Stop!"

The others' faces filled with horror as they roared in shock and anger.

The last thing one should do with a spatial distortion was upset its balance. Rashly applying external force without understanding the cause could trigger the collapse of the entire void, burying everyone alive.

Some even wanted to act and retrieve the Tier Seven Profound Soldier, but it was too late. The Tier Seven battle blade transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the distorted space.

VWOOM!

It was like a giant boulder crashing into a calm lake. The surface, which had only been gently rippling, instantly erupted with an astonishing spatial aura, churning up monstrous waves in a split second.

BOOM!

Countless, densely packed spatial cracks appeared and instantly shredded the Tier Seven battle blade into powder. Then, innumerable shards were spat out—PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!

These metal fragments flew at extreme speed, packed with terrifying kinetic energy. They shot toward the crowd like hidden weapons.

"Not good! Block!"

The crowd scrambled frantically and barely managed to block the assault of "fragment projectiles." Even so, a few Second Layer Martial Emperors were caught off guard and had their arms or legs pierced by the projectiles, dripping blood.

"Long Zheng, what did you do?"

"Patriarch Long Yuan, look what your Long family elder has done!"

The experts from the major factions, their faces contorted in fury, roared angrily at Long Yuan.

"Everyone, please calm down. My Long family elder was just trying to find a solution. He was a bit reckless," Long Yuan explained hastily.

"Hmph, a 'bit' reckless? We're lucky the distorted space didn't collapse, or we'd all be dead! Even so, an elder from my Lingkong Cave was injured. What are you going to do about it?"

"The Master of Lingkong Cave is right. An elder from my Yuchi family was also injured. Patriarch Long Yuan, you must give us an explanation."

Yu Chi Bugong's face was also ashen.

The experts from the major factions all started berating Long Zheng.

Long Yuan gave a wry smile. "Everyone, how about this: the Long family will compensate each injured person with one Tier Eight Spirit Medicine."

In the end, Long Yuan compensated each injured Martial Emperor with a Tier Eight Spirit Medicine, and only then did the voices of accusation die down.

"Look! There's something in the distorted space!"

Just then, someone suddenly cried out in alarm, their voice full of shock.

Everyone quickly turned to look. Ripples spread across the void, and within them, a blurry image flickered, wavering as if about to materialize.

"Such a dark silhouette… could it be some terrifying Demon Beast inside the spatial distortion? Did we disturb it?"

someone said nervously. Remembering the strange Demon Beasts they had encountered earlier, everyone held their breath, their expressions turning grave.

The blurry image gradually sharpened. It wasn't a Demon Beast, but an ancient palace. The palace stood upon a desolate, black plain, wreathed in tendrils of sinister, chilling energy that made it appear exceptionally cold and grim.

"How can this palace be here? Impossible… No, wait. Could it be that the palace and battlefield themselves are actually inside this distorted space?"

A member of the Yuchi family exclaimed, his tone filled with shock and pleasant surprise.

Ye Xuan's heart stirred. He asked, "Patriarch Yuchi, what do you mean? How do you know this is a battlefield?"

Yu Chi Bugong froze for a moment, seeming to realize he had misspoken. But with everyone's eyes on him, he could only say, "Look at the ground around the palace. Doesn't it look like a battlefield?"

Everyone strained their eyes to see. On the black plain, there were indeed some scattered white bones, and the scarred ground looked exactly like a former battlefield.

Long Yuan said in a low voice, "Patriarch Yuchi, what exactly do you know? We agreed to share information. Why have we never heard you mention this before? Have you been to this palace before?"

Long Yuan's face was filled with anger. The fact that Yu Chi Bugong could recognize the battlefield and palace at a glance clearly meant he knew about them beforehand.

The atmosphere instantly grew tense. The experts from the other factions also showed angry expressions, and the crowd moved to surround the members of the Yuchi family.

Long Zheng roared, "Patriarch Yuchi, how much more information are you hiding from us?"

Seeing the situation, Yu Chi Bugong's expression darkened, but he still hurriedly explained, "Patriarch Long, you've misunderstood. We have absolutely never been to this palace. We only saw it during a previous exploration. And it wasn't just us; Patriarch Xiao and his family have seen it too."

Long Zheng and the others all turned their gazes to Xiao Wuji.

Xiao Wuji gave a wry smile. "We have indeed seen this palace before, but not here. It was in the sky above the Gravel Wasteland. It appeared suddenly, like a mirage, and then disappeared when the black wind blew."

"Above the Gravel Wasteland?"

Everyone fell into contemplation. Since a projection of this palace had appeared time and again, it meant the palace must truly exist. Even a mirage isn't conjured from thin air; it's a projection of a real object from somewhere else.

However, a spatial distortion shouldn't be able to create a projection. Could it be that the black palace was truly located within the space right in front of them?

At this thought, everyone grew excited.

This mysterious land was too strange and enigmatic. Everyone had originally thought it was a natural secret realm left over from ancient times. But after seeing the palace, they all understood. Nothing here could possibly be natural. It was very likely the headquarters or garrison of some ancient faction.

In that moment, everyone's breathing grew ragged. If this truly was the headquarters or garrison of an ancient faction, there would definitely be countless secret manuals and treasures left behind. Such treasures would be far more precious and alluring than the Spirit Medicines and other things they had found in the forest.

But how could they enter this distorted space?

The illusory image of the palace, after gradually appearing, began to slowly fade away again, and looks of anxiety spread across everyone's faces.

"Squeak squeak!"

Just then, the Little Purple Mink on Ye Xuan's shoulder seemed to have discovered something. It abruptly transformed into a streak of purple lightning and shot into the distorted space ahead.