Chapter 480: An Unexpected Person

’If the Ancient Stone Stele on this Penglai Immortal Island has been destroyed, that means the being sealed beneath the Immortal Island...’

A terrible realization dawned on Shen Daoxing.

’That’s right. The being sealed beneath this Penglai Immortal Island has already escaped.’

The Blood Dragon’s voice slowly echoed in Shen Daoxing’s mind. ’But don’t worry. The other four Immortal Islands in Yun Meng Lake are still fine. The one that escaped hasn’t completely broken free from the seal. Right now, its power is only one percent of what it used to be.’

Shen Daoxing froze for a moment, then asked inwardly, ’That one percent... what level of power is that exactly?’

The Blood Dragon replied nonchalantly, its voice slow. ’It may not be its full power, but insta-killing a few cultivators at the Celestial Balance Realm would be no problem at all.’

’Insta-kill Celestial Balance Realm cultivators!!!’

"..."

Shen Daoxing.

’Alright, this isn’t a level you can involve yourself with yet. For now, you just need to focus on your cultivation.’

The Blood Dragon’s voice echoed faintly in Shen Daoxing’s mind.

Shen Daoxing nodded.

’He was right. This matter was beyond my ability to handle. I’ll report it to the Sect Leader after I get back, and some big shot will naturally take care of it. I don’t need to worry.’

Shen Daoxing couldn’t help but look at the Ancient Stone Stele again. It was a shame; the stele was already shattered, and the Divine Venerable Techniques inscribed upon it were likely destroyed.

However, just as the thought crossed Shen Daoxing’s mind, the fragmented characters on the Ancient Stone Stele seemed to sense something. They suddenly lit up, floated into the air, and slowly converged, forming the single word: "Prison."

Then, it abruptly shot upward, flying high before piercing through Penglai Immortal Island’s Restriction and drilling directly into Shen Daoxing’s mind.

Shen Daoxing saw a series of complex images flash through his mind like scenes from a revolving lantern, making him feel as if his head was about to explode.

A moment later, his mind held a new addition: the Venerable Prison Suppression Technique, the Divine Heart Method of the word "Prison."

Shen Daoxing stared blankly for a moment, then lifted his hands to look at himself, a surge of joy rising within him.

Shen Daoxing possessed the Venerable Bloodline, which was a power of the same root and origin as the Venerable Prison Suppression Technique. As such, he held a natural affinity for it.

Just then...

RUMBLE!

A sudden, deafening rumble echoed without any warning.

Shen Daoxing felt the entire island begin to shake violently.

Beneath his feet, the Penglai Immortal Island submerged under the lake began to tremor violently. Boulders shattered and the ground split open.

It seemed that without the seal from the Ancient Stone Stele, Penglai Immortal Island was beginning to fall apart.

A moment later, Shen Daoxing saw a huge fissure appear on the Penglai Immortal Island below the lake’s surface.

The fissure was impossibly long, stretching beyond his sight, as if it had split the entire Immortal Island in two.

In a daze, Shen Daoxing sensed an ancient, time-worn aura emanating from the fissure.

Shen Daoxing peered down into it and saw an endless abyss. It was a blackness that seemed capable of devouring everything, and a single glance was enough to draw him in completely.

If not for the barrier of Penglai Immortal Island’s Restriction, he would have felt an irresistible urge to jump in.

In his trance, countless battle cries echoed in his mind. He saw visions of flashing blades and bloody shadows, of innumerable Magical Treasures being unleashed to illuminate the sky. The scenes were cataclysmic, with mountains collapsing and seas roaring.

But just a moment later, it all vanished like smoke.

Just then, the Sumeru Ring on Shen Daoxing’s finger suddenly lit up. The Inherited Jade Pendant Dugu Sheng had given him flew out, emitting a soft, shimmering glow.

BANG! BANG!

It struck the Restriction on the lake’s surface again and again, sending out ripples, as if desperately trying to enter the newly formed fissure.

"This is..."

Shen Daoxing fell silent.

Suddenly, Liu Ying’s voice cried out, "This... this is the Ancient Ruins of the Abyss! The entrance to an ancient battlefield!"

"The Ancient Ruins of the Abyss?"

Shen Daoxing turned his head to look at Liu Ying.

Liu Ying’s eyes were shining as she stared at the massive fissure below, her expression one of utter excitement.

"That’s right! It’s the Ancient Ruins of the Abyss."

Liu Ying nodded, then raised a hand to cover her mouth and laughed charmingly.

"Hehehe, Little Junior Brother, how do you think Yun Meng Lake came to be?

"They say that ten thousand years ago, the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi wasn’t as thin as it is today. That was the wild, mythical age, and Immortals were countless.

"But that was also the golden age of demons. Ancient Fierce Beasts occupied the entire continent, and the Human Race could only survive in the gaps, constantly fighting for their lives against them.

"But then, the Great Sword Immortal appeared. With a single slash of his sword, he carved out this Celestial Abyss—now known as Yun Meng Lake—using it as a Celestial Abyss to cordon off a safe land for the Human Race to prosper. And these Ancient Ruins of the Abyss... they are the cruelest ancient battlefield left behind from ten thousand years ago."

Liu Ying spoke at length, seeming to be very knowledgeable about the history of Yun Meng Lake.

’The Ancient Ruins of the Abyss!’

Shen Daoxing paused.

’Just from the name, you could tell it wasn’t a simple place.’

Meanwhile, Dugu Sheng’s Jade Pendant was still smashing against the Restriction on the lake’s surface, trying to get in.

As Shen Daoxing hesitated, wondering if he should go in and take a look, his brow suddenly furrowed. "Careful!"

Then, Shen Daoxing pulled Liu Ying up and leaped high into the sky.

In the next instant,

A colossal Sword Gang, so immense it seemed capable of cleaving the very sky in two, erupted in a dazzling red light. It crashed down onto the exact spot where Shen Daoxing and Liu Ying had been standing just a moment before.

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion rang out.

The Restriction over the lake’s surface erupted in red light, sending ripples spreading endlessly outwards.

A moment later,

A sinister, effeminate laugh echoed. "Hehehe... Your senses are quite sharp, kid!"

Then, a white mist swirled on the lake surface not far away, and a man with a sinister face emerged from it.

The newcomer was tall and gaunt. His face was so thin it looked like skin stretched over bone, giving him a thoroughly unhealthy appearance. But his sharp eyes warned that he was anything but simple and should not be taken lightly.

Shen Daoxing landed with Liu Ying, his brow deeply furrowed. "Who are you?"

The sinister man merely smiled nonchalantly. He took a single step from the distance and appeared right before Shen Daoxing.

The man’s attire was clearly not that of a Cyan Nether Sword Sect disciple. Furthermore, the sinister, malevolent aura emanating from him was a clear sign that he was up to no good.

Shen Daoxing’s expression darkened. "I don’t recall offending anyone. Who sent you?"

’Since joining the Cyan Nether Sword Sect,’ Shen Daoxing thought, ’I’ve been nothing but cautious. I haven’t offended anyone. I can’t think of a single person who would hold such a deep grudge against me.’

"Hehehe... A man about to die has no need to know so much! Rest assured, my blade is swift. You won’t feel a thing!"

The sinister man chuckled and took another step, appearing directly before Shen Daoxing. He raised his hand high, conjuring a scarlet Blood Gang that stretched for dozens of yards, and brought it slashing down.