128: Chapter 125: The Prime Culprit 128: Chapter 125: The Prime Culprit Chu Xisheng steadied himself and began surveying his surroundings.
This was a vast expanse of white space, above which the sun shone universally, illuminating everything in detail.
They stood on a broad plaza made of Han white jade, yet there was a layer of white Qi Mist covering the ground.
The mist, rising only to the knees, churned and rolled, making one doubt whether they were standing above a sea of clouds, as if they had entered an immortal-like setting.
In the center of the plaza stood a stele, reaching a height of five zhang.
Etched on the stele was a massive character for ‘Dream’.
Around the stele, arranged in a huge circle, were exactly one hundred stone coffins.
Below the stele lay a square pool, one zhang across, filled with azure liquid.
“The fourth trial is a test of temperament!”
The figure of Divine Turtle Wanderer stood atop the Dream Stele, looking down calmly at everyone: “For my disciples, comprehension, root bone, Qi Fortune, and wisdom are indispensable.
Yet without upper-class temperament to uphold the Dao, all discussions are moot.
All participants may choose a stone coffin to sleep in, and after a quarter of an hour, enter the dream realm at the same time to experience three lifetimes as a test of your temperaments.
Those who wish not to participate will be removed from the secret realm by the Formation after a quarter of an hour.
This trial is worth two hundred points, and the top hundred scorers will receive a cup of Jade Heart Elixir, three Heavenly Origin Pills, and a thousand demon silver; the top ten will receive an additional drop of Blood of the Ancestor God.
A Seventh Rank Magic Artifact, and five Heavenly Origin Pills;
An additional Divine Origin Revival Pill for the top three; and the first-place scorer will gain the right to use this Ninth Grade secret realm and the Immortal Palace Secret Key to participate in the Cloud Sea Decisive Battle in a few years.”
Chu Xisheng’s spirits lifted when he heard this.
The information from the Zhou Family turned out to be reliable.
Indeed, the rewards for placing in the top three of this secret realm competition included the Divine Origin Revival Pill.
And these numerous rewards put together had broken through the value of 15,000 demon silver.
Many of the items were priceless and only available through special channels.
The many Ninth Grade Martial Cultivators who had been teleported here let out a wave of commotion too.
The number of people here had not exceeded one hundred, which meant that no matter what their final score was, they would receive a reward from Divine Turtle Wanderer.
This, to some extent, diluted the remaining fear and anger on their faces, with some revealing smiles.
Although the struggle for the secret realm was unexpectedly bloody and brutal, the generosity of Divine Turtle Wanderer’s rewards far exceeded their expectations.
Just the thousand taels of demon silver alone could sustain many Ninth Grade Martial Cultivators for several years.
Jade Heart Elixir could enhance one’s Primordial Spirit Power, its value comparable to a high-quality Ninth Grade Upper Tier secret medicine.
After Divine Turtle Wanderer finished speaking, he returned to silence, gazing down indifferently from above.
The crowd, however, remained vigilant towards each other, holding weapons in their hands and keeping a distance of more than a zhang from each other.
The brutal slaughter they had previously faced cast a large psychological shadow on them.
In their eyes, everyone around was unreliable, capable of turning violent and murderous at any moment.
Nonetheless, some people began to move, selecting their coffins to sleep in.
Chu Xisheng walked to the edge of the pool beneath the stele and gazed thoughtfully at the azure pool liquid within.
It was unclear what the liquid in the pool was, but it emitted a clear medicinal fragrance, refreshing one’s spirit and intoxicating the senses.
In front of and on both sides of the pool were also altars of unknown purpose.
Chu Xisheng tried to approach, but discovered a powerful sealing force around the pool, preventing him from getting within five steps.
“This pool and the altars are so peculiar,” Zhou Liangchen said, following beside Chu Xisheng, chin propped on his hand, his eyes equally puzzled: “The liquid inside seems to be some sort of medicinal water, made from non-ordinary materials.”
“I don’t understand either,” Si Huangquan joined the two by the side of the pool, his hands positioned to draw his sword at any moment, his tone imbued with a trace of suspicion.
“Since the trial is held within a dream realm, why set up a pool filled with Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures here?”
Chu Xisheng glanced sideways at Si Huangquan: “Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures?
Do you know what medicines are in there?”
He noticed Si Huangquan standing two zhang away, exactly at the limit of his Sword Intent’s blast range.
With a mask covering his face, Chu Xisheng couldn’t see Si Huangquan’s expression or tell whether his forehead bore any strange blue veins.
Si Huangquan nodded slightly: “Due to my master’s lineage, I recognize some.
The main ingredient here should be Green Ginseng Liquid, which can not only prolong life but also be used for Bone Shifting to stimulate the Bloodline.
The current market price for a small cup of Green Ginseng Liquid is 300 gold coins, yet the quantity here is excessively ample.
I also smell the fragrances of Fifth Grade Mystic Bear Gall, Third Grade Octagonal Profound Grass, and Third Grade Heavenly Fragrance, all of which can help Martial Cultivators strengthen their physique and improve physical strength.”
Si Huangquan then looked at Chu Xisheng: “I estimate the value of the medicines here could buy half of Linhai County.”
He continued to regard Chu Xisheng as the most formidable opponent in this secret realm contest.
However, at this point, Si Huangquan’s Enemy Intent towards Chu Xisheng had largely dissipated.
With only twelve points separating their scores, and in terms of ‘temperament’—endurance, patience, rationality, restraint—Si Huangquan believed he was second to none.
He was determined not to lose to Chu Xisheng in this fourth dream trial, and the Immortal Palace Secret Key of this secret realm was almost in his grasp.
Once the competitive relationship was set aside, Chu Xisheng, in his eyes, became much more reliable and trustworthy than anyone else here.
For some unknown reason, as soon as Si Huangquan entered this place, he felt an utmost unease.
The talent of Supreme Divine Communication made his heart pound and surge with feelings he could hardly suppress.
“Not just that, there is also the Blood of the Ancestor God inside, at least two hundred drops.”
Bai Xiaozhao also walked over to the side of the Medicine Pond, she sniffed with her nose and her eyes were filled with envy, “There’s even ‘Emperor’s Liquid’ that has been refined after processing, this is too wasteful.
With so much medicine, it’s unclear what it’s intended for.
The key point is that it’s preserved properly, with the spiritual energy not dissipating for thousands of years.”
Upon hearing this, Chu Xisheng raised an eyebrow, thinking that this Divine Turtle Wanderer was truly extravagant with no regard for humanity—
Two hundred drops of Blood of the Ancestor God would be enough to awaken Bloodline Talent in two hundred people.
With so many Spiritual Medicines stacked inside the Medicine Pond, what was the intention of the Divine Turtle Wanderer?
By now, many people had been attracted by their conversation and were converging over.
“Are these words true?
Is this whole pond filled with Green Ginseng Liquid?
I’ve heard that a small cup of this medicine is worth 300 gold coins.”
“The rumors are not false, the Divine Turtle Wanderer is indeed wealthy enough to rival countries, but what is he doing by putting such a pool of medicine here?”
“It’s a pity there’s a Forbidden Technique blocking us, otherwise I’d roll around in it for a round, guaranteed to raise both my physical body and Bloodline to the level of Heavenly Prides.”
“I wonder, after the struggle for the secret realm is over, who will this Medicine Pond belong to?”
As soon as this person spoke, everyone’s breathing became heavy.
Many people’s gazes, once again intentionally or not, swept over Chu Xisheng, Si Huangquan, and Bai Xiaozhao.
At present in the entire secret realm, these three were the most likely to emerge victorious.
Other than this Ninth Grade secret realm and the Immortal Palace Secret Key, could the victor of this struggle for the secret realm also gain a Medicine Pond worth half of Linhai County?
Actually, everyone else was already out of the competition.
There are fewer than a hundred Ninth Grade Martial Cultivators left in this area, and most of them are injured and weak.
Whether it’s Chu Xisheng, Si Huangquan, or Bai Xiaozhao, all three have roughly preserved their full strength.
Their power is enough to sweep the field.
But what if these three Heavenly Prides fought like snipe and clam, injuring each other until all three are fatally wounded?
At this moment, the ‘Divine Turtle Wanderer’ unexpectedly responded, his voice indifferent, “This Medicine Pond is not included in the rewards, it will be placed here in the future, protected by the Forbidden Array, waiting for my successor.”
The mood of the crowd immediately eased, and they scattered in all directions, looking for the Stone Coffins to enter the dream state.
Chu Xisheng and a group of people from the Zhou Family also blended into the crowd.
In a seemingly casual manner, they walked towards the north.
By coincidence or not, the Stone Coffin he chose was located near Ying Haobai.
The remaining four of the Ying Family had also gathered here,
This White Eyebrow Tiger was obviously a bit nervous, instinctively holding a pair of Water Splitting Needles in his hands.
And just as everyone was preparing to lie down in the Stone Coffins, Chu Xisheng’s face suddenly revealed a mocking smile, “Gentlemen, do you really dare to enter the dream?
The true nature of the blood fog before the Killing Stele is not yet clear, and the true culprit who threw the Blood Bead has not been removed.
Aren’t you afraid that in the dream, someone will chop off your head with a blade?”
In that instant, everyone simultaneously turned around to look at Chu Xisheng.
Their expressions varied, their eyes diverse, some cold, some serious, some with doubts, but all of them dismissed the idea of entering the Stone Coffins at that moment.
Everyone had their hidden worries about the safety after entering the dream, but it had been unspoken.
Silver Patterned Tiger Lu Chen’s position wasn’t very far from Chu Xisheng, he scoffed upon hearing this, “Afraid?
Of course, we’re afraid.
But the Divine Turtle Wanderer has already said, we must enter the coffin within 15 minutes.
Those who refuse to enter will be removed from the secret realm.
If you are worried, you are free not to enter the coffin and dream.”
Ying Haobai hesitated slightly, then coldly said, “Since entering the dream is unified, then it should be safe.”
“That’s not necessarily the case!” Further away, Zhuo Baiyun sneered with sarcasm, “Seeing that the secret realm tokens in our hands have already lost effect, will those who refuse to dream really be removed from the secret realm?
As long as one of us remains awake, it would be easy for him to take all of our lives.
Wouldn’t that secure a steady victory as the Leader of the Secret Realm?”
Before his voice fell, everyone’s faces changed dramatically.
Lu Chen’s expression froze, and then he was filled with uncertainty.
What Zhuo Baiyun said was very likely to happen.
“What should we do then?
Surely we can’t all just stand here ?”
“That’s easy enough.”
Chu Xisheng sneered, his gaze steadfastly looking at one person not far away: “Just remove the prime culprit first—”
Before everyone could react, Chu Xisheng’s ‘Rune Blood Refining Blade’ drew with a clank from its scabbard like a streak of light, striking directly at sorcerer Mu Ling, who was outside two of the coffins.
Ying Haobai, who was next to him, couldn’t react in time, and the others were even less able to respond.
Mu Ling himself had an utterly bewildered and confused look on his face.
In that instant, Chu Xisheng’s blade swiftly pierced through Mu Ling’s brow with a clean and decisive cut.