Chapter 2383: Ancient Battlefield (1)
Chapter 2383: Ancient Battlefield (1)
The guardian could offer no answers. He could only speculate that something extraordinary lay within the Ancient Battlefield, something that had drawn Yun Lintian's attention.
Nantian Fengyu, her heart heavy with worry, knew she had to follow Yun Lintian. She couldn't leave him alone in an unknown and potentially dangerous realm.
"I'm going in after him," she declared, her voice resolute.
The guardian, sensing her determination, nodded. "Very well. But be warned, the Ancient Battlefield is a perilous place. Be cautious."
Nantian Fengyu, without another word, stepped onto the platform. The trial commenced, and as expected, she passed with flying colors. The portal shimmered, beckoning her to enter. She took a deep breath, steeling her resolve. "Junior brother, wait for me. I'm coming." With that, she stepped into the portal, vanishing into its swirling depths.
Qingqing hopped onto the platform next. "Don't worry, Sister Fengyu. I will follow you right away!"
The platform glowed brightly, and the word "Pass" appeared.
The guardian, now accustomed to these exceptional participants, simply pointed at the portal and said, "Go in."
Qingqing didn't hesitate and jumped into the portal without looking back.
Linlin followed suit, her small form disappearing into the swirling vortex.
***
Yun Lintian's senses reeled as he tumbled through the chaotic void within the portal. He felt as though he were being tossed about in a cosmic washing machine, his body buffeted by unseen forces.
Finally, with a jarring thud, he landed on solid ground. He groaned, pushing himself up to a sitting position. His head spun, and his vision swam, but he gradually regained his bearings.
He found himself in a desolate wasteland, the ground cracked and barren, the sky a sickly shade of grey. A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the occasional gust of wind whistling through the skeletal remains of ancient trees.
"This is... the Ancient Battlefield?" Yun Lintian muttered, his voice echoing eerily in the desolate landscape.
He rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping the surroundings. The air was thick with a strange energy, a mixture of lingering resentment, lingering killing intent, and decaying divine power. It felt heavy, oppressive, as if the weight of countless battles past pressed down on his shoulders.
Yun Lintian frowned. He could sense that this place was not only dangerous but also deeply unsettling. It was as if the very land itself was steeped in sorrow and despair.
He took a cautious step forward, his senses on high alert. He had no idea what dangers lurked in this desolate realm, but he knew he had to find his companions and uncover the reason behind his forced entry.
As he ventured deeper into the wasteland, he encountered the remnants of ancient battles - shattered weapons, crumbling fortifications, and skeletal remains of fallen warriors. The sheer scale of the destruction was staggering, a testament to the ferocity of the conflicts that had once raged here.
"Grrr..."
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the air, sending a shiver down Yun Lintian's spine. He turned, his eyes scanning the shadows. A pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the darkness, followed by the hulking form of a monstrous creature.
It was a grotesque beast, its flesh rotting and decaying, its bones protruding through its skin. Its eyes burned with a malevolent light, and its jaws were filled with razor-sharp teeth.
Yun Lintian furrowed his brow. He had encountered countless beasts in his cultivation journey, but this creature was different. It exuded an aura of death and decay, its very presence an affront to life itself.
Swoosh!
The beast lunged, its claws outstretched, its jaws snapping. Yun Lintian drew his Heaven Piercing Sword, the blade singing as it sliced through the air. He met the beast's attack with a flurry of strikes, his movements swift and precise.
"Roar!" The beast roared in fury, its claws tearing at Yun Lintian's defenses. Yun Lintian countered with a series of powerful sword techniques, his blade flashing like lightning.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The clash of their attacks echoed through the wasteland, the ground trembling beneath their feet. Yun Lintian calmly struck against the creature's relentless assault. Its power was amplified by the deathly energy that permeated the battlefield, making it a formidable opponent.
Yun Lintian channeled his divine energy, his senses reaching out to probe the creature's essence. He discovered that its power was rooted in the decaying energy of the battlefield, its very existence tied to this desolate realm.
With a newfound understanding, Yun Lintian adjusted his tactics. He infused his sword strikes with the life-giving energy of the World Tree, countering the creature's deathly aura.
"Roar!" The beast howled in pain as the life energy disrupted its connection to the battlefield. Its movements became sluggish, its attacks losing their ferocity.
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Yun Lintian seized the opportunity, unleashing a devastating sword technique. The blade sliced through the creature's defenses, cleaving its body in two.
The beast let out a final roar before collapsing into a heap of rotting flesh and bone. Yun Lintian put the sword away and looked at a small glass bead in the remains.
Yun Lintian picked up the glass bead, his brow furrowing in curiosity. It was about the size of a marble, perfectly smooth and translucent, with a faint, ethereal glow emanating from
within.
As he held it in his hand, he felt a surge of pure divine energy flowing into him, denser and more potent than any Divine Stone he had encountered before.
"This is..." Yun Lintian muttered, his eyes widening in surprise. He had never seen anything like it. It was similar to a Divine Stone, yet vastly superior in quality.
Suddenly, a voice broke through his thoughts. "That, my friend, is a Spirit Bead, the currency of this battlefield."
Yun Lintian turned to see the sword master from the arena entrance approaching. The man's face held a gentle smile, his eyes sparkling with wisdom.
"We meet again," the man said, stopping a few paces away. "I am Rui Xian."
Yun Lintian cupped his fists in greeting. "Yun Lintian." He gestured towards the Spirit Bead in his hand. "You said this is... currency?"
Rui Xian nodded. "Indeed. In this Ancient Battlefield, Divine Stones are practically useless. The energy here is too chaotic, too wild. Divine Stones cannot contain it effectively. But Spirit Beads... they are different. They are formed from the condensed essence of fallen gods and divine beasts, making them far more potent and stable."
He continued, "You'll find that many cities and settlements exist within this battlefield. They are inhabited by cultivators who have chosen to remain here, seeking opportunities or hiding from enemies. In these places, Spirit Beads are used for trade, cultivation, and even for forging powerful artifacts."