Chapter 170 - 86: First Spirit Core, Nearing Perfection

Chapter 170: Chapter 86: First Spirit Core, Nearing Perfection

Besides, Jiang Xuan wasn’t in the best of shape at the moment.

True, Jiang Xuan hadn’t kept his eye open for very long. During that time, the Nether Abyss Dharma Eye had not only absorbed his Magical Power but had also ravenously devoured the surrounding Spiritual Qi. It had even consumed a portion of the Molten Rock Giant Demon’s flames to fuel itself.

But to suppress the Molten Rock Demon, Jiang Xuan had pushed his Nether Abyss Dharma Eye to its current maximum level, placing immense strain on his body.

’To think that after all this time cultivating, my Flesh Body has become my weakest link... Thankfully, that problem will be solved soon.’

’It won’t be long now. Soon, all of my Primordial Sea Acupoints will be unblocked, reaching total Perfection.’

Filled with anticipation, Jiang Xuan hurried onward.

To Dong Hao and Su Linyin’s immense relief, the trial on the Road of Purgatory hadn’t pushed them to their absolute breaking point after all.

After overcoming the gauntlet of eleven Demon Beasts, the trio finally had a rare moment of peace, allowing them to regulate their breathing, recover, and catch their breath.

After walking for a dozen or so breaths, Jiang Xuan and his companions saw the figure of a Daoist, and beyond him, the other teams that had already passed the gauntlet.

——Initially, Jiang Xuan had planned to conserve his strength and proceed slowly, which caused him to fall behind the others. He had only just now managed to catch up to the main group.

At the same time, Jiang Xuan saw that the group of Cultivators who had made it this far were, without exception, battered, wounded, and in a miserable state.

After a series of bloody battles, Qin Feng and Fang Xiao’s team now had fewer than ten members remaining.

The Rooster Daoist School was in a similar state; Tang Yinzheng and Qiao Yue’s team was also down to about ten people.

Of the Three Great Daoist Schools, only the Yin Daoist School was slightly better off, with thirty to forty people still remaining.

Yet the atmosphere around the Yin Daoist School’s contingent was the most somber and oppressive, thick with an aura of death.

Chen Qianjun, their core powerhouse who had always charged at the very front to shield them from all harm, was now grievously wounded.

His grievous injuries had not only caused the Yin Daoist School’s overall combat strength to plummet, but the morale and fighting spirit of the entire team had cratered along with it.

More critically, his injury had also cast a strange, subtle tension over the students of the three schools.

Qin Feng and Fang Xiao of the Chen Daoist School, as well as Tang Yinzheng and Qiao Yue of the Rooster Daoist School, were frequently exchanging furtive glances. With every look that met, a murderous intent simmered beneath the surface.

Almost instantly, Jiang Xuan understood what they were planning.

’They’re preparing to seize this opportunity to eliminate the heavily injured Chen Qianjun and remove a future threat for good.’

After a moment of consideration, Jiang Xuan had to admit that such a move was necessary.

Although Chen Qianjun was grievously wounded, it also gave him time to rest and recuperate.

If they didn’t act now, and instead dragged things out and allowed Chen Qianjun to recover, both Qin Feng and Tang Yinzheng would find themselves in a great deal of trouble.

After all, Chen Qianjun’s combat prowess had been on full display earlier.

Jiang Xuan didn’t believe that either Qin Feng or Tang Yinzheng had any chance of defeating Chen Qianjun.

...

As Jiang Xuan observed the scene and analyzed the situation, Qin Feng and Tang Yinzheng also noticed the arrival of him and his two companions.

’He actually made it through?’

After casting a surprised glance at Jiang Xuan, they turned their attention elsewhere.

In their eyes, Chen Qianjun, with his illustrious reputation, was a far greater threat than Jiang Xuan, who at most might have a few secrets.

This joint examination between the three schools had practically been arranged because of him, and the combat strength he’d displayed earlier had been unmatched by anyone present.

His ability to confront the Red Flame Fierce Tiger head-on without losing any ground had deeply shaken both Qin Feng and Tang Yinzheng.

Thus, dealing with him first had become the silent consensus between the two leaders.

And the opportunity to make their move arrived swiftly.

SWOOSH!

After passing the Fierce Beast gauntlet and walking for a short while longer, before everyone could even fully catch their breath, the environment changed once more.

Wooooo...

The scorching heat of the Scorched Earth Purgatory vanished in an instant. When the students came to their senses, they found themselves in a boundless Chaotic Burial Mound where a sinister wind howled.

A gloomy sky hung low over the desolate, deathly still wilderness. Lonely graves and desolate tombs stood scattered about, covering the land as far as the eye could see.

In addition, countless paper effigies swayed around the graves, weathered tombstones stood in disrepair, and joss paper rustled down from the sky like falling leaves.

The scene made the atmosphere of the Chaotic Burial Mound exceptionally grim and terrifying.

What was even more terrifying was that the moment they set foot in the Chaotic Burial Mound, a strange, mournful, bone-chilling wail echoed deep within the students’ minds. No matter how the Cultivators circulated their Spiritual Power to protect themselves, they couldn’t dispel it in the slightest.

Sob...

The sorrowful wail seemed to infect their emotions, causing many of the students to grow despondent and dejected, and they began to sob softly, unable to control themselves.

As the wailing sent shivers down their spines, the paper effigies that had been lying motionless beside the tombs began to creak, one after another, as they slowly rose to their feet.

These paper effigies did not attack immediately. Instead, they transformed to take on the appearance of the Cultivators from the various schools. Standing before the graves, they faced the students and broke into sinister, ghastly smiles.

This silent intimidation was somehow even more unnerving.

...

Upon entering the Chaotic Burial Mound, although they didn’t suffer the same instant, devastating casualties as in the previous two trials, a thick, oppressive, and ominous feeling coiled tightly around everyone’s hearts, giving them the sense that disaster was imminent.

This grim and bizarre spectacle agitated the students of the three schools, but for Qin Feng and Tang Yinzheng, it only strengthened their resolve to act immediately.