Stellar Transformation-Chapter 197: Episode 10 Fury Unleashed - 3 Illusionary Demon Realm
The ancient bronze gate had a translucent, jade-like quality, and the nine sword holes were arranged in a peculiar pattern, clearly indicating a complicated formation. However, everyone present, including Elder Qian Xu, found it inscrutable.
Like thrusting into a supple liquid, two jade swords were inserted into two of the sword holes...
"Swish!" Like the sound of a sharp sword being unsheathed, the entire ancient bronze gate suddenly lit up. A green beam of light shot out from the gate, covering everyone present and causing them all to squint involuntarily.
"I’ll insert into the eighth sword hole," Qin Yu said, stepping forward and slowly inserting his sword into the eighth hole.
After him, Azure Dragon, Yan Mo, Huo Lan, and True Master Yan Xu each inserted their jade swords in turn.
All nine jade swords were in place!
Everyone held their breath.
Everyone stared breathlessly at the ancient bronze gate, their hearts in their throats.
"Whoosh!" Like the sound of inhaling, the nine jade swords vanished abruptly, as if sucked into the gate. At the same time, the nine sword holes lit up, and immediately nine beams of light emerged, intertwining like ropes.
A deafening noise erupted—
Blinding!
Everyone was forced to close their eyes. It wasn’t unbearable, but rather... a reflexive reaction. And as they closed their eyes, a set of parallel beams emanated from the entire ancient bronze gate, enveloping everyone!
Disappearance.
Just like that, everyone vanished into thin air from outside the Immortal Mansion. And it was not, as everyone had initially anticipated, that the gate would open.
*****
Shrouded in mist, as though a sea of white clouds, the whole world was enshrouded in white fog without end in sight. Moreover, visibility was extremely low, with only several tens of meters discernible, beyond which was a vast expanse of white.
Qin Yu opened his eyes, and was immediately shocked by what he saw.
"Where is this place?"
Qin Yu’s first instinct was to look around. At that moment, he saw Li’er beside him and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief inwardly.
"This is a formation, a very profound formation. The person who set up this formation is extremely skilled," Li’er stated confidently.
"Oh, are you sure?" Qin Yu asked back.
With a slight thrust of her chest, Li’er lifted her head and said to Qin Yu, "Of course." Qin Yu couldn’t help but smile.
"Elder Qian Xu, your knowledge ranks among the best of us. Tell us, what exactly is this place? Just now we were still outside the Immortal Mansion, and now we are in this mysterious place. What’s going on?" Huo Lan spoke up.
Huo Lan and his brother Huo Can were looking carefully around them at this moment.
Stroking his beard, Elder Qian Xu remarked in admiration, "This place is extremely mysterious. I just expanded my Spiritual Sense to observe and found that my Spiritual Sense seems to be greatly restricted. The distance it can cover is even less than what my eyes can see, which is truly extraordinary."
Seeing Elder Qian Xu’s admiration, Huo Can said coldly, "Elder Qian Xu, stop wasting time. Just moments ago we were outside the Immortal Mansion, and now we are here... what’s the explanation for this? The most urgent matter for us now is to understand what’s going on and how to get out of this damned place."
"There’s no need to panic. Stay calm, everyone," Elder Qian Xu said with a smile.
At this moment, whether it was True Master Yue Yan, the normally good-tempered True Master Shui Rou, or the anxious duo Huo Lan and Huo Can, everyone was feeling uneasy. As for the younger generation like Yan Mo, Azure Dragon, and Qin Yu, they naturally felt an urgent desire to understand their predicament.
Among them, only Li’er, the black-haired elder beside Situ Xue, and the three men in yellow behind the Azure Dragon, showed no sign of anxiety.
Elder Qian Xu glanced around at the crowd and said, "It seems to me that this lady from the Star Pavilion, the three men in yellow next to the Azure Dragon, and that black-haired elder are not the least bit worried. I’m aware of the details of the Star Pavilion’s lady; however, Situ, isn’t that black-haired elder one of your Yin Yue Palace members?"
Situ Xue raised his eyebrows and then bowed, saying, "Predecessor guesses rightly, this person is indeed a fellow sect member of mine."
"Fellow sect member?"
Elder Qian Xu smiled and a glint appeared in his eyes, "I’m afraid he’s not just any fellow sect member."
"Hmph, it appears the people from Qingxu Temple are meddling too much. Ah Xue, don’t mind him, if Lady Gong Yanji from our palace were here, I’d like to see if he would still dare to be so brazen," the black-haired elder sneered, clearly disdainful of Elder Qian Xu.
Cold light flowed through Elder Qian Xu’s eyes, like lightning striking.
"Elder Qian Xu, what exactly are you trying to achieve with all this prattling? Our main concern should be to figure out what this place is and how we can leave here," Huo Lan said, somewhat irritated.
But Elder Qian Xu did not reply, instead, his gaze shifted towards the three men in yellow behind the Azure Dragon.
"Early Kongming? Since when did the Green Dragon Palace have such experts, and three at once?" Elder Qian Xu asked in return.
Elder Qian Xu wasn’t concerned about people in the Early Kongming stage, yet he felt that these three men in yellow carried a sense of mystery.
The Azure Dragon gave a respectful salute, "Predecessor, these three are the Deputy Palace Masters who have always been hidden within our Green Dragon Palace. We haven’t disclosed their identities before, and since we are going to open the Nine Sword Immortal Mansion, our Green Dragon Palace naturally has to bring forth all our strength."
"Oh," Elder Qian Xu nodded.
At this moment, Qin Yu furrowed his brows.
"What exactly is Elder Qian Xu trying to do? He’s not in a hurry to explore what this place is and doesn’t seem worried about getting trapped here. Could it be that he... knows the secrets of this place?" Qin Yu looked closely at Elder Qian Xu.
Suddenly, Qin Yu’s eyes brightened.
Behind Elder Qian Xu and his disciple brother Qian Shan, a part of a rock became visible.
Qin Yu’s figure shifted, and in an instant, he moved several meters to the side.
Stele!
Qin Yu finally saw that behind Elder Qian Xu and his fellow disciples stood a stone stele, an ancient and simple stone stele. And there were inscriptions on this stele...
"Haha, young friend Qin Yu is indeed wise."
Elder Qian Xu noticed Qin Yu’s movements and realizing he couldn’t hide it any longer, stepped aside, allowing everyone to see the stone stele behind him.
"I recognize these inscriptions," True Master Yan Xu exclaimed.
"Oh?"
"These inscriptions and those we saw in the cave when we were searching for the ninth Jade Sword, left behind by the Immortal who created the Nine Sword Immortal Mansion, are the same. Indeed, these inscriptions were left by that Immortal," True Master Yan Xu said with certainty.
Qin Yu, Yida, the Azure Dragon, and others also saw the inscriptions on the stele, and they were indeed identical to those they had seen in the cave before.
"Is this... the Illusionary Demon Realm?"
Huo Lan stepped forward, looked at the inscriptions, and exclaimed.
As the others read the characters on the stele, their faces fell silent one by one.
They all understood that they had not arrived elsewhere but had entered the interior of the Nine Swords Immortal Mansion. Moreover, the reason for their arrival here was probably related to the Qin Guang shot out from the ancient bronze gate of the Nine Swords Immortal Mansion.
"Haha, my friends, congratulations on entering the Nine Swords Immortal Mansion. However, the treasures of Immortal Ni Yang are not so easily obtained. This place is the outermost illusionary fairyland of the Nine Swords Immortal Mansion, but... I feel that ’Illusionary Demon Realm’ would be a more suitable name. If you wish to obtain the Immortal Treasures, survive this Illusionary Demon Realm. Of course... This is out of your hands now. Once you enter, life and death are no longer under your control, haha..."
The several lines of flamboyant script were filled with an overwhelming and domineering aura!
Clearly, the Immortal who left behind the mansion was not a charitable or kindly person but rather a cold-hearted one. Even for those destined to obtain the Jade Sword, the Immortal laid down extremely difficult and dangerous tests.
Succeed, and you obtain the Magical Treasure; fail, and you die.
There was no turning back, nor could they.
"Ni Yang... This Immortal Ni Yang is so overbearing," exclaimed True Master Yue Yan in amazement.
Huo Lan, on the other hand, rarely smiled: "I think this Immortal Ni Yang does not seem like an Immortal at all, but more like us Demon Cultivators, haha... Look at these words, showing no disguise for his true intentions, unlike some Cultivators who have hearts like vipers and yet insist on setting up a facade of virtue, the epitome of hypocrisy." Huo Lan cast a cold glance at Elder Qian Xu.
Elder Qian Xu, however, remained smiling.
"Everyone understands the intention of the Immortal. Once we are here, there is no escape; we can only accept our fate. Whether we die... or live, it all depends on our own abilities. This so-called ’Illusionary Demon Realm’ is definitely not something we can compare to the usual dangers we face," Elder Qian Xu said loudly.
The Independent Immortals and Independent Demons were slightly apprehensive.
But Azure Dragon, Yida, Yan Mo, Qin Yu and the others were extremely tense.
Illusionary Demon Realm?
If it’s about who has a higher chance of survival, of course, it’s those with higher power, like the Independent Immortals and Demons. Those with weaker strengths naturally live in fear.
Huo Lan sneered, "This Immortal Ni Yang insists on creating such a dangerous situation to trouble us. However... in my opinion, Immortal Ni Yang will certainly allow some people to obtain the Immortal Treasure, so the difficulty must be limited. If you have enough strength, there’s no need to worry."
"Is that really the case?" True Master Shui Rou suddenly asked.
Huo Lan was taken aback.
"True Master Shui Rou, what do you mean?" Huo Lan retorted.
"Treasures are destined for those with fate, and sometimes luck is also very important. I think... if you, Huo Lan, continue being so careless, you might be the first to die," True Master Shui Rou said as she glanced at Huo Lan with a smile.
"You..." Huo Lan was furious.
But at that moment—
The sound of a melodious flute began to rise; at first, the sound was like the lament of a grieving widow, low and hoarse... stirring the hearts of everyone, causing Azure Dragon, Qin Yu, and the others to involuntarily feel sad and sorrowful, their eyes growing moist.
Next to Qin Yu, Li’er’s eyes, however, brightened.
"Junior brother, be careful. Keep your spirit clear and do not let the flute’s sound take control," Elder Qian Xu immediately shouted.
Although Elder Qian Xu remained lucid at the moment, he still felt an unbearable grief, as if he was witnessing a human tragedy that naturally shook his heart. Even though he knew it was caused by the flute’s sound, he still could not control his own emotions.
One could only say that the flute’s sound was too eerie.
Qin Yu clenched his fists, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
This flute music is so peculiar.
Qin Yu could distinctly feel the uniqueness of the flute music. Unlike Li’er’s calming harp melodies, the flute seemed to possess a demonic effect, drawing one’s spirit into various negative emotions. In contrast, Li’er’s harp sounds were harmonious and natural, blending with nature.
Those present were each resisting the effect of the flute music.
Of those present, only Li’er had a slight frown but showed little reaction otherwise. It was clear that the flute music did not have much effect on her. Whether this was due to Li’er’s mastery of music or some other reason remained unknown.
The music from the flute shifted!
It was like thousands of horses galloping and battles unfolding. The atmosphere within the Illusionary Demon Realm became tenser and more oppressive, as if permeated by an aura of slaughter.
It’s either you die, or I perish!
That sense of mortal combat thoroughly penetrated everyone’s spirit.
"Not good." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
Qin Yu felt his whole mind could no longer bear it. He was drawn to the thrills of life-and-death struggles, the shock of battle. Consequently, Qin Yu was increasingly affected and couldn’t help but fall into it.
Even though he knew there was something wrong with the flute music and that one should not be manipulated by it, Qin Yu was still unable to control himself.
"Impressive, the art of music lies in its ability to control people unconsciously. And this flute music, even though everyone was aware of the danger from the beginning, they still couldn’t control themselves and watched as they fell deeper into it," Li’er murmured in admiration.
No one heard Li’er’s praise.
Even the likes of Huo Lan, Huo Can, and Elder Qian Xu, Independent Immortals and Independent Demons who had undergone the Third Tribulation, could not completely resist the temptation of the flute music, let alone distract themselves by listening to someone else speak.
"Ah, kill, kill, kill!!!"
Jiao Jiu suddenly screamed wildly.
Li’er glanced at Jiao Jiu and whispered to herself, "Demon Cultivators have an inherently strong demonic nature, and Jiao Jiu, not even reaching the Middle Kongming stage, is naturally the first to succumb completely."
Suddenly, Jiao Jiu madly ran southward, his eyes bloodshot, continuing to shout "kill, kill," while randomly attacking everything in front of him, as if he encountered something terrifying— and at that moment—
"Kill, kill, kill them all."
Another crazy roar erupted, and yet another had fallen into complete madness.
This person was none other than Black Dragon Yan Mo.
Black Dragon Yan Mo roared fiercely, running even faster toward the south, also attacking wildly.
"Yan Mo, no, something’s not right; although Yan Mo’s mental Cultivation is not particularly high, his determination is as steadfast as any of the Independent Immortals or Independent Demons. How could he—" Li’er mused aloud, her gaze filled with confusion as she watched Yan Mo.
Suddenly, Li’er’s eyes brightened.
She saw within the crazy eyes of Yan Mo a fierce glint, aimed directly at the person ahead— Jiao Jiu.
(End of Chapter One! Fang Qie has moved into a new dormitory— a first-floor room that’s dark as night, very dim without any sunlight, and what’s most infuriating is... there’s no telephone line, nor a network port, so there’s no internet access... At this moment, Fang Qie is in an all-night classroom, relying on wireless internet to send out the first Chapter! The second Chapter will come around ten o’clock!)
(To be continued. For further details, please visit WWW.CMFU.COM, where there are more Chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading!)
