Sword Sovereign of the Celestial Emperor-Chapter 952 - 950: Serpent Maiden, Long Huan, Hu Zhi
"Alright, I’ll go ring the Ancient Bell. Get ready, once the bell sounds, you can enter Ninefold Mountain!"
The earth-yellow puppet nodded slightly, instructing Chu Ming, then turned into a streak of earth-yellow light and flew toward the high platform!
Clack!
The earth-yellow puppet ascended the high platform, grabbed the bell handle with its right hand, and struck fiercely!
Dong, dong, dong...
Dong, dong, dong...
A series of resonant and melodious bell chimes spread rapidly from the center of Ninefold Mountain, echoing continuously and ceaselessly throughout the Nine Elements Dao Palace!
Whether an Inner Palace disciple or an Outer Palace disciple, at this moment, everyone looked up toward Ninefold Mountain, the source of the bell chimes!
"What’s happening? Why is the bell suddenly ringing?"
A newly-arrived freshman at the Nine Elements Dao Palace curiously asked.
"You must be new here. This is the bell of the Ninefold Mountain. When this bell rings, it means someone is challenging Ninefold Mountain!"
An older Outer Palace student answered, perplexed.
"What?! Someone’s attempting Ninefold Mountain? Are you kidding me? If I recall correctly, the last time the bell rang was seventy to eighty years ago when Sister Jiu Xuan tried to enter the Inner Palace from the Outer Palace. But even so, Sister Jiu Xuan failed. Who do you think this person is?"
Someone immediately inquired.
"I think it must be Chu Ming. Currently, in the Outer Palace, Chu Ming is the strongest. No other Outer Palace disciple is a match for him. The possibility of Chu Ming challenging Ninefold Mountain is much higher!"
"I also think it’s Chu Ming. But even with Chu Ming’s strength, whether he succeeds in Ninefold Mountain remains uncertain!"
Once the bell rang, the Outer Palace was in an uproar. In contrast, the reaction in the Inner Palace was calmer, especially since Chu Ming had taken on five moves from Long Xuanyi without losing, making it clear to everyone that Chu Ming’s strength had reached an intimidating level!
"Damn, he must have refined the Flower of Slaughter Law. If he gets through Ninefold Mountain, he will pose an even greater threat to us."
In a pitch-black palace, Liu Bing’s face darkened with anger, and when the bell rang, she knew the person attempting Ninefold Mountain must be Chu Ming. Only Chu Ming would have the guts to challenge Ninefold Mountain at this time!
"No worries, as long as he’s in the Outer Palace, we can’t do anything to him. If he passes Ninefold Mountain and enters the Inner Palace, it’ll be a chance for us!"
Across from Liu Bing sat a burly man in ornate robes. His physique was even more robust than Gu Hu’s, with a terrifying aura emanating from him, even though he hadn’t intentionally released his presence. This man was a strong Saint Dao practitioner!
"Brother Long Yuan, what do you mean by that?"
Liu Bing frowned in confusion at the burly, well-dressed young man before her.
This young man was Long Yuan, the founder of the Cyan Heaven Sect, and a Core Disciple with quite a reputation in the Nine Elements Dao Palace!
"Have you forgotten the Eye of the Storm?"
Long Yuan smiled faintly, opening his mouth to inquire.
"Eye of the Storm?"
A spark of realization brightened Liu Bing’s eyes.
"Exactly, each year powerful demons from the Black Horn Star Realm emerge from the void into the Eye of the Storm. Some even reach Tier Eight Demon Saints. When one becomes an Inner Palace disciple, they’re led by Core Disciples to the Eye of the Storm for a trial — that’s our best opportunity to act!"
Long Yuan slowly explained.
"Oh? Are you leading the team to the Eye of the Storm this time, Brother Long Yuan?"
Liu Bing queried curiously, knowing a lot about the Eye of the Storm from her grandfather!
The Black Horn Star Realm near the Luotian Star Domain is demon-controlled, inhabited by numerous Tier Nine Demon Gods, whose cultivation reaches the heavens. They’ve always coveted the Luotian Star Domain, which is naturally protected by the Sea of Death, separating the Black Horn Star Realm from the Luotian Star Domain.
However, the Demon Gods from the Black Horn Star Realm perform Great Divine Powers, creating a Teleportation Array between the realms to steadily bring demons from the Black Horn Star Realm to the Luotian Star Domain, hence the Eye of the Storm’s origin!
Still, the Core Disciples only lead to the Eye of the Storm’s outskirts. At its core, Nine Elements Dao Palace Elders reside, with even an Ancestor present. Yet many remnants of demons manage to escape, though their strength isn’t very high, as these Elders intentionally release them to train the disciples!
"No, this time Ning Yijian, a Core Disciple with whom I have some connections, is leading the team. If I pay a price, he might eliminate Chu Ming, which isn’t impossible!"
Long Yuan casually stated.
...
In front of Ninefold Mountain, as soon as the earth-yellow puppet struck the Ancient Bell, Chu Ming’s figure transformed into a stream of light, rushing into Ninefold Mountain!
Whoosh!
Ninefold Mountain was shrouded in an Illusion Realm, and Chu Ming breached its perimeter, promptly reaching a desolate foot of the mountain, surrounded by heaps of dazzling minerals, unlike the dullness from outside!
Whoosh!
At this moment, a gray arrow, like a stream of light, abruptly shot at Chu Ming, blasting through several layers of space.
Clang!
The Infinite Sword unsheathed, a radiant Sword Aura flared, sweeping away the gray arrow in an instant. The arrow hit the ground, its contained destructive power leaving a deep pit!
Whoosh!
"Not bad reflexes!"
A cold voice rang out, and a monster puppet with a dragon’s head and human body flew out from the void, speaking indifferently to Chu Ming.
"Are you the examiner for this trial?"
Chu Ming frowned slightly, asking slowly as the Star Undying Body within him subtly activated, transforming into a white Starlight Battle Armor draped over him.
"Indeed, let me introduce myself. I’m Long Huan, and this is the Snake Lady, and this is Hu Zhi. We three are the examiners for this test. If you defeat us, you can proceed to the mountainside!"
Long Huan said casually. Behind him, a vortex in the void swirled, revealing an alluring woman with a green snake tail, who cast a beguiling smile at Chu Ming.
On the other side, a Blade Master with a tiger’s head wielded a silver-white Long Saber, appearing majestic and formidable!
Long Huan, Hu Zhi, and Snake Lady, their cultivation wasn’t too advanced, at the early stages of Tier Eight Emperor Dao!
Bang!
The Snake Lady’s eyes suddenly turned green, swirling vortexes converging in her gaze. In an instant, they descended from the sky, transforming into an Illusion Realm that enveloped Chu Ming.
