Chapter 120 Entering The Grotto Heaven

Time passed fast, and the time for Duncan and Foodie Chen to enter the Grotto Heaven arrived.

Currently, the last stragglers of Level 3 demonic beasts were going through the gate. By logic, Duncan and Foodie Chen must wait a few moments and then only approach the gates. But, it looked like Foodie Chen's patience had run out at this moment.

"Junior brother, let's go," Foodie Chen grunted and started walking towards the gates with Duncan in tow.

Several growls started emanating from the surroundings causing Duncan's scalps to tingle. When the demonic beasts sensed Duncan's strength, they were dissatisfied with Foodie Chen's actions.

A demonic eagle which was stronger than average demonic beasts present in the vicinity screeched in outrage and swooped in from distance aiming for Duncan. When Duncan felt the demonic beast's baleful aura lock on to him, he felt his legs stiffen from the pressure.

The pressure only lasted for a moment before Foodie Chen unleashed a punch at the approaching demonic eagle. Duncan saw an image of a bull form atop his senior brother's fist and fly directly toward the demonic eagle.

The demonic eagle screeched and unleashed an attack with its wings. Several air blades formed and shot out from its wings. But, when they met with the bull image unleashed by Foodie Chen's fist, they crumbled into nothingness. The bull image didn't even pause before landing heavily on the demonic eagle.

"Impudent beast, you haven't even gleaned your own concept you want to challenge me, hum," Foodie Chen snorted and walked as if it wasn't a big thing at all.

Duncan watched idly as the demonic eagle was sent flying into the distance. It was clear to Duncan that if his senior brother wanted, he could have killed the beast with a single punch.

However, considering the fact that they were in the midst of several disgruntled demonic beasts, it was better he didn't kill the demonic eagle. The volume of growls lessened after that incident causing Duncan to walk freely behind Foodie Chen.

They reached the gates with no other challenges coming their way. Duncan turned to look and found a few demonic beasts following them from a distance. He reckoned they would be the next to enter.

As Duncan stepped below the gates, he could feel dense spiritual energy wafting from the area behind the gates. He felt a strange power pressing down on them. The power wasn't overbearing like the pressure from a strong cultivator. It was trying to encompass them both without being intrusive.

"Don't fight it," Foodie Chen reminded. "It is the transportation restriction enveloping you. If you fight, you will only suffer. Let it do its job. Remember to stay safe once you are transported after you step in. You are on your own out there. Even if you hide and cultivate, the dense spiritual energy will help you progress faster. Use this six months wisely."

"Thank you, senior brother," Duncan said nodding along.

"Don't bother. Just be safe. Remember, you are on your own. And don't trust even our own sect disciples in there," Foodie Chen said seriously as they stepped past the gates.

Before Duncan could ask what he meant, he felt his surroundings blur. The strange pressure that has been enveloping him suddenly felt tangible. He could feel it hold his body tightly causing his instincts to act up and struggle.

The more he struggled the tighter the restriction around him became. Before he could panic or do something, he felt the power fade away and the surroundings come into focus once more.

Duncan heaved a deep breath and looked around to find the land he was standing upon didn't look like what he saw behind the gates at all. As he looked around frantically, he saw his senior brother was no longer with him.

He was currently atop a small hill. Large trees that looked as if they would require three men to encircle the trunk were present sparsely on the hill. The terrain was a little rocky, with a lot of gravel mixed in it, and the breeze that caressed his face was a little stiff.

Duncan was amazed by the change in location within a split second. He looked up and found no sun or moon present in the sky. It was covered completely with clouds making it hard for him to see through.

"Is this the effect of transportation formation senior brother told me about?" Duncan mumbled uncertainly looking at his surroundings in wonder. "This place looks completely different. And I didn't even feel that I was being transported. There was only a small tightening of the restriction around my body. This is amazing," Duncan mumbled.

Duncan bent down and touched the gravel in his hands and felt it carefully. He sniffed it a little and let it flow through his hand and watched it scatter in the wind slightly.

"Everything here is real. If this is an illusion, then it is above my level. I feel this is completely real," Duncan said shaking his head. "I guess, senior brother was right. I was transported to a random location in the Grotto Heaven. I better find a place to lay low now."

Duncan stood up and surveyed the surroundings. As this was a hill region, Duncan had confidence in finding a good spot to lay low. It would be good if he could improve his cultivation a bit before venturing out.

Taking a deep breath, Duncan felt the dense spiritual energy rushing through his body. The spiritual energy was thrice that of what he had felt in the wilderness near his sect. It was twice that of the spiritual energy concentrated in his sect.

He could feel his cultivation technique begin to operate automatically as it sucked in this dense spiritual energy and replenished what he had wasted earlier. Duncan could feel that his qi would be restored back to its peak within an hour at this rate.

"Good, I don't need to worry about the consumption of my qi while using my techniques here. With this refill rate, I think I can continuously use my <Wind Chasing Steps> and explore this area," Duncan mumbled to himself a bit happily.

As for hiding in a place and cultivating as his senior brother advised, Duncan threw that to the back of his head after feeling the dense spiritual energy in this place. He knew that even without trying, his cultivation would begin to increase and he could break through the Qi Gathering realm within a few months.

But, for that to happen, he needed to collect some slaughter qi as well. If not, he would never be able to progress to the next level. Currently, he was at the seventh level of the Qi Condensation realm. It wouldn't be a problem to reach the peak of this level with the dense spiritual energy present here.

But, if he wanted to advance, then he must engage in a battle and try to draw in some slaughter qi. If not, he could only feel stuck at the peak of this level.

Also, Duncan's heart started throbbing looking at the surrounding regions. He felt the wanderlust created by his new goal activate and he wanted to explore this region that has been sealed for millennia.

Duncan didn't care about the spirit herbs or spirit fruits that were supposed to be abundant in this region. No, what he cared about was the untread paths and millennia of dust that has been accumulated here. It was something he wanted to unveil with his own legs and eyes.

So, regardless of the reasons, he couldn't stay put and cultivate. Whether it be for safety, for cultivation, or to scratch the new itch in his heart, Duncan felt that it was better to stretch his legs a bit and see what this region has to offer.

With a bright smile on his face, Duncan secured his bag and checked his sword one last time before using <Wind Chasing Steps> and vanishing from the spot.

Soon Duncan's figure blurred through the hillside and he started exploring this region. He didn't use his full pace as it would mean he wasn't appreciating what was around him at any moment. He merely moderated his speed and made sure that he didn't miss anything while walking past.

After grasping the concept of speed in the <Wind Chasing Steps>, Duncan's mastery of the technique had reached a new peak. He could effortlessly control his own pace and travel at what kind of speed he wanted.

Duncan fixed his gaze on a large hilltop, which looked as if the highest peak in this region, and started making his way over there. There were dozens of hills between his spot and the large hill in this range giving Duncan enough time to get assimilated to the region.

As he made his way, Duncan idly noted down a few hiding spots he came across in the hills that he crossed over. In case he needed to make a hasty getaway, these spots could come in handy. Even while traveling, Duncan opted to keep his feet on the ground. The lesson he had learned last time courtesy of that demonic snake was enough for him to not to be so brazen.

Duncan traveled for about two hours and arrived at the foot of his destination. Looking up, Duncan saw something shiny glinting halfway up the mountain. Seeing that, Duncan's heart throbbed. He wanted to check out what that glint was.

With a large smile, Duncan increased his pace hoping to reach the spot soon.

*****

A/N: Hey folks!

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