Chapter 154 Hidden Danger of Core Zone
" Ahem, You guys are getting too mischievous." Long Ming blushed as he wore his robe. " Couldn't you have reminded me that my clothes were burnt?"
The girls actually looked at each other in shock when more than half of them admitted seeing Long Ming naked.
" Well... We saw Senior Brother when he got injured in the Wine Gathering battle." Chen Yin and Lin Xie spoke.
" Me too." Shui Huan added. Lin Xie and Chen Yin were shocked. " Wait, You weren't in that room, How did you..."
" Ahem..."
SHui Huan blushed as she shook her head. " I just... I just saw it, ok? Don't ask when."
" I saw when he was practicing battle techniques in Sister Mu's courtyard." Luo Yingying spoke.
" I... Uh... I also just saw once... Accidentally." Ming Yuexin blushed as she averted her gaze. But one can see her smacking her lips as if she was remembering something.
" Alright! No need to brag!" Long Ming spoke hurriedly. " First, Meet Elder Hao. He was the past Disciplinary Hall's head elder."
Hao Tianci was grimacing when he saw the situation, But he quickly regained his composure and nodded. " I see, There are quite some good seedlings here."
" Actually, After Empress Crimson Sky, we moved all Yang attribute techniques here. So, when the secret realm collapsed, the techniques were either destroyed or sealed here in a secluded space." Hao Tianci spoke.
Long Ming looked at the disciples of Four Seasons Valley. " The Core Zone is about to get dangerous. So, All of you shall stay here. Cultivate and harvest herbs. Also, there are some herbs which you can refine directly without refining into medicinal pills."
Hao Tianci nodded. " I don't know about other parts, but this part of Herbal Sanctuary is sealed by the array formation. So from last few thousand years, no one stepped inside."
" So, you guys just take whatever here. There is also a spirits stone mine here." Hao Tianci smiled. " I just hope you make the Four Seasons Valley rise again."
" Elder Hao, You said Ancestor Huang is also here? Can we meet him?" Long Ming looked at Hao Tianci.
" Ancestor Huang is a Dao Refining Realm cultivator. He burned his lifespan and sealed the remaining Imperial Spirit Veins." Hao Tianci sighed. " The place he is currently sealed is very dangerous. You can say it's the center of Four Direction Grand Sword Formation."
" You need to go to the central palace, which should be shielded tightly." Hao Tianci warned Long Ming. Waving his hand, a token appeared. " Take this. With this, you can bypass the formation of the central palace." noVE(Lb(In
" However, beware." Hao Tianci's expression turned grave. " The Flaming Mountain is near the central palace, where the Pale Mountain Abyss Monster is sealed. Although weakened, it's not something you can contend against."
" I would still recommend you to not visit Ancestor Huang. But... I guess he should know about the truth of the outside world now." Hao Tianci sighed. " After all, I don't think he has much lifespan remaining.
Long Ming held the token as he nodded. However, to complete the quest of the system, he absolutely needs the help of Ancestor Huang. After all, perhaps he is the one who has the most power inside this realm, other than the monster itself.
" Brother Long, I heard you accepted the duel with Qin Chen?" Ming Yuexin looked at Long Ming. " Imperial Family of Holy Qilin Empire is no joke. You must stay cautious."
" Thank you for your concerns, Sister Ming." Long Ming smiled. " However, this confrontation can't be avoided. After all, since he dared to threaten the Four Seasons Valley, he would find out the result."
" Brother Long, I am coming with you." Ming Yuexin spoke. " You definitely going to need my strength."
" And me too." Luo Yingying walked forward. " I will help you decipher formations and runes."
Long Ming looked at them. " The danger this time is too great. Are you sure you want to come with me?"
" Oi, You are the True Disciple of Four Seasons Valley." Mu Qinglian looked at him. " No matter what, we are going to follow you. The disciples of Four Seasons Valley just don't abandon each other in the face of danger, ok?"
Long Ming gave a warm smile as he looked at them. " Thank you, everyone, for believing me."
" Alright, Girls! Just loot all the resources here and keep it safe and sound. Meanwhile, I shall go and kick some asses, ok?"
" Yes! Senior brother!"
Long Ming turned around and walked out. Soon, he along with Mu Qinglian, Ming Yuexin, and Luo Yingying, walked out from the Herbal Sanctuary.
" The place of the duel is near the central palace. So, we shall go there eventually." Mu Qinglian spoke.
" Indeed. Let's go now. The Flaming Mountain and central palace must be a hotpot now." Long Ming chuckled.
The central palace had been an enigma zone inside the Azure Sun Sacred Realm. Even after thousands of years, none could get inside it.
Some said there was an ancient Imperial Treasure sealed there. Some speculated a treasury left behind by Empress Crimson Sky.
The allure of Imperial Treasures, Longevity Pills, Techniques of the Heavenly Emperor or any other exotic items could make anyone bellow Grand Heaven Ascension Realm cultivator salivate.
However, no matter how many tried, they couldn't enter the formation at all. It left even Formation Kings vexed, and made the rumors more solid.
When Long Ming reached the center of the Core Zone, he could see a crimson mountain from far. The peak looked like it was covered with golden flames, soaring to the sky.
Near the mountain, a giant ancient palace stood, with several sky soaring formation pillars creating an array formation to seal the entire place.
" That's the Flaming Mountain, huh?" Mu Qinglian spoke. " I heard as long as you can endure the tremendous heat and climb further, you will get enlightened."
" Your qi cultivation and body refinement would achieve a breakthrough. Also, if you manage to reach the peak, you might even get blessed with the Heavenly Emperor's aura remnant." Ming Yuexin added.
However, Long Ming was absent minded when he heard that. The moment he walked near the flaming mountain, he felt like something ominous was gazing at him.
His Heavenly Revelation Eyes flickered as he looked at his surroundings. However, other than cultivators who were flocking toward the ancient palace or Flaming Mountain, he couldn't see any suspicious figures.
' Strange. Why am I feeling like that?' Long Ming mumbled.
" Shall we visit the flaming mountain?"
" I don't think so." Long Ming refused.
Although there aren't any strange mishaps happening, not many people know that such a monster is sealed under the mountain. So, Long Ming didn't wish to go there.
However, before they could move, they felt the ground trembling.
" Wh-What's that?"
" Damn it! Is that Steel Bull? My god! It's a hoard of them!"
" Run! Run away!"
It barely took any time before the situation got chaotic. Long Ming saw a large group of Steel Bull demonic beasts charging at them with incredible speed.
However, what made them even more shocked was that from another direction, a giant flock of birds also came sweeping.
" Fuck! Grey Back Sparrows!"
" What a fucking day! We can't even escape by flying now!"
" Run! It's a beast tide!"
Mu Qinglian looked at Long Ming and others with concern. Long Ming nodded as he turned around. " Everyone, let's move. We can't fight with them alone."
Soon, the group changed the direction and rushed away. Long Ming saw the direction was a bit far from Flaming Mountain, so he didn't bother too much.
After a while, he realized they entered a secluded forest. But thankfully, the Steel Horn Bulls didn't chase them into the forest. As for Grey Back Sparrows, they won't attack them easily in the forest either.
However, Long Ming felt something was wrong. The forest was too quiet.
'Strange. Although many cultivators are escaping with us, I can barely see some cultivators in distance '
" Brother Long, look there!" Ming Yuexin pointed at the distance. They saw a small fountain oozing out bright sparkling water.
" Could it be a Spirit Spring?"
" Look at the color, I think it contains the Fire element." Luo Yingying spoke.
" I can't even see any guardian beasts around it. We shouldn't miss such treasure." Ming Yuexin rubbed her palm.
Long Ming also used his Heavenly Revelation Eyes. Yet, he couldn't find a single danger at all.
However, the situation was so abnormal that it was raising ten thousand red flags at once.
Ming Yuexin practiced the Scorching Summer Divine Art. So, it was natural that she wanted to get some of that Spring Water.
Seeing there was no danger, Ming Yuexin rushed forward, afraid that it would get snatched by someone else.
However, Long Ming's danger sense kicked in as he used his Rushing Lightning Steps and charged forward.
"Ming Yuexin!!"
Alas, it was too late. Several gray branches erupted from the ground and shot toward Ming Yuexin.
Ming Yuexin tried to retaliate, yet the branches pierced her body and sucked her dry from blood and qi.
Before Long Ming could comprehend anything, gray branches appeared around them and sealed them off.
My Qinglian's full power erupted, yet she eventually got stabbed by the branches.
It didn't take long before the corpses of Long Ming, Ming Yuexin, and My Qinglian got dragged into the ground.
Luo Yingying, who was already injured yet alive, was also got devoured by the ground.