Chapter 14: Take you to play at the Forgotten Heavenly Sinkhole

The explosion ended, and Yue Chuyin fell from the sky like a meteor, directly smashing from the sky into the ground.

He had already been exploded into unconsciousness, his entire body covered in explosive powder, and his blood splurted everywhere.

This was what they called “beautiful” fireworks???

Although Xu Ke was scared, his concern for the sect leader outweighed his fear, and he leaned over to poke him twice.

Then, he checked his breathing.

Just short of kicking him twice.

Ahh! He’s not dead! He’s alive!

Gui Ying summoned the Qiongyao Sword back to his hand, sheathed it, and said to Xu Ke, “Take him out.”

Naturally, he meant taking Yue Chuyin out of the Demon Beast Forest.

“He won’t be getting up for at least ten days to half a month,” Gui Ying said gently, as if he truly were nothing more than a bystander to all of this.

Xu Ke also intended to leave the Demon Beast Forest right away.

After all, his cultivation level was low and it was far too dangerous. Being able to obtain a Nascent Soul–stage demon core was already like a windfall falling from the sky.

So he went along with the situation, dragging the half-dead Sect Master Yue away.

As for Lady Xuan Hou? She had long been sent out by the “thoughtful” Yue Chuyin earlier.

The entire area fell silent.

After Xu Ke dragged Yue Chuyin away, only Lin Xi and Gui Ying were left, staring wide-eyed at each other.

Lin Xi still felt a bit dazed.

Though Yue Chuyin’s move just now had only lasted a few seconds, Lin Xi felt that if it had gone on even one second longer, he might have lost his life.

Yue Chuyin, you’re really ruthless!

Gui Ying smiled at him naturally, “Next time, don’t stir up trouble again.”

Lin Xi looked up at the sect master shixiong standing right in front of him and felt that the atmosphere was a little strange.

He stiffly shuffled forward a few steps, “I-Is that so, haha… next time I won’t, next time I won’t……”

Next time, for sure.

“Also,” Gui Ying fixed his gaze on him and moved a little closer, “Hooking arms and shoulders with ordinary disciples is improper.”

Lin Xi’s mind was a mess. Looking at that kind, gentle face, he felt as if he caught just a hint of something in Gui Ying’s eyes—

…Resentment?

And why were they standing so close to each other?!!

Ahhh!!!!!

(＞﹏＜)

Realizing this, Lin Xi sprang away like a startled bird.

He looked at Gui Ying the way one would look at a vicious criminal who had just failed an attempted assault.

Gui Ying: …

He wasn’t some kind of monster. Did his junior brother really need to react like that?

Letting out a silent sigh, he stepped back a few paces: “What was your objective in coming to the Demon Beast Forest this time?”

Lin Xi: Objective?

Ah, none. He just wanted to lie flat.

But after thinking for a moment, he replied, “To break through to mid-stage Foundation Establishment.”

He’d been brewing for quite a while. Might as well break through and have some fun.

Gui Ying half-closed his eyes and asked softly, “How long has it been since you reached early-stage Foundation Establishment?”

Lin Xi answered honestly, “About three months.”

Gui Ying nodded, “Then it’s indeed time for a breakthrough.”

Although three months was an extremely short amount of time and breaking through realms was practically impossible, he felt that Lin Xi shouldn’t have any problems.

“Is that all?” Gui Ying asked again.

“Yes, that’s all,” Lin Xi answered honestly.

“Then,” Gui Ying raised an eyebrow, “what about a Deity Transformation–stage demon core?”

Lin Xi froze instantly. A Deity Transformation–stage demon core? What a joke! Was that something a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like him could even dream of?

“Have a little confidence in yourself,” Gui Ying said, patting his shoulder. “And have a little confidence in me too.”

After a moment of silence, he rubbed the youth’s head. “With me here, nothing will happen to you.”

Lin Xi, having just received such a solemn promise, felt both flattered and stunned.

Just moments ago, his sect master senior brother looked like he would slaughter the entire world. Now he had returned to his usual demeanor.

Lin Xi didn’t think too much about it. Maybe Yue Chuyin was simply too annoying and thus got special treatment?

(Yeah right!)

Watching the light finally return to the youth’s eyes, Gui Ying propped his chin with one hand and looked at him: “The Forgotten Heavenly Sinkhole—interested?”

Hearing the words Forgotten Heavenly Sinkhole, Lin Xi couldn’t help but fall into thought.

The Forgotten Heavenly Sinkhole was an extremely important place.

Only those fated with it could enter. And even if they got inside, there was no guarantee of finding a treasure suitable for oneself. It was the same with contracted beasts: not every demon beast in the Sinkhole was powerful, but the strongest ones were found there.

This time, quite a few high-level cultivators were heading there specifically for the Forgotten Heavenly Sinkhole.

In the original novel, the Forgotten Heavenly Sinkhole arc wasn’t described in much detail. However, Lin Xi did knnow that the male lead Meng Yulan’s current weapon—the Ancient Spirit-Burning Fan—had been obtained there by his grandmaster, Meng Xiao.

In addition, Xue Mufeng’s incomplete Blood Soul Art was completed here.

After the Forgotten Heavenly Sinkhole arc, Gui Ying’s cultivation soared, breaking through two realms in succession.

Now that he was looking at it, that likely referred to the peak of Nascent Soul stage and the bottleneck to the Deity Transformation stage.

This was probably closely connected to the Forgotten Heavenly Sinkhole as well.

“But I’ve heard that not just anyone can enter the Forgotten Heavenly Sinkhole. Can I really do it?”

Gui Ying lowered his gaze and chuckled softly, “I already told you to have a little more confidence in yourself.”

What else could Lin Xi say?

Naturally, he obediently gave in.

The two of them stood shoulder to shoulder, riding their swords as they headed deeper into the Demon Beast Forest.

Gui Ying seemed quite relaxed.

Lin Xi, however, was starting to struggle to keep up. Every so often, he had to stop and rest to replenish his spiritual energy.

After a while, Gui Ying glanced at the sky.

The first day had already passed, and night was approaching. They were still in the wilderness, which wasn’t very safe.

He glanced at Lin Xi again, “You’re flying too slowly.”

Sure enough, karma comes full circle. There was a day when Lin Xi would be disdained for being too slow.

“Put away your sword. I’ll take you.” Gui Ying said, looking at him.

Thus, the ultimate outcome of riding together with the final boss was achieved.

Standing on Gui Ying’s sword, the speed was on a completely different level.

While swiftly and precisely avoiding demon beasts, they shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, giving Lin Xi the feeling of ‘even riding the wind itself wouldn’t be this fast.’

The wind howled in his ears. Lin Xi pressed himself tightly against Gui Ying’s chest, terrified that one careless moment would send him falling.

Even while flying his sword, Gui Ying thoughtfully smoothed down the loose strands of hair on Lin Xi’s forehead that had been blown up by the wind.

At this moment, the scenery ahead gradually became clearer.

Inside the Demon Beast Forest, it was no longer dense mountains and old woods. Instead, it had grown unexpectedly quiet.

There were far fewer demon beasts as well.

“Why is it actually more empty inside?” Lin Xi asked.

“Most of the demon beasts are at the Forgotten Heavenly Sinkhole. Naturally, it’s quieter here.” Gui Ying explained patiently.

Just like a truly good senior brother.

Occasionally, a few scattered female cultivators from the Green Apricot Sect caught sight of something streaking across the sky like a meteor and were utterly baffled.

Some even clasped their hands together to make wishes: praying for divine protection to become more beautiful, or hoping for wealth to come from all directions.

In short, it was an incredibly strange and almost comical scene.

After flying for a while longer, they finally landed.

Despite traveling at such high speed, Lin Xi felt no discomfort at all.

Even he found it strange.

Could some hidden talent of his had awakened?

Seeing his condition, Gui Ying smiled meaningfully and silently brushed away the Swift Wind Talisman that he had modified.

With this talisman, even the speed of a Deity Transformation–stage cultivator wouldn’t cause the slightest discomfort.

The night was exceptionally quiet. In the distance, a few demon beasts wandered sporadically.

With a lift of his hand, Gui Ying released a golden glow that spread out and formed a barrier.

There were too few demon beasts outside, and their strength wasn’t particularly terrifying. The barrier Gui Ying set up was far beyond their ability to break through.

The two of them leaned back to back, spacing out.

Lin Xi couldn’t help but feel deeply moved. Back when he was reading the novel, there was the Mandala Illusion Realm arc. It was the only time the protagonist and the villain ever worked together.

In that boundless void, the two had been driven nearly mad with despair, simply sitting back to back like this, lost in thought.

Now, he was getting the protagonist’s treatment.

The feeling of being able to get this close to the final boss and not get killed!

On the second day, the two of them continued on their journey.

By the time they reached the deepest parts of the Demon Beast Forest, spirit swords were more or less useless. Sword flight no longer worked either.

For sword cultivators, this was undoubtedly extremely unfavorable.

Lin Xi felt that he probably counted as a sword cultivator too.

Even though he handled a sword like an idiot, he didn’t seem to know how to draw talismans or refine pills either.

Meanwhile, the pill cultivators and talisman cultivators of the Green Apricot Sect were having a much easier time.

Within the Green Apricot Sect, the one most likely to find an opportunity in the Forgotten Heavenly Sinkhole was undoubtedly Lan Xing.

She was currently at early stage Nascent Soul and had been stuck there for a long time. This time, she hoped to use the power of the chasm to break through a minor realm.

The Wanye Sect, on the other hand, emphasized diversity. People cultivated all kinds of paths and was led by Ye Mei, who took “lying flat” as a core philosophy.

After all, the Wanye Sect was wealthy; it lacked neither demon cores nor opportunities.

Ye Mei had gained an opportunity a few days ago and already broken through to mid-stage Nascent Soul stage. She didn’t want to do anything anymore, simply stabilizing her cultivation.

The Silver Moon Sect had it the worst.

From top to bottom, they were all sword cultivators. Now that Yue Chuyin had been beaten half to death by Gui Ying, the strongest among the remaining cultivators were only a few at peak Golden Core.

To make matters worse, spirit swords were restricted from use, directly cutting their combat strength in half. They had gone from the strongest sect in Bi’An Sect’s territory to the weakest.

Aside from cultivators from these three sects, there was also a group of independent guest cultivators roaming about.

Led by Kui Zhuo, they all wanted to snatch opportunities from the Forgotten Heavenly Sinkhole.

“Oh, right.” Lin Xi rubbed his slightly sore legs.

Sword flight was no longer an option, so they could only travel on foot now.

The problem was that Gui Ying moved ridiculously fast. Lin Xi couldn’t even keep up. He was really tired to death.

“Did eldest senior brother not come?” Lin Xi asked.