Chapter 277 - 257: Emperor Gu Takes Action and Returns to the Abyss (Double-Length)
Song Changming was first taken aback, then understood.
"Has Senior broken through to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer realm?"
In the past, Su Yaoguang and Nan Wuji, before leaving, had relayed the intelligence about Dragon Gate Ridge back to Da Lai.
Song Changming did not hide this information; Sword Cliff, Wangyue Pavilion, and Li Jinyu, along with the Zhuji Pavilion behind him, all knew that the Ancient Abyss Country occasionally sent people to recruit martial arts talents from the Outer Domain Dragon Gate Ridge.
This is undoubtedly a shortcut to the Ancient Abyss Country, as long as one’s cultivation strength and aptitude pass, one can obtain a ticket to that ancient kingdom.
Evidently, this Master Minghuo of Jade Void Mountain has also become aware of this.
"Indeed, much like Nan Wuji of the past, after reaching the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, one must leave..." Master Minghuo sighed lightly, saying.
He felt deeply restricted by the environment; the spiritual qi was entirely insufficient to continue cultivation.
He was already old; if he continued to stay in Da Lai, he would likely have little hope of advancing further in his lifetime. Clearly, he was unwilling to accept this; only by going to the Ancient Abyss Country might he have a chance to continue improving his martial arts cultivation.
Legend has it that those in the Innate Realm enjoy a lifespan of two hundred years!
If he could reach the Innate Realm in his twilight years, everything would be different, enough to let him experience a second spring!
"If so, why does Senior linger here?" Song Changming asked again.
If the other party couldn’t find a way to Dragon Gate Ridge, he could guide him.
"I’ve been to Dragon Gate Ridge, but it’s still three months before the people from the Ancient Abyss Country arrive. Rather than being stuck in that thick fog, it’s better to stay outside and breathe fresh air," Master Minghuo smiled faintly.
"I see." Song Changming nodded.
"Young Friend Song is heading to the Bottomless Abyss? Why not join me at Dragon Gate Ridge and try our luck? As far as I know, whenever people from the Ancient Abyss Country arrive, different sect factions often appear; maybe this time it will succeed." Master Minghuo couldn’t help but say.
In his view, the Bottomless Abyss is so perilous that without the guidance of Innate Martial Artists, it’s impossible to cross that celestial chasm.
Rather than risking danger in the abyss, it’s better to try luck at Dragon Gate Ridge.
"No need, since it won’t succeed, why go to be ridiculed again." Song Changming shook his head, not tempted at all.
Once was enough from the past experience.
He was determined to rely on himself to cross the barrier of this abyss!
Seeing this, Master Minghuo stopped trying to persuade him; they were mere acquaintances, avoiding deep conversations too soon.
Song Changming then bid farewell, riding his horse into the fog.
"Hey!" Master Minghuo just raised his hand, too late to remind him.
Roar!
As soon as Song Changming entered the thick fog, a vicious insect with a huge mouth broke through the soil and lunged at him to swallow him whole.
Song Changming looked up, half of his body suddenly ignited with golden flames!
Then, without drawing his sword, he punched directly at the vicious insect.
The scorching golden fist force carried a torrential wave of fire, instantly smashing the insect’s head and body into fragments and foam!
Blood qi evaporated and rose, as Song Changming rode off, slowly disappearing from Master Minghuo’s sight.
"Tsk, such a martial arts talent, it would be a great pity if he stopped here..." Master Minghuo watched Song Changming leave, shaking his head and muttering to himself.
The environment inside the dense fog was as awful as ever, unchanged from the past, as if eternally desolate.
Creatures living inside the fog, whether fierce beasts, fog beasts, or foreign martial artists, are all part of the food chain.
They hunt and compete with each other to gain energy and evolve, the weak only becoming prey.
This is undoubtedly a very primitive ecosystem.
Though Song Changming’s figure was not huge, he was undoubtedly at the top of the food chain while traversing it.
Currently, very few fierce beasts or fog beasts can threaten him, and the foreign martial artists needn’t be mentioned.
Thus, he journeyed through the Outer Realm.
A few days later, Song Changming quickly and skillfully approached the abyss.
Terrifying energy fluctuations surged wildly, forming substantial hurricanes, stirring the fog into intense spinning.
Song Changming maintained a calm expression, covered in inner qi, shielding himself from the energy torrent’s erosion of his body.
Soon, he emerged from the fog, and a vast Bottomless Abyss, a dark land fault, appeared before him, its boundary invisible to the eye.
Song Changming observed for a while, focusing mainly on the peculiar energy erupting from the abyss below.
The true obstacles for him had never been this wide chasm but the special magnetic fields formed above it and the continually erupting energy barrier.
Back then, Nan Wuji attempted it with sword control, retreating in defeat precisely because of these two major challenges.
Song Changming pondered for a moment, then explored along the abyss border.
At this time, the powerful spiritual perception he had honed daily using the Ice Heart Purification Technique came into play.
He could constantly sense the changes in the energy fluctuations erupting from the abyss.
During previous explorations, he noticed that the intensity of the erupting energy was not uniform throughout the abyss.
There are strengths and weaknesses among them.
By identifying patterns and comparing a large sample collected over time, once he found the area of weakest energy eruption in the abyss and the most suitable crossing time.
As long as he was thorough in preparation, he could reduce the difficulty of crossing and turn impossible into possible!
Of course, these preparations are vital, but they are not the most crucial step.
Even if the energy barrier of the abyss built at a specific time and place is slightly weaker, and the magnetic field’s power reduced, these will never completely disappear.
Ultimately, he still needs to rely on his own strength to cross!
Only with sufficient strength, not necessarily Innate, but comparable to Innate, can he have a real chance of success.
Now, having broken through to the eighth level of Qi Refining, he has nearly reached the pinnacle of this realm.
Adding his strong physique honed through hard training, this attempt is undoubtedly his most hopeful chance of success.