Because a small world is certainly a vital area of the sect, it makes sense for it to store heritage.
"Wait a moment..."
Chen Ye’s eyes suddenly lit up, as he belatedly realized that the most valuable piece of information in Zhao Yin’s words was that within Songyang Cave Heaven, Divine Sense can extend no further than ten zhang!
What does this mean?
All Magical Artifacts, and even Magical Treasures, require Divine Sense for manipulation.
And the Spirit-Locking Nail is included in this.
As long as he leaves Wei Shu’s side for ten zhang, Wei Shu cannot control the Spirit-Locking Nail!
At that time, the Spirit-Locking Nail would become merely a restriction.
But... the sub-bead on him is linked with Wei Shu’s master bead.
If he escapes, how could he possibly escape from Wei Shu in the Foundation Establishment Stage?
"Master, they didn’t give Zhiwei the Floating Shadow Pearl."
Zhiwei tugged at her master’s sleeve, looking up at the lines on her master’s brow with curious eyes.
"You joined in halfway, so naturally, they didn’t prepare one for you..."
Chen Ye, seeing Zhiwei’s curiosity, gave a bitter smile,
"This thing isn’t exactly good."
He pondered over it multiple times.
The current disciple is no longer the little girl she once was and is now a Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer Cultivator.
Now, as she has entered the Grotto Heaven with him,
nothing should be hidden from her.
With this in mind, Chen Ye silently transmitted the details and his conjectures to his eldest disciple.
After speaking, he pinched Zhiwei’s small nose and smiled,
"I wonder what insights Zhiwei might have? Perhaps they can assist your master."
Zhiwei was momentarily stunned.
This is the first time her master sought her help!
Her mind was sharp, and within a brief moment, she understood certain key points.
"Master, you still have the Floating Shadow Pearl on you. If Zhiwei were to whisper to you now... others would hear it too!"
The black-haired little girl, as she was about to speak to her master, realized that she hadn’t yet developed Divine Sense and couldn’t use it to transmit messages.
And still outside at this moment, Wei Shu’s Divine Sense could control the Floating Shadow Pearl. If she spoke to her master now, wouldn’t that villain find out everything?
"Alright, no rush..."
Chen Ye rubbed the little girl’s head and couldn’t help but smile.
The little girl’s eyes were shining, both excited and thrilled.
Is helping her master that much of a joy?
Amidst all factions secretly on guard against each other, and speculating about one another, the light above the valley began to warp suddenly.
"Buzz—"
A deep hum resonated from the depths of that massive opening.
The thick white mist shrouding the entrance started to churn violently, forming a massive vortex, from whose center gushed forth an immense, desolate Spiritual Qi!
"The Grotto Heaven is opening!"
Someone shouted, and the entire valley instantly became turbulent!
"All Sinful Cultivators, heed my command!"
Wei Shu’s voice resounded once again like a great bell,
"You are the first batch to enter the Grotto Heaven immediately, to pave the way for the sect’s elites!"
Saying so, he smiled brightly at Chen Ye:
"Steward Chen, you all go ahead first. I will follow shortly. But don’t wander; this Grotto Heaven... is fraught with danger. An unguarded moment could mean a corpse that cannot be whole!"
Wei Shu inwardly sneered.
His words were less of a threat and more of a reminder to give Chen Ye a chance to escape.
Yet with the Floating Shadow Pearl in his possession, Chen Ye could not escape unscathed!
On the contrary, he hoped Chen Ye would run.
That would give him just cause to accuse him of desertion, to chase and perhaps torture him in the eyes of the public... Even kill shockingly!
Otherwise, it would only come to covert attacks, hidden executions, which would be less satisfying.
Hmm... If Chen Ye did wander off, he might not even need to act.
...
With one step forward, the world turned upside down.
Cold, damp winds, imbued with the dense smell of decaying vegetation, brushed against him.
Once Chen Ye steadied himself, the scene before him changed completely.
Beneath his feet was a jet-black, sticky swamp, surrounded by towering blood-colored reeds that extended endlessly.
Thick white mist whirled around, severely limiting vision to just a few zhang.
The wind whispered over the reeds, sounding like mournful wails.
"No wonder it’s called the Weeping Reeds. But why are these reeds blood-colored? Could it be that the Songyang Sect is part of the Demon Path?" Chen Ye thought, startled.
"Master, be careful of the ground."
Zhiwei’s voice pulled Chen Ye back from his thoughts.
Looking down, he saw faintly the emergence of white bones from the black swamp beneath his feet, unclear whether they were human or beast remains.
This eerie place was filled with oddities.
Those blood-colored reeds seemed more like monsters feeding on flesh and blood than mere plants.
But essentially, they remained Spirit Plants!
"Help... help me!"
A shrill scream suddenly shattered the silence!
People turned toward the sound to see that, at some point, a Sinful Cultivator was already deep in the swamp.
The black mud was about to submerge his chest, quickly dragging him downward!
Others, seeing this, not only didn’t help but retreated as if avoiding a deadly plague.
"It’s the Blood Reeds! Stay away!" Bu Feifan shouted in terror.
Chen Ye’s pupils contracted. His Divine Sense was formidable, and the range of this Sinful Cultivator was also within ten zhang.
He saw far more clearly than the others.
Beneath that Sinful Cultivator, countless hair-thin blood-red roots in the swamp were tightly entangling his legs, furiously draining his vital essence!
"I see now..." Chen Ye understood, "These reeds use flesh and blood as nourishment, no wonder their surface appears blood-colored!"
Bu Feifan’s face was devoid of color:
"A single Blood Reed is not terrifying, but such an expansive Weeping Reeds... I’m afraid even a Foundation Establishment True Man caught by them would be drained alive! Wei Shu allowed us in first, just to satiate their hunger with our blood!"
Upon hearing this, the faces of the Sinful Cultivators changed dramatically!
They originally thought they were just a tool to test the waters, perhaps getting a few steps in before dying.
But now, they were merely expendable resources!
Watching as more Blood Reeds swayed wildly and the swamp churned, another Sinful Cultivator was dragged into the mire, screaming endlessly.
"Run! Run back to the entrance!"
Someone desperately shouted, awakening the remaining cultivators, who no longer cared for anything else, fleeing mindlessly in the direction they came from.
But upon turning, they realized the entrance behind was replaced by a light screen, offering no way out!
"Taoist Friend Bu, you’re a Spirit Plant Cultivator! Think of a way!"
Iron Tiger’s eyes were wide with rage as he shouted at Bu Feifan, desperately backing away.
Yet before he could finish, several blood-red roots from the swamp lashed out like serpents, binding his legs!
"Get off!"
Iron Tiger roared crazily. As a Body Cultivator, his physique was incomparably strong.
His leg muscles bulged, forcefully snapping the resilient roots!
This, however, was like poking a hornet’s nest!
In an instant, dozens to hundreds of roots erupted at his feet, layering over his lower body into a blood-colored cocoon, the vast dragging force making his burly frame teeter!
"Aaargh!"
Iron Tiger let out a beast-like roar, exerting all his strength, finally breaking free of the bindings just a moment before being completely dragged into the swamp, rolling desperately back to a relatively solid patch of ground, panting heavily.
He no longer cared for any warrior demeanor, urgently pleading with Bu Feifan: "Taoist Friend Bu! You’re from a Spirit Plant Family; surely you can suppress these monstrous things, right?!"
"A way?"
Bu Feifan’s face wore a smile more painful than crying, filled with despair,
"How would I know a way? My ancestors only grew Spirit Fruits, not knowing how to deal with such ancient demon plants! The only method is to wait! Once these nearby Blood Reeds are fed enough, they’ll enter a temporary dormancy."
Iron Tiger roared in fury, overwhelmed with grief.
He, in Qi Cultivation Eighth-Layer, practicing both Qi and Body refining combined, assumed he’d thrive in the Grotto Heaven.
With his strength, he thought he could perhaps seek some opportunities.
Yet, upon entering Songyang Cave Heaven, he found himself resigned to fate, hoping that these Blood Reeds wouldn’t target him!