Secret Pavilion of Transition.
"Damn it, what does the real exit look like? This is truly annoying!" Chi Dun charged wildly along the way, bursting through various doors.
But beyond each door was another secret pavilion.
Secret Pavilion, Secret Pavilion, Secret Pavilion... Chi Dun suspected he was trapped in an endless loop of repetition.
"Had I known it would be like this, I might as well have continued to guard Fire Persimmon Immortal City, battling the Flame Demon Beast!"
But there was no way out.
This was an order personally issued by Meng Kui!
"Hmm?"
After bursting into a secret pavilion, Chi Dun's eyes suddenly brightened as he saw a Black Shadow Demon Cultivator.
The Black Shadow Demon Cultivator directly opened a door and vanished in a flash.
"Where do you think you're going!" Chi Dun, delighted, rapidly chased after him.
After chasing through three secret pavilions, the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator seemed to have a clear target. Every time Chi Dun arrived, the other party chose a door without hesitation, following a certain method.
The distance between them kept shrinking.
Finally, Chi Dun caught up with the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator.
He threw a punch with full force, his fist heavy and powerful, tearing the air as it whistled through.
The Black Shadow Demon Cultivator turned in mid-leap to raise an arm in defense.
Boom!
A loud noise ensued, and the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator was sent flying backward even faster.
Meanwhile, Chi Dun remained in place, clenching his teeth.
A huge orange-yellow Talisman was imprinted on his chest, its edges spreading outward, forming a great sealing force.
Chi Dun's eyes brimmed with blood, his body and mind filled with tumultuous fury!
He spurred his Golden Core Level Mana with all his might, causing his muscles to bulge, heat to steam off his body, and veins to rise like dragons.
Exerting all his strength, he slowly lifted his head; because of the seal, this small action was as difficult as lifting a mountain.
But Chi Dun didn't care about that. He glared in the direction the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator had fled, and roared in his heart, "It's him!"
Despite only making contact with one strike, Chi Dun immediately understood the other party was the same Black Shadow Demon Cultivator he had previously fought and chased into the Persimmon Fire Forest!
"I didn't expect to find you, ahhhhhh!" Chi Dun suddenly shouted loudly, exercising his arms with all his might, completely shattering the seal Talisman on his body.
Blood spurted from his mouth and nose immediately.
But he paid it no mind. Filled with anger, he gave it his all and charged in the direction where the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator had disappeared.
Bang, bang, bang.
The sounds of knocking down doors and closing them were almost continuous.
"Who's there?" The Purple Dawn Pavilion Golden Core True Inheritor was also exploring the secret pavilion.
Within the range of his Divine Sense, suddenly a Cultivator with Golden Core aura intruded.
"A Black Shadow Demon Cultivator? Heh heh, so am I!" The smile on the face of the Purple Dawn Pavilion Golden Core True Inheritor immediately vanished as he noticed that the other was heading straight for him.
The Purple Dawn Pavilion Golden Core True Inheritor became solemn, fully on guard.
The next moment, the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator barged into the secret pavilion, and their eyes met.
The Black Shadow Demon Cultivator didn't stay; he chose the door on his left and pushed it open to enter.
Just as the Purple Dawn Pavilion Golden Core True Inheritor relaxed, his Divine Sense detected another Golden Core.
It was Chi Dun!
He became alert once more.
After all, he was disguised as a Black Shadow Demon Cultivator this time.
Chi Dun saw the Purple Dawn Pavilion Golden Core and didn't care, going straight for the door on the left.
Chi Dun's Divine Sense had long since detected the strong presence of the Purple Dawn Pavilion Golden Core True Inheritor, but he kept a close eye on the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator from before.
Seeing Chi Dun hurry off, the Purple Dawn Pavilion Golden Core relaxed again.
He was about to continue exploring when he suddenly changed his mind. He himself had no leads; seeing the desperate look on Chi Dun, why not catch up and see!
Chi Dun was still within the range of the Divine Sense of the Purple Dawn Pavilion Golden Core, who decisively set off.
The chase continued.
"Quick, help me block that Black Shadow Demon Cultivator up ahead!" Within the range of Chi Dun's Divine Sense appeared some Meng Family Golden Core Cultivators, so he immediately sent a message over, seeking assistance.
The Meng Family Golden Core Cultivator, due to Zheng Danlian's betrayal, was defeated and on the run, and had ingested Elixir Pills to recuperate.
Upon receiving Chi Dun's message, he immediately cooperated actively.
The Black Shadow Demon Cultivator was entangled by the Meng Family Golden Core Cultivator, ultimately allowing Chi Dun to catch up again.
The three began to battle within the secret pavilion!
Bang, bang, bang.
Thick black smoke erupted, toxic and damaging to the Divine Sense.
Amidst the smoke, countless black pythons pierced through the battlefield, causing Chi Dun and the Meng Family Golden Core Cultivator to retreat.
The ferocity of the attack caused even the Purple Dawn Pavilion Golden Core who was approaching the battlefield to slow his steps.
The Black Shadow Demon Cultivator temporarily repelled the two enemies and withdrew.
Chi Dun and the Meng Family Golden Core Cultivator, once free of the black smoke, continued the chase relentlessly.
Suddenly, within the range of their Divine Sense, appeared Zhu Xuanji!
The Meng Family Golden Core Cultivator was uncertain.
But Chi Dun was overjoyed.
Under normal circumstances, the Meng Family and Zhu Xuanji should have been at odds. However, Chi Dun, a body cultivator, didn't think too much and directly messaged, "Divine Hunter Zhu, the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator who fled into the Persimmon Fire Forest is just ahead!"
"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Zhu Xuanji's eyes instantly sparked with sharpness, and he set off at once.
He, too, joined the chase.
But he was even further away than the Meng Family Golden Core and Chi Dun.
The chase was expanding!
Another Black Shadow Demon Cultivator appeared within everyone's Divine Sense range.
Chi Dun and the Meng Family Golden Core did not recognize him, but Zhu Xuanji understood the visitor's true identity.
"Brother Zhou, quickly intercept that man!" Zhu Xuanji transmitted with his Divine Sense.
Zhou Nongying had disguised himself as the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator, and naturally, he needed to ensure his own people knew about it. Especially Zhu Xuanji! Otherwise, being killed by his own people would be a grave injustice.
Zhou Nongying received a message and immediately threw out an Array Plate, setting up a Formation in an instant, blocking behind the door.
When the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator opened the door, he fell into the Formation.
The smile that had just begun to form on Zhou Nongying's face froze the next moment.
He saw the Array bulge, the Array Patterns warp, the Sky ripple, creating waves, and the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator easily passed through the ripples and broke out of the Array.
"Divine Skills—Escape in the Midst of Battle?!" Zhou Nongying was greatly shaken.
Almost everything he had learned was devoted to Formation Mastery.
The Black Shadow Demon Cultivator's mastery of this Divine Skill was his nemesis!
The Black Shadow Demon Cultivator charged straight at him.
Zhou Nongying's heart pounded with terror, his fighting spirit wavered, and he retreated explosively to the side to increase the distance instinctively.
As a result, he gave way to the door behind him, allowing the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator to push through the entrance.
After Zhou Nongying reacted, he dared not pursue and quickly began to dismantle the Formation, so as not to block his own people.
Disengaging the Formation was relatively difficult compared to how easily he had set it up, and he became flustered as he raced against time.
Upon learning through Divine Sense communication that the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator actually possessed the Divine Skill to Escape in the Midst of Battle, Zhu Xuanji's heart sank.
Countless clues in his mind surfaced one after another, showing signs of connecting.
At this moment, he received a mental message from the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator who took the initiative to contact Zhu Xuanji, "Divine Hunter Zhu, instead of chasing me, why not investigate the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit!"
"Let me inform you: over the years, Palace Spirit has exploited tiny loopholes in authority to remodel the Lava Fairy Palace. It has constructed several channels from the Mana Pool, seemingly stealing mana, accumulating bit by bit, with an unknown purpose."
Zhu Xuanji was struck at heart, immediately thinking of the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon.
He snorted coldly, continuing his relentless pursuit.
Meanwhile, Zhu Xuanji communicated through Divine Sense, urging the Black Shadow Demon Cultivator to stop and submit to an investigation while also contacting Zhu Zhen to inform him of this crucial clue.
Zhu Zhen, upon receiving the clue, was overjoyed, "Brother, in my previous investigation, I indeed found some structures that appeared superfluous, added on the spot. Following this lead, there is a good chance I'll find the hidden Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon!"
He immediately took action.
This move utterly terrified the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit!
"What is Zhu Zhen looking for?"
"Why aren't you dealing with the numerous Demon Beasts or fighting with the other Golden Core Cultivators? What are you looking for?!"
Zhu Zhen's target was so obvious—he was following the mana channels, tracing the vine to find the melon.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit felt its body catch fire from urgency.
"It's exposed!"
"The Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon is exposed as well!!"
"Damn it, when did the Zhu Family discover this secret?"
It wanted to escape right then, to burrow into the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon and get away.
No!
The Lava Fairy Palace still bound it, making escape impossible.
"Meng Chong, you useless fool!" it roared, furious.
Meng Chong, in battle with Ning Zhuo, had already fallen into an absolute disadvantage.
Ning Zhuo had released several Mechanical Artifacts to guard himself, resisting Meng Chong's relentless attacks, while he stood guard at the door, starting to piece together wooden planks.
Such a situation plunged the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit into despair.
It was incredibly anxious, certain that Meng Chong's defeat was inevitable.
To break free from this predicament, it needed to make another breakthrough!
Left with no choice, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit mustered the courage, broke through its own limits, and took the initiative to contact Meng Kui!
"Meng Kui, if you don't take action now, it will be too late!!"
"Who?" Meng Kui was taken aback.
The next moment, he smiled faintly, "Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, you've finally stopped playing dead to contact me. Rest assured, everything is within my control..."
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit roared with rage, cutting him off mid-sentence, "Idiot! You have no idea, that Ning Zhuo..."
Before it could finish, a flaming Chopper abruptly materialized.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit couldn't move, bracing itself for decapitation!
The Chopper fell fiercely, decapitating the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit once more, separating head from body. The dragon head, with eyes wide open, rolled on the ground, then turned into particles of Spirit Light, drifting away.
The Lava Fairy Palace strictly forbade revealing Cultivator information, and the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was so desperate that it broke the rules, but was decapitated before it could speak, being gravely injured.
The information it was about to divulge was thus suppressed.
"Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit? Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit?" Meng Kui's calls received no response.
In an instant, his heart was shocked!
"I have been blinded by Qi Fortune, thinking everything was under my control."
Although the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit hadn't spoken, for someone as clever as Meng Kui, it was enough!
He seized this opportunity to see through the haze of Qi Fortune, his mind becoming completely clear.
He employed the Heart God Skill to view the Lifespan formation within the battlefield.
The timing wasn't right!
Meng Kui felt the chance of victory slipping rapidly from his hands, and as he calculated fervently, his brow furrowed more and more tightly.
Within the Lava Fairy Palace.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit was panting heavily, regaining its vision.
Its form was less than a third of its complete state, its body dull and lackluster, its heart filled with dread and its spirit exhausted.
Meng Kui sent a Divine Sense message, calling incessantly, "Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit, if you desire freedom, you must join forces with me! Do you know that Zhu Xuanji has long been aware of your disloyalty?"
"It was Ning Zhuo who harmed me!" At this point, the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit could only think of the paper, that poem that Ning Zhuo had given to Zhu Xuanji! How could it not see through, it was Ning Zhuo's conspiring scheme!
"So you're taking advantage of my lack of literary knowledge, huh?!"
"Fooling me right to my face. Hateful, utterly hateful!"
Meng Kui took a deep breath, casting his full strength.
Two Mana Power Hands abandoned the Array lines, flew toward the Thunder Flow and Electric Barrier made of the Secret Pavilion of Transition, dissolving spontaneously, eroding the Pavilion.
Luck Skill—Instant Karmic Retribution!
The causality of the world, it's not that it doesn't come to pass, it's just not yet the time.