Chapter 335 - 243: Magnetic Barrier
The black tide surged like a torrent.
Black smoke covered everything, obscuring all sight and divine thought, so that no one could detect the approaching shadow.
Upon closer inspection:
The black light on the shadow’s surface, astonishingly akin to a layer of oil, parted the rolling black tide smoothly and effortlessly, truly moving like a fish in water.
In the black light was a blurry figure of a Golden Core Cultivator, indistinguishable in gender, age, height, or physique.
He carefully controlled the distance, using the black tide to hide his presence, quietly approaching each Golden Core Cultivator, seemingly discerning something.
"Not this one, nor this one..."
Suddenly:
"Swish!"
A hand shot out from the black tide, surrounded by ink-dyed black light, smashing towards the shadow moving through the black tide.
"Is it you?!"
The shadow instantly locked eyes with the hand, and in a split second, returned the strike with another palm.
"Boom!"
The two hastily clashed, with the shocking power of divine techniques colliding, exploding the surrounding black tide into a blank space with intense rumbling.
But the power of the black tide was vast and boundless, quickly crushing and scrubbing away all residual power, so what should have been a world-shaking exchange outside barely caused a ripple in the black tide, and the sound did not travel far.
However, despite this, the seven or eight Golden Core Cultivators closest to the site still noticed something.
"What’s going on?"
"I think I sensed the sound of a battle!"
"My goodness, daring to fight in the black tide, do they have a death wish?!"
The Golden Core Cultivators were all shocked and uncertain, instinctively activating their second-tier protective divine communication skill or magical treasure, fearing they too might be attacked.
Normally speaking:
Fighting in the black tide, even a Golden Core Cultivator must take great risks, as no one can face the terrifying power of the black tide head-on; unwisely swept inside, one must shed a layer of skin even if not killed.
Unless it’s a blood feud, who would risk mutual destruction, fighting and killing in the black tide?
"What’s going on..."
Zhang Yao moved against the black tide, a hint of doubt appearing in his expression.
He was very close to the battle site, combined with his exceptionally strong divine thought, he captured a trace of the fighters’ presence.
One’s presence was very unfamiliar, but the one who first struck was indeed the Nether Abyss Ancestor he knew!
The strangest thing to him was:
At the instant the Nether Abyss Ancestor struck, an aura akin to mutated muddy qi emerged again, and the endless black tide seemed to be repelled to some extent, not affecting him too much.
"This person indeed hides deep secrets..."
Zhang Yao’s heart filled with deep caution.
Being able to move freely in the black tide, even engage in magical battles, is truly a terrifying ability that implies easily killing peers in this realm.
In such a special environment, the restrictions felt by ordinary Golden Core Cultivators are even greater than the mist in Jade Divine Palace’s tenth gate, not only becoming half blind and deaf but also virtually bound hand and foot.
With the Nether Abyss Ancestor’s strength, if he bears any malicious intent, he even has the ability to kill all Golden Core Cultivators except for himself, reaping immense fortune in the process.
"However, in the black tide, there is still someone who can rival him..."
Zhang Yao’s mind rapidly processed.
That black shadow that approached earlier, although he only captured a trace of magical power mechanism, undoubtedly is a late stage Golden Core mighty figure.
"It seems these two are sworn enemies, that person must have come to probe."
He recalled the Nether Abyss Ancestor’s earlier efforts to recruit him, instantly generating many suspicions:
"No wonder he wanted me on his side, hoping I would help him, because he foresaw this scene?"
"Perhaps there’s an even deeper reason... I must find an opportunity to question him thoroughly!"
Zhang Yao already held extreme caution regarding the Nether Abyss Ancestor’s earlier proposal.
If the other side can’t provide a reasonable explanation, he’d rather retreat even before reaching thirty thousand feet, after all, his aim was merely the Endless Yin Earth.
"Boom!" "Boom!"...
After the minor episode, the numerous Golden Core Cultivators continued descending against the black tide.
The resistance within the black tide was immense, making progress difficult, requiring magical treasures or divine techniques to pave the way, so that the speed of Golden Core Cultivators wasn’t much faster compared to the escape light of the Qi Refining Stage.
After flying for nearly two moments:
"Buzz!"
Everyone felt a shock around them, a buzzing in their minds, as if passing through a heavy invisible and intangible membrane.
At this moment, everyone understood one thing—they had arrived beneath ten thousand feet of Mo Yuan.
About ten thousand feet under Mo Yuan, there is a clear boundary known as the ’Magnetic Barrier.’
Usually, this barrier is indestructible, most Golden Core Cultivators can only sigh in longing, with only the black tide periodically penetrating, opening a passage.
The stronger the black tide, the more magnetic barriers it can penetrate, and the extreme depth below thirty thousand feet can only be broken by a massive outbreak of the black tide.
"Finally, it’s safe to come in..."
Zhang Yao also quietly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
Passing through the Magnetic Barrier marked the true entry into the deep region of the Middle Aged Mo Yuan, a place rumored to be extremely dangerous yet full of Spiritual Objects and Treasures.
"Boom!" "Boom!"...
Numerous Escape Lights rapidly came to a halt, filled with unprepared Golden Core Cultivators.
The Power of Earth’s Magnetic Force distorted space, so in the deep space of Mo Yuan, the Black Tide does not advance in a straight line.
Likewise, the Cultivators who passed through the Magnetic Barrier into Mo Yuan found the spatial positions also changed, most ’falling out’ of the Black Tide instantly upon entering, except for a few unlucky ones.
"Hmm?"
Zhang Yao also felt a sudden dizzying spin, his Escape Light fluctuated wildly, instinctively steadying it.
When he was able to see clearly again, he found himself in an incredibly vast underground cavern, surrounded by high underground domes and jagged strange rocks, without a trace of the Black Tide.
In this vast space, seemingly all directions – southeast, northwest, up, down – were completely inverted, except for the vertical pull of Earth’s gravity which could still be felt, while the structure of rocks and domes did not follow the usual surface patterns.
"The greatness of creation’s power is indeed mysterious..."
Surprisingly, a sense of wonder filled Zhang Yao’s heart.
Although he had understood the scenes in the depths of Mo Yuan multiple times, being here in person still evoked strong emotions.
"Fellow Daoists, I am here, quickly come towards me..."
The Nether Abyss Ancestor’s Divine Thought swept over, accompanied by his urging voice.
Through the feedback of Divine Thought, Zhang Yao soon confirmed his position, and immediately managed the Escape Light to meet up.
Soon:
A team of ten gathered together within a stone cavern.
After leaving the Black Tide, although Divine Thought was still suppressed by the omnipresent Power of Earth’s Magnetic Force, the situation improved significantly, facilitating everyone’s actions.
"Spiritual Objects truly cover the ground here..."
Zhang Yao saw the Nether Abyss Ancestor, Jiuhua Ancestor, and others, and couldn’t help but exclaim:
"On my way here, I casually picked a Yin Gu Flower and three ounces of Yin Iron."
"Looks like the rumors about Spiritual Objects covering the ground in the Nether Abyss aren’t without reason!"
These two were merely ordinary Second grade Spiritual Objects, not really valuable, fairly common—but they were picked up casually!
If those outsider Qi Refining Cultivators could enter, they might go mad with joy, since picking a few Spiritual Objects could accumulate enough Spirit Stones equivalent to a Foundation Establishment Pill!
Sadly:
Qi Refining Cultivators couldn’t enter, and those who could, the Golden Core Cultivators and a few older Foundation Establishment Cultivators late in Black Tide, weren’t interested in these.
To truly waste valuable time scrounging for not-so-valuable Second grade Spiritual Objects would be like picking sesame seeds and dropping watermelon.
"Haha..."
Hearing this, everyone laughed heartily.
Compared to Zhang Yao’s first entry, they were seasoned veterans.
Small-scale Black Tides generally happened frequently, and as Golden Core Cultivators native to Da Mo, each had entered at least five or six times.
"What’s this? Just an appetizer!"
"Right, this area’s level is still relatively shallow, most are Second grade Spiritual Objects, and Third grade ones are rare."
"Go deeper a bit, and the Third grade Spiritual Objects become more common, that’s where the true treasures are!"
"Indeed, plus during large Black Tide eruptions, lower Spiritual Objects and Treasures from Mo Yuan are often brought up, a once-in-a-lifetime chance!"
After discussing for a few moments, the Golden Core Cultivators quickly followed their predetermined plan.
In their strategic plan:
They aimed to swiftly advance through the first level of Mo Yuan’s deep region until entering the second level, which was two thousand fathoms deeper.
In the second level, they would try to stay for twenty-four hours, gathering enough diverse Spiritual Objects and Treasures before separating.
Most of them would continue scouring while leaving at the end of the Black Tide.
While the stronger Zhang Yao and the Nether Abyss Ancestor would venture together into the very deep level, three thousand fathoms below, seeking greater gains.
"Boom!" "Boom!"...
A group of ten drove their Escape Lights, flying through the intricate underground caves, advancing deeper.
Leading, the Nether Abyss Ancestor held a special black Compass, faintly emitting a colorful light, evidently used for positioning.
The high-level Immortal Dao heritage of Da Mo never lacked explanations and strategies concerning the depths of Mo Yuan, a distinct local feature.
Among the numerous dangers exploring Mo Yuan, getting lost in multitudes of twisting spaces is the most common.
During Black Tide lulls, even those capable of breaking the Magnetic Barrier, few Golden Core Cultivators dare to venture in, for the power of Earth’s Magnetic Field could twist space into layers like a mille-feuille cake, the risk of getting lost too high.
During large Black Tide eruptions, those nooks, crannies, and convolutions get crushed, vastly reducing above ninety percent risks.
"This way, let’s go this way."
Nether Abyss Ancestor called out, slightly speeding up his Escape Light.
The Golden Core Cultivators followed him, soon disappearing into the unfathomable underground caves...