Chapter 667: Annihilation Battlefield!
"Elder Zi, has your strength already broken through to the Spirit Manifestation Realm?"
Seeing this scene, a light flashed in Li Yun’s eyes as he asked.
That human-headed snake-bodied puppet, although only at the 9th level of Heavenly Core Realm in strength, had quite extraordinary defense. Even a full-power strike from the 9th level Heavenly Core Realm sword immortal puppet had only left some cracks on it.
Yet Elder Zi Canglan, from several hundred meters away, had killed that puppet with a casual palm strike. This kind of strength had clearly exceeded the scope of the 9th level of Heavenly Core Realm.
"Correct."
Elder Zi Canglan nodded and said, "Just half a month ago, I successfully completed my seclusion and broke through to the Spirit Manifestation Realm."
"As soon as I came out of seclusion, I learned of your news from the Seventh Elder of the Origin Saint Sect. I figured you would definitely come to the Annihilation Battlefield, so I have been waiting here for your arrival since half a month ago."
Elder Zi Canglan’s words instantly moved Li Yun, and he could not help voicing his thanks.
Elder Zi Canglan had originally been a powerhouse at the 9th level of Heavenly Core Realm. After his breakthrough, he had become a titan of the Spirit Manifestation Realm. For such a titan to be willing to wait here for him for so long, this favor was truly significant.
"Alright, let us not talk about that anymore."
Elder Zi Canglan shook his head and said, "Speaking of which, a major event is about to happen in the Annihilation Battlefield. You have returned just in time to catch it."
"A major event?"
Li Yun’s heart stirred.
Speaking of which, during the time he had been rushing to the Annihilation Battlefield, he had indeed sensed an atmosphere like a brewing storm.
Along the way, for nearly a month, he had rarely seen any cultivators from the Ironblood Sect. This was especially true for those at the Heavenly Core Realm or above, who were even rarer to encounter.
Clearly, something was about to happen.
"Li Yun, let us set off now."
Elder Zi Canglan did not reveal too much. With a wave of his hand, a surge of essence qi swept out and picked up Li Yun. The two immediately rushed toward the Annihilation Battlefield.
With Elder Zi Canglan’s Spirit Manifestation Realm strength, even while carrying Li Yun, crossing the Severed Blade Mountain Range did not take much time. Half a day later, the two had crossed the range and arrived before a formation.
The formation shimmered with light and was large enough for about ten people to enter at the same time. It was filled with an ancient aura. Through this formation, one could enter the Annihilation Battlefield.
Formations like this existed not only in the Azure Void Region, but also in several other regions of the Eastern Martial Domain.
Swoosh!
As they stepped into the formation, a surge of light flowed out, enveloping Li Yun and Elder Zi Canglan. In the next moment, their figures appeared within a vast battlefield.
The battlefield was incredibly vast. Looking out, it was desolate and boundless, with no end in sight. Standing within it, one could not help feeling incredibly small.
Not only that, but as soon as he entered the battlefield, Li Yun felt his body grow heavy. A massive force pressed down on him, nearly pinning him to the ground.
"Such strong gravity."
Li Yun’s expression changed.
He immediately activated the Indestructible Body. With a flash of white light, he managed to stabilize himself and resist that terrifying gravity.
"Not bad."
Seeing this, Elder Zi Canglan could not help nodding in approval. "The gravity of this Annihilation Battlefield is exactly twenty times that of the outside world. To be able to adapt to the environment as soon as you enter, Li Yun, your performance is even stronger than many cultivators at the 3rd level of Heavenly Core Realm."
"Twenty times gravity."
Hearing this, Li Yun was inwardly startled.
Twenty times gravity was no small matter. Even the Gravity Chamber in the Forgotten Ancient City had only been ten times gravity, which was completely incomparable to this place.
No wonder the minimum requirement to enter the Annihilation Battlefield was the Heavenly Core Realm. If one had not reached the Heavenly Core Realm, they would likely be crushed or even pulverized by that terrifying twentyfold gravity the moment they entered.
Even a 1st level Heavenly Core Realm cultivator would be under immense pressure here and unable to exert more than thirty percent of their normal strength.
Only upon reaching the 3rd level of Heavenly Core Realm could one ensure they were not too heavily affected and could exert at least seventy to eighty percent of their strength. No wonder it was said that here, only the 3rd level of Heavenly Core Realm was considered the minimum foothold.
However, because of the seventh stage of Ninefold Origin Flesh Scripture, Indestructible Body, the twentyfold gravity did not have much of an impact on Li Yun.
Here, he could exert his full strength.
"Li Yun, let us go."
Seeing that Li Yun was unaffected by the twentyfold gravity, Elder Zi Canglan waved his hand and led Li Yun toward a certain direction.
This flight lasted a full day and night.
A day later, a medium-sized city appeared before them. Countless restrictions were laid outside the city, each capable of easily killing any cultivator below the 3rd level of Heavenly Core Realm.
"Open."
Elder Zi Canglan tossed out a token.
Light shimmered on the token as it fell toward the city. Suddenly, the city gates opened automatically. Then, he led Li Yun to land inside the city.
"Hm?"
As soon as he entered the city, Li Yun’s brow twitched, and he could not help feeling shocked.
In the central square of the city, there were nearly a hundred cultivators. Among them, even the weakest was at the 3rd level of Heavenly Core Realm, and the vast majority had reached the 9th level of Heavenly Core Realm.
The sect master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Mu Tianhe, was among them. Beside him were a middle-aged man carrying a chillingly cold saber, a monk wearing simple ancient Buddhist robes, and a kind-looking old man in green robes. Judging by their statuses, they were clearly not inferior to Mu Tianhe.
In addition, Li Yun saw Yuan Qinghe, Jing Yueyi, Qin Yuehan, Feng Ruxue, and other Heaven Ranking experts in the crowd.
Although Li Yun had never met these Heaven Ranking experts before, he had seen the Heaven Ranking list and naturally recognized their appearances.
Furthermore, Li Yun discovered the figure of the Drunken Monk in the crowd. After not seeing him for a few months, the Drunken Monk’s cultivation had actually reached the 3rd level of Heavenly Core Realm.
With so many experts gathered together, including most of the Heaven Ranking experts, it seemed that a major event really was about to happen.
"Elder Zi."
"Brother Zi."
Seeing Elder Zi Canglan land, many cultivators in the crowd immediately either bowed in greeting or called out politely.
A month ago, Elder Zi Canglan would not have had such status. But after his breakthrough to the Spirit Manifestation Realm, he was already a pivotal expert among the Four Great Sects and naturally deserved everyone’s respect.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, the middle-aged man with the chilling saber beside Mu Tianhe fixed a cold gaze on them and barked, "Brother Zi, why did you bring a kid at the 7th level of Earthly Core Realm here? Do you know how important the major event we are about to announce is? What exactly do you mean by bringing this kid?"
"7th level of Earthly Core Realm? How did a mere 7th level Earthly Core Realm cultivator reach the Annihilation Battlefield?"
"Regardless of how he got in, what right does a 7th level Earthly Core Realm brat have to participate in today’s gathering? You should know that even my disciple, a 4th level Heavenly Core Realm expert, does not have the qualification."
"Even though Elder Zi Canglan has broken through to the Spirit Manifestation Realm, he should not act so recklessly. Bringing a 7th level Earthly Core Realm kid here is simply messing around."
The words of the middle-aged man with the saber caused everyone’s eyes to fall on Li Yun.
Upon seeing him, everyone either frowned or shook their heads, their expressions turning displeased.
Today’s gathering was no ordinary meeting. It was a gathering concerning the fate and future of the Four Great Sects. To ensure the secrecy of the matter, ordinary genius disciples were not qualified to participate.
Even many 4th and 5th level Heavenly Core Realm cultivators had been excluded from this gathering because they were too old and had exhausted their potential, despite possessing decent strength.
But now, Elder Zi Canglan had brought a 7th level Earthly Core Realm kid.
Although Elder Zi Canglan was now a Spirit Manifestation Realm expert and his status was vastly different from before, it still was not enough to convince everyone.
"Elder Zi Canglan, I respect you as a Spirit Manifestation Realm expert and will not say much, but regarding this matter, you must give us an explanation."