Chapter 68
The ground stars had already extended to their limit, illuminating the pitch-black cave as a circular star gate appeared.
Xing Chun called his two companions over.
Zhongli Shan looked at the star gate before him: "What's the difference between Yin-Yang School's 'Object Transposition' and Technical Arts School's 'Object Transposition'?"
"Both involve reading stars and positioning earth, theoretically no difference." Xing Chun moved his neck, saying as he activated the star gate: "The only difference is that my star gates have a ten percent chance of transmission failure. Technical Arts School's are more accurate."
Zhongli Shan said to Mei Liangyu: "Then you open it next time."
Mei Liangyu walked in first: "I don't know this one."
Xing Chun said: "You'd better not know it."
The three muttered as they passed through the star gate, blinking to another cave entrance. Their bodies had just been greeted by bright moonlight when they saw a silver-white long sword slash by. Zhongli Shan reacted swiftly, drawing his sword to block it. The blade shook, using energy to knock back the sneak attacker.
The ringing of clashing blades continued.
Mei Liangyu looked up to see seven or eight Class A disciples already fighting in a chaotic melee. Various Nine Schools Arts and Heavenly Mechanism Arts were dazzling to watch. In the chaos, some were specifically guarding the transmission point, trying to catch newly transmitted people off guard when they let their guard down.
At this moment, there was no need to hesitate. Both Zhongli Shan and Mei Liangyu were the type to fight when in doubt. They didn't care what the seven or eight people ahead were doing, they'd just eliminate them all.
After all, if you didn't act, they wouldn't let you pass first.
Xing Chun hid in the shadows, forming seals with one hand. Yin-Yang School Heavenly Mechanism Art: Shadow Swallow spread from all around, surrounding the people fighting in the forest ahead.
Black shadows climbed up the forest trees, enveloping everything. Mei Liangyu and Zhongli Shan attacked simultaneously, both charging into the fray. Taoist School golden thunder and Thunder Punishment from sword techniques exploded loudly in the air. With clear targets, they delivered fatal strikes to the first two people swallowed by shadows.
The Mechanism Exquisite Hearts made crisp shattering sounds like porcelain bowls falling from heights. Before their opponents could react, they had already vanished from Dragon Slaying Cave.
Others reacted alertly, trying to escape the Shadow Swallow's range, but were blocked by Mei Liangyu who had used instant movement to reach their rear.
The Taoist School disciple had just thrown out a light talisman, trying to dispel the Shadow Swallow darkness, but it was ignited by the golden thunder flickering around Mei Liangyu and turned to ash. His hands wrapped in white medicinal cloth formed fists, striking with fierce wind toward the Military School disciple's forehead. As the opponent lost consciousness, he dodged the Military School disciple's tightly gripped rod-blade with a backhand motion.
Mei Liangyu's movements never stopped. He gripped the rod-blade's center horizontally at his waist, rotating it from behind his waist to his front while using Military School Nine Schools Art: Weapon Control. The rod-blade spun at high speed between his waist and five fingers, making buzzing sounds and forcing back the Taoist School disciple who had used instant movement to approach.
With his obstruction, Xing Chun's Heavenly Mechanism Art: Shadow Swallow had successfully surrounded all the disciples in darkness.
Mei Liangyu and Zhongli Shan merged into the darkness, making it hard for others to find them. While the others remained on guard, these two attacked even more fiercely, striking fatally when opponents were unprepared.
"Wait!" A Military School disciple saw Zhongli Shan flash by in the thick darkness and tried to negotiate, but was killed by the opponent's sword technique. As his Mechanism Exquisite Heart shattered and he disappeared, he frantically shouted: "Let me finish talking!"
Both had fighting styles that were fast, ruthless, and precise, leaving no room for mercy.
The golden thunder on Mei Liangyu flickered on and off, repelling all disciples who tried to get close while giving Zhongli Shan opportunities to attack.
Using Military Formations inside Shadow Swallow would be redundant. Zhongli Shan gripped his sword, the blade seeming to merge with darkness, making the cold, sharp silver-white blade invisible. When he swung, a white bone Sword Spirit leaped from his black sword tip, its long extended arms gripping rotating blades, piercing enemies' hearts at speeds impossible to catch with the naked eye.
In just moments, the transmission point cave entrance had been cleared by these two, with only traces of previous battles on the ground and tree trunks showing how lively it had been.
Xing Chun released Shadow Swallow and emerged from the cave.
Both Mei Liangyu and Zhongli Shan struck with killing blows, which was not only fast but also prevented others from suffering too much injury. After all, this was just an academy trial, no need to be too harsh unless there were grudges.
"Should we rest?" Xing Chun asked the two. "After nightfall, the mountain stones will move, and we might get lost."
"Use stars to navigate, try not to go wrong." Mei Liangyu casually spun the seized rod-blade. "We're not the fastest. The further forward we go, the more people there are. Military School has strong opponents this time."
Even if they could win in single combat, most people here wouldn't be alone. Team versus team confrontations increased the difficulty.
Mei Liangyu glanced at Zhongli Shan sheathing his sword, his words carrying some teasing: "Good thing Kong Yiyi isn't competing with you this time."
Zhongli Shan smiled after hearing this: "That's true."
Kong Yiyi's own strength was considerable, plus Nian Qiuyan's terrifying divination abilities, would make them very troublesome as enemies.
Xing Chun emerged from the cave, following the two forward while saying: "If it were really like that, you could ask Su Tong for help. She's so good at divination to avoid danger. By the way, didn't you two make up? How come Su Tong didn't come this time?"
Zhongli Shan said without changing expression: "I heard someone called her to help watch over their Junior Sister."
Xing Chun was full of questions: "Who? Whose Junior Sister?"
"Me." Mei Liangyu said coldly. "My Junior Sister."
Zhongli Shan glanced at him, admiring his willingness to admit it.
Xing Chun said in shock: "Why didn't you ask me to go?"
Mei Liangyu: "What are you dreaming about?"
Before Xing Chun could ask more questions, they were attacked. A figure shot out from the darkness, tackling him to the ground. Mei Liangyu quickly stabbed the rod-blade forward, the black shadow fled, and a new round of combat began.
……
Yu Sui only felt the Strange Fire's burning pain lessen considerably when the sky began to lighten. She covered her face and yawned, leaning against a tree for a brief nap.
Though Yan Xiaochuan and Su Tong had awakened, noticing Yu Sui had only slept briefly, they didn't call her. They weren't in a rush anyway.
Half an hour later, Yu Sui consciously woke up, raising her hand to rub her eyes.
"Awake? Want to eat something?" Su Tong still sat by the fire pit. The fire had been extinguished, and she took out a bottle of fresh water from her portable mechanism box, handing it to Yu Sui. "Use this to wash your face and wake up. Don't use the river water in case it's not clean."
The mechanism box was octagonal diamond-shaped, shrinking to ordinary dice size when not in use, returning to original size when used. It could hold many things, making it very convenient for travel. Almost every academy disciple had one.
Yu Sui drowsily thanked her, taking the fresh water to the riverside to cup her face and wash, finally feeling refreshed.
She looked at the flowing river, the water surface reflecting her image. Yu Sui silently recited Ghost Way School mental techniques, calming her mind and breath, dispelling fatigue and becoming clean and refreshed.
Being able to sense Five Elements energy for cultivation, she wasn't as tired as before. When she couldn't cultivate in Qingyang, even if she couldn't sleep at night, sleeping all day wouldn't be disturbed by anyone.
But after coming to Taiyi Academy, Yu Sui couldn't let herself sleep all day. She was pressed for time too.
Yan Xiaochuan had run far away, waiting until the girls finished washing before returning, bringing new intelligence:
"Two teams behind us got into a fight, but they all look like newcomers. When they fought, both sides suffered losses."
Yan Xiaochuan cleared the traces of the extinguished fire pit: "With my 'Throwing Stones to Ask the Way' and Senior Sister Su's 'Fortune and Misfortune Divination,' we might be able to reach our destination smoothly all the way."
Su Tong's eyelid twitched upon hearing this, warning: "Say less of such overconfident words. Sometimes what you School of Names people say carries some truth, regardless of good or bad."
Yan Xiaochuan covered his mouth, making a serious shushing gesture.
Yu Sui, wiping her face with her sleeve, turned back: "You mean like a jinx?"
Su Tong nodded: "Right."
Yan Xiaochuan covered his mouth with both hands, looking at Yu Sui and shaking his head frantically.
The three set out again, heading toward the School of Names "Mountain Stone Road Opening" transmission point Yan Xiaochuan mentioned.
On the second day of the Dragon Slaying Cave challenge, Yu Sui encountered more difficulties than the previous day's smooth journey. They repeatedly stumbled into Military Formations, staying inside for a quarter hour without fighting formation puppets before coming out.
Both Su Tong and Yan Xiaochuan were puzzled. They had clearly avoided the most inauspicious routes, but small troubles kept coming. Fortunately, no harm was caused, so they endured it.
They just vaguely felt today seemed less peaceful.
In the afternoon, they encountered two groups of people, but no fighting occurred. The opponents were all new disciples who had entered the academy this year. After seeing that Su Tong and Yan Xiaochuan weren't newcomers, they became cautious, only defending without attacking.
After determining the other party had no intent to attack and watching Yu Sui's group walk away, the three newcomers finally relaxed their guard: "I heard dragon tail was where only newcomers came. Don't Class A disciples all take dragon belly?"
His companion said: "How many Class A disciples have we encountered now?"
"The third batch?"
"Dragon tail isn't safe either."
The whispered conversation faded into distance. Sunlight visibly dimmed, and before nightfall, Yan Xiaochuan threw stones at a three-way intersection to ask for directions. The little black stone flashed with golden light, sensing direction and telling Yan Xiaochuan what he wanted to know.
They stood on flat ground with mountains upon mountains ahead, layered and overlapping, looking majestic and substantial. Though the peaks seemed within reach, looking down at their feet, they knew the distance was unreachable.
Surrounding green grass stretched endlessly, dotted with unknown small flowers swaying in the night breeze.
Yan Xiaochuan looked at the stone "Little Flower" in his palm, falling into thought.
Su Tong also looked at her three divine wood signs: "None of the paths are right. They're all dangerous."
The number three held special meaning for Technical Arts School.
Technical Arts School divination couldn't be separated from "three," whether divination tools, number of people, or questions asked, all required "three."
The world of one and two was peaceful and tranquil, mutually supporting, but only by adding one more could there be wind and cloud changes, observing countless transformations, then choosing the optimal solution.
Su Tong looked at the three divine wood signs on the ground, arranged in different positions, also falling into thought: "Is the transmission point definitely this way? How far can it transmit?"
"Direct transmission to dragon claw, then from dragon claw to dragon belly." Yan Xiaochuan touched the little black stone Little Flower in his palm with his gaze. "Senior Brother Sheng also blessed Little Flower, giving me route guidance this way."
This transmission distance was indeed tempting, allowing them to avoid many paths and unnecessary dangers.
At their current speed, reaching dragon belly would probably take about a month.
Though Mei Liangyu said he would return, having him come back from dragon head to dragon tail to find someone was too far. After all, he'd have to take the person to dragon head again after returning, with too many unknown variables along the way. Not worth it.
The transmission arrays in Dragon Slaying Cave already existed. As long as you had sufficient strength and discovered transmission points, you could activate them. Many routes were considered public knowledge, shared among disciples.
To reach dragon head at the fastest speed, most people would use known transmission arrays.
Transmission arrays were things that could send you anywhere if you weren't skilled or familiar with the terrain.
The further forward, the fewer and shorter-distance transmission arrays became. Eventually, challengers' enemies would include not only academy disciples but Dragon Slaying Cave itself.
Seeing Su Tong's hesitation, Yu Sui asked softly: "Senior Sister Su, is it very dangerous ahead?"
"Something feels very wrong." Su Tong put away the divine wood signs. "But there's no choice. To reach the transmission point, we must go this way. No matter how we go, we can't avoid it. It's a situation we must face."
She picked up several stones and walked to the center of the three-way intersection, stacking them into a peculiar mountain shape before standing up: "Hope it can delay things for a while. Let's go."
Yu Sui and Yan Xiaochuan followed Su Tong down the middle path, gradually going deeper into the forest. After they left, the stacked stone mountain made faint trembling sounds. The scenery changed suddenly, the terrain was altered, and the other two paths at the three-way intersection disappeared, leaving only one wrong path that led them further and further away.
……
The sky had turned completely black. There was no moon tonight, only stars filling the sky.
Yu Sui's group used Wind-Riding Techniques to travel, entering deep into the forest, getting closer to the towering mountains, and seeing clear rivers that stretched across and through the mountain ranges.
Along the way, Yu Sui had dropped many Five Elements Light Cores behind them for monitoring whether anyone was following. So far, it had been relatively calm.
The wide, clear river led directly into the pitch-black cave entrance. The mountain ahead was triangular, covered with green plants. As Senior Brother Mei Liangyu had told her, mountains with transmission points usually looked particularly standard, tall and large, with entrances often accompanied by rivers.
Yan Xiaochuan stopped by the river, bending down to put his hand in the water. The river flow was heavy, and he could sense Five Elements energy.
"Senior Sister Su, crossing this river probably requires you to read stars and position earth. The water is deep and fast, covered with Five Elements energy, and it's nighttime, so there will be changes. We don't know where we might be sent." Yan Xiaochuan turned back to Su Tong.
Su Tong looked at the terrain. If they detoured around the river, it would probably take half a month to reach the cave entrance.
Her divination results weren't good, and she wanted to leave quickly, so she nodded in agreement.
Su Tong raised her hand, stirring up a heat wave. Her hands formed seals with rapid changes, drawing celestial stars into the wide, clear water surface, laying out a brilliant star river path in the water.
Every star was clearly reflected in the water, flickering with faint light in succession. After covering the water surface, you couldn't even see traces of the river's flow.
"Follow me. You must follow the correct constellation route, or you'll fall in." Su Tong stepped onto the water surface first, her feet stepping on several dense stars, standing steadily on the water.
Su Tong went first, Yu Sui second, Yan Xiaochuan brought up the rear.
"Have you taken external classes from Yin-Yang School or Technical Arts School?" Su Tong asked Yu Sui.
Yu Sui answered honestly: "Haven't had time yet."
Su Tong extended her hand to Yu Sui: "No big problem. You should have learned stellar positioning when using Wind-Listening Rulers. You can recognize the positions of the four directional constellations, right?"
Only then did Yu Sui nod, extending her hand for Su Tong to hold.
Su Tong was like leading a small child, serious and patient: "The star river path requires completing the four directional constellations to finish. Now under our feet is the Big Dipper Seven Mansions, but because we're reading stars and positioning earth, they're inverted in the water, so we must walk in the opposite direction. The Dipper Mansion connects six stars."
She led Yu Sui, stepping on stars in the water to walk on the river surface: "Ox Mansion five stars."
Yu Sui could recognize star patterns since they related to Wind-Listening Rulers, but since Su Tong was willing to guide her, she obediently learned, stepping on corresponding stars following Su Tong's explanations.
Yan Xiaochuan encouraged from behind: "Don't be afraid, Little Princess. Even if you fall in, I can fish you out."
"Girl Mansion four stars." Su Tong turned back to glare at Yan Xiaochuan. "Say something nice."
Yan Xiaochuan stepped on water stars: "We'll definitely reach the transmission point safely!"
Su Tong said: "Emptiness Mansion two stars."
Just as Yu Sui was about to step forward, the Strange Fire in her consciousness suddenly flickered. She froze, looking up toward the left front, saying quietly: "Someone's coming."
"Where?" Yan Xiaochuan became alert while also surprised at Yu Sui. He hadn't sensed anything at all. How did the Little Princess know?
"Five people, moving very fast, probably using Wind-Riding Techniques." Yu Sui continued.
At this speed with such clear purpose, they obviously knew about the transmission point. The Five Elements Light Cores she'd left along their route hadn't seen any figures, meaning the others came from the opposite route.
Su Tong gritted her teeth: "Don't mind them. Cross the river first. Danger Mansion three stars."
But Yu Sui looked up toward the approaching people. Su Tong had just stepped on one star when those five figures flew out of the forest in succession, landing steadily on the shore.
Though the starry night lacked moonlight, the river full of twinkling stars was extremely bright, dispelling darkness on both shores and revealing the five people clearly.
Dressed in fine clothing was Princess Shangyang with her three lady companions, plus Wen Yanghui holding a black mechanism scroll. Though these two standing together looked odd, they had indeed come together.
Yu Sui was somewhat surprised to see them.
"Nangong Sui?" Princess Shangyang stood on the riverbank, hands on hips, looking arrogant as she lifted her chin slightly. "I didn't believe it when I saw you from afar, but it really is you. You actually came to challenge Dragon Slaying Cave too. Why didn't you tell this Princess? This Princess could have brought you, an Ordinary Practitioner, along."
Jin Zhi whispered beside her: "Princess, she's no longer an Ordinary Practitioner."
Princess Shangyang snorted coldly: "How long has she been cultivating? Could she possibly compare to this Princess?"
Jin Zhi didn't dare speak, silently hiding behind.
Yu Sui's gaze swept past Princess Shangyang and her companions, settling on Wen Yanghui at the end. Compared to Princess Shangyang, she was more concerned about Wen Yanghui who knew Mechanism Arts. She hadn't expected to see him at dragon tail.
As a Class A disciple, shouldn't Wen Yanghui be Gu Qian's main helper for breaking into Inverted Moon Cave?
Yan Xiaochuan whispered: "Why are these people so arrogant right from the start? Senior Sister Su, Little Princess, don't mind them. Just keep going."
Su Tong didn't speak, concentrating on leading Yu Sui across the star river.
From the corner of her eye, she glanced at Wen Yanghui, her brow slightly furrowed. This person wasn't easy to deal with.
Seeing Yu Sui ignore her, Princess Shangyang angrily shouted: "Nangong Sui!"
Damn it!
This woman is ignoring me again!
Wen Yanghui was also somewhat surprised to see Yu Sui, but his focus quickly fell on Su Tong and Yan Xiaochuan.
Yu Sui was an unremarkable First Realm newcomer, not worth worrying about. Knowing her relationship with Gu Qian, Wen Yanghui could help as a favor, letting her pass the transmission point to go to dragon claw.
Unfortunately, Su Tong was leading Yu Sui.
Su Tong was allied with Zhongli Shan and Mei Liangyu. Since they were potential competitors, they couldn't be left alive.
Wen Yanghui came to dragon tail specifically to guard the School of Names "Mountain Stone Road Opening" transmission point and clear the area, preventing its use while not allowing anyone nearby, to avoid unnecessary trouble when Gu Qian's group obtained the Pagoda and transmitted over.
"Stop them, knock them down." Wen Yanghui said while acting, unfurling the black scroll.
The scroll opened, revealing a lifelike red wooden arch bridge on paper that turned into red mist flying out from the scroll, materializing as a bridge spanning the river, connecting both shores.
The massive red wooden arch bridge cast large shadows over the star river. Yu Sui's group under the bridge all stared in shock.
"Mechanism Arts?" Yan Xiaochuan was stunned. "Projection painting, that's quite extravagant."
Su Tong led Yu Sui forward while saying: "Young Master of the Wenyang family, he's not short of these rare weapons and treasures."
Though Wen Yanghui was a Taoist School disciple, his specialty was his family's Mechanism Arts.
Though the Nine Schools were currently the main practitioner schools on Xuangu Continent, the existence of other practitioner schools couldn't be denied.
Everything in the scroll painting was materialized on the riverbank. Even the mountain stones and flowering trees on both sides of the red wooden arch bridge grew on both shores, flowers blooming everywhere with fragrance carrying seductive intent, enough to influence others' minds and draw them into illusions.
Crimson petals flew toward the three people in the water. Yan Xiaochuan raised his hand, stirring up Five Elements energy, speaking clearly: "Soaring Wind."
School of Names Word Command was useful, but control of Five Elements energy had to be extremely precise. In the refined use of Nine Schools Arts, it was completely different from Yan Xiaochuan's displayed carefree personality.
Two wind forces collided, intercepting the crimson petals carrying seductive intent at the shore, unable to advance.
Wen Yanghui walked onto the arch bridge, standing at the highest center point. He first targeted Su Tong, raising his hand as fine golden lightning lines flickered at his fingertips.
Taoist School Heavenly Mechanism Art: Heavenly Gang Five Thunder. Golden thunder like a swift dragon-snake strike flashed from his fingertips, targeting Su Tong's position clearly.
Yu Sui had previously seen Mei Liangyu use Taoist golden thunder to kill Wei Kun in the Five Elements Light Core in Outer City. She had felt the oppressive force then, but experiencing it firsthand now, that oppressive feeling was even stronger. Just hearing the thunder made her feel her heartbeat might stop.
In the great golden flash, Yan Xiaochuan took a deep breath: "Earth Kun."
Giant stones broke through the water, but didn't damage the water's star pattern. The stones concealed Su Tong and Yu Sui's figures while blocking the descending golden thunder from above.
As Su Tong and Yu Sui advanced, stones continuously rose to help block attacks from behind.
Yu Sui focused on the stars beneath her feet but saw white mist quietly spreading, and the blue stars developed thin frost.
"Nangong Sui!" Princess Shangyang stood on a giant stone, beside her seven blue-purple light rays connected in a star line formation. She looked at the person in the water: "If you abandon them and come to me, I'll let you pass."
Princess Shangyang summoned the Emptiness Mansion Star General with Yin-Yang techniques. An ice frost giant python emerged from the white mist, weaving between the stone formations. Its massive twisting body froze the giant stones before destroying them all, and golden thunder followed.
Su Tong quickly pulled Yu Sui behind her, throwing a divine wood sign to block the golden thunder, but couldn't stop the ice frost giant python's impact.
Princess Shangyang retreated from the shattered stones onto the red wooden arch bridge, her five fingers forming claws and closing. The water surface star map was altered, Su Tong and Yu Sui were hit by the ice frost giant python, stepping on wrong stars.
The star map scattered, both fell into the water.
The river water was covered with Five Elements energy with certain restrictions. Basic Eight Trigrams Life Arts couldn't be used down here. Su Tong tightly gripped Yu Sui throughout, not letting her be scattered by the rushing current.
Both Princess Shangyang and Wen Yanghui's Nine Schools Arts came urgently and fiercely, with swift, powerful attacks and comprehensive oppression. There was no chance for Yu Sui to act, while Su Tong's abilities were for first strikes, she could only take hits when defending.
The ice frost giant python also plunged into the water to fish Yu Sui out, with golden thunder following, but it struck Yu Sui and Su Tong back to deeper, more distant places first.
Princess Shangyang turned to scold Wen Yanghui: "Why are you hitting Nangong Sui!"
I haven't even hit her!
Wen Yanghui said without changing expression: "Don't let anyone near the transmission point. Since she's grouped with Su Tong, she can't either."
Princess Shangyang glared at him angrily. She had wanted to fish Yu Sui up to see her beg for mercy, but the golden thunder knocked them far away. The river was rushing fast, sweeping the people away in an instant.
Su Tong protected Yu Sui from a golden thunder strike, her face turning deathly pale as blood scattered in the water. With her last consciousness, she stuffed a divine wood sign into Yu Sui's hand.
At least the river would take them somewhere "favorable."
Seeing Su Tong injured and unconscious, Yu Sui frowned, holding her so she wouldn't be scattered by the current. The current was too strong, pulling at both of them and pressing them deeper.
The Strange Fire in her consciousness swayed gently, sensing someone nearby, but only one person, probably Yan Xiaochuan who had followed.
The deep water was pitch black, making it impossible to see ahead. But Yan Xiaochuan saw green light flickering ahead.
It was Yu Sui's Wind-Listening Ruler at her waist, receiving new messages.
Yan Xiaochuan spoke in the water: "Sinking Water."
Though his voice was weak, he still managed to speak this Word Command. The current became gentle and slow, pressure dropping sharply.
But at this moment, Yu Sui saw golden light faintly visible in the depths below. A triangular tower, familiar yet strange, she widened her eyes slightly, seeing dense, operating communication array Number Mountains underwater.
When Yan Xiaochuan approached to grab Yu Sui and Su Tong, he was nearly thrown by the wary Yu Sui. As Yan Xiaochuan grabbed Su Tong and his Word Command was covered by the water's Five Elements energy, the fierce current carried them toward an unknown destination.