Chapter 228: Restriction
A thought stirred in Ye Chen's mind, and he gazed ahead.
At the end of the vast plaza, a massive gate stood imposingly.
The gate, like the plaza, was made of stone. The only thing of note was that it was engraved with dense runes and arrays.
But at this moment, all the complex patterns were dormant, dim and lusterless.
'This gate... could it be the entrance to the secret realm?'
Ye Chen felt as if he were being pulled by some unseen force. His gaze was fixed on the distant stone gate, and his feet began to move forward involuntarily.
"What are you doing?" Huo Susu hurried to follow, warily scanning the surrounding crowd, afraid that someone from the Yu family might be hiding among them.
Song Yubing and the Realm Spirit also followed close behind Ye Chen.
"Kid, you'd better not go any further."
"That gate has been here since ancient times, but the arrays and runes on it have never once lit up."
"Even if you go over there, you won't understand the arrays. You'll only be courting death."
A kind-faced old man to the side spoke up to warn Ye Chen.
"If there's nothing special about this gate, why would going over there mean courting death?" Huo Susu asked.
"Little girl, don't you know? The people from Yama Hall set up a Restriction near the gate. If you touch it, not only will you alert those evil cultivators, but you'll also meet your end for nothing!" the old man said, a look of surprise on his face.
"Exactly! The power of that Restriction is terrifying. Even a Divinity Transformation Realm expert would be severely injured if they touched it!" another cultivator chimed in.
Huo Susu's expression changed slightly. She couldn't help but ask, "Weren't there rumors of a secret realm appearing in Kunlun Mountain? Why is everyone gathered here, then?"
As soon as she said this, puzzled expressions appeared on many faces.
"Come to think of it, the so-called appearance of a secret realm is just a baseless rumor. No one knows who started it."
"After we got here, all we found was this gate, blocked by a Restriction from evil cultivators and completely untouchable! As for any activity from a Kunlun Mountain secret realm... we haven't felt a thing."
"..."
Listening to the crowd's chatter, Ye Chen couldn't help but feel suspicious.
'Something seems off.
It sounds like someone deliberately spread false news to lure cultivators here.
But for what purpose?'
Ye Chen frowned.
Although there were many strange things about this whole affair, at least one thing was certain.
The Kunlun Mountain secret realm was real!!!
It was just that this secret realm required the Kunlun Key to be opened.
Ye Chen took a deep breath. He had also noticed many dangerous auras lurking near the distant stone gate.
But he paid them no mind and walked over resolutely!
"Hey!"
"Kid, why won't you listen to reason?"
"Just wait a little longer! Experts from the Black Triangle will come and break this Restriction!"
"If you touch it recklessly, not only will you meet your doom, but you'll very likely drag us down with you!"
Seeing that Ye Chen was ignoring him, the old man grew anxious.
That's right. If the Restriction set by Yama Hall wasn't so terrifying, with a high chance of affecting everyone else present if triggered, why would they have been so "kind" as to unanimously urge Ye Chen to stop?
Besides, if the Restriction was triggered, it might even attract the evil cultivators from Yama Hall!
Although with so many people gathered, they weren't exactly afraid of evil cultivators causing trouble, the Restriction itself was still a hidden danger.
The experts from the five great tribes and four great families were already on their way. There was no need to act rashly before they arrived!
In any case, among these major powers, there would surely be experts capable of breaking these Restrictions!
Thus, upon seeing Ye Chen stubbornly walking toward the distant stone gate, many people in the crowd began to call out, trying to persuade him to stop.
When Huo Susu saw this, she also sensed that something was wrong.
"Speaking of which, why don't I see anyone from the five great tribes and four great families?" she couldn't help but ask.
"They're already on their way! They'll be here soon!"
"Once they arrive, they'll naturally be able to break the Restriction on the stone gate! Then we'll know what those evil cultivators are up to!"
The old man said anxiously, "Also, little girl, you should stop your companion! If he wants to get himself killed, he shouldn't drag the rest of us down with him!"
Hearing this, Huo Susu didn't speak, but her lovely brows furrowed.
She grew even more puzzled.
'The nine major powers are coming to break the Restriction left by Yama Hall?
Why haven't I heard anything about it?
Our Huo family, just like everyone else here, only sent people to investigate after receiving the news.
We never heard anything about a Restriction.
Why do I get the feeling there's some hidden agenda at play?'
Watching Ye Chen get closer and closer to the distant stone gate, many people could no longer sit still.
"Kid, we told you to stop! Are you deaf?" A group of people dressed in earthy brown clothes stood up in unison, their sharp gazes fixed on Ye Chen.
They had been sitting not far from the stone gate. Now, seeing Ye Chen ignore their advice and stubbornly insist on touching the Restriction around the gate, they naturally couldn't just stand by and watch.
"You want to stop me?" Ye Chen frowned.
"That's right! If you're so intent on dying, we can send you on your way ourselves. There's no need to drag down the other fellow cultivators present."
The leading man sneered.
His arms were corded with muscle, bulging like rocks, and his entire body radiated an astonishing aura fluctuation.
The gazes of many people around him were filled with deep reverence!
This was actually a Half-Step Divinity Transformation Realm cultivator!
"Mo Qing, say one more word and see if I don't have my grandfather go and smash the gates of your Celestial Mountain Sect!"
Just then, Huo Susu suddenly spoke up, her bright eyes glaring coldly at the man who had spoken.
The man's expression changed instantly. He had naturally recognized Huo Susu and quickly forced a smile. "So you're a friend of Miss Huo. It seems I have been rude."
Although their Celestial Mountain Sect held some status in the Black Triangle Zone, it was nothing compared to the nine major powers.
As the young miss of the Huo family, how could he possibly dare to offend her?
Seeing Huo Susu speak up, many people hesitated.
But there were still many cultivators from outside the Black Triangle Zone who began to speak out. "It doesn't matter what power you belong to, you should stop right there! Forcing your way through the Restriction—aren't you just trying to drag everyone down to die with you?"
"That Restriction can severely injure even a Divinity Transformation Realm cultivator, let alone us!"