Chapter 270: The Tide Before the Great Hunt
The Tide Before the Great Hunt
Yet Leon ignored them completely.
His eyes remained fixed on the ancient gate beneath the crimson heavens.
The vast sea of blood stretched endlessly beneath him while dark clouds rolled across the sky above. At the center of that terrifying world stood the enormous Golden Gate, shining like a divine beacon amidst the crimson darkness.
Golden runes flowed across its surface.
Ancient symbols flickered and disappeared.
The aura of a Martial Emperor continuously poured out from within, causing space itself to distort.
Leon’s purple eyes narrowed slightly.
Without the slightest hesitation, he stepped forward.
Boom!
Mana erupted around him.
His midnight robes fluttered wildly as he accelerated.
In an instant, he transformed into a streak of purple light.
The sea below exploded apart from the pressure.
The surrounding cultivators only saw a flash.
Then—
Leon moved towards the Golden Gate with light-speed and vanished inside the gate.
The moment he disappeared, countless eyes widened.
"He went in!"
"That monster entered first."
"What are we waiting for?"
Many people’s expressions changed dramatically.
They knew opportunities like this would never come twice.
If they hesitated now, the treasures inside would belong to someone else.
Fortune favored the bold.
Cultivation itself was a path of fighting against heaven and fate.
Many people immediately gritted their teeth.
If they retreated today, they might regret it for the rest of their lives.
Other people also saw this. They didn’t hesitate anymore. If they did so, the cost might be their fortune or future.
So—
Streams of light erupted across the sky.
Some chased treasures.
Others rushed directly toward the Golden Gate.
The entire Martial Emperor Tomb became a sea of moving figures.
With the appearance of the Golden Gate and the countless treasures flying out from within, nobody wanted to remain behind.
Some cultivators chased after the streaks of treasure light scattered across the sky, while others headed directly for the Golden Gate itself.
One figure after another transformed into streams of light and disappeared into the ancient portal.
Soon, the once-crowded battlefield became nearly empty as everyone rushed toward their chosen opportunity.
The blood sea gradually calmed.
The crimson clouds drifted silently overhead.
It seemed as though everyone had left.
However...
Far beneath the sea.
Within a dark abyss where no light could reach.
Something moved.
A faint black mist emerged from the depths.
Then another.
And another.
The scattered remains that should have long since vanished suddenly began gathering together.
Bone fragments connected.
Flesh regenerated.
Black veins spread across newly formed skin.
The process was horrifying.
A corpse was rebuilding itself.
What Leon didn’t know was that after everyone had left, the shattered remains lying in the abyss beneath the blood sea had not truly perished.
Deep within the darkness, the strange source hidden inside Dario began to stir once more.
Black mist gathered around the scattered fragments of flesh and bone. Piece by piece, his ruined body reconstructed itself. Veins reformed, bones connected, and torn flesh regenerated under the influence of that mysterious power.
After an unknown amount of time, Dario slowly opened his eyes.
The memory of Leon’s sword still haunted him, but he had survived.
Time passed.
Perhaps minutes.
Perhaps hours.
Nobody knew.
Eventually, a figure slowly opened his eyes.
Dario.
His breathing was rough.
Cold sweat covered his forehead.
The memory of that sword still lingered in his mind.
Even now, his soul trembled when recalling it.
The First Mist Immortal Sword.
That strike.
That overwhelming power.
The strange source hidden inside his body had barely preserved a fragment of his life.
Had the sword gone even slightly deeper into his origin, he would truly have ceased to exist.
Dario slowly stood.
His face looked pale.
His eyes contained lingering fear.
For the first time in many years, he felt genuine terror.
He suppressed the evil thoughts in his heart and searched for the spirit fruit that had fallen into the sea when he fought Hektor.
The sea floor was vast.
Countless treasures had been buried beneath the blood waves.
Dario searched carefully.
Eventually, a trace of excitement appeared in his eyes.
"There!"
He waved his hand.
A glowing fruit flew into his palm.
After finding it, he took out the spirit fruit he had just snatched.
The rich medicinal fragrance instantly spread through the surroundings.
His eyes were filled with killing intent as he looked at the disappearing figure on the sea.
"Hmph... Leon, do you really think I’ll be killed by you so easily?"
His voice was hoarse.
The hatred within him was obvious.
Yet beneath that hatred hid something else.
Fear.
The fear he desperately refused to admit.
Dario clenched the fruit tightly.
His knuckles turned white.
He was still in shock.
He was still trapped in the trauma left by Leon’s immortal sword.
Every time he remembered that sword descending from the heavens, his heart involuntarily trembled.
No.
Not yet.
He absolutely could not challenge Leon now.
The gap between them remained too large.
Even if hatred consumed him, he still possessed enough reason to understand reality.
After luckily escaping this calamity, Dario only wanted to find a place to hide, break through the final shackles, and form a Supreme Body.
As long as he could survive, everything would be fine.
A dark smile slowly appeared.
Once he completed his transformation...
Everything would change.
As for settling scores with Leon?
He would mention this matter after his strength increased.
Meanwhile.
Outside the Martial Emperor Tomb.
The situation had become completely chaotic.
The enormous golden light emerging from the entrance illuminated half the sky.
Many experts who had failed to enter earlier suddenly became excited.
Their eyes burned with greed.
Their breathing accelerated.
At this moment, those people outside the Martial Emperor Tomb realized there was a golden light.
Everyone outside was excited.
"The tomb’s door is already wide open. Everyone, charge..."
The shout instantly ignited the crowd.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Tens of thousands of figures rose into the sky.
For a moment, tens of thousands of figures rushed crazily towards the entrance.
The scene was in chaos.
Some flew on swords.
Some rode spirit beasts.
Others transformed into streaks of light.
The sky became packed with cultivators.
Arguments broke out.
Collisions occurred.
Everyone feared being left behind.
Compared to the opportunities inside, pride meant nothing.
Within the Celestis Academy team, Yaman stood at the front of the group with his arms crossed.
His gray hair swayed in the wind as he watched countless cultivators rush into the Martial Emperor Tomb.
The more he watched, the darker his expression became.
"I’m so angry. All of you went in to snatch treasures and left me to take care of the children outside..."
His beard twitched indignantly.
The nearby students immediately lowered their heads, afraid of attracting his attention.
Everyone could see how frustrated he was.
Aside from Mike, the leaders of the Seven Divisions had all entered the tomb in search of opportunities, leaving Yaman behind to supervise the younger generation and prevent another accident.
The old man let out a long sigh.
"I should be the one hunting treasures."
"They dumped all the work on me."
The more he complained, the more depressed he became.
At that moment, Kevin stepped forward.
His eyes continuously drifted toward the glowing entrance.
Excitement was impossible to hide.
Such an opportunity rarely appeared.
Missing it would be a lifelong regret.
Taking a deep breath, he finally asked.
"Guardian Elder, the entrance is open. Should we go in now?" Kevin stood beside Yaman and said excitedly.
It would be a pity not to take such a rare opportunity.
