Chapter 482: Chapter 472 Sacrifice
Dongfang Hongyue was not interested in seeing Lin Yun and Fang Yu share such little intimacies; she walked up between Lin Yun and Fang Yu and said, "How do you propose we smartly capture it?"
Her question made it impossible for Lin Yun to continue his exchange with Fang Yu.
Lin Yun, too, wanted to leave this place quickly, so he said, "This place extends deeper, and there seems to be something else further in. Those big hands blocking our way must be trying to make us go deeper."
That was true, but this place was mysterious and complex. Just a few stone hands guarding the entrance had already forced Lin Yu and Fang Yu to retreat. If they went deeper, they might encounter dangers they could not handle.
Times had truly changed. In the past, no Enlightened Realm Cultivator would have ever explored a ruin fearing they might die.
Enlightened Realm Cultivators couldn’t probe their own fate, but they had a premonition. If they encountered a life-and-death crisis, they would be warned in advance and then withdraw calmly.
But here, these powerhouses all had a bad feeling.
It was as if a shadow had fallen over their future, yet it was not an omen of disaster.
It was like being targeted by a hunter who, for the moment, wasn’t hungry.
Going deeper was risky, but aside from that, they had no other option.
Lin Yu then grabbed Lin Yun’s hand and said, "Follow me closely."
Dongfang Hongyue and Fang Yu were both extremely envious. Only Lin Yu could maintain such open closeness with Lin Yun, as the two of them had their reputations to consider.
However, their positions subtly placed Lin Yun in their protection, at the center.
"Let’s not hurry on, we don’t even know if the spider is truly dead. What if she could come back to life?"
Lin Yun conjured a ball of fire, hurling it at the Spider Woman. He then intensified the flame until the Spider Woman turned to ash, giving Lin Yun peace of mind.
I’ve scattered your ashes, now let’s see if you can resurrect, he challenged silently.
"He’s quite an interesting lad," Zhang Biyu said softly to Liu Ji. She had long noticed the special relationship between Dongfang Hongyue and Lin Yun, which piqued her curiosity about him.
What was so special about him that made Dongfang Hongyue care so much?
Zhang Biyu had been secretly observing Lin Yun for a long time, but beyond his good looks, she had discovered nothing noteworthy.
It seemed now, however, that Lin Yun’s style of doing things was very much like Dongfang Hongyue’s.
Liu Ji, unaware of these details, heard Zhang Biyu’s apparent interest in Lin Yun and didn’t say much, but he let out a soft snort to show a hint of hostility.
Zhang Biyu couldn’t help but laugh to herself, finding the silent battles between men amusing.
At this moment, including Lin Yun, there were altogether eleven people in the cave. After the recent battle, a quiet peace was maintained. Lin Yu and the rest were not inclined to fight, and since no one else was a match for them, they silently followed behind.
Lin Yu took the lead, scouting ahead. With the power of the wind at her aid, she could sense danger in advance.
Past this spacious area, the path ahead suddenly narrowed, giving the impression they had moved from a wide mouth cavity to a tight throat.
It wasn’t clear how a spider’s throat was structured, but if this was indeed the throat, they were now deep inside.
The cave entrance was just wide enough to accommodate two people, Lin Yu carefully guarded Lin Yun by his side, and the two of them entered first, with the others following one after another.
As he crossed the entrance, Lin Yun heard heavy winds, footstep sounds magnified hundreds of times, and rhythmic drumbeats converging together. In this narrow corridor, they created a sense of unrest and drove one almost to madness.
Daoist Master Red Sea Dragon’s Big Red Python was the first to go berserk. Being of the Beast Kind, its mental cultivation level was naturally not as advanced as that of the cultivators; it hissed and coiled towards Baili Liuyun. Suddenly attacked by an ally, Baili Liuyun was completely taken aback.
"Why is everyone picking on me?"
Daoist Master Red Sea Dragon hurriedly tried to stop the Big Red Python, but by then, it had entered a frenzied state and no longer listened to its master.
With their movements, the noisy sounds grew even louder. Lin Yun signalled to Dongfang Hongyue and the others to cover their ears, sank his qi into his Dantian, and let out a loud shout, "Stop the noise!"
As astute as Lin Yun was, he had already realized that all sounds in the cave were amplified many times over—the drum sounds were heartbeats, the wind was breathing. Besides, the place also had an effect on disturbing the mind. The noise alone would not be enough to drive the spirit beasts mad.
So, Lin Yun unapologetically yelled at the top of his lungs.
Zhang Biyu, who had been quietly observing Lin Yun, cunningly sealed her ears with spiritual power; the others were not so lucky. Lin Yun’s bellow knocked the Big Red Python out cold on the spot, while those who weren’t prepared were also shaken by the sudden loud voice.
After a brief bout of deafness, Baili Liuyun angrily exclaimed, "Why did you have to scream so loudly!"
By then, Lin Yun had sealed his own ears and heard nothing, but he could guess what Baili Liuyun was shouting about by reading his lips.
This shout gave others who hadn’t covered their ears a buzzing headache.
Yue Ningshuang was the first to react. She sealed her ears and, after some gesturing, they understood to stop talking.
Daoist Master Red Sea Dragon, heartbroken, picked up the fainted Big Red Python and gave Lin Yun a resentful glance.
The snake, already sensitive, had suffered the most damage, but luckily it had just fainted.
They had not gone far when they were already in such a sorry state; proceeding deeper, it was unknown what they might encounter.
Once everyone had sealed their ears, the world became quiet. The cultivators simply carried on as if nothing had happened and continued forward. In a short while, they saw a stele at the cave’s further entrance.
On the stele, there were small red characters.
"Enter my gate, know my divine powers, chant my esteemed name, Thousand Hands and Eyes. Sacrifice both eyes to enter the Liver Chamber, lose sight to see all; sacrifice both feet to enter the Spleen Chamber, divine skills eightfold; sacrifice both hands to enter the Kidney Chamber, breathe out silk threads; sacrifice both ears to enter the Lung Chamber, wonderful laws divine connection. Sacrifice the heart to enter the Heart Chamber, sever emotions and love, possess all divine skills."
Lin Yun looked at these informative texts and suddenly felt that something was amiss.
"Hey, we’re not your followers, Ao—how did we get straight into the sacrifice process without any tests or trials?"
Lin Yun was unaware that before the Thousand Hands and Eyes, those who were not followers only had death awaiting them, to become food. They would not be sent to the liver, spleen, lung, kidney or heart chambers but would likely go straight into the stomach and be digested.
However, with the Statue of Qing Nu brought out by Lin Yun, all those eyeballs were blasted to bits. The first screening process was completely bypassed, and now many people had entered, none of whom were followers of the Thousand Hands and Eyes.
Yet, looking at these words, there were those who were tempted.
To sacrifice oneself and obtain divine power was the trade between the divine spirit and its followers.
This ancient method of exchange, after being lost for countless ages, had once again surfaced...
