Chapter 427: Terrifying Existences
[Treasure compass?] Yu Nianzhen transmitted.
[Mmmmh.] Jiang Yue nodded and his smile grew brighter.
"Brother Jiang, what do you mean?" Xuan Ke questioned.
"We are almost at the outermost edge of the soul stone mine. If we don’t go further into the depths, we should be able to mine a few stones."
"Is what you said true?" Chen Qing couldn’t help but be excited.
After cultivating for one hundred years in the Crystal Worms’ desert, she gained a lot.
Although her soul cultivation had not broken through to the sixth level, she was only half a step away.
If she had a few soul stones, Chen Qing was sure her soul would directly advance to the sixth level.
"It’s true." Jiang Yue nodded.
Even if there weren’t many soul stones on the outer edge of the mine, hundreds were still possible.
However, Jiang Yue didn’t reveal this.
After all, it was difficult to explain the information without exposing the treasure compass.
"Master, what do you think?" Yu Nianzhen asked.
"Our mining range can’t exceed one hundred and seventy kilometres. If we go further than that, we will enter the territory of a terrifying worm." Yang Xu said with a frown on his face.
Unlike the others whose soul cultivation was still at the fifth level, Yang Xu’s soul was at the peak of the sixth level.
Because of this, he could perceive further than the others and his senses were more intuitive.
Although he couldn’t see into the depths of the crystal worms’ desert, he felt many terrifying existences.
These existences were more terrifying than the sixth-level crystal worms they had already encountered and Yang Xu couldn’t help but fear.
His instincts told him that meeting those existences would result in nothing but death.
Even with their strength and means, there would be no way to escape if they attracted those existences.
"You have to be careful and never cross a line that shouldn’t be crossed." He emphasised.
"We understand." Jiang Yue said and nodded.
"We know." Li Futian and Xuan Ke said.
The others also agreed and Yang Xu was a little relieved.
However, he didn’t let his guard down.
Although those existences didn’t seem like they cared about what was happening in the outer areas of the desert, Yang Xu didn’t dare to be careless.
"In that case, let’s find the soul stones and leave the desert." Yang Xu said.
"Where should we go next? I am looking forward to the lightning valley." Xuan Ke said with a little excitement in his voice.
For others, the lightning valley was only a body forging holy ground but for him, it was more than that.
Not only could he forge his body, but he could also train his qi.
"Let’s decide when we leave the desert." Bing Lan suggested.
"It’s best that way." Chen Qing agreed.
"Is it strange we haven’t encountered other people for one hundred years?" Jiang Yue suddenly asked.
"It’s not strange." Li Futian said and the others looked at him.
"Although the island only has three holy grounds, the area is extremely vast. It won’t be strange even if we don’t encounter others for the remaining three hundred years."
"It would be good if we don’t encounter others." Chen Qing said and sighed.
In the war against the Death Flower Ascension Front, she connived and fought a lot.
As an alchemist, Chen Qing didn’t like fighting and naturally hoped she wouldn’t fight others in the remaining three hundred years.
"I am more worried about something else." Yu Nianzhen said with a frown on his face.
"Are you worried that others will provoke the terrifying existences entrenched in the holy grounds?" Yang Xu asked.
"Mmmmm." Yu Nianzhen nodded.
After practising for one hundred years, their strength improved a lot.
However, they still struggled against level-six demonic beasts.
Without the strength of many, there was still no way to defeat and kill a level-six beast.
Thinking of this, Yu Nianzhen couldn’t help but shudder at the thought of encountering a higher-level demonic beast.
"Everyone is a nascent soul realm cultivator. Seeking advantages and avoiding disasters has already become an instinct." Xuan Ke said and the others nodded.
Even without Yang Xu’s guidance, everyone had already felt the urge to avoid the depths of the Crystal Worms’ desert.
This urge was the instinct to seek advantages and avoid disasters which most high-level cultivators possessed.
"Not everyone has good judgement." Yu Nianzhen said.
For most, an overwhelming sense of danger was enough to keep them away from the depths of the holy ground.
However, some cultivators didn’t have a good measure of their capabilities.
If these kinds of cultivators who overestimated their strength provoked a terrible existence, everyone on the island would be implicated.
"We can only hope that nothing will go wrong." Yang Xu said and sighed.
"There is nothing else we can do." Chen Qing agreed.
After all, they were all separated and there was no way to communicate.
Even if there was a way to communicate, there was no guarantee that everyone would listen to reason.
"The heavens won’t leave us without a way out." Li Futian suddenly said and everyone looked at him.
However, when he didn’t say more, the others immediately turned about and continued their planning.
"Brother Jiang, where do we need to start digging?" Xuan Ke asked but Jiang Yue shrugged.
"I won’t know until we move a little closer."
"In that case, let’s go." Yang Xu said and the others didn’t hesitate.
After walking and fighting for nine days, Jiang Yue finally called for a stop.
"Is it here?" Xuan Ke asked.
"It’s here." Jiang Yue nodded with a small smile on his lips.
As an illusion master and formation master, Jiang Yue was looking forward to the soul stones.
Like everyone else, he only needed a good opportunity to break through to the sixth level of soul training and the soul stones were that opportunity.
"This place feels different." Chen Qing said.
"The heaven and earth qi has been replaced by soul elements." Yang Xu said.
"If I cultivate here, I should be able to break through to the sixth level of soul refining." Chen Qing said and Xuan Ke nodded.
"I also feel the same." He said.
"Cultivating here is indeed a good opportunity. However, it’s too close to the territory of a terrifying existence and I am always worried." Yang Xu said with a frown on his face.
"We have come this far and those existences have not cared about us. Shouldn’t it be fine to cultivate here?" Bing Lan asked.
"We may be fine now but not forever."
"What does senior mean?" Xuan Ke asked.
"At the moment, only my master has a sixth-level soul. However, if several of us advance, the nearest existence may feel threatened. When that happens, our losses may outweigh the gains." Yu Nianzhen said.
"That’s my worry." Yang Xu agreed.
For powerful beings, dealing with ants was a waste of time and they couldn’t be bothered.
However, if the ants suddenly become stronger, the powerful beings may take notice and decide to eliminate them before they become a real threat.
"If we all became sixth-level soul refiners, then..." Xuan Ke started but Yang Xu shook his head.
"Don’t even think about it." He said.
"We have practised soul attacks but fundamentally, none of us are soul masters. Even with sixth-level souls, we are still not a match for those existences."
"Could they be immortal demonic beasts?" Xuan Ke couldn’t help but worry.
So far, the most powerful existence they encountered was a peak level six crystal worm.
However, their limit was the mid-stage level six crystal worm.
If they encountered a late stage or a peak stage, their only choice was to escape and take a detour.
Fortunately, crystal worms were territorial and rarely ventured into other worm’s territories.
In this way, the group managed to survive several dangerous situations.
"Maybe." Yang Xu said and frowned.
"Why can this place tolerate level six and immortal beasts?" Jiang Yue couldn’t help but wonder.
After all, the space was connected to the Cangxing world.
As long as the space was part of the Cangxing world, it shouldn’t be immune to the restrictions of the larger world.
"Our Cangxing world..." Yang Xu started and frowned.
"Our Cangxing world is not as simple as you think." Li Futian spoke the words that were in everyone’s minds.
[Azhen, I have been thinking...] Jiang Yue started.
[I know.] Yu Nianzhen said and squeezed his husband’s arm.
Since they were pulled into the Golden Gate, they hadn’t had a moment to really consider things.
However, old man Cang was always at the back of their minds.
Others did not know but the two knew the golden gate was forged from a poem left behind by old man Cang.
Thinking of this, they had a vague idea about the old man’s identity but they couldn’t be sure.
[We...] Yu Nianzhen started but then frowned.
At the same time, everyone froze and a deep terror filled their hearts.
