“Little loachie says that it’s best to not go around recklessly. This place is a little dangerous!”

  Lu Zhiruo translated. “Especially below!”

  “Ziqi, what do you think?”

  Sun Mo fell silent.

  “We should at least find out the reason why the spirit qi is so dense, right?” Li Ziqi’s curiosity was about to burst. “Didn’t little loachie say that the spirit qi surges up from below? Then let’s go down to check it out!”

  “Alright, but you guys must listen to me. When I say retreat, there mustn’t be any objections!”

  Sun Mo instructed.

  The spirit qi roaming dragon didn’t wish to go down to this palace’s lower level, but since Lu Zhiruo wanted to go, there was nothing it could do. To prevent them from taking the wrong path and encountering danger, it could only continue to lead the way.

  The deeper they went down, the stronger the spirit qi and the more spirit crystals were formed on the walls. The light that they emitted was sufficient to illuminate the path, and the blue light made them feel as if they had entered a fantastical place.

  Sun Mo and the other three had already thrown away their fire.

  A five-meter-tall spirit-wind passed by them aimlessly.

  “It’s so big!”

  Lu Zhiruo, who was hiding behind a wall, patted her chest, her heart throbbing.

  Unlike the spirit-winds above, although the numbers here were lower, they were all mutated versions. Not only did they have tremendous sizes and were strong, but their appearances had also undergone great changes.

  Their bodies were condensed from blue spirit crystals, but their joints were connected by many tornadoes.

  As they emitted light, when they moved, they were like a gigantic human-shaped lighthouse.

  The spirit qi roaming dragon was extremely sensitive toward spirit qi fluctuations and thus could sense and avoid such elemental lifeforms.

  On the way here, Sun Mo had come across many lifeforms. However, as these ones had been living in a place with such dense spirit qi over the years, they had all undergone mutation.

  Almost all of them had grown spirit crystal shells.

  “All of this is money!”

  Ying Baiwu’s eyes gleamed and she had a strong urge to sweep up the entire place, taking down all of them and their corpses to sell.

  “This place doesn’t feel right!”

  Sun Mo suddenly stopped in his footsteps.

  “What happened?”

  The papaya girl was perplexed.

  “It’s been quite a few minutes since we’ve encountered any lifeforms. This is abnormal. We might have entered the territory of a species of darkness.”

  Sun Mo had just said this when two red lights suddenly lit up around the corner in front. Then, a crab that was a lot bigger than a tank swung its pincers and crawled out showily.

  Sun Mo immediately activated Divine Sight.

  “Mutated rock crab. Mediocre battle prowess, but due to the mutation of its shell, it is extremely sturdy, as if it had put on a layer of heavy armor.”

  Note: Intelligence is significantly below average. It has a fiery temper and is carnivorous. Its lower chin is its weakness.

  “Teacher, should we retreat for now?”

  Li Ziqi asked.

  “No need to panic!”

  After all, Sun Mo wasn’t a native to the nine provinces and his train of thoughts had yet to adapt to this place. At the sight of this mutated rock crab, his first reaction was the thought of how much it could be sold for if he were to bring it back.

  If it was a female crab, then how much crab roe would there be in its stomach? Moreover, by the looks at the two big pincers, they must be filled with meat. If paired with garlic paste sauce and huangjiu [1], it’d absolutely be delicious.

  The mutated rock crab started to accelerate.

  Sun Mo took out the Flame Explosion Rune and tore it.

  First, a few sparks flickered, then they extended into many lines of fire, entangling together. They formed a fireball the size of a coconut within a few seconds, and then with a swoosh, shot out toward the mutated rock crab.

  Boom!

  The big fireball hit the mutated rock crab’s body. The scene was like how a rocket-propelled grenade hit a tank and erupted on the spot.

  Pala! Pala!

  The shattered crab shell burned and fell, releasing densely-packed sounds.

  The mutated rock crab’s defense was truly outstanding. Even after being hit by such a powerful exploding fireball, it still didn’t die. However, it couldn’t run anymore and it was banged into the wall.

  Ying Baiwu sniffed. “It smells a little good.”

  “System, can a mutated rock crab be used as an ingredient for the spicy fragrant crab burger?”

  Sun Mo asked.

  He now had a dark recipe for the spicy fragrant crab burger.

  The spicy fragrant crab burger, when prepared according to the recipe, would induce agitation and fury to a person when eaten, causing the person to become irritated, violent, and easily angered. Their battle prowess would rise substantially for about three minutes.

  Using an analogy, it’d be like berserk potions in games. After eating the crab burger, one would be able to experience a wave of eruption.

  “I’m not your mother. Can’t you study it yourself? Don’t ask me every time you have a question!” the system said.

  “Are you on your period? Why is your temper so bad?”

  Sun Mo wasn’t willing to take this and retorted back.

  Ying Baiwu was about to go pick up the corpse, but she stopped after taking a few steps. It was because another big group of rock crabs had gushed out from the corner. Although they weren’t as big as this one, there were too many of them.

  Clank clank!

  With the rock crabs surging over, if someone with trypophobia were to see this, their scalps would definitely turn numb and they’d die on the spot.

  “What are you thinking about? Quickly run!”

  Sun Mo picked Li Ziqi up and ran off with great speed.

  Zhang Qianlin felt that things hadn’t been going well for him recently. It felt as if the entire world was going up against him.

  After going out to study for three years, he had finally returned with achievements. He felt that his mastery in the study of spirit runes would at least be in the top five of the Central Province Academy even if it wasn’t in the top three. What followed would be him displaying his outstanding capabilities, and his reputation would surge. When that happened, he’d become the most famous teacher in the Central Province Academy. What Liu Mubai? Go eat shit!

  When that happened, he’d propose to An Xinhui, and she’d also agree to this wedding out of admiration for his talent and handsome looks.

  Thereafter, An Xinhui would give up her position and become a female assistant to support him. And he would become the Central Province Academy’s headmaster, leading this school back to the pinnacle amongst the Nine Greats.

  Due to these great achievements, the school would fork out the money to forge a bronze statue for him. They’d place the statue at the front of the school gate for all the students to admire.

  Look, how perfect a life this would be!

  Zhang Qianlin had everything planned out, but he had just taken the first step when he sprained his ankle. No, it wasn’t just spraining his ankle. It was as if his leg was almost broken.

  A newly employed teacher called Black Doggy Sun had messed up his plans.

  God Hands?

  This reputation was really too great, so much so that he felt despair. Just as he wasn’t willing to admit defeat and wanted to use the study of spirit runes to recover some lost ground in the competition, he discovered to his horror that Sun Mo’s mastery of the spirit runes was higher than his. Spirit runes potted plants, simplifying spirit runes, rapid drawing, as well as drawing spirit runes that he didn’t recognize……

  These things that could be done easily by Sun Mo were all things that he couldn’t do.

  Zhang Qianlin was completely defeated. He felt that he had become a stepping stone and that his beautiful dream was being smashed. In this lifetime, he probably had no hopes of marrying An Xinhui and stomping down on Sun Mo.

  However, there was a good saying that every cloud had a silver lining. Who wouldn’t have a meal of dumplings during the new year?

  Zhang Qianlin looked at the ancient altar in front of him and could no longer hold back the agitation in his heart. He laughed out loud.

  “Haha!”

  “Haha!”

  This feeling was as if the lucky goddess had taken the initiative to take off her panties, crawled onto him, sat down, and was planning to move by herself.

  The reason Zhang Qianlin was so proud was because he had some capabilities.

  He had read many books from a young age. With his father, Zhang Hanfu, holding a position in the Central Province Academy, in addition to him also being talented and smart, the old headmaster had liked him a lot. Therefore, he had many opportunities to get guidance from the old headmaster. He could even go to the old headmaster’s private library to borrow books to read.

  Zhang Qianlin didn’t recognize the altar in front of him, but this didn’t obstruct him from making a deduction.

  Though the infrastructure style, the designs of the totems, and the age of the stone materials, Zhang Qianlin deduced that this should be an ancient sealing formation.

  “No matter what is sealed here, from today onward, it shall be my slave!”

  Zhang Qianlin was very proud.

  An ancient sealing formation like this must have a very powerful mysterious species of darkness sealed in it. If the other party was willing to sign a soul contract to become his slave, then he would help to release it.

  Think about it. Would a mysterious species of darkness who had been sealed for several thousand years or even several ten thousand years be able to bear with the enticement of freedom?

  It wouldn’t!

  Zhang Qianlin would never dream that the eight-gate cloud he had been chasing would run to this place. This was really a blessing in disguise.

  “Can you hear me? If you can, then answer me!”

  Zhang Qianlin shouted.

  This altar was forged from bronze and carved with mysterious and profound totem runes. However, the center of the altar had caved in and was about the size of about two basketball courts.

  Zhang Qianlin stood at the borders and took a glance. He realized that other than blue spring water, there was nothing else there. However, spirit qi kept flowing out from the spring water. The spirit qi was so dense that it made one feel intoxicated.

  At the thought of this, Zhang Qianlin felt happy again. Even if he didn’t get any treasure, just the dense spirit crystal was already a great fortune.

  His clan was going to rise for sure!

  There was no reply, so Zhang Qianlin shouted even louder. He even threw a large piece of rock into the spring water.

  Plop!

  “Is there anyone there? If there isn’t, then I’ll be leaving!”

  Zhang Qianlin frowned slightly. (Could it be that I’ve guessed wrongly?) Just as he was feeling a little anxious, a dignified and majestic voice that seemed to come from the ancient era rang out.

  “Insignificant bug, who gave you the courage to disturb the deep slumber of an ancient king?”

  Zhang Qianlin became spirited. To be honest, he felt a little cowardly, nervous, and scared when he heard this voice. However, these emotions then turned into agitation and excitement.

  “There’s no need to be afraid. This is an ancient sealing formation, and it won’t be able to escape. Otherwise, if an ancient king like this were to appear in the world, it’d long have since turned the entire Darkness Continent upside down.”

  Zhang Qianlin consoled himself and started to consider how he should go about with the negotiations to be able to bring him the greatest level of benefit.

  Zhang Qianlin was really very capable. At this moment, he was brave and meticulous, calm and wise. He was starting to scheme against an ancient king.

  “Hehe, is it a deep slumber? It looks to me that you’re confined to this place and are unable to break free!”

  Zhang Qianlin sneered. “Only I can help you to leave this place and regain your freedom!” The entire hall fell silent once again.

  Zhang Qianlin frowned. It’d be better for the other party to be enraged than to be silent. When it was silent, it was hard for him to assess what it was thinking!

  “But this time around, I must become a winner.”

  Zhang Qianlin swore, “Sun Mo, just you wait. After I’ve subdued this ancient king, you’ll be the first one I kill after I get out of this place!”

  [1] Huangjiu, meaning yellow wine, is a Chinese alcoholic beverage.

  Chapter 256 This Is My Treasure. Those Who Touch It Shall Die!

  Zhang Qianlin was in no hurry. He could afford to drag things out.

  But the problem was…… who had entered this place?

  Everyone had formed temporary groups to track down that eight-gate cloud and had traveled for quite a bit after it. In the evening, they had completely lost track of its traces.

  Left with no choice, everyone could only split up to increase the efficiency of the search.

  “I remember that the ones who traveled in the same direction as me are Gu Xiuxun, Zhou Shanyi, Duan Meng, and Yi Jiamin. Out of the four of them, there’d be at least two who’d come in, right?”

  The reason Zhang Qianlin could find this place, other than because his luck wasn’t bad, was also thanks to an ancient spirit rune. It was something he had discovered and learned from an ancient manual.

  After the user wrote a question based on what they really wished for at the moment, then they would tear the spirit rune to activate it. There’d be a 10% chance to get a correct answer.

  Zhang Qianlin’s question was on where he could find the eight-gate cloud. He had then followed the path guided by the ancient spirit rune and found a cave. He had walked all the way and come to this place.

  Of course, some parts of this cave were extremely hard to walk in. Some parts even required Zhang Qianlin to use violence to smash them open.

  If it wasn’t because the temptation of the eight-gate cloud was too great, Zhang Qianlin would have really given up halfway.

  Then, he had sensed that the spirit qi was getting stronger, causing him to become more spirited. He had thought that he’d be able to find a spirit stone vein but hadn’t expected to come across an altar.

  However, this altar was clearly bigger than a spirit stone vein.

  “The spirit crystals that I saw on my way here couldn’t have been formed because of you, could it?”

  Zhang Qianlin suddenly thought of this point.

  “As an ant, your recognition isn’t bad,” that voice replied.

  Zhang Qianlin then asked with a little more respect in his tone, “Please allow me to revere your great name!” “I’m the ancient elemental king, one that wields the power over wind and freedom. The places where the wind blows are all my domains. The living creatures who hear the sound of the wind are all my people!”

  When the Wind King said this, his voice was vast and heavy, having the pressure that could make one’s heart palpitate.

  A feeling of respect rose in Zhang Qianlin’s heart.

  This sealed ancient king was far too powerful. Moreover, after several hundred thousand years, the sealing formation was also slightly damaged, which resulted in the spirit qi of the ancient king leaking out, radiating this land. As time passed, the Spiritwind Canyon was formed.

  Why were there spirit-winds in the Spiritwind Canyon?

  They were all formed after being affected by the leaked energy from the Wind King’s body. It was also the cause of the weird and multi-changing spirit qi tides.

  “I can help you break the seal, but what benefit can you give me?”

  Zhang Qianlin decided to probe things a little.

  “Benefits? What an ignorant ant. Even the spirit qi that I blow out casually could help an ant like you level up. Did you really just ask me what benefits I can give you?” The Wind King sneered. “Hehe!”

  Zhang Qianlin laughed coldly. (To be using something trivial like this to dismiss me. Do you think I’m a fool?)

  “I can bestow you with a pair of Wind Wings. When it is spread out, it will allow you to catch up to the moving clouds in the horizon, as well as the currents from gushing waterfalls!”

  The Wind King’s tone was filled with the feeling of bestowal.

  “Will I be able to fly?”

  Zhang Qianlin was a little agitated.

  “An ant would dare to have the wishful thinking of wanting to fly?”

  The Wind King sneered.

  “Is there anything else?”

  Zhang Qianlin licked his lips. “Ant, keep your greed to yourself. There isn’t just one human who has appeared in my Wind King Hall.” The Wind King sneered. “I have many options!”

  “Who else is there?”

  Zhang Qianlin asked.

  “Why don’t you make a guess?”

  The Wind King laughed loudly. “Even if I’m sealed and have no choice but to work with an ant, I’ll choose a powerful ant. So fight and kill each other. Only the victor will have the right to talk to me.”

  Hearing this, Zhang Qianlin’s ears moved and he turned his head abruptly, looking toward the hall’s entrance. “Who is it? Scram out here!”

  Sun Mo walked in.

  Their gazes met and their killing intent intensified.

  “Sun Mo?”

  Zhang Qianlin was stunned. He never expected to encounter Sun Mo here.

  “Teacher Zhang!”

  Sun Mo greeted.

  “No need with the fake courtesy.”

  Zhang Qianlin drew his longsword. In this place, gaining something would allow a clan to rise and become prosperous for 1,000 years. Therefore, Zhang Qianlin had to get it for himself no matter what. “Teacher!”

  Ying Baiwu walked in. She stood next to Sun Mo, wanting to fight alongside him. “There’s two more. Stop hiding. Do you really think I’m a small fry?”

  Zhang Qianlin sneered.

  “Damn it, we’ve been seen through.”

  Li Ziqi felt a little displeased. Her initial intention was to let Ying Baiwu come out to confuse Zhang Qianlin while she and Lu Zhiruo hide and find a chance to launch a sneak attack. It was a pity that their battle tactic had been discovered.

  “You guys, leave this place. Go to the earlier hall to wait!”

  Sun Mo ordered. This was a life and death battle, and if there were no accidents, this enemy should be the strongest he had encountered after coming to Jinling.

  Zhang Qianlin hesitated. By right, to keep things a secret, he should kill everyone here. However, he was a great teacher after all, and it was hard for him to harm students.

  However, Zhang Qianlin immediately thought of a solution.

  “If you guys are willing to come under my wings and swear not to speak a word of what will take place here, I can spare your lives.” This solution wasn’t bad. Li Ziqi’s status was very dignified and even though her motor skills were bad, it didn’t matter. It was fine as long as her backing was strong enough. As for Ying Baiwu, she was a genius that even Fang Wuji valued in high regard. Under Zhang Qianlin’s guidance, she’d definitely be able to soar and have her reputation spread across the nine provinces.

  As for Lu Zhiruo, Zhang Qianlin threw a glance at her and immediately had a disdainful gaze. Other than having big boobs, there was nothing good about her!

  Forget it. He would just treat it as a buy-two-get-one-free promotion.

  “Wait till you wake up before you sleep talk!”

  Li Ziqi’s retort was very graceful, but it wasn’t the case for the stubborn young girl.

  “Pui! Teacher Sun will be my only teacher in this lifetime!”

  Ying Baiwu spat out saliva, held onto the White Bird, and was prepared to fight. It was true that she couldn’t kill Zhang Qianlin, but she could hurt him and it’d increase the chances for Sun Mo victory. In her mind, that would be enough. “Teacher won’t lose!”

  Lu Zhiruo was very angry. Where did this guy get his confidence from?

  “Before I kill Sun Mo, you guys have about five more minutes to consider!”

  Zhang Qianlin stood on the altar and looked down upon Sun Mo from a height. As the corners of his lips curled up into a smile, he exerted force in his legs.

  Swoosh!

  Zhang Qianlin was like an arrow that had left the bow, shooting out toward Sun Mo. In a blink, he appeared before Sun Mo.

  A hint of cold gleam appeared and pierced at Sun Mo’s forehead.

  The most effective battle technique was to attack Li Ziqi and force Sun Mo to save her. However, Zhang Qianlin felt that he was strong enough, so he didn’t care to use such methods.

  (If I’m going to win, I’ll defeat you fair and square.)

  Swoosh!

  Sun Mo dodged with a flash and appeared beside Zhang Qianlin, slashing his wooden blade down.

  Colors of Autumn!

  “What?”

  Zhang Qianlin was surprised. How could Sun Mo’s speed be so fast? It was so fast to the extent that Zhang Qianlin almost couldn’t see it clearly. He instinctively wanted to dodge, but when that blade came slashing down, he had a feeling that it was unavoidable.

  Right now, Zhang Qianlin felt as if he was standing on a grass plain that was about to turn yellow. The autumn vibe before his eyes was very intense, pressing down overwhelmingly. “What technique is this?”

  Zhang Qianlin had no other way but to take it head-on.

  Clank!

  The wooden blade and sword clashed and the immense counteracting force caused Zhang Qianlin’s wrist to feel a little numb. His initial plan was to take the chance to counterattack, but Sun Mo’s next attack had come slashing down.

  Golden Jade Hibiscus!

  Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

  A golden hibiscus bloomed before his eyes. The flower petals were formed from blade shadows, as if they were going to slash him up into minced meat.

  Zhang Qianlin backed off and then saw the blade’s tip gushing down like a heavy rainstorm toward him.

  Ding! Ding! Ding! Zhang Qianlin did his best to block the attack, but a blade suddenly brushed past his sword and pierced at his throat.

  “This is bad!”

  Zhang Qianlin erupted with brute force. He used his sword to flip the wooden blade while turning his head at the same time. However, at this moment, the wooden blade was like a venomous snake hunting for food. It twisted mysteriously, caught up to him, and tapped his forehead.

  Pa!

  Zhang Qianlin leaned backward and felt an intense pain to his head. This caused him to feel a terrifying fear. If he hadn’t dodged fast enough, his head would have exploded from this attack.

  “Teacher, go for it!” Lu Zhiruo cheered him on.

  “That mustn’t do. I must counterattack. Otherwise, I’ll lose.”

  Zhang Qianlin didn’t expect that Sun Mo’s battle prowess was so great. He didn’t dare to hold back anymore. He performed his ultimate attacks, twisting his body and dodging the wooden blade precariously, getting closer to Sun Mo.

  Zhang Qianlin’s assessment was very accurate. Sun Mo’s cultivation art was very amazing and could be a saint-tier one. Moreover, his body was also terrifyingly powerful. Zhang Qianlin wouldn’t be able to defeat him by facing his attacks head-on.

  Sun Mo was using a wooden blade and going by this fact, Zhang Qianlin should have an advantage. However, this wasn’t the case at all. “If Teacher were to use a steel blade, that guy would have been slain!

  Ying Baiwu pouted. “He’s almost fallen to a wooden blade!” Li Ziqi smiled.

  a

  w

  Zhang Qianlin drew out the dagger from the back of his waist, wanting to pierce Sun Mo’s chest. However, Sun Mo’s left fist punched out one step earlier.

  Bang!

  Zhang Qianlin’s left face received a firm punch, and he was almost in a daze from the impact.

  Pa!

  Sun Mo grabbed Zhang Qianlin’s left hand and then leaped up. His knees attacked in succession, colliding into Zhang Qianlin’s body.

  Bang! Bang! Bang! Zhang Qianlin flew increasingly higher, instantly surpassing Sun Mo’s head. However, before he landed, Sun Mo suddenly leaped again. He raised his right leg high and performed an ax kick on Zhang Qianlin’s head.

  Bang!

  Zhang Qianlin’s head smashed fiercely onto the ground. Blood spurted out very far from his mouth and nose.

  “Huh?”

  The three girls were stunned. What kind of attack was this? They had never seen it before! However, it was filled with violent beauty.

  Zhang Qianlin was angry and anxious. He had received formal martial arts guidance since young and hadn’t met an opponent like Sun Mo who defied conventional thinking. He would use fists, legs, elbows, and knees, anything that he could put to use.

  Zhang Qianlin had initially been wary against Sun Mo’s wooden blade and hand, so he hadn’t expected Sun Mo to be sending out his knee.

  The most important thing was that Sun Mo’s explosive prowess was very strong. Zhang Qianlin had seen it, but before he could react, he had been struck.

  How the hell was he supposed to defend like this?