Chapter 603: Chapter 564: Once Stars, Now Ink-Black

On the long street, the Martial Artist’s Qi Blood receded, and his True Martial Arts vanished.

The burly man who called himself Old Yue melted into the singing and dancing "crowd." Along with the others, he surrounded the sleeping youth on the stretcher, his steps unsteady as he drifted toward the other end of the long street.

As he walked, he giggled like the children in the procession.

At times, he would follow the suona-playing procession and shout, "The world is foul, and we are sinners!"

Waaail...

The suonas continued their mournful yet joyful tune as the procession passed the Vast Sea Tower Library, seemingly heading even farther down the street.

A chill shot up Song Ciwan’s spine, and her hazy mind snapped into focus.

’This... Although Heaven-Reaching City has living, native inhabitants, it also seems to be a massive Deceitful Realm!’

’During the day—or rather, when it’s light out—this place is the Mortal World. But as soon as night falls, it becomes a Deceitful Realm!’

’This isn’t just any Deceitful Realm; it’s one of an extremely high rank.’

’Small City Level?’

’Impossible. I could shatter a mere Small City Level Deceitful Realm with one hand.’

’Great City Level?’

’No, that’s still not high enough. Far from it.’

’To affect my mind and suppress my thoughts to this extent... a Great City Level Deceitful Realm wouldn’t be nearly enough.’

’And then there was Old Yue. I could tell he’s at least at the Innate Fourth Transformation! The Fourth Transformation Acupoint Fusion Realm is equivalent to the Refining Spirit Earth Immortal Realm.’

’So, is it Country-Breaking Level?’

’No... perhaps it is Country-Breaking Level, but it could even be Catastrophe Level!’

’After all, the grey-robed youth did say there are Tier Six Chaotic God Martial Artists in Heaven-Reaching City.’

’A Tier Six Chaotic God Martial Artist might have combat power comparable to a Martial Saint of the Human Race...’

’What kind of terrifying world is this?’

Since no news had ever escaped the Ancient Divine Palace, the outside world only knew that Du Xingheng and a dozen or so true disciples from various sects had entered. After them, others—both humans and demons—had sporadically broken into this place as well.

The exact count was unknown, but the total was likely substantial.

In short, group after group had broken into the Ancient Divine Palace. Their numbers were not small, and there was no shortage of experts among them.

However, there were no top-tier experts!

Whether for the Human Race or the Demon Race, combatants at the level of a True Immortal Martial Saint or a Demon Saint would not venture out lightly.

They all kept each other in check, maintaining a standoff from afar. Mobilizing any one of them would be considered a world-shaking event.

As a result, it seemed everyone had inadvertently underestimated this Ancient Divine Palace...

This place was full of profound mysteries and was exceptionally dangerous. One would have to be a True Immortal Martial Saint to come and go as they pleased.

’But so what?’

For the Ancient Divine Insect Corpses in Heaven-Reaching City and the various Huaxia characters scattered throughout, Song Ciwan knew she had not made a mistake in coming.

’Having cultivated to my level, I know to be cautious when necessary, but I also must not lose my courage when I need to be fearless!’

Song Ciwan’s heart pounded in her chest, her eyes fixed on the suona procession.

The ruckus faded into the distance with the suona procession, and the "figures" on the long street seemed completely indifferent to Song Ciwan’s presence.

’Perhaps as long as one stands on the side of the street and doesn’t charge into the crowd, they won’t be attacked or assimilated by the anomaly.’

’In a Deceitful Realm, rules supersede everything.’

Song Ciwan thought back to the various Deceitful Realms she had experienced, as well as the descriptions she had read in her research.

’Even Country-Breaking or Catastrophe Level Deceitful Realms should have rules.’

Although, Catastrophe Level Deceitful Realms were said to be mere legends and speculation. Such a realm had never definitively appeared on the Nine Provinces Land.

Thus, it was difficult to verify any information about them. However, Song Ciwan had experienced enough Deceitful Realms to know that their core mechanics should, at the very least, follow some traceable logic.

’I can’t panic. The more dangerous the situation, the calmer I must be.’

Song Ciwan circulated her Samadhi True Fire, slowly steadying her mind.

Along the street, orange-red flames still hovered on both sides, like suspended flowers of fire blooming in the darkness of the night.

The fiery blossoms didn’t illuminate much, casting light only about three feet around them. Beyond that, the darkness remained as thick as dripping ink.

Something unseen churned within the darkness.

Song Ciwan walked along one side of the street, tailing the suona procession as it receded into the distance, pursuing the aimlessly swaying figures.

This time, she didn’t use any Martial Arts Techniques, relying purely on her own two feet.

Even so, her speed was still extremely fast; it would not be difficult for her to catch the procession ahead.

The grey-robed youth, still bound by her vines, dazedly followed at her side.

A thought struck Song Ciwan, and with another wave of her hand, she flicked out two Four-star Soldier Beans.

Previously, on the Ancient Starry Road, she had been accompanied by ten Three-star Daoist Soldiers. But after entering the city, those ten Daoist Soldiers had suddenly vanished for some reason—

They hadn’t truly vanished; they had reverted to Soldier Beans on their own and returned to her hand.

Song Ciwan decided against releasing the Three-star Daoist Soldiers again. This time, she directly summoned two Four-star Daoist Soldiers.

Song Feng, the Void Escape Sword hanging at his waist, simply grabbed the dazed, grey-robed youth.

The other, a Warrior Daoist Soldier whom Song Ciwan had casually named Tie Shan, held a tower-like Magical Treasure, the Mountain Shaking Seal, and cleared the path ahead.

The party of four followed the suona procession, making their way down the street.

They passed the Vast Sea Tower Library and walked on for about another hour.

The darkness remained as thick as ink, with only the floating, orange-red lights—like the eyes of the night—suspended ethereally along both sides of the street.

Ahead, the suonas blared, a bizarre and kaleidoscopic fanfare.

At some point, living people began to rush out of the darkness.

Some of these living people, like the figures in the suona procession, ecstatically chanted, "The world is foul, and we are sinners!"

Then they rushed into the procession, and within moments, they would lose their minds and transform into wraith-like beings.

Others cried out in a frenzy, "When will the suffering of this world ever end? What joy is there in life? What is there to fear in death? If I cannot see the Holy Spirit, I would rather burn my body to cinders!"

The suonas cried out—Woooo...

The frenzied figures also rushed into the procession...

Even the grey-robed youth, restrained by Song Feng, showed signs of agitation. He seemed to want to break free of his bonds and charge into the crowd of phantoms ahead!

After another ten minutes or so, the scene ahead finally changed dramatically.

At the end of the long street, a starry sky had suddenly appeared!

It was a truly floating night sky, and the moment she saw it, Song Ciwan sensed an incomparably vast stellar power.

The power washed over her unexpectedly. With a mere thought, Song Ciwan discovered she could use her Star Cross Skill again!

Beneath the stars, nine massive bonfires blazed, laid out in the pattern of the Nine Palaces.

An uncountable number of "figures," a veritable sea of them, crowded together beneath the stars and around the bonfires.

When the suona procession arrived carrying the stretcher, a shrill voice immediately called out from the crowd of figures: "Spiral Arm, you’ve arrived. You’re late, you know. And your offering doesn’t look like much, hee hee hee..."

"Take a look at our offering..." The shrill voice said, pointing toward the center of a vast bonfire.

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