Eternal Life: My Talents Can Refresh

Chapter 379 - 190: Why Don’t You Go In

"A very powerful demon beast?"

Upon hearing Ling Xiaobai’s description, Chu Ning immediately halted, pretending to curiously survey the surroundings.

Simultaneously, he began to communicate with Ling Xiaobai.

Being noticed, Chu Ning didn’t even use telepathy at that moment.

Luckily, after signing the Life Contract with Ling Xiaobai, they could communicate without telepathy.

As long as they concentrated their intentions, they could sense each other’s thoughts.

"What level is the demon beast?" Chu Ning asked calmly.

At this moment, Ling Xiaobai’s emotions fluctuated.

"Very strong, at least above Fifth Level. That oppressive aura makes me very uncomfortable."

Upon hearing this, Chu Ning was greatly shocked.

A demon beast above Fifth Level is equivalent to a Core Formation Cultivator.

How could such a powerful demon beast exist in the Thousand Lakes and Thousand Islands?

Even if it did, with the Chen Family’s highest cultivation of a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator, they couldn’t control it.

"I’ve sensed it..."

Just then, Ling Xiaobai suddenly spoke again.

"It’s the beast that appeared previously in the Cyan Creek Sect."

"Black Fire Vulture-winged Crow!" Chu Ning’s heart was greatly alarmed.

The powerful demon beast that appeared in the Cyan Creek Sect was undoubtedly the Black Fire Vulture-winged Crow of the Yin Demon Sect.

It’s the symbol of the Yin Demon Sect, and it’s not Fifth Level; it’s a Sixth Level demon beast equivalent to the Middle Stage of Golden Core!

"Yin Demon Sect!"

Chu Ning lightly uttered these three words in his heart.

He suddenly recalled an event.

A few years ago in the Iron Meteorite Forest, he once saw the corpse of Chen Xinming.

Back then, Chu Ning thought Chen Xinming had used some secret technique that caused significant essence blood depletion.

Now, in hindsight, it was clearly the same as the Yin Demon Sect disciples he had seen before.

It was the side effect of taking the Blood Evil Pill.

"So, the Chen Family is affiliated with the Yin Demon Sect, and Chen Xinming was even a Yin Demon Sect disciple.

Back then, Chen Xinming encountered Song Li, took the Blood Evil Pill to make a desperate attempt, but was ultimately subdued by Song Li."

This made Chu Ning quickly understand what had happened then.

This undoubtedly caused his gaze to flicker with uncertainty.

Clearly, this so-called Thousand Islands contest is naturally connected to the Yin Demon Sect.

Although Chu Ning didn’t yet know the purpose of the Yin Demon Sect’s convening of so many Foundation Establishment Cultivators under the guise of the Chen Family and the Thousand Islands Alliance.

But it’s certainly not a good thing.

The existence of the Sixth Level demon beast instilled deep dread in Chu Ning’s heart.

No matter what means he has, he doesn’t dare to claim he’ll escape from a beast equivalent to the Middle Stage of Golden Core Cultivator.

Moreover, since the Yin Demon Sect has dispatched the Black Fire Vulture-winged Crow, it surely doesn’t lack Golden Core Cultivators.

Without any change in his expression, Chu Ning began to look around, quickly pondering escape strategies in his mind.

"Elder Chu, there’s a designated spot within the venue, and many other Foundation Establishment elders have already arrived.

Please, Elder..."

Beside him, seeing Chu Ning standing outside the small venue for a long time without moving, Chen Qingyou reminded him.

Chu Ning didn’t turn to look but responded unhurriedly:

"I know, you go first, I’ll take a look outside here.

I’ll also look for other familiar Daoists."

Chen Qingyou wanted to say something further, but Chu Ning had already walked briskly towards another cultivator.

Seeing this, Chen Qingyou glanced at a Foundation Establishment Cultivator outside the venue.

The latter shook his head, and Chen Qingyou did not follow but turned away.

Chu Ning has stayed in Yanfeng for years cultivating, knowing few cultivators.

Surprisingly, he just met one now.

Chu Ning approached a short cultivator.

"Fellow Daoist Gongsun, long time no see!"

This person was none other than the Beilin Island Island Lord, Gongsun Lang, whom Chu Ning defeated during the Thousand Islands contest.

Back then, he was in Qi Refining Perfection, but now, eight years on, he had also succeeded in Foundation Establishment.

Gongsun Lang recognized Chu Ning too, and a trace of peculiarity flashed in his eyes.

"It’s you, Fellow Daoist Chu, indeed it’s been years.

I’ve long heard of Fellow Daoist Chu’s quick success in Foundation Establishment, which indeed makes me feel ashamed.

After succeeding in Foundation Establishment, I thought about challenging Fellow Daoist again.

But thinking I’d surely be unable to match you, I didn’t dare to make a fool of myself."

Chu Ning laughed upon hearing this.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Gongsun, no need for such modesty. I used some means back then to hide my cultivation.

Please forgive me, Fellow Daoist."

Gongsun Lang, although defeated by Chu Ning then, knew Chu Ning’s retained skills, thus was still polite to him.

The two chatted casually.

Initially, Gongsun Lang was already some distance from the venue, and under Chu Ning’s deliberate guidance, their conversation led them to move intermittently.

Gradually, not only did they not enter the venue, they even moved some distance away.

Approximately twenty zhang away.

Chu Ning intended to continue increasing the distance.

"Fellow Daoists, please enter the venue and take a seat.

Our discussion before the Thousand Islands contest is about to begin."

At this moment, a voice rang, clearly reaching everyone’s ears.

It was the Chen Family Patriarch, Chen Jiasheng, standing in the array, calling to everyone.

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Lang said with a smile:

"Fellow Daoist Chu, shall we go?"

Chu Ning smiled, shaking his head, "Fellow Daoist Gongsun, please go ahead, I’ll follow later."

Gongsun Lang heard this and looked at Chu Ning with some curiosity, but did not ask further, and cupped his hands as he headed towards the small arena.

Chu Ning started to walk towards the outer area.

Among the crowd, Chu Ning was moving in the opposite direction, making him slightly noticeable.

Thus, Chu Ning quickly found a Divine Sense locked onto him.

Sensing the strength of this Divine Sense, Chu Ning’s face remained calm, but his heart became unsettled once again.

"A Golden Core Cultivator?"

At this moment, he could clearly feel that the direction from which the Divine Sense emanated was behind the small arena.

Judging by the distance, it obviously exceeded the range of a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator’s Divine Sense.

This could only mean one thing: a Golden Core Cultivator.

Chu Ning immediately quickened his pace.

"Fellow Daoist Chu!"

Just then, two figures appeared before Chu Ning.

One of them was Chen Jiarong, who had just been welcoming guests outside, while the other was a middle-aged scholar whom Chu Ning felt unfamiliar with.

"Our meeting is about to commence, why is Fellow Daoist Chu heading out?"

Chu Ning lightly shook his head and said:

"I have always been indifferent to the affairs within the Thousand Islands Alliance. No matter what decision is made, I will support it. As for this meeting, I won’t attend."

Chen Jiarong still had a smile on his face, chuckling as he said:

"Fellow Daoist Chu, that’s not right. The matter being discussed today concerns each and every cultivator of the Thousand Lakes and Thousand Islands. Why not listen in?"

Chu Ning did not respond directly but instead turned his gaze to the middle-aged cultivator beside him.

"This Fellow Daoist is unfamiliar to me, may I know which isle you are from?"

The middle-aged scholar glanced at Chu Ning indifferently.

"I have just entered the Thousand Lakes and Thousand Islands and do not belong to any isle yet."

"No wonder," Chu Ning nodded gently and then suddenly asked:

"Why is Fellow Daoist not entering the arena then?"

The two seemed unprepared for Chu Ning’s sudden question.

For a moment, silence prevailed, and neither responded.

After a while, the middle-aged scholar finally spoke:

"I have just arrived at the Thousand Lakes and Thousand Islands, naturally lacking the qualification to participate in such an important event."

"Oh..." Chu Ning replied, his tone peculiar, and neither could guess his true intent.

Meanwhile, as Chu Ning was blocked by the two, most others had already entered the arena.

In Chen Chengzong’s ear, a hoarse voice sounded.

"Is everyone here?"

Chen Chengzong’s face revealed a hint of difficulty as he watched the three outside the arena engaged in conversation.

He also replied through Telepathy:

"There’s one cultivator still lingering outside the arena for unknown reasons.

My son and the senior’s talented disciple have already gone to persuade him."

"No need to wait, having enough Foundation Establishment Cultivators is sufficient, lacking one makes little difference.

Once the array is activated, deal with that person later."

The hoarse voice sounded again.

Upon hearing this, Chen Chengzong stood up, smiling as he said:

"Dear Fellow Daoists, gathering all of you here marks a grand event for our Thousand Lakes and Thousand Islands.

To ensure the meeting proceeds smoothly without interruption, let us now activate the array."

Chen Chengzong’s words drew everyone’s attention, and over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators looked over.

Clearly, there was a strong curiosity about the Thousand Islands Alliance’s intentions.

However, no one voiced any objection.

Activating an isolation array is a fairly standard procedure.

At this moment, Chen Chengzong waved his hand, and nearly twenty cultivators appeared around the small arena.

The scene seemed pre-arranged, with these twenty-plus individuals each taking out an Array Banner and, while casting a Spell, biting their fingers to spray blood onto the banners.

Instantly, columns of blood-colored light rose from around the arena.

The entire arena was enveloped in a faint blood-red glow.

This unusual scene naturally drew everyone’s eyes.

Cen Wenquan, who had been sitting on the high platform all along, suddenly stood up in alarm.

"Blood Evil Yin Demon Array!"

Cen Wenquan exclaimed in shock.

"Chen Chengzong, what are you doing?"

"It’s admirable how Patriarch Cen recognized the array so easily."

Chen Chengzong laughed heartily; he and Chen Jiasheng were somehow outside the array.

Hearing Chen Chengzong’s confirmation, Cen Wenquan’s face grew increasingly grim.

Bai Heng, Huo Zhenshan, and others also realized something was amiss, and everyone stood up.

"Nephew Wen, what is happening?"

Bai Heng asked, but before Cen Wenquan could answer, a voice sounded above everyone.

"Heh heh! Well done, excellent!"

Immediately, the crowd turned their eyes to the sky, and their expressions changed drastically.

Above the array, an enormous bird-shaped demon beast slowly emerged.

This demon beast was entirely black, without a single speck of impurity, resembling a giant crow.

With blood-red eyes, it gazed at the cultivators below, filled with greed and murderous intent.

And on its broad back stood a small, skinny old man clad in black robes.

Yet his presence was astonishing, and the strange laughter came from his mouth.

Clearly, he was the one who spoke earlier.

The presence of this man and beast imparted a tremendous sense of oppression to everyone.

"A Golden Core Cultivator!"

"A Sixth Level Demon Beast!"

Suddenly, cries of alarm echoed throughout.