I Pick up a Lost Godhood

Chapter 141 - 139: Demon Cultivator Lair

The Hall wasn’t limited to a single path; it had Sword Cultivators, Talisman Cultivators, and Body Cultivators. The most representative figure of that generation was the lawless Wu Fatian. He was quite the outlier. Famous for his arrogance in his youth, such a personality was usually found among Body Cultivators, or maybe a Sword Cultivator. But he, a Talisman Cultivator, always loved to charge into the fray. A classic rebel, he almost transferred to another Sub-Hall when things got heated. But in the end, something unknown occurred. Although Wu Fatian’s personality never changed, he came to understand Lingyin Hall’s traditions, ultimately achieving great things and becoming one of the six Ancestral Masters.

For the historically illustrious Lingyin Hall, Wu Fatian was truly the most unique of its Ancestral Masters.

Wang Meng and the others had been invited, and this was their first time on Lingyin Peak. Although the Holy Hall encouraged communication between Sub-Halls, the truth was that unless there was a special festival or event, the Sub-Halls remained clearly distinct. This was especially true for a place like Lingyin Hall, which didn’t serve a special purpose like Hundred Herbs Hall or Beast Hall. Dao Guang Hall, on the other hand, was an object of admiration; even those who couldn’t get in would sometimes go just to have a look.

But Lingyin Hall was the outlier. Everyone knew it was powerful, yet few ever thought of visiting. They gave off a sense of being detached and otherworldly.

This was the first time Hu Jing and the others had been to Lingyin Peak. It was indeed different from the hustle and bustle of the other Sub-Halls. The atmosphere here was much gentler, the disciples smiled often, and everyone was busy with their own tasks in a very orderly manner.

After a brief tour of Lingyin Hall, the group got down to business. The Teleportation Array was set up inside Lingyin Pavilion. With the Teleportation Talisman already activated, everyone stood within the array. Spirit Stones were placed in the center; once initiated, the array would absorb their Elemental Power and teleport everyone inside.

Mingren stood in the center of the formation, serving as its anchor.

"Everyone, please remember the rules. If anything unexpected happens, use your Escape Talisman immediately. Do not lose it."

Mingren said with a smile. There shouldn’t be any problems, but just in case, the instructions had to be made clear.

The Teleportation Array had an upper limit of twenty people. Besides Wang Meng’s group, everyone else was from Lingyin Hall.

The pile of Spirit Stones flared brilliantly as the array activated. Elemental Power instantly flooded the Teleportation Array, and a flash of white light from within it filled the entire room.

In an instant, everyone vanished, leaving only the faintly glowing array on the floor.

With a flash of light, Wang Meng landed steadily. The experience felt both new and familiar at the same time.

Wang Meng surveyed his surroundings. He was encircled by tall shrubs, obscuring his view of the wider area. The Elemental Qi here, however, was far richer than outside; he felt his whole body surge with strength.

’This Talisman really is something else.’ But it was also unexpected. There was no one else around him.

’Looks like we were all scattered. This Teleportation Array can only bring people in, but it can’t keep them together... The creator was probably either a loner or just really bad at this.’

According to the Talisman’s markings, this was a Secret Realm restricted to those below the Thirtieth Layer of Elemental Power. While not particularly useful to those at the Elder Level, it was a priceless treasure for disciples. When Mingren had described the Secret Realm, Wang Meng realized they weren’t actually short on Spirit Stones—they were simply repaying a favor.

’I have to say, in this life or my last, I’ve always hated dense forests and getting lost!’

Wang Meng used Sword Control to fly into the air and scan his surroundings. All he could see was a dense, seemingly endless forest. The entire Secret Realm was dimly lit.

In any case, such abundant Vitality at least meant the Secret Realm was quite stable and perfectly suited for Cultivation.

’I didn’t expect to be separated, but in a situation like this, the meeting point must be the ruins. Since people have been here before and even set up an array, there has to be a cultivation residence somewhere.’

Wang Meng decided not to overthink it. ’Given my terrible sense of direction, I’m better off just heading in the complete opposite direction of where I think I should go.’

Deep within the dense, dark forest stood a sizable residence, but the atmosphere around it was exceptionally strange and oppressive.

Normally, ruins in a Secret Realm like this would be empty. In reality, however, numerous people in black robes were cultivating in and around the ruins.

"Master, the array just fluctuated. It seems someone has broken in through the Teleportation Array."

Several black-robed disciples entered the main hall. A middle-aged man slowly opened his eyes, a sinister glint in his red pupils. "More have delivered themselves to our doorstep. Capture them alive if you can. If not, drain their Essence Blood and Elemental Power to fuel my Blood Soul Technique."

After speaking, he closed his eyes again. In the hall stood a large, blood-red tripod. Through its semi-translucent Tripod Mirror, one could see what was being refined inside... It was human bones. The entire array pulsed with Torture Qi.

The leading black-robed disciple walked out of the hall and commanded, "Capture all of them! Don’t let a single one escape! Master’s Blood Soul Technique needs living sacrifices!"

A group of black-robed disciples rose to their feet, their faces savage. "Yes, Senior!"

The entire residence was suffused with a bloody light. Clearly, these Demon Cultivators were not practicing ordinary Magic.

Although Demon Cultivators were generally unscrupulous and cared only for their own advancement, some forms of Magic were still considered forbidden. Those who practiced them were not tolerated by Saint Cultivators or Evil Cultivators—even fellow Demon Cultivators would hunt them down. The Blood Soul Technique was one such Forbidden Magic. It used living people or fresh Essence Blood and Elemental Power as the primary ingredients, which were then refined into Pills using a special method. If a Cultivator practicing the Blood Soul Technique consumed these pills, they could directly raise their Cultivation. It normally took a person months or even longer to advance a single layer on their Life Mark. However, using the Blood Soul Technique in conjunction with Blood Soul Pills, one could advance layer by layer. It was an absolutely heaven-defying method.

Of course, someone like that was best off hiding in a secret place; otherwise, death could come in an instant. Until they reached the Minor Perfection stage, practitioners of the Blood Soul Technique had to live in hiding. A Secret Realm was, without a doubt, the perfect place for it.

Zhang Xiaojiang was dumbfounded the moment he landed. He immediately sent out his Tiger Eagle to search for Wang Meng. ’Damn it all! Master Zhang roams the Small Thousand World fearing nothing in heaven or on earth, but my number one rule is to always stay by Wang Meng’s side.’

’Safety first!’

Zhang Xiaojiang glanced around; he had no interest in finding the others. For some reason, he had a very bad feeling. ’Master Zhang is a man who trusts his gut.’ After releasing his Tiger Eagle, he immediately found a place to hide. ’Anyway, Brother Meng and the others won’t abandon me.’

Qiuqiu immediately dug a hidden burrow for Zhang Xiaojiang. The fatty squeezed inside, leaving only his eyes exposed. He suppressed his Elemental Power to the absolute minimum, seeming to vanish on the spot.

His special training was paying off. For a Bow Cultivator, it would be idiotic to think about fighting head-on duels all day. Stealth and surprise attacks were a Bow Cultivator’s true strengths.

And that wasn’t even Zhang Xiaopang’s favorite part. Wan Jing had brutally hammered patience into the fatty.

Not long after Zhang Xiaopang was hidden, a few men in black robes appeared nearby, holding Compass-like Magical Artifacts.

"Strange. I definitely sensed an Elemental Power reaction here. Why did it disappear?"

"Could they have spotted us and hidden?"

"Possibly. Search! Scour every inch of this place. We can’t let a single one escape, or we’ll be the next ingredients!"

The disciples shuddered, but their eyes only grew wilder.

Hu Jing sensed something was wrong the moment she landed. She hadn’t expected the Teleportation Array to scatter them randomly. Though the Teleportation Talisman hadn’t specified, the default was usually a fixed destination.

Hu Jing didn’t dare to wander. She sent out her Little Spirit Fox, which returned shortly after. The news it brought made her heart sink.

’Someone’s already here, and they’re Demon Cultivators. This isn’t going to end peacefully. If we’d run into Saint Cultivators, we could have just greeted each other, discussed how to proceed, and either shared the place or settled it with a duel. With Evil Cultivators, we might have just had to fight to establish dominance. But Demon Cultivators...’

The worst part was that everyone was scattered, making the situation completely unclear. Hu Jing sent the spirit fox to find the others and warn whoever it could find.

Hu Jing herself stayed put. Acting rashly without confirming the enemy’s identity and strength would be suicide.

Liuu Mei and Zhou Qian were lucky enough to land near each other and quickly found one another with a Messenger. However, their luck ran out just as quickly. A group of Demon Cultivators found them, and a vicious fight broke out.

The Demon Cultivators’ Elemental Power levels were varied, but the weakest was at the Fifteenth Layer, while the strongest were over the twentieth. Their Skill Techniques were crude, however, and they relied on overwhelming numbers and raw Elemental Power in their fierce assault.

"They’re Saint Cultivators! Capture them alive! The Master will surely reward us generously!"

The group of Demon Cultivators grew excited. Not just anyone was worthy of a Blood Soul Pill. If they could capture a Holy Cultivation Disciple alive for their master, they would surely be rewarded with one.

As Fire Talismans rained down, Zhou Qian couldn’t help but give a bitter smile. ’What kind of fucking dogshit luck is this? I really thought my fortune had turned, that I was finally changing my destiny, but the first time I venture out, I run into Demon Cultivators. And judging by how insane they are, they must be the kind that practice Forbidden Magic. Shit.’

"Senior Sister Liuu, you go! I’ll cover our retreat!"

"We leave together or not at all!"

Liuu Mei instantly threw four Fire Talismans and a Lock Demon and Trap Demon Formation. While Technique Cultivators lacked offensive power, they had the most defensive options. These Demon Cultivators were mostly just hurling simple spells with poor fundamentals, so for the moment, they couldn’t break through.

Zhou Qian saw the situation clearly; they would both be finished if this kept up. "Senior Sister Liuu, we have to split up! If you can’t hold on, use the Escape Talisman! I’m a man, but if a beautiful woman like you falls into their hands... you know what will happen!"

Liuu Mei shuddered, nearly getting hit by a wave of Sword Qi. "We’ll break out separately!"

Zhou Qian let out a sudden roar, and a line of Bursting Fire Talismans appeared around him. But the Demon Cultivators gave him no time to unleash them. Sword Qi and their own Fire Talismans rained down, forcing Zhou Qian to scramble and roll away. Three of his Bursting Fire Talismans hit the ground, blasting up a cloud of dust as he yelled, "Run!"

"Chase them! Don’t let a single one escape, especially the woman!"

Capturing a Saint Cultivator beauty like her for the Master would be a meritorious deed!

The group of Demon Cultivators, as if they’d been shot up with stimulants, launched their Magical Artifacts and flying swords in hot pursuit.

Afraid the entire group would chase after Liuu Mei, Zhou Qian deliberately paused and tossed out another Bursting Fire Talisman before running.

He cursed his rotten luck. ’What the hell is this godforsaken place? It’d be one thing if Lingyin Hall got themselves into this mess, but why the hell did they have to drag us along?’

(Author’s Note: I played some basketball yesterday and realized I can only wriggle now. I’m too fragile for this...) (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)