Chapter 142: Passing The Labyrinth
The labyrinth stretched before them, a seemingly endless network of twisting passages and towering rock formations. The air crackled with a sense of danger, a constant reminder of the formidable traps and hidden guardians that awaited them. The silence, occasionally broken by the rustle of unseen creatures, only amplified the tension.
Wang Li followed discreetly, maintaining a comfortable distance. He watched in fascination as the Jade Lotus Palace cultivators encountered the first trap.
A hidden pressure plate triggered a deafening roar, and from the depths of the labyrinth, a horde of ravenous beasts surged forward – their eyes glowing with predatory hunger.
Palace Mistress Jiu Lan, the picture of calm amidst the chaos, raised a hand.
Frost crackled in the air as she unleashed a devastating ice blast, freezing the beasts in their tracks before shattering them into shimmering shards. However, the sheer number of beasts threatened to overwhelm even her formidable power.
Seeing her struggle, Liu Xue, her eyes flashing with determination, let out a rallying cry. “Sisters! Elders! We must stand together! Form a defensive circle and unleash your techniques!”
Inspired by their fearless leader, the Jade Lotus Palace disciples responded with a surge of energy.
Elder Zhu Xinyu, a seasoned cultivator with a mastery of fire, unleashed a torrent of flames that singed the fur of the beasts closest to the front line.
The younger disciples, wielding enchanted fans and shimmering silks, created a whirlwind of wind and ice shards that further hindered the beasts’ advance.
The combined might of the Jade Lotus Palace cultivators proved too much for the beasts. One by one, they fell, their frozen bodies littering the cavern floor.
With the immediate threat neutralized, the disciples, panting but triumphant, turned their attention to the spoils.
Under Liu Xue’s watchful eyes, they meticulously collected the beast cores, a valuable source of cultivation energy, along with the beasts’ fur, teeth, and skin – all precious materials that could be used for crafting powerful talismans and weapons.
Wang Li, observing from the shadows, couldn’t help but be impressed.
While Palace Mistress Jiu Lan’s initial attack had been decisive, it was the combined effort and resourcefulness of the disciples, led by Liu Xue’s unwavering spirit, that had secured their victory.
However, while Wang Li admired their resilience, a cynical part of him couldn’t help but view them as unwitting scouts. He could use their struggles to learn the placement of traps and guardians without expending any of his own energy.
Wang Li clung to the shadows as the Jade Lotus Palace group navigated the labyrinth’s treacherous depths. He followed closely, careful not to get too close.
Contacting Liu Xue, as tempting as it may be, was out of the question. He couldn’t risk alerting Palace Mistress Jiu Lan to his presence. This delicate balance between observation and anonymity was key to his plan.
As they ventured deeper, a sense of unease settled over the entire group, even the usually composed Palace Mistress Jiu Lan.
The labyrinth seemed endless, a tangled maze of identical corridors that split and interconnected in an infuriatingly symmetrical pattern. Each path offered a choice – two or more tunnels branching out, each further dividing into a seemingly endless web of possibilities.
Marking walls proved futile – they’d find themselves circling back to the same spot, having traversed different routes each time.
This intricate design, a testament to the Mystic Beastmaster Saint’s ingenuity, was a feat of pure architectural mastery that relied on its complex layout to confound even the most seasoned cultivators.
The air grew stagnant, thick with exhaustion and frustration. The beauty that initially adorned the Jade Lotus Palace disciples had waned, replaced by furrowed brows and weary sighs.
Even their vibrant attire seemed to lose its luster in the dimness of the labyrinth.
Palace Mistress Jiu Lan maintained her composure, but a flicker of worry clouded her usually serene eyes. Whispers of doubt began to ripple through the group.
“How long have we been walking?” one disciple muttered, her voice barely a whisper.
“It feels like hours,” another replied, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow.
Elder Zhu Xinyu, her fire magic flickering faintly, spoke up, her voice heavy with worry, “It seems we’re trapped in an endless loop. Are we destined to wander this labyrinth forever?”
Liu Xue tried to rally the group. “Don’t lose hope, sisters! We will find the way out. We just need to be more…strategic.”
But a seed of doubt had been sown.
Wang Li, however, observed with keen eyes. He noticed a pattern, a subtle shift in the air pressure as they approached certain junctions.
Was the path not simply a matter of choosing the correct direction, but a matter of triggering specific traps?
A thrill coursed through him. The Jade Lotus Palace group, ever cautious, had meticulously avoided triggering any pressure plates, their focus solely on self-preservation. In doing so, they had unknowingly bypassed the very mechanism needed to progress.
But revealing his findings now would be a gamble. He couldn’t be sure if the solution was as simple as activating the dormant traps. He needed a test. He needed to nudge them in the right direction, figuratively and literally.
With a deep breath, Wang Li moved up. His hand shot forward, unseen and silent, and pressed down on a hidden pressure plate. The cavern floor trembled as a thunderous roar echoed through the labyrinth. A horde of ferocious beasts, awakened from their slumber, emerged from a hidden tunnel.
Panic surged through the Jade Lotus Palace group. But they were seasoned cultivators, their training honed through years of discipline. Palace Mistress Jiu Lan reacted swiftly, her hand outstretched, a wave of frost engulfing the beasts, momentarily halting their advance.
“Elders! Disciples!” Liu Xue’s voice rang out, clear and unwavering. “This is a test! We must not shy away from the challenges! Form your positions!”
Inspired by their leader’s spirit, the disciples rallied. They fought with renewed vigor, their combined attacks quickly dismantling the beast horde. Yet, even as they emerged victorious, a flicker of doubt played across their faces. Had their cautious approach hindered their progress?
Throughout the day, Wang Li repeated this tactic, triggering one trap after another. Each time the Jade Lotus Palace group would rally, their skills honed by the constant struggle. However, the path forward remained frustratingly elusive.
A sense of doubt gnawed at him. Was his theory flawed?
With a renewed sense of purpose, he began to observe the labyrinth with even keener eyes. He noticed subtle patterns, faint markings on the walls, barely discernible unless one knew what to look for.
Then, it struck him. The sequence! Perhaps, the order in which the traps were triggered held the key. He recalled the layout of the tunnels, the placement of the pressure plates. With renewed focus, he started weaving his own path, triggering traps in a specific order he meticulously planned.
The initial traps remained the same – wolves, spiders, even a pack of rabid dire rats. But as they reached the deeper sections of the labyrinth, a change occurred. The familiar rumble of triggered traps was replaced by an eerie silence.
A gasp escaped Liu Xue’s lips. “Look!” she exclaimed, pointing towards a seemingly unremarkable wall. “There’s a faint shimmer, like a hidden passage!”
Relief washed over the group, their faces lighting up with newfound hope as they noticed that wall was indeed shining a bit. It was akin to a teleportation gateway!
This wasn’t an illusion; it was the true path forward. With a newfound sense of purpose, they cautiously stepped through the shimmering wall, disappearing from sight.
Wang Li, watching from the shadows, couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. He had played a dangerous game, but it had paid off. The first obstacle was conquered, but he knew the dangers were far from over. The true challenge, the heart of the Mystic Beastmaster Saint’s legacy, awaited them beyond the shimmering wall.
With a deep breath, Wang Li followed the Jade Lotus Palace group through the shimmering wall, his invisibility keeping him a silent observer.
Gone was the oppressive darkness of the labyrinth; in its place stretched a vast, verdant plain bathed in an ethereal glow. Lush meadows carpeted the ground, dotted with vibrant flora and strange, crystal-like formations that pulsed with an otherworldly energy.
The beauty of the landscape, however, did little to soothe Wang Li’s rising apprehension. Unlike the labyrinth’s physical challenges, this second stage of the Mystic Beastmaster Saint’s inheritance felt far deadlier, a crucible that tested not just skill and power, but also trust and cunning.
The revelation came quickly. As the Jade Lotus Palace group marveled at their surroundings, a ripple of energy spread through the air, and figures materialized around them. The other groups who had entered the inheritance site – the Azure Peak Sect led by the stoic Sect Leader Deng, the Emerald Sea Palace led by the ever-elegant Palace Mistress Gao Ming, and even the more brutish looking cultivators from the Golden Bell Temple and Crimson Rock Sect.
But it wasn’t just the righteous sects. A sinister energy crackled through the air as figures cloaked in dark robes emerged from the shadows. Demonic cultivators! And not just a ragtag group of rogue cultivators. The insignia emblazoned on their robes told a chilling tale.
Among them were members of the White Bone Sect, notorious for their gruesome necromantic techniques; the Iron Hammer Sect, masters of forging sentient puppets; the Shadow Blade Sect, assassins who moved like phantoms; and the Blood Chain Sect, wielders of blood magic that could curdle one’s very soul.
A collective gasp escaped the righteous sects. Among the Iron Hammer Sect cultivators stood Ye Fan, the former Azure Peak Sect disciple, his face twisted into a cruel smirk. The sight of him sent a surge of hatred through the Azure Peak Sect members, their fists clenching in righteous fury. He had betrayed them, their trust, and now walked with their sworn enemies.
Wang Li, cloaked in invisibility, felt a familiar rage ignite within him. Ye Fan, the bane of his existence, the one responsible for his family’s downfall, stood within reach. A predatory glint flickered in his eyes. This inheritance site wouldn’t just grant him access to the Mystic Beastmaster Saint’s legacy, it would also present him with the perfect opportunity to exact his revenge.
Suddenly, a booming voice resonated across the entire plains, silencing the murmurs and gasps. It was an ancient voice, imbued with power and authority – the residual spirit of the Mystic Beastmaster Saint.
The spirit boomed, “Welcome, cultivators, to the Trial of the Slaughter! For the next seven days, you will be tested on your prowess in the art of killing.”
A nervous murmur rippled through the crowd. A young cultivator from the Azure Peak Sect, his voice barely a whisper, asked, “Elder Zhu, what exactly do we have to kill?”
Elder Zhu, a grizzled veteran with a long, gray beard, scanned the desolate landscape with a grim expression. “Desolate beasts,” he muttered. “Creatures native to this harsh world.”
The spirit continued, its voice echoing across the plains, “Your task is to slay these beasts as ruthlessly and efficiently as possible. The laws of this world will meticulously record every kill, a number displayed directly on your palms.”
A cultivator from the Emerald Sea Palace, her voice laced with apprehension, piped up, “How will the points be calculated?”
The spirit’s voice turned cold, “The rarity or the strength of the beast including its bloodline strength, or the cultivation base would be used as the basis to determine the points you gain after killing a beast. The methods used for the kill are irrelevant.”
At this moment, Palace Mistress Jiu Lan asked, “What if someone steals a kill? Who will get the kill points in that case?”
The spirit responded promptly, “The individual who killed the beast in the end.”
A collective gasp escaped the crowd.
A muscular cultivator from the Iron Hammer Sect, his face breaking into a cruel grin, asked, “What about humans? Will we get any points if we kill humans?”
The spirit responded calmly, “Slaying a human will grant half of the victim’s accumulated points to the killer!”
A wave of anger and disgust washed over the righteous sects. Sect Master Deng of the Azure Peak Sect, his face thunderous, bellowed, “This is barbaric! This is not a trial, it’s a slaughterhouse!”
The spirit remained unfazed. “These are the rules. You are free to accept them or be eliminated.”
The righteous sects exchanged worried glances. They were trapped. There was no turning back.
Meanwhile, the demonic sects erupted in cheers. These rules were tailor-made for them. They reveled in the prospect of bloodshed and the chance to steal the hard-earned points of the righteous cultivators. This wasn’t just a trial; it was a battlefield where their ruthless tactics could be unleashed without restraint.
Wang Li, however, remained unfazed by the chaos. He knew this stage played to his strengths. His invisibility would be a valuable asset, allowing him to stalk his prey and strike with surgical precision. He also possessed exceptional talent in beast taming, a skill that could potentially turn the tide in his favor. This grueling trial would be a test of strength, cunning, and survival – a game that Wang Li was well-prepared to play.
