Eternal Holy Emperor
Chapter 181 - 166 Mysterious Passage

Chapter 181: Chapter 166 Mysterious Passage

This was an unbelievable scene, in the spatial portal of the Mysterious Heaven and Earth, an enormous Golden Red Sand Scorpion the size of a house crawled out. It had four pairs of eight translucent wings, its body shimmering golden as if cast from gold, appearing divine and noble.

Yet, those eyes gleamed with a blood-red luster, ominous and terrifying.

It gazed toward the oasis, and in that moment, beneath the black robe, Ye Chen also stared into the Mysterious Heaven and Earth Gate, his gaze piercing the distance of several miles to meet that of the Golden Red Sand Scorpion.

Simultaneously, the Demon Flood Dragon within his sleeve growled softly, locking eyes with the Golden Red Sand Scorpion from many miles apart.

As if sensing the scrutiny of a man and a dragon, the Golden Red Sand Scorpion let out a long, horrific, ear-piercing screech that trembled the Great Desert, causing billowing dust and changing the colors of the trial participants in the oasis.

They could feel the kind of entity the screeching Red Sand Scorpion was; it was probably at least a Martial God Realm Beast King, which filled them with horror. Even if the seven Martial God Dao Soldiers were resurrected, they might not be able to handle it.

These top 100 trial participants couldn’t fully awaken; they could only revive a small part, and Martial God Demon Beasts were often much stronger than Martial God cultivators.

Because of all this, everyone felt anxious, and some even wished that the Thirteenth Prince would invite Ye Chen to preside over them, which was both laughable and sad.

The Red Sand Scorpion King screeched, all the remaining Red Sand Scorpions boiled with energy, more ferocious than before, and once again formed a tide of beasts ready to attack, causing nearly everyone to pale with fright.

They were already exhausted from the fight and feared that continuing the battle would lead to greater problems.

Ye Chen pondered for a while, then without anyone noticing, flipped his palm, a cold white flame appeared and was flicked by his finger. It turned into lightning and shot towards the Red Sand Scorpion King dozens of miles away, too fast for anyone to see clearly.

Where the cold flame passed, it left behind frosty ice, eventually appearing before the Golden Red Sand Scorpion King.

Like encountering the most terrifying thing, the previously ferocious Golden Red Sand Scorpion King suddenly shrieked and retreated repeatedly, full of fear.

Just as everyone thought they were about to face an even more terrifying battle, all the Red Sand Scorpions suddenly retreated, falling back deep into the heart of the Great Desert and disappearing, leaving them in puzzlement but also relieved that they didn’t have to face the Red Sand Scorpion Beast Tide or the even more terrifying Red Sand Scorpion King.

Ye Chen saw the huge Golden Red Sand Scorpion King screech once and then retreated back into the portal of Mysterious Heaven and Earth, thoughtful as if understanding something.

The night faded away, the sunrise emerged, the oasis was completely leveled by the Red Sand Scorpions, the clear lakes stained with blood, filled with countless Red Sand Scorpion carcasses, carcasses everywhere, so shockingly horrific.

Numerous trial participants gasped for breath, exhausted, slumped on the ground.

There was no celebration, for the battle had been too costly; a hundred trial participants had been eliminated, and more than thirty had died, struck down by Purple Red Sand Scorpions.

It was lucky that these Purple Red Sand Scorpions had vanished; otherwise, the rate of casualties and elimination would have been even higher. However, there was something that deeply concerned everyone; the suddenness of this Red Sand Scorpion Beast Tide, with no sign whatsoever, was puzzling.

Usually, such a scale of Red Sand Scorpion Beast Tide should have some sign; but everything happened too abruptly.

It was very abnormal. Previously, they had gathered here for so long without encountering any Red Sand Scorpion attacks, but now they faced countless, incessant strikes.

If it wasn’t for the many trial participants banding together, even the top 100 trial participants, despite their strength, would have been overwhelmed.

It’s the idea that many ants can kill an elephant.

Ye Chen felt the strong Primordial Spirit fluctuations from the Demon Flood Dragon, with its innate hostility, understanding that this Red Sand Scorpion Beast Tide was likely due to the Demon Flood Dragon, targeted by the Golden Red Sand Scorpion King. However, it seemed that the Red Sand Scorpion King was extremely fearful of the cold white flame; there must be an unusual connection between the two.

On the Red Sand Desert, a dark mass covered the ground, all were Red Sand Scorpion carcasses, each the size of a palm, but before them, it looked like a mountain, sufficient to prove the dangers of the Mysterious Land.

Without even fully entering, they had encountered such terrifying danger, let alone what mortal peril might occur when truly approaching the portal of Mysterious Heaven and Earth.

The Thirteenth Prince and others only used less than half of their Primordial Energy after a battle that lasted all night; many trial participants envied them because they had the Scale Armor Golden Lion, and even if they couldn’t win, they could take flight and had nothing to fear.

Many princes and princesses were quite envious, but none dared to act rashly because these people were friends of the Crownless King Ye Chen. Who would dare attack? Little did they know Ye Chen had the audacity to eliminate all the princes and princesses of the Tianqi Empire, leaving only the Sixth Princess and the Second Prince Yangg Shaoqi who had entered the Mysterious Heaven and Earth, while the Eighth Prince Yang Jun died because of him.

The so-called backgrounds of super forces were utterly useless to him.

After a good rest, everyone had adjusted their breathing and recovered a portion of their Primordial Energy, and continued to head toward the portal of the Mysterious Heaven and Earth.

Everyone was worried that delay could lead to unforeseen change, and now was the very moment planned for departure.

After surviving the Red Sand Scorpion Beast Tide, the journey was uneventful; occasional quicksand or attacks by other Demon Beasts were easily dealt with.

As time passed, the temperature in the Great Desert soared again, with waves of heat making it unbearable, and everyone had to circulate their Cultivation Techniques to ward off this hot air.

Along the way, Ye Chen followed at the rear of the main group, even maintaining a certain distance from several friends to avoid suspicion.

An hour later, the main group arrived in front of the spatial portal to the Mysterious Heaven and Earth without incident, and many breathed a sigh of relief, finally reaching this place.

"Everyone, we’re about to enter the Mysterious Heaven and Earth," declared the Third Prince of the Jiuhua Empire loudly, "but there’s one thing I’d like to make clear here. Since the Mysterious Heaven and Earth is filled with unknown dangers, any Fellow Daoist who wishes to withdraw should do so swiftly; don’t regret it later when it’s too late."

There was a silence, clearly, no one wanted to withdraw. After investing so much time and braving many dangers, they needed to enter the Mysterious Heaven and Earth to see for themselves.

"Good, since no one wants to leave, let’s enter together. Sticking together will make us much safer."

In the end, princes and princesses of several super forces each drew out their Martial God Realm Daoist Soldiers, continuously channeling True Essence Power into them, ready to revive them in case of emergency.

"Let’s go!"

Leading the front, a few princes and princesses accompanied by many Trial Participants entered the portal, officially stepping into the Mysterious Heaven and Earth.

The scene changed abruptly, no longer the vast Red Sand Desert or the oppressive heatwave, but a dark and deep cavernous passage appeared before them, giving a chilly sensation—the complete opposite feeling.

Is this the Mysterious Heaven and Earth?

Many Trialists were puzzled because, in their understanding, the Trial World, as the name implied, was a whole new world, but what appeared before them was a mysterious passage which was truly baffling.

Looking back, there was no way to retreat, just a wall blocking the way.

The passage was quite spacious, about five zhang (approximately 50 feet) high, made of ordinary stones stacked up. It stretched into the unknown, the end was pitch dark and foreboding. Only on the walls of the passage a series of candle flames twinkle dimly, adding an even more ghastly and terrifying ambiance.

On both sides of the passage stood one after another stone soldier, each one ten feet tall, with a long spear in the right hand and a shield in the left, much like knights. However, many were covered with a thick layer of dust. Only the ones at the front were somewhat clean, but bore the marks of swords and were quite lifelike.

Ye Chen took a deep look at these stone soldiers and transmitted a message to the Thirteenth Prince and others, encouraging them to be cautious around these stone soldiers.

The Thirteenth Prince and the others quickly heightened their vigilance and also informed a few princes and princesses. However, after seeing the dust-laden stone soldiers, they all readily agreed, yet with an attitude of nonchalance, obviously not taking it to heart.

The Thirteenth Prince simply sneered in response.

The main force continued to enter one after another, more than three hundred people in total, making the spacious passage feel somewhat crowded.

Hundreds of people proceeded along the path, their dense footsteps completely shattering the silence of the quiet corridor.

"Ah—"

Suddenly, a shrill scream rose, followed by a Trial Participant being beheaded, meeting a violent death. A bright column of blood spewed from the severed neck, spreading the smell of blood throughout the corridor.

A stone soldier swung its long spear, its blade dripping with fresh blood.