Chapter 305: Chapter 303: Open the Door
Under the might of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom’s army, none of the enslaved Martial Cultivators could resist.
They obediently fell back into line.
Amid the chaos, Jiang Chen had already led Zhan Yang, JinLing, and the others to the back of the crowd.
"Quiet! All of you, quiet! Anyone who says another word will be executed on the spot."
Po Jun’s cold gaze swept over the crowd.
Everyone trembled in fear.
Those at the very front felt as if their hearts were about to leap out of their chests.
In this atmosphere, even Martial Cultivators, with their strong mental fortitude, finally began to break down.
THUD!
A Martial Cultivator ran out, crying, and fell to his knees.
"Sir, spare me! I can’t die, I still have things I need to do."
"I’m begging you, please let me go."
Once the first person spoke up, others hesitated for a moment before also kneeling to beg for mercy.
They hoped they could escape this place.
To break free from the Fire Sparrow Kingdom’s grasp.
"Drag them inside."
Po Jun snorted coldly. With a wave of his hand, those who had begged for mercy were instantly seized and dragged into the passage.
A moment later, agonizing screams erupted.
Terrified screams echoed through the mountains.
The crowd at the back was horrified.
Even Jiang Chen felt his scalp go numb.
JinLing clutched his arm again.
She was impossibly tense.
Anyone would be afraid in the face of death.
’Utterly inhuman.’
Jiang Chen wasn’t a particularly merciful person, but he was no soulless monster either.
Seeing the Crown Prince of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom’s actions, he couldn’t remain calm.
Besides, if everyone in front of him was killed, he would be next.
Zhan Yang’s face was pale.
He clenched his fists tightly and said to Jiang Chen, "Jiang Chen, stick with me. I’ll figure something out."
It seemed he had a plan.
Jiang Chen shook his head.
’If it really comes to that, I’m not without options.’
Deep within him, the Vermilion Bird Seal surfaced in his consciousness.
’The Crown Prince of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom is definitely a practitioner of the Fire Sparrow Seal. My Vermilion Bird Seal is the complete version of it.’
’It’s the ancestor of the Fire Sparrow Seal.’
’If worst comes to worst, I’ll have to reveal myself and use the Vermilion Bird Seal to cow them.’
"It’s not our turn yet. Let’s wait."
Jiang Chen knew that all they could do now was wait for an opportunity.
"Next!"
A constant stream of agonizing screams and a low, buzzing vibration came from the passage ahead.
The entire mountain was shaking.
There were fewer than ten people left in line ahead of Jiang Chen.
After those ten, it would be his turn.
Even from out here, he could smell the thick stench of blood.
His heart sank.
Zhan Yang was in front of him, with JinLing, Niu Tuo, and Lu Beifeng behind.
They were all like lambs to the slaughter.
Just a moment ago, some had impulsively tried to flee, only to be cut down on the spot.
"Next!"
There were five Martial Cultivators ahead of Zhan Yang, each of them trembling uncontrollably.
They were terrified, knowing the fate that awaited them inside the passage.
Death was terrifying, but an unknown death was even more so.
Zhan Yang clenched his fists hard.
He seemed to be steeling himself for something.
He glanced back at Jiang Chen, JinLing, and the others.
Just as he was about to step forward...
"WAAAAH..."
Suddenly, one of the Martial Cultivators who had just been sent in was thrown back out.
The moment he was out, he burst into tears.
His face was ashen.
He looked up at the sky and wailed.
"I’m alive!"
He couldn’t believe he had survived.
"Shut up."
"Get back in line."
Po Jun barked.
The man flinched and scrambled back into the line.
After that, surprisingly, no one else was sent in.
Zhan Yang slowly unclenched his fists.
Everyone was puzzled, but they also breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed that the rest of them wouldn’t have to die in vain.
But no one dared to ask.
Inside the passage, Wen Shixuan watched the gates of the Great Divine Hall vibrate continuously, his excitement mounting.
"That should be enough."
He took out the black Jade Talisman again and walked to the gate.
The gate, having absorbed a great deal of blood, was already showing signs of loosening.
He began to chant, and the Jade Talisman in his hand started to glow with a black light.
The black light grew brighter and brighter, until it became blinding.
The next moment, Wen Shixuan pointed at the gate.
"Open for me!"
As he spoke, he activated the Jade Talisman, sending it flying toward the black gate.
At the same time, a strange and ferocious-looking skull slowly materialized on the face of the great black gate.
"Haha, it’s actually working!"
"This time, I’ll definitely be able to open the gate to the Divine Hall!"
Wen Shixuan laughed with delight.
The ferocious skull’s eyes held a cold, indifferent expression, like the Death God looking down upon all mortals.
It even glanced at Wen Shixuan and his men with an unnervingly human-like expression before its jaws slowly creaked open.
Seeing this, Wen Shixuan quickly directed the Jade Talisman straight into the skull’s mouth.
SWOOSH!
The Jade Talisman shot into the skull’s mouth.
The skull closed its mouth again.
There was a moment of silence.
VMMMM...
The jet-black gate began to vibrate violently once more.
After shaking for some time, the skull cracked down the middle.
Then, a crack appeared in the gate itself.
The two halves of the gate began to slowly part.
"AHAHAHA..."
Wen Shixuan roared with laughter.
"It’s open! It’s finally open!"
Now that the gate to the Divine Hall was open, Wen Shixuan could barely contain his eagerness to get the Black Fire.
But the gap in the gate revealed only an endless black glow, making it impossible to see what was inside.
Grand General Ming Zhe looked pleased, but he said to Wen Shixuan, "Crown Prince, it’s pitch-black in there. It’s likely extremely dangerous."
"We should proceed with caution. Let’s send those slaves in to scout first. If it’s safe, we can enter." freēwebnovel.com
Even though the gate to the Divine Hall was open, they were still worried about the dangers within.
Once again, the Martial Cultivators they had enslaved on their journey proved useful.
Wen Shixuan nodded. "Good idea. Bring them in."
The order was quickly passed down.
A short while later, Jiang Chen and the others were forced into the passage.
But when they saw the mountain of corpses inside, they knew that all the Martial Cultivators who had entered before them had been killed.
All of them had been decapitated.
’The stench of blood is so thick.’
Jiang Chen frowned, catching the nauseatingly thick stench of blood.
The smell of blood here was overwhelming.
Many of the Martial Cultivators were terrified.
They didn’t dare look at the bodies of the wrongfully slain.
Perhaps, if their luck ran out, they would be next.
"Hurry up."
Someone from behind urged them on.
Jiang Chen tapped Zhan Yang on the shoulder and said to him, JinLing, Niu Tuo, and Lu Beifeng, "In a moment, follow my lead."
"No matter what happens, don’t panic."
As he watched the gates of the Divine Hall slowly open, Jiang Chen’s heart suddenly began to pound.
He knew the Black Fire was inside.
And he had a strong, distinct feeling that this place was somehow familiar to him.
But until he went inside, he couldn’t be sure if it was the place he was thinking of.