Free Web NovelChapter 257: Chapter 244: Ancient Demon Nether Dao
The Dark Gold Cold Stream was the first trial of the Demon Saint Ruins. This was the very place where Baihua Xiu had once wandered and picked up leaves from the Nine-Heart Demon Fruit Tree.
A band of golden water, like liquid mercury, lay above a circular mountain range. To enter the mountains, one had to pass through this stream.
Even before they drew near, an intense chill radiated from the stream. It was a cold so profound that even an Ultimate Venerable Powerhouse would likely be frozen solid if they fell in.
"This mountain range is connected to the malevolent energy of the seabed. This Dark Gold Cold Stream is formed from it. The water never freezes, but its temperature is low enough to turn even Demon Beasts with the strongest Defense into corpses! Look!"
Mu Qing murmured, her elegant brows furrowed as she pointed.
Following her finger, Nie Yun saw piles of white bones beneath the Dark Gold Cold Stream—all that remained of Demon Beasts that had mistakenly entered.
These remains still had their flesh and blood, preserved like ice sculptures. The marrow within their bones was frozen, as hard as stone.
’It looks like these Demon Beasts died a violent death after their bones froze first, followed by their blood. The Dark Gold Cold Stream is truly terrifying!’ Nie Yun’s expression turned grim.
Normally, when freezing to death, the process goes from the outside in, with a gradual loss of consciousness. But in the Dark Gold Cold Stream, the marrow freezes first, then the blood, from the inside out. No matter how powerful one was, it was impossible to guard against!
"Everyone, we’ve come here together. Dangerous places naturally require someone to brave them. This Dark Gold Cold Stream is exceedingly dangerous. Going in is a near-certain death. I will go first and clear a path for all of you!"
Just as everyone was lost in thought, Qii Yang suddenly let out a long cry, his voice booming.
"Hm? You’re going?" Nie Yun was taken aback.
’I haven’t known this Qii Yang for long, but I can tell he’s a selfish person. How could he be so fearless, stepping forward for everyone’s safety?’
’Something’s not right!’
"That’s right. The Demon Saint Ruins are fraught with peril. If we all rush in, a single misstep could lead to our entire party being wiped out. The only way forward is for someone to make a sacrifice, to find a way to open a path and protect everyone. As your leader, it is my duty!" frёeωebɳovel.com
Qii Yang said, holding his head high.
"This..."
’Hearing his speech, so full of righteousness, I can’t find anything wrong with it. Could I have misjudged him? Is this Qii Yang actually an upright gentleman?’
’But the moment that thought appeared, I dismissed it. If this guy is a gentleman, he can only be a hypocrite!’
"I’ll go in first. Once I’ve opened a path, everyone follow close behind me!"
Seeing the strange looks on everyone’s faces, Qii Yang laughed, then leaped out of Ouyang Cheng’s defensive barrier. He plunged into the ocean’s depths, simultaneously forming a True Qi Ball in front of him. A ring of scorching flames then materialized out of thin air, encircling the ball.
The flames were very strange, continuing to blaze fiercely even under the pressure of the seawater.
’Rootless Void Fire? So he has a treasure like that. No wonder he was so quick to volunteer...’
’Rootless Void Fire is a type of natural fire from heaven and earth that can burn even in water. Surrounded by these flames, one is unaffected by cold, repelling any chill. It’s the perfect counter to the Dark Gold Cold Stream. It seems that after failing to enter the stream last time, Qii Yang went back specifically to find this.’
SPLASH!
Shrouded in the Rootless Void Fire, Qii Yang strode into the Dark Gold Cold Stream. The mercury-like current immediately parted to form a channel, as if it dared not confront the flames.
"Let’s go!" Without hesitating, the group immediately followed behind Qii Yang, flying inward.
The band of water formed by the Dark Gold Cold Stream wasn’t long, only a few hundred meters. The group emerged quickly. As soon as they were clear of the stream, Qii Yang hurried back under the cover of Ouyang Cheng’s wings.
Even an Ultimate Venerable Peak Powerhouse could only survive for a dozen or so minutes under such immense water pressure. Any longer, and they would run out of breath and die on the spot.
But Ouyang Cheng could manipulate the water currents. Within the area beneath his wings, they could breathe freely. After passing through the Dark Gold Cold Stream, his importance became apparent; he was irreplaceable.
The title of Soaring Water Master, known as the supreme talent for moving through water, was certainly not an empty title.
"There really are leaves from the Nine-Heart Demon Fruit Tree here!"
After passing through the Dark Gold Cold Stream, the group arrived above the undersea mountain range. The water over the mountains churned violently, as if boiling, and leaves would occasionally float out from it.
Everyone knew the effects of these leaves, and they all reached out to grab any they saw. Nie Yun wasn’t particularly excited about it, but he casually grabbed a few and tossed them into his Dantian.
After snatching up more than a dozen leaves, the group finally swam over the mountain range and set foot on the rock.
The ’boiling’ seawater above the mountains wasn’t actually hot; the turbulence was caused by powerful currents stirred by Spiritual Qi that had gathered below.
These currents carried a strong smell of sulfur and contained a poisonous gas from the Earth Core. Even for Ultimate Venerable Powerhouses, a single breath would take half a day to neutralize, and if handled poorly, could be instantly fatal.
The earth beneath the land was of unknown thickness, containing flames, magma, various ores, treasures, and deadly poisonous gases. The Earth Core gas was one of the most common types. It was connected to the earth’s ley lines, and if inhaled, it would petrify a person’s internal organs. A weaker individual wouldn’t even be able to resist before their breathing was cut off completely.
"Brother Ouyang, we’re counting on you!"
Knowing how dangerous the currents were, Qii Yang wasted no time on words and looked toward Ouyang Cheng.
"This is simple. I’ll show you all just how formidable a Soaring Water Master is!"
Ouyang Cheng snorted coldly, the smug look on his face unmistakable. He pushed his hands forward, and the ’boiling’ seawater parted to form a path. The current containing the poisonous Earth Core gas was completely pushed to one side, while the water on the other side became as still as a dead pool.
"Incredible!"
Seeing Ouyang Cheng control the seawater tens of thousands of meters below the surface as if it were his own limbs, Muu Shengxue couldn’t help but let out an excited cry.
’As expected of a Soaring Water Master with such a special talent. He truly is powerful in the water! Leaving aside his other combat abilities, this skill of parting the waters alone would be enough to trap others, leaving them unable to escape.’
"There’s an ancient path here. If we take it, we might be safer!"
With the currents parted, the group could finally see clearly what lay beneath the ’boiling’ water. An ancient, worn path appeared before them.
The ancient path exuded a dense, sinister aura, as if it were saturated with blood. Although there were no gloomy clouds, stepping onto it still inspired waves of fear.
"The Ancient Demon Nether Dao? The Gate of Hell?"
Seeing the shock that the ancient road instilled in everyone, Qii Yang suddenly muttered to himself.
"The Ancient Demon Nether Dao? Could this Demon Saint be from the Netherworld Demon Ancient Clan? We’ve trespassed into his domain... it’ll be difficult to get out even if we want to. We’re in trouble now!"
Mu Xia seemed to recall something. A horrified expression appeared on her fair, jade-like face, and her curvaceous body trembled uncontrollably in unspeakable panic. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
