Free Web NovelChapter 376: Chapter 359: Underground World
Back at the Cultivation Academy, there were plenty of things to do and no shortage of distractions. But here, cultivation was the only form of entertainment. Otherwise, you’d just be left talking to the Yellow Sand.
It was a good thing there were a lot of people. Otherwise, it was impossible to imagine how one person could survive in a godforsaken place like this. They would surely go mad.
Routine patrols were a must, and they expanded their search radius every day. There had to be something here besides sand and Sand Worms. Every dimension was the same; there was always a reason for its existence. Besides, they definitely weren’t the first group of people to be sent here.
This time, Wang Meng was on patrol with Ma Tian’Er, leading her through the air with Sword Flight.
"Tian’Er, do you feel like something’s off?" After completing a circuit, the doubt in Wang Meng’s heart grew.
"No, everything looks about the same everywhere." Although the environment was harsh, this was a place where one could live a peaceful life of cultivation without the struggles over Elemental Power.
Others practiced Cultivation for battle and for their desires, but only Ma Tian’Er treated Cultivation as a way of life.
"We’ve been through two sandstorms. I paid close attention both times, and basically nothing changed after they passed. But the day before yesterday, I blasted this spot with a few sword strikes and altered the terrain. Today, it’s back to how it was before."
"Could the wind have blown it back?" Ma Tian’Er really couldn’t see any difference.
Wang Meng shook his head. Maybe it was just his imagination. His Divine Sense was giving him a strange feeling, but for some reason, he couldn’t be certain, nor could he detect anything specific. free𝑤ebnovel.com
"Then let’s go a little farther today," Ma Tian’Er said.
"Alright. This desert has to end somewhere."
Wang Meng and Ma Tian’Er continued flying forward. Suddenly, the desert began to shift with a great RUSTLE. Wang Meng immediately brought Broken Heaven Edge to a halt.
BOOM...
A sand dune exploded, and an enormous Sand Worm shot into the sky, its earth-yellow armor glinting in the sunlight.
A look of pleasant surprise appeared on Wang Meng’s face. ’This Sand Worm is different!’
Broken Heaven Edge slashed down. BANG...
A sharp CRACK echoed from the Sand Worm’s shell. Wang Meng’s body was sent flying into the air as Ma Tian’Er’s Celestial Thunder Talisman was already striking down.
Over a dozen bolts of Thunderlight slammed directly into the Sand Worm, but it was completely unscathed. It abruptly burrowed back underground, and in an instant, the desert returned to calm.
Wang Meng and Ma Tian’Er didn’t dare let their guard down. An instant later, there was another explosive sound. Yellow Sand filled the sky as the Sand Worm spread its wings—yellow on the outside, black on the inside—and lunged at the two of them.
It was fast and vicious. Wang Meng’s Elemental Power surged as he slashed at the Sand Worm, while Ma Tian’Er blasted a Celestial Thunder Talisman straight toward its mouth.
The Sand Worm opened its mouth, its body suddenly swelling to dozens of times its original size. Wang Meng and Ma Tian’Er were delivered right into its maw.
Everything went black. They had been swallowed by the Sand Worm.
After swallowing the pair, the giant Sand Worm dove back into its sandy burrow.
Everything returned to calm.
In the darkness, they were being squeezed on all sides by fleshy walls. Wang Meng held Ma Tian’Er, bracing against the pressure. The world was spinning. He tried to use his Elemental Power, only to find it was as if it had been suppressed; he couldn’t muster any strength at all.
A searing heat began to corrode them.
Ma Tian’Er never expected to meet such a sudden disaster. ’I’m going to die... die together with Wang Meng.’ For a moment, she forgot her fear. But then a thought struck her. ’How can Wang Meng die here? Absolutely not!’
At that moment, the Sand Worm was burrowing rapidly downward, soon passing through the sand.
Deep beneath the Yellow Sand was an inconceivable underground world!
The Sand Worm spread its wings. Wang Meng’s eyes glimmered with a golden light. He held Ma Tian’Er with one arm; the feeling of being tossed about had finally passed. Although he couldn’t use his Elemental Power, his Divine Sense was completely unimpeded.
The Sand Worm, flying mid-air, suddenly began to tumble and struggle, smashing its head against the stone walls.
BOOM...
Its head exploded, and it plunged into a massive pool of water.
Wang Meng and Ma Tian’Er were also tossed about violently. They heard a SPLASH as they fell into something, but the searing heat was gone.
The force that had been crushing them also vanished. Wang Meng tried to free his hands, but something was blocking him. Thinking it was part of the Sand Worm, he gave it a push. Ma Tian’Er let out a soft moan, and Wang Meng suddenly realized he might have...
He finally managed to wrench his hands free. Sword Qi surged from between Wang Meng’s fingers; the use of his Elemental Power had finally returned to normal.
SWISH...
The Sword Qi slashed out viciously. The Sand Worm’s body, floating on the water’s surface, exploded. Wang Meng and Ma Tian’Er burst out and fell into the water.
After spending a month in the desert, seeing such a large pool of water was like a dream.
The two looked at each other and couldn’t help but burst into laughter. They had truly survived a calamity.
The water was crystal clear, and the surroundings were brightly lit as if some kind of light was filtering in. It was a completely beautiful underground world, a stark contrast to the desolate wasteland outside.
Both of them were covered in a sticky slime and were joyfully rinsing themselves off. The feeling was simply wonderful.
"Tian’Er, it seems that whenever we’re together, we always run into strange things," Wang Meng laughed, vigorously scrubbing away the sticky substance. In truth, the slime dissolved the moment it touched the water, and the few tattered pieces of cloth that had been corroded away were washed off with it. Master Wang was just using the action to cover up his own embarrassment.
Ma Tian’Er smiled faintly. She was clearly an excellent swimmer, which was completely different from Wang Meng relying on Elemental Power to stay afloat.
A body as white as jade could be seen swimming nimbly in the clear lake.
With a SPLASH, Ma Tian’Er surfaced, flinging her long, dark hair back and revealing a brilliant smile.
And in that instant, before him stood a stark-naked, Fairy-like woman. That brilliant smile was simply the most beautiful in the world.
Wang Meng was captivated...
Wang Meng pulled Ma Tian’Er into his arms, but he was in no mood to appreciate the amorous atmosphere. With a wave of his right hand, the water spun into a whirlpool, enveloping them both.
This was no longer a question of being a beast or worse than a beast. No one could possibly do *that* sort of thing while being watched.
At that moment, by the lake’s edge, two rows of white-robed people holding sharp swords had appeared. Five men and five women were staring at them with considerable hostility.
Master Wang was truly exasperated. ’What is this godforsaken place, and what other bizarre things can possibly happen?’
After changing their clothes, Wang Meng and Ma Tian’Er were led away. Although the eyes of the ten young Cultivators were filled with hostility, they were also brimming with curiosity.
The ten said nothing along the way. Wang Meng and Ma Tian’Er were stunned by the beauty of this underground world. It was lush and verdant, with abundant Elemental Power and a perfect Five Elements Balance. This was definitely a high-grade Cultivation World, perhaps not even inferior to the Great Yuan Realm. Who could have imagined that outside, under the sky of Yellow Sand, the Five Elements were so lacking?
The ten remained silent. Their strength seemed quite impressive; their Elemental Power levels should all be above the fortieth layer, and their leader was likely already at Minor Perfection.
Wang Meng squeezed Ma Tian’Er’s hand. "I have a feeling this place is very mysterious."
"Since we’re here, let’s make the best of it. Who knows, maybe something good will come of this."
Wang Meng was quite optimistic. At least these people were disciplined, like they were from one of the Renowned and Righteous Sects. It seemed they were also Saint Cultivators.
They boarded their Flying Boat, and the group flew off into the distance. This underground world was enormous, no different from the world outside. It was hard to tell if it was natural or man-made. If it was the latter, then it was truly a work of divine craftsmanship.
The leader would occasionally glance at the two but remained silent, asking no questions. Wang Meng didn’t ask any either. ’If they want to talk, they’ll do it without me asking.’
Soon, a palace that looked like an Immortal Palace appeared before them. It radiated light and was pure white.
Sanmao couldn’t help but crawl out, staring blankly at the radiant palace in the distance, drooling.
’Damn... Don’t tell me this palace is made of Spirit Stones???’
The Flying Boat landed. The people in the palace also looked at Wang Meng and Ma Tian’Er with surprise.
"You two, follow me."
The leader waved his hand, and the others dispersed. Either they were very confident in their own strength and weren’t worried about Wang Meng and Ma Tian’Er at all, or they had no hostile intentions.
Wang Meng felt it was probably half and half. He held Ma Tian’Er’s hand, and the two of them followed the young Sword Cultivator into the palace.
"Heavens, a Nine-leaf Jade Ganoderma..." Ma Tian’Er couldn’t help but exclaim in shock. Such a precious heavenly treasure was just sitting by the entrance as a decoration.
A proud smile touched the young man’s lips at Ma Tian’Er’s astonishment, but he still offered no explanation.
Sanmao’s old habit kicked in again. It too could feel the dense Spiritual Qi, and it was definitely tastier than Spirit Stones.
BONK...
Wang Meng tapped Sanmao on the head. "Behave."
Sanmao chirped helplessly, "Master... yummy."
’Nonsense,’ Wang Meng thought to himself. He knew it was good stuff too, but they had to be able to take it with them.
Everything here was shrouded in mystery. He felt that the material used to build the palace wasn’t Spirit Stone, but something similar. It was certainly radiating a powerful Elemental Qi.
The young Sword Cultivator led Wang Meng and Ma Tian’Er to the entrance of the main hall.
"The Elders are waiting for you inside. Go in." After speaking, he stood by the door without another word, just watching Wang Meng.
The door before them was over twenty meters high and appeared to be made entirely of white jade. On the door, however, was a symbol Wang Meng was very familiar with: a pentagram.
The Sword Cultivator at the side watched Wang Meng calmly. This was not a door that just anyone could enter.
He sized up the two of them. ’There’s nothing special about them. Why are the Elders placing so much importance on them, even risking exposure?’
Wang Meng gave it a push. It didn’t budge an inch.
"Aren’t you guys responsible for opening the door?" Wang Meng asked the Sword Cultivator with a smile.
An arrogant look appeared on the Sword Cultivator’s face. "If you have the ability, get in yourself."
"So you can’t get in either?"
"You!" The young Sword Cultivator’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Young friend outside the door, why not come in for a chat," a wizened voice said from within.
Upon hearing this voice, the Sword Cultivator’s arrogance immediately vanished, and he waited respectfully to the side.
Wang Meng and Ma Tian’Er exchanged a glance. ’What is this weird, mysterious place? But it looks like we have no choice but to go in.’
Wang Meng placed both hands on the door and suddenly exerted his strength. As someone with a Five Elements Body, his physical strength was far greater than that of an ordinary person. Plus, his Elemental Power had reached the Thirty-Fifth Layer. Although he wasn’t a Body Cultivator, pushing this door open shouldn’t be much of a problem.
But when he pushed with all his might, the great door didn’t move at all.
