Chapter 1026 - : Battle in the Fire Domain (1/2)

Wang Yinru was growing anxious. A few days had passed, and she was still unsure how Gu Jingman was holding up. Gu Jingman was last seen single-handedly taking on Shao Tianqi, the leader of the Petrification Cult. In her heart, Wang Yinru feared that Gu Jingman would be no match for the red-headed old master.

But the fact that the old master had not been spotted since did give her a glimmer of hope that Gu Jingman was still alive.

Gu Jingman!

Mo Wen’s face hardened when he heard the news. No wonder he had not seen that old fool, Shao Tianqi, anywhere about. Could he still be fighting Gu Jingman?

He knew that Shao Tianqi was the present leader of the Petrification Cult, and that he held the highest level of cultivation among the cult members.

“Gu Jingman has set out to restrain Shao Tianqi?” Mo Wen asked, somewhat surprised. “That old man is a monk of the Tide Changing realm, and has been so for at least 200 years. His cultivation must be much higher by now. Would Gu Jingman have the ability to restrain him?”

Mo Wen still had his doubts. He recalled that Gu Jingman had been just ordinary back then, and she had not displayed any exceptional strengths to him. Even at the Dragon City Martial Arts Circle Convention, Gu Jingman was hardly impressed.

It was Mo Qingge who spoke highly of her. Mo Qingge reasoned that Gu Jingman had not only made it to the seventh level of the Goddess’ World, but had also persisted the longest in that realm; almost as long as Mo Wen himself. Among her peers, she further pointed out, Gu Jingman was the last to leave the place.

“I’d say, anyone who could persist that long in the seventh level of the Goddess’ World would certainly be considered extraordinary,” Mo Qingge surmised. Mo Wen concurred, a sense of hope returning.

He had known that Gu Jingman belonged to the lineage of the Blood God. Mo Wen knew little of that ancient bloodline, only that one notable Blood God arose from among the Blood Kindred. He only knew for certain that, in his time, the Blood God was very likely a supremely powerful figure.

“Where’s Gu Jingman now?” Mo Wen asked suddenly, concern etched on his youthful face.

He hadn’t seen Gu Jingman on his way here, and he couldn’t help but notice the extensive damage done to the Tan Zi Beast Lair. A multitude of beasts had been caught in the crossfire, and they now laid in ashen heaps; evidence of a violent, unnatural death.

“Probably somewhere in the lower levels of the Beast Lair, I don’t think she’s gone too far from here,” Wang Yinru said, and added, “We know some people from the Ming Palace held there, so even if Gu Jingman had been able to restrain Shao Tianqi, she wouldn’t have ventured too far.” There were other sects aligned to the Petrification Cult lurking about, had she wandered too far out, it was unlikely she would have been able to make it back in time to rescue them.

“You stay here, Older Sister Fengwu, and don’t head out. There are likely to be some stragglers from the Petrification Squad and other sects. I’ll head down to the lower level and look around,” Mo Wen said. He then morphed into a black dot and disappeared into the distance.

A small jade pagoda immediately appeared, at the very spot where he stood before vanishing. This was the Junior Master’s Pagoda. It hovered briefly in the air, then quickly enlarged, coming to rest on the ground. Then, lo and behold, the people from the Ming Palace appeared, safely held within it!

The Junior Master’s Pagoda was not merely a magical treasure that could manipulate space and time. A grotto was concealed within the vessel, a hold where persons and materials could be stowed and safeguarded. This magical vessel was also the abode of the three great masters, among them, the Jade Xiu King, famed for his great attainment of the Tide Changing realm. Each one of the masters would prove more than a handful to their foes. Hence, there was little need to worry about the safety of the Ming Palace people, now in their care.

Mo Wen did not want the people of the Ming Palace to wander. He was well aware that it wasn’t just the Petrification Cult that had it out for him, several other large sects from the Peng Lai Immortal Realm did as well. He wondered if the people of the Petrification Cult had, by now, covertly entered into the main area without the Huatian Palace even noticing.

Moreover, Mo Wen did not want to reveal their presence until the crucial moment. He intended that they would remain, instead, his secret weapons. As long as he did not reveal them, he would still hold his trump card.

Considering the circumstances, Mo Wen decided to err on the side of caution. He had too many opponents to deal with, all strong and worthy adversaries. Many among the cults of the Peng Lai Immortal Realm that arrived at the Green Ancient Mystery Dimension, were forces to be reckoned with. However, no other cult had a leader with the prowess of Shao Tianqi, a master of the Tide Changing realm.

If these cults found out about the existence of the three great masters too soon, it wouldn’t only be the people from the Tide Changing realm coming at him the next time. Who’s to say that an ancient sect like the Petrification Cult, wouldn’t have a great master from the Supreme Profundity realm within their ranks. If that were to be, Mo Wen would not even have the time to catch his breath.

Being mindful of this, he wisely decided to leave the Junior Master’s Pagoda behind, with the Ming Palace people held safely within.

Mo Wen was traveling so quickly that he soon reached the outlying space in what seemed like a flash. Before he knew it, he was already above the abyss.

From the fifth level, he would have to negotiate through the sixth and seventh levels, before he could finally make his way to the eighth level.

There, on the eighth level, existed the Fire Domain, a fiery abode filled with dread, and reeking of deadly fumes. Mo Wen had once visited there while he was still cultivating his powers at the Embryonic Breathing realm. He knew well what to expect.

As Mo Wen flew out of the abyss in good speed, it began to shake violently, causing debris, large and small, to come crashing down dangerously. A multitude of beasts, frightened by the chaos, scurried in all directions. Beasts of flight had taken to the air, hovering aimlessly, each looking down into the abyss in fear and desperation.

Rumble!

Another loud crash, and the abyss shook yet again! Beneath, a deep crack started to appear, dark and bottomless.