Chapter 922, Negligence

Translator: Jon

Translation Checker: Silavin

 

The dark tunnel was in dead silence. The crisis that had been threatening them ever since they stepped into the tunnel disappeared as well.

 

Lu Ye leaned against the wall while Nian Yuexian remained in his embrace. Both of them were busy replenishing their powers.

 

The sound of something being munched on was awkward in the silence.

 

Nian Yuexian wasn’t concerned initially, but she soon realised something was off. That was because it didn’t sound like Lu Ye was consuming Spirit Pills. She scanned him with her Divine Ego and was shocked.

 

That was because she realised Lu Ye was eating a Mutant Core!

 

“Are you alright?”

 

[How can a Human eat a Mutant Core?] She was an experienced person, but she had never seen anyone doing that before. Although a Mutant Core indeed contained a lot of energy, it was the essence of a Mutant’s cultivation, after all. It was too impure for a cultivator, so it couldn’t be refined and absorbed. Even if a cultivator was able to do that, it would only make his Spiritual Power sluggish.

 

“I’m fine, Madam,” Lu Ye replied and continued eating the Mutant Core. A grey fog appeared above the Tree of Glyphs as his power was being restored rapidly.

 

Nian Yuexian stopped probing further. Although she found Lu Ye’s action odd, it wasn’t the right time to ask any questions. She could ask him about it when they had some time in the future.

 

She then continued restoring her energy.

 

With the help of Lu Ye’s immense vitality, coupled with her heritage as a Divine Ocean Realm Master, she could recuperate quickly.

 

The only problem was that she couldn’t take off her blood-soaked clothes. Anyway, she wasn’t bothered by it as it was only a small matter.

 

While they were getting some rest, Ying Wuji hid somewhere and remained silent. He was forced to experience all this, so whatever happened next had nothing to do with him. He just had to keep himself safe and part ways with Lu Ye when this matter was over.

 

Time went by slowly. Around four hours later, Nian Yuexian said, “Let’s go.”

 

Her injury had mostly recovered, and she was energetic again. It wouldn’t affect her use of power.

 

After she got to her feet, she turned around and left Lu Ye’s embrace, but their hands remained clasped together.

 

No one knew if any danger awaited them. By keeping Phoenix Wings running, she could derive energy from Lu Ye at any moment.

 

After they moved forward for a while, they suddenly saw a dot of light in front of them.

 

The light appeared too abruptly. Before they reached a certain area, none of them had detected it. However, the moment they crossed a certain point, the light appeared out of nowhere.

 

Following the light, they walked forward for another 300 metres before reaching the end of the tunnel.

 

At the end of the tunnel was a horrifying chasm. As they looked down, they couldn’t see the bottom. The darkness seemed able to devour everything.

 

There was a narrow stone bridge in front of them that could only let three people walk forward shoulder-to-shoulder.

 

At the end of the stone bridge was an odd-looking stone platform, which was just there in the chasm. It was a wonder how further down the stone platform extended.

 

At this point, all three of them were astounded.

 

That was because many Sword Lights were seen wandering around the chasm like a group of fish. The main bodies of these Sword Lights were all high-quality flying swords.

 

There were so many flying swords that one couldn’t count them all.

 

Considering their amount and quality, if they could be brought out of here and sold, that would be some considerable wealth.

 

Ying Wuji was tempted, but he could only sigh in secret.

 

With Nian Yuexian, a Divine Ocean Realm Master, around, all the good stuff in this place would go to her. Since Ying Wuji didn’t have a share of anything, he looked away to alleviate his distress.

 

Instead of looking at the flying swords, Lu Ye and Nian Yuexian focused on the stone platform on the other end of the bridge.

 

A sword around 60 centimetres long had been jabbed obliquely into the middle of the stone platform. It was a wonder how long the sword had been here, but it still appeared sharp and smooth.

 

As they looked at the sword, they could feel its ferocious Sword Intent. It was as though the Sword Intent was able to cut through something as imaginary as a gaze.

 

The Sword Lights the three of them had seen in the tunnel earlier were cast by this sword.

 

Nian Yuexian’s speculation was right, but instead of one good-quality flying sword, there were many of them. In comparison, the one on the stone platform was the best.

 

Lu Ye had no idea what Grade the sword was, but from what he had gathered so far, the sword was surely better than a Spirit Treasure.

 

If Nian Yuexian could get her hands on such an item, she would be even more intimidating.

 

Such a sword could be used as a flying sword or a Ghost Cultivator’s weapon. If Nian Yuexian could obtain the sword, her power would increase tremendously. By then, Wan Zhanggang’s life would be at risk.

 

“There are Wards around here.” Instead of staring fixedly at the 60-centimetre sword, Nian Yuexian looked around and made a judgement.

 

Although Lu Ye was more adept at the Way of Wards than most cultivators in the same Realm, there was a huge gap between Nian Yuexian and him. Upon her reminder, he finally realised something was off.

 

He instantly discovered that the Wards in this place were activated the moment they stepped into the tunnel, which triggered a series of Sword Qi that came right at them.

 

It was an obstacle as well as a test.

 

[Who was the one who left behind the sword on the stone platform and the flying swords? Who built these Wards? What’s the point of this test?]

 

While Lu Ye was in his thoughts, Nian Yuexian took his hand and moved forward.

 

“I’ll be waiting for you here!” Ying Wuji hurriedly shouted.

 

Although the treasure was wonderful, he didn’t want to take on any risk as he wouldn’t have a share of it. His best option would be waiting for them in the same spot.

 

Nian Yuexian ignored Ying Wuji. It wasn’t that she trusted him. It was just that there was no way Ying Wuji could do anything to harm them when she was around.

 

She walked slowly because she had to keep casting Ward Flags into different directions of the Void.

 

If she wanted to arrive at the stone platform safely and take the sword, she had to break the Wards around here first.

 

Although the Wards were abstruse, they had been around for a long time. As such, Nian Yuexian could see some weaknesses, and it wouldn’t be hard for her to break them.

 

Lu Ye didn’t try to have a hand in this. He only blessed his eyes with Insight and observed how Nian Yuexian broke the Wards.

 

More and more Wards were dismantled. Although the stone bridge was only 90 metres long, it took them two hours to reach the end.

 

Finally, they arrived at the stone platform. A Sword Cry was suddenly heard as the sword, which had been jabbed into the stone platform, was seen shaking. It seemed to be welcoming its new owner as though it had a spirituality of its own.

 

Instead of taking action at once, Nian Yuexian scanned her surroundings to see if there were any hidden Wards. Lu Ye also activated Insight to look around.

 

A moment later, Nian Yuexian let go of Lu Ye’s hand and said, “You should go back there.”

 

After giving it some thought, Lu Ye flew backwards and landed beside Ying Wuji, who asked in a small voice, “Lu Yi Ye, what’s the Grade of that sword?”

 

Since the sword was so far away, he couldn’t sense it. Although he knew he wouldn’t get a share of anything here, he still wanted to find out more about the sword.

 

Unsurprisingly, Lu Ye ignored him and stared fixedly at Nian Yuexian.

 

Standing on the stone platform, she clenched the hilt of the sword. As a clang was heard the next second, the sword was pulled out.

 

She immediately looked around vigilantly, but there was no anomaly at all. The place was in dead silence.

 

[The treasure is mine!] Just as Nian Yuexian was elated and ready to go back, her expression changed suddenly. That was because a swirl appeared abruptly in front of her. Shocked and furious, she could feel some mysterious impact coming from the sword.

 

The impact soon spread across her body. Despite being a Divine Ocean Realm Master, she still staggered upon impact as her Spiritual Power descended into chaos.

 

She had been wary of any hidden traps around here. That was because she had obtained the treasure too easily.

 

Despite her carefulness, it never crossed her mind that the trap wasn’t around her, but it was the sword itself.

 

It could even be said that the Wards she had broken were merely tricks to fool her.

 

A powerful suction was felt coming from the swirl as she uncontrollably fell forward. Detecting something, she turned her head and saw Lu Ye charging towards her from the other end of the stone bridge like a bolt of lightning. With an anxious expression, he extended his hand from afar.

 

“Don’t come here!” Nian Yuexian yelled.

 

But the next second, Lu Ye already reached her. She gritted her teeth and took his hand.

 

Standing on the stone platform, Lu Ye clenched Nian Yuexian’s shoulders with both hands and fully activated his power in an attempt to pull her out of the swirl, but his attempt was futile.

 

Half of Nian Yuexian’s body had been sucked into the swirl. If Lu Ye hadn’t arrived in time, the woman would have disappeared.

 

Although he had no idea what was inside the swirl, it was apparent that the turn of events wasn’t a good thing.

 

Just then, Sword Cries were suddenly heard as Ying Wuji exclaimed.

 

Lu Ye turned his head and saw Ying Wuji charging towards him.

 

He wasn’t coming over to lend Lu Ye a helping hand. It was because the flying swords, which had been wandering around the stone platform like fish, suddenly ran after him.

 

Faced with the murderous intent, he had no choice but to go to Lu Ye.

 

In this life-and-death situation, he could move extremely fast as he reached Lu Ye in the blink of an eye.

 

Looking at the countless Sword Lights behind Ying Wuji, Lu Ye let out a sigh and stopped using any force. The next second, he fell into the swirl.

 

He had no idea what was inside the swirl, but if they refused to enter it, all of them would be doomed.

 

Without Lu Ye trying to pull her out, Nian Yuexian soon disappeared into the swirl.

 

As that happened, Lu Ye could see the self-blame behind Nian Yuexian’s gaze. Following that, he felt a soft figure pressed against him as the world around him spun.

 

Not long after Nian Yuexian and Lu Ye disappeared into the swirl, the same thing happened to Ying Wuji.

 

The Sword Lights ran after them and entered the swirl as well.

 

When the dust settled a moment later, only a stone bridge and an empty stone platform were left in this place, which was covered in endless darkness.