Chapter 690: Chapter 365: Searching the Soul, Enemy from Beyond the Heavens_2
“Enemies from beyond the skies.”
Li Xuan sighed.
The Heavenly Grotto, the rift of this domain, was a place where the land had been eroded by external forces, forming a Heavenly Grotto.
There were different sizes of Heavenly Grottos. The smaller ones were merely tiny openings, like the one Xu Yan discovered in the Black Pool of the Azure Sea.
The larger Heavenly Grottos, however, stretched across vast spaces.
The Abyssal Depths of the Azure Sea had once seen such a rift, which, under the infiltration of Netherworld’s power, transformed into a Heavenly Grotto.
“Could the Seductive Witch also hail from the Netherworld?”
Li Xuan mused.
The Ice State’s Heavenly Grotto had already been sealed by him, preventing the Seductive Witch from entering again.
“The Taicang Domain seems to face an external threat. The Heavenly Grottoes are invasion channels for these enemies, capable of penetration, while the Martial Artists of this land can only defend, unable to invade in return.”
Li Xuan recollected the small stone house in the Wu Country Royal Palace. Was the being sealed within the master of the Book of Taicang, or an invading adversary?
Logically, being sealed within this domain implied a higher likelihood of being an invasive enemy.
Who did the sealing?
The master of the Book of Taicang?
If a powerful enemy was sealed there, why wasn’t there a guardian?
Perhaps the master sealed the enemy, ultimately perishing, leaving no one to know the threat was sealed there?
Li Xuan recalled that when the Emperor of Wu spoke of that mysterious voice, he mentioned the opponent went berserk, ranting about deceit… Besides, they knew the Border Wilderness was unsuitable for Martial Arts, yet seemed quite familiar with the Taicang Domain.
Given these points, it seemed less likely to be an external enemy.
“The truth will become clear once we locate them.”
Li Xuan thought to himself.
Boom!
The battle neared its end. At this moment, Meng Chong unleashed his Divine Skills, massacring a crowd of Blood Slaves.
Su Lingxiu, having felt adequately honed, began to attack decisively.
Fang Hao and Red Cat followed suit.
“To the Abyssal Depths of the Azure Sea.”
Li Xuan commanded.
Buzz!
The Flying Boat transformed into a stream of light, heading towards the Abyssal Depths of the Azure Sea.
Wu Tianan and other Spiritual Realm Experts, feeling relieved, swiftly followed along.
A massive black whirlpool emerged in the Abyssal Depths of the Azure Sea, revealing the surging blood tides below.
“This is…”
Wu Tianan and others, shuddering, were too terrified to enter recklessly.
“Master!”
Xu Yan approached the Flying Boat, and respectfully said,
“Yes!”
Li Xuan nodded, hesitating to enter the Heavenly Grotto below immediately.
Boom!
The battle completely subsided; Meng Chong, Su Lingxiu, Fang Hao, and Red Cat returned to the Evergreen Pavilion’s Flying Ship.
“Enter.”
Li Xuan instructed.
As thunder roared, the Flying Boat activated its Formation, penetrating the Heavenly Grotto below. Upon arrival, they discovered this Heavenly Grotto was much larger than the one in the Ice State.
Moreover, at the bottom of the grotto, blood waves roared, seemingly formed as blood fiend energy corroded the sea water.
Wu Tianan and the array of Spiritual Realm Experts stood hesitantly at the grotto’s edge, fearing to advance.
Boom!
Blood waves rolled, blood fiend energy pervaded, surging forth as if to stain the Flying Boat crimson.
Li Xuan raised a hand, and with a thunderous crash, the blood waves began to condense, growing clearer as they reversed, returning the sea water to the Azure Sea.
At that moment, three blood-red beads floated within the Heavenly Grotto.
Netherworld Blood Orbs!
“These, are treasures that greatly replenish essence blood!”
Su Lingxiu remarked.
Li Xuan nodded. The Netherworld Blood Orbs were indeed treasures, proper use of which could enhance essence blood or restore depletion damage, even somewhat increase physical strength.
If refined with other Spiritual Medicines into a Pill, the effects would be stronger.
And the Netherworld Blood Orbs were likely related to the abundant blood energy in the Netherworld, hence forming these Blood Beads.
Whether Blood Slaves or Blood Disciples, each possessed a life-bound Blood Bead, emerged from training with a Netherworld Blood Orb.
The bottom of the heavenly grotto was faintly red, like a thin membrane covering it. Vaguely, the scenes beyond the heavenly grotto could almost be seen.
However, this membrane was the Domain Barrier which, despite Li Xuan’s Void-breaking Realm, he couldn’t pass through to leave this domain.
After all, he hadn’t truly transcended the domain.
“The bottom of the heavenly grotto doesn’t seem large, and this grotto space formed later.”
Fang Hao said with surprise.
The bottom wasn’t large, similar to the Ice State’s grotto, yet the Domain Barrier appeared weaker, strands of blood energy constantly entering, gradually enlarging the grotto over time.
“There’s no Imperishable Qi here, could this mean the heavenly grottos differ?”
Xu Yan explored the heavenly grotto, speaking up.
“It’s quite possible, and I sense this blood energy could somewhat assist in cultivating Physical Body Martial Arts, but it’s useless for my current body.”
Meng Chong said as he walked through the heavenly grotto.
“What now? Will more Netherworld Blood Disciples come to the Spiritual Realm?”
Fang Hao asked worriedly.
Being from the Spiritual Realm, it was his homeland.
Though he stepped down from the Wanshi Alliance’s Hierarch position, he remained revered there.
“Seal it.”
Li Xuan, having observed outside the grotto bottom, saw nothing specific but knew this grotto was plotted by the 726 Blood Disciples for ascension to Xuezhi. They told no one, fearing theft of credit, keeping this Netherworld Grotto secret for now.
It needed sealing, otherwise, unless the opponent was extremely powerful, it wouldn’t be easily discovered.
“Missing an ocular-type Divine Skill.”
Li Xuan pondered, deciding to spend time crafting several ocular Divine Skills like Celestial Eye, Fiery Golden Eyes, Truth-breaking Eye, etc.
Whether they could be cultivated would be for his disciples to determine.
“Master, please seal this heavenly grotto!”
Fang Hao respectfully requested.
“Yes.”
Li Xuan nodded, waved his hand, and Imperishable Qi surged, instantly forming a massive seal that closed off the Netherworld Grotto’s bottom.
Completely concealing the heavenly grotto.
“There’s nothing valuable here, let’s go!”
The Flying Boat left the grotto, heading to the Black Pool in the Azure Sea. Li Xuan observed the small grotto Xu Yan discovered. It was tiny and expanding it would take ages.
Moreover, after Fang Hao sealed it, the expansion slowed significantly, almost impossible.
With another wave, Li Xuan sealed it thoroughly.
After Li Xuan left the sealed grotto, a small eye suddenly appeared at the bottom, seemingly trying to peer in.
Seeing nothing, the eye blinked confusedly, perhaps doubting its vision. It blinked a few times, then focused hard, yet still saw nothing, finally closing in puzzlement.
The Divine Bridge had broken, cutting off access to the Divine Realm.
The changes in the Abyssal Depths of the Azure Sea left the Spiritual Realm Experts anxious, including Fang Hao.
“Does the Spiritual Realm have similar dangerous places ready to erupt?”
Wu Tianan solemnly asked.
“All famed dangerous places in the Spiritual Realm should be explored.”
Xin Mengrou suggested.
With a revered expert still in the realm, any danger found could be sealed by them.
Thus, they looked to Fang Hao.
Being the esteemed disciple, central to the Wanshi Alliance, Fang Hao cared deeply about potential threats in the Spiritual Realm.
“Master, I wish to explore the Spiritual Realm, to discover any potential crises!”
Fang Hao respectfully declared.
“Go ahead!”
Li Xuan nodded.
If a crisis lingered in the realm, Fang Hao would worry even in the Divine Realm. Rather than that, it was better to scour the Spiritual Realm now and address any latent dangers.
This way, Fang Hao could venture to the Divine Realm carefree.
“Junior Brother, let’s split up, and finish the search soon.”
Xu Yan suggested.
The Spiritual Realm adjoined the Inner Domain; should it suffer, the Inner Domain would likely be affected, and currently, the Inner Domain’s strength was far inferior to the Spiritual Realm.
“Alright!”
Fang Hao agreed.
Xu Yan, Meng Chong, and Fang Hao departed immediately, with Red Cat likewise returning to the Demon Clan to organize and partake in searching the Spiritual Realm.
Wu Tianan, Xin Mengrou, and other Spiritual Realm Experts also left, using the Transcendent Spirit Sect’s power, began scouring the realm. If anything peculiar or rumored existed, they would personally investigate it.