92: Chapter 92 Re-entering the Joyous Union

[The moment your eyes snapped open after the illusion shattered, what you saw was an enlarged handsome face.]

[Han Xuan?]

[Lowering your gaze, you were being encircled and held in his arms, your height of one meter sixty-five appearing exceptionally petite at this moment. Your pale complexion made your brows and eyes look increasingly cold and detached, yet revealing a rare hint of fragility.]

[You swept your eyes over the surrounding situation, with quite a few people still sprawled out unconscious in the forest.]

[The sky-blocking thick fog had somehow dissipated, and sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting dappled spots of light that were warm and real.]

[The thick fog outside this valley was by no means naturally formed, but rather a deeply hidden protective grand array.]

[Your Sword Heart and Dao Seed had been suppressed the instant you entered the grand array; otherwise, how could you have needed to rely on such a crooked method as swearing an oath to break free?]

[Thinking of the near-suffocating revulsion inside the illusion, and your emotions now being freely retractable and responsive to your will, you could not help but click your tongue inwardly.]

[What a formidable formation; I am afraid that the higher one's cultivation, the stronger the targeting they would receive.]

[This was most likely still the passive effect of the formation; if it were to actively launch an attack...]

[What a Hehuan Sect.]

[The cultivation world is truly fraught with danger at every step; a moment of carelessness could cause one to silently plunge into a state of eternal damnation.]

["Are you alright?"]

[Han Xuan's concerned voice came from overhead.]

[You raised your eyes to meet his gaze; within those slender eyes was a tenderness so deep it would make even looking at a dog seem affectionate.]

["So tired."]

[You pouted your small lips and squeezed further into his arms, indicating that you did not want to move.]

[This wholeheartedly dependent maidenly posture caused Han Xuan's mouth corners to curl upward uncontrollably by a few degrees.]

[He was silent for a moment, first gently placing you on the ground to stand properly, and then slowly squatting down in front of you.]

[Watching Han Xuan carefully carry you on his back and quickly press down your fluttering skirt hem for you, you muttered inwardly:]

[He really knows how.]

[Then you peace-of-mindedly sprawled onto his back.]

[Say nothing more, good brother. After reaching Foundation Establishment and getting the cultivation technique, I'll treat you to a good meal.]

[The subsequent path had no more danger, but to those mortals who had not yet stepped onto the path of cultivation, this rugged and long mountain road was once again a physical test.]

[As for cultivators who had already stepped into cultivation, they had probably long paid an even more painful price within the illusion.]

[Three days later.]

[When you once again saw the giant blood-colored glazed lotus hanging high above the sea of clouds, your state of mind was already vastly different from before.]

[The fear and confusion of the past had long vanished like smoke, leaving only a clarity as calm as a bright mirror.]

[Sooner or later, I will trample it underfoot!]

[You slowly withdrew your gaze; the magnificent scenery above the immortal palace would be left for later savoring.]

[What needed to be faced right now was the flesh-and-blood quagmire spanning before your eyes, reeking with monstrous baleful aura.]

[How is this place like a land of cultivation? It is clearly a refugee concentration camp.]

[Patch after patch of low, dilapidated stone houses were squeezed into the muddy ground, and the air was filled with an indescribably fishy and foul stench.]

["This is the first layer of the miscellaneous chores area, the Chenhuan Prison."]

[A hunched, bald old man hung suspended in mid-air, his eyelids half-drooping as he lazily swept a glance over your group of newly arrived disciples.]

["The entire miscellaneous chores area is divided into three layers. Above are the Zuiqing Dormitory and Qixia Courtyard."]

[Just at this moment, several disciples wearing gray clothes dragged two naked corpses with numb expressions, hurriedly walking out from a side path, leaving long dark traces of blood dragged across the mud.]

["Se... Senior, then how do we leave this place?"]

[Within the crowd, someone spoke with trembling trepidation.]

["Hehe, there are two ways. The first is to obtain one hundred merit points."]

[The bald old man suddenly grinned, revealing a mouthful of jagged yellow teeth. Without waiting for further questioning, he continued speaking on his own:]

["As for the second... cultivate the secret technique—the Yuding Nourishing Essence Chapter."]

["This old man has no time to be your teacher. Go ask around for what you don't understand; after dying a few times, you will naturally understand."]

[Seeing that someone still wanted to continue asking questions, the old man impatiently waved his hand.]

["You may freely choose these stone houses to move into."]

[After speaking, he turned into a stream of light and flew upward, leaving behind a group of bewildered new disciples who momentarily did not know where to go.]

[Out of a team of over a thousand people, a mere four hundred or so made it through the fog; the elimination rate exceeded fifty percent!]

[As for those mortals who had not cultivated, they were assigned to another area, so only about a hundred people remained here.]

["Everyone!"]

[At this time, a youth with an upright figure slowly walked out, followed by several men and women whose auras were not weak.]

["I am Yang Feng, at the ninth layer of Qi Condensation cultivation."]

[As his voice fell, the noisy crowd gradually quieted down.]

[The youth smiled with satisfaction before continuing:]

["We are all newly arrived. Judging by the sect's current rules, we will inevitably be bullied in the future."]

["What do you propose to do?"]

[Another group of cultivators whose strength was likewise not weak came to the center of the crowd.]

[Seeing this, the youth shook his head slightly and said with a sincere expression:]

["It is not a matter of what Yang wishes to do, but rather that if we do not unite, we will inevitably become fish on the chopping board, at the mercy of others."]

["You want to be the boss?"]

[A sneer suddenly came from the crowd, carrying undisguised sarcasm.]

[Who present here was not a rogue cultivator who crawled out from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood?]

[Everyone understood the youth's petty little thoughts crystal clear. It was just that, hindered by his strength, no one spoke up at the very first moment.]

[Yet in this world, there is never a shortage of birds that stick their heads out first.]

[On the outer fringe of the crowd, you lazily leaned against Han Xuan's shoulder, your fingers playing with his dangling hair locks, wearing an attitude of complete indifference.]

["Lady Fairy."]

[At this time, a familiar figure sneaked in front of you.]

["Li Youcai? You are still alive?"]

[A trace of surprise flashed in your eyes. Given this kid's greedy, lustful, and cowardly personality, he actually managed to walk out of the illusion.]

[This person was indeed worth re-evaluating.]

["Hehe, Lady Fairy, what kind of words are those?"]

[Li Youcai patted his chest and said proudly:]

["Do not underestimate my obsession with the fairies of the Hehuan Sect!"]

[...You take back what you said above; this person and Yan Laosan are simply biological brothers.]

["What are you looking for me for?"]

["Lady Fairy, with your natural talent, you surely would not be willing to cultivate that Yuding Nourishing Essence Chapter, and one hundred merit points are not so easy to gather either."]

[Li Youcai rubbed his hands, his face piling up with a fawning smile.]

[Hearing this, you nodded slightly.]

[The Yuding Nourishing Essence Chapter, to put it bluntly, was simply refining oneself into a cauldron to supply high-level cultivators for harvesting, thereby exchanging for protection.]

[Seeing you nod, Li Youcai hastily continued:]

["Then why don't you also establish a faction? With the strength of the two of you, naturally someone will deliver the merit points right to your door."]

["You want me to be your muscle?"]

[Your gaze turned cold, staring at him unkindly.]

["No, no, no!"]

[Li Youcai hurriedly waved his hands, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, and blurted out:]

["I want to be your dog!"]

["Very good."]

[The corners of your lips curved upward slightly, and you nodded with satisfaction, your gaze crossing over the crowd and landing on that youth who was still eloquently talking.]

[Along this journey, those prying gazes falling upon you were indeed extremely unpleasant, and it was truly necessary to establish some prestige.]