146: Chapter 146 Calling for Help

In the dark corridor, the outline of the Bone Gate was gradually becoming clear.

That stone gate was several zhang high, ancient and mottled, its surface covered in battle scars that time could not erase.

And when the two ancient characters in the center of the gate appeared, the entire corridor seemed to be jolted by some ancient will.

—Bone Gate.

The moment these two characters fully lit up, Zhou Jingyue froze in place, his eyes suddenly narrowing.

His grip on the longsword in his hand tightened instinctively, and he even stopped breathing for half a beat.

"This is..."

Zhao Lingxiao was also stunned, the words he had originally wanted to say stuck in his throat.

He stared at the stone gate, his eyes initially filled with shock, which was quickly replaced by an almost unbelievable fervor.

"Trial Gate?"

Shen Zhihan reacted the fastest.

She had maintained her usual composure, but when she truly saw the ancient patterns on the stone gate and the suddenly awakened martial aura, her pupils noticeably constricted.

"It actually appeared..."

Her voice was very soft, yet carried an irrepressible tremor.

Gu Changchuan's expression also changed.

He was not a martial artist, but he knew best what this change meant.

Once this gate opened, it would no longer just be about cleaning up contamination or encircling and suppressing Cao Shen.

Instead, it would be a top-tier struggle that the entire Great Xia martial arts circle would be dragged into.

"The Trial Gate of the Martial God Secret Realm..."

Zhou Jingyue repeated in a low voice, as if confirming he hadn't misheard.

Zhao Lingxiao couldn't help but take half a step forward, his eyes fixed intently on the pale bone patterns gradually lighting up in the door crack, his whole being as if ignited.

"Can this thing really lead to the Martial Demon Inheritance?"

Shen Zhihan did not answer immediately.

Her gaze fell on that gate, her expression unprecedentedly solemn.

"If the rumors from the outside world are correct, behind that gate is likely the true core trial of the Martial God Secret Realm."

"In other words, the martial will left behind by the Martial Demon is inside."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's breathing involuntarily became a bit heavier.

The Martial Demon's martial will.

The Martial God's true body.

Either one would be enough to drive a martial artist mad.

Moreover, this was no longer a legend, nor speculation.

The Trial Gate had truly opened.

Meanwhile, the ancient aura from behind the gate seemed to cross the secret realm's blockade and spread outwards.

...

Outside the secret realm.

The encampments of the several major forces that were still maintaining the blockade almost simultaneously erupted into chaos.

The technician responsible for monitoring fluctuations stared at the screen, their face instantly turning pale.

"This fluctuation..."

"It's not the spread of a contamination source!"

"It's the aura of an inheritance!"

"The Trial Gate of the Martial God Secret Realm has been triggered!"

As soon as this was said, the entire outer command area fell silent for half a second.

The next moment, like a gunpowder keg suppressed to the limit being suddenly ignited, the leaders of all parties stood up from their seats almost simultaneously.

Someone slammed the table, their voice changing pitch.

"What did you say?!"

"Trial Gate?!"

"Are you sure it's not an instrument malfunction?"

"Confirm it again immediately!"

But the constantly rising fluctuation values on the screen and the echoes of energy, so ancient they were almost heart-stopping, had already placed the answer before everyone.

The news spread quickly.

The leaders of the several major forces who had originally focused their attention on Cao Shen now all had their expressions changed.

Some people's eyes quickly turned from shock to ecstasy.

Some people's expressions quickly turned from gloomy to greedy.

Others reacted almost immediately, grabbing their communicators and sternly ordering the other end:

"Listen, bring those true prodigies from the sect here immediately!"

"Don't send ordinary disciples, let the strongest ones come!"

"Set off immediately, as fast as possible!"

On the other side, inside the encampment of a certain martial arts family, a gray-haired elder suddenly looked up, his voice filled with irrepressible excitement.

"Tell the Young Master to come immediately!"

"This is no longer an ordinary secret realm, this is the Martial God's inheritance manifesting!"

"Whoever enters first can seize the initiative!"

"Now is not the time to wait and see, if we are one step slower, the opportunity will be gone!"

Orders were issued within a few short breaths.

In various places on the periphery, hovering chariots, armed flying shuttles, and heavy transport pods started almost simultaneously.

Some young prodigies who were originally in seclusion, stabilizing their cultivation, or even undergoing special training were all urgently awakened.

Some family Young Masters threw on robes and rushed out of their cultivation rooms.

Some chief disciples of major sects grabbed their weapons and boarded flying shuttles on the spot after hearing the order.

Some young warriors groomed by the military had grim faces, not even having time to organize their equipment before being pushed onto the passage to the secret realm.

Everyone knew this was not an ordinary mission.

This was an opportunity.

An opportunity sufficient to let someone soar to the skies.

For a time, the leaders of the major external forces seemed unable to sit still.

Originally they were still encircling and suppressing Cao Shen, preventing the spread of secret realm contamination.

But now, everyone's mindset had changed.

Encircling and suppressing Cao Shen?

That was a matter for later.

The most important thing right now is to send their own true prodigies in and seize the Martial Demon Inheritance!

The atmosphere in the entire outer camp completely turned upside down within just a few breaths.

In the military camp, a general responsible for overseeing things also received the news, his eyes instantly sharpening.

He barely hesitated, directly speaking in a deep voice to the adjutant beside him:

"Notify the War God Temple; only the prodigies of the War God Temple have a chance to compete for the Martial Demon Inheritance."

Just then, inside the War God Temple encampment, a middle-aged man slowly raised his head, his gaze fixed intently on the constantly rising secret realm fluctuation on the projection screen in front of him.

He had a tall stature, his aura as steady as a mountain; he was the Deputy Hall Master of the War God Temple—Vice Hall Master Zhao Shanhe.

The moment the Bone Gate opened, he was the first to notice the movement.

"Trial Gate..."

Vice Hall Master Zhao Shanhe murmured, a rare ripple appearing deep in his eyes.

The next second, a War God Temple member responsible for liaison stepped forward quickly, lowering their voice to report:

"Deputy Hall Master, our personnel have already entered the secret realm."

Vice Hall Master Zhao Shanhe raised an eyebrow.

"Who?"

"Lin Mo."

Upon hearing this name, Vice Hall Master Zhao Shanhe was stunned for a moment, then his expression noticeably relaxed.

His previously tensed brow smoothed out almost instantly.

"He has already gone in?"

"Yes."

Vice Hall Master Zhao Shanhe was silent for two seconds, then actually let out a low laugh.

There was no trace of relaxation in that laughter, but rather a kind of almost certain steadiness.

"Then there's no need to worry."

The several War God Temple members around were all stunned.

Someone couldn't help but ask: "Deputy Hall Master, you mean..."

Vice Hall Master Zhao Shanhe looked up, toward the direction of the secret realm projection, his eyes carrying a clear sense of approval.

"You might not yet fully understand how monstrous this guy is."

"If this kid is already inside, the Martial Demon Inheritance will not end up in anyone else's hands."

He spoke very calmly, but it was precisely this calmness that made it appear even more certain.

Because Vice Hall Master Zhao Shanhe was not guessing.

He was making a judgment, a judgment based on absolute confidence in Lin Mo's strength.

"With Lin Mo there, the inheritance will not fall into anyone else's hands."

"Even if other forces send out all their prodigies, they might not be able to compete with him."

"At most, they're just here to join in the fun."