196: Chapter 196 The Black Lotus Ancient Bridge, a Surge of Killing Intent!

The sound of a Dragon roar exploded across the Inner Sea.

Black waves rolled up layer after layer, battering the black lotuses until they trembled chaotically.

Aotian stood on the crest of a wave, the fist wound on his chest yet to recover, his expression terrifyingly cold.

He raised his hand and brushed it, and the dark gold Dragon patterns on his palm lit up.

The black lotuses capsizing on the sea surface suddenly turned in unison.

One after another, the lotus petals opened, and black light connected into a line.

Soon, an ancient bridge paved with black lotuses lay horizontally between everyone and the ancient desolate hall.

The bridge body was narrow and long, with black water surging beneath it.

Every lotus pedestal looked like a mouth quietly waiting for someone.

Xu Chen felt his eyelids twitch wildly as he watched, clutching the ancient desolate hall tightly.

"Big Brother, this bridge doesn't look like a proper bridge at all."

"This isn't an invitation for us to cross; it's clearly setting a table, just waiting for us to be served as the dish!"

Chu Wanqing pressed down on her imperial zither and glared at him.

"Xu Chen, can you stop talking for a bit?"

"Every time you open your mouth, I feel like things are going to get worse."

Xu Chen was immediately unconvinced.

"Wanqing, that's called prejudice."

"This is pre-battle analysis; it's all about being prepared for a rainy day. It's professional!"

Lin Yi looked at the black lotus ancient bridge, the Grandmist immortal light flowing in the depths of his eyes.

Within every lotus petal on the bridge, fine Dao Patterns were hidden.

These Dao Patterns would not only kill people but also lure them into illusions.

First, make people lose their focus, then let the things under the bridge take a bite.

The trick is old, but it excels in ruthlessness!

Aotian watched the group coldly, his tone carrying a hint of mockery.

"The Dao Fruit is inside the hall."

"If you want to take it, then cross the bridge."

"If you can't even cross this bridge, are you even worthy of touching things left behind by the Empress?"

Xu Chen flipped out on the spot, shouting at the top of his lungs:

"You bug, stop acting like a big shot Dragon over there!"

"If you have the ability, come down here; stop pulling these fancy tricks!"

Aotian's slit pupils turned, and murderous intent fell upon Xu Chen.

"In a while, I will tear your mouth off first."

Xu Chen immediately shrank behind Lin Yi, then poked half his head out.

"Big Brother, he's threatening me."

"This cannot be tolerated!"

Chu Wanqing was almost amused to the point of laughter.

"You're faster than anyone when it comes to cursing, but as soon as you're threatened, you hide behind Brother Lin Yi?"

Xu Chen was righteous and confident.

"This is called tactical positioning."

Lin Yi ignored their bickering and just raised his hand to stop everyone.

"This bridge can generate illusions."

"Everyone, remember to guard your mind."

"Qingyue, cast a spell to protect everyone. Wanqing, take responsibility for the things under the bridge. Xu Chen, guard the rear."

Shen Qingyue nodded gently, and the Primordial Qi in her palm spread out.

A faint circle of Primordial halo protected everyone around her.

Chu Wanqing hooked her fingertips onto the strings, her tone devoid of her usual playfulness.

"Rest assured."

"Whoever dares to pounce from the side, this Young Miss will play a funeral song for them first."

Xu Chen hoisted the ancient desolate hall onto his shoulder.

"Leave the rear to me."

"Whoever comes will get to experience a hall falling from the sky."

Su Yuxi gripped the Jade Slip tightly, her gaze falling on the half-hidden outline of the ancient desolate hall.

The aura inside was becoming increasingly familiar.

So familiar that it made her chest feel stifled.

Lin Yi looked at her sideways and raised his hand to clasp her wrist.

"Don't be led by the nose."

"You need to take it back, not be dragged back by it."

Su Yuxi's fingertips trembled slightly, then she nodded.

"I understand."

Lin Yi was the first to step onto the first black lotus.

The lotus pedestal sank slightly.

Black light lit up on the bridge surface, and a cold, slimy sensation came from beneath his feet.

As soon as Xu Chen stepped on it, his face turned dark.

"This feeling under my feet is like stepping on a pile of dead fish."

Chu Wanqing frowned in disgust.

"Xu Chen, can you not describe it so disgustingly?"

"I almost didn't want to keep walking."

Xu Chen looked innocent.

"Is this my fault too?"

"It is inherently disgusting."

As soon as he finished speaking, the bridge surface in front suddenly shook.

The black lotus petals closed rapidly, then opened again.

A layer of grey mist rose from the center of the lotus, instantly submerging everyone's knees.

Lin Yi did not stop his pace, his Primordial Immortal Pupil scanning across the misty surface.

"It's here! Everyone, be careful!"

The grey mist surged.

The surrounding scene changed abruptly.

The original Inner Sea disappeared.

Suddenly, a magnificent, golden palace appeared before Xu Chen's eyes.

In the center of the palace, it was piled high with Divine Source, Imperial Weapons, and Immortal Medicine.

A huge plaque hung above.

The World's Number One Treasure Vault.

Xu Chen was stunned.

He stared at the pile of treasures, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

"Good heavens."

"Who can resist this?"

The next moment, he suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself across the face.

Slap!

The sound was crisp.

Chu Wanqing turned back to look at him, her eyes strange.

"Xu Chen, what are you doing?"

Xu Chen covered his face and spoke through gritted teeth.

"I'm afraid that if I get impulsive, I'll sell myself to the illusion."

"This slap was worth it."

Chu Wanqing laughed.

"You're quite ruthless to yourself."

Xu Chen sucked in a cold breath.

"No choice."

"Poverty makes me sober."

On Chu Wanqing's side, images also appeared in the grey mist.

She saw the Chu Family Ancestral Land, the clan assembly hall.

All those cold stares and doubts from the past had been replaced by kowtowing and flattery.

Countless people shouted that the Imperial daughter was peerless.

She stood at the highest point, draped in Imperial Phoenix robes.

But the next instant, the Lin Yi in the image turned and left, his back receding further and further away.

Chu Wanqing's fingertips tightened abruptly, and the strings emitted a harsh, trembling sound.

She gritted her teeth and scolded coldly.

"Fake."

"Using this kind of thing to deceive this Young Miss, you guys are too unoriginal!"

Clang!

The imperial zither exploded with sound.

The illusion was split open on the spot by the zither sound.

Before Shen Qingyue's eyes, it was within the Taichu Divine Source.

Long, endless darkness.

An empty mine vein.

The Shen Family flag was broken on the ground, and there was no one around.

She stood alone in the ruins, with no Lin Yi behind her, nor any companions.

Only blurry shadows were calling her name in the distance.

Shen Qingyue pursed her lips tightly, and the Primordial Qi in her palm slowly spread out.

"I will not be left here alone again."

"Nor will I let the truth of the Shen Family be buried in darkness again."

The Primordial halo turned.

The illusion before her shattered into large pieces of grey light.

But the most dangerous one was Su Yuxi.

The illusion before her came silently.

In an instant, Su Yuxi stood before a grey stone gate.

The world was shattered, and bones paved the long road.

Someone behind her was calling her Imperial title.

Someone was crying in the distance, begging her to retreat.

The black shadow behind the stone gate surged continuously, like a stain covering the world.

The pain and isolation of her past life were dredged up by that layer of grey mist.

Su Yuxi's breathing skipped a beat.

The Jade Slip in her hand vibrated with a hum, as if to pull her back into that old battle.

"Daoxi!"

"Seal the gate!"

"Quickly seal the gate!"

Fragmented voices squeezed in from all directions.

The black lotus beneath Su Yuxi's feet sank abruptly.

In the black water beside the bridge, several black shadows had already silently reached out.

Lin Yi reacted extremely quickly, backhanding to clasp her wrist and pulling her towards his side.

Su Yuxi bumped into his shoulder, her fingertips icy cold.

Lin Yi's palm surged with Grandmist Divine Power into her wrist, his tone crisp.

"Wake up."

"The past life is already over."

"This time, you have me by your side!"

Su Yuxi's eyelashes trembled slightly, and the grey mist in the depths of her eyes receded bit by bit.

She looked up at Lin Yi, her throat feeling as if it were blocked by a hard stone.

"I just saw that gate."

"And many people died there."

Lin Yi looked at her, his hand not letting go.

"It's all in the past."

"For the old accounts of the past, I will accompany you to settle them slowly!"