66: The Eight Trigrams Formation

At the same time the Myriad Sword Pavilion mobilized.

After Lin Chen and the others had completely integrated Hua Jieyu and the rest of the Hundred Flowers Valley "spoils of war," turning them into the lowest class of "gardeners."

Lin Chen then cast his gaze toward this vast, opportunity-filled... Blood-colored Hunting Ground.

"Master,"

Luo Bingli had already compiled the more detailed map intelligence "interrogated" from Hua Jieyu's Sea of Consciousness into a booklet, which she respectfully handed to Lin Chen.

"According to the intelligence, the Fallen Dragon Valley can be roughly divided into three rings."

"We are currently still in the outermost region."

"But the true opportunities and the true dangers are all in..."

Her finger pointed to the central area of the map, which was completely shrouded in blood-colored mist.

"—The inner ring and the most core 'Dragon Fall Land'."

"Mm."

Lin Chen nodded, his gaze rapidly sweeping across the map.

It quickly settled on an area at the junction of the inner and outer rings, marked "Extremely Dangerous" yet faintly exuding a hint of "mystery."

—The Dragon Bone Wasteland!

"We'll go here."

Lin Chen's finger pointed at the wasteland, his tone brooking no argument.

"Master, you must not!" A hint of worry flashed across Luo Bingli's face. "According to Hua Jieyu, the Dragon Bone Wasteland was one of the core battlefields where the Ancient Dragon Clan fought the Demon Beasts! It is infested with a large number of 'Dragon Malevolence Beasts' formed by concentrated Dragon Clan malevolence!"

"Every single one is immensely strong and impervious to weapons, with strength comparable at least to the late Golden Core stage! There are even Half-step Nascent Soul level 'Dragon Malevolence Beast Kings' present!"

"More importantly..."

Her voice grew heavier.

"In the center of that wasteland, there seems to be an Ancient Human Race ruin, an ancient city filled with ominous and strange energy! In every Grand Competition, all teams that have entered it have, without exception... mysteriously vanished!"

Luo Bingli's words, filled with gravity and a desire to dissuade them, clearly reached the ears of every female disciple of the Purple Cloud Holy Land present.

In an instant, all the beautiful faces turned deathly pale!

Half-step Nascent Soul level Dragon Malevolence Beast Kings?!

An ancient ruin that makes all intruders "mysteriously vanish"?!

Are... are you kidding me?!

This... this isn't "training"?!

This is clearly going... to die!

The high morale that had just been ignited by a great victory was instantly and completely doused by this basin of ice-cold reality!

A trace of instinctive fear and reluctance appeared on everyone's face.

Lin Chen took all of this into his sight.

There was no surprise on his face.

He knew that relying solely on one victory was not enough to completely change this group of pampered "hothouse flowers."

To make them truly transform into "Queens" who could be used by him.

He still needed to give them a dose of... strong medicine!

He slowly stood up from the main seat.

He did not deliver an impassioned "pre-war speech" like he had last time.

He simply walked quietly to the front of the Flying Boat's deck and slowly scanned every reluctant female disciple present with his eyes, which were as deep as the sea of stars.

Then, with a voice that was unquestionable yet strangely "infectious," he slowly began:

"I ask you."

"Are you afraid?"

Hearing this, everyone subconsciously lowered their heads, afraid to meet his gaze.

"Very good."

Lin Chen nodded, his face showing no sign of emotion.

"It is normal to be afraid."

"Because you are weak."

"The weak will be beaten."

"The weak will be eliminated."

"This is the most fundamental rule of this world."

His voice was not loud.

Yet it struck the hearts of every female disciple like the heaviest war drum!

Causing a flush of shame to instantly appear on their pale faces!

"You think,"

Lin Chen's voice suddenly rose! Filled with endless dominance and ruthlessness!

"Do you think you are safe hiding here, avoiding the Dragon Bone Wasteland?"

"Do you think you can survive until the end just by staying safely in the outer perimeter and picking up scraps that others don't want?"

"Naive!"

He pointed at the "newly promoted gardeners"—Hua Jieyu and the others—who had long been forgotten by them in the distance!

A cold light flickered in his eyes!

"Do you see?"

"That is what awaits you!"

"In the game of this 'Blood-colored Hunting Ground,' there is no such thing as a 'safe zone'!"

"If you don't become the 'hunters'!"

"You can only become the 'prey'... harvested at will by others!"

"I, Lin Chen, never lead trash!"

"And I absolutely will not keep... cowards who lack the courage to face danger!"

His voice was filled with supreme, bewitching magic!

"Now!"

"I give you one last chance to choose!"

"Are you willing to follow me to the most dangerous place to personally tear apart those so-called 'legends' and seize the 'Great Opportunity' that can allow you to ascend in a single step!"

"Or will you leave my team now, find a corner you deem 'safe' to hide in, and then pray not to be discovered by other 'hunters'?"

"Who agrees?!"

"Who opposes?!"

"Those unwilling may act alone!"

Silence.

Deathly silence.

All the female disciples of the Purple Cloud Holy Land stared blankly at the man who was bathed in the blood-colored sunset, seemingly declaring war on the entire world!

They were still afraid.

They were still very reluctant.

But!

When they thought of the unfathomable wisdom and terrifying strength this man had previously displayed!

When they thought about leaving this man's protection and acting alone to face the wolf-like "hunters" from the Myriad Sword Pavilion and the Crimson Sun Divine Palace!

Their previously wavering hearts began, uncontrollably... to lean toward him!

That's right... following him was dangerous, but at least there was a sliver of hope... of creating a miracle!

But leaving him... only guaranteed one hundred percent... death!

Finally.

Someone, whose identity was unknown, was the first to shout out hoarsely in a trembling voice filled with "abandonment"!

"I... I am willing... to follow the Saint!"

This shout was like lighting the fuse of a powder keg!

Instantly detonating the entire scene!

"I... I am willing too!"

"Rather than being hunted down miserably! It's better to follow the Saint and fight fiercely!"

Although they were still reluctant.

Although they were still afraid.

They ultimately chose...—to obey Lin Chen's command!

Looking at this group of "Queens" who had finally been completely tied to his "chariot."

A satisfied smile finally appeared on Lin Chen's face.

He slowly turned around and sat back down on the main seat.

He issued the final battle command in an unquestionable tone!

"All personnel heed the order!"

"Target—"

"The Dragon Bone Wasteland!"

"Move out!"

Under Lin Chen's unquestionable command, the Purple Cloud Holy Land team officially set foot on the Dragon Bone Wasteland, a place filled with unknowns and dangers.

Within this restricted area, shrouded by the Ancient Dragon Clan's resentment and featuring extremely unstable space, any Flying Magical Artifact would be severely interfered with, or even directly torn to shreds by the omnipresent Spatial Rifts.

They could only rely on the most primitive method... walking.

Stepping down onto the scorched black earth, which seemed to be soaked in blood, produced a "creaking" sound.

The air was filled with a strange smell mixing decay and blood.

The pale, Blood Moon in the sky, like an emotionless demonic eye, silently gazed down upon these tiny beings who had intruded into the "land of death."

"Gulp..."

Many young female disciples in the team subconsciously swallowed, their pretty faces etched with fear and unease.

They tightly gripped the Spiritual Swords in their hands, following closely behind Lin Chen, as if only his composed figure could grant them a sliver of security.

And at the very front of the team.

Followed a group of special "prisoners."

—Ten Hundred Flowers Valley disciples, led by Hua Jieyu, whose cultivation had been crippled but who had miraculously survived.

They were strung together by a chain condensed from spiritual power, staggering behind the team like a group of livestock about to be sent to the altar.

Although Lin Chen intended to use them as flower fertilizer, merely having them walk along would be tantamount to protecting them.

Therefore, they needed to maximize their value, which was to walk ahead and scout the path.

At this moment, Lin Ziyan looked at Hua Jieyu and couldn't help but urge them on with her sword hilt.

"What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and walk faster, check if there's danger ahead. If it weren't for our Saint's kindness, you would have lost your lives long ago."

"Is this how you repay our Saint, by dragging your feet?"

Lin Ziyan's words, full of sarcasm and delight, pierced the hearts of Hua Jieyu and the ten Hundred Flowers Valley disciples like the sharpest ice pick!

"You!"

A more hot-tempered Hundred Flowers Valley disciple immediately lost her temper!

She abruptly turned around, her eyes, already filled with fear, were reignited by endless fury. She glared fiercely at Ziyan, about to curse her out!

However!

Before she could speak.

Hua Jieyu, walking beside her, suddenly "stumbled" as if by accident, slamming heavily into her body!

At the same time, a cold, warning glance swept over her from the corner of Hua Jieyu's eye!

The hot-tempered disciple instantly froze, as if struck by lightning!

She understood the meaning in her Senior Sister's eyes.

—Patience!

She could only grit her teeth tightly, swallowing the curse that reached her lips, along with blood, forcing it back down!

Then she lowered her head again, continuing to scout the path ahead humiliatingly, like a dog.

After stopping her Junior Sister's impulse, Hua Jieyu.

Not only did her face show no anger, but she "just right" revealed a fawning smile full of "humility" and "flattery."

She turned her head, bowed and scraped toward Lin Ziyan, and even toward Lin Chen in the distance who hadn't even glanced at them, saying:

"Fairy, you are absolutely right, absolutely right."

"It was us who were slow, we deserve to die."

"We will speed up immediately, and scout the dangers ahead for Holy Son Lord!"

After speaking, she actually took the initiative to speed up, even using her crippled body to push aside the highly poisonous thorns blocking the path ahead!

That appearance of "utter loyalty" and "working without complaint" caused the female disciples of the Purple Cloud Holy Land behind them to burst into scornful laughter.

"Hmph! A bunch of spineless wretches!"

"They surrendered already? How boring."

However.

They did not know.

The moment Hua Jieyu lowered her head to continue "scouting."

All the smiles on her face, which had been full of "humility" and "flattery," vanished without a trace!

Replaced by a cold, viper-like... sinister malice and resentment!

A sound condensed by a Secret Technique, audible only to Hundred Flowers Valley disciples, quietly rang out in the minds of the other nine "prisoners."

(All of you, hold it in!)

Her voice was cold and filled with unquestionable command!

(Now is not the time for us to act!)

(That man's strength is unfathomable! If we clash head-on, we only have a road to death!)

(But! Don't forget!)

(Where is this?!)

(This is the Dragon Bone Wasteland! It is the place in the entire Fallen Dragon Valley where the Poisonous Malevolence Qi is most concentrated! To others, this is a Death Gate dead end! But for us in the Hundred Flowers Valley...)

A trace of manic, pathological excitement flashed in her eyes!

("—This is our... home ground!")

(The terrain of this wasteland secretly conforms to the Daoist 'Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams,' and the flow of malevolence is unpredictable! Aside from us, who possess the 'Hundred Flowers Poison Body' and are naturally 'compatible' with all poisons, it is impossible for anyone to find the sole 'Life Gate' within this Death Gate!)

(Let them be smug for a little longer!)

(Let them order us around like dogs!)

(We will use them to block those annoying Dragon Malevolence Beasts!)

(Once we find that "path of life" and enter the "Land of Opportunity" that only we can enter...)

A viper-like, cruel, sinister smile flashed in Hua Jieyu's eyes!

("—At that time, I will personally turn this "path of life" into the "road of death"... that buries all of them!)

(I will make that man kneel at my feet and endure the Pain of Ten Thousand Poisonous Insects Devouring the Heart!!)

Lin Chen, however, seemed completely unaware of the "Little Schemes" in the hearts of these "prisoners."

He merely walked quietly at the rear of the team.

Using his deep eyes, which had already activated the Moonlight Divine Pupils, he calmly observed this Death Wasteland, filled with "Dao" and "Devil."

Stepping down on the scorched black earth caused a trace of purplish-black malevolence, invisible to the naked eye, to rise up.

The air was filled with a decaying scent mixing Dragon Clan resentment and Ancient Demonic Qi.

In the distance, the gigantic Dragon Bones, like mountain ranges, cast distorted, clawing shadows under the pale, Blood Moon, resembling ghosts.

In the eyes of the other Purple Cloud Holy Land disciples, this was a chaotic purgatory filled with unknowns and dangers.

But!

Under Lin Chen's Moonlight Divine Pupils!

The entire world shed its facade of "chaos," revealing its deepest layer—the Fundamental Laws, filled with "order" and "Dao Rhyme"!

He saw that the undulations of the Dragon Bone Wasteland's terrain, the distribution of the Dragon Bones, and the circulation of malevolence... secretly conformed to the supreme "Innate Eight Trigrams" Formation of Daoist legend!

Those seemingly disorderly gigantic Dragon Bones were, in fact, the "Formation Bases" constituting this "Natural Grand Formation"!

They divided the entire world into eight regions—Qian, Kan, Gen, Zhen, Xun, Li, Kun, and Dui—each filled with "malevolence" of different attributes!

And the Eight Trigrams further derived the Eight Gates: Open, Rest, Life, Harm, Delay, View, Scenery, and Death!

"So... that's how it is."