178: Enter the secret realm

The Wolf Clan, certain Loose Cultivators with ulterior motives, and even some small-to-mid-sized factions were all frantically attacking those eligible candidates who were alone or weak. Blood and death stimulated everyone's nerves.

The Army Breaker Manor camp finally faced an assault as well.

Over a dozen Martial Artists with crazed looks, excluded by the rules, had been incited by someone unknown. They charged fearlessly toward Xiao Zhan and the three young armored soldiers behind him. Their goal was clear—even if they couldn't enter, they would delay the geniuses of Army Breaker Manor or even severely wound them!

"Seeking death."

Xiao Zhan finally moved.

He didn't even draw his saber; he simply took a step forward.

A terrifying Aura of iron-blooded slaughter, as if thousands of troops were charging into battle, erupted! The faint sound of clashing metal and galloping horses echoed in the air, and invisible Evil Qi crashed toward those dozen-plus Martial Artists like a raging tide!

The three people at the very front felt as if they had hit an iron wall. Their bodies shook violently, their faces turned deathly pale, and blood actually seeped from their seven orifices as they stumbled backward. Those behind them also felt their Qi and blood churning, and their offensive came to a halt.

In that moment of hesitation—

"Pojun Guard, Arrowhead Formation, pierce through!"

Xiao Zhan's cold voice rang out.

The three young armored soldiers behind him responded in unison: "Understood!"

The three instantly formed a sharp triangular formation. Saber light flashed like snow and their Evil Qi linked together, acting like a red-hot knife stabbing ruthlessly into the chaotic crowd of enemies!

Wherever the saber light passed, severed limbs flew and screams followed. Individually, these three young armored soldiers were already experts at the Initial Stage of the Flood Dragon Tendon Realm; once in their battle formation, their power multiplied, making them invincible!

However, there were also two desperadoes at the Initial Stage of the Iron Bone Realm within the enemy crowd. They grinned savagely and stepped forward, attempting to use their higher Realm to suppress and stop this sharp blade.

Seeing this, Chen Linsheng's eyes flickered.

He wasn't far from the Army Breaker Manor's battle group. At this moment, two Northern Desert Wolf Clan warriors and three Loose Cultivators were charging at him with bloodshot eyes, clearly marking him as their next target.

With a quick thought, Chen Linsheng changed his footwork. He stopped entangling with them and instead led his pursuers toward the flank of the Army Breaker Manor's battle group.

Simultaneously, he called out loudly, "Captain Xiao, leave those two on the left with the chain hammers to me!"

His voice was clear and resonant, cutting through the sounds of slaughter to reach Xiao Zhan's ears clearly.

Xiao Zhan's gaze was like lightning as it swept over Chen Linsheng, then glimpsed the pursuers behind him and the two Iron Bone Realm desperadoes on the flank preparing to pincer the Army Breaker Manor formation. He instantly understood Chen Linsheng's intention.

He nodded slightly and barked, "The right side is yours. Three breaths!"

Before his voice finished echoing, he shot out like an arrow from a bow toward the three Martial Artists on the right trying to surround the young armored soldiers. Before he even arrived, a condensed, physical-looking snowy saber-light burst through the air. The Saber Intent was so bone-chilling that it caused the surrounding temperature to plummet!

Having received a response, Chen Linsheng did not hesitate further.

He suddenly accelerated, dodging a scimitar slash from behind. He struck out with his left palm using the "Suppressing the Mountain" seal, sending a blocking Loose Cultivator flying while vomiting blood. His right fingers flicked repeatedly, sending several streaks of condensed Qi through the air to accurately strike the wrists of the two desperadoes on the left who were swinging chain hammers and preparing to ambush the flank of the Army Breaker Manor formation!

"Ah!" Sharp pain shot through their wrists, and the momentum of their chain hammers slowed.

In that brief pause, Chen Linsheng cut in like a swimming fish. Both his palms struck out, pale gold palm prints flying as he drew the two into combat.

Although these two at the Initial Stage of the Iron Bone Realm had the advantage in Realm, their Martial Skills were crude, and their willpower couldn't compare to Chen Linsheng's. Under the majestic palm force of the Mountain Suppressing Seal combined with Python Dragon Strength, they were beaten into a wretched state with their Qi and blood scattered in less than five moves.

On the other side, Xiao Zhan's saber moved like a Dragon. Within three breaths, he killed two and severely wounded one, completely eliminating the threat on the right. The pressure on the three young armored soldiers vanished, and their saber formation moved again, forcing the remaining enemies to retreat in defeat.

Chen Linsheng also seized the Opportunity, landing a heavy palm on one desperado's chest, shattering his sternum and killing him instantly. The other was scared out of his wits; he feinted a move, turned, and fled, disappearing into the chaotic crowd in an instant.

In just a brief exchange, the threat to the Army Breaker Manor's flank was gone.

Xiao Zhan stood with his saber sheathed, looking at Chen Linsheng. A rare, faint look of approval appeared on his stern face, and he gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Chen Linsheng cupped his hands in return, saying nothing more.

Though they had only teamed up briefly, their cooperation was seamless and their efficiency startling. This was a result of keen judgment of the situation on a chaotic battlefield and trust in the strength of an equal expert.

Just then—

"Rumble..."

On the main peak of Chiyan Mountain, the tightly closed stone gate of "Fentian Valley" suddenly vibrated violently!

The flaming characters above the lintel shone brightly, and the magma patterns on the surface of the stone gate began to flow and burn frantically like a waking Great Dragon! Blinding crimson light burst from the cracks of the door, bathing the platform at the foot of the mountain in blood-red light!

An ancient, vast, and intensely hot Aura, like a volcano that had slept for eons suddenly erupting, surged out from behind the stone gate!

"The portal is opening!"

"The Opportunity is right before us!"

"Charge!"

All the fighting seemed to hit a pause button at this moment. Whether they were currently engaged in combat or observing from the shadows, everyone's eyes were fixed on that stone gate radiating ten thousand beams of light.

Longing, greed, madness... all sorts of emotions were intertwined on every face.

"Crack... Crack..."

The massive stone gate slowly opened inward, revealing a gap!

An even more brilliant red light, like a physical torrent of flame, poured out from the gap. The scorching heat wave made those within dozens of yards of the gate feel a stinging pain on their skin and difficulty breathing.

But no one retreated.

"Enter!"

Someone roared, and the crowd instantly boiled over!

The dozens of eligible young Martial Artists closest to the gate were like sharks scenting blood. With bloodshot eyes, they burst forth with full speed, scrambling to be the first to charge into the widening gap!

The three young armored soldiers of Army Breaker Manor looked toward Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Zhan said in a deep voice, "Remember your mission. Come back alive."

"Yes!" The three responded in unison, their figures moving like lightning as they merged into the charging crowd.

The young Shaman of the Northern Desert Wolf Clan waved his hand slightly, and four young warriors (including the one who had been briefly bandaged) growled and leaped out like a pack of wolves.

The young geniuses of Tingtao Academy, Qiushui Sword Sect, and other factions all displayed their Movement Techniques and rushed toward the stone gate.

Even more Loose Cultivators swarmed forward like a bursting dam.

Chen Linsheng took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart.

The crimson flame great peng feather in his robe was burning hot, its resonance with the Aura surging from behind the stone gate reaching its peak.

Now or never!

He fully unleashed his Crane Ape Illusory Wind Steps, his body turning into a blurred cyan-grey afterimage. He dodged several Martial Artists who were sabotaging each other in their scramble and, like a fish swimming against the current, precisely and swiftly pierced through the chaotic crowd to approach the stone gate.

The scorching curtain of light was right before his eyes. The world behind the gate was a blur of crimson; he couldn't see it clearly, only feeling that boundless sense of antiquity and heat.

Without hesitation, Chen Linsheng leaped forward. Like a moth to a flame or a weary bird returning to its nest, he resolutely charged into that crimson curtain of light that swallowed everything!

His figure was instantly submerged in the red light and vanished.