209: Chapter 209 Leading to the Pseudo-Tengen

In front of the pontoon bridge, the atmosphere fell silent for a moment.

The seawater was still rising.

The turbid, yellow water constantly slapped against the bridge's foundation. Occasionally, severed ghost hands, black feathers, and broken masks surfaced from the waves, only to be quickly sucked under the bridge.

The demons and ghosts that had been attacking everyone just moments ago were now bowing their heads, stepping onto the pontoon bridge one by one.

They no longer looked at the living.

Like a horde of unconscious lost souls.

Reinhardt did not answer Lu Cheng's question. Instead, he looked at Jinguji Ayane beside him.

"Hey."

"What's the situation now? Are you still not going to speak up?"

The Nordic Team's points weren't very high this time.

The arena battles had been completely disrupted by Lu Cheng, and they had been held back by Daitengu Island during the exploration phase, resulting in severe losses to their team.

They might not necessarily take first place in this match.

But they had to at least find a way to secure a top-two finish.

Otherwise, the Nordic Team sending their Divine Child this time would become a joke.

Jinguji Ayane stood before the entrance of the pontoon bridge, her white-and-red shrine maiden robes still stained with blood.

Hearing this, she smiled faintly.

She didn't answer immediately.

Reinhardt frowned.

"You on Sakura Island know more than we do."

"The monsters sealed in this ruin are all from your legends."

"Now that all five islands are liberated and the bridge has risen..."

"...are you still going to pretend you know nothing?"

Jinguji Ayane looked up toward the end of the pontoon bridge.

The bridge sloped upward, extending into the dark sky.

There, the faint outline of a gate could be seen.

She said softly:

"The answer is up there."

Reinhardt looked at her, and Lan Jin did the same.

Jinguji Ayane took the first step.

She stepped onto the first tier of the pontoon bridge.

Instantly, a faint white light lit up on the bridge.

The light rose from the bridge deck and fell upon her.

Like a layer of pure, sacred glow.

Jinguji Ayane's long hair floated gently, her sleeves spreading out in the light.

She did not look back.

She continued upward.

Lu Cheng watched for a few seconds before speaking:

"Follow her."

The members of the Dragon Kingdom Team immediately set off.

Reinhardt looked at the remaining two members of the Nordic Team.

"Let's go."

On the side of the Tianlan Ancient Kingdom, Lan Jin, Yue Wujiu, and Yun Qi exchanged glances before also stepping onto the pontoon bridge.

The pontoon bridge was very wide.

It was at least ten meters across.

The bridge deck was uneven, carved with ancient patterns, and cracks remained in some places.

Beneath the cracks lay a deep darkness.

The group walked all the way up the pontoon bridge.

The demons and ghosts beneath their feet grew more numerous.

These monsters bowed their heads, forming a chaotic line as they took step after step upward.

They did not attack anyone, nor did they make a sound.

There were only wet footsteps and the rustling sound of clothing dragging across the bridge deck.

Jiang Xuance watched a faceless monster pass by him, feeling a bit creeped out.

"Where on earth are they going?"

Walking in front, Jinguji Ayane said softly:

"Back inside the gate."

"They originally belonged in there."

Jiang Xuance was about to ask more when he suddenly shut his mouth.

Because he saw a gate appear in the air ahead.

The gate was extremely tall.

Embedded in the darkness, it looked as if it had grown directly out of the sky.

The gate's surface was of greyish-white stone, covered with runes, cloud patterns, snake patterns, fox patterns, and other ancient designs that Lu Cheng couldn't comprehend.

In the center of the gate was a thin slit.

A faint golden light seeped through the slit.

The light was bright, yet it felt cold.

Outside the gate stood two giant stone statues.

The left statue resembled an old man with blurred facial features, his hands pressed against a stone door, as if in charge of opening and closing it.

The right statue was heavily built with thick arms and broad shoulders, one hand propping up the doorpost and the other clenched into a fist, looking as if it could push aside mountains at any moment.

Jinguji Ayane stopped in her tracks.

She looked up at the two stone statues and said softly:

"The one on the left is the ancient god in charge of opening and closing the gate."

"The one on the right is the ancient god who opens the gate with raw strength."

Lu Cheng frowned.

"Is there such a gate in Sakura Island's mythology?"

Jinguji Ayane shook her head.

"Logically speaking, no."

"These two are related to gates, but not in this manner of guarding."

"That's why this place is called Pseudo-Takamagahara."

"It is not the original divine realm."

"It was pieced together later."

Hearing this, Xu Xinglan's eyes flickered.

"Pieced together?"

Jinguji Ayane didn't explain.

She turned to look at Lu Cheng.

"Lu Cheng."

She rarely addressed him by his full name so formally.

"I'm counting on you."

Lu Cheng looked at her.

"Now?"

"Yes."

Jinguji Ayane reached out and pressed her chest.

From beneath her collar, a slender key slowly emerged.

The key was entirely silver-white, with a red thread tied to its end, and extremely fine divine runes carved upon it.

She gripped the key and sliced her arm with its tip.

Blood flowed out.

It dripped down her fair wrist.

Soon, the entire key was stained red.

Jinguji Ayane's face turned a shade paler.

But she didn't stop.

She walked up to the stone gate and inserted the blood-stained key into the slit.

*Buzz...*

The stone gate vibrated.

The previously dim patterns on the gate lit up layer by layer.

A complex Formation spread outward from the slit, quickly covering the entire gate.

The remaining five members of the Sakura Island Team immediately stepped forward.

They formed hand seals simultaneously.

Talisman papers flew out, sticking to their chests.

In the next second, different shikigami phantoms emerged behind the five of them.

The shikigami phantoms merged into their bodies, and their Source Power instantly surged.

They raised their hands, channeling their Source Power into the Formation lines beneath Jinguji Ayane's feet.

At the same time, they stayed alert to their surroundings.

Lu Cheng looked at the gate, his brow furrowing slightly.

The water level was rising even faster now.

No.

It wasn't just the water level.

The color of the entire Wanhai Archipelago had changed.

The pillars of light on the surfaces of the five main islands in the distance began to warp.

The sky darkened completely.

The sea surface turned from greyish-yellow to a near blackish-brown.

Beneath the bridge, countless monsters suddenly stopped in their tracks.

It was as if they had caught a scent.

They all looked up at the same time.

In the next second, all the monsters turned toward Jinguji Ayane.

Jiang Xuance's face fell.

"They're coming!"

The horde of monsters went wild once more.

No longer climbing the bridge slowly, they roared and charged toward the stone gate.

Their target was very clear.

Jinguji Ayane.

The two stone statues also moved at this moment.

Stone debris rustled down from their bodies.

The left statue lowered its head, its hollow stone eyes looking down at everyone.

The right statue slowly clenched its fist.

Two ancient voices rang out simultaneously.

"No entry!"

*Boom!*

The right statue punched out.

A terrifying airwave blasted the foremost group of demons and ghosts into fragments.

The left statue pressed its hands against the gate, and a stone-like light barrier expanded in front of it, blocking the charging monsters outside.

Lu Cheng's eyes flickered.

"They're helping to clear the monsters?"

Heavenly King Lin let out a sigh of relief.

"Well, that's not bad."

Reinhardt stood at the back, his eyes flashing slightly as he watched the monsters completely bypass him and pounce straight toward Jinguji Ayane.

The remaining two members of the Nordic Team didn't make a move either.

On the side of the Tianlan Ancient Kingdom, Lan Jin stood with his arms crossed, seemingly having no intention of intervening immediately either.

From the current situation, the monsters were primarily attacking Jinguji Ayane.

And the statues were helping to clear the lesser monsters.

If they did nothing, they wouldn't face much danger.

At least not in the short term.

Seeing the other teams standing idly by, Jiang Xuance couldn't help but curse under his breath.

"Are these guys really just going to watch the show?"

Tang Zhiwei's tone was calm.

"It's normal."

"The less energy consumed now, the greater the advantage after entering the gate."

Xu Xinglan looked at Lu Cheng.

"But it won't be this simple."

Lu Cheng nodded.

"She said before that the gatekeepers might attack her."

"The real trouble hasn't started yet."

As expected.

In the next moment, the Formation lines beneath Jinguji Ayane's feet lit up completely.

She closed her eyes.

Behind her, a giant female phantom slowly emerged.

The phantom wore ancient ritual robes with wide sleeves, her long hair draping down, and her hand seemed to hold a set of sacred bells.

Her face was obscured, yet she gave off a serene and solemn feeling.

The moment she appeared, the entire stone gate shook violently.

Jinguji Ayane's face grew even paler.

Her blood continuously flowed along the key into the slit.

The Formation lines on the gate grew brighter and brighter.

Right at this moment.

The two stone statues, which had been clearing the demons and ghosts just moments ago, suddenly froze.

The left statue slowly turned its head.

The right statue clenched its fist.

Their hollow stone eyes fell simultaneously upon the giant phantom behind Jinguji Ayane.

The temperature across the entire pontoon bridge plummeted.

In the next second.

Both stone statues let out a furious roar at the same time.

"Sinner!!!"

The voice exploded.

Several cracks split across the bridge deck.

The two Sakura Island team members behind Jinguji Ayane were instantly blown back by the shockwave, blood spilling from the corners of their mouths.

The right statue took a step forward, its giant fist smashing directly toward Jinguji Ayane.

Lu Cheng's gaze darkened.

"As expected."

He took a step forward.

Holy Dragon Armament, activate.

Gold-and-white dragon scales spread from his arms to his shoulders and neck, and black-and-red flames flickered within his molten-gold pupils.

In the next instant, Flame Demon Transformation was activated.

Black-and-red flames ignited along the gaps between the dragon scales.

Lu Cheng shielded Jinguji Ayane, meeting the statue's giant fist with a punch of his own.

*Boom!*

The fists collided.

A massive shockwave erupted from the bridge deck.

The surrounding demons and ghosts were blown away in droves by the aftermath.

The stone surface beneath Lu Cheng's feet cracked, but he didn't retreat a single step.

The right statue's arm was also jolted to a halt by the punch.

Heavenly King Lin's eyes widened.

"Is this thing Commander-level?"

Xu Xinglan said in a deep voice:

"Early Stage Commander-level."

"Both of them."

Jiang Xuance's mouth twitched.

"Even the gatekeepers are Early Stage Commander-level?"

"What kind of hellhole is behind this gate?"

The left statue raised its hand.

The stone gate's light barrier transformed into a massive stone blade, slashing toward Jinguji Ayane.

Just as Gu Changqing was about to draw his sword, Lu Cheng had already turned around.

Fire Luminary Meridian erupted.

His figure trailed a golden-red streak of light across the bridge deck.

He shattered the stone blade with a single punch.

"Don't let the monsters get near her."

"Leave these two to me."

Xu Xinglan immediately replied:

"Understood."

The members of the Dragon Kingdom Team quickly adjusted their positions.

Heavenly King Lin, Ye Beihan, and Gu Changqing blocked the tide of demons and ghosts.

Tang Zhiwei used her silver needles and poison powder to seal off both sides.

Jiang Xuance and the Red-Armored Zheng were responsible for knocking away the fastest-charging monsters.

Snow Spirit leaped above Jinguji Ayane's shoulder, deploying her Twin-Tailed Star Shield to block the stray black feathers and ghost fires.

Lu Cheng had already engaged the two stone statues head-on.

These two things were indeed at the Early Stage Commander-level level.

The left statue could use the stone gate's Formation to unleash suppression and containment.

The right statue possessed astonishing raw strength, making the pontoon bridge shake with every punch it landed.

Any other Meridian Opening Realm cultivator, even a Divine Child Genius like Reinhardt, would probably have been slapped to death.

Holy Dragon Armament!

Flame Demon Transformation!

All Four Luminaries activated!

Coupled with the Battle Intent continuously forged during the Hyakki Yako earlier, his Fire Luminary Meridian was in its most blazing state.

The right statue punched down once more.

Lu Cheng raised his hand to block it head-on.

*Boom!*

A crack split open on the surface of the statue's fist.

Lu Cheng countered with a punch straight to its chest.

Gold-and-white dragon might and black-and-red flame power erupted simultaneously.

A large patch of stone skin on the statue's chest shattered.

The left statue tried to bind Lu Cheng's movements, but the moment the Formation lines beneath its feet lit up, his Yueyao Pulse had already anticipated the flow of Source Power.

Lu Cheng sidestepped to avoid the stone lock.

He stepped right in front of the left statue.

"Your turn."

He punched the statue's shoulder.

*Crack!*

Half of the statue's shoulder collapsed completely.

Jinguji Ayane hadn't expected this either.

She knew Lu Cheng would be strong.

She also knew he should be able to hold off the gatekeepers.

But she hadn't expected him to block them so effortlessly.

Those were two Early Stage Commander-level opponents.

The right statue let out a roar, slamming both arms down at once.

Flames flickered in the depths of Lu Cheng's eyes.

He did not dodge.

He compressed his Source Power into his fist.

The dragon scales on his Holy Dragon Armament lit up.

"Shatter."

He punched upward.

*Boom!*

The right statue's arms blew apart on the spot.

Immediately after, Lu Cheng shattered the bridge deck underfoot, leaping high and stomping onto the statue's chest.

His second punch came down.

The statue's chest cavity was completely blown through.

Its massive body fell backward, crashing onto the bridge deck and scattering broken stone.

The left statue pressed its hands against the gate, seemingly trying to invoke the stone gate's Formation again.

Lu Cheng turned around.

His Yueyao Pulse locked onto the Formation's core.

His Fire Luminary Meridian erupted.

His Water Luminary Meridian stabilized his body.

He punched toward the center of the left statue's brow.

*Bang!*

The statue's head split open.

A second punch.

The entire head exploded.

Losing its support, the left statue slowly knelt down in front of the gate.

Both gatekeepers had completely collapsed.

The bridge deck fell silent for a brief moment.

Even the demons and ghosts seemed stunned for a second.

Lu Cheng shook the stone dust from his hands and turned back to look at Jinguji Ayane.

"Can you still open it?"

Jinguji Ayane was dazed for a moment.

Only then did she nod gently.

"Yes."

She closed her eyes again.

The giant female phantom behind her rang the bells once more.

The Formation lines on the stone gate finally shone to their absolute limit.

The blood-stained key gradually merged into the slit.

In the next second.

The gate opened, splitting down the middle to reveal an extremely dazzling light.

The light instantly shot out, shining upon everyone.

The demons and ghosts still on the bridge deck let out silent shrieks, their bodies turning into ashes one by one.

A distant sound of wind echoed from inside the stone gate.

As if a long-lost world was breathing once more behind the gate.

Her face pale, Jinguji Ayane turned to look at everyone.

"Hurry, get in!"

Lu Cheng did not hesitate.

"Go!"

The Dragon Kingdom Team was the first to charge into the light.

Jinguji Ayane followed closely behind.

Reinhardt, Lan Jin, and the others exchanged glances and immediately followed suit.

The light behind the gate swallowed everyone up.

Atop the pontoon bridge, the seawater rose frantically.

Countless demons and ghosts knelt outside the light, as if seeing them off, or perhaps waiting for the next time the gate would open.