242: Chapter 242 The Deadly Intent in the Bone Swamp and the Gray Fog

Black Earth Immortal Domain, thirty thousand miles west of Crushed Stone City.

A massive black warship sliced through the sky, leaving a long trail of air currents beneath the dark red clouds. On the deck of the warship, the wind howled, but it was no longer just filled with sand; instead, it carried a nauseating stench of decay and a faint gray haze.

Zhou Wannian (alias Li Feiyu) stood at the bow, his green robes fluttering loudly in the gale. His gaze pierced through the thickening gray mist ahead, casting toward that legendary land of death—the [Rotten Bone Swamp].

"What dense Evil Qi."

Zhou Wannian frowned slightly. When his Divine Sense extended only a hundred feet beyond the ship, he felt a needle-like prickling pain. This gray mist not only blocked vision but could even corrode Divine Sense.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, how do you feel?"

Stone Breaking Void had approached him at some unknown point, fiddling with two pitch-black iron orbs in his hand, which made a dull clacking sound as they turned. A hearty smile remained on his face, but in Zhou Wannian's eyes, this smile seemed exceptionally fake.

"It lives up to its reputation." Zhou Wannian withdrew his gaze and said indifferently, "This gray mist seems to contain some extremely chaotic spatial Laws. If one were to barge in recklessly, even a Golden Immortal might lose their way."

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Zhou truly has a keen eye!"

Stone Breaking Void laughed loudly, pointing at the seemingly endless gray ocean ahead.

"This Rotten Bone Swamp is a spatial rift left behind when the 'Demon Realm' and the 'Gray Realm' intersected long ago. The 'Gray Beasts' inside are incredibly ferocious and do not fear Spells; only the power of the Physical Body and special Immortal Artifacts can cause them harm."

At this point, Stone Breaking Void gave Zhou Wannian a meaningful look.

"I see that Fellow Daoist Zhou's aura is restrained, and your Physical Body seems quite formidable. If we encounter a Gray Beast attack later, we will have to rely on your strength."

"Using me as a thug?" Zhou Wannian sneered inwardly but nodded without showing any emotion.

"Since I have accepted the City Lord's payment, I, Li, will naturally do my best."

...The warship continued forward for about half an hour, and the surrounding light darkened completely.

The ground below had disappeared, replaced by a vast swamp bubbling with black gas. Withered giant trees stood twisted in the mire like ghostly hands reaching out from Hell. Occasionally, massive shadows swam rapidly beneath the mud, kicking up waves of foul-smelling ripples.

The atmosphere on the ship became somber.

Besides Stone Breaking Void and Zhou Wannian, seven Golden Immortal Cultivators stood on the deck.

Three of them were Stone Breaking Void's trusted aides, dressed in uniform black armor with cold auras. The other four were Loose Cultivators 'recruited' like Zhou Wannian: an old woman holding a Dragon-Headed Cane (Golden Immortal Early Stage), a burly man carrying a giant sword (Golden Immortal Early Stage), and a pair of flamboyantly dressed, intimate Dao Companions (both Golden Immortal Early Stage).

These four had clearly also sensed the peril of their surroundings, maintaining a wary distance from each other while also harboring a faint wariness toward Stone Breaking Void.

"Everyone!"

Stone Breaking Void suddenly shouted, breaking the silence.

"Ahead is the core region of the swamp—the [Ten Thousand Bone Cave]. That ancient ruin is located within the cave. However, for this final stretch, the warship cannot pass. The flight-prohibiting Restrictions there are extremely powerful; we must descend and proceed on foot."

"On foot?"

The burly man carrying the giant sword's expression changed, and he said in a booming voice:

"City Lord Stone, the mud in this swamp is 'Immortal-Dissolving Mud' that can even foul immortal spiritual power. If we lose the protection of the warship and encounter a beast tide..."

"Wealth is found amidst danger."

Stone Breaking Void interrupted him, a flash of unquestionable cold light in his eyes.

"This City Lord has already prepared 'Clear Spirit Pills' to ward off poison and 'Water-Parting Beads' to repel water. As long as you all follow my command, I guarantee your safety."

Having said that, he waved his hand, and several subordinates immediately distributed Medicinal Pills and Magic Treasures.

Zhou Wannian took a pill and sniffed it at the tip of his nose.

"Tie Zhu, analyze the components."

"Analysis complete. Ingredients: Clear Spirit Grass, Detoxification Flower... The primary effect is indeed detoxification. However, it is mixed with a hidden 'Spirit-Attracting Powder.' It is non-toxic but will emit a special fragrance after twelve hours that only specific Yao Beasts can smell."

"Bait to attract monsters?"

A barely perceptible mocking curve formed at the corner of Zhou Wannian's mouth.

This Stone Breaking Void truly had no good intentions. He intended to use these Loose Cultivators as live targets to draw the Gray Beasts' fire so he could pass safely?

"Interesting."

Zhou Wannian calmly swallowed the pill, but the moment it entered his throat, a surge of green flames (green bamboo bee cloud sword Sword Intent-derived Pill Fire) incinerated the 'Spirit-Attracting Powder,' leaving only the pure medicinal power.

"Move!"

Stone Breaking Void was the first to fly out of the warship, descending toward the mist below.

Although everyone harbored doubts, since they had already come this far, they could only steel themselves and follow... "Squelch—"

Feet stepped onto the soft, rotting earth, making a tooth-aching sound.

Everyone propped up their protective immortal light, cautiously gliding through the low air three feet above the ground. The surrounding gray mist was so thick it wouldn't dissipate, and Divine Sense could only probe fifty feet around.

" careful!"

Suddenly, the female Cultivator of the pair walking in front let out a startled cry.

"Splash!"

The mire beneath her feet suddenly exploded, and a scarlet tongue as thick as a bucket and covered in barbs shot out like lightning, instantly wrapping around her ankle.

"Husband, save me!"

The female Cultivator's face paled as she summoned a pink Flying Sword to slash at the tongue.

"Clang!"

The Flying Sword struck the tongue, unexpectedly producing a crisp metallic sound with sparks flying everywhere, yet it didn't even break the skin.

"Roar—!!"

The mud churned as a giant beast, as large as a small mountain with a toad-like head and covered in corrosive slime, emerged.

Golden Immortal Middle Stage Vicious Beast—[Rotten Swamp Poison Toad].

"Prodigy, you seek death!"

The male Cultivator was enraged upon seeing this and spat out a burst of intense flames.

But when the flames landed on the poison toad, not only did they fail to burn it, they instead infuriated it. The poison toad opened its massive mouth, and a cloud of gray toxic mist gushed out.

"Argh!!"

The male Cultivator's protective immortal light was instantly corroded, creating a large hole. Half of his body turned black instantly, and he was sent flying back with a scream.

"This is a tough one! It's a mutated Gray Beast! It's immune to Spells!"

The old woman screamed in terror, her Dragon-Headed Cane transforming into a black Dragon, but she only dared to hover nearby and did not dare to fight head-on.

"Fellow Daoist Li! Why have you not acted yet?!"

Stone Breaking Void stood on a distant boulder with his hands behind his back, showing no intention of intervening. Instead, he looked at Zhou Wannian with a hint of testing in his eyes.

He was forcing Zhou Wannian to reveal his hand.

Zhou Wannian's heart was as clear as a mirror.

Although this poison toad was fierce, it was not invincible for a Golden Immortal Middle Stage. Stone Breaking Void wanted to see how much weight this so-called 'fugitive from the North Cold Immortal Domain' actually carried.

"Since the City Lord has given the order."

Zhou Wannian took a step forward.

He did not summon a Flying Sword, nor did he use those signature Divine Abilities.

He simply... clenched his fist.

"Hum—"

His right arm instantly swelled a size larger, and a layer of faint golden light surfaced on the skin, with golden scale patterns faintly visible (a disguised version of the True Dragon Body).

"Vile creature."

Zhou Wannian's figure moved like a ghost through the toxic mist, ignoring the poison that was enough to corrode a Golden Immortal's Physical Body.

Before the poison toad could react, he had already appeared above its head.

"Go down."

He threw a punch.

"Bang!!!"

A dull, massive sound rang out, like a heavy hammer striking a drum.

That massive Rotten Swamp Poison Toad didn't even have time to scream before its huge head was punched directly into its chest cavity.

Its massive body, like a pile of rotten mud, crashed heavily into the depths of the swamp, kicking up mud everywhere.

A one-hit kill.

Dead silence filled the area.

The few Loose Cultivators who were still struggling were all dumbfounded, looking at the man suspended in mid-air with his green robes spotless, their eyes filled with awe.

Pure physical strength!

One punch to insta-kill a mutated Gray Beast of the Golden Immortal Middle Stage?!

Is this the terror of a Body Cultivator?

Stone Breaking Void's pupils shrank slightly in the distance, and the wariness deep in his eyes intensified.

"Good! Fellow Daoist Li truly possesses unparalleled Divine Power!"

Stone Breaking Void clapped and laughed loudly, masking the gloom in his eyes.

"With Fellow Daoist Li leading the way, this trip is secure!"

Zhou Wannian shook the mucus off his hands and returned to the group with a calm expression.

"Just good luck, I hit a vital spot."

Luck?

Everyone complained in their hearts: Your luck is good enough to punch a Golden Immortal Yao Beast's head into its stomach?

After this interlude, the people who had previously looked down on Zhou Wannian were now respectful, even implicitly following his lead.

Only Zhou Wannian knew that he hadn't even used thirty percent of his strength in that punch.

His true trump cards—the xuantian spirit slaying sword, the true word treasure wheel, and the Gold Devouring Insect King—none had been revealed... The team continued deeper.

As they went further, the gray mist thickened, and the surrounding spatial cracks became denser.

Finally, after passing through a forest filled with white bones, a massive black altar appeared ahead.

The altar was octagonal, made entirely of an unknown black crystal, covered in ancient and obscure runes. In the center of the altar floated a gray light ball about a zhang in diameter, with a rotating black vortex faintly visible inside.

A suffocating Gray Realm Evil Qi continuously poured out from that vortex.

A Gray Realm Node.

"We've arrived!"

A hint of fanaticism flashed in Stone Breaking Void's eyes.

"This is the entrance to that ancient ruin! Just pass through this node, and we can enter the 'Taiyi Immortal Abode'!"

"Taiyi Immortal Abode?"

The burly man carrying a giant sword swallowed hard, looking greedily at the light ball.

"Is there really a Taiyi Legacy?"

"Absolutely certain."

Stone Breaking Void nodded, then looked at the several confidants behind him.

"Activate the Formation! Stabilize the node!"

"Yes!"

Three Black-armored Cultivators quickly occupied three corners of the altar, casting series of hand seals. The runes on the altar began to light up, and the previously unstable gray vortex gradually smoothed out.

"Everyone, the node is open. Who goes first?"

Stone Breaking Void looked at the four Loose Cultivators and made a 'please' gesture.

The four looked at each other; though greedy, none dared to gamble with their lives.

"What? Wealth is sought in danger. Now that you're at the door, you don't dare enter?" Stone Breaking Void sneered.

"I'll go!"

The burly man, relying on his thick skin and resilience, gritted his teeth and stepped forward.

"The bold gorge themselves, while the timid starve!"

His body flickered, turning into a streak of light charging toward the gray vortex.

However.

Just as he was about to touch the vortex.

"Hum—"

The runes on the altar suddenly turned blood-red!

The originally calm vortex suddenly erupted with a terrifying suction force.

"Ah!!"

The burly man screamed as his body was forcibly pulled and distorted in mid-air by that suction.

"What is this?! This isn't a teleportation Formation! This is a sacrificial Formation!!"

The burly man looked back in horror, wanting to escape, but his body was no longer under his control.

"Stone Breaking Void! You dare plot against me!!"

"Humph."

Stone Breaking Void stood outside the altar, the smile on his face turning completely sinister.

"If you want to blame someone, blame your own greed."

"This node has long been damaged. To open it, we must use the essence blood and Nascent Soul of Golden Immortal Cultivators for a 'Blood Sacrifice' to pave the way!"

"The four of you are the best sacrifices!"

"Do it!"

At his command, the three Black-armored Cultivators acted simultaneously, three black chains shooting out from the Formation, instantly binding the other three Loose Cultivators who wanted to flee.

"No! Mercy!!"

"Stone Breaking Void! You will die a horrible death!"

The pair of Dao Companions and the old woman struggled desperately, but against the well-prepared Formation, their resistance was futile.

In an instant, the four Golden Immortals were dragged toward the greedy vortex.

"Fellow Daoist Li!"

Stone Breaking Void turned his head, his gaze locking onto Zhou Wannian, who had been standing on the edge, seemingly stunned.

"Don't you just stand there idle."

"Your Physical Body is so powerful; if used for Blood Sacrifice, this passage will surely remain stable for a hundred years!"

"For the future of the Black Earth Immortal Domain, please, Fellow Daoist Li... go to your death!"

Stone Breaking Void changed his hand seal, and the largest blood-red chain on the altar shot toward Zhou Wannian like a venomous snake.

It was a complete slaughter.

However.

Facing this killing blow.

Zhou Wannian didn't run, nor did he panic.

He even... smiled.

"Blood Sacrifice?"

Zhou Wannian looked at the incoming chain and shook his head gently.

"City Lord Stone, your vision is too small."

"You want to use us as Blood Sacrifices to open the way."

"While I..."

Zhou Wannian flicked his sleeve.

A jade ruler, entirely emerald green and emitting a faint glow, appeared in his hand.

The heaven measuring ruler.

"I want to borrow your Formation to catch a ride."

"Go!"

Zhou Wannian didn't attack Stone Breaking Void but instead slammed the heaven measuring ruler into the ground beneath his feet.

"Tie Zhu, initiate 'Formation Reversal Program'!"

"Spatial Coordinates... correction!"

"true word treasure wheel, appear!"

Boom!

A golden wheel emerged behind him, seventy-two groups of Dao patterns burning wildly.

"Time... acceleration!"

Not accelerating himself, but accelerating the vortex that was devouring everyone!

"Buzz—!!!"

The Blood Sacrifice Formation, originally running steadily, instantly went out of control under the interference of the Time Law.

The gray vortex began to expand wildly, its suction force increasing tenfold in an instant!

"What?!"

Stone Breaking Void's expression changed drastically.

"What are you doing?! Do you want to destroy this place?!"

"No."

Zhou Wannian formed hand seals, and the heaven measuring ruler emitted a brilliant green light, directly enveloping him and Stone Breaking Void.

"I just want to invite City Lord Stone..."

"To go on this journey together."

"Close Yet Worlds Apart!"

Swish!

Space folded.

Stone Breaking Void, who was originally standing outside the altar, felt his vision blur and suddenly found himself in the center of the rampaging vortex!

"No!!!"

Stone Breaking Void let out a desperate roar. He never imagined that his carefully laid trap would be turned against him by his opponent!

"Li Feiyu!! I will kill you!!"

The next second.

Terrifying spatial suction erupted.

Whether it was the four unlucky Loose Cultivators, Stone Breaking Void, or Zhou Wannian standing on the edge.

All were swallowed in one gulp by the massive gray vortex.

"Boom!!"

The altar exploded.

The entire Rotten Bone Swamp trembled with that loud bang.

A moment later.

The dust settled.

Only a mess of ruins remained.

Everyone... had disappeared... Unknown space, the Gray Realm.

"Huff—"

The sky here was gray, the earth was gray, even the wind was gray.

"Bang!"

A figure fell heavily onto a gray-white sand dune.

Zhou Wannian crawled out of the sand pile and spat out a mouthful of gray dirt.

He glanced at the heaven measuring ruler in his hand; its light had dimmed quite a bit.

"That was close."

"I almost got cut in half by the spatial turbulence."

"But..."

Zhou Wannian stood up, feeling the Evil Qi around him that was thick enough to be almost physical, as well as the faint, unique fluctuations of Law in the air that made the Great Five Elements Illusory World Art cheer for joy.

He smiled.

"Is this the Gray Realm?"

"Tie Zhu, scan location."

"Scan complete. Location: Edge of the Nine Nether Domain, Gray Realm. Environmental safety level: Extremely low. Air Evil Qi concentration: Off the charts."

"Very good."

Zhou Wannian brushed the dust off his body.

"Stone Breaking Void should have been teleported to the other side."

"Now, it's my hunting time."

"Golden Boy."

Zhou Wannian shook his sleeve.

"Come out and eat."

"These stones..."

Zhou Wannian picked up a gray rock from the roadside and squeezed it lightly. The rock crumbled, revealing a rice-grain-sized silver crystal inside.

"They all seem to be... Spatial boundary stones?"

"Squeak!!"

Hearing this, Golden Boy instantly rushed out of the sleeve. Looking at the ground full of stones, his eyes sparkled, and he drooled.

"So many... so many delicious things!"

"Buffet! Here I come!"

One man and one insect thus stepped into this mysterious and dangerous Gray Realm.

And Zhou Wannian's journey of "Evil Qi Cleansing" and "Advancement" had only just begun.