436: Chapter 436 Entering the Terrifying Zone

Pavilion Master Shen was instantly stunned, the composure on his face freezing in an instant. He opened his mouth but couldn't find the words; his head felt as if it were buzzing, and his brain felt like it had been struck by a bolt of lightning, momentarily shutting down.

He had sincerely intended to scout the path for his Junior Sister, so how could he be caught off guard by such a question?

Before Pavilion Master Shen could react, Dongfang Li, who was beside him, suddenly raised her hand to cover her lips and let out a crisp, charming laugh.

"Senior Brother, what are you thinking? I was merely joking with you."

"That Thunder Pool is currently just Peak Master Chen's speculation. How could I truly let you go and face such danger?"

As she spoke, she turned her head to look at her Disciple, Qing Yan, who had been standing silently behind her, her tone softening slightly. "Qing Yan, while in the Secret Realm in the future, you must listen well to your two Junior Martial Uncles. Do not be willful, do you understand?"

Yu Qingyan showed no change in expression as she gave a soft grunt of affirmation.

Pavilion Master Shen finally snapped out of it and hurriedly took a step forward, reaching out to stop her. "Junior Sister, I am serious. Your cultivation base is lower. If that Thunder Pool is truly an extremely dangerous dead zone, I will have more confidence in dealing with it than you."

"Furthermore,"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the violent Thunder Pool with a furrowed brow. "As your Senior Brother, protecting my Junior Sister is my duty. How can I let you venture into this life-and-death peril alone?"

Beside them, Chen Xuan looked up at Pavilion Master Dongfang, quietly watching the scene unfold.

This woman's subsequent words were truly full of manipulative charm. Yet, he remembered that when they encountered the Wolf Venerable earlier, she had not abandoned him to flee alone. Instead, she had even stepped in to help him block an attack.

Was she treating people differently based on who they were? Or was he just overthinking it?

But it didn't matter. Chen Xuan was only here to watch the entertainment anyway.

Fortunately, the three of them weren't fools; no one suggested that he, an 'outsider,' go and investigate the Thunder Pool. Otherwise, Chen Xuan would have had to seriously consider parting ways with them.

The debate finally reached a conclusion.

In the end, it was decided that Pavilion Master Shen would go and investigate. Time was pressing, and they couldn't afford to remain deadlocked here, wasting precious moments.

Dongfang Li immediately flicked her fingers, and several shimmering talismans appeared out of thin air. Their texture was delicate and translucent, clearly marking them as extraordinary items. They floated slowly toward Pavilion Master Shen. "Senior Brother, these are the message talismans that Revered Master requested from Mystic Talisman Heavenly Venerable years ago. After you enter the Thunder Pool, if you find it safe, you can use these to contact us."

Pavilion Master Shen carefully took the message talismans and tucked them into his robes, nodding solemnly. "Rest assured, I will act with caution."

With that, he straightened his clothes, gathered his breath, and leaped toward the edge of the Thunder Pool where purple lightning surged.

As soon as his feet stepped into the Void Realm at the edge of the Thunder Pool, a violent pressure of thunder and lightning rushed at him. His hair instantly stood on end from the electrical discharge, and his protective spiritual light hummed as ripples spread across it. Pavilion Master Shen's heart tightened; not daring to be careless, he circulated his spiritual energy and cautiously moved toward the depths of the Thunder Pool.

Just as Pavilion Master Shen's figure had ventured several yards deep, Gu Yunshen, who had been concentrating, suddenly changed expression and urgently warned them.

"Junior Sister, Peak Master Chen, someone is rushing toward us from the north."

Chen Xuan had actually sensed it long ago. Mu Wanqing and the others turned to look, and at the edge of their vision, they saw a slender figure fleeing in distress, followed closely by several figures from the Yao Race.

In just a few moments!

Gu Yunshen had already identified the person. "It is Fairy Cui Yao from the Red Immortal Pavilion."

The group looked closely and saw that Cui Yao's blue dress was already stained red with blood, and its hem was tattered. She was unaccompanied by any other Cultivators, alone and in a truly wretched state; one look was enough to guess what had happened.

Dongfang Li's elegant brows knitted slightly. She turned to Chen Xuan and Gu Yunshen, asking, "Two Mahayana Stage Yao Race—what should we do now? Should we step in to rescue her?"

"The Cultivators of the Red Immortal Pavilion have always been used to doing things their own way and traveling alone. They have no friendship with anyone inside or outside the Sect. Even if we save her, she might not show any gratitude."

Gu Yunshen had no good feelings toward that Sect. "Furthermore, three hundred years ago, an Elder from the Red Immortal Pavilion actually pledged her life to a member of the Yao Race. Fairy Cui Yao was also a vocal supporter back then. Her being hunted by the Yao Race now can be considered her getting what she deserves."

"There is such a strange tale?"

Hearing this, Chen Xuan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and ask further.

The Red Immortal Pavilion's jaw-dropping incidents came one after another; having heard so many, Chen Xuan was becoming somewhat immune to them.

Gu Yunshen said in a low voice, "I believe it is better to avoid unnecessary trouble for now. What is your view, Peak Master Chen?"

Chen Xuan nodded slightly. "Indeed, it is not suitable to meddle in extra affairs right now."

"If we act, it will not only delay our boarding of the boat but might also draw the gaze and attention of that Dragon Venerable. The loss would outweigh the gain."

Dongfang Li pursed her lips and quietly formed a hand seal with her fingers.

The Bronze Bird hovering beside her suddenly erupted with green mist. The thick fog spread out like a light veil, quickly and completely concealing the group's figures. From a distance, they seemed to blend into the glaciers, the cold wind, and the scattered rocks, without leaking even a hint of their presence.

Before long, the fluctuations of spiritual energy in the distance gradually faded away.

To be fair, Fairy Cui Yao had quite a few methods for escaping, though it was uncertain how much longer she could hold on.

This small interlude passed by.

The Jade Talisman at Dongfang Li's waist suddenly grew slightly warm. Her expression shifted, and she raised her hand to catch it as a faint spiritual light entered her mind.

A moment later, she looked up at everyone, her eyes visibly relaxing.

"It is Pavilion Master Shen's message talisman—that Thunder Pool is indeed not as violent and fatal as it appears on the outside."

"Just as Peak Master Chen expected, this Thunder Pool should be one of the Lightning Tribulations required to board the guixu immortal ferry boat. Senior Brother has not encountered any fatal danger inside for now, but the Lightning Tribulation is not simple, and he is still searching for a way to cross it."

"Peak Master Chen truly is far-sighted!"

Gu Yunshen couldn't help but praise, letting out a long sigh of relief. "If you hadn't pointed out the key of 'crossing to immortality by Undergoing Tribulation,' we would probably still be standing here blindly guessing."

Dongfang Li's gaze swept over the massive, pale golden phantom nearby, her tone sincere. "It is all thanks to Peak Master Chen. Otherwise, we might have gone around several more times and still be spinning in circles here, never thinking of how to board the boat."

Chen Xuan waved his hand, his tone calm. "Save the pleasantries for later."

"While the Thunder Pool has not yet dissipated, let us hurry and move. Delay breeds complications."

Dongfang Li gave a soft "mm," and with a casual wave, she recalled the Bronze Bird, injecting a strand of spiritual energy into it to replenish its consumption.

"Let's go."

The group immediately set off, hurrying toward the direction of the Thunder Pool.

Mu Wanqing looked at the constantly churning purple lightning and swallowed hard. She then reached out and quietly grabbed Chen Xuan's sleeve, staying by his side like a small animal afraid of getting lost.

Chen Xuan turned his head, his gaze sweeping over Yun Xuanxuan, Xiao Lingxian, and the other Disciples, as he warned them in a low voice.

"After entering the Thunder Pool, do not stray from your Revered Master's side. Follow all of my instructions."

"Yes!" the Disciples responded in unison.

"Learn more from your Eldest Senior Sister."

"Revered Master~"

Mu Wanqing's face turned slightly red as she gave a soft, coquettish cry to express her protest.