245: Second sleep

"Ding! World connection successful.

Host, please be reminded that due to the strength of this world, and for your safety, the System has decided to perform a secondary enhancement on you. Would you like to begin now?"

"..."

Listening to the mechanical voice in his mind, Lin Xiao, who was usually unperturbed, was completely stunned. He never expected the System to pull something like this on him.

The world on the other side is too strong, so he needs a secondary enhancement of his strength?

Lin Xiao's worst fear had indeed come true.

If the System hadn't given him this reminder, it wouldn't have been a good thing for him, but as soon as the words 'secondary enhancement' came out, Lin Xiao also breathed a sigh of relief.

Alright, since the System is helping out, then everything is easy to say. No matter how powerful the talent and strength on the other side, could it possibly surpass him with his cheat?

"System."

Lin Xiao seemed to have thought of something and asked inwardly.

"What kind of secondary enhancement is this? Will I have to fall into a deep sleep again?"

"Yes."

Lin Xiao still had a glimmer of hope in his heart, but as soon as the other party spoke, that glimmer of hope shattered.

"If I fall into a deep sleep..."

Lin Xiao, still somewhat unwilling, continued to ask.

"How long will it be this time?"

The next moment, the System's voice made his eyes light up again.

"This time, the deep sleep will last for one year."

"Phew."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao immediately relaxed. Good, good, it's only one year this time. He thought it would be another hundred thousand years, like last time.

However, with the second duration being shortened, Lin Xiao probably had some guesses about it. That is, when he first arrived in this world, he was still an ordinary Mortal body.

The System enhanced him all the way to an invincible Great Emperor in this world, so the time naturally couldn't be short.

Now, he already had a foundation, so even if he were to be enhanced again, the difference would definitely not be as great as when he transformed from a Mortal to a Great Emperor. That's why the time is so much shorter this time.

"Don't enhance yet, wait a moment."

After hastily replying to the System, Lin Xiao pulled his attention back to reality. He then saw a group of people looking at him, and Yun Ling'er was standing beside him, speaking with a hint of worry in her tone.

"Revered Master, Revered Master."

"Ah, I'm here."

Lin Xiao shook his head and said.

"Sorry, I was distracted just now. Let's continue."

As Lin Xiao spoke, he walked to the spatial portal, and a vast ocean immediately appeared in his eyes on the other side.

"A new world...?"

As Lin Xiao murmured, he instinctively reached out his hand, extending it towards the other side under everyone's gaze, but upon touching the portal, he was blocked by an invisible force.

"Hmm??"

Looking at his finger suspended in mid-air, unable to advance an inch, everyone present was stunned, as if they hadn't expected such a situation to occur.

"This is..."

After regaining his senses, Lin Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at the spatial fluctuations on the portal, as if he understood something.

"A Seal...?"

Upon touching it, Lin Xiao discovered the problem. This portal seemed to automatically carry a Seal, which was why he couldn't enter.

"A Seal?"

Everyone present had high cultivation, so Lin Xiao's murmur was naturally heard by them. Yun Ling'er, who was beside him, leaned closer, her willow-like brows slightly furrowed.

"Revered Master, this..."

"It's nothing."

Lin Xiao gave a reassuring look, then turned to the side, his gaze quickly locking onto one of the figures.

"Qing Luo, come here."

"Eh?"

Upon hearing this, Qing Luo was first stunned, but then she floated closer on her umbrella and spoke cautiously.

"What is it, Palace Revered Master?"

Lin Xiao fixed his gaze on her, pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"You try to see if you can go in."

"Oh."

Upon hearing this, Qing Luo came before the portal, and like Lin Xiao before her, extended her right hand. However, no miracle occurred; her hand was also blocked outside.

"Still can't...?"

Seeing this, Lin Xiao murmured, then looked at Yun Ling'er beside him and nodded, speaking.

"Ling'er."

"Mm."

Lin Xiao only said this, and Yun Ling'er, with their telepathic connection, understood his meaning. She took two steps forward and extended a slender, jade-like hand.

But this time, the situation was different; her palm actually went in, completely submerging itself within!

"It worked!"

Seeing this, Lin Xiao and the people around him immediately had their eyes light up. Then, Lin Xiao had the other people nearby try one by one.

About a quarter of an hour later, the confusion on Lin Xiao's face finally vanished. Looking at the spatial portal before him, the corners of his mouth slowly curved upwards.

"So that's how it is."

After everyone's individual attempts, Lin Xiao finally figured out what was going on.

The spatial portal before them had a Seal that blocked people, but it only targeted those who were Great Emperors and Quasi-Emperors.

However, those like Yun Ling'er, Qin Wudao, Hu Qianxue, who were Great Saints, and even lower-ranked God Kings, could enter and exit freely without restrictions.

As for the Seal, Lin Xiao also had some clues after studying it for a long time.

This Seal that blocked them probably couldn't be removed through violent means. Of course, Lin Xiao didn't dare to try it that way; if he accidentally destroyed the door, it would be over.

Where would he find another Tongtian Immortal Scroll in a short time? Once the time came, wouldn't his happiness be gone?

Furthermore, Lin Xiao discovered that the Seal was gradually weakening, though the speed was very slow.

At this rate, Lin Xiao felt that it would take quite some time to completely break through it, not ten or eight years, but it looked like it would take about a year and a half.

However, in Lin Xiao's view, this was not a bad thing. After all, this could be considered a short-term safety guarantee for Wuji Palace, and he could also use this time to improve his strength, but...

Looking at Hu Qianxue, Qin Wudao, and You Bao, who were eager to try, Lin Xiao felt his forehead throbbing.

Originally, he had planned to let An Lan, Dragon Xiaoyao, and others, who were Great Emperors, go as scouts to gather intelligence, but he didn't expect the Seal to pull such a trick on him.

It seemed that for a short period, their experts wouldn't be able to pass through; only Great Saints like Qin Wudao could.

This was precisely what Lin Xiao was worried about. The top powerhouses of that world were all there, and their side couldn't pass through for now.

Although the cultivation of these few people at the Great Saint Realm was still decent, in Lin Xiao's opinion, if they encountered any danger there, it would be tough for them to escape.

"Revered Master."

Hu Qianxue, who was in a state of excitement, naturally didn't know what her Revered Master was thinking. She took two steps forward and said excitedly.

"If Elder Qing Luo can't go, then let me be the vanguard!"

"Revered Master, Revered Master, and me too!"

Qin Wudao, who was beside her, was also unwilling to be outdone. He raised his hand high, his face full of eagerness, as if afraid his Revered Master wouldn't see him.

"You two wait a moment."

Lin Xiao gently tapped his forehead, thought for a moment, then opened his eyes again and spoke to everyone.

"Bring all those at the high stage of the Great Saint Realm here."

"Yes!"

When Lin Xiao spoke, everyone naturally dared not delay. Soon, nine Great Saint Realm powerhouses appeared in the hall. At a glance, they were all high-stage Great Saint Realm powerhouses.

Leading them were Zhang Liang and Li Ming, both of whom had cultivation at the Great Saint Realm Ninth Heaven, just one step away from attaining the Quasi-Emperor Dao.

"Palace Revered Master!"

"Mm."

Looking at the people before him, Lin Xiao nodded slightly and spoke in a deep voice.

"Due to the restrictions of the Seal, currently, only you can go to that world for exploration.

This journey carries risks but also opportunities. If anyone doesn't want to go, you can say so now; there's no compulsion."

As Lin Xiao's words fell, everyone stood still, not moving at all, showing no intention of leaving. Instead, their eyes were filled with increasing determination.

How many people or demons with this level of cultivation are afraid of risks? Everyone knows that the greater the risk, the more opportunities there are!

What they were about to do this time was explore a brand new world. After they returned, they would definitely be remembered by future generations. This was an opportunity to leave their names in history!

Furthermore, the rewards given by the Sect would definitely not be small. When they returned, they might even be able to challenge for the Quasi-Emperor Realm!

Given this, comparing the unknown risks with the immense opportunities before them, even a fool would know what to choose.

"Very good."

Seeing this, Lin Xiao also nodded with a look of relief. Then, he raised his hand and gently waved, and eleven storage rings immediately flew out, finally stopping in front of each person, emitting a faint glow.