For Xia Boyang and the Incense Slave, to speculate about such characters was somewhat out of tune with their current state; they were merely talking, after all. Once the Void Rift stabilized, both soon crossed over, only to collide with a pitch-black space.
This was the Void Interlayer.
Before entering the Guixu, both had similar experiences, but this time, as they burrowed in, they couldn't help but marvel at the expanse of this "interlayer." In the distance, the target's Aura radiated conspicuously, like a beacon of firelight in the dark of night, directing their way.
Without a word, they continued their pursuit. In a flash, they had traversed more than ten li, the surrounding darkness so thick they could only sense each other's positions through their Auras.
"...Senior Sister?"
Xia Boyang's voice was soft, his address not particularly endearing to the Incense Slave, yet devoid of frivolity: "Do you feel it?"
The Incense Slave did not respond immediately, as if their connection had been severed. The two continued to advance, skimming miles through the darkness without warning. Their figures suddenly shifted, performing a swift 'figure-eight' split, swiftly widening the distance between them.
A humming sound pierced the darkness, followed by the crisp clashing of energy, sparks flying erratically, lighting up the rapidly moving silhouettes before they vanished again.
The Void Interlayer returned to silence, but the atmosphere was tense, like a string about to snap. Invisible Auras, like spider silk drifting in midair, wandered through the void, each touch electrifying, causing nerves to twitch and a profound sense of crisis to slice across the skin, chilling to the bone.
At the first exchange, the Incense Slave "lost touch" with Xia Boyang—intentionally, of course, and the feeling was mutual. Such profound darkness was ill-suited for any form of collaboration, not to mention the "trust" that had never been established beneath their superficial alliance.
The female cultivator concealed her presence completely, blending into the darkness. However, traces of her Aura still lingered, neither strong nor weak, a confusing trap under the guise of her Rakshasa Illusion Technique, with darkness as her exploitable resource.
She had gained the upper hand just moments ago when several cultivators suddenly entered the Void Interlayer. Their skills were uneven; one unfortunate soul suffered a lung meridian injury from her finger, coughed involuntarily, and was swiftly slain by another—the killer was likely Xia Boyang.
Despite this, the Incense Slave still could not ascertain how many had intruded.
"This is like an underground river..."
The Incense Slave made an analogy. After a series of events, she had gained a deeper understanding of the Void Interlayer's structure. She now had a strong feeling that more and more figures were leaping from certain nodes on "both banks," joining this headless and tailless conflict.
Unseen by all, it seemed an accepted truth that this place was the shortcut to the treasures of the Guixu.
With a swoosh, another person rushed ahead, nearly triggering the trap she had set. The Incense Slave remained composed, her gaze lowered, her breath contained, subtly shifting her position to the side.
In the interstice of shifting shadows, a string of lucent orbs suddenly pierced the darkness.
Someone had cast forth Night Pearls!
Incense Slave, her delicate brows furrowed ever so slightly, hesitated not. Her form contracted and she moved laterally. Glancing back, she beheld the pearls casting their light, revealing at least five or six faces marked by surprise or fierce grimaces.
A silent, subaqueous explosion!
Nearby Cultivators unleashed their power in unison, chaotic energies erupting on all sides. Yet, constrained by the space, a torrential surge formed within the "riverway," spanning over ten li, compressing even the thin air into a series of thunderous blasts!
Amidst the muffled curses that Incense Slave heard, screams soon took their place.
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Another soft sound ensued, and the tumbling Night Pearls were shattered by some unknown force, plunging the "riverway" back into darkness. However, by then, the clashing of True Force Edges, the disarray of Auras, and the stench of blood hanging in the void had all intensified dramatically.
The self-illuminating Night Pearls, costly as they were, this time exacted the price in Cultivators' lives. At least eight had been embroiled in this minor skirmish, with Incense Slave herself being drawn in, her own hands shattering an adversary's viscera.
With brows arched like long swords and a chill in her eyes, Incense Slave, like anyone, loathed to be caught in an unwarranted disaster. Yet, her temperament had indeed changed from before; she did not retaliate immediately but instead further concealed her presence and withdrew from the edge of the battlefield.
Just as she was about to extricate herself from the chaotic fray, her protective True Sha trembled, and her whole body shook.
The onslaught came without warning!
The void was suddenly saturated with Sword Energy. Millions of strands intertwined, emitting a buzzing tremor, like a swarm of bees in frenzied dance. The void within several feet was instantly shredded to pieces. Facing imminent peril, the female cultivator charged towards the Sword Energy, her form seemingly torn asunder by it, yet in the end, it was all but illusion; her true self had already repositioned ten zhang away. At the same time, the illusory force dispersed into the Sword Energy was sealed off by the opposing force, failing to make its mark.
The sword's intent was subtle, shattering illusion and solidifying truth.
The two adversaries crossed blades in an instant and separated just as quickly, their minds finally catching up with the rapid turn of events.
Sensing the fleeting circulation of Aura, both reached the same conclusion: this was a genuine encounter. As they withdrew from the battlefield, they had brushed past one another. It was only the exceptional skill they each possessed in concealment that allowed them to deceive the other. With Sword Energy clashing against True Sha, both were caught off guard, instinctively unleashing their deadliest moves. That neither suffered mutual destruction was nothing short of fortunate.
In the wake of their gratitude, as they drifted apart, each was ensnared by a thread of intricate thoughts:
"This person's sword intent feels familiar, yet not quite right..."
"Could this Illusion technique be hers?"
Without further contact, they each retreated. Shortly after their separation, the sound of cleaving air filled the "riverway." This new wave of combatants, unconcerned with the dangers lurking in the darkness, grouped in threes and fives. Twisting their Auras together, their Primordial Qi interconnected, creating a unique offensive and defensive formation that none dared confront.
The two who had already faded into the depths of darkness identified the newcomers: "The Northern Land Demon Gate has joined the fray!"
The same sentences, yet the tone carried a vastly different sentiment.
In the moment of thought, along the "Riverbanks," amidst the scattered "Ferries," people leapt in almost incessantly, converging into a stream. Inspired by the Northern Land Demon Gate, similar offensive and defensive squads emerged one after another. A spectacle that once stood out now once again plunged into chaos.
In other words, the "River" had grown livelier.
************
The chaos persisted, and the battle in the Void Interlayer had undoubtedly escalated.
Within a mere hour or two, those top-tier cultivators who had participated in the Sword Garden Grand Gathering seemed to have all gathered in the "Boundary River." Some were solitary figures, while others traveled in pairs or groups. However, regardless of their company, the darkness of extreme killing always accompanied them, with very few managing to remain unscathed.
Escaping this dark domain was not difficult, but the mere mention of a "shortcut" held an infinite allure.
Many had felt the overwhelming sword pressure ahead in the "River." Although that sensation had begun to fade and hide away, correspondingly, it also made people cast aside many of their concerns, with those who knew difficulties and retreated always in the minority.
Yu Ci, like a Flying Soul Illusion, skimmed through the "River." Compared to his initial clumsy movements upon entering, his progress could now be described as "leaps and bounds." The effects of the Seed True Talisman began to manifest, and when he wielded the Sword Light and inhaled and exhaled the Primordial Qi, the flow became increasingly smooth. That one had praised him, saying his sword control technique was approaching mastery, and entering the Azure Abyss was within reach.
To that person's praise, Yu Ci felt no overwhelming flattery, simply because compared to that person's methods, his minor progress was truly nothing significant.
This guy actually did it...
At this moment, there were fifty-seven Golden Elixir cultivators in the "River." Earlier, the number had even surpassed eighty, but twenty-three had either perished or withdrawn. These included individuals from major and minor sects such as the Northern Land Demon Gate, Jade Purification Alliance, Lichen Sect, Heavy Weapon Sect, as well as outstanding Lone Cultivators—all top-tier participants of the Sword Garden Grand Gathering. As for the Cultivators of the Nature-Connecting Realm, they had no right to survive here.
Such a group, aspiring for the Sword Immortal's Legacy, were scattered in every corner of Guixu, yet within two hours, they had gathered like flies to a scent—not out of tacit agreement, but by that one's calculations. How it was achieved, Yu Ci, who had remained in the "River," was unclear, but the facts had proven the ingenuity of his methods.
Then came the "ignition," from beginning to end, darkness was the best catalyst.
Now that the situation had entered the right track, what came next required both careful planning and a bit of luck from the heavens.
As he pondered, news came from that one: "Locking onto Heavy Weapon Sect... the breaking of the ban has begun!"