Mortal Cultivator: Lin Tianzun

Chapter 26: Seven factions gather at the barren slope, and the situation before the ban is turbulent

Not long after, the other six major sects arrived one after another on this loess plateau. In an instant, the once quiet and desolate place became lively, but it was also filled with a different kind of tense atmosphere.

The first thing that caught my eye was the Yanyue Sect's contingent. They were all men and women, the young women all beautiful and graceful. They wore gauze dresses, some elegant and some flamboyant, their hems flowing in the wind, like fairies descending from the earth. Their every gesture exuded a graceful elegance that was truly captivating. Their steps were so light and graceful that each seemed to tread on air, as light as willow catkins in the wind.

Immediately afterwards, the members of the Giant Sword Sect approached in unison. They were clad in black, each carrying a longsword on their back. Some were ancient and heavy, others gleamed with a cold, sharp gleam, the markings on the hilts betraying their extraordinary origins. The disciples stood tall and straight, their expressions stern, radiating a fierce aura, like blades about to be unsheathed. Each step they took seemed to shatter the very air, their powerful aura intimidating. They waited only to unleash their might in the Blood Forbidden Land and showcase the prestige of the Giant Sword Sect.

Then, the Qingxu Sect team emerged. They were dressed in unique Taoist robes, crowns, and whisks. The runes embroidered on their robes were faintly discernible, exuding a mysterious aura. The disciples' faces were calm, their eyes shone with a transcendental indifference. They appeared unfazed by the blood-red forbidden ground they were about to enter, but a flicker of solemnity betrayed the importance they attached to this journey. They closed their eyes slightly, muttering to themselves, as if communicating with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, praying for blessings for the upcoming adventure.

Looking at the people of Spirit Beast Mountain, their vibrant attire was striking. Each wore a number of spirit beast bags dangling from their waists, which trembled slightly from time to time, as if the spirit beasts within were eager to emerge. The faces of the disciples of Spirit Beast Mountain beamed with confidence, evidently expressing their deep trust in their tamed spirit beasts, convinced that with these capable companions, they could seize opportunities and navigate dangers in the forbidden land. From time to time, they stroked the bags, whispering softly, as if soothing the restless spirit beasts within.

The Tianque Fort and Huadaowu contingents appeared more mixed, their attire varied. Some of the Tianque Fort disciples wore armor, imposing and majestic, exuding a heroic air. Others wore lightweight, sharp clothing, showcasing a sharp and capable demeanor. The Huadaowu contingents were similar: some wore loose robes, yet their sharp sword-like aura was barely concealed; others wore shorts, poised to draw their swords at any moment. Some chatted in pairs, whispering about countermeasures; others solitary, closing their eyes to rest, silently gathering strength.

The seven major sects gathered, each sizing one another up. Though no words were exchanged, their glances revealed an invisible contest. Each secretly assessed the strength of the other sects, their anticipation and nervousness growing for the upcoming journey into the Blood Forbidden Land.

Lin Fan stood in the Huangfeng Valley team, observing everything quietly. He knew in his heart that he would inevitably have to deal with disciples from other sects in the forbidden area. It was hard to predict whether they would be enemies or friends. The top priority at the moment was to be fully prepared to deal with unknown dangers.

The leaders of each faction gathered together and discussed seriously the steps to open the forbidden area. Lin Fan was not idle. He knew that knowing both oneself and the enemy would ensure victory in every battle. He looked at the powerful figures of each faction calmly.

His gaze fell on the Moon-Shattering Sect's ranks, and he quickly noticed a woman in a moon-white gauze dress. This woman had a stunningly beautiful face, skin whiter than snow, and eyes as bright as stars, revealing a lively and intelligent spirit. However, the subtle fluctuations of spiritual energy around her exuded a deterrent power that was not to be underestimated.

Standing among the Yanyue Sect disciples, she exuded the air of a leader, and others looked at her with respect. Lin Fan suspected that this woman held a high position within the Yanyue Sect, possessing exceptional talent and strength. She was likely a formidable figure within the Blood Forbidden Land.

His gaze shifted to the Giant Sword Gate, where a burly young man in black caught his eye. The longsword he carried was larger and heavier than the others, its hilt inlaid with a gem that shone with a cold glow, a true sight of something extraordinary.

He folded his arms, his expression stern, his gaze sharp as a substance, as if the slightest movement would allow him to draw his sword in an instant. Even from a distance, Lin Fan could clearly sense the fierce aura emanating from him. His swordsmanship was undoubtedly profound, and he would surely be a formidable opponent in this forbidden area.

Looking towards Qingxu Sect, a middle-aged Taoist priest holding a whisk caught Lin Fan's attention. The runes on his robe shimmered with a faint golden light, and his face was peaceful yet enigmatic. He stood there quietly, seemingly blending into the surrounding space.

Lin Fan tried to quietly probe with his spiritual sense, but as soon as he got close, it was like touching an invisible barrier and was gently bounced back. This startled Lin Fan and made him secretly wary, knowing that this Taoist's cultivation was unfathomable, his methods were unique, and his strength was formidable, so he must not be underestimated.

Over at Spirit Beast Mountain, a young man in colorful clothes was exceptionally active. The spirit beast bag on his waist was bulging more than the others, and from time to time, strange beast roars could be heard, as if it contained a powerful spirit beast. A sly smile perpetually graced the boy's face, his eyes darting around, taking in everything around him.

Lin Fan felt that although this young man seemed to be laughing and joking, he was actually very smart and good at using the power of spirit beasts to deal with various situations. In the forbidden area, he might be able to use those spirit beasts to cause a lot of unexpected things.

In Tianque Fort and Huadaowu, several figures with calm demeanors and sharp gazes also entered Lin Fan's sight. Some of them wore armor radiating a faint aura, as if imbued with a powerful defensive force; others kept their hands pressed against the hilts of their swords at their waists, faintly revealing a sword aura ready to strike, as if the opportunity arose and the sharp blade would instantly burst from its sheath.

As Lin Fan looked around, he silently memorized the appearance and characteristics of these people in his mind, thinking to himself that in the Blood Forbidden Land, these people are potential competitors and may even become enemies. He must be careful at all times and not let them take advantage of him. He must rely on his own strength and prepared means to obtain as many opportunities as possible and return safely.

After several Jindan-stage masters gathered and chatted for a few minutes, a Jindan-stage master emerged from Spirit Beast Mountain. He extended his left hand, palm facing upward, and instantly, a surge of yellow light, as dense and substantial as substance, erupted, sweeping towards the ground.

Then, he grabbed it fiercely, and a magical scene appeared. The yellow earth on the ground seemed to be pulled by a powerful force, turning into a yellow dragon-like mud flow, roaring into the air and being held in his hand. Then, the mud flow quickly solidified, and in the blink of an eye it turned into a giant sword made of yellow mud.

His other hand wasn't idle either. His fingers gently rested on the hilt, slowly sliding it from the handle toward the tip. Wherever it touched, a pure white light illuminated, spreading along the blade like a wielding thread. As the white light moved, the mud sword's color began to change, instantly turning gray. The originally loose yellow mud became incredibly hard, transforming into a heavy, stone sword.

This intermediate-level spell, transforming mud into stone, was performed with unwavering grace and seamlessness, showcasing the master's profound magical power. The disciples of the seven sects marveled at the sight, many gaping with wide eyes, their eyes widening in wonder at this wondrous technique, while also feeling a certain awe for the master's prowess. However, the master didn't stop demonstrating his skills. He firmly grasped the massive stone sword with both hands, slightly bucking his body as if gathering strength. Then, with a sudden burst of force, he hurled the stone sword forward like a meteor. The stone sword whistled through the air, leaving behind only a faint gray afterimage.

Everyone stared intently at the flying stone sword. Just as it flew several dozen steps away, it suddenly shook violently, as if triggering a hidden barrier in the void. Then, an incredible scene occurred: the once incomparably hard stone sword began to shatter, instantly turning into powder that drifted into the air.

While everyone was still reeling from the shock of the shattered stone sword, something even more astonishing occurred. A vast expanse of green light suddenly emerged from the void without warning. Initially a soft halo, it instantly became overwhelming, so dense it practically dyed the entire sky green. Everyone's skin, illuminated by the green light, took on a faint cyan hue.

The disciples were terrified and at a loss as to what to do by this sudden change. Suddenly, the green light began to surge violently, as if it had life, emitting bursts of roaring sounds.

Then, the swirling green light rapidly transformed into countless razor-sharp wind blades, densely packed and intertwined, sweeping wildly across the landscape. In the blink of an eye, they formed a wall of wind blades impenetrable to wind and rain. Along the wind wall, one could faintly see even more mysterious and complex spatial fluctuations within, as if that were the entrance to the blood-red forbidden land.

The disciples looked at this spectacular and dangerous scene, feeling awe at the mystery of the bloody forbidden land, and filled with tension and anticipation about stepping into it. They unconsciously tightened their magic weapons in their hands, ready to face unknown challenges.

Everyone looked along the sides of the wind blade wall, only to see it stretching endlessly in both directions, as if it stretched to the ends of the world, with no visible edge at all. The entire space was filled with the misty whistling of the wind, sharp and piercing, like the howling of ghosts and wolves, and just hearing it made one's scalp tingle and one's heart chill.

It can be imagined that if someone rashly breaks into the wall of wind blades, he will probably be cut all over by the dense and extremely sharp wind blades. The feeling is like being cut into pieces by thousands of blades, and instantly turned into powder, leaving no trace of his body.

"This is the restriction here. It is really amazing. I wonder which ancient cultivator with great magical powers could set up such a huge and powerful magic array." Lin Fan sighed in his heart, and thought of the Huangfeng Valley's gate-guarding array. Compared with the wind blade wall in front of him, the Huangfeng Valley's gate-guarding array was like a child's toy and not worth mentioning. The gap between the two was too great.

At this moment, the expert from Spirit Beast Mountain looked at the situation caused by throwing the stone sword, shook his head slightly, and turned back. His expression remained stern, but his brow was slightly furrowed, as if he was thinking about something. Seeing this, the leaders of the other factions knew that it was not the best time to open the forbidden area. They all spoke up, asking the disciples to rest for a while and recharge their energy before trying again later.

Time slowly passed, and every hour or so, the people from Spirit Beast Mountain would perform the same method as before, throwing out a stone sword to test the strength of the restriction. Everyone watched intently as the stone sword was thrown, feeling a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.

It was not until the seventh stone sword was thrown that the situation finally changed. The green light emanating from the forbidden area and the wind blades formed were significantly weaker than before. The originally impenetrable and terrifyingly powerful wall of wind blades now seemed less difficult to break through.

Upon seeing this scene, the eyes of the other six Jindan stage cultivators suddenly lit up. After exchanging knowing glances with each other, they flew out at the same time. Their bodies were agile, leaving several afterimages in the air, and in the blink of an eye they were standing side by side.

Seven Jindan-stage cultivators each unleashed their magical weapons and launched a furious attack on the restrictions before them. For a moment, brilliant light and the combined power of the magical weapons combined to create a dazzling yet terrifying spectacle. The roar was deafening, and the entire space seemed to tremble.

Some monks threw out flying swords, the sword bodies flashed with sharp light, and pierced the restrictions like lightning; some monks waved their staffs, and the staff heads released powerful magical energy, turning into fireballs and ice cones to smash into the restrictions; and some monks sacrificed their precious tripods, and thick smoke spewed out of the tripod, which contained endless destructive power.

However, the restraining force of the Wind Blade Wall was also incredibly strong. Even though the seven Jindan-stage cultivators used their magic weapons to attack with all their might, they still encountered stubborn resistance. The two sides were deadlocked, and after three or four hours of fierce fighting, the seven cultivators were sweating profusely, their faces turning pale, and they had obviously consumed a lot of mana.

Fortunately, the magic weapons they drove gradually gained the upper hand. Under the continuous attack of the magic weapons, the wind blade wall began to loosen, and finally a circular channel about ten feet high was created on the wind wall.

The passage was pitch black and extremely deep, like an unknown abyss. Nothing could be seen clearly, and there was a faint sense of mystery and danger.

"Hurry up, we can't hold on for much longer!" The Jindan cultivator from Huadaowu shouted first, his voice sounded weak due to excessive consumption of mana. After all, he had the least mana among the seven people, and he consumed the most mana in this battle. At this moment, his robes were soaked with sweat.

Upon hearing this, the disciples of the seven sects dared not neglect their opportunity. They knew this was a rare opportunity. If they missed it, entering the forbidden area would be even more difficult once the wind blade wall was restored. So, they all used light body techniques or flying instruments, weaving in and out of each other, rapidly flying towards the dark passage in groups.

At this moment, everyone was silent, their expressions grim. After all, they all knew that once they entered the forbidden area, dangers lurked everywhere, and everyone would instantly become a mortal enemy. In that environment full of opportunities but limited resources, even fellow disciples could become untrustworthy and draw their swords at any moment to fight for treasures.

(End of this chapter)