Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 153 A Mere Transcendent Realm

As Chen Ye stepped out of the Ancestral Spirit Hall, he found the once bustling square to have become deserted.

Originally, these tribal leaders were surrounded by dozens or even hundreds of guards, but now only a handful remain.

The gladiatorial combat is about to begin, and each tribe can only send three people.

Everyone was very disciplined; there were really only three people present.

Qiqi Gesang and Feng Huaiyu were already waiting there. When they saw Chen Ye come out, they quickly came to greet him.

Qiqigesang spoke anxiously first: "Sect Master, something is wrong. It seems we have become everyone's target."

When those barbarian leaders came out, they all glared angrily at the Yellow Springs Sect. Without any attempt to avoid suspicion, they directly ordered that, regardless of anything else, the Yellow Springs Sect members should be killed first.

One person might be one thing, but when a whole group is like this, Qiqi Gesang knows that something must have happened in the Ancestral Spirit Hall.

Chen Ye's eyes swept over the indignant barbarian leaders, and he found that every single one of them had their subordinates participate in the gladiatorial combat while they themselves stood far away on the sidelines.

No wonder they dared to be indignant when they saw Chen Ye's Crimson Flame Python; it turns out they weren't the ones who died.

Chen Ye had seen many big bosses like this in his previous life.

Even though he knew in his heart that the task was impossible, he still maintained an attitude of "you can't even do something this simple." Chen Ye sometimes couldn't tell if this kind of person was doing it on purpose, or if he was just shifting the blame to someone else and then starting to hypnotize himself.

But regardless of the circumstances, Chen Ye always handled things the same way.

Chen Ye said to Qi Qigesang, "Just protect yourself during the fight, and don't stray too far from me."

Qiqigesang was somewhat stunned. It was the first time he had heard the idea of ​​a leader charging forward while subordinates defended themselves. Even Suhe hadn't been so reckless back then.

However, considering Chen Ye's methods, Qiqigesang understood that he was just a burden, so he said to Chen Ye, "Sect Master, it seems that Bile is also sending people from the Central Plains to fight."

Chen Ye looked toward where Bile was and indeed saw Pang Wen, but it seemed that there was only one cultivator, Pang Wen, while the other two representing Bile in the battle were barbarian warriors.

"They really seem determined to fight me to the death." Chen Ye asked Feng Huaiyu, "Fellow Daoist Feng, do you know what level of cultivation this Fellow Daoist Pang possesses?"

Feng Huaiyu said, "He is probably at the Tongxuan realm. This treasure ship is supported by his magic power. If he were not at the Tongxuan realm, the spiritual energy would definitely not be enough."

Chen Ye nodded casually. So it was just the Profound Realm.

But as soon as he nodded, Chen Ye felt something was off. Why did he look down on someone from the Tongxuan Realm?

Not long ago, he felt he would have to fight to the death to deal with several Transcendent Realm cultivators from the Nirvana Sect, but now he feels he can handle Transcendent Realm cultivators on his own.

I don't know why, maybe it's because I've killed too many Transcendent Realm cultivators, or maybe it's because I've witnessed the methods of the Venerable Lord and Zhang Qi, but I feel that Transcendent Realm cultivators are really not worth mentioning.

Chen Ye tried his best to suppress this feeling of contempt, repeatedly reminding himself that the Tongxuan Realm was a realm higher than him, and he could not be careless or underestimate his opponent.

As the tribal leaders left the square, the first competition of the deer hunt began.

The only rule is that outsiders are not allowed to interfere, and poisoning beforehand is also prohibited, but once the gladiatorial combat begins, everyone can fight to the death. Your opponent can surrender, or you can ignore their surrender and continue the slaughter.

Such a brutal and direct battle is quite in line with the people of the northern frontier who grew up in the wind and snow.

When the bugle call abruptly stopped, the warriors from the northern frontier surrounded Chen Ye and his two companions like a pack of wolves.

Qiqi Gesang transformed into a minotaur, its hooves pawing the ground restlessly, while Feng Huaiyu held his sword, ready to fight at any moment.

Chen Ye did not move, but the fire snake wrapped around Qiqigesang's arm had already jumped to the ground.

The small snake, originally as thick as a finger, suddenly swelled up and transformed into a giant, fiery python with menacing scales.

Not everyone in the Northern Frontier had witnessed Chen Ye's methods. When the Flaming Python appeared, many people were so frightened that they took two steps back.

But there were also fearless warriors who roared and transformed into giant bears, pouncing on the giant python.

Chen Ye looked on in confusion and lunged at the giant python. Why wasn't he heading for Qiqi Gesang?
Does transforming into a wild beast affect intelligence?

Chen Ye didn't understand, but he didn't hesitate at all.

The warriors of the northern frontier, transformed into giant bears, appeared fierce, but the Fiery Python raised its head in an even more ferocious manner, sweeping two of them away with a sweep of its tail.

The remaining giant bear crashed into the giant python, ignoring the raging flames that tore at its body, but it couldn't break through the python's bony armor. Instead, it was coiled around by the python, and with two cracking sounds, its bones broke, and it transformed back into human form.

Back then, Chen Ye couldn't cut through the bone armor of the Crimson Serpent even with the Qinghe Sword Qi. These summoned Crimson Serpents are just as tough, and ordinary methods simply cannot cause them any damage.

Having dealt with three people in one go, the remaining people from the northern frontier realized how terrifying the giant python was. They finally dared not be reckless anymore and scattered one by one, fearing that they would all be whipped away by the python's tail.

The warriors from the northern frontier, armed with bows and arrows, had already drawn their bows and were about to shoot at Chen Ye and his companions.

The arrow whistled past, but was easily cut down by Feng Huaiyu's longsword.

He may not have a talent for swordsmanship, but after so many years of hard training, with a cultivator's five senses and reflexes, it's impossible for him to be injured by a mere arrow.

But then someone chanted the Northern Frontier incantation, and clusters of dark shadows appeared around Chen Ye and then pounced on him.

Some people understand the principle of "capture the king first to catch the thief." But before these shadowy figures could get close, Qiqi Gesang roared and began wildly smashing things with the iron rod in his hand.

It was clearly an illusory shadow, yet she smashed it to pieces with her stick.

Chen Ye blinked, his eyes turning golden as he looked at the fragments of the black shadows, only to see faint remnants of spiritual energy.

"Just a showpiece?"

That's about it for the witchcraft in the northern frontier; after all, it's not real magic.

It seemed that the Fiery Python alone could solve the problem of all the people in the Northern Frontier, so Chen Ye focused his attention on Pang Wen.

Pang Wen had already seen this fiery python before, so he wasn't surprised at all. Instead, he even had time to cup his hands in greeting to Chen Ye and say loudly in the chaos, "Fellow Daoist Chen, we are all serving our own masters, please forgive us."

Pang Wen made a hand seal and chanted an incantation. The three ice-blue talismans had just flown into the air when they transformed into a blizzard and landed on the giant flaming python.

The wind and snow looked light and fluffy, but when it fell on the Flaming Serpent, it was more terrifying than the sharp teeth and claws of a giant bear. Not only did it extinguish the flames on its body, but it also scraped countless sparks off its thick bone armor.

Seeing that the giant python was being suppressed, the other warriors from the northern frontier excitedly surrounded it, tentatively launching an attack like a pack of wolves.

With a mere thought, Chen Ye caused the giant flaming python to grow even larger, its tail coiling around the three of them.

No matter how the people of the northern frontier attacked with their witchcraft and weapons, the giant flaming serpent remained unmoved.

Seeing this, Pang Wen laughed and said, "Fellow Daoist Chen, do you not want to harm these barbarians? You are truly kind-hearted, I really admire you."

Despite saying that, Pang Wen's spells never stopped.

Seeing that the wind and snow talismans were effective, he took out several more ice-blue talismans from his sleeve and formed an array in mid-air. Spiritual energy surged at his fingertips, and the wind and snow intensified suddenly. The flames around the giant python were suppressed to only a few scattered flames, and the giant python let out a series of miserable roars, as if it was enduring great pain.

Chen Ye seemed to have no way to deal with it and could only continue to use the giant python to protect himself; he had no other options.

Pang Wen frowned, sensing that something was amiss.

This Chen Ye is rumored to possess a variety of skills, even defeating disciples of the Mirage Sect on the arena. How come he's now relying entirely on his subordinate, the Minotaur's, Crimson Serpent for self-defense, without showing any apparent countermeasures?
Could it be that he wants to preserve his strength?
Pang Wen felt he had guessed Chen Ye's thoughts, so he said loudly, "Fellow Daoist Chen, do you intend to use this Crimson Serpent to deplete my spiritual energy? I'm afraid your wishful thinking won't work. Do you know the difference between Tongxuan and Gangsha?"

Chen Ye replied, "Fellow Daoist Pang's question is strange. Who doesn't know the power of the Profound Realm? It can open the gates of heaven and earth and comprehend a unique divine power. This is the Profound Realm."

Pang Wen replied, "Fellow Daoist only knows one aspect, which suggests that your cultivation period is still short. After comprehending your innate divine power, your internal energy sea will change accordingly. To be honest, the divine power I have comprehended is related to ice and snow, which is just right to restrain this fire serpent."

"After the Qi Sea changes, using supernatural powers will not consume much spiritual energy. If Fellow Daoist Chen thinks he can outlast me in terms of energy expenditure, then this battle will probably drag on indefinitely, and you will ultimately lose. Why don't you stop here and give me this victory to avoid hurting our harmony?"

Chen Ye suddenly realized.

It turns out that the supernatural powers comprehended in the Profound Realm can also cause mutations in the Qi Sea. No wonder the Venerable Master guessed that he had comprehended a supernatural power after hearing me say that my Qi Sea had turned into a snake.

After looking at it, I realized that I had indeed accidentally skipped the Gang Sha Body Refinement stage and stepped directly into the Tong Xuan stage.

It's just unclear whether it's related to the ginseng fruit or to Chen Yexue's secret techniques.

"I can think about this problem slowly when I get back," Chen Ye said, looking up at the snowflakes falling all around him. "Fellow Daoist is right. If we keep consuming each other's spiritual energy like this, who knows how long it will take? Since that's the case, I'll have to resort to some other methods."

Pang wanted to say a few more words to test Chen Ye's abilities, but Chen Ye didn't give him any chance at all.

With a flash of light, a thin fire snake appeared at Pang Wen's throat, its venomous fangs already deeply embedded in his neck.

Pang was greatly surprised. When did this snake arrive?

He had clearly used a protective magic treasure before the battle even began; there was a layer of invisible spiritual energy three feet in front of him that could block all kinds of spells.

But the fire serpent silently passed through the layer of spiritual energy and bit directly into his neck.

Even with the body tempered by the fierce energy, the flesh could not completely withstand the bites of the venomous fangs, leaving two shallow wounds.

Although Pang Wen immediately grabbed the fire snake and threw it away, countless tiny frosts sealed the wound, trying to freeze the venom as well.

However, Pang Wen still felt dizzy and lightheaded.

The venom of the red-banded snake has already been injected into the body. Even if it only injures the skin and flesh, the poisoning in the neck will take effect very quickly.

Pang Wen hurriedly tried to retrieve the antidote, but found himself unable to move. Before he knew it, several fire snakes had wrapped around his limbs, rendering him immobile.

As soon as he felt pain in his limbs, more venom was injected into Pang Wen's body, and he quickly lost consciousness.

In his hazy state of consciousness, Pang Wen felt as if his body was falling into an abyss. As he continued to fall, his lifespan was also drained away, and he soon became an old man with white hair and wrinkled skin.

Pang Wen tried desperately to climb up, but he couldn't stop the downward trend at all.

As the despair of impending death surged into his heart, just as he was about to collapse, crimson eyes emerged from the darkness, and a giant crimson serpent engulfed in flames appeared before Pang Wen.

The crimson serpent spoke, asking, "If you wish to live, answer one question: What is your purpose in coming to the Northern Frontier?"

(End of this chapter)