You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

However, Li Rou slowly shook her head, her tone showing no sign of relaxation.

“Master, I know you have the divine position of Yin Marshal.”

But... this time is different. The aura of the vengeful spirits I sensed was not only vast in number, but also mixed with some extremely ancient, extremely twisted, and even... carrying a hint of the madness and resentment that came after the fall of the divine!
This doesn't seem like something that would transform into after an ordinary living being dies!
This canyon is no safe haven. I have a feeling... the problems here are probably far more complex and dangerous than we imagine!

Chen Yang also suppressed the slight ease he had felt due to his identity as the Underworld Commander. Anything that could cause even an ancient being like Li Rou such unease and distress was definitely no ordinary matter.

He looked around again, and all he could see was the howling wind in the canyon and the vast forest behind him. His brows furrowed even more.

"Li Rou, tell me... why can't we see a single person here besides us? Where were Uncle Li and Qiu Niu teleported to? What about the others who entered this trial ground?"

Is this trial space intentionally designed to scatter everyone, forcing them to fight individually? Perhaps... even to each face different trial areas?

Li Rou's illusory figure swayed gently, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Well... I don't know either."

Trial grounds of this scale often have extremely complex internal rules and divisions. Dispersing trial participants for teleportation may be for fairness, to avoid the formation of large groups in the early stages, which could affect the selection effect of the trial.

It could also be to guide different types of trial participants to areas more suitable for them. This is also my first time personally entering such a place, and my knowledge of its specific operating mechanisms is limited.

She paused, looked into the deep canyon, then glanced at the seemingly endless dense forest behind her, and her tone became more resolute.

"But no matter what, we cannot turn back."

We've already experienced the dense forest behind us—baboon territory, complex mazes… Going back might not lead us out, and we might even find ourselves in trouble again.

Although this canyon is treacherous, its presence here suggests it's likely part of the trial path, or at least a possible passage to other areas to find our companions. We have no better choice but to move forward.

Chen Yang nodded, his eyes sharpening again.

"You're right. The road ahead may be treacherous, but it might be the only way. Let's go!"

Without further hesitation, Chen Yang suppressed all his underestimation of his opponent, lowered his aura to the minimum, and silently activated the Qingwei Yuanjiang Great Technique, protecting his body with inner spiritual light, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

He took a step and cautiously stepped into the canyon that Li Rou described as a "desolate and treacherous place".

Upon entering the canyon, the environment immediately changes drastically. Compared to the vibrant life outside, this place is filled with an atmosphere of deathly stillness and eeriness.

The air seemed even colder and thicker, and the howling wind echoed among the jagged cliffs, like the wails of countless wronged souls, sending chills down one's spine.

What's even more peculiar is the environmental change inside the canyon.

In some sections, the rock walls on both sides and the ground at the bottom of the valley are barren, with only gray-black rocks that look as if they have been scorched by flames or corroded by strong acid, emitting a faint smell of burnt wood and sulfur.

In some passages, however, strange plants grow in abruptly, extremely densely, with colors ranging from dark green to purplish-black. Among them are rare "immortal herbs" or "elixirs" that exude an alluring spiritual aura and appear to be ancient. However, these plants often grow among piles of white bones or have their roots deeply embedded in dark red soil, making them appear particularly eerie.

"This place... is like two extremes."

Chen Yang moved forward cautiously, observing his surroundings with a chill in his heart. Barrenness and abundance, death and life, coexisted here in a distorted way.

The two remained highly vigilant and wound their way through the canyon for a considerable distance.

Based on the near-stagnant time, less than half an hour might have passed outside, but in this oppressive environment, it felt like most of a day had gone by.

Finally, an unusual place appeared ahead. The rock wall on one side of the canyon became relatively smooth, covered with dense, complex, and incomprehensible ancient inscriptions carved by someone with sharp tools or some kind of energy!
These inscriptions are not mere decorations, but rather emanate faint yet stable energy fluctuations, subtly connecting with the rock face itself, even with the ground beneath one's feet and the eerie winds in the air, forming a vast and intricate system.

In front of the inscribed rock wall, there is a relatively flat open space that was clearly carved out by human hands, and traces of array patterns can be faintly seen at the edge of the open space.

"There's something here!"

Chen Yang stopped and looked at the inscriptions and the open space.

He could sense that this area was shrouded in a powerful force, a force that was not simply an attack or defense, but more like a... blockade or suppression.

"Don't approach rashly!"

Li Rou immediately spoke up to stop him, her illusory figure floating in front of Chen Yang, carefully observing the inscriptions and the faint array patterns at the edge of the open space.

Her expression was focused and serious, her eyes seemed to hold the flickering of stars as she analyzed the rules and power contained within.

After a long while, Li Rou slowly spoke, her tone tinged with uncertainty.

"These inscriptions... are very ancient, and are a kind of auxiliary script used to 'explain' and 'anchor' rules."

Considering the energy flow patterns of these array patterns... this entire area seems to be an outer node of a vast sealing system, or rather... a 'monument warning zone'.

Its main purpose is not to attack intruders, but to seal and suppress one or more extremely dangerous things that may exist deep in the canyon!
At the same time, it also serves as a warning to those who come after: danger lies ahead, proceed with caution!

"seal?"

Chen Yang felt a chill run down his spine.

"What is being sealed that requires such a large number of inscriptions and formations? And why is it set up so far away?"

I don't know.

But something that could warrant such serious attention from those who set up the formation, even leaving behind a warning, is certainly no ordinary occurrence.

Li Rou shook her head.

"However, judging from the energy reaction, this sealing node currently seems to only target the depths of the canyon. It does not pose a direct threat or restriction to us 'passersby' who enter from the outside and do not attempt to break the seal or delve into the core area. If we are just passing through and do not touch those key inscriptions and array eyes, we should not be attacked."

Chen Yang looked at the deep canyon ahead, which seemed to be waiting to devour him, and then looked behind him, and smiled bitterly.

"Do we have any other choice? We can't just turn back because there might be a terrifying, sealed entity ahead, can we? It might not be safe behind us, and we won't find a way out either."

Li Rou paused for a moment, then nodded.

“Indeed. A seal is a seal, and a trial is a trial. The existence that set up the trial grounds may be trying to make us pass through these dangerous areas. Master, let's go, but be careful not to touch anything related to the seal, and pass through this area quickly.”

"clear."

Chen Yang took a deep breath and stepped into the open space in front of the inscribed rock wall.

The moment he stepped in, a chilling wind, far colder than the one at the valley entrance and seemingly capable of freezing the soul, arose out of nowhere, swirling past him and causing him to shiver. Only when his protective aura automatically lit up did the chill dissipate.

Li Rou's illusory figure also swayed slightly, her brows furrowed.

"The malevolent energy here is so strong!"
And it carried an inexplicable resentment, as if countless eyes were watching us from the darkness. But even upon closer inspection, I couldn't pinpoint its source... It was very strange.

"Since we're here, let's make the best of it."

Chen Yang composed himself and suppressed his discomfort.

"Whatever tricks they have up their sleeve, we'll deal with whatever comes our way. I want to see what secrets are hidden deep within this trial ground!"

He stopped and maintained a steady pace, trying to move along the center of the open space, avoiding areas that were obviously array nodes, and quickly passed through the inscribed warning zone, continuing to advance into the depths of the canyon.

The further you go, the steeper and higher the rock walls on both sides of the canyon become, and the dimmer the light becomes, as if you are walking through a tunnel leading to the underground.

The stench of blood, decay, and coldness in the air grew stronger.

After traveling for about an hour, the scene before him made Chen Yang suddenly stop, his pupils contracting.

They arrived at a relatively open hillside.

However, this hillside is like a horrific slaughterhouse, or rather... a mass grave!

Everywhere you look, on the hillside, among the twisted and bizarre tree branches, on the protruding cliffs and rocks... there are scattered limbs and broken bodies everywhere!

Many have been completely reduced to skeletons, their white bones particularly glaring in the dim light, clearly having endured countless years.

But most of the corpses were relatively "fresh"! The flesh and blood had not completely decomposed, and some were even oozing dark red liquid. The time of death was definitely not long, and it was very likely that it happened in the last day or two, or even less!
These corpses were in a terrible state, some torn to pieces, with their internal organs spilling out onto the ground.

Some appeared to have been smashed flat by tremendous force, their bones completely shattered.

Others... present a strange, shriveled state, as if all their essence and vitality have been drained, leaving only a wrinkled skin covering their bones.

The intense, nauseating stench of blood and corpses was almost tangible, assaulting our senses.

Even Chen Yang, who was used to seeing all kinds of storms, couldn't help but feel his stomach churning when he saw this scene of carnage.

"Who...who did this?"

Chen Yang's voice was low, filled with suppressed anger and shock.

"Is it a powerful spirit beast that dwells here? Or... other 'people' who have also entered the trial?"

Li Rou's illusory figure hovered in mid-air, carefully "observing" the corpses and the surrounding environment. Her voice was solemn and tinged with confusion.

"Judging from the wounds on the corpse... tearing, scratching, blunt force blows, or even being drained by some kind of force... the attack methods are very chaotic, unlike the work of a single species or individual."

And look here…

She pointed to several relatively intact mummies.

"These corpses had no obvious external injuries, but their life essence and souls had been completely drained away, leaving not a trace."

This method... is more like some kind of evil technique, or... the work of a demon that specializes in devouring the essence of living beings.

Strangely, the remaining 'aura' at the scene was extremely faint, almost completely masked by the malevolent energy present, making it difficult to determine exactly what had caused the attack.

Chen Yang frowned.

"Why are the corpses piled up here? Judging by the number, there must be at least dozens of trainees who died here! Could this be the location of some kind of 'checkpoint' or 'trap'?"

"I don't know."

Li Rou shook her head.

"We know nothing about the rules of the Trial Grounds. Perhaps this is some kind of 'danger zone' that we must pass through, where the losers leave behind their corpses."

Or perhaps... this is the lair or feeding ground of those 'hunters'. We can only continue exploring to see if we can find more clues, or... encounter survivors.”

"go!"

Chen Yang refused to look at the disturbing scene any longer. He forced himself to suppress his nausea, quickened his pace, and wanted nothing more than to leave this land of corpses and blood as soon as possible.

However, as they continued deeper into the canyon, similar scenes appeared one after another! They varied in size and the "freshness" of the corpses.

In some places there were only a few scattered skeletons, while in others there were piles of dozens of recently deceased corpses, all in equally gruesome and bizarre circumstances.

The entire canyon resembles a road paved with death.

Li Rou's voice grew increasingly solemn.

"Master, something is wrong."

These corpses... the deeper you go, the higher the proportion that seems to have been 'drained'.

Moreover, you see, some corpses, although torn apart, do not have the teeth marks of wild beasts biting them; they are more like they were roughly torn apart by claws or some kind of energy blade.

And those who were drained... I'm increasingly convinced that what attacked them might not be a physical spirit beast, but rather... some kind of more bizarre entity we haven't encountered yet.

Alarm bells rang in Chen Yang's mind, and the magical power within his body had quietly increased to a state where it could be unleashed at any moment.

"Whatever it is, we need to be extra careful. Speed ​​up and get through this area as quickly as possible! There seems to be movement ahead!"

He sensed with his divine sense that there seemed to be a faint life force and spiritual energy fluctuations coming from around a corner ahead, rather than the cold and deathly feeling he expected.

The two immediately sped up, carefully and quickly rounding the corner.

Suddenly, a relatively flat, sheltered valley opened up before us.

In the valley, about twenty people were gathered, some sitting and some lying down.

Most of these people were dressed in tattered clothes, with more or less wounds on their bodies, some of which were still bleeding, clearly indicating that they had just experienced a fierce battle.

Their faces were pale, their eyes filled with terror, exhaustion and despair, and their morale was at rock bottom.

Only a few people who appeared to be less seriously injured or stronger managed to maintain their stance, cautiously observing their surroundings, but their brows were filled with gloom.

When Chen Yang's figure appeared at the edge of the valley, the twenty-odd people were startled almost simultaneously, turning their heads in unison with vigilance, suspicion, and even a hint of hostility in their eyes!
They instinctively gripped their weapons or magical artifacts, and some even stepped back slightly, adopting a defensive stance.

"Fellow Daoists, please do not be alarmed!" (End of Chapter)