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

The silence was even deeper and more viscous than that of the hilly areas, with only the occasional gurgling sound of viscous bubbles bursting from the depths of the swamp.

"This...this place is practically a mass grave!"

Su Meng's face was deathly pale. She gripped Xing San's arm tightly, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

"It's more than just a mass grave."

Jiang He crouched down and tentatively inserted a withered branch into a pool of dark mud at the edge. The branch instantly sank and disappeared without a trace, as if being devoured by countless greedy mouths, leaving only a rapidly shrinking vortex on the surface of the mud.

He tossed aside the remaining twig, his fingertips catching a speck of dark brown mud as he twirled it. He took a deep sniff, and the wrinkles between his brows deepened.

"It's a swamp of rotting bones!"

The depths of this swamp contain deadly poison, and a putrid miasma corrodes spirits. These skeletons... are probably a hundred years old!

How many lives has this 'trial ground' swallowed up?

"Damn it, it's even scarier than that worm nest!"

Qiuniu swallowed hard, the veins on the back of his hand gripping the bronze giant axe bulging.

"Take a detour?"

Chen Yang scanned the area ahead, extending his divine sense to try and find the path.

However, the omnipresent gray mist that seemed to devour souls and the decaying death aura permeating the swamp suppressed his consciousness to a distance of almost ten feet from his body! This place was dangerous, not only trapping people but also locking away their spirits!

He took a deep breath.

"There's no other way; going back leads to Dead Hill! Look!"

there!"

Following the direction Chen Yang pointed, the group managed to see through the thick fog dozens of "islands" of varying sizes and shapes floating scattered in the vast swamp! Some resembled small hills covered with withered black vines, while others looked like reefs with exposed, huge rocky platforms.

They were the only relatively stable footholds in this deadly swamp.

"We can only get around by stepping on these islands! Watch your step!"

Chen Yang gave a low shout and leaped onto the nearest floating islet covered in slippery moss and pebbles. The others followed closely behind.

Stepping onto the rocky islet, the feeling beneath their feet wasn't the solid ground, but rather a strange sensation of slight swaying and a soft, sinking feeling. Not daring to be careless, the group cautiously leaped towards the next, slightly larger island covered in dark green vines.

Every step was like walking on thin ice; one had to be wary of the sudden sinking of one's foothold, and even more so of the seemingly calm but actually terrifying depths of the swamp.

Just as they leaped over three or four floating islands and stepped onto a relatively open, suspended island covered with huge, irregular, gray-white rocks—

"Roar--!!!"

"唳——!!!"

Several distinct yet equally ferocious and cruel roars suddenly erupted from all directions! The thick gray fog churned and surged violently!
puff!puff!puff!
The murky mud exploded into huge mud flowers! A dark shadow shot out like an arrow!

From the churning mud on the left, three enormous pythons, each as thick as a water bucket and covered in sticky black mud and dark green scales, suddenly sprang forth! Their triangular heads were covered with fleshy growths resembling the root nodules of withered trees, making them ferocious and ugly. Their gaping maws spewed out a thick, pungent stench of poison like ink!

The mud on the right was boiling like a swamp, with several enormous creatures, as big as bison but resembling magnified water centipedes covered in filth and mud, rising up! Countless pairs of hook-shaped legs, gleaming with a cold, eerie light, sliced ​​through the mud at an astonishing speed, and a foul stench filled the air!
The gray fog in the sky was torn apart, and several gray, strange shadows with wingspans large enough to cover an area of ​​several meters swooped down with a sharp cry!

They resemble vultures, but their heads have twisted and deformed human faces, and their claws are like poisoned steel hooks, grabbing at Su Meng and Xing San, who seem to be the weakest in the group!

A ferocious beast! Deadly poison, swift, and unpredictable!
Their appearance was completely unexpected and perfectly coordinated, like a group of sharks that had caught the scent of blood!

"Form ranks! Block!"

Jiang He reacted extremely quickly. With a sharp shout, he suddenly clasped his hands together, and a thick, earthy-yellow spiritual light burst forth, transforming into a powerful wall of light that blocked the swooping vulture above everyone's heads, temporarily halting its descent!

"Ice Extreme Condensation!"

With a sharp shout, Liu Piaopiao's slender hands moved swiftly, unleashing a torrent of icy energy. In an instant, a thick, solid ice wall rose from the ground, barely managing to block the corrosive venomous mist spewed by the venomous python on the left!
Qiuniu roared like thunder, and swung its bronze giant axe, unleashing a violent golden axe storm, aiming head-on at the head of the giant python at the front.

"Get the hell out of my way!"

Clang! Sparks flew everywhere!

The giant python only suffered a few cracks in the scales on its head, and roared and whipped its tail in pain!
Xing San had already tightly protected Su Meng behind him, flicking talismans between his fingers.

"Sharp metal blade, igniting earth fire!"

Sharp golden needles and bursting flames were unleashed in succession, briefly halting the frenzied charge of several giant water centipedes on one side! However, these talismans had limited power; when they struck the beasts' bodies covered in filthy scales and mud, they only left shallow marks, instead igniting even greater ferocity! The talismans' flames were quickly weakened by the filthy swampy aura!
The beasts were terrifyingly fast! There were far more of them! And their defenses were ridiculously strong!

They knew this desperate swamp like the shadows in the water! In just one glance, the old wound on Qiuniu's shoulder was splashed with venom.

With a hiss, wisps of smoke rose; Jiang He's earthen wall was repeatedly rammed by several vultures with human faces, disregarding the damage, causing it to crack and rapidly deplete its spiritual energy; Liu Piaopiao's ice wall was bombarded by the thick body of a venomous python whipping its tail.

The cracking sounds continued! Su Meng, protected by Xing San, retreated repeatedly, her face as pale as paper, a chilling fear seeping into her bones—the strength of these ferocious beasts far surpassed that of the giant hill insects from before!
"Retreat! Find a cave where we can take shelter!"

Chen Yang's eyes were sharp as a hawk's, and his body was surging with a scorching aura. The Soul-Splitting Profound Iron Fork with a crimson tail flame deflected the sharp claws of a human-faced vulture that pounced from the side!
While fending off the attacks, his gaze swept rapidly across the floating island beneath his feet, which was covered with huge gray-white rocks.

Finally! Deep within this floating island, on a rock wall adjacent to a semi-enclosed area formed by a collapsed boulder, he spotted a dark, inconspicuous cave entrance hidden by thick fog and strange rocks!

"Over there! Quickly!"

Chen Yang roared and swung his fork like a club, sweeping a water centipede back half a step and clearing a way out! Then he unleashed his full potential, his fire elemental power exploding beneath his feet and transforming into a streak of crimson light as he rushed toward the cave entrance!
Without a word, the unspoken understanding between them spurred the others into action instantly! Liu Piaopiao activated the remaining ice wall, unleashing its last layer of chilling energy to block the enemy! Qiuniu roared and used his injured shoulder to ram another charging giant python! Jiang He grabbed Xing San and Su Meng's arms and lunged backward!
The group practically tumbled and crawled into the narrow cave entrance, which reeked of damp, cold earth! The last one to enter, Qiuniu, turned around and used all his strength to wed the edge of the entrance with his giant axe!

Boom! Boom!
The ferocious beast's furious crashes and shrieks, like terrifying thunder, slammed heavily onto the boulder blocking the cave entrance! Debris rained down! The entire cave wall trembled violently!

But the cave entrance was narrow and the rock was extremely solid, which actually withstood the crazy impact!

"Hah...hah..." The group collapsed in the damp, cold cave, their chests heaving violently.

Su Meng couldn't help but gag. Qiu Niu leaned against the rock wall, his shoulder blackened and stinking, his breathing rapid. Liu Piaopiao and Jiang He also couldn't hide their exhaustion. Xing San quickly checked everyone's injuries; the situation was dire.

If we hadn't finally found this safe haven, the consequences would have been unimaginable!
The resentful roars and crashing sounds of the ferocious beasts outside the cave gradually subsided after a long time. Thick fog and the deathly swampy smell seeped in through the cracks in the cave entrance, mixing with the damp, musty odor of the cave itself, creating a suffocating and despairing atmosphere. The people, still shaken, huddled in the small, dark space, their relief at surviving the ordeal quickly replaced by a deeper sense of bewilderment and fear.

"What...what kind of place is this?"

Su Meng's voice was trembling with sobs, and her body was still shaking slightly. She hugged her arms tightly and leaned against the cold stone wall.

“Those man-eating forests, those hills teeming with living insects, and this toxic swamp where even corpses have rotted... kill us however you want!”
Is this truly a trial to select the strongest?

Xing San silently treated the poison-stained wound on Qiu Niu's shoulder, his movements steady, but his eyes were also full of confusion.

"It doesn't feel like screening. It feels more like... purges in the most brutal way."

Jiang He stood with his back to the firelight, gazing at the dim light filtering through the cracks in the cave entrance, his expression as solemn as iron.

"Xing San is right. The aura of ferocity and extinction here is so strong it's unbelievable."

Those bones…uncured for centuries, their resentment stagnant and unable to rise. The Five Elements Trial, though perilous, should at least leave a path for survival, a place for those to fight and strive for advancement. This place…is clearly a place of certain death! It's gone too far!”

A silence fell over everyone, broken only by the occasional low growls of beasts outside and the pitter-patter of water dripping from inside the cave. The atmosphere was oppressive, like air filled with lead and mercury, so heavy it was hard to breathe.

In the deathly silence, Chen Yang slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over his still-shaken companions, finally seeming to pierce through the stone wall and land on some invisible point.

His mind sank into that mysterious corner of his consciousness, silently voicing a question.

"Li Rou, this place is incredibly strange. Do you recognize what kind of formation this is? What is its origin?"

A clear, cold thought, carrying a subtle yet profound weight, resonated directly in Chen Yang's mind; it was Li Rou's voice.

"It's hard to tell. The laws of this realm are in complete chaos, twisted and inverted, unlike any ancient restriction or natural barrier I know of. It seems... it seems that something terrible is silently distorting the 'foundation' of this area, or rather, its own 'existence' is the greatest source of distortion."

Her voice paused for a moment, as if she were "gazing" once again at this desolate swamp through Chen Yang's eyes.

"But... I sensed an extremely faint fluctuation from a spatial 'rift.' Ordinary teleportation could never penetrate the distorted laws of this place, but your Sumeru Space... is self-contained and firmly anchored... perhaps..."

Chen Yang's heart stirred.

You mean?

"Create an exit! Using the cave's anchor point, and adding some of my primordial spatial power to impact the rift, forcibly tear open a temporary 'path'! Throw them out of your cave to a safe location at the outside coordinates!"

This method is extremely daring and costly, but in this desperate situation, it is the only chance of survival!
What are the chances of success?

Chen Yang's thoughts flashed rapidly.

"Thirty percent? No... fifty percent!"

Half a chance! We need time and our full strength to act!

Li Rou's voice was resolute.

"enough!"

Chen Yang calmed down.

He opened his eyes, his gaze once again becoming as firm as a rock.

He stood up, his voice ringing out clearly in the silent cave, carrying a calming power.

"Please calm down, everyone. Although this place is dangerous, there's always a way out. I just sensed something unusual about the flow of energy deep within the cave ahead, and there seemed to be a faint fluctuation of a passage! Although I don't understand why, it might be a way out!"

"aisle?"

"real or fake?"

"Is there a way out deep inside this godforsaken place?"

Jiang He, Qiu Niu, Su Meng, and Xing San all wore expressions of doubt. Finding a way out of a dead end was utterly absurd. Liu Piaopiao looked at Chen Yang, a hint of understanding flashing in her clear, icy eyes.

Chen Yang remained calm.

"Rather than sitting here waiting to be slaughtered, we should risk everything and fight for a chance to survive! If we stay here and wait for the monsters outside to find a way to break through this cave, or if we are exhausted by the endless decay and deathly aura of this place, we will end up as nothing more than a pile of bones! Trust me this once, let's go deeper!"

His words were resolute and carried an unquestionable determination. Having gone through countless life-and-death situations together, especially the near-impossible escape from the hilly terrain, Chen Yang had already established a deep-rooted prestige and trust among this group.

"Alright! Brother Chen is right! Either way we're going to risk our lives, I trust you!"

Qiuniu was the first to respond, slapping his thigh hard.

Jiang He looked thoughtful, and after a long while, he nodded emphatically.

"That's right, it's not our place to sit idly by and wait to die! Let's go!"

Xing San silently helped Su Meng up.

"Let's follow."

Liu Piaopiao also walked to Chen Yang's side, her cold eyes sweeping over everyone.

"There is no time to lose."

Her statement reassured the last remaining doubters.

After regrouping their weapons and taking some pills to recover, Chen Yang led the way, with Liu Piaopiao and Jiang He in the middle on guard, and Qiu Niu and Xing San protecting Su Meng at the rear. The group carefully lit a few faint illuminating stones and groped their way into the deep, dark cave covered with slippery moss.

The cave was winding and deep, filled with the coolness of an underground river and the heavy, earthy smell of rocks. After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the moisture ahead became increasingly dense, and the faint sound of rushing water could even be heard.

"There seems to be a pool of water ahead?"

The river whispered.

Just then, Chen Yang suddenly stopped and shouted in a low voice.

"Prepare! The guiding force is coming! Stay calm and do not resist!"

Before the words were even finished!

In the darkness of the cave ahead, a gentle ripple of space, completely different from the surrounding gloomy swamp, suddenly spread out! Immediately afterwards, a gentle yet irresistible suction force suddenly came, instantly enveloping everyone!
"This is?!"

Qiuniu cried out in alarm.

"Spatial power?!"

Jiang He's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he cried out in surprise.

The world is spinning!

The feeling of being pulled out of space was even stronger than when stepping into that massive teleportation array, yet it was also more brief and rapid! It was as if an invisible giant hand had forcibly pulled me out of a quagmire of despair! (End of Chapter)