Chapter 42 - War Beast Hall

The sun blazed across the sky, like a golden crow trying to race to the ends of time while the clouds were like cotton as they floated in the air.

The wind had come to a standstill as the various powers watched the opening of the swirling vortex.

Only the heavy breathing could be heard and the bloodshot eyes of the various disciples could be seen.

As a younger disciple couldn't help but inch forward, it broke the silent equilibrium that was unknowingly kept.

A cacophony of voices rose like a disordered army as they all rushed forward haphazardly towards the vortex.

Some were utilizing their Agility Arts t their fullest trying to be the first to step foot on this new land with untold wonders...

Xiao LingYue stood staring at the entrance as the calling he had previously felt began to grow stronger as it tugged and clawed at his heart...

His dishevelled robes rustled as cultivators passed him left and right like an unruly mob as they raced against each other.

He stood staring as he seemed rather out of place, standing still amongst all the racing cultivators. . .

He drew a deep breath as he took his first step forward, his left foot planting itself deep in the mulch and grass around the lake as his heart steeled.

'No matter what this feeling means, I'll find out on my own' He thought to himself.

"Fellow Daoist! Hurry up or they'll get all the good stuff!!" The fatty noticed his slowed movement as he ran back and tugged him by the arm with a feverish gaze in his eyes as he stared at the vortex.

His eyebrows furrowed slightly as he stared at the fatty tugging him before relaxing as he followed him into the vortex before them, following behind the crowd as their worldview began to warp as everything slowly faded to black.....

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Their view soon cleared as everyone began appearing within a vast hall which had statues of various beasts on either side in armour.

An ancient aura laced with Beastial Qi was emitted from these statues as they stifled the breath of everyone inside the hall.

Some were standing, some laid prone and some seemed they were stuck in a battle of life and death; every statue was intricately made and unbelievably lifelike.

Xiao LingYue's heart began to race as he looked at the various statues; to be more accurate his neidan within his heart began to spin furiously within him, slowly absorbing the ancient beastial aura within the surroundings.

His breathing began to be hurried as his body was continuously pumped with Demonic Qi and his flesh tempered every second he was here.

He gazed around the crowd as he noticed the twins he fought and the blade-wielding young man as well as a few new and familiar faces grouped with them.

His gaze then shifted towards a gigantic door which seemed to be made of ancient cold iron as they walked closer to it.

"Welcome to the War Beast Hall"

A voice was heard as it echoed through the chamber leaving everyone on tenterhooks as they glanced warily at their surroundings.

Upon not noticing anything strange they were soon before the door which read beside it,

'Trial Of Prowess'.

The door stood like the gaping maw of a beast as the swirling black clouds inside of it seemed to be luring everyone to their deaths.

A cold wind blew as the faint roars of beasts could be heard from beyond the eerie black door.

Xiao LingYue retracted his gaze as he went to view the statues, his eyes focused as he stared at them, their lifelike eyes staring back like they could see into the very depths of his soul.

He watched as group after group went into the darkness as he stayed behind, slowly watching them disappear.

Suddenly there were only around 15 people left from the almost 500 who had arrived...

They seemed to be itinerant cultivators as their eyes turned towards the fatty and Xiao LingYue, a wicked glint flashing in their eyes as they soon came over.

"Heh heh, see you fellow daoist, it seems it's my time to join the trial!" shouted the fatty as he quickly used his Agility Art to reach the door, his body rising like an eagle and falling like an arrow as he bounced around similar to a ball.

Upon seeing him dash away so quickly the 15 other cultivators furrowed their brows as anger flashed across their faces.

They slowly surrounded LingYue as their breathing could be heard, and the clangs of weapons being unsheathed rang out throughout the vast and empty hall.

Swords, sabers, daggers and knives all were drawn as they sneered figuring they could steal his storage pouch as they saw him purchase a saber from the fatty earlier and since the fat sheep was quick at running they could only settle for sharing the second prize.

LingYue's eyes were looking at his toes as a crooked smile soon crept across his face, his body gleeful as his shoulders shuddered.

His creepy chuckling soon rang out as it echoed throughout the hall, raising the hairs on the back of their necks.

His eyes looked up as he gazed at them, the left side of his face seemed melted as a red snake-like eye could be seen staring at them from under the mangled flesh.

LingYue chuckling soon came to a stop as he sighed,

" To believe I'm being delivered fresh cultivation resources so soon..."

His hands grasped his face as he tore the mask made by the Myriad Mask Silkworm revealing his fair and beautiful face, shocking the men who surrounded him.

"A woman?" One man asked as he stared at LingYue with a raised eyebrow.

Suddenly LingYue's body trembled before he vanished.

Startled the men looked around to find him, they figured this plain young man would be easy prey, but who knew it seemed to be a young expert in disguise!

As their gaze roamed the area, what they saw sent chills up their spine...

A fox-tailed figure with tails the colour of the darkest night was standing behind one of their comrades, her head held by its hair as blood gurgled from the still-standing body...

The body soon fell over as its arms scratched at the ground, blood pooling as it seemed like it was unresolved with dying and filled with an untold amount of grievances...

The fox-tailed figure turned as he looked at the struggling body. . .

"Huh, well isn't that interesting..."