The Strongest Dandy in the City Chapter 2276 - 2265: Perilous Escape

Ignoring the Bloodswallow Clan Leader's exclamations swirling in his mind, Ye Chenfeng's mood remained, for the moment, quite pleasant. He felt the persistent flow of the Blood Spring within his dantian, still harboring the hope that one day the Blood of the Earth might either supersede his own or somehow meld with it. As his own cultivation progressed, the golden Divine Blood coursing through his veins would only grow richer. While perhaps not as inherently precious as the Blood of the Earth, the Divine Blood produced by the Divine Blood Art was undeniably a valuable substance itself. Should the Blood of the Earth successfully fuse with his Divine Blood, the resulting essence would unquestionably surpass the original power of the Blood of the Earth.

However, this was hardly the time for elation. Four of the eight seals comprising the Undying Seal had been broken. Should the remaining four be undone, the Bloodswallow Clan's full resurrection would be achieved—a prospect Ye Chenfeng was absolutely determined to prevent. Furthermore, a pressing urgency compelled Ye Chenfeng to locate Zhao Jinpeng, Wu Lingxiang, and Jiang Caixuan without delay. The illusions within this Bloodswallow Clan ancestral ground were crafted with such astonishing realism, they could easily deceive anyone into believing this genuinely was a Divine Emperor's tomb. Preventing Zhao Jinpeng, Wu Lingxiang, and Jiang Caixuan from becoming unwitting sacrifices to unseal the Undying Seal was paramount.

After swiftly attending to the injuries of Bai Xiaorou and Tan Yuanwu, Ye Chenfeng proceeded to elucidate the entirety of the situation concerning the Bloodswallow Clan. Bai Xiaorou displayed minimal outward reaction, seemingly content as long as she was by Brother Ye's side, indifferent to external matters. Tan Yuanwu, conversely, grew increasingly apprehensive. He had never encountered mention of the Bloodswallow Clan before, yet he trusted Ye Chenfeng implicitly wouldn't fabricate such a tale. If the ancient Bloodswallow Clan truly existed and were to achieve full resurrection, very few individuals would emerge from this place alive.

Tan Yuanwu voiced his profound concern, his tone heavy: "Chenfeng, we absolutely must prevent the Bloodswallow Clan's resurrection. If their power is unleashed, not only will everyone present perish, but the entire Tian Xuan Realm could face utter devastation."

Ye Chenfeng conveyed his agreement with a nod. "We must depart immediately and rendezvous with the others as swiftly as possible. Our priority is to find them quickly and ensure they do not fall prey to the Bloodswallow Clan's schemes."

With that declaration, Ye Chenfeng ascended into the air and moved rapidly away from the forest, Bai Xiaorou and Tan Yuanwu maintaining close proximity. They raised no questions regarding the earlier incident with the Brain-Eating Ghost Insect; it was not a moment for casual discussion, but one demanding utmost urgency.

The ancestral domain of the Bloodswallow Clan was remarkably extensive. The Communication Jade Tokens they possessed offered only a limited range of connectivity, compelling them to search somewhat haphazardly, akin to scattered flies.

Fortunately, their fortune held. After three hours of flight, a familiar aura was detected via the Communication Jade Token, prompting them to hasten their advance towards its origin. As they drew nearer, Ye Chenfeng, Bai Xiaorou, and Tan Yuanwu descended from the sky, landing before a vast, colossal lake. The distinct, familiar energy signature emanated from its depths.

After exchanging a glance with Bai Xiaorou and Tan Yuanwu, Ye Chenfeng instructed, "Let's descend and investigate. However, if any treasures appear, do not act rashly. Those scoundrels from the Bloodswallow Clan will never offer anything without a price. The supposed treasures that manifest are typically highly convincing illusions."

Bai Xiaorou nodded obediently, and Tan Yuanwu echoed his agreement multiple times. Without further delay, the trio plunged into the lake, enveloping themselves in protective barriers of spiritual energy to ward off the water.

The lake possessed considerable depth, and after descending several hundred meters, they reached its bottom. There, they discovered a massive cave entrance concealed beneath.

This entrance was barred by an immense, ancient stone door. Precisely as Ye Chenfeng and his companions arrived at the lakebed, the colossal stone door began to creak open. Once fully ajar, potent surges of spiritual energy erupted from the cavern beyond, casting dazzling beams of light that unequivocally signaled the presence of treasures within.

Even before Ye Chenfeng and his companions descended into the lake, a considerable number of cultivators had already congregated near the cave entrance, including Zhao Jinpeng. Upon witnessing the stone door's opening and sensing the powerful spiritual energy emanating from the cave, every cultivator became consumed with eagerness, drawn by the potent allure of the energy pulses. Consequently, the moment the stone door swung wide, all the cultivators surged into the cave in unison.

As Ye Chenfeng and his companions arrived at the lake's floor, Zhao Jinpeng was precisely at the threshold of a cave entrance. Without delay, Ye Chenfeng's voice boomed, "Old Zhao, halt your advance! Return immediately."

Ye Chenfeng amplified his voice with internal spiritual energy, ensuring it carried with utmost clarity and volume.

Hearing Ye Chenfeng's urgent call, Zhao Jinpeng turned, remarking, "There ought to be treasures concealed within that cave."

From a distance, Ye Chenfeng persisted, his shouts echoing, "Old Zhao, return here this instant. Disregard any thought of treasures. This is an unequivocal order."

Perceiving the gravity in Ye Chenfeng's tone, Zhao Jinpeng, with a palpable sense of reluctance, withdrew the foot that had already entered the cave's opening. He returned to Ye Chenfeng's side, just as he was about to voice his burgeoning curiosity.

At that moment, the cave entrance abruptly dissolved. All cultivators who had ventured inside found themselves ensnared within a translucent white barrier. A crushing pressure and searing pain began to assail their bodies, yet comprehension remained elusive.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!—"

One after another, the bodies of the entrapped cultivators detonated, transforming into crimson pools that seeped into the lake's intricate network of veins.

Swiftly, every cultivator caught within the enchantment perished, their spilled blood coalescing within the subterranean channels to form the stark, blood-red word: "live."

Zhao Jinpeng, previously bewildered, was now drenched in a cold sweat at the horrifying spectacle. Among the disintegrated forms was a cultivator at the Initial Stage of the Divine King realm, yet even he proved defenseless against the barrier's might, succumbing to a bloody demise. Though Zhao Jinpeng himself had reached the Later Stage of the Divine King realm, he understood that confronting the barrier would likely result in a similarly gruesome end.

He shuddered, recalling that mere moments ago, his own foot had been poised to cross that perilous threshold, a step away from the abyss. Had Ye Chenfeng not intervened with such timely urgency, he too would be nothing more than a puddle of blood.

The sheer terror of the near-miss sent a jolt of adrenaline through Zhao Jinpeng!

... (Continued. Should this narrative resonate with you, please consider casting your recommendation votes or monthly tickets at qidian.com. Your support is the driving force behind my inspiration. For mobile users, the reading experience awaits at m.qidian.com.)