69: Chapter 69: Lake of Annihilation

Li Tianxing's words caused the five people present to hold their breath.

The Immortal-Demon Trial, the Immortal-Demon Legacy... every single one was enough to make most Cultivators go mad.

But immediately, a more practical problem surfaced.

"Senior Brother Li, did you just say that only those holding a complete token can be teleported into the Trial Grounds?"

Xiao Ran was the first to speak up and ask.

"Correct."

"The information within the blood-colored runes is very clear: when the nine tokens gather, the teleportation begins."

"At that time, only the holders of the tokens can be teleported."

Li Tianxing nodded.

"Nine people."

"Only nine people can enter."

White Bone Scholar's expression was calm, as if he had long anticipated this.

In an instant.

The atmosphere at the scene changed.

Previously, they were only cooperating to seize tokens, but now the tokens had become the only tickets to enter the final trial.

And there were six of them here, yet only four tokens.

This involved a question: who would go and who would not?

"Senior Brother Li, then we..."

Poison Lady knew that since Li Tianxing dared to say this, he definitely had a plan.

"I will help you, just as I said when we first started cooperating."

"When the ninth token is contested, I will take action to help you seize the fragments."

"But once the nine tokens are complete and the teleportation opens, the final ownership of the tokens... you will need to fight for that yourselves."

Li Tianxing said calmly, looking at the five of them.

"I will temporarily distribute my four tokens for you to imprint your Soul marks."

"But the moment teleportation begins, I will only keep one for myself; in other words, the only person I can ensure enters is myself."

"As for the remaining five of you, and everyone else outside..."

"You all must fight for the remaining eight slots."

"At that time, I will help you block Ling Jianxin. As for the others, you will need to deal with them yourselves."

Li Tianxing looked into the distance.

With his strength, saying this was indeed not a problem.

Cruel, but fair.

Li Tianxing was willing to fulfill the cooperation, but the final slots required them to fight for themselves.

The group fell into a collective silence.

Because they all knew that the moment the nine tokens were fully formed...

...would be the time this battlefield faced its most cruel moment.

"This is something we anticipated long ago."

"The priority now is the ninth token. We need to rush over as quickly as possible and seize as many fragments as we can before the token is complete."

Yin Jiuyou broke the silence.

"It's not just the fragments."

"We also need to weaken our competitors, especially that group from the Righteous Path."

Blood Slaughterer grinned as he chimed in.

Li Tianxing smiled slightly: "Exactly my thoughts."

Six streaks of light soared into the sky, flying toward the deepest part of the Ancient Battlefield.

...

En route.

Xiao Ran communicated with Li Changsheng through their Soul link, briefly explaining his situation.

"Changsheng, how is the situation on your end?"

"Eldest Senior Brother has already set out for the Lake of Oblivion."

"He just gathered everyone, saying the ninth token is about to be completed, and requested that we rush there as quickly as possible."

Li Changsheng replied.

"Did he mention that only token holders can enter?"

"He did."

"Eldest Senior Brother said that when the nine tokens gather, only nine people can enter the Trial Grounds."

"He told me and Senior Sister that he would try his best to help us secure tokens."

Li Changsheng said in a heavy tone.

Of course, he also knew this was just a polite formality; when that time came, who would have the luxury to look after another?

Everyone would have to rely on their own abilities.

"What about the other forces?"

Xiao Ran asked again; he needed to know the status of the other Righteous Path forces.

"The Heavenly Sword Sect and the Tyrant Blade group have already formed an alliance, aiming for at least two slots."

"I also heard that the Nether Hall, the Hehuan Sect, and those other demonic sects are also networking, but because they don't have complete tokens, they can only attach themselves to the strong."

Li Changsheng paused for a moment here.

"Xiao Ran, when the time comes, we..."

"We snatch them, of course! Such a great Opportunity—if we miss it, we'll regret it for the rest of our lives."

Xiao Ran answered without hesitation.

He had worked so hard to collect fragments; it wasn't to act as a stepping stone for others.

"But we're only at the Golden Core Stage!"

Li Changsheng's voice was a bit dejected.

It wasn't that he lacked self-confidence, but rather that he clearly understood how vast the gap between Golden Core and Nascent Soul was.

When the time came, the core competitive circle would certainly be a battlefield for Nascent Soul big shots.

"Narrow. Your thinking is too narrow."

"Who told you we have to go head-to-head with them?"

"I have a move; you must remember it well."

"Once the timing is right, the two of us will definitely occupy two of the nine seats."

Xiao Ran smiled with a smirk.

He had long since planned this and had made many preparations for it.

"Then stop talking nonsense and tell me already!"

Li Changsheng's interest was instantly piqued.

And so, Xiao Ran laid out his entire scheme.

"Good."

Li Changsheng was overjoyed after hearing it, instantly filled with motivation.

"When the time comes, wouldn't it be wonderful for us two brothers to obtain the Immortal-Demon Legacy together?"

"Jie jie jie!!!"

...

One day later, the Lake of Oblivion.

The scenery here was completely different from other areas of the Ancient Battlefield.

The lake water was ink-black, the surface as calm as a mirror, without a single ripple.

The lakeshore was barren of grass, and even the wind seemed to vanish upon reaching this place.

Yet at this moment, hundreds of people were gathered by the shore.

The Righteous Path Alliance, the Demonic Sect Alliance, Loose Cultivator groups... the various forces were clearly demarcated, and the atmosphere was as heavy as iron.

In the center of the lake, a token that had already collected forty-nine fragments was suspended, missing only the last one.

The final fragment had not yet appeared in the world.

"Senior Brother Li is here!"

Everyone's gaze simultaneously turned toward the sky.

Six streaks of light descended as Li Tianxing's group appeared.

Almost at the same time, from another direction, seven sword lights landed.

Ling Jianxin arrived leading the people of the Supreme Dao Palace.

The two looked at each other across the lake, their invisible Aura clashing in mid-air.

"Li Tianxing."

"It seems you also obtained the complete information."

Ling Jianxin was the first to speak.

"You aren't slow either."

Li Tianxing responded with a smile.

"Among the nine people, there will certainly be a seat for me."

Ling Jianxin's tone was flat, yet it carried absolute confidence.

"What a coincidence; I think so too."

Li Tianxing nodded.

While the two conversed, the leaders of other forces also appeared one after another.

Jian Wuchen of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Fairy Youyue of the Xuan Yin Cult, the Loose Cultivator Tyrant Blade, Gui Li of the Nether Hall, Liu Ruyan of the Hehuan Sect...

The top figures of the Northern Territory's younger generation were almost all gathered here.

Everyone's eyes were focused on that token in the center of the lake.

Only the last fragment was missing.

And where would that final fragment appear?

Boom!

Suddenly.

Thirty miles to the east of the Lake of Oblivion, a crimson pillar of light soared into the sky!

A surge of majestic Spiritual Qi fluctuations arrived, mixed with the clear Aura of a token fragment!

The final fragment had appeared!

"Go!"

Almost simultaneously, all the forces moved.

Hundreds of streaks of light pounced toward the light pillar like a swarm of locusts.

This was a chaotic battle without rules.

Whoever could snatch the fragment would hold the initiative to enter the trial.