67: The forbidden area exit is opened

Outside the Blood Forbidden Ground, the massive crimson light gate still quietly hovered in mid-air, emitting unsettling fluctuations.

Before the light gate, the eight Core Formation Cultivators leading the Seven Sects had already gathered, waiting with varied expressions.

Time passed bit by bit, and the seven-day period until the Forbidden Ground closed was drawing near.

"Today is the seventh day," the beautiful woman from Tianque Fortress, still full of charm, parted her red lips, her gaze sweeping across the faces of the others. "I wonder which of our School's Disciples will have the most abundant harvest this time?"

Her voice was charming, carrying a perfectly pitched hint of curiosity.

"Hmph, why even ask?" Li Huayuan immediately puffed out his chest, raised his chin high, and stroked his sparse beard, saying triumphantly, "Naturally, it will be my Huangfeng Valley's Disciples!"

"In previous years, it might have been hard to say, but this year, the Disciples my Huangfeng Valley sent are elites among elites. They will surely overpower the masses and take first place!"

His voice was loud, as if Huangfeng Valley already had victory firmly in its grasp.

Hongfu Immortal, listening nearby, furrowed her brows slightly and sighed inwardly; this fellow's old habits were acting up again.

"Oh? Fellow Daoist Li is still so full of confidence," Fuyun Zi, the Daoist Priest from Qingxu Sect, spoke with a forced smile, glancing sideways at Li Huayuan. "Every time before the Forbidden Ground opens, Fellow Daoist says the same thing."

"Unfortunately, the results are often not as expected. In my opinion, it will most likely be the same old story this time."

Fuyun Zi and Li Huayuan had always been at odds in public, seizing every Opportunity to mock each other.

"Old Daoist Fuyun, stop spreading nonsense here!" Li Huayuan erupted in anger, blowing his beard and glaring. "Previous years are previous years; how can this year be compared to them?"

"This time, my Huangfeng Valley Disciples are all exceptionally skilled and deeply blessed by Opportunity. They will surely make you, old Daoist, look at them with new eyes!"

"Heh heh, then I shall wait and see," Fuyun Zi stroked his goatee, a hint of playfulness flashing in his eyes. "I just hope Fellow Daoist Li doesn't make up far-fetched excuses like in previous years when he loses a bet."

"You!" Li Huayuan was so angry his neck thickened, and he was about to burst out.

Hongfu Immortal finally couldn't help but say coldly, "Enough! Junior Brother Li, say less. Don't make a fool of yourself here."

Her voice was clear and cold, carrying a hint of authority.

At her rebuke, Li Huayuan's arrogance immediately deflated by three points. He huffed resentfully and said no more, though his gaze still glared fiercely at Fuyun Zi.

Seeing this, Hong Fu was too lazy to bother with him further. She simply closed her eyes and began to rest, out of sight, out of mind.

The Core Formation Cultivators of the other Schools, such as the Sword-backed Daoist from Giant Sword Sect and the White-haired Daoist from Huayi Sect, all wore faint smiles, looking as if they were watching a good show.

Only the middle-aged female Cultivator from Yanyue Sect had a faint, almost imperceptible cold smile on her face, with a hint of self-satisfaction hidden deep in her eyes.

She thought to herself, "Li Huayuan, this fool, is still here bickering with Fuyun Zi. He doesn't know that my Yanyue Sect has Junior Sister Nangong Wan personally mixed among the Disciples this time."

"With Junior Sister Nangong Wan's methods and Opportunity, this trip to the Forbidden Ground will surely yield far greater harvests than the other six Schools. At that time, what more will you all have to say?"

She had extreme confidence in Nangong Wan's strength and had almost already foreseen Yanyue Sect's triumphant victory.

Just as everyone's thoughts varied, some anticipating, some watching the show, some secretly calculating.

The surface of the massive crimson light gate suddenly rippled.

"Buzz—"

A flash of Spiritual Light, and a somewhat disheveled figure stumbled out of the light gate, barely steadying himself after a few leaps.

"Someone's out!" Someone shouted, though it was unclear who.

Everyone's spirits lifted, and they all turned their gaze to the Cultivator who had just emerged from the Forbidden Ground.

It was the Great Master of Spirit Beast Mountain, Zhong Wu, dressed in Spirit Beast Mountain Disciple attire, his face pale and his Qi somewhat disordered.

"Grandmaster!" Zhong Wu immediately took a few steps forward upon seeing the burly, rugged-faced Core Formation old woman from Spirit Beast Mountain, bowing respectfully.

The old woman nodded slightly, a hint of expectation flashing in her eyes. Her lips moved, evidently transmitting a message to Zhong Wu, asking something.

Zhong Wu's face showed a hint of bitterness, and he also transmitted a few words in reply.

After listening, the old woman frowned slightly, seemingly not entirely satisfied with the result, but she didn't say much, only waved her hand, signaling Zhong Wu to step aside and rest.

Zhong Wu felt as if he had been granted a great pardon. He quickly retreated behind his Sect's elder, took out a Medicinal Pill, consumed it, and began to regulate his Qi.

With the first person emerging, the crimson light gate then became like a floodgate, with Cultivators continuously flying out.

However, most of these emerging Cultivators came out in twos and threes, scattered, each ragged, weary, and many carrying injuries, clearly having experienced many dangers within the Forbidden Ground.

Moreover, most of these emerging Disciples had cultivations hovering around Qi Refining twelfth layer, with few at the peak of Qi Refining thirteenth layer.

Watching the sparse number of people, the Core Formation Cultivators present gradually grew solemn.

When they first entered the Forbidden Ground, the Seven Sects' Disciples numbered several hundred, a grand and impressive sight.

But now, a rough count showed that fewer than a hundred had emerged.

The high attrition rate showed that the dangers of the Blood Forbidden Ground far exceeded everyone's imagination.

Li Huayuan's face also grew increasingly grim as time passed.

Disciples from other Schools were emerging one after another, but his Huangfeng Valley Disciples were nowhere to be seen.

He was extremely anxious, constantly peering towards the light gate.

"What's going on? Where are my Huangfeng Valley Disciples?" He muttered to himself, "Could it be... could it be that something unexpected happened to them all?"

At this thought, his heart sank.

If that were truly the case, he would have suffered a huge loss this time, not only losing his bet completely but also being unable to account to the Sect Head Senior Brother upon returning to the Sect.

Just as he was burning with impatience, the light gate flickered again.

Two figures flew out one after another.

Li Huayuan fixed his gaze, and upon seeing the familiar Huangfeng Valley Disciple attire on the two, he was first delighted, then his face fell.

Of the two who emerged, one was precisely the elderly Disciple whose Lifespan was nearing its end, whom he had previously not thought highly of.

The other was an ordinary-looking middle-aged woman, whose cultivation was only at Qi Refining twelfth layer.

"Just... just these two?" Li Huayuan's lips trembled; he could barely believe his eyes.

His Huangfeng Valley had sent at least dozens of Disciples into the Forbidden Ground this time, including many outstanding individuals at Qi Refining thirteenth layer. How could it be that only these two unimpressive individuals came out in the end?

"Hahahaha! Fellow Daoist Li, it seems your School's elite Disciples this year aren't so great after all!" Fuyun Zi, seeing the situation, immediately seized the Opportunity and mocked mercilessly.

"Look, only these two came out. One of them is an old man who probably struggles even to walk. With such strength, how can he compete for Opportunity in the Forbidden Ground?"

He pointed at the elderly Disciple, laughing so hard he doubled over.

Qingxu Sect had more than ten Disciples emerge this time. Although most also carried some injuries, compared to Huangfeng Valley's dismal scene, they were undoubtedly much better off.

Li Huayuan's face turned ashen with anger, yet he was powerless to retort.

He couldn't very well say that he still had a trump card Disciple who hadn't come out yet, could he? That would be too humiliating.

"Hmph! Old Daoist Fuyun, don't get too smug!" Li Huayuan stiffened his neck, forcing himself to say, "My Huangfeng Valley Disciples have always valued quality over quantity!"

"Although few came out, every single one is an elite! Unlike some Schools, where a whole bunch came out, but they're all just filling up numbers!"

His words almost dragged in the other Schools as well.

Upon hearing this, Fuyun Zi was even more amused: "Oh? Elites? Is Fellow Daoist perhaps joking? Just these two..."

Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by a slightly hoarse cough.

"Cough cough... Grandmaster Li, Senior Fuyun Zi." The old man from Huangfeng Valley stepped forward and bowed to the two.

"We indeed gained little in the Forbidden Ground, disappointing Grandmaster."

His tone was calm, and he was not angered by Fuyun Zi's mockery.

Li Huayuan felt even more stifled seeing this, but he couldn't flare up, so he could only glare fiercely at Fuyun Zi.

Just as the two were arguing incessantly and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

The crimson light gate again underwent a violent fluctuation.

A slightly thin but steady figure slowly walked out of the light gate.

This person, dressed in a green Disciple robe, had an ordinary appearance. It was Han Li.

He looked somewhat dusty at the moment, and his clothes were a bit disheveled, but his eyes were unusually bright, faintly carrying an almost imperceptible excitement.

Han Li walked out of the light gate and vigilantly scanned his surroundings.

When he saw the Core Formation Cultivators from various Schools gathered here, and the Disciples who had emerged earlier, his heart subtly tightened. He quickly reined in the unusual expression on his face and swiftly walked to the Huangfeng Valley group, bowing to Li Huayuan and Hong Fu.

"Disciple Han Li greets Grandmaster Li and Grandmaster Hong Fu."

Li Huayuan felt a slight sigh of relief seeing Han Li emerge; at least there was one more.

Although Han Li's cultivation was not high and his Aptitude was poor, at least he came out alive.

He was about to ask a few questions but was interrupted by Han Li's next action.

After bowing, Han Li silently retreated to the side, his gaze seemingly calm, but in reality, he was quickly observing everyone present, especially the Disciples from various Schools who had just emerged from the Forbidden Ground.

In his heart, an indescribable excitement was churning.

Recalling the scene five days ago when he woke up in that hidden valley, he still found it somewhat unbelievable.

He had thought he was sure to die after being chased by Feng Yue, but he never expected that upon waking, not only were his injuries fully recovered, but he was also in a Spirit Medicine garden brimming with Spiritual Qi!

In that Spirit Medicine garden, rare Spirit Medicine, difficult to find in the outside world, grew everywhere, and their ages were not low.

Han Li was ecstatic at the time, almost thinking he was dreaming.

He suppressed the excitement in his heart and carefully collected a seed from every type of Spirit Medicine in the garden, storing them properly.

Then, following the principle of taking everything he could, he unceremoniously plundered the entire Spirit Medicine garden, taking all mature Spirit Medicine, regardless of age, into his Storage Pouch.

It could be said that almost half of the Spirit Medicine in the entire Blood Forbidden Ground that were over a hundred years old and easy to collect had fallen into his Storage Pouch.

Such a harvest was simply incredible!

He even suspected if he had stumbled upon some extraordinary good luck.

However, the appearance of this Spirit Medicine garden was too strange, making him feel a subtle unease.

But, who cares!

The Spirit Medicine he had obtained were the real benefits.

With these Spirit Medicine and seeds, he would no longer have to worry about the Medicinal Pill needed for his Cultivation in the future.

He had even gathered several sets of the main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill!

Thinking of this, Han Li's heart burned with fervor.

He quietly touched the Storage Pouch at his waist; it was bulging, containing his greatest reliance for this trip.

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