The sunset on the horizon completely sank, plunging the world into darkness.
The cultivators who had been paying close attention to the stone gate suddenly noticed that the energy fluctuations of the stone gate had dropped to an icy point.
"The power guarding the stone gate seems to have disappeared. Charge!"
Someone shouted excitedly and rushed towards the stone gate without hesitation.
Seeing this, many others also swarmed forward.
This group of people safely reached the stone gate.
An impatient Spirit Venerable directly punched the stone gate.
The punch was powerful and heavy, with terrifying energy roaring like a river, surging towards the stone gate.
Bang!
The stone gate remained unharmed, but the Spirit Venerable who attacked it suffered a backlash. His arm instantly turned into a mist of blood, and he vomited large mouthfuls of blood, a gruesome sight.
"Foolish. To think you could open this stone gate by force is simply courting death."
Someone sneered, then confidently tapped repeatedly on the characters "Bai Di" on the stone gate, continuously injecting spiritual energy into it.
As expected, the stone gate reacted, making creaking sounds.
This person showed joy, a smug look on his face.
But in the next second, he was struck by a powerful force and sent flying.
Those nearby also suffered, all being knocked away.
Just then, the originally dim stone gate once again bloomed with light, and the power that had receded earlier revived, becoming even more terrifying.
Seeing that the situation was bad, everyone fled quickly, but it was too late.
The energy swept through, reaping everything.
Dozens of cultivators instantly turned into ashes.
A collective gasp of cold air echoed from the surroundings. These people were immensely relieved that they hadn't impulsively followed.
Indeed, thinking twice before acting was the true essence of navigating the martial world. No matter when, one must not be blinded by profit and act rashly.
Huineng and Fan Jingxing pushed the door open and came out, witnessing this terrifying scene. Dozens of cultivators exploded like firecrackers, turning into dust and smoke.
This scene was truly terrifying, as the deceased included Spirit Saints.
"What are you two standing there dumbfounded for? Grab your tools, we're going to dig for treasures."
Ji Mo came out a step later and hadn't seen the terrifying scene, so he didn't know what had happened.
Otherwise, he would have certainly retreated.
Huineng and Fan Jingxing immediately fetched their legendary hoes and shovels meant for digging, and the three of them slowly walked towards the stone gate.
Hong Qiantu glared at Huineng and Fan Jingxing, unable to help but rub his eyes.
Previously, these two were only at the Half-step Spirit Saint realm. How could they have become Spirit Saints in just the time it took to eat a meal!
What on earth had happened?
He looked at Ji Mo mournfully, feeling another pang of heartache.
Without a doubt, this must have been Ji Mo's doing again.
In the past, Hong Qiantu, Xuan Ao, Huineng, Fan Jingxing, and others were all at the same cultivation level and called each other brothers. But now, his old brothers had all become Saints, while he remained stagnant.
What made him even more resentful was that Ji Mo was the first person he had discovered.
Such things as opportunities truly made no sense.
Hong Qiantu wished he could go back to the past and hug Ji Mo's leg the first time they met.
It wasn't just Hong Qiantu; the cultivators who knew Huineng and Fan Jingxing also showed looks of shock.
Becoming a Saint was a threshold that had blocked countless exceptionally talented individuals.
To be honest, Huineng and Fan Jingxing's aptitude was really not that great, yet they had so easily stepped into the Spirit Saint realm, astonishing everyone.
Especially those who had gathered in the small valley that day to plot against Ji Mo knew that Huineng and Fan Jingxing had become Ji Mo's captives. They had thought that being captives would be unbearable, but unexpectedly, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, making it hard for them to believe.
"Oh dear."
Someone slapped his thigh in regret, "If I had known, I shouldn't have been cowardly that day and should have attacked Ji Mo. Perhaps I would have become a Spirit Saint today too."
"Three more coming to their deaths."
"Are these three out of their minds? They know they'll die, yet they're foolishly walking towards it."
Some cultivators around, seeing Ji Mo and the other two heading straight for the stone gate, kept mocking them.
Walking towards certain death when they knew the great danger was utter foolishness.
"Mr. Ji, it's dangerous ahead!"
Hong Qiantu felt this was an opportunity to curry favor with Ji Mo and quickly shouted, warning Ji Mo not to go any further.
"Dangerous? You're talking nonsense."
Ji Mo looked around, found no danger, and thought Hong Qiantu was spouting rubbish.
Huineng whispered, "Old Hong is so old, yet still so clueless. He actually mentioned danger to Mr. Ji. Does Mr. Ji need his reminder? Besides, Mr. Ji isn't afraid of heavenly tribulations, so why would he be afraid of danger?"
Ah, did I say something wrong again?
Feeling Huineng's disdainful glance, Hong Qiantu panicked.
He couldn't figure out where he had gone wrong again.
Fan Jingxing remembered Hong Qiantu's kindness just now and beckoned him to hurry and follow.
With Mr. Ji leading the way, why fear danger?
Hong Qiantu was ultimately timid and did not dare to follow.
"Heh, the stupid donkey wants to die, and indeed, no one can stop him."
Someone sneered.
But the sneer lasted for only three seconds before it abruptly stopped.
Because Ji Mo and the other two walked so boldly and unimpeded all the way to the stone gate.
"Who is this young man? Could he be Bai Di's illegitimate son? Why isn't the stone gate attacking him?"
Everyone was dumbfounded.
It made no sense.
The terrifying pressure of the stone gate still existed, yet it specifically did not attack Ji Mo and the other two.
Huineng and Fan Jingxing were calm and composed, following behind Ji Mo without any fear, filled with pride.
You mere trash, wanting to see Mr. Ji make a fool of himself. Now, be blinded by your dog eyes!
Hong Qiantu regretted it immensely. Why hadn't he been a bit braver just now?
"Hmph, it's just getting close, what's so great about that? Once he dares to touch the stone gate, he'll surely die."
The cultivator who had just cursed Ji Mo to his death spoke again.
However, the slap in the face came so quickly.
As soon as his words fell, the tightly shut stone gate was pushed open by Ji Mo's hand.
There was no violent energy, no earth-shattering killing intent, just like opening an ordinary door, it opened with a push.
Instantly, everyone's eyes widened, wanting to see clearly what was behind the portal.
But the inside was shrouded in mist, blocking all prying eyes.
"I knew it, there couldn't be a tomb."
Ji Mo seemed to see through the mist, his confusion dispelled.
The inside of the stone gate was full of life, not a tomb at all.
Then, the three of them were wrapped in a ball of energy and sucked into the gate.
"If you become an immortal, I will guard the mortal world for you."
Ji Mo's vision blurred.
At the same time, a voice boomed in his mind.
Then, he saw this scene.
A man in snow-white robes, as refined as jade, holding a jade flute, looked up at the sky and made an eternal promise.
Although he had never seen Bai Di, Ji Mo's first feeling was that this person was Bai Di.
At the same time.
Thousands of miles away, a stunningly beautiful girl with icy skin and jade-like bones sensed this aura and snorted, "Scumbag, you've finally appeared!"
Then her figure turned into a streak of starlight and flew towards the place where the aura leaked.
The scene in Ji Mo's mind flashed by, as if it were just an illusion.
His vision returned to normal. When he opened his eyes, he saw a gaping maw biting towards him.