Chapter 1564 Ninth District
"Oh, a mere attendant dares to enter the Spirit Pool. Truly bold," a voice sneered.
"I think Gu Lingyun is the one with the audacity, letting an attendant in. Doesn't he find it embarrassing?"
Everyone was discussing Chen Xuan, their words laced with mockery.
Chen Xuan, however, remained calm.
He discreetly opened the small paper. Scrawled on it were the words: "Wait for me after entering the Spirit Pool!"
Chen Xuan's eyes widened.
"Damn, this isn't the Sloppy Daoist's handwriting. How did he get here?"
The Gu family's security was notoriously tight. Yet, the Sloppy Daoist was no ordinary individual. During the Heavenly Xuan Sect's operation back then, while he wasn't part of the inner sect, he was responsible for guiding them. This demonstrated his extraordinary strength. It was entirely possible for him to infiltrate this place unnoticed.
"I've been conned out of another fifty spirit stones by that old geezer."
He clenched his fist.
When he had requested a spot in the Spirit Pool, Gu Lingyun's fifty spirit stones had been taken by the Sloppy Daoist. Now, the Sloppy Daoist had also infiltrated the Spirit Pool. Wasn't this just another scam?
"Kid, once you're in the Spirit Pool, listen to our Brother Tianxing, or you won't be returning!"
At this moment, a Gu family member walked over, his face filled with contempt.
"Who does Gu Tianxing think he is?"
Chen Xuan sneered derisively.
"You... It seems you refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"
The Gu family member scurried over to Gu Tianxing and relayed Chen Xuan's words. Gu Tianxing's eyes flashed with a cold glint, and he whispered something to his companions, likely brewing some ill intention.
However, Chen Xuan was not worried. He was already planning to teach Gu Tianxing a lesson.
If these people dared to confront him, he would definitely give them a good thrashing.
"Elder Xiao Ming arrives!"
Suddenly, a resonant voice echoed.
The surroundings immediately fell silent. The arrogant youths all stood up, their expressions displaying humility and respect.
Chen Xuan also slowly rose to his feet.
A moment later, a middle-aged man in his forties emerged.
This man possessed an imposing demeanor, radiating an air of unfathomable depth.
His cultivation had reached the Nine-Rank Martial Emperor realm.
A single clan elder at the Nine-Rank Martial Emperor realm, considering this was merely a mid-to-lower tier strength among such elders, revealed the terrifying power of the Gu family in the capital.
"Clan Elder Xiao!"
Everyone rose and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, young lords!" Xiao Ming cupped his fists in return.
He stated calmly, "Apologies for making you wait. Please follow me into the Spirit Pool."
Xiao Ming strode forward, and the others followed closely. Chen Xuan also quickened his pace.
Before long, they arrived at a vast lake, surrounded by mountains thousands of feet high, with sheer cliffs. The lake was shrouded in a thin mist, and its waters emitted a vibrant glow, appearing to possess immense energy.
Chen Xuan scanned the area with his divine sense. He discovered that the surrounding mountains were not real but a form of barrier. This barrier was impossible to break.
However, the lake itself surprised him. The energy within was so concentrated that even the World Tree felt a desperate hunger.
This was the first time he had seen the World Tree in such a state.
Furthermore, the lake water possessed a peculiar medicinal property, capable of transforming one's very being.
He surmised that this must be the Spirit Pool!
"The Spirit Pool!"
"This is the Spirit Pool! It's just as my brother described."
Upon seeing the Spirit Pool, everyone was ecstatic, their faces flushed red.
At that moment, someone crouched down and reached out to touch the lake water.
"Stop!"
Suddenly, Xiao Ming shouted, rushing to intervene, but it was too late.
The instant the person's hand touched the lake water, a piercing scream erupted. He yanked his hand back violently, but his palm appeared to have been corroded by acid. The flesh was gone, and the bone crumbled at the slightest touch, a truly terrifying sight.
Everyone's expressions turned grim.
"How could this happen?"
The individual was filled with terror.
Chen Xuan also frowned.
What was going on?
At this point, Gu Tianxing stepped forward, his face etched with disdain. "Upon entering the Spirit Pool, if one does not wear the Gu family's identity jade, they will be identified as an outsider and subjected to such corrosion. To dare come to the Spirit Pool without even knowing this, you are truly courting death!"
"My family told me, I forgot..."
The already pained individual's face displayed a hint of shame. He quickly turned to Elder Xiao and pleaded, "Elder Xiao, save me! Save me!"
Elder Xiao hurried to produce medicinal powder and applied it to the man, alleviating his pain.
He explained, "The Spirit Pool belongs to the Gu family and has already recognized its master. Without the Gu family's identity jade, it will perceive outsiders as enemies. Therefore, before you receive your Gu family identity jade, do not enter the Spirit Pool."
Everyone gazed at the Spirit Pool before them, especially those closest to it, instinctively taking a step back.
If they fell into the Spirit Pool, wouldn't they be instantly corroded?
Chen Xuan was astonished.
He never imagined that the Spirit Pool could discern identities. It was no wonder the Gu family monopolized it, preventing others from partaking.
"Please come here and collect your identity jade!" Elder Xiao stated calmly.
The others eagerly lined up to receive their identity tokens.
Chen Xuan was about to join them when he felt someone stealthily appear behind him and shove him, attempting to push him into the Spirit Pool.
"Oops, I didn't mean to..."
The person shouted urgently after pushing Chen Xuan.
However, he suddenly felt a powerful force emanate from his palm. With a bang, he was sent flying, crashing heavily against the wall.
"No need to be polite!"
Chen Xuan stood firm, unfazed.
Everyone was stunned. What was going on?
Simultaneously, they began to regard Chen Xuan with a hint of apprehension. This fellow was not simple.
Gu Tianxing's face contorted.
He had intended for someone to push Chen Xuan into the Spirit Pool, but he never expected Chen Xuan to repel the attacker so effortlessly!
Useless! Truly useless!
"Stop the fooling around. If someone dies, none of you can bear the consequences," Xiao Ming admonished.
His words also brought a degree of composure to the crowd.
Chen Xuan glanced at Gu Tianxing, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
The person who had pushed him was Gu Tianxing's companion, clearly acting on Gu Tianxing's orders.
"I'll deal with you later when we enter the Spirit Pool!!"
Everyone lined up to receive their Gu family identity jade. After each person received a token, Elder Xiao Ming assigned them a position.
"You go to the First District."
"You go to the Second District."
"You go to..."
"I'm in the Third District! This is amazing! The energy in the first three districts is the most abundant!"
"Envious! I only got the Middle Three Districts."
"You're lucky! I got the Back Three Districts. This is no fun at all."
Although everyone was in the Spirit Pool, it was divided into three districts based on the density of energy. The first three districts had the weakest energy, the middle three districts were second, and the back three districts were the weakest, the places everyone wished to avoid.
Unluckily, Chen Xuan was assigned to the Ninth District.
As for the reason, Chen Xuan guessed it was highly probable because he wasn't a member of the Gu family but an outsider.