Chapter 1442: Chapter 1443: Sealing Cultivation Level
The bronze steps were wide and thick, exuding an aura of age, mottled with the marks of endless years of corrosion.
Li Xiaobai followed Lord Xue inside, and only upon getting closer could he see clearly. The bronze steps bore many remnants of bloodstains, large patches of dried red blood now congealed into brown mottled patches, easily mistaken for rust if not looked at carefully!
“Every ancient battlefield has its own rules, and the battlefield itself grows. This means that the opening of a battlefield always leads to the birth of new rules. Before truly setting foot there, no one knows what the rules of the forty-ninth battlefield will be.”
“Be careful when you enter!”
The cold woman said indifferently.
This was meant for the new disciples who just joined the sect and had never entered the ancient battlefield, hence being unaware of the rules within.
“What rules have the seniors encountered?”
Li Xiaobai asked.
“If we’re talking about the most dangerous, it would be the eleventh battlefield, which was covered in ice and snow for years, with a layer of blood-red eggs beneath, capable of parasitizing on the corpses of cultivators using some mysterious method, and being reborn.”
“They are terrifying entities, perfectly inheriting the strength of the cultivators from before, and they are endless!”
The cold female cultivator narrated. The eleventh battlefield was already a fearsome existence. Much of its contents are still unclear to the academy, and just a few days ago, General Yu returned defeated and humiliated, plucked like a shrimp!
All signs indicate a great terror within the battlefield, but this is unrelated to the forty-ninth battlefield.
“Rest assured, the forty-ninth battlefield isn’t as perilous as Elder Xue described. On the contrary, it’s a place of opportunity outweighing crisis, and obtaining a key should be easy. Once the academy elder acquires the key, this battlefield will become our training ground!”
A senior disciple said, smiling generously.
“Key?”
Li Xiaobai asked in confusion.
“Every battlefield has a core key, possession of which grants the authority to open the battlefield at any time. Our academy holds ten battlefields due to these keys.”
Lord Xue roughly explained, glancing at Li Xiaobai unexpectedly. As Elder Fen Tian’s disciple, he didn’t know these things, but given Elder Fen Tian’s usual behavior, it was understandable.
Besides those few, no other cultivators in the academy could communicate with them normally.
“Indeed, the forty-ninth battlefield is already a very safe one. Even if rules emerge, they’re just minor ones, not imposing too great constraints on us; being cautious is enough.”
“We should guard against invading cultivators from other regions; those guys are the real threat, and many of our disciples die at their hands each year!”
The other senior disciples also said. Their aura was different from the cultivators Li Xiaobai had encountered, all wearing purple robes, likely elite inner sect disciples.
“I see.”
Li Xiaobai nodded, following the group up the bronze steps, feeling real and slightly chilly to the touch.
The entrance of the passage wasn’t particularly special. Walking along, the cultivators slipped into a series of ripples and disappeared.
A faint halo enveloped everyone. With just a step out, the scene around them spun, and a strong scent of blood assaulted them, making their scalps tingle.
What met the eyes was a crimson expanse under the setting sun, scars everywhere as the academy disciples gathered on the red wasteland.
Li Xiaobai curiously surveyed around. The environment indeed fitted the ancient battlefield name, desolate and filled with blood aura.
The sky was a dim crimson firmament, the wind howling with a dangerous aura.
Upon arrival, he felt no discomfort, yet the surrounding cultivators’ expressions suddenly changed drastically.
Just setting foot on this land, the cultivators were horrified to find their cultivation sealed off, totally unable to sense the power within, only able to use their physical strength, akin to mere mortals.
Not only the low-level disciples panicked, but even the senior disciples and the elders leading them turned ashen, their cultivation sealed completely, rendered immobile.
“This forty-ninth battlefield actually seals one’s cultivation!”
“Could it be that this is the battlefield’s rule? All cultivators entering are forbidden to use their powers, becoming mere mortals?”
“Damn it, the passage is closed, we can’t go back! How are we to proceed? One Demonic Beast might just wipe us all out!”
The cultivators grew agitated and restless. Without power and cultivation, they lost their biggest support. How could a mortal survive in the ancient battlefield?
“This battlefield seems to be opening for the first time; no prior information from any cultivators. Little did we know its rule is like this, likely elevating its danger several levels!”
The elders gathered and quickly analyzed the situation. Fortunately, having encountered no immediate dangers, they still had time to devise a response.
Li Xiaobai watched the frantic disciples, his mind drifting into the System Mall, where all items remained usable, and skills were illuminated, not sealed.
Perhaps due to not possessing cultivation, the battlefield’s rules didn’t affect him, leaving him unrestricted.
However, the other cultivators weren’t as fortunate, stripped of cultivation in this ancient battlefield, akin to lambs awaiting slaughter, or fish on the chopping board!
“Should I settle these cultivators in one go?”
Li Xiaobai mused to himself, feeling an impulse to act promptly, viewing them not as fellow disciples, but as bags of glittering gold!
But in the next second, he dismissed this thought. The Immortal Gods Realm differed from the Central Origin Realm; cultivators weren’t frail individuals. With the Demonic Beast bloodline in their veins, even without cultivation, their physical strength was not to be underestimated, not to mention many were body-refining cultivators. If a fight broke out, his Transcendent Second Layer cultivation might not hold an advantage.
“Remain calm!”
“Everything proceeds as planned!”
“The battlefield’s rules are absolute. Since we’ve lost our cultivation, other entering cultivators must share the same fate. The battlefield rule must prohibit cultivation, and the ancient organisms inside should be the same, relying purely on physical strength. Sense your Bloodline Power, adjust your physical state to the peak!”
The cold female cultivator proclaimed loudly. After the elders’ analysis, it was determined that the forty-ninth battlefield was extremely unique. The beings within should lack cultivation but boast strong physiques, causing all foreign beings to lose their cultivation.
Though the battlefield suppresses cultivation, it does not suppress Bloodline Power. The Demonic Beast bloodline in them could still be activated, raising their physical strength to its peak to retain some combat power.
Li Xiaobai wasn’t bothered, his eyes locked onto Bai Ge’s group, who initially panicked but then calmed down, proceeding orderly, clearly with a plan and countermeasure in mind.
He was still waiting to benefit from their Heavenly Tribulation. They seemed undeterred by the inability to wield cultivation.
The main force advanced forward, while a cultivator behind extended an invitation: “Friend, you’re alone too, care to join us for jointly overcoming this ordeal?”
Li Xiaobai glanced at the speaker, a senior disciple, accompanied by several cultivators, all clad in identical purple robes, clearly the elite from the inner core region.
Looking at the formation, he understood that these Senior Disciples were unwilling to take risks themselves, so they wanted to find some cannon fodder to clear the way.
“But we’ve lost all our cultivation, it’s better not to act alone.”
Li Xiaobai said with an honest and naive expression.
“Junior Brother, don’t be afraid. Your Senior Brothers are all core Inner Sect Disciples at the Immortal Platform Realm. Rest assured, even without our cultivation, we can still protect you. The Bloodline Power in our bodies is no joke!”
“Besides, if we stick with the main group, we won’t even get a sip of soup. If we want to gain something in the Ancient Battlefield, we have to seek fortune amid danger!”
“Junior Brother, your cultivation level shouldn’t be high, right? Have you ever been bullied by your peers, betrayed by women, scolded by your mentors? Have you ever spent countless nights tossing and turning, unable to sleep? Now’s your chance to turn the tables. Just follow us, and we’ll get rich together!”
“There’s strength in numbers, what are you waiting for, Junior Brother?”
The core Inner Sect Disciple spoke passionately, and every word resonated with Cai Kun’s experiences. If Cai Kun himself were here, he’d probably burst into tears at once. Li Xiaobai silently clicked his tongue. These people are seasoned; every word hits a cultivator’s soft spot, their psychological manipulation is spot on.
“Alright, a man of the Heavenly God Academy won’t deceive another. I trust you, Senior Brother!”
“Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother. May I ask for your name?”
Li Xiaobai displayed a face full of sincere gratitude.
“I’m Jin Renchuan. Follow me, Junior Brother, and be assured; as your Senior Brothers feast, you’ll surely have soup to drink!”
The cultivator laughed heartily, seemingly very amiable. Meanwhile, several other Inner Sect Disciples also brought along a cultivator, all of whom were at the Transcendent Realm, no doubt the cannon fodder of cannon fodder, specifically meant for pathfinding.
Judging by the happiness on these disciples’ faces and their excited expressions, it was clear they hadn’t realized this yet.
They truly thought the Senior Brothers were taking care of them and bringing them along to get rich!
“We’re all disciples of the Heavenly God Academy. In the Academy, we can compete all we want, but once we’re outside, we should unite as one. No one should exploit another; when danger comes, we face it together!”
Jin Renchuan declared righteously.
“Yes, thank you, Senior Brother Jin!”
The disciple cultivators were very excited, hastily following the Inner Sect Disciples as they gradually separated from the main group and headed in another direction.
Similar teams were not in the minority. After initially grasping the situation of the Ancient Battlefield, no one wanted to always slog along with the main group, waiting in vain. Seeking fortune lies amid danger; they needed to explore on their own.
In places led by Elders, no treasures, regardless of value, ever end up in the hands of Academy high-ups — they wouldn’t even get a hair of it.
They’d come to prospect, not for an outing.
Li Xiaobai followed the group of cultivators as they departed.
With several Senior Disciples leading the way, traveling became much more convenient. These disciples looked like veterans, very experienced, clear about where to go and where not to, obviously frequently navigating various Ancient Battlefields before.
“Brother, why do you think the Senior Brothers brought us along?”
A cultivator asked quietly.
“Do you even need to ask? To help us get rich, we’re all from the same Academy!”
“No way, you’re dreaming. We’re not related, so why would they take us along to get rich?”
“I guess it’s because the Senior Brothers’ strength and cultivation aren’t enough, so they want to enhance their combat power. But if they invited Inner Sect Disciples of the same level, it might be hard to control, and resource distribution might be problematic, so they invited us lower cultivation-level cultivators to join!”
“Does this mean the Senior Brothers aren’t planning to share resources with us?”
“Naturally. It depends on luck. If we’re lucky, we might get a sip of soup!”
The Transcendent Realm cultivators muttered amongst themselves, each saying something reasonable — some were rather clever, though none really hit the mark.
Li Xiaobai thought to himself, we’re all cannon fodder, that’s obvious, what’s there to discuss? Better to think about how to protect oneself while seeking maximum benefit!
“Senior Brother Jin, where are we going?”
Li Xiaobai asked Jin Renchuan.
“Junior Brother, it must be your first time on the battlefield, so you don’t know. There’s a pattern — the departed mighty figures often transform into a perilous area known as the Realm of Dead Souls, where most of their resources are stored. This is our main objective for treasure hunting!”
“Finding such a treasure trove is tremendously rewarding!”
Jin Renchuan explained that the Realm of Dead Souls is a unique manifestation within the Ancient Battlefield, formed by the obsession of powerful cultivators, and those capable of creating such realms were generally unparalleled in their cultivation.
The resources of these mighty duels were mostly seized by enemies posthumously, yet a significant number were transformed into the Realm of Dead Souls, awaiting a destined person to discover them.
“Got it!”
Li Xiaobai nodded, realizing the treasures here were quite abundant.
“Each Realm of Dead Souls appears different. Look carefully; they’re quite special things. The tower is the most prominent; once, I encountered a needle, the Realm of Dead Souls hidden within the needle hole. Without keen observation, it’s genuinely hard to detect. Search carefully!”
“Report promptly upon any discoveries!”
Jin Renchuan repeatedly emphasized.
“Understood!”
The group continued moving further away, completely separating from the main team now.
The once-scarlet soil beneath their feet had somehow turned into vast expanses of dark green.
[Attribute Point +1 billion…]
[Attribute Point +2 billion…]
[Attribute Point +3 billion…]
[…]
The values soared on the System panel. The dark green soil was laced with toxins, increasing in potency as they pressed deeper.
“Not good, we’ve been hit!”