by Feng Yise
There was only one exit in the second level. Then where was his path to survival?
There was only one life-road, which was the third level!
From the beginning, Ye Yuan had never thought about leaving through the exit on the first level!
After Lan Bao came up, Ye Yuan quietly entered Heart Like Still Water Realm. He wanted to find the third level's entrance!
Hence, Ye Yuan recalled the entire process of seeking treasure in the second level desperately. Finally, he discovered a clue!
The second level had many big and small rooms. Naturally, there were also big and small aisles.
When Ye Yuan mapped out all the roads he walked through in his mind clearly, he unwittingly came to a sudden realization!
The setup of the second level was essentially an array formation!
This array formation was not some entrapping formation or killing formation, but it was an array formation setup in order to conceal the third level's entrance!
Starting from the entrance, if one did not know array formations, no matter where the person walked, he would never find the third level's entrance.
Want to find the entrance leading to the third level? The only way was to cracked this array formation in order to find the correct route!
Thinking this through, Ye Yuan also could not help sighing emotionally at the ingenious mind of the person who designed this Eternal Splendor Palace.
And this Eternal Splendor Palace was a legacy that Lu Linfeng left behind. Using this sort of method to conceal the third level's entrance also matched with the theme.
It was just that there was no obstruction whatsoever entering the second level. Everybody entering the array formation was also equivalent to placing themselves inside the game.
As the saying went, those closely involved could not see clearly. That was not said for fun.
It was an exceedingly difficult matter for a person inside the game to want to see through the puzzle.
Even for a Tier 9 array master like Ye Yuan, when he did not enter Heart Like Still Water realm, he was also completely clueless.
Or maybe, the designer of this Eternal Splendor Palace was Lu Linfeng himself!
Starting from then, Ye Yuan started to plan his escape!
Ye Yuan did not run away immediately. Because he simply could not escape. Lan Bao's movement techniques were definitely much quicker than him.
Provoking Lin Chao to confront him, then luring the other three to attack, but the final goal was to bait Lan Bao to come and attack him!
This was Ye Yuan's method to force himself to his wit's end, leaving no room for escape so that he would fight out of desperation and win. It was also a solution that was not a solution.
When Lan Bao attacked, Ye Yuan was still inside Heart Like Still Water heart realm and could barely keep up with his movements.
Hence, he released the Square Cauldron to forcefully withstand Lan Bao strike and to borrow the recoil strength of this blow from him to escape swiftly!
The Square Cauldron was a profound artifact. Even if Lan Bao's attack was stronger, it would also be hard to shake it in the slightest.
Even the escape route was also planned out by Ye Yuan long ago. That strike from Lan Bao did not deviate, sending Ye Yuan exactly to his planned route leading to the entrance of the third level!
And because of the backlash, it would definitely hinder Lan Bao's speed of pursuit. In addition, he was wary of Wu Zhao and the rest and might not choose to chase after right away!
All of this and everything was all within Ye Yuan's calculations!
He succeeded!
Ye Yuan's movements were extremely swift. He mustered up all the essence energy within his body and did not dare to rest at all. He was afraid of Lan Bao and co chasing after.
With his present strength, he was completely not Lan Bao's match.
"Soon, almost there! Still a bit more left!"
Ye Yuan tasted sweetness in his throat. A mouthful of blood surged to his c.h.e.s.t but was forcefully suppressed by him.
Lan Bao palm was no joke. That palm shocked his own hands until it went numb. One could imagine just how great the power was!
Even if there was the Square Cauldron blocking in the middle neutralizing much of the force, that impact force still caused severe injuries to Ye Yuan!
In truth, when he received that palm, Ye Yuan's internal organs already suffered serious wounds. His viscera felt terrible as they had shifted positions.
But Ye Yuan had no time to be in pain. He had to escape at the first moment. Therefore, he forcefully persevere all the way until now!
The current Ye Yuan was relying completely on his last trace of willpower to forcefully hang on.
However, mustering essence energy with full force aggravated Ye Yuan's injuries even further. His consciousness had already become increasingly blurry.
Ye Yuan already cracked the array formation in his mind previously and figured out the route. But walking toward it at this time felt so distant away.
He did not have the opportunity to retry once more nor the time to fall unconscious. He must find the entrance to enter the third level!
Finally, Ye Yuan saw a light pillar ahead. That was the third level's entrance!
But . . . the present Ye Yuan had already reached his limits.
"Is this as far as I go . . ."
Ye Yuan desperately wanted to move his feet, but they become increasingly heavier.
The several dozen feet distance was a short distance away, yet poles apart.
Phhsst!
Ye Yuan's injuries finally could not be suppressed anymore and erupted!
Fresh blood wetted the clothing in front of his c.h.e.s.t. The landscape before Ye Yuan became increasingly fuzzier.
He reached out, desperately wanting to be able to reach the light pillar ahead. But . . . he collapsed in the end.
In a trance, Ye Yuan saw a strikingly beautiful woman appeared out of the void and reach out a pair of elegant arms to support him. A wave of fragrance hit his nose.
Then . . . he was out cold.
Li-er sighed lightly and said, "You have done enough already!"
. . . . . .
Roughly an hour later, Wu Zhao and the rest had their dantians sealed, restricting their essence energy.
And at this time, many more people appeared from the underground passageway again.
These people were mostly Crystal Formation Realm martial artists. Lan Bao passed the eight sect captives to them and let Lan Yun lead the escort to send them into the Fierce Gale World!
Once Lan Yun left, Lan Bao said in a grave voice, "Lan Hu, Lan Feng, you guys bring people to guard the entrance area. If Ye Yuan shows up, kill him on the spot!"
"Yes!" Lan Hu and Lan Feng received the orders and blocked off the entrance completely.
"Lin Chao, you follow me together with others to ransack this second level completely! I want to see where that brat can hide!" Lan Bao said.
Since Ye Yuan fled, Lan Bao's heart had been raging the whole time. If not because the passageway matter was important, he would have long brought people to seek Ye Yuan out.
Now, everything was settled. He was going to catch a turtle in a jar.
Chapter 337 - Grand Yan Space!
Lan Bao brought his subordinates and launched a large manhunt. But after half a day passed, there was nothing.
Bang!
The irate Lan Bao slapped a palm on the wall. The wall was fine, but his hand vibrated until it tingled.
The whole Eternal Splendor Palace had been reinforced with array formations before. It was incomparably sturdy. How could a Sea Transformation Realm damage it with one palm?
Lan Bao did not wish to lose face in front of his subordinates. He held back the pain and said furiously, "Where on earth did that brat hide to?! Hmm?!"
Finished talking, he turned to look at Lin Chao.
Lin Chao smiled bitterly. How would he know where Ye Yuan went?
Th
e second level was only so big. Places that should be searched had been searched. One could really say that they dug three feet underground but did not even catch a shadow.
They completely did not find another exit in the second level. Could it be that he could fly up to the skies?
Lin Chao suddenly thought of something and said, "Could it be that . . . he went up the third level?"
Lan Bao's face also changed as he asked, "The third level? Where's the entrance?"
Lin Chao shook his head and said, "I don't know! We've already searched all the places here. We even scoured the corners of every room. We totally did not find the entrance!"
With their knowledge, it was simply impossible to think that this second level itself was a large formation.
Hence, they remained at a loss as to where the hell the third level's entrance was!
Just like this, another half a day passed. Lan Bao finally gave up.
The passageway had just opened up. There were too many things to be done. Lan Bao also could not possibly place all of his energy here constantly.
But he did not give up, leaving Lan Feng behind to guard the exit.
. . . . . .
"Miss, why did you not bring Mister Ye away but send him into the third level instead?" Yan-er asked, being somewhat puzzled.
"This place is the Dao teachings that the Grand Yan Divine King left behind. Even I'm unable to pry into any secrets in the third level. Perhaps this might be a fortuitous encounter for Mister Ye," Li-er said.
"So that's the case . . . But Mister Ye really took every conceivable possibility into account and found a feeble thread of life in the middle of a hopeless situation! This second level is actually a large formation. We didn't discover it before this, but not only did Mister Ye notice it, he even found the entrance to the third level. Truly remarkable! But sadly . . . he lacked just a tiny bit in the end. If he didn't encounter Miss, he'd probably . . ."
Li-er smiled beautifully and said, "Maybe it's already foreordained by unseen forces for me to help him cross this tiny bit? This thing called fate, who can say it clearly? One can only say that Mister Ye was fated not to die."
Yan-er's eyes swirled around, and she asked with a slightly mischievous smile, "Miss, then do you think . . . it's fate that guided the two of you to come together?"
Li-er was secretly surprised but shook her head repeatedly and said, "You lass, keep spouting nonsense! Quickly follow those people. Otherwise, we'll lose them!"
As she spoke, Li-er ignored Yan-er and left first. Yan-er giggled and also followed.
Turned out that the two of them master and servant actually followed the escorting team into the Fierce Gale World!
. . . . . .
Not knowingly how long had passed, Ye Yuan's consciousness finally started to recover gradually.
He struggled to open both eyes, but what he saw was a simple yet elegant study room.
"This . . . What place is this? I . . . I didn't die again, right?" Ye Yuan moved his dry lips and muttered to himself.
"Young man, you aren't dead yet."
Right then, an elderly voice was heard.
Ye Yuan recovered some strength and struggled to sit up. He discovered an elderly person currently sitting at the desk leafing through books.
Except, his body was transparent. He was actually the same as Lu Yan, a soul body.
Ye Yuan shook his head hard and tried his best to recall what happened previously. When he finally remembered what happened, he could not help exclaiming in surprise, "Old man, could this be . . . the Eternal Splendor Palace's third level?"
The old man ceased his actions of thumbing through books and said to Ye Yuan with a smile, "That's right. This place is indeed the Eternal Splendor Palace's third level. Its name is . . . Grand Yan Space."
Hearing 'Grand Yan Space' these three words, Ye Yuan nearly spewed out a mouthful of blood again.
Lu Linfeng this fellow, he really . . .
Seeing that Ye Yuan's expression was odd, the old man was also rather perplexed.
This reaction was not quite right, yeah?
A Spirit Condensation Realm brat actually had no reaction at all seeing such a profound and mysterious place?
"Senior, forgive Junior for being unable to get up to salute," Ye Yuan said.
"It's fine."
"May I ask, Senior, did you . . . save me?" Ye Yuan asked rather uncertainly.
Indeed, the old man shook his head and said, "I believe you can tell as well, I'm just a soul body. I can't walk out of the Grand Yan Space. Only by entering yourself can you see me."
Ye Yuan could not help ruminating when he heard this. A lithe and graceful image surfaced in his mind.
Was it possible that . . . that was not a hallucination?
I clearly remember that before losing consciousness, there was still several dozen feet distance away from that light pillar. But why did I already enter the third level after waking up?
But . . . who was that girl? Why did she save me?
Ye Yuan tried to recall with all his might, wanting to remember that face he saw before fainting.
But no matter how he recalled, it was a very fuzzy face.
But even if it was hazy, Ye Yuan could also tell from the outline that that was absolutely a kingdom-toppling beautiful face.
Ye Yuan unwittingly remembered what happened when Yu Feng ambushed. Could it be that . . . the one who made a move back then was this woman?
But . . . when he did know a major power like this?
Ye Yuan thought for a long time and also could not figure out the reason why.
No matter what, it was naturally a good thing that the woman saved him.
Ye Yuan secretly remembered that blurry profile. The next time he met her, he definitely had to thank her properly.
The old man saw that Ye Yuan was absorbed in his thoughts and did not interrupt him either. He just observed this young man quietly by the side.
He noticed that Ye Yuan did not have the average young person's rashness and had prudence unsuited with his age.
Although his realm was not high, for his age, he was already a talented genius.
After Ye Yuan recovered, he hurriedly apologized, "Sorry, Senior. I was lost in thought just now."
The old man smiled kindly and said, "It doesn't matter. I've already been inside this Grand Yan Space for several thousand years already and have long polished my edges and corners. Why would I mind this sort of minor thing?"
Ye Yuan smiled and said, "Thank you very much, Senior. Talking like this is overly rude. Junior will consume some medicinal pills first to recover a bit of strength before talking with Senior properly. Please excuse me, Senior."
Finished talking, Ye Yuan fished out a medicinal pill from his storage ring to consume and began refining the medicinal strength.
When that old man saw that medicinal pill, his pupils involuntarily constricted.
Although the medicinal pill that Ye Yuan took was only Tier 3, its quality was exceedingly high. Furthermore, with his experience and knowledge, he actually could not tell the origin of the medicinal pill!
One had to know that the Grand Yan True Sect was the Endless World's strongest sect back then, not one of them!
The Grand Yan True Sect had Alchemy Sovereign existences. What Endless World's Tier 3 medicinal pills had he not seen before?
Yet, he had not seen before the medicinal pill that Ye Yuan consumed!
Then, something that made him even more flabbergasted and tongue-tied happened . . .
Chapter 338 - The Two Worlds' Secret!
Under the old man's perception, Ye Yuan's aura was rapidly recovering!
After an hour, Ye Yuan's injuries were basically already under control.
Seeing Ye Yuan's complexion go from pale white to rosy, the old man's eyes were glued to him.
He had lived for several thousand years and had yet to see such a heaven-defying medicinal pill before.
Ye Yuan woke up to the old
man's expression and could not help asking, "Senior, what's wrong with you?"
"Ah? Oh! What medicinal pill did you consume earlier? To actually have such miraculous effects! Your injuries were very severe. Although you had already taken medicinal pills to treat internal injuries, it's hard to recover without a month of quiet rest. But you actually recovered in an hour!" the old man exclaimed in astonishment.
Ye Yuan smiled and said, "That's Azure Profound Heart Nourishing Pill. It has some effects in treating internal injuries. My master imparted me the pill formula."
"Azure Profound Heart Nourishing Pill?" The old man searched his brain for a moment but apparently did not find the relevant content.
In order to prevent this old man from thinking too much, Ye Yuan changed the topic and said, "How should I address Senior?"
Only then did the old man return to the present and hurriedly said, "This old man is Wei Xiao. You can call me Old Wei."
Ye Yuan went forward to greet, saying, "Junior has seen Old Wei. Is Old Wei somebody from the Grand Yan True Sect?"
Wei Xiao nodded happily and said, "That's right. You actually know the Grand Yan True Sect's name. Could it be that my Grand Yan True Sect's name is still circulating in the world?"
Ye Yuan heaved a sigh and said, "Actually, I heard this name from the mouth of a Fierce Gale World's martial artist."
Wei Xiao's smile instantly froze on his face. He said in bewilderment, "What are you talking about?! The passageway between the Fierce Gale World and Endless World has already been sealed off by my sect's Six Extreme Seals Grand Array! How can you possibly have met a Fierce Gale World's martial artist?"
Ye Yuan recounted the events in the mystic realm for Wei Xiao to hear. Wei Xiao was silent for a long time after listening to it. Finally, he let out a long sigh.
"My Grand Yan True Sect sealed off the realm passageway by sacrificing the entire sect as the price, but to think that it eventually fell short of success one day!" Finished talking, Wei Xiao's tears already covered his old face.
Ye Yuan thought to himself that it was indeed like so. But he asked curiously, "May I ask just what in the world happened back then, Old Wei? Why did the Grand Yan True Sect sacrifice the entire sect to seal off the passageway?"