by Feng Yise
Actually, this was the idea of whoever entered first was the master. Although situations of juniors being stronger than seniors were common, under the vast majority of circ.u.mstances, the seniors' strength were all stronger than the juniors.
When He Shuming heard that Ying Tianya's junior got trapped in the ancient grotto but had not died yet, he instinctively felt that this trip's danger was not high.
Otherwise, it was absolutely impossible for him to agree to come here.
Ying Tianya said coolly, "I didn't say, you didn't ask either, no?'
"You!" He Shuming choked up right away.
Pei Wenqiang's eyes swiveled around, and he said with a smile, "Ying Tianya, this is your fault! Breaking into such a dangerous place, you got to at least make clear the relation of interest and harm with your companions. This current sort of situation, aren't you clearly cheating people?"
"Pei Wenqiang, can you be any more shameless?" Ying Tianya said with a cold snort.
This sort of sowing dissension method was indeed overly obvious. He Shuming was not a fool either. How could he possibly not tell?
But one had to acknowledge that Pei Wenqiang's words had indeed struck the bottom of his heart.
Moreover, now that the story played out like this, how could He Shuming not perceive that Ying Tianya deliberately concealed the danger level of this trip? He was afraid that he and Ye Yuan would not be willing to come, so he did not state clearly.
Though the method was a little coarse and shallow, the effects were excellent.
Actually, Pei Wenqiang was not concerned with He Shuming's mood. He secretly scanned Ye Yuan's expression, but the result made him very disappointed.
Ye Yuan's expression was very calm all the way, as if he did not hear it. It was also uncertain what he was thinking about.
"Alright, alright, everyone says a few words less. The way out is already cut off now, saying anything is also late already. Everybody better advance ahead and explore. If there's anything, exiting this grotto then talk about it isn't late either." Luo Fang immediately stepped forward to smooth things over when he saw that the situation was not good.
This current sort of situation, everyone did not have other alternatives either, and could only continue advancing forward.
Before long, a large river blocked in front of everybody.
"This … We're all unable to fly. This large river has no bridge too. How should we cross?"
This large river was b.a.r.e on the surface and did not even have a bridge. Everyone was immediately stunned.
Right now, everyone was all unable to fly. Could it be that they all had to wade through the river?
Ye Yuan's gaze flashed briefly, and he casually tore off a corner of his sleeves and threw it in the water.
The silk quality of his clothes was very soft and very light. But the moment it fell into the water, it actually vanished right away, sinking to the bottom of the water!
He Shuming could not help exclaiming in shock when he saw the situation. "Weak Water! This is definitely Weak Water! 800 miles of quicksand world, three thousand Weak Water deep. Goose feather unable to float, reed catkins sink to the bottom!" 1
With He Shuming crying out, everyone's countenance changed abruptly.
"Rumor goes that Weak Water stems from the lands of extreme west. Why would it appear here?"
"Legends has it that Weak Water is untraversable. What should we do now?"
Everyone exchanged glances and were actually at a loss on what to do for some time.
Pei Wenqiang mused for a moment, but his gaze landed on Ye Yuan and asked, "Boy, you're able to discover the peculiarities of it. You must have a way to cross it, right?"
Ye Yuan shrugged his shoulders and said, "You Heaven Enlightenment Realm martial artists are all helpless. What measures do I, this Divine Traversing Realm rookie, have?"
Pei Wenqiang looked at Ye Yuan with scorching eyes and then said with a cold smile, "If you have no methods, then you're useless already. Why not I throw you down the river right away?"
He turned his head to look at Jun Tianyu and said, "Don't glare at me with that sort of gaze. No matter how powerful your individual strength is, it's also impossible to be our match! Moreover, even if you really make a move, you're probably not my match either."
Pei Wenqiang had long seen through that Ying Tianya's side was divided into three factions. Ying Tianya's own faction, He Shuming's faction, and Ye Yuan's faction.
Ying Tianya's side's overall strength was the greatest. Rather, it was Ye Yuan's side who only had Jun Tianyu alone; easier to knead.
"Humph! Do you really take this Ying as someone who only knows how to eat rice and does nothing?" Ying Tianya said.
Pei Wenqiang laughed and said, "That Alchemy Saint clearly doesn't trust you anymore. Making a move now, you'll have even less of a chance of victory, no? Therefore, you'd best keep your mouth shut!"
"You!" Ying Tianya was choked badly by this.
But his gaze looked towards He Shuming there and discovered that He Shuming seemed to really not have the intention of intervening.
Very clearly, that side had already completely broken away from this side!
If they really fought, he might even stand on Pei Wenqiang's side!
Pei Wenqiang turned to Ye Yuan again and said smilingly, "How is it? Thought it through yet? Ying Tianya duping you over here clearly have no good intentions. Could it be that you're still going to work for him?"
Ye Yuan shot Pei Wenqiang a glance and said, "The path is under your feet. It's just that you can't see it."
"En? What does that mean?" As he was talking, Pei Wenqiang could not resist lowering his head and saw that he just happened to be stepping on a diagram of a lotus platform under his feet.
"Try using strength to step on it." Ye Yuan said.
Pei Wenqiang was just about to stamp down, but he changed his mind at the last minute and said to Ye Yuan, "You step it!"
Jun Tianyu's expression changed when he heard that and said, "Better let me!"
Ye Yuan stopped him with a hand gesture but stomped down with one foot.
Creak …
The next instant, a scene which left everyone dumbfounded happened.
On that large Weak Water river, one lotus platforms after another actually appeared! The positions of these lotus platforms were all very disorderly, but between each one was roughly one step's distance.
These lotus platforms suspended on top of the Weak Water, leading straight to the opposite shore.
"This … just who was this grotto owned by? To actually have such mystical means! With these lotus platforms, we can reach the opposite bank!"
A boundless realm martial artist was incomparably agitated and raised his foot, wanting to go and test if these lotus platforms were solid or not.
"Don't step on it!" Ye Yuan cried out, but it was already too late.
That boundless realm martial artist actually trod on emptiness and fell into the large river with a splash! Sounds weird, is weird. Comes from Journey to the west. Possible Zen meaning. I tried to find a summarized explanation, but I could only find anecdotal stuff. Just treat it as poetry.
Chapter 745 - Lotus Blooming at Every Step
Gurgle …
That Boundless Realm martial artist did not even get to cry out and was engulfed straight away by the Weak Water.
Everyone was all alarmed when they saw this scene.
Pei Wenqiang gritted his teeth and said, "Punk, are you messing with me? These lotus platforms are not for use to cross the river at all!"
Ye Yuan said helplessly, "Your subordinate was also too impatient. I even yelled out for him to not take on it, but he just wanted to do it. What could I do?"
"You!" Pei Wenqiang could not help feeling stifled.
Everyone all heard clearly just now that Ye Yuan indeed yelled out. It was just that the shout was 'slightly late,' that was all.
Ye Yuan's timing was grasped beautifully. Even Pei Wenqiang cou
ld not say anything as well.
"Punk, don't play games with me. Otherwise, I'll throw you down immediately!" Pei Wenqiang threatened.
"Go ahead and throw. I want to see just how you cross the river! Don't blame me for not warning you, these lotus platforms are real and illusory. One wrong step and you'll fall into the Weak Water!" Ye Yuan said.
"What do you mean?" Pei Wenqiang said grimly.
"These lotus platforms are indeed objects for crossing the river. It's just that each lotus platform was refined and formed through special methods. An array formation is inscribed on top of each one. And these lotus platforms together make up another large-scale array formation. If one doesn't know the way to clear the hurdle, they will be like that subordinate of yours, treading onto nothing and falling into the river!" Ye Yuan explained.
Everyone drew a cold breath when they heard. They did not expect that there were actually still such mystical objects.
Looks like the means of ancient martial artists were truly not what could be compared to presently!
"Which is also to say that apart from Ye Yuan, you, there is no one able to cross this river?" Ying Tianya said.
Ye Yuan shrugged his shoulders and said, "I didn't say that. Isn't there still an array master here? Maybe he has ways?"
Everyone could not help looking over towards He Shuming. He Shuming's face felt as if ti was burning-hot. He naturally also perceived that these lotus platforms were formed from array formations. But to talk about being able to cross these lotus platforms, he did not have any confidence at all.
"Enough crap! Start crossing the river now! You go on the lotus platform first!" Pei Wenqiang said with an impatient face.
"Fine, fine, fine. Your fist is big, whatever you say goes!" Ye Yuan walked in front of the first row of lotus platforms with a helpless look.
Everyone all held their breaths, waiting for Ye Yuan to take the first step!
Actually, the people on Pei Wenqiang's side and He Shuming all hoped for Ye Yuan to fall right down. But they were also worried that after Ye Yuan dropped down, they would really have no way of crossing the river. Then there was only waiting to die here.
Ye Yuan did not walk onto the lotus platform right away, but slowly shut his eyes, his entire person entering a state of emptiness.
In an instant, the positions of all of the lotus platforms were all imprinted inside Ye Yuan's mind!
"Heart Like Monolith! Terrific, boy! I really don't know how you, this brat, cultivate. To actually be so monstrous!"
The knowledge and experience of the Divine Realm's people were far from comparable to the Lower Realms. The moment Ye Yuan entered Heart Like Monolith heart realm, it was discovered by Pei Wenqiang.
Of course, the ones shocked were not only Pei Wenqiang. There was even Ying Tianya and Jun Tianyu.
Pei Wenqiang did not know, but the two of them knew that Ye Yuan ascended from the Lower Realms.
A Lower Realms martial artist was actually able to comprehend Heart Like Monolith. This was simply something inconceivable.
Especially Jun Tianyu, he discovered that the more time he spent with Ye Yuan, the less his understanding of Ye Yuan was instead.
Suddenly, Ye Yuan opened his eyes at this time and slowly lifted his right foot, stepping onto a lotus platform in front!
The other martial artists were all nearly suffocating. They very much wanted to see what kind of outcome Ye Yuan's feet stepping down would be.
Ye Yuan's right foot slowly landed and finally stepped onto the lotus platform.
Tread down solidly!
With this, everyone's suspended hearts finally eased up!
"Excellent! Turns out that these platforms really can cross the river!" someone said excitedly.
However, when Ye Yuan placed his other foot onto the lotus platform too, a scene which made them stare with their mouths agape happened!
Apart from that lotus platform Ye Yuan stood on, all of the lotus platforms vanished without a trace!
"This … What's going on here? Where are those lotus platforms? Only one lotus platform, how to cross the river?" Pei Wenqiang said as his expression changed.
Ye Yuan did not speak, but turned right and tread out a foot directly!
Ye Yuan's feet landed right onto a lotus platform without deviation, while that lotus platform he stood on previously likewise vanished from sight.
"This … how can it be like this?"
The hearts of the martial artists which had just eased up tightened up once again.
Only when there were people on the lotus platform, would it manifest itself. When there was no one, the lotus platforms would not appear!
Which was also to say that if one did not remember the positions of the lotus platforms, it was very likely to step onto nothing and drop down!
The lotus platforms were not large; just nice able to put down both feet.
If it was like this, then it could only be one after another. Furthermore, there must not be any bit of error at all! Even if one stepped wrongly by half a foot, it was the possibility of falling down too!
Like this, it was easier for those at the front to not make mistakes. But the people behind, who could guarantee not making errors at all, stepping exactly onto the footprints of that person before?
Moreover, the further they walked, everyone's footsteps would more or less have some minute deviations. The likelihood of falling down was greater too!
This way, who walked at the front was very important!
Pei Wenqiang stood on the position Ye Yuan was standing at before with a leap without any words; not the slightest bit off.
"Clear Reed City's martial artists, all follow me closely! Don't step wrongly! Heaven Enlightenment Realms in front, Boundless Realms behind! One after another, look closely under other people's feet!" Pei Wenqiang said.
"Humph! What right do your Clear Reed City's people have to go first? Going on these lotus platforms, who cares about who? At most, fight it out to the death!" Ying Tianya said with a cold snort.
"You! Fine, you go first! Our two sides go one by one. You have no objections now, right?"
Under this sort of circ.u.mstances, Pei Wenqiang had no choice but to compromise too.
If they were to fight on these lotus platforms, all of them were doomed!
Jun Tianyu did not speak at all by the side. Suddenly, he received Ye Yuan's transmission in his sea of consciousness, saying, "Brother Jun, this is the lotus platforms' distribution diagram. You memorize the positions well. Make sure not to step wrongly!"
The voice had yet to fade when inside his sea of consciousness actually had an additional diagram. It was precisely that the distribution diagram of those lotus platforms previously.
Jun Tianyu was astonished inwardly. He did not think that Ye Yuan was actually able to portray such a distribution diagram with the power of the divine soul. It was truly fantastical.
"Okay, I've memorized it," Jun Tianyu replied.
"Aren't you guys moving yet? I'm leaving first!"
Finished talking, Ye Yuan took a step out right away, stepping onto a lotus platform once more.
"Punk, you're ballsy!" Pei Wenqiang roared, but his feet did not dare to remain, hastily catching up.
Ye Yuan's footsteps did not stop at all but became increasingly faster instead.
He knew the distribution situation of the lotus platforms like the palm of his hand. The places he stepped was also not the slightest bit off.
Pei Wenqiang followed step by step behind and did not have the time to think about other things at all. His pair of eyes glued tightly at Ye Yuan's legs, not daring to make any mistake at all!
Chapter 746 - Sink into the Water
"Everybody, keep up. Make sure not to step wrongly!"
Everyone was not allowed to think too much either. The martial artists at the back all kept in pace one after another.
Of course, the Boundless Realms could only stare blankly and did not dare to go up at all.
&
nbsp; This place had a bunch of Heaven Enlightenment Realm powerhouses. Wasn't snatching with them courting death?
Jun Tianyu did not have the intention of moving, while He Shuming and his companion followed after the Clear Reed City's martial artists.
Only after they all went up did Jun Tianyu take his time to step onto the lotus platform.
Only after, was it those Boundless Realm martial artists.
These Boundless Realm martial artists' strength were meager but benefited from Jun Tianyu inadvertently.
While at this time, Ye Yuan's steps were getting faster and faster. Towards the back, he actually used one foot to step onto the lotus platforms.
Even if Pei Wenqiang's strength was exceedingly great, his forehead was also matted with sweat beads.
All the nerves in his body were tightly wound up, fearful of making a hint of mistake. If he missed a step, that was no joke.
He did not have Ye Yuan's Heart Like Monolith powerful heart realm and was unable to accurately determine the positions of each lotus platform.
There were around 10 thousand lotus platforms on the river. Wanting to not make any errors at all along the way was very difficult.
Some areas still had to be advanced in a roundabout way and not advance forward all the way.
Ye Yuan could even be face-to-face with the people behind sometimes. It was just that those people were all glued to the feet of the person in front and did not have the energy to go and care about him at all.
Because Ye Yuan's speed increase was very sudden, apart from Pei Wenqiang and Ying Tianya, the others were half a beat slower.
This also made a cut off form between them, and not one following the other.
When it was just starting, the other martial artists were still able to barely not make mistakes. But towards the back, there was gradually someone unable to sustain anymore!
"ARGH!!"
A tragic cry. Finally, someone missed a step and fell into the surging river water and was instantly drowned.
This tragic cry was extremely ear-piercing, startling everyone. The martial artists behind that person all stopped their footsteps and actually did not dare to move anymore.