Chapter 112

Chapter 112

Shen Wang looked the chubby boy up and down: "Tell me, what's the situation here?"

Chubby Boy: "..."

Chubby Boy: "I don't know."

Shen Wang looked him in the eye, questioning in the face of his sincere gaze: "You've been here this long and noticed nothing?"

The chubby boy smiled sheepishly: "Brother Shen, you know me."

Shen Wang understood.

He shouldn't have expected anything from this chubby boy.

Knowing his own limitations, the chubby boy had never ventured deep into the ancient battlefield, staying at the edges. As the fog thickened due to the actions of other contestants, he panicked.

Wandering aimlessly in the fog like a headless fly, the chubby boy grew increasingly scared, almost to the point of tears, wailing in hopes of finding another living person... and then Shen Wang caught him.

Hearing the chubby boy's story, the expressions of the others were indescribable. Bai Fuchun couldn’t help but ask, "You could choose to quit the competition, and there would be someone to escort you out."

The chubby boy looked dumbfounded: "I forgot."

Seeing the complex looks from the crowd, the chubby boy said plaintively, "It's my first time in the competition, and I got scared. Isn't it normal to be unfamiliar with the process?"

Shen Wang patted his shoulder, meaningfully remarking, "Your elders really dared to let you participate in the competition. They're quite bold."

As they talked, the fog around them thickened.

The already noticeable resentment and malevolent energy intensified with the denser fog, resembling steam in a bathroom, making one feel drenched and heavily burdened.

The chubby boy shivered and moved closer behind Shen Wang: "What exactly are the people in there doing? Isn't the task to purify the ancient battlefield?"

"Why does it feel like they're doing the opposite of purifying?"

Shen Wang, half-covering his nose, gestured for the others to follow him and led them deeper into the fog.

After walking through the nearly impenetrable fog for what felt like ages, they finally heard human voices ahead.

A man's voice, frustrated and angry, asked, "Tang Jiu, is your formation even effective?"

Then came Tang Jiu's arrogant and confident reply: "My formation is flawless! But if the one setting it up is weak, the effect will naturally be diminished."

"What do you mean? Are you saying it's our fault for being too weak? If you hadn't misled us with your talk of a formation that purifies Yin energy, we wouldn't be trapped here!"

Hearing this, Shen Wang's eyes flickered.

He hadn't expected to encounter Tang Jiu in this competition again. It was an unexpected meeting, a twist of 'fate', indeed.

Following the voices, Shen Wang and his group saw the situation Tang Jiu and the others were in.

About seven or eight contestants stood together, their positions forming a semblance of a formation. However, these contestants seemed drained of spiritual power, appearing as if they had been sapped dry.

Shen Wang noticed that, besides Tang Jiu, there were several familiar faces among the group.

There was Gu Dongting's treacherous sister, Gu Manling, Luo Tian, a disciple of Taihe Mountain who had provoked him at a gathering, and Lin Leliu, a disciple from the Heavenly Master's Mansion whom he had defeated in the first round of the competition... almost all of them had a history with him.

The one who was arguing with Tang Jiu was Luo Tian.

Hearing movements in the dense fog, Tang Jiu and his group initially assumed a battle stance. Relieved to see living people emerge, their expressions tensed again upon recognizing Shen Wang.

Tang Jiu's eyelids twitched violently, blurting out, "What are you doing here!"

Shen Wang looked around, realizing Tang Jiu was addressing him, and replied with a smile, "We've finished our task and came to see if you needed any help."

Tang Jiu and the others: Shameless!!!

'Coming to see if you need help,' he says so righteously, as if they weren't just here to snatch points!

Among them, Tang Jiu was the most upset, his face darkening: "We don't need your help!"

Even as Tang Jiu spoke, Shen Wang, as if he hadn’t heard, walked over and blatantly scrutinized their makeshift formation: "What's going on here?"

The members of the impromptu team exchanged glances, and one of them truthfully explained the situation to Shen Wang and the others.

Since the ancient battlefield was a high-level task, the number of contestants who drew this instance had doubled. As they arrived one after another, they realized the overwhelming resentment in the ancient battlefield was beyond their ability to handle.

Under these circumstances, everyone naturally chose to team up.

Tang Jiu brought out a formation, informing the group that it could absorb Yin energy but required several people to activate it simultaneously.

"So how did you end up like this?" Shen Wang looked around, puzzled.

This formation was indeed a small one capable of purifying Yin energy, but it was too basic and crude, only effective against weaker Yin energy. Against the dense, fog-producing Yin energy they faced now, it was useless.

But even if ineffective, it shouldn't have had a reverse effect.

Speaking, Lin Leliu paused oddly for a few seconds, then admitted frankly, "We don't know what happened either."

They were activating the formation to purify the Yin energy, and everything was going smoothly until the Yin energy suddenly intensified, and a white fog appeared out of nowhere... No one knew what was happening, and maintaining the formation became increasingly difficult. Eventually, they exhausted their spiritual power, and the formation could no longer be sustained.

With insufficient spiritual power and the situation turning bizarre, they didn't dare to investigate and ended up arguing on the spot, which is when Shen Wang and his group found them.

As they questioned and answered, Tang Jiu disapproved: "Brother Lin, you are part of our team. Revealing our internal affairs to outsiders isn't appropriate."

Tang Jiu gave Shen Wang a meaningful look, emphasizing the word 'outsiders.'

Shen Wang glanced up, smiling gently and amiably: "With your trash formation, what's there to keep secret?"

"Trapped here and too scared to move an inch, even a sparrow is braver than you. Are you planning to stand here forever?"

Tang Jiu's face darkened. Gu Manling, standing beside him, spoke lightly, "At least Tang Jiu's purification formation purified some of the Yin energy, earning us some points. There's no need for an outsider to mock us."

The teammates, initially dissatisfied with Tang Jiu, relaxed their expressions upon hearing this.

Despite the sudden appearance of the mysterious fog, it wasn't Tang Jiu's fault. On the contrary, before the fog emerged, the group had managed to purify a significant amount of Yin energy using Tang Jiu's formation.

Realizing this, they indeed owed Tang Jiu a favor, leading them to complain to Lin Leliu, “Brother Lin, what are you doing? That’s our team's confidential information, why are you casually telling others?”

Lin Leliu, unfazed, calmly replied, “Before Shen Daoist friend arrived, we had already been trapped here for quite a while. If we don’t find a way to leave soon, I fear something unexpected might happen.”

“Unexpected? What kind of unexpected event?” Gu Manling insisted on arguing, her phoenix eyes sharp and scornful, “Not to mention that this is a formation sealed by the masters of the metaphysical world, there are also elders from major sects outside ensuring our safety. It’s not our place to worry.”

“If you're scared, just give up the competition. Someone outside will take you home. Don’t meddle in unnecessary matters here.”

Gu Manling’s words were loaded with insinuations, making everyone’s face change, except for Shen Wang, who simply glanced at her.

“Something’s not right here,” Shen Wang frowned slightly and directly asked the chubby boy, “Can you still quit the competition?”

Without a word, the chubby boy clumsily tapped on his watch, then discovered in horror, “Brother Shen! There’s no signal!”

The option for contestants to use for quitting the competition and saving their lives was not working!

At this point, everyone who was acting high and mighty panicked: “What’s going on!”

“Damn, really no signal. Weren’t the watches for the metaphysical competition specially made, unaffected by Yin energy?”

“What do we do now? We can't leave, and do the people outside even know we’re trapped?”

“We shouldn’t have ventured this deep. The ancient battlefield is different, its malevolent energy far outweighs that of other instances…”

Tang Jiu and the others, knowing they could opt out of the competition in an emergency and wait for rescue, had been overconfident. Now realizing their escape route was cut off, they were thrown into chaos.

In this relatively peaceful world, even for cultivators, the most common tasks involved subduing minor spirits or fortune-telling for the wealthy. When had they ever faced real danger?

Suddenly plunged into an unknown peril, everyone was panic-stricken and at a loss, no longer concerned about internal team issues or outsiders.

Ugly Yin glanced at them, shaking his head slightly. Observing the white fog, he leaned towards Shen Wang and asked, “Shen Daoist friend, could this also be an illusionary formation?” similar to the earlier phantom mansion.

This illusion, compared to the one in the Yin House, was even more realistic.

Shen Wang sighed lightly, "If only it were an illusionary formation."

Precisely because it wasn’t an illusion, the situation was even more complicated.

"What do we do now?"

Unconsciously, everyone's gaze, whether from Tang Jiu's team or those who came with Shen Wang, converged on Shen Wang.

Although some might not like Shen Wang's style, his strength was undeniable. He might be a bit eccentric, but when it came to serious matters, he was reliable... right?

Only Tang Jiu and Gu Manling were secretly grinding their teeth, their expressions resentful.

Tang Jiu slowly rubbed his fingertips, seething inside: His purification formation was supposed to make him stand out, attract everyone's admiration and adoration, and be his first step towards topping the metaphysical world...

But then Shen Wang appeared! Always Shen Wang!!

His carefully prepared purification formation was overlooked because of a few words from Shen Wang... That was a rare and hard-earned purification formation in the metaphysical world!

Tang Jiu's gaze flickered, but no one noticed his unease as they were all focused on waiting for Shen Wang to speak.

Shen Wang frowned slightly, pondering for a few seconds before saying, "I'm going in to take a look. What about you?"

"Go in?!" The chubby boy and the others exclaimed in unison, "The situation is obviously not right. Why head towards danger knowingly?"

Shen Wang glanced at them, his expression a mix of a smile and seriousness, "If you're scared, you can stay here."

The chubby boy immediately straightened up, "No way, Brother Shen, I only feel safe by your side."

Those following Shen Wang didn’t need to say anything; they all prioritized his decisions.

However, Tang Jiu's group hesitated, unsure of what to do.

Tang Jiu sneered, "You're leading people deeper in without even knowing what's going on. If something happens, can you bear the responsibility?"

His words made the already hesitant few recoil, their advancing steps slowly retracting.

Shen Wang didn't care if they followed or not. If they did, he'd have more people to protect; if not, even better. He never forced anyone.

Just as Shen Wang was about to speak, Lin Leliu, with a hint of coldness, said, "In the Metaphysical Competition, there are no fixed teams, and no one needs to be responsible for the choices of others."

The others were immediately at a loss for words: "In such a critical situation... why bring up competition and teams..."

"Do you have to be so cold-hearted and ruthless..."

"After all, we're companions on the same journey, acquainted with each other..."

As they continued to mumble, trying to morally coerce, Lin Leliu glanced at them and walked straight to Shen Wang's side, "I'll follow Shen Daoist friend, the rest of you are free to choose."

Luo Tian also followed suit, awkwardly saying, "I’ll follow him too. I don’t need anyone to be responsible for me."

Shen Wang waited a bit longer, then seeing no one else coming, he smiled and said, "Then we part ways here."

Having said that, he led his group decisively towards the center of the ancient battlefield.

Watching their departing figures, those who chose to stay felt a tinge of regret but didn't dare to wander around in such an unpredictable place, comforting themselves, "In horror movies, it's always the wandering NPCs who die first."

"Right, they’re too reckless. They rush around without even understanding what's happening. Truly fearless."

Tang Jiu and Gu Manling exchanged glances, a hint of schadenfreude in their eyes.

Since parting in City C, neither had expected to encounter each other again in the Metaphysical Competition. Originally, due to Gu Manling's failed investment leading indirectly to the Tang family's bankruptcy, a rift had formed between them.

However, with Shen Wang and Gu Dongting's presence, the perilously close 'male and female leads' had come together again.

Gu Manling, looking at Tang Jiu's smiling face, asked quietly and confusedly, "What are you smiling about?"

Tang Jiu's smile deepened, replying in a low voice, "They're about to face misfortune."

Hearing this, Gu Manling's eyes flashed with joy, her smile almost imperceptible.

The male and female leads of the original story, still not in a confirmed relationship, were already in perfect harmony: hoping that the annoying Shen Wang would never return!

Gu Manling hadn’t pondered why Tang Jiu, a fellow contestant, would suddenly make such a statement, as if he had everything under control and had anticipated this.

Meanwhile, Shen Wang, leading a group, suddenly sneezed. Rubbing his ear, he mumbled to himself, "Who’s thinking about me?"

"Must be Gu Dongting, missing me..."

His voice was so soft and light that even the closest, like the chubby boy, didn't hear it, busily chatting with others.

"Brother Lin, Brother Luo, why did you choose to follow Brother Shen?" The chubby boy's eyes darted between Lin Leliu and Luo Tian.

Luo Tian’s story was clear; initially, he wanted to intimidate Shen Wang with a toast, but ended up being rebuffed and humiliated, though with no real loss.

And Lin Leliu, a disciple of the Heavenly Master's Mansion, was tied up by Shen Wang in the first round of the competition and missed out on the auction.

Once the competition was over, Shen Wang and the others seemed to forget about him… It was unknown how long he had been tied up...

Under such circumstances, Lin Leliu still chose to follow Shen Wang… The chubby boy couldn’t understand his thinking. It seemed more likely to be enemies under such circumstances, but why did he appear to admire and look up to Shen Wang?

Could it be… he enjoyed being humiliated? The chubby boy's gaze towards him became suspicious.

Lin Leliu seemed to grasp the underlying meaning in the chubby boy's words. He paused before speaking, "It was just a competition. I was outmatched and I accept that."

Luo Tian also smirked, "I didn't know he was genuinely skilled. I thought he had just pulled some strings to get in… Who knew he was actually that strong."

The chubby boy couldn't comprehend their logic, tilting his head in confusion.

Ugly Yin, guarding Bai Fuchun, caught on to their sentiment: as fellow losers, he could empathize with them.

As they talked, the group moved towards the increasingly dense malevolent energy, finding the center of the ancient battlefield.

The fog had become so thick they could barely see the facial features of the person speaking opposite them. They had to move cautiously, hand in hand, the malevolent energy in the air almost slicing their skin, like a whistling wind.

No longer in a mood for jokes, the chubby boy unconsciously raised his voice, shouting, "Damn! Has this place always been this terrifying?"

Lin Leliu's voice came through the fog, "No, this place used to be quite ordinary."

If the ancient battlefield had always been this terrifying, the officials of the Metaphysical Competition would never have chosen it as a venue, exposing the treasured disciples of various sects to such danger.

"Be careful."

Shen Wang's voice was calm, steadying the chaotic thoughts of everyone.

The next second, a talisman burned in the air, its red flame flickering in the white fog. The fog dispersed rapidly like cotton candy touched by water, revealing a clear area.

Everyone hurriedly gathered together in the small space not invaded by the white fog.

Shen Wang's eyes flickered, and several more talismans appeared in his hand. He threw them into the air where they burned without fire, clearing a path ahead.

Now, everyone could clearly see the situation at the center. They gasped in unison.

"What's going on here!"

"How is there such a huge pit? Did some construction company accidentally dig up something that shouldn't be seen?!"

"Or did corpses from the ancient battlefield suddenly emerge from underground?"

In front of them, not far away, where the resentment and malevolence were thickest, a gigantic pit the size of a room appeared!

The pit was dark and seemingly bottomless, with resentment, malevolence, and Yin energy continuously surging from its depths. Just a glance into it, and those with weaker minds felt their spirits waver, as if the gates of the underworld had been opened.

Fortunately, Shen Wang had given each person a talisman in advance, protecting them from being injured by the powerful malevolent Yin energy when they saw the huge pit.

Shen Wang's frown deepened as he leaned forward to peer into the pit, but he was hastily pulled back by the others: "Brother Shen! Be cautious! Don't be reckless!"

"This place looks very dangerous, don’t take unnecessary risks!"

Shen Wang paused, accepting their concern: "We need to seal this place first."

Otherwise, given the rate at which the pit was emitting malevolent Yin energy, it wouldn't take long to spread to nearby residential areas, and ordinary people don’t have the resistance abilities of cultivators.

Even a slight amount of Yin energy could make the physically frail, like the elderly and children, sick for days, let alone such severe malevolence.

"Exactly," Lin Leliu added, "Although this area is cordoned off as a construction site, it’s too close to the city..."

The first to suffer in any disturbance would be ordinary people.

Everyone understood the rationale, but how to seal such a place? Their eyes turned to Shen Wang again.

Unnoticed by all, they had come to regard Shen Wang as their leader, instinctively looking to him first in any bizarre situation.

As if deep down, they firmly believed there was no problem Shen Wang couldn't solve.

True to their expectations, Shen Wang delved into his pocket, pulling out a stack of talismans. His expression was serious as he looked ahead.

Bai Fuchun, who had only seen Shen Wang in his casual and nonchalant demeanor, stared in awe at his stern expression for the first time: A usually frivolous person becoming serious somehow seemed to enhance their attractiveness, making his already handsome features even more appealing.

As Bai Fuchun was intently watching Shen Wang's actions, a hand suddenly covered his eyes.

Bai Fuchun: "..."

Ugly Yin leaned closer to his ear, lowering his voice, "What are you looking at?"

Bai Fuchun's face flushed, a silly smile appearing on his face, playfully responding, "Nothing... are you...?"

Before Bai Fuchun could finish, Ugly Yin already knew what he was about to say: "No, I didn’t. I’m not."

Bai Fuchun craftily smiled, "I didn’t say anything."

Shen Wang, overhearing their private exchange, had a question mark over his head: At a time like this, not nervous, nor watching him showing off, they’re flirting... damn lovebirds.

Despite his internal commentary, Shen Wang's hands continued their skilled movements.

Raising his hand, he scattered a stack of talismans into the air. They seemed to float without order, yet upon closer inspection, appeared to contain a specific pattern. The talismans paused mid-air, igniting simultaneously upon reaching their predetermined positions!

Dozens of talisman fires danced in the fog, fragile and faint, seemingly on the verge of being engulfed by the dense mist, yet they resiliently radiated light.

The fog, as if encountering a natural enemy, rolled back into the pit when touched by the flames.

The previously dense fog, in an instant, dissipated like fresh snow under the sun.

Those following Shen Wang, having witnessed the entire process, were left speechless and deeply impressed: They knew Shen Wang was strong, but he seemed unfathomably so; outsiders could never gauge the extent of his strength.

After setting up the talisman formation, Shen Wang turned back, "The effect of these talismans is weak; the formation won't hold for long. We must handle this before it collapses... Hm? What are you all looking at?"

The chubby boy and the others unanimously said, "Watching the master at work."

Shen Wang raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Did my unparalleled elegance dazzle you?"

The chubby boy and others: "..." Suddenly, he didn't seem that handsome anymore.

As they spoke, several figures rushed over swiftly. Shen Wang almost mistook them for enemies, but recognizing the fluttering white robes, he quickly realized who they were.

"Gu Dongting? How did you get here so fast?"

The other judges, who were about to come over and observe the talisman formation: "..." Something seemed off.