Chapter 831: Kyushu?

The Nine Provinces, Cloud River Battlefield, West Thirty-Fifth Heavenly Mechanism City.

As the only Heavenly Mechanism City within a radius of thirty thousand li, the Heavenly Mechanism Business Alliance here was naturally bustling with activity. Every day, cultivators from the Nine Provinces came and went in a continuous stream, their figures numerous on the wide streets, where people jostled shoulder to shoulder. Business inside the Heavenly Mechanism Business Alliance was booming, bringing in immense profits daily.

The Cloud River Hegemony had ended over a month ago. Those who were to advance to the True Lake Realm had already done so. Now was the time for a new batch of Cloud River Realm cultivators to compete. Those with some cultivation were diligently consolidating their foundations, preparing for the next Cloud River Hegemony, while newcomers to the Cloud River Battlefield were striving to improve their cultivation and catch up with their predecessors.

Under the cultivation environment of the Nine Provinces, the Spirit Stream Battlefield and the Cloud River Battlefield served as two treasured grounds for nurturing cultivators. Generations of young talents emerged like river waves, with new waves pushing forward the old, an endless and continuous flow.

In front of the Business Alliance's Heavenly Mechanism Pillar, four long queues stretched out in four directions. While waiting, familiar cultivators whispered and conversed amongst themselves.

Although the Cloud River Hegemony had concluded over a month ago, it remained a frequent topic of conversation among many cultivators. Especially Lu Ye, who had claimed the top spot. This Cloud River Eighth-level cultivator had achieved an unprecedented miracle, destined to be remembered by future generations. Many were already familiar with him, while many others were not, so his past deeds were naturally unearthed by curious individuals.

His cultivation journey was practically a tear-filled history of continuous struggle against the Myriad Devil Ridge faction. Wherever he went, turmoil and excitement inevitably followed. The titles 'Destroyer Leaf' and 'Three Calamities of the Spirit Stream' also spread like wildfire.

“Speaking of which, there hasn’t been any news of Lu Yiye recently,” someone suddenly remarked.

“What, do you miss him?”

“No, no, no. It’s just that a figure like him is bound to soar to great heights and leave his mark in history. It’s only natural to pay more attention.”

“That fellow won first place in the Cloud River Hegemony and obtained a full twenty Golden Spirit Talismans. He’s probably in seclusion cultivating, or perhaps he has already advanced to the True Lake Realm.”

“That’s a pity then. Without Lu Yiye, the Cloud River Battlefield might become a lot less lively.”

“Wouldn’t it be better for such a jinx to leave sooner? Once he leaves the Cloud River Battlefield, more powerful experts will deal with him.”

“But then again, his cultivation speed is truly astonishing; it makes others green with envy.”

“He just has many opportunities. If we had as many opportunities, our cultivation speed certainly wouldn’t be slower than his.”

“That’s easy to say, but how can opportunities just be stumbled upon? It’s precisely because they’re rare that they are… what’s happening?” The lively chatter came to an abrupt halt. All the cultivators waiting in line for transactions stared in utter astonishment at the Heavenly Mechanism Pillar in front of them. Those closer couldn’t help but take a few steps back.

This was because the Heavenly Mechanism Pillar, which had always been uneventful, suddenly burst forth with light. As the group of cultivators watched with trepidation, intricate and complex patterns suddenly glowed on the pillar. Light flowed along these patterns, then dispersed, converging in the void in front of the Heavenly Mechanism Pillar.

In a moment, an elliptical light gate, three zhang high and wide enough for four people to pass through side-by-side, appeared in everyone’s sight. The entire hall on the first floor of the Heavenly Mechanism Business Alliance fell silent, with all eyes fixed on it.

This incident even alerted the Business Alliance’s powerful expert stationed there. A slender middle-aged man with an unreadable expression flashed into existence before the light gate, observing it intently.

A Business Alliance steward who had witnessed the formation of the light gate immediately stepped forward to report the situation.

The middle-aged man listened while thoughtfully gazing at the light gate, his mind filled with many questions. How could a portal appear in front of the Business Alliance’s Heavenly Mechanism Pillar? And where did this portal lead? Such an extraordinary event had never occurred before.

“I’ll go take a look,” the middle-aged man said, confident in his powerful cultivation. He instructed the steward beside him, then took a step towards the portal. However, in the next instant, he seemed to collide with an invisible wall. He involuntarily retreated, realizing that this portal only allowed cultivators of the Cloud River Realm to pass through. Although he currently presented himself as a Cloud River Realm cultivator, he was, in fact, a True Lake Realm expert, and thus naturally unable to enter.

“Senior, what is the situation with this portal?” a cultivator asked.

The middle-aged man had evidently received some information at that moment and was examining his battlefield mark. Soon, his eyebrows rose. This was because multiple messages indicated that portals had appeared not only in this Business Alliance but also in many other Business Alliances. As for whether this phenomenon was widespread across the entire Cloud River Battlefield, it was too early to tell.

However, the appearance of portals in such places was clearly not a bad thing. After a brief contemplation, the middle-aged man said, “Perhaps it’s an opportunity bestowed by Heavenly Mechanism…”

No sooner had he spoken than many cultivators’ expressions brightened with excitement. In fact, moments after the portal first appeared, some had already thought of this possibility and felt an urge to act, but dared not make a move. Now that even someone from the Business Alliance had said so, it must be true. Typically, such portals lead to a certain secret realm, and secret realms are cultivators’ favorite places for training, as there’s a high probability of obtaining battle achievements there!

Just moments ago, someone was saying how rare opportunities were, and who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, a secret realm portal would appear before them? It was truly a case of 'speak of the devil'. Immediately, impatient and daring individuals couldn't hold back. They flashed out of the crowd and strode towards the portal. Opportunities are rare; naturally, one must seize them when they appear.

The middle-aged man naturally did not stop them, nor was there any need to. Although he didn’t know where the portal led or what dangers lay beyond, a cultivator’s path is inherently fraught with difficulties and thorns; it’s never a smooth journey. He merely announced, “If you encounter danger beyond the portal, the Business Alliance bears no responsibility. Everyone, proceed with caution!” Who would pay him any mind?

After the first cultivator stepped into the portal and disappeared, a large number of cultivators swarmed towards the portal from all directions, as if fearing that if they were late, others would seize the benefits.

Similar situations were occurring almost simultaneously in Business Alliances across the Cloud River Battlefield. Cultivators who had originally only come to buy and sell items in the Business Alliance now rushed in waves towards the portals standing before the Heavenly Mechanism Pillars.

Unrivaled Continent, Hun Tian Sacred Temple Secret Realm.

“Battle achievements! These are battle achievements!” Shadow Wuji’s excited voice rang out, as he discovered that after killing the Corpse race members, he could actually gain valuable battle achievements! Others also noticed this, and their hearts stirred.

Lu Qing poured cold water on their excitement: “You can take them, but you also need to be alive to spend them!” The enthusiasm and excitement in everyone’s hearts were instantly doused.

At this juncture, everyone was virtually trapped in a desperate situation. Apart from their varying degrees of injuries, four of the eight people had already been afflicted with primordial corpse poison. Only Lu Ye, Lan Ziyi, Mu Qingyun, and Ju Jia were temporarily unaffected by the primordial corpse poison. If the other four couldn’t escape quickly to find Hua Ci for treatment, they would eventually be transformed into members of the Corpse race. And the more they activated their spiritual power, the less effective the spiritual pills would be in suppressing the poison, causing the corpse poison to erupt sooner.

Once those four were converted into Corpse race members, the remaining four would certainly not fare well either. Ultimately, they had reached a dead end! The Golden Corpse King, Corpse Fiend, had clearly noticed this, so he hadn't reappeared since being forced back by Lu Ye earlier. Even the Silver Corpse Commander and Iron Corpse Commander no longer came to harass them. Only an endless tide of Corpse race members surged forward like rising and falling waves.

Just as the eight members of the Nine Provinces team were at their wit’s end, left to the mercy of fate, unusual spiritual energy fluctuations suddenly rippled nearby. Everyone was startled and quickly looked around. They saw that the ten-zhang tall Heavenly Mechanism Pillar beside them was once again flashing with light, and even the pillar itself began to vibrate intensely.

What was happening?

Everyone was filled with doubt and alarm. With a whoosh…

As if stars were shattering, beams of light radiated in all directions from the Heavenly Mechanism Pillar, falling upon various locations within the Hun Tian Sacred Temple Secret Realm. When these lights landed, they didn’t dissipate but instead twisted and stretched, rapidly transforming into elliptical portals.

Each beam of light transformed into a portal.

Thousands upon thousands of light beams became thousands upon thousands of portals!

Above and below ground, many streams of light even pierced through the entire Sacred Temple Secret Realm, landing near the battlefield where the Ziwei Dao Palace and the stronghold cultivators were located. Within the Hun Tian Sacred Temple Secret Realm, the closest portal was less than a hundred zhang from Lu Ye and his companions!

From within that portal, an incredibly familiar aura emanated.

“This is…”

In the midst of the chaos, Lu Qing looked towards the portal, sensing the familiar aura. Suddenly, as if realizing something, she turned to look at Lu Ye, who had remained calm and unfazed even in such a desperate situation: “The Nine Provinces?”

Lu Ye continued to silently slay his enemies, ignoring her.

Lu Qing couldn’t help but press, “Lu Yiye, is that the Nine Provinces? Did you know this all along?”

Only then did Lu Ye speak indifferently: “Since Heavenly Mechanism can establish contact with us and the Heavenly Mechanism Pillars have been set up, cultivators from the Nine Provinces can naturally be transported here!”

Lu Qing was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: “So that’s it! Lu Yiye, you truly keep your cards close to your chest. So this was our fallback and reliance all along! No wonder you remained unfazed in such a desperate situation; I actually thought you weren’t afraid of death!”

“It’s not that I kept my cards close; it’s that you’re too foolish!”

“Alright, I’m foolish then!” Lu Qing wasn’t annoyed in the slightest; instead, she looked cheerful. Nothing was more delightful than a narrow escape from a desperate situation. As for Lu Yiye’s verbal jabs, they wouldn’t cause her any physical harm, so why bother caring so much?

“We’re getting reinforcements?” Feng Rulie asked, surprised.

Although he wasn’t as intelligent as Lu Qing, if he still couldn’t understand the situation after hearing their conversation, he would truly be foolish. With the Heavenly Mechanism Pillar here and so many portals connected to the Nine Provinces, it was clear that a large number of reinforcements were about to arrive from the Nine Provinces.