The Transcendent Immortal Chapter 134 Den Of The Mutated Vampire Bats

Xiao Chen picked up his pace and bolted quickly towards the illusory domain of Xiaoyue's memory. Even before entering, an overwhelming gust of Devil Qi rammed into his face. It was so strong that he could have sworn that it was the strongest Devil Qi that he had ever encountered.

The sky above the stronghold of the Thousand Feathers Sect began to fill with palls of dark clouds, blotting the sun from the idyllic floral terraces of the lush valley. Everyone inside the gardens was terrified by the sudden culmination of darkness hanging ominously overhead. Perfected Immortal Su Nian, with a group of seven elders, took into the sky, riding on their swords and began to a.s.sume orderly positions over the skies of a mountain peak. The eight of them, Xiao Chen realized, were defending the peak with a formation, the Universal Mystic-Yin Formation.

"What is going on, Sect Leader! The will of Master Qianyu, the Founder, had claimed that the one buried below is a person who had died thousands of years ago! She mentioned that there's no way the person will return to live! But what's going on!"

Perfected Immortal Su Nian's expression turned grim. "C-could it be... Somebody had breached the Samsara and supplanted the souls of others in order to resurrect the person below..." she murmured deeply. Swiftly, she regained her stern demeanor, barking loudly, "The strength of the Universal Mystic-Yin Formation is waning! Hear my call! Join your powers, everyone! We must seal the true form of the person!"

Xiao Chen could hardly stop himself from trembling faintly. The ring of mountains outside the valley formed a geographical array in the form of the Universal Mystic-Yin Formation. The true and actual Universal Mystic-Yin Formation, in fact. Most possibly a meticulous arrangement by the founder of the sect, Qianyu Nishang, to hold the seal that restrained the person underground. But who could it be? Why was she so fearful of a person who had been dead for thousands of years that she had to use such one of the most powerful and oldest formations, the Universal Mystic-Yin Formation to maintain the seal?

Xiao Chen's brows furrowed suspiciously. He was certain that it was Qianyu Nishang's aura that he had felt before entering this illusion. Was he mistaken somehow? And who was this person now sealed underground? But the terrifying voice that echoed from underground that sounded like the shrilling howls of Qianyu Nishang. Could it be...

The growing dread within him pulsated strongly as his frown deepened into a grimace. He did not know who it was that was sealed underground, but an ominous foreboding crept up his spine, one that gave him a strange feeling. There was more to the seal itself that held the person underground. More so, when everyone from the Thousand Feathers Sect knew nothing of the ident.i.ty of the person entombed underground.

He could tell, that the person sealed and imprisoned underneath their feet, was neither a monster nor anyone from the ancient past. From the sharp, earsplitting cries, it was clearly a woman, one who must have been closely related to Qianyu Nishang and one whose existence she could not tolerate, or even...

Xiao Chen felt an urge to step closer to find out. But before he could move, a booming voice resounded imperiously from the edges of the horizon like a thunder, chanting a verse from Buddhist scriptures, "All things in the immaterial realm are in essence formless; so are the things that presently a.s.sumes form..."

It was Xu Gu's voice! Xiao Chen sensed sudden clarity taking hold of his addled mind as he was jerked back into consciousness. Everyone was back around him, looking at each other with confused and puzzled looks. Some did not even realize what had happened, Xiao Chen noticed, but Xu Gu, being the most resolute and stalwart of the entire company, was the first to break the spell of the enchantment.

Yu Yifeng, Mu Chengxue, and a few others looked evidently sorrowful; they must have just revisited their painful memories. But Xiaoyue, her face pale as death, was trembling as if she had witnessed something terrifying.

"Is something wrong, Master Xiaoyue?" Xu Gu feigned a cough to regain her attention.

Xiaoyue jumped, awaken from her stupor. But she swiftly recollected herself and re-a.s.sumed her lofty demeanor. With a thin smile, she responded, "I'm fine. We have all fallen under the spell of an enchantment earlier with fabricated illusions to deceive us. We must take heed not to fall for the schemes of our enemy and be careful!"

But Xiao Chen was unfazed by what she said. He was still wondering about the ident.i.ty of the person trapped underneath the stronghold of the Thousand Feathers Sect. In truth, Qianyu Nishang, once his junior in the Mystic Cyan Sect, had no reason to build an order of her own. What was her purpose then of starting the Thousand Feathers Sect? Although they were all thrown into a motley of illusions, Xiao Chen was sure that these were true memories of respective individuals in the company. What he had witnessed about Xiaoyue's memory filled his heart with a premonition that whatever it was that was imprisoned at the stronghold of the Thousand Feathers Sect, it would not be long before word of its existence escaped and the entire world would know.

A young man in purple stepped out of the crowd. Xiao Chen recognized him as the scion of the Master of the Priory of the Mystic Winds, Lu Jiangxing. The Priory enjoyed quite a reputation in the East Divine Continent with a strong following of students and disciples. But Lu Jianxing spoke with a sickly expression, "What she said is true. We must be wary of the treachery that abounds this place. We must stay together and not wander alone." He ended with a smile towards Xiaoyue.

Did he also witness Xiaoyue's memories earlier during the illusion? Xiao Chen could not help but wonder.

Dusk was nearing. The company had exhausted too much time being trapped in the illusions. If what the voice that echoed from the mountaintop had said was true, the company would be in mortal danger if they were still in the Cold-billow Labyrinth when night came.

But with their escape cut off and with the lack of a consensus, everyone's gazes traveled to the only de facto leader of the group, the monk Xu Gu. His fingers were twirling a set of dark-brownish prayer beads. "Since we're all trapped here. I'm afraid that our only option is forward," he said finally, "but we must be careful to not wander alone."

But his leadership restored confidence and hope to the company. Ye Wuhen flailed the sleeve of his shirt, yelling, "I refuse to believe that a small fortress such as this Wuw.a.n.g City has to power to keep us here for long!" Proudly, he began to take the lead, walking at the front of the company.

The rest of the company trailed behind his footsteps, maintaining constant vigilance to any dangers that might be lurking around them, although not without doubt and suspicion towards their own, for some were afraid that their secrets might be revealed to others while being trapped in the illusions.

After another 20 miles, the company reached before the mouth of a cave. The entrance of the cave, naturally sculpted by nature, was flanked by tall, precipitous cliffs hanging overhead with no other way to advance. "The exit must be at the other side of this cave," Xiaoyue spoke first, "but I suggest that we send a small team to scout for dangers before the entire company moves in."

She was volunteering to be one of the warriors to help reconnoiter the cave and ensure safe pa.s.sage of the rest. But no one else would dare come forward, their feet shuffling uneasily with their heads hanging over their shoulders. Most of the company were already badly shaken after their torturous ordeal being tormented by the hallucinations of their memories. Many of them would have remained trapped in the enchantment of not for Xu Gu's Lion's Roar technique.

"Amitabha..." Xu Gu chanted, "Allow me to accompany Master Xiaoyue into the cave."

But Xiaoyue immediately stopped him. "No, Senior Xu Gu," she said sharply, "you are more needed out here." That was true, Xu Gu was needed to lead the company outside if Xiaoyue were to lead the scouting party. Instead, Xiaoyue turned to Lu Jianxing, saying to him, "The Priory of the Mystic Winds is well-acclaimed for your conveyance magic. Will you come with us? Your magic can quickly transport yourself out here to warn the others if anything happens inside."

"Th-this is..." Lu Jianxing mumbled incomprehensibly, hesitant to volunteer himself. Ye Wuhen stepped forward and offer himself. "Hmph! I would like to see for myself if this cave can swallow us alive! Those who are afraid of dying need not come forward!"

"You!" Hearing the mockery, Lu Jianxing snarled with rage at him. But knowing better than to say anything else, he too stepped forward and struggled enough courage and resolve and said, "Very well. I'm interested to explore the cave too!"

"So be it," Yu Yifeng spoke suddenly, "Junior Brother," he said to Xiao Chen, "You will stay here. I'll go in too." But he was about to take a step to the front when Xiao Chen held him back. "No," Xiao Chen said suddenly, "Brother Yifeng, it's better that you stay here to protect Miss Mu and Senior Sister Luo. I'm the one who should go."

With the f.u.xi Zither and his Immortal-override Steps, Xiao Chen was sure that he could withdraw to safety if anything happened.

"I see," Yu Yifeng responded, "Very well. Be careful." He nodded gently to Xiao Chen. Luo Shangyan approached them and said, "How about I come with you?" she asked Xiao Chen, but he smiled in return. "It's all right, Sister. Don't worry."

With two more volunteers, Qin Xinyan of the School of the Savage Flames and Liu Chengfeng of the Order of the Silvery Moon, an altogether of six people made up the scouting party. They trailblazed the uncharted darkness of the cavern, while the rest of the twelve people remained at watch outside.

The scouting party traveled in complete darkness for almost half a mile and they began to hear the drip-drop of water falling from the roof of the cave. The ground beneath them began to feel soft and damp as the air in the caverns began to smell foul and fetid like rotting flesh.

Xiaoyue conjured a faint radiance and illuminated their way ahead. With the light, the party saw that the cave walls were covered with layers of green, sticky sludge. They could have sworn that they detected minute movements fidgeting within the translucent green muck but they quickly averted their eyes, for the sight was too disgusting to behold.

The party of six gripped their weapons tightly, tense like a nocked arrow as they shuffled slowly into the further depths of the cave. The further they ventured, the terrain of the subterranean mora.s.s grew tougher and difficult. They began to feel harder to breathe as the air began to thin, but fortunately, as pract.i.tioners of arcane skills, the lack of oxygen in the cave was a but a little obstacle to their journey.

But nothing had happened in their one-hour trek thus far. All was fine, although the party had noticed many rocks in the cave that festooned with red liquid. Nothing was out of the ordinary until now. "This looks like a normal cave," Lu Jianxing grumbled, "Perhaps you have just been too careful, Master Xiaoyue. I suggest we turn back now to call for the rest."

"Since you say it's just an ordinary cave, why were you hesitant to come forward earlier, Brother Lu?" Qin Xinyan teased him, "Are you afraid to go on?"

The School of the Savage Flames and the Priory of the Mystic Winds were both schools from the north of the East Continent. Yet despite their outward camaraderie, webs of deceit and intrigue were not uncommon between schools of the same area. "What are you trying to say? Speak clearly!" Lu Jianxing barked indignantly, "Why were you not the one to step forward first if you're so brave yourself?"

"There are people who speak only with their forked tongue since they do not wield enough ability themselves," said Liu Chengfeng suddenly, siding with Lu Jianxing, "There's no need for Brother Lu to be angry at the nonsense they spew."

Qin Xinyan was about to retort angrily, when Xiaoyue hissed suddenly, her brows frowning anxiously. "Silence! The three of you! Listen!"

The three squabbling men instantly fell silent, their attention returning to the front. Screeching sounds came suddenly from the darkness before them, growing in strength and intensity; a wave was approaching them like the tide.

"It's only a few harmless bats," Ye Wuhen grumbled, but Xiaoyue growled again, her brows furrowed as she tried to listen intently, "Be careful, these are not your usual bats!"

Her voice had just rung when a black shadow shot past them like a black bolt of lightning. With a loud "Bang", the dark ghostly figure slammed into the wall of the cave just behind her with such force that the wall began to crack.

Everyone came closer for a look, and to their horror, it was a gigantic vampire bat! The mutated chiroptera had the wings the size that of an albatross' and a completely dark-crimson body. Its eyes were two green-ghoulish orbs the size of a lantern and its fangs, sharp and huge, were the size of an elephant's tusks.

This was the object that had lunged for but missed Xiaoyue! Despite the strength and gigantic girth of its mutated body that could have shattered the wall, the bat was also insanely fast!

The gigantic bat clambered back to its feet, readying itself for another a.s.sault. But before it could pounce, Xiaoyue brandished her sword. With a sharp "Clank" and a gleam of sword radiance of her weapon, the mutant bat was instantly cleaved into halves.

But their troubles were only just beginning. The party found themselves surrounded by mult.i.tudes of vampire bats, filling the air with a revolting stench that almost made them vomit.

"Careful!" Xiaoyue screamed. The Autumn Water was still sheathed, hanging from her waist, but with her horse-tail whisk, Xiaoyue was able to slay more than ten mutated vampire bats with just her skills and her horse-tail whisk in a matter of seconds.

Xiao Chen too had slain hundreds of bats with his Unsullied. It did not take long for the party of six to slaughter almost one thousand bats, their carca.s.ses now in heaps of more than meters tall. The six were still uninjured, but their clothing was in a miserable state: both bloodied and tattered.

Appalled by the dilapidation of her clothing and the foul-smelling blood upon her, Xiaoyue fell into a fit of rage, her strokes becoming more ferocious and violent. Still, one after another, waves and waves of bats a.s.sailed them with inextinguishable wrath, washing in upon the six like the unstoppable tide.

"Argggh!"

An anguished cry broke their silence amidst the din of carnage and blood. Lu Jianxing's arm holding his sword was bitten; the bats' long and formidable fangs were strong enough to have even penetrated his defensive True Qi!

Incensed with anger, Lu Jianxing smote hard on the head of the bat with his fists, crushing the skull of the animal which had dared to hurt him. But the wound where he was bitten was beginning to look black and charred.

"This is bad! The bats are venomous! We have to retreat!"

Screaming the order to retreat, Xiaoyue remained at the back of the withdrawing party as rearguard. The party fought back as best as they could, retracing their steps back towards the entrance. But even as they straggled backward, another wave of screeching noises erupted from the direction of the entrance: the movements that they noticed earlier squirming in the green luminous sludge were vampire bat hatchlings!

With torsos as strong as an oak, and speed as quick as lightning, the innumerable horde of bloodthirsty bats stampeded at them like thrashing bulls. The party moved as quickly as they could, reaching the mouth of the cave finally. But the bats did not follow them; their pursuit stopped short when they saw sunlight. But the party looked wretched and pathetic by the time they escaped from the cave.

"What happened inside? There's only five of you, where's Brother Lu?" Yu Yifeng and the others rushed to them when they got out.

Xiao Chen jerked his head back. Lu Jianxing was missing! But they had rushed out together all the way. How did he get himself lost? "Master Xiaoyue," he asked her, "You were at the rear when we were retreating, are you not? Did you not notice Brother Lu?"

"Huh! Brother Lu is still inside?!" Xiaoyue gasped with horror as her gaze bored deep into the darkness of the cave.

Xiao Chen did not reply; chuckling quietly to himself he instead mused, did she used the confusion to kill Lu Jianxing? Did she kill him because she had discovered he was witnessing her memory?

But if that was true, he would have to be more careful in the future himself, Xiao Chen realized, for Xiaoyue might have just murdered a Core Forming Realm cultivator right under his nose with great ease! This could mean that her powers must be more than what she allowed...