CHAPTER 194: THE MIST SURGE APPROACHES

In the area behind the Scripture Hall, all the black-robed men from other factions sensed Ancestor Suitian's fluctuating spirit qi. Their eyes snapped open in surprise, and their gazes fixed on him immediately. Seeing nothing unusual, they exchanged confused looks with each other and soon closed their eyes again, returning to meditation.

Ancestor Suitian noticed their subtle reaction, and a strange smile flickered across his lips before he quickly suppressed it.

Sensing Ancestor Suitian's unusual reaction, Nantian Yijian turned around. "Ancestor? What happened just now?"

He was completely unaware of what had unfolded a moment earlier, his mind still fixed on the instant Ancestor Suitian had activated the Heavenly Lightning Eye on him.

Looking at him curiously, Nantian Yijian asked, "Why did you suddenly use the Divine Eye on me? Have you found a way to change my aptitude?"

"Yes. I have come up with a way to resolve it, but we'll have to wait until the mist eruption ends," Ancestor Suitian replied lightly. As he turned, he caught Lu Chen staring at him. Just as he was about to speak, Lu Chen, lost in thought, looked away.

A different light gathered in Ancestor Suitian's eyes as he muttered under his breath, "Could Lu Chen be from that era? But if that's the case... why would he appear in this era?"

Noticing Ancestor Suitian's prolonged gaze at Lu Chen, Jun Laoye asked softly, "Ancestor, what's on your mind? What do you mean by 'that era' and 'this era'? Did you also notice that Little Lu isn't ordinary? I've always suspected he's some family's hidden pawn, even if he himself doesn't know it."

Leaning closer so only the two of them could hear, Jun Laoye continued, "Think about it, Ancestor. How could any ordinary cultivator progress so quickly? And how do countless opportunities keep falling right into his lap?"

He cast a glance at Lu Chen, then added solemnly, "I won't believe no one is helping him from behind. Last time in the secret realm, he practically acquired all the hidden treasures on his own. At that time, he was only at the eighth level of the Qi Absorption Realm. Any beast in there could have easily killed him."

Jun Laoye recounted everything he had witnessed. "Before entering the secret realm, Little Lu already displayed surprising strength. But when we fought a beast at the Qi Regulation Realm together, he was still overwhelmed. Yet after spending some time inside, he returned a hundred times stronger. He could even face a Core Breakthrough Realm Spidercrab's claws, striking and retreating with ease."

"A hidden pawn... Heh, with such aptitude, that boy Lu might very well be a legendary hidden pawn," Ancestor Suitian murmured, patting Jun Laoye's head and sighing inwardly. Lu Chen, a hidden pawn? Not at all. I haven't even made a move against him, and already the people behind him have intervened.

Other hidden pawns are left to struggle, repeatedly forced into certain death. But Lu Chen? He is treated like a living treasure, never to be wronged during his training. The moment anyone harbors ill intent toward him, someone immediately appears to warn them off. What kind of twisted logic is this?

Fuming at the thought, Ancestor Suitian pressed harder on Jun Laoye's head, nearly pulling out his hair inadvertently.

"Ancestor, please go easy," Jun Laoye rubbed his head and slipped away. "Even if my talent isn't as good as Little Lu's, I'm still your blood relative, your junior nephew. Why did it feel like you were about to kill me just now?"

"Ah... I've been living among these old fellows for too long. For a moment, I forgot you're only at the Qi Regulation Realm and didn't adjust my strength properly," Ancestor Suitian said, apologizing as he withdrew his hand and released a stream of spirit qi to help Jun Laoye recover. "Go make your preparations. The mist could surge at any moment."

Scrambling up from his mat, Jun Laoye shouted, "That's right! Little Lu mentioned the eruption would happen today!"

He grabbed Nantian Yijian and bolted out. "Little Jian, let's go check the terrain near the cliff. When the mist erupts, we'll definitely make a fortune."

Nearby cultivators from other camps watched the two Qi Regulation Realm disciples rush off. They dared not speak under Ancestor Suitian's oppressive presence, but the sneers on their faces were obvious.

Seated cross-legged, Lu Chen spread his divine sense and continued tracking Jun Laoye's restless movements. He knew Jun Laoye was deeply curious about him. Despite countless explanations, Jun Laoye only became more convinced that Lu Chen was the young master of some hidden clan.

Watching Jun Laoye and Nantian Yijian dash about recklessly, Lu Chen shook his head with a faint smile. In that brief span, he had already discovered nearly ten thousand disciples from the five academies. Among them, he recognized familiar faces such as Lei Bao, Chi Hu, Xiao Long, Wang Long, Wang Wu, and several others.

Half a month had passed since the last assault on the mountain gate. By now, those men had nearly recovered from their wounds. They glared at Jun Laoye, faces twisted with hatred as if they wanted to tear him apart alive.

Lu Chen let out a mocking laugh, withdrew his divine sense, and turned to Ancestor Suitian. "Ancestor, let's get ready. I have a feeling the mist will erupt soon."

"Hehe... that's go—" Ancestor Suitian cut himself off mid-sentence, his expression changing. "No, it's already begun. The mist is rising."

He rose to his feet, the Heavenly Lightning Eye snapping open on his forehead as he peered deep into the heart of the mist. A layer of illusory veil spread out from him, enclosing the surrounding cultivators in its protection.

"The surge has started. Beneath us lies an ancient battlefield, oval in shape, like an arena. This cliff marks the outermost edge, and this area is the safest zone. The deeper you go, the denser the mist, and the greater the danger. Keep this in mind. Stay within the white mist, and you'll be fine."

"Yes, Ancestor. When should we descend?" Lu Chen asked, his gaze fixed on the center of the mist.

Just moments earlier, that strange voice in his heart had returned. This time, he felt it clearly. It was because of the mist surge that those sounds had reached him.

"Once the mist recedes or disperses into the heavens and earth, we'll prepare to descend," Ancestor Suitian said calmly. The Suitian Spear appeared in his hand, and plates of armor formed across his body, covering every weak point. "If possible, don't stray more than ten zhang from me. If danger arises, I can still pull you out. And one more thing..."

He stepped forward, turning to Lu Chen. "I've already met Wind Dragon and the others. There's no need to keep hiding them from me. When the time comes, let them fight. That will increase our chances of success.

"As for that Nantian brat, we can only change his aptitude if we seize the Spirit Body of Heaven and Earth. Your Divine Psyche Incarnation may also advance several realms further."

Lu Chen's eyes widened. "Eh?"

But then he saw the Heavenly Lightning Eye glowing on Ancestor Suitian's forehead, and everything clicked. "Got it."

Back when Jun Laoye was still at the Qi Regulation Realm, he could already pierce through Red Fox's illusions with that eye. Naturally, at the Earth Core Realm, Ancestor Suitian would be able to perceive Wind Dragon and the others with ease.

Ancestor Suitian's command rang out. "All Men of Heaven, gather!"

More than a dozen Earth Core Realm cultivators under his command stepped forward, gathering at the center to quietly discuss their plan of action.

Meanwhile, the cultivators below had divided into ten factions, each clustered around one of the ten most powerful black-robed men. Some stared at the roiling mist with unease, some with doubt, while others shouted urgent orders. Aside from Ancestor Suitian's faction, chaos had already taken hold.

Jun Laoye and Nantian Yijian rushed in, flustered.

"Ancestor! It's chaos out there! The mist at the center is surging, and the entire outer ring is in an uproar!"

The two froze when they saw everyone already standing in formation. "Wait... the mist is already surging? You're all prepared already?"

Jun Laoye rubbed his eyes, stepped outside the formation, then looked back in, only to find everyone calm and composed. Realization dawned, and he hurried back inside. "Ancestor, I knew it! You placed an illusion at the perimeter. Brilliant! It's complete chaos out there, and yet we're already ready."

"Hahaha, of course. Hurry and prepare. In about a quarter of an hour, the mist will erupt."

"Yes, Ancestor!" The two bowed deeply before hurrying over to Lu Chen. "Boss, we'll be going down soon."

Ancestor Suitian gave a curt nod, his gaze sweeping across his men. His voice dropped cold. "If the mist surges like it did in the past, I'll withdraw the illusion the instant it erupts. We'll descend at once, using our spirit qi to rush down. We mustn't give the others time to react.

"If anything goes wrong, stay inside the illusion and adapt. Understood?"

Three thousand cultivators roared in unison, their voices shaking the air. "Yes!!"

They tightened their formation around Ancestor Suitian. Lu Chen and the other three stood just behind him, donning the black robes handed out by attendants. One after another, they formed hand seals and summoned their weapons, ready to plunge into the depths at any moment.