This was the first large-scale entry into the Maw of Oblivion in decades.
Looking at the fairyland-like scenery around them, everyone was cautious at first, observing their surroundings. However, after walking for over half an hour without any danger, they gradually relaxed their vigilance, captivated by the dreamlike landscape.
Along the path, they saw small pools of water. The water was crystal clear, with some as large as lakes and others as small as washbasins. Because the mud at the bottom was of different colors, the pools themselves displayed various hues: orange, green, blue, and pink, like magnificent crystals.
Some pools contained schools of small silver fish, the size of thumbs, swimming happily. Even when people stood before the pools, the fish were unafraid. Others had schools of golden fish, as if cast from pure gold, but they were extremely timid, sinking to the bottom at the slightest sound.
There were also pools of ink-black water, resembling bottomless abysses, instilling fear with just a glance and exuding a strange power that sent shivers down one's spine.
"So terrifying. My divine sense can't penetrate it. I wonder what's beneath the water?"
A disciple from the Changsheng Hall, passing by a black pool, took an extra look and suddenly felt dizzy.
A companion walking ahead said, "This is the Maw of Oblivion. Anything is possible here. Don't stir up trouble. You're not being asked to go into the water anyway… Huh? Where did he go?"
He looked back. The person he had been talking to had vanished. His heart leaped, and he quickly asked his companions ahead, "Hey, Liu Er, have you seen Li Mao? He was just talking to me, and suddenly he's gone."
A companion beside him also turned to look around but couldn't find Li Mao, who had been walking at the back of the group.
The group immediately became agitated. Someone rushed to report, "Sect Master, something bad has happened! Someone is missing. He just passed by this black pool, said something, and then vanished. Li Mao was talking to everyone earlier, and now he's gone in an instant."
A person had vanished right before their eyes, with so many people present. Shang Xie Zhuo immediately took it seriously and ordered a search.
Su Luo and the others behind them learned of the situation and found it very peculiar.
Shang Xie Shao Qing walked over, his expression somewhat grim. "Luoluo, Brother Li, one of our Changsheng Hall disciples is missing. He was fine just fifteen minutes ago. He walked past that black pool, said something, and then suddenly disappeared. It's too strange!"
Su Luo felt something was amiss. "There are people everywhere. How could he suddenly disappear? Even if a magical beast attacked him in the pool, it would have made some noise, right? How could a person vanish without a sound?"
This was what everyone found terrifying.
No one saw anything, heard anything, yet in broad daylight, someone had disappeared.
Shang Xie Zhuo stood by the pool and observed for a moment before concluding that the pools might be the problem. The lighter-colored pools seemed to reveal their bottoms at a glance, but when a stone was thrown in, it disappeared before they could see it sink.
As for the black pools, they were unfathomably deep. Even his divine sense couldn't penetrate them, let alone know what lay beneath.
"Such eerie pools. I didn't expect we underestimated them."
Shang Xie Zhuo finally took it seriously and said, "Everyone, these pools may look fine on the surface, but they are fraught with danger. Do not approach them, especially the black pools. They seem to absorb divine sense; even looking at them for too long makes me feel dizzy."
Madam Yao Guang's beautiful eyes flickered, but she did not refute his words. She said calmly, "Did you all hear? Sect Master Shang Xie says these pools are problematic. No one is allowed to go near them, or you will be responsible for any consequences."
Four Heavenly Maidens from the Six Desires Cult simultaneously responded, "Yes, Madam."
The crowd began to murmur. Looking at the pools again, they all cast aside their underestimation and felt a hint of apprehension.
"Senior Brother, are these pools really that terrifying?" Tang Xiao Guo instinctively asked Li Tian Jue.
"They are problematic. Everyone be careful and don't get too close."
Since entering the Maw of Oblivion, Li Tian Jue had been wary of everything, but he hadn't expected the first problem to arise from seemingly harmless pools. Indeed, the Maw of Oblivion was full of hidden dangers. If one was careless, they wouldn't know how they died.
Chu Tian Shu and others also looked at the pools from a distance, frowning. "They're just pools. It's so strange, how could they make someone disappear so suddenly? What kind of magical beast is lurking within?" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Bai Qi cautiously said, "Could it be that these pools themselves are monsters?"
"How can pools be monsters? It must be special magical beasts living in the water, lying in wait to ambush people who get too close to the pools."
"Perhaps so…" Bai Qi suddenly understood.
Su Luo's heart stirred, and she slowly walked towards a green pool, wanting to confirm.
"Luoluo, what are you doing?"
Li Tian Jue grabbed her hand, stopping Su Luo from moving forward.
Su Luo saw his concern and said, "Senior Brother, I want to take a look at this pool. Maybe I can discover its secret…"
Li Tian Jue directly refused, "No, it's too dangerous. Even Sect Master Shang Xie's divine sense cannot penetrate it. You shouldn't take such a risk. Luoluo, this is the Maw of Oblivion, it's very dangerous. Please don't make me worry, okay?"
Su Luo had to hum in agreement. "I know. I won't act recklessly."
She had originally intended to get closer to the pool and use her divine eye mirror to observe its secrets, but Li Tian Jue, afraid for her safety, forbade her from approaching, so she had to give up.
The group continued to advance. Although one Changsheng Hall disciple had gone missing, it didn't cause a major disturbance.
From the moment various factions entered the Maw of Oblivion, they were mentally prepared for casualties. People like Shang Xie Zhuo, Madam Yao Guang, and Duan Jing Hong were only concerned about whether the matter Mo Luojia had mentioned was true.
The secret to becoming a god was what they sought.
No one knew where their destination was, but Shang Xie Zhuo led the way, pressing ever deeper.
The pools finally disappeared, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Ahead lay a stretch of undulating mountains, high and low, like crouching dragons. The surroundings were lush with greenery, suggesting that this dense forest was ancient. In the distance, the sky began to darken, as if it were about to rain.
The climate in the Maw of Oblivion was unpredictable. Shang Xie Zhuo immediately reminded everyone, "Everyone be careful, the weather is about to change."
As soon as he finished speaking, a strong gust of wind swept through, kicking up sand and stones. The trees swayed incessantly, and the sky instantly turned dark, as if a fierce storm was imminent.
Boom!
Boom, boom, boom!
Suddenly, streaks of brilliant lightning struck down. Terrifying pressure descended upon everyone. Caught off guard, two disciples from Penglai Island were immediately struck dead, falling to the ground as charred corpses.
The group immediately became agitated. Everyone vigilantly watched the sky, guarding against the lightning that could strike at any moment. They hadn't expected rain, but instead, sudden lightning. It was indeed unpredictable.
The lightning seemed to have eyes. No matter where people hid, it struck.
The sky was filled with light and shadow, like a spiderweb laced with fatal killing intent.
"Quick, defense!"
A middle-aged man beside Shang Xie Zhuo shouted. He flipped his hand, and a small pagoda-like sacred artifact appeared. It radiated a majestic power and flew into the sky, forming an invisible protective shield that rotated slowly, shielding dozens of Changsheng Hall disciples within.
This was the Sacred Light Pagoda, an eighth-grade sacred artifact of the Changsheng Hall, possessing extremely strong defense and a wide range. It was perfectly suited for this special occasion.