Chapter 1500 - Vermilion Star

The treasures inside the crystal coffin served as the three elders' lifelines, and even if they handed everything to Liu Wuxie, it wouldn't necessarily help him, because most of those items wouldn't suit him at all.

The three elders had thought carefully before they had chosen those two treasures.

After stabilizing his cultivation, Liu Wuxie stepped out of the Heavenly Deity Monument and reappeared inside the palace. Only a few breaths had passed outside, yet his cultivation had undergone a drastic transformation.

The three elders narrowed their eyes the moment they saw him. Even they couldn't break through two levels in such a short span.

"You actually refined the Great Yi True Spirit Pill and the Ancient Earthcore Dragon in such a short time! How did you accomplish it?" Tian Can floated over and circled Liu Wuxie, sensing great yi energy and dragon aura flowing within his body.

The sheer sight felt unbelievable and shattered everything they believed they knew. They even began to suspect the cultivation world had changed beyond their comprehension after a million years.

"Thank you, Seniors, for the treasures. I promise to undo your curses within ten years and restore your freedom," Liu Wuxie said. Since he had made a promise, he would naturally keep it.

Hearing Liu Wuxie's words, the three elders finally felt more at ease.

"I hope you will keep your word, and we will see you in ten years," Tian Can sighed.

"There's still something I don't understand. Did you three let a cultivator leave on purpose to tell everyone that someone could enter Death Mountain and still leave this place alive?" Liu Wuxie asked, the doubt still gnawing at him.

No one could enter Death Mountain and come out alive. According to what Luo Hai had said, someone had managed to leave Death Mountain alive a thousand years ago.

Liu Wuxie couldn't figure out the reason, and that could only mean the three elders had let that person go on purpose. But the three elders didn't have much time left, and tens of thousands of years had passed since anyone had come, so it made no sense to him why they would let that person leave.

"That's right. We let him leave on purpose and even gave him a few treasures to let him publicize that Death Mountain isn't necessarily a one-way trip," Tian Can admitted. They had let that person go to lure more people over, because they still had plenty of lifespan left a thousand years ago.

Who would've thought that the cultivator who had left would vanish without a trace, leaving no news of Death Mountain behind. Even ten thousand years ago, though many were allowed to leave, its secrets still spread only in small circles.

Precisely because people had managed to leave Death Mountain in one piece, more curious cultivators had come sniffing around, but the three elders had borrowed every last one of their lives all the same.

After clearing the confusion in his heart, Liu Wuxie cupped his fists toward the three elders and left the palace. Two hours had already passed since he had entered, and Luo Hai was frantic by now. This was the Undead Star, and with Liu Wuxie's absence, the undead would make a move on him.

Just as Liu Wuxie had predicted, the undead attacked Luo Hai. Relying on his peak Earth Immortal Realm cultivation, he barely held on while countless undead surrounded him, all convinced that Liu Wuxie would not survive.

Since they considered Liu Wuxie to be already dead, they had no reason to let Luo Hai leave.

When the gate creaked open, the floating oil lamp appeared once more and guided Liu Wuxie toward the Death Bridge. Fifteen minutes later, Liu Wuxie emerged on the other end.

He turned back to look at Death Mountain, drew a deep breath, then shot out like a comet and vanished into the fog.

As he traversed the bridge, he heard the sounds of combat at the far end of the bridge that sent ripples over the deadwater.

"Shit!" Liu Wuxie's heart sank, and he increased his speed, appearing on the other side of the bridge in a flash. Hundreds of undead had joined forces to surround Luo Hai.

Dozens of experts at the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal Realm stood among them, and Luo Hai had already reached his limit to last this long.

"Dragon-Grasping Hand!" Liu Wuxie attacked from mid-air, unleashing countless dragon claws that rained down from the sky, each claw locking onto an undead.

Cracking explosions filled the air as the undead were crushed into deathly energy.

Liu Wuxie knew he had to comprehend an upgraded version of the Great Death Mythical Art if he wanted to undo the three elders' curses.

The pressure on Luo Hai eased, and he seized the opening to send several undead flying as they tried to close in.

"It's Liu Wuxie!"

After slaughtering over a hundred undead, Liu Wuxie finally landed on the ground and swept an icy gaze across the battlefield. When his gaze fell on Luo Hai, he saw the man covered in wounds from head to toe, and the undead would have killed him if Liu Wuxie had arrived a moment later.

"This is impossible! You entered Death Mountain...how could you come back alive?" The undead stared like they'd seen a ghost, unable to believe their eyes.

Liu Wuxie had just walked out of Death Mountain, and not only had he survived, but his cultivation had also soared. He had entered while he was still at the sixth-level Void Realm, yet now he was at the eighth-level Void Realm.

They couldn't imagine what Liu Wuxie had experienced in Death Mountain, but Luo Hai smiled the moment he saw Liu Wuxie return alive.

"You all deserve to die," Liu Wuxie declared, his voice colder than ice.

The undead clan shared a common origin with the ghost clan, and Liu Wuxie had never held a favorable opinion of them. Back during the Myriad Race Ceremony, the undead clan had caused him trouble time and time again. He hadn't slaughtered them earlier only because he didn't want trouble, but that never meant he didn't dare to kill them.

"Run!" The remaining undead scattered in panic and didn't dare linger another moment.

The aura Liu Wuxie gave off felt too terrifying, especially after he slapped an expert at the ninth-level Earth Immortal Realm to death.

"All of you will stay behind," Liu Wuxie said, and he began forming seals with his hands. The surrounding space abruptly hardened and locked every undead in place, a sign that his Great Spatial Mythical Art had grown even more refined.

The remaining undead begged for mercy, hoping Liu Wuxie would spare them. "Liu Wuxie, please spare our lives! We were wrong!" But if they hadn't gone after Luo Hai, Liu Wuxie wouldn't have slaughtered them without cause.

Since they chose to attack Luo Hai, they would have to bear his fury.

The Great Five Elemental Mythical Art condensed in a palm that descended from the sky, killing all the undead while their deathly energy poured into the desolate world.

"Let's go back," Liu Wuxie said, and he left the Undead Star with Luo Hai, heading straight for the Heavenly Dao Society. They crossed the vast astral domain and arrived outside the Heavenly Dao Society at dawn.

When Sun Xiao and the others saw him return, they finally sighed in relief and relaxed.

"Senior Brothers, why are you here?" Liu Wuxie asked, stepping into the main hall with bloodshot eyes as he scanned the room. They had probably stayed up all night, awaiting his return.

"Junior Brother, you're too reckless this time," Sun Xiao said.

"Aren't I fine?" Liu Wuxie replied with a chuckle. He knew his senior brother had worried himself sick for him.

"It's good that you're back, but there is no time left. The various sects have made their way to Vermilion Star, and we won't hold you up any longer," Sun Xiao said as he rose with his two junior brothers. As disciples of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, they would follow the convoy over.

As for Liu Wuxie, he could either follow the Heavenly Dragon Sect's party or travel with the Heavenly Dao Society.

After he saw his three senior brothers off, Liu Wuxie began taking a head count. This auction offered everyone a golden opportunity to broaden their horizons, and eagerness filled the air. After discussing it among themselves, they decided only twenty people would follow Liu Wuxie.

Mu Tianli had to go as the Heavenly Dao Society's leader, as only he could handle certain issues. Bi Gongyu, Lan Yu, Hu Shi, and Song Ling also had to go, since they were pillars of the Heavenly Dao Society.

Xu Lingxue, Murong Yi, Chen Ruoyan, Jian Xing'er, Xiao Luo, and Vanya would accompany Liu Wuxie as well. He had promised the elven race that he would nurture Vanya, and he wouldn't break that promise.

As for A'Lei and A'Li, their size made travel inconvenient, so they could only stay behind. Luo Hai volunteered to remain behind, too, so he could guard the Heavenly Dao Society.

Liu Wuxie called Gu Yu, Miao Jianying, and Chen Zheng back, since Sky Cloud Star and Tranquil Meteor Star were now on track. He wanted to bring them to gain experience, especially Miao Jianying and Chen Zheng, who would have to stand on their own in the future.

Liu Feng, Liu Tian, and Liu Xing also joined the group. The Liu Clan had gradually separated from the Heavenly Dao Society to establish itself in the Indigo Bamboo Astral Domain.

Once all preparations were complete, the Heavenly Dragon Sect sent news in the afternoon that they would travel to Vermilion Star together with the Heavenly Dao Society. Everyone understood the real reason: the Heavenly Dragon Sect intended to protect the Heavenly Dao Society.

The Grand Unity Sect had already begun stirring restlessly and had dispatched countless experts to Mount Dragon City. The moment they saw an opening, they wouldn't hesitate to land a fatal blow on Liu Wuxie.

The Heavenly Dragon Sect's convoy stretched out in a massive, imposing array. More than a hundred people traveled with them, including many upper echelons of the Heavenly Dragon Sect. As for disciples, only a few dozen came along.

Disciples of various sects and rogue cultivators could attend the auction as well, but the treatment they received naturally differed significantly from those with invitations. Those with invitations were hosted in a private room all to themselves, while those who traveled alone had to pay an entrance fee of astral crystals and sit in the common area.

"Greetings, Master!" Liu Wuxie greeted.

"Let's depart now," Hua Feiyu said. He personally led the convoy because the sect masters of the various sects would also be present there. He didn't mention Liu Wuxie's trip to Death Mountain at all, and since Liu Wuxie had returned, he knew he had successfully borrowed treasures.

"Liu Wuxie has reached the eighth-level Void Realm!" Many elders of the Heavenly Dragon Sect finally noticed the drastic change in Liu Wuxie's cultivation. After all, he had only been at the sixth-level Void Realm a few days ago when he was in Mount Dragon City.

Only two days had passed, yet Liu Wuxie had broken through to the eighth-level Void Realm, leaving everyone staring at him in disbelief.

"Stop being bitter about it and let's get moving already." Many elders shook their heads. They had long noticed the change in Liu Wuxie's cultivation, but they had deliberately kept quiet.

Liu Wuxie had climbed from the Heaven Profound Realm to the eighth-level Void Realm in just over a year, and watching it happen made everyone feel like they were trapped in a dream.

The combined convoy entered a teleportation array and vanished from the Indigo Bamboo Astral Domain, arriving on Vermilion Star six hours later.

The moment they stepped onto Vermilion Star, excitement surged through everyone. "What a massive planet!" They had never expected Vermilion Star to rival Indigo Bamboo Star.

"The Vermilion Bird is ranked at the foremost among first-tier planets, only second to the Indigo Bamboo Star," Sun Xiao explained, especially to those in the Heavenly Dao Society who rarely left the Indigo Bamboo Astral Domain.

"The auction house is grand in Vermilion Bird, capable of accommodating a million people. You'll be even more stunned once you enter." Many disciples who had been to Vermilion Star before naturally stepped up as guides for those who hadn't.