Chapter 301 - Sorrow Moon Lake

“There are fifty tunnels leading to the Counter Essence Realm at the bottom of Sorrow Moon Lake. Twenty of them lead to the Elementary Zone. From today onwards, we will be guarding Area Eighteen, so we will be taking the eighteenth tunnel,” Zhang Yuanteng explained to Long Chen.

Yu Tao and the other Area Eighteen guards ignored him, so Long Chen was grateful that Zhang Yuanteng was here to explain. It would have been dangerous to enter the Counter Essence Realm knowing nothing.

Long Chen started to walk into Sorrow Moon Lake. The water was cool with thick spiritual Qi mixed in it.

The water was very clear, and he could clearly see the bottom of the lake. It looked like a giant piece of emerald, emanating a deep green glow that turned the whole lake into green jade.

Fifty white crystals that were one meter wide were embedded inside the emerald crystal. A faint mist surrounded them, making them look like they were surrounded by clouds. Although they looked like crystals, they were tunnels.

Long Chen knew that they were the entrances to Counter Essence Realm.

He noticed that the nearer the crystals were to the center of the lake, the larger they were. The giant white crystal at the center was several times larger than the rest. Several elderly people sat cross-legged around the large crystals, guarding them, or more specifically, they were guarding the doors to the Counter Essence Realm.

“The nearer the crystals are to the center, the higher the zones they lead to. The one at the center leads directly to the Advanced Zone. There are not many people who are permitted to enter. As for the elderly people, they used to be Immortal Guards but have retired due to old age. But do not underestimate them! With them guarding the realm, anyone with no authorization and with low cultivation level will find it difficult to enter,” Zhang Yuanteng explained when he saw the confusion in Long Chen’s eyes.

Long Chen sensed that there was no freedom in the Immortal Realm ...

So far, he could only enter Area Eighteen according to the Sword Devil’s assignment.

Yu Tao turned around. “Everyone, follow me into tunnel number eighteen. We will brief you on the specific details of this month’s tasks,” he announced loudly. Then he stepped on a white crystal and disappeared. Everyone else imitated him and entered the Counter Essence Realm. Because Long Chen and Zhang Yuanteng were new, they were last.

When they were about to enter, another group of people arrived at Sorrow Moon Lake and walked up to the crystal next to crystal number eighteen. That was likely crystal number seventeen. Long Chen spotted the dwarf Song Yuefeng among them, and Song Yuefeng also noticed him immediately.

Walking in front, Song Yuefeng asked Long Chen arrogantly with his nose pointed up, “You, what’s your name?”

Although he looked a little creepy, he was considered one of the most talented among the dwarves. However, Long Chen found it hard to show any respect when the dwarf walked around with his nose in the air.

Long Chen ignored him and followed Zhang Yuanteng. Without even glancing at Song Yuefeng, he stepped on crystal number eighteen.

His actions made Song Yuefeng’s face darken.

How dare he ignore me? You went to Area Eighteen, I see? Good! Let’s see when I get to kill you!

***

Long Chen instantly sensed a current of cold water enveloping his body, quickly transporting him to somewhere far away. It was a pleasant sensation, and there was a gust of thick spiritual Qi blowing in his face.

This did not last long; Long Chen quickly found himself standing on a wide expanse. The Counter Essence Realm was indeed an Immortal Realm, because Yellow-tier spiritual herbs were everywhere. They were not just rumors after all, as they were right beneath Long Chen’s feet. Herbal fragrances wafted from the fertile soil below.

Looking up, he saw a sapphire sky with white clouds floating by. Beneath the white clouds, the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth had condensed to form white mist. It made everything far away look blurry.

“So, this is Counter Essence Realm?” The two newcomers could not help but admire the beauty around them. To be honest, this was indeed the most beautiful place Long Chen had ever seen.

After studying his surroundings, Zhang Yuanteng sighed. “I’ve dreamed of coming to this place. It’s amazing.”

“I wonder how a Miniverse like this was formed. It’s a miracle,” Long Chen commented.

“Right, Long Chen, your attitude towards Song Yuefeng just now was probably too disrespectful. You don’t understand what dwarves are like. If you are weak, you must be servile towards them, or they will see you as their archnemesis who must be killed. Before you can defeat them, I suggest you oblige them a little, to avoid problems ...”

“Oblige? Servile?” Long Chen smiled.

“It’s only out of necessity. That’s just how the dwarves are; they have no humanity in them. To save yourself, why not be servile for a while?” Zhang Yuanteng said, exasperated.

“Brother Zhang, if a dog wants to bite you, will you be servile towards it? It’s the same concept. I refuse to believe I can’t slaughter a barking dog,” Long Chen said with a laugh.

Zhang Yuanteng could not do anything about Long Chen’s blind confidence, so he neither agreed nor disagreed with him.

After entering the Counter Essence Realm, Yu Tao led them to the base in Area Eighteen. Due to the presence of newcomers, Yu Tao begrudgingly pointed at the map on the wall and gave them a brief introduction of Area Eighteen.

“You two are new and know nothing, so listen up. There are a total of eight elementary Earth-tier spiritual herbs currently yet to mature in Area Eighteen. We shall follow last month’s schedule. Long Chen, Zhang Yuanteng, you two are new, so you need to also join the patrol team with one senior leading you. Yu Chong, you and Long Chen will form one team. Jiang Shuai, you will be with Zhang Yuanteng.”

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

The locations of the eight elementary Earth-tier herbs were marked on the map. However, guarding the herbs was not Long Chen’s current task.

Patrol?

Long Chen was privately pleased. If he were in a fixed location, it would be difficult for him to find the Nine Heavens Immortal Fruit. Patrol meant he could move freely, so it would be easier. However, with Yu Chong, an opponent he once defeated, present, Long Chen guessed that he would likely cause him trouble.

“Can I team up with Zhang Yuanteng?” Long Chen asked.

“What nonsense is that? You two are new. Without anyone leading you guys, do you know how to patrol?” Yu Tao glared at them angrily and a blast of fierce Qi hit them.

“With someone to lead or not, it will be the same

.”

Long Chen clearly understood that everything he had learned since he came to the Counter Essence Realm had been explained by Zhang Yuanteng. Yu Tao had once said he would tell Long Chen the rules, but in reality, that was an empty promise.

“What did you say? Long Chen, as long as you are in Area Eighteen, you must listen to the Area Leader’s orders. If you complain again, I will kill you. Do you think I’m joking?” Yu Tao’s gaze darkened.

“Can you even kill me?” There was a cold glint in Long Chen’s eyes.

“Are you really looking for death?” Yu Tao used to be a horse thief, so he never had a good temper. Long Chen was publicly embarrassing him, so he was thoroughly angered.

Long Chen was merely at the Second River Stage with enough strength to beat someone at the Third River Stage at most. Yu Tao, on the other hand, was a Fifth River Stage cultivator.

“Area Leader, I don’t think you have the right to kill Long Chen, do you? Plus, Long Chen was only asking a question. He did not do anything wrong. What right do you have to kill him? Aren’t you afraid of Lord Sword Devil killing you?” Zhang Yuanteng said hurriedly when he saw Yu Tao fuming.

Indeed, as an Immortal Guard, Long Chen was part of the imperial family’s military power. If he did not do anything wrong, Yu Tao, who was also an Immortal Guard, did not have the right to harm Long Chen in broad daylight.

“Alright, alright!” Yu Tao chuckled coldly twice, then he swallowed his anger and ignored them to continue assigning tasks. Fifteen minutes later, the tasks were assigned, and all the people tasked with guarding herbs left. Long Chen memorized the patrol route and bade Zhang Yuanteng farewell.

“Be careful. These people don’t like you. Be careful of their traps,” whispered Zhang Yuanteng.

“Understood. I’m not oblivious.” Zhang Yuanteng treated him as one of his own, so Long Chen naturally did the same.

Long Chen understood that due to conflict over Ling Xi, it was only a matter of time before he and the Ninth Prince fought. On the other hand, Yu Tao and the rest were the claws and teeth of the Ninth Prince. Feuding with them was indirectly the same as feuding with the Ninth Prince. And in this feud, Long Chen would never surrender.

It looks like I need to quickly grow stronger in the Immortal Realm. Let’s see if I can hunt immortal beasts!

Long Chen’s teammate was Yu Chong. Both were already seething when they met, so working together was worse. Following the patrol route, Long Chen walked in front while Yu Chong glared darkly at his back.

This brat doesn’t know how pitiful he is ... I only lost to you that day because you were lucky... If it wasn’t for His Highness telling us not to attack yet, I’d make you wish you were dead!

Neither spoke as they patrolled. Long Chen saw many new things as he walked through the Immortal Realm. Occasionally, he plucked a ripened Black-tier spiritual herbs to put in his Universe Pouch. After some time, while he had obtained a lot of herbs, they still had not encountered an immortal beast.

We’ve already completed half the route. But we need to complete several rounds.

Long Chen looked around him. Suddenly, the mist not far away started to thicken. In the blink of an eye, a pure white plume of mist was formed.

When Yu Chong saw the mist, his face changed. Without a word, he immediately turned and ran!

“What was that?”

Long Chen gasped!