Chapter 48

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This Crimson Flame Mountain Range spans thousands of miles, who would have thought it was actually a great array?

Rushing through the Crimson Flame Mountain Range, Chen Xi recalled what Ji Yu had said earlier, and he couldn't help but feel amazed.

Earlier at the foot of the mountain, the reason he was in a daze was because he was communicating with Ji Yu. According to Ji Yu's speculation, the Crimson Flame Mountain Range before his eyes was a terrifying array that condensed the earth's malevolent energy. Only a master-level array master could set it up!

Chen Xi's proficiency in the art of talismans was quite good, but he could only create talismans, and he could only make first-grade basic talismans. Only when one's talisman-making skills reached the level of a ninth-grade talisman master could they be called an array master.

Array masters were divided into three stages: lower, middle, and upper. Above that were the grandmasters of array arts. Those who stood out among the grandmasters could be called supreme grandmasters of array arts!

Those who could become supreme grandmasters of array arts must have reached an inconceivable level in the art of arrays. In the cultivation world, only celestial immortals of the Earth Immortal realm and above could reach such a realm.

Moreover, the path of array arts was almost the most abstruse and profound of all paths, and also the most time-consuming. Unless one had a heaven-defying talent, it was almost impossible for others to reach the end of this path.

From this, it can be seen how terrifying a supreme grandmaster of array arts is!

"This great array has probably been abandoned for a long time due to the lack of a master to maintain it. Otherwise, the malevolent energy it condensed would not have dissipated. The vast sea of malevolent beasts you saw on your way here is likely the result of the accumulated malevolent energy over time."

Ji Yu's voice echoed in his mind again, "Kid, you want to collect the Yin Cold Malevolent Energy, right? Why not investigate the array's focal point? You might find some treasures used to set up the array."

"Treasures that condense malevolent energy?"

"Exactly. To set up such a great array, one needs powerful treasures as the array's foundation. It's precisely because of these treasures that countless malevolent beasts rampage in the Southern Barbarian Nether Region."

Chen Xi thought about it, and it made sense. Malevolent beasts are formed by malevolent energy. Without an endless supply of malevolent energy, those malevolent beasts would have been exterminated long ago. How could they be endless like they are now?

"Should I investigate the array's focal point?"

After hearing Ji Yu's description, Chen Xi was also tempted, but he hesitated when he thought about being with Du Qingxi and the others and still needing to head to the Sword Immortal's cave.

"Chen Xi? What are you doing!" A stern voice echoed in his ear.

At this moment, they were walking on a narrow and dangerous path in the Crimson Flame Mountain Range, with steep cliffs on one side and a bottomless abyss on the other.

The mountain wind howled, as if it could blow them away. The red fog in the abyss rolled continuously, and looking down, it seemed like bloodthirsty beasts were lurking, occasionally emitting sharp and terrifying roars, making one's heart tremble.

Due to their cultivation being restricted, Du Qingxi and the other Purple Mansion Realm cultivators couldn't fly. They had to walk carefully on the cliffs, fearing any accidents.

Chen Xi was at the front of the group, arranged by Chai Letian. The intention was clear: if anything unexpected happened ahead, Chen Xi would be the first to face it. Whether he lived or died was not important; what mattered was that he could buy time for the others behind him.

Chen Xi turned his head and saw Chai Letian staring at him coldly, anger evident in his eyes. He couldn't help but be stunned. Was this guy looking for trouble again?

It wasn't surprising that Chen Xi thought so. Since they left Bloodshed City, Duanmuzhe and Chai Letian, these two rivals, had been in intense competition. As the leader, Chai Letian treated Duanmuzhe like a servant, giving orders left and right. Duanmuzhe, of course, resented this and resisted at every turn. He ignored Chai Letian's orders and even pulled Chen Xi into the conflict, making Chai Letian extremely angry.

Because of this, Chai Letian not only resented Duanmuzhe but also hated Chen Xi, who he saw as an accomplice. Throughout the journey, he often scolded Chen Xi, as if not doing so would not prove his leadership.

Even a clay statue has a bit of temper. No matter how patient Chen Xi was, he couldn't help but feel a growing dislike for this disciple of the Starry Sky Palace.

"Chen Xi, what's wrong? Is someone picking on you again?"

Duanmuzhe called from behind. Seeing Chai Letian picking on Chen Xi, as a good brother, he naturally expressed his dissatisfaction.

"Me picking on you?"

Chai Letian sneered, "We only have one day left. If we can't get out of the Crimson Flame Mountain Range in time, we'll miss the Sword Immortal's cave, and Su Jiao and the others will benefit. Do you want that?"

"But what does this have to do with Chen Xi?" Duanmuzhe countered.

Beside him, Du Qingxi frowned. She had seen the hidden conflict between Duanmuzhe and Chai Letian throughout the journey. However, as a party involved in their rivalry, she couldn't intervene. But now, seeing Chai Letian unjustly targeting Chen Xi, she couldn't help but feel angry.

"Hasn't everyone noticed that since Chen Xi started leading, our speed has significantly slowed down? He's clearly deliberately delaying us!"

Chai Letian said coldly, "I even suspect he might be a spy sent by Su Jiao to slow us down, so we miss the opportunity to enter the Sword Immortal's cave!"

I'm delaying us?

I'm a spy?

What a false accusation!

Chen Xi was stunned, his disgust with Chai Letian reaching its peak.

"Haha, saying Chen Xi is a spy for Su Jiao? Do you know what the relationship between Chen Xi and Su Jiao is? How ridiculous!" Duanmuzhe, who usually cared about his manners, couldn't help but curse.

"Chen Xi was chosen to lead by you, and now you say he's delaying us. Aren't you mistaken, Brother Chai?" Du Qingxi's voice was cold, her dissatisfaction evident.

"Ugh, picking on Chen Xi again, it's really unbearable to watch." Song Lin opened his sleepy eyes, a cold light in his eyes.

"You can't say that. Brother Chai is thinking of everyone. Our goal is the Sword Immortal's cave. If someone else gets in first, it won't be good for any of us."

"Hmph, Brother Chai, I support you. From my observation, that guy is clearly delaying us!"

"Right, my brother is correct."

"Everyone, don't argue. Brother Chai is doing this for everyone's good."

Yu Haobai of the Ten Thousand Cloud Academy, Du Quan and Du Kui of the Wind Ling Academy, and Murong Wei of the Green Wood Academy all spoke up, but they all supported Chai Letian.

Chai Letian hadn't expected that just scolding Chen Xi would lead to this situation. He couldn't help but wonder, Chen Xi is from a fallen family, why are Du Qingxi and the others protecting him so much?

What should I do?

If I back down, won't it be like admitting I was picking on Chen Xi?

No!

I absolutely can't back down. Throughout the journey, this guy and Duanmuzhe have been opposing me at every turn. I'll take this opportunity to get rid of him, no matter what!

Thinking of this, Chai Letian touched the scar on his left cheek, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes. His right hand shot out like lightning, grabbing Chen Xi's collar, and with a swing of his arm, Chen Xi was thrown into the abyss on the side!

Chen Xi never expected Chai Letian to do this. By the time he reacted, his body was already flying dozens of feet over the abyss. In mid-air, with no place to brace himself, he could only watch helplessly as he fell like a piece of rag.

Chen Xi didn't scream or shout. He just tightly pressed his lips, his eyes fixed on the distant figure that was getting smaller and smaller. Anger surged through his body like scorching lava, his eyes turning bloodshot, and the veins on his face bulging, revealing a towering hatred!

Chai Letian, if I don't die, I will extract your soul, refine your essence, and scatter your bones, ensuring you never reincarnate!

...

On the cliff, beside the abyss, the mountain wind howled like a dragon.

A deathly silence, only the fierce wind wailed and echoed.

No one expected Chai Letian to suddenly attack Chen Xi, and even less expected him to throw Chen Xi into the abyss without a word.

The change happened too quickly, almost instantaneously. Before anyone could react, Chen Xi had already fallen into the red fog-filled abyss, disappearing from sight.

"Despicable scoundrel, I'll kill you!" Duanmuzhe was the first to react, roaring and rushing to fight Chai Letian.

Song Lin quickly stopped him, shouting, "Calm down! There's an abyss on one side. Do you want to fall in too?"

"Why did you do this!" Du Qingxi's expression was icy, her eyes burning with anger.

"Just a little ant, dead is dead, no need to make a fuss," Chai Letian said with a smile, as if it was a trivial matter.

"You... so cruel!" Chai Letian's indifferent attitude made Du Qingxi's body tremble with anger. "If I had known this, I wouldn't have agreed to ally with you."

Chai Letian frowned, "Qingxi, I've been patient with him on this journey. Are you going to turn against me over a little ant that's in the way?" His voice was low, with a hint of threat.

Du Qingxi was stunned, a sense of helplessness and despair welling up in her eyes. She could turn against Chai Letian, but the Du family behind her wouldn't allow it.

"Let me go! I'll kill that despicable scoundrel!" Duanmuzhe was still raging.

Song Lin held him tightly, shouting in his ear, "Snap out of it! Do you want to bring trouble to the Duanmu family? Chai Letian isn't a concern, but the old ancestor in the Nether Transformation Realm behind him is far beyond what our families can handle!"

"Should we just let it go?" Duanmuzhe was dazed, muttering to himself.

A bitter smile appeared on Song Lin's lips, "What else can we do? We can only hope Chen Xi survives. Don't forget, he's a powerful physical cultivator. Even without a place to brace himself, falling into the abyss won't necessarily kill him..." His voice grew weaker and lower, clearly not confident in his own words.

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PS: Thanks to the support of readers Xun Kui Suieyue Jian, Zui Qingtian, and Effer!