Chapter 16

About twenty years ago, in the 821st year of the Divine Martial Era, an external domain suddenly descended, turning most of Youzhou into a convergence zone between two worlds, forming a unique and relatively isolated spatial region known as the "Two Worlds Battlefield."

In the heart of the Two Worlds Battlefield, perhaps due to the convergence of the essences of the two worlds, many unique and extraordinary cultivation resources were born.

Of course, accompanying these resources were even more bizarre and powerful dangers.

Over the past twenty years, around this spatial battlefield, the extraordinary martial artists from the two worlds have engaged in intense competition and conflict, each paying a heavy price.

The establishment of the Mystic Pass Academy was roughly shortly after the arrival of the external domain.

Geographically, the location of the Mystic Pass Academy is quite peculiar.

It faces north and is situated in front of a vast, uninhabited wilderness.

Behind it lies the Mystic Pass City, built along the mountains.

In fact, the extraordinary martial artists of Mystic Pass City have always entered the academy through the back gate, which remains open for a long time.

As for the main gate of the academy, it carries a mysterious aura in the eyes of many.

Even within the academy, the students rarely have the opportunity to approach the main gate, let alone see it open.

"The reason is very simple!"

Yuan Zilu, sitting on a supply cart, explained to the outer dormitory students: "Beyond the main gate of the Mystic Pass Academy lies the only gateway of the Two Worlds Battlefield in Youzhou!"

"The establishment of the Mystic Pass Academy serves, in part, to guard against the dangers from the Two Worlds Battlefield!"

Amid the astonished gazes of many outer dormitory students, a hint of pride appeared on Yuan Zilu's face: "One could even say that the reason why a small part of Youzhou has not been eroded by the Two Worlds Battlefield is fundamentally due to the presence of the Mystic Pass Academy!"

These matters were not secrets to Shang Xia.

However, even Shang Xia himself had never seen the main gate of the Mystic Pass Academy open.

Therefore, when everyone arrived at the main gate, Shang Xia also felt a sense of anticipation.

Yuan Zilu, clearly satisfied with the reactions of the dozen or so prospective inner dormitory students, stood on the roof of the cart and loudly declared: "Next, we will witness the opening of the academy's main gate!"

"For you, this might be a historic moment!"

"Because from the moment the gate opens, you will truly take on the responsibility of protecting this world!"

With a rumbling sound, the massive green stone gate opened, revealing a vast view and a cool breeze.

Unlike his classmates, who were flushed with excitement, although it was Shang Xia's first time entering the Two Worlds Battlefield, his expression was unusually solemn, similar to the other dozen or so inner dormitory students who belonged to the Academy Guard Corps.

"Depart—now—"

Yuan Zilu's deliberately elongated tone added a solemn atmosphere to the convoy slowly moving out of the main gate.

After the convoy passed through the green stone gate, the students who were leaving the academy for the first time turned to look at the massive stone gate and the grand city walls, soon letting out exclamations of surprise.

Shang Xia turned to look and saw that the heavy stone gate and the tall walls were covered with marks like those made by axes and chisels, as well as scattered pits from violent impacts and claw marks that seemed to be left by some giant beast.

In addition, there were large patches of dark purple stains on the walls, clearly the dried blood from past battles.

"Look at the ground!"

A student from the C-wing shouted. Shang Xia recognized him as Huang Zihua, whose qi and blood were already fully cultivated, just one step away from entering the extraordinary martial path.

The cart wheels pressed into the ground, revealing red-brown soil beneath.

The students could easily imagine that intense battles must have taken place outside the main gate of the Mystic Pass Academy, leaving those terrifying marks on the walls and staining the ground with blood.

"Perhaps there have been more than one major battle!"

Another female student spoke. Shang Xia remembered her name was Jiao Haichang.

After she spoke, the students fell silent again.

But their eyes did not leave the ground or the walls of the Mystic Pass Academy, which resembled a city wall.

Including Shang Xia, these "prospective" inner dormitory students began to truly realize that their academy and city might not be as safe as they thought.

In front of the convoy, the Academy Guard Corps officer Yuan Zilu and the inner dormitory students under his command observed the changes in Shang Xia and the others but did not break the silence.

The red cloud horses pulling the carts were taller and stronger than ordinary horses and had a trace of the bloodline of the fire cloud beast.

Although this trace of the beast's bloodline was already quite diluted, it was enough to make the red cloud horses several times stronger and more enduring than ordinary horses.

This is why these red cloud horses could pull the special brocade cloud carts from the Hundred Arts Pavilion.

The name "Brocade Cloud Cart" suggests a connection to the "Brocade Cloud Box."

In fact, both were created by the master craftsmen of the Mystic Pass Academy's Hundred Arts Pavilion.

The Brocade Cloud Cart also has a certain spatial storage capacity, though it is far inferior to the Brocade Cloud Box in quality.

According to what Shang Xia learned from his senior brothers in the Academy Guard Corps, each Brocade Cloud Cart can carry eight times its own volume in supplies.

Sitting on the roof of the Brocade Cloud Cart, after the cart had traveled a distance from the green stone gate, Shang Xia felt as if he had passed through a thin membrane. Instantly, he felt refreshed, as if he had taken a stimulant.

"Is this... the essence of heaven and earth becoming more concentrated?"

Shang Xia looked around, pondering.

He noticed that not only he but also the other students, including those who had been to the Two Worlds Battlefield before, became unusually excited, even to the point of being overly excited.

The oppressive atmosphere that had pervaded the convoy had long since dissipated.

"No, the essence of heaven and earth is not only becoming more concentrated but also more active!" Shang Xia suddenly realized.

Soon, Shang Xia's guess was confirmed by Yuan Zilu.

"Can you feel the activity of the essence of heaven and earth within your body, giving you a sense that your cultivation can be immediately enhanced?"

As Yuan Zilu spoke, a slightly eerie smile appeared on his lips.

"Many of you have probably guessed," Yuan Zilu's gaze swept over Shang Xia, and he continued, "the concentration of the essence of heaven and earth here is higher than in the academy!"

"And this is just the edge of the Two Worlds Battlefield. When you enter the Two Worlds Battlefield, you will find that the essence of heaven and earth there is even more abundant and active..."

At this point, Yuan Zilu's smile turned into a mocking grin: "... of course, it is also more prone to失控!"

"失控?"

Many outer dormitory students looked at each other in confusion.

Only Shang Xia thought, "As expected," and became more vigilant, beginning to strengthen his control over the circulation of the essence of heaven and earth within his body, no longer allowing his cultivation technique, "Mixed Essence Force," to run on its own.

"The term '失控' might be unfamiliar to you, as it comes from the external domain," Yuan Zilu further explained, "or, to put it in terms of our world, it is more aptly described as 'losing control' or 'going astray.'"

As Yuan Zilu finished speaking, many students' faces changed.

Many hurriedly began to exert more detailed control over the circulation of the essence of heaven and earth within their bodies, but they did not have Shang Xia's level of control. Many, due to their haste, caused their internal essence to fluctuate, turning red in the face or coughing loudly, nearly injuring themselves internally.

"This is just a small lesson!"

Yuan Zilu, who had clearly anticipated this, chuckled and then became serious: "It is to make you understand that once you enter the Two Worlds Battlefield, even a single breath of the essence of heaven and earth can be dangerous!"

It was like a bucket of cold water, instantly dousing the enthusiasm of everyone who was eager to enter the Two Worlds Battlefield.

But Yuan Zilu seemed to be enjoying himself and continued, "Some of you may know that many people die in the Two Worlds Battlefield every year, including many inner and outer dormitory students."

"But I bet you don't know how they die!"

Yuan Zilu looked around and, seeing that many had regained their composure, smiled in satisfaction and continued, "I can tell you that one-third die in battles with external domain martial artists, one-third die from various accidents while gathering extraordinary materials and treasures, and one-third die from losing control of the essence of heaven and earth, or going astray!"

Seeing the surprised looks on many faces, Yuan Zilu, with a satisfied grin, said, "Isn't it unbelievable? So many martial artists die from losing control of the essence of heaven and earth. If that's the case, why do so many extraordinary martial artists still rush to enter the Two Worlds Battlefield?"

"Can't you figure it out?"

Many students nodded subconsciously.

Yuan Zilu's gaze suddenly became sharp, making it hard to meet his eyes.

He said, "Because this is the Two Worlds Battlefield!"

Seeing everyone look up in surprise, he said in a solemn voice, "No matter how much I say, words are pale. The Two Worlds Battlefield is right in front of you, and the answers lie within it for you to find!"

At this moment, Shang Xia suddenly sensed something and turned his head to see that the convoy had only traveled a hundred or so paces, yet the main gate and the tall walls of the Mystic Pass Academy were already barely visible, as if they were far away.

Shang Xia's action caught the attention of others, and soon, the students who had never entered the Two Worlds Battlefield turned to see the change behind them.

At this point, Officer Yuan spoke again, "The boundary between the Two Worlds Battlefield and Youzhou is not a tangible spatial barrier. It is more like a spatial maze that makes you feel as if you are walking in place without realizing it."

He continued, "Of course, the path we are taking is not included. However, the spatial changes still exist subtly. In fact, when we left the main gate of the Mystic Pass Academy, we had already entered the void passage leading to the Two Worlds Battlefield."

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With the arrival of July, I humbly request the strong support of all fellow practitioners!