Chapter 1073: Not Space Collapse

“It’s God Wind Valley’s Duan Jiuyang,” Jing Yingli said.

“I know it’s Duan Jiuyang, but don’t you find his death rather strange?” Ye Mo asked.

Jing Yingli nodded. “Yes, there are battle marks around him, and his face seems as if he saw something good, but his eyes show shock and…” She glanced at Ye Mo, terror in her eyes.

“And his storage ring is gone, right?” Ye Mo asked. “What kind of cultivator do you think could kill a Hollow Spirit state cultivator so suddenly, before he could even react?”

Jing Yingli and Ye Mo exchanged uneasy glances. To kill a Hollow Spirit state cultivator before he could react required at least a Disaster Transformation state cultivator, perhaps even a Truth Realisation state cultivator. While a Truth Realisation state cultivator could easily kill a Hollow Spirit state cultivator instantly, doing so before the latter could even change expression was exceptionally difficult.

Ye Mo looked at the dull gray sky, his unease growing. He felt a level of danger he’d never experienced before, sensing that level seven was beyond his current capabilities.

“Have people reached level seven before? Why is it so dull gray here, with such impure spirit chi? My spirit sense is affected; I can’t even see a single spirit herb.”

Jing Yingli calmed herself, nodding. “Yes, Truth Fall Palace level seven lacks spirit herbs. Any that exist are extremely precious and rare. Cultivators who come here seek the True God Chamber, hoping to find heaven-grade cultivation methods and magical artifacts.”

She continued, “It’s said level seven was an ancient battlefield. Many Body Condensation, Cauldron Filling, and even Truth Realisation state cultivators died here, their artifacts buried or lost. Later, the True God Chamber appeared, and all the intelligent magical artifacts and cultivation methods seem to gather here.”

Ye Mo sneered, looking at Jing Yingli. “Do you believe cultivation methods and magical artifacts appear on their own? While you haven’t directly answered my question, I gather from your words that others have been to level seven before.”

Jing Yingli frowned. She’d only heard that once magical artifacts reached a certain level, they developed an artifact spirit, but she didn’t know what that level was. Furthermore, would cultivation artifacts possess artifact spirits? And even if magical artifacts did, would cultivation methods?

Still, she replied, “My master told me that the Golden Sword Sect once sent a Hollow Spirit state cultivator to level seven. Upon his return, he brought out numerous cultivation methods and artifacts, even level eight spirit herbs. Afterward, he spoke only of the True God Chamber, claiming it contained mountains of artifacts and cultivation methods.”

“What does that mean?” Ye Mo asked, confused.

Jing Yingli sighed. “That cultivator obsessed over the True God Chamber, abandoning cultivation. He suffered a mental breakdown and died soon after. People attributed it to the pressure of the stairs. The 7-star Golden Sword Sect rose to 8-star status thanks to the items he brought out, their reserves surpassing many 9-star sects. Since then, major sects have attempted to reach level seven, but—now that you mention it—no one has successfully returned.”

“Then why do you need to go to level seven?” Ye Mo asked.

Jing Yingli hesitated. “My grandmother died on level seven. My purpose is to retrieve her storage ring. It contains something very important.”

“You believe that storage ring is in the True God Chamber?” Ye Mo asked.

Jing Yingli nodded. “Yes, people saw my grandmother enter Truth Fall Palace level seven and never return. If she died, it would be in the True God Chamber.”

“I have a premonition that with our current strength, we won’t survive the True God Chamber. It's a strong premonition, and my premonitions are usually accurate,” Ye Mo said, a profoundly unsettling feeling washing over him, even stronger than in the forbidden grounds.

Jing Yingli fell silent. She’d finally reached Truth Fall Palace level seven, only to be unable to achieve her goal. The realization was difficult to accept, and she knew that if she couldn't do it now, she wouldn't be able to in thirty years. In thirty years, she’d be at most a Hollow Spirit state level four—no better than Duan Jiuyang. Even then, reaching this level without Ye Mo’s spirit sense attack would be improbable.

Seeing her hesitation, Ye Mo said, “If you trust me, in thirty years, if I have the chance, I’ll help you find your grandmother’s storage ring. But right now, even if I go with you, it’s useless. I’ve never disliked a place this much. If I could, I’d leave immediately.”

Jing Yingli clenched her teeth. “Okay, we’ll wait here for the teleportation array. We have a day or two left.”

As she spoke, Ye Mo felt space itself begin to collapse. Without hesitation, he released the octagonal cauldron, its shadow instantly enveloping them both.

Jing Yingli saw a bleak attack pass by, and felt the space collapse. She screamed, “This is space collapse!”

Her face paled. Even Truth Realisation state cultivators couldn’t survive space collapse, much less nascent soul state cultivators.

Ye Mo’s face hardened as he poured all his power into the octagonal cauldron. The collapse appeared to be space collapse, but his powerful spirit sense told him otherwise.

“Ye Mo, it’s useless—that’s space collapse! Don’t try to block it!” Jing Yingli said in despair.

Ye Mo remained silent, continuing to power the cauldron.

Thud thud thud

Several powerful blows sent them flying hundreds of meters.

“That wasn’t space collapse?” Jing Yingli realized it had only seemed like space collapse.

Ye Mo spat blood, wiping his mouth. “We were tricked.”

“You’re injured?” Jing Yingli didn’t understand.

Ye Mo’s voice was heavy. “See if Duan Jiuyang is still there.”

Jing Yingli found Duan Jiuyang gone. “Was he devoured by the space collapse?” she asked, immediately realizing the absurdity of her question. If it were space collapse, how could Ye Mo’s cauldron have protected them?

“Devoured? Hell no.” Ye Mo’s face was grim. He’d clearly seen Duan Jiuyang blown to pieces by a bleak wind that followed the apparent space collapse.

“Don’t move.” Ye Mo released the Mist Lotus Heart Fire, sweeping it over Jing Yingli.

“Heaven flame?” Jing Yingli recognized it, dazed. Although it was engulfing her, she remained still. She was certain he wouldn’t kill her; he wouldn’t have shielded her with the octagonal cauldron otherwise.

She was right. After a sizzling burn, she felt lighter. Something on her clothes had been burned away.