Chapter 136: 135. Anomalous Vein: Hellfire (4/4)

The 990th step of the Thousand Layers.

Wen Ping stood there, his eyes filled with blood, enduring the excruciating pain brought by this tier, then heavily placed his foot on the 991st step.

After stepping down, a vision suddenly appeared before him!

Power, strength, scenes swept through his mind, and he became the protagonist within them. Wen Ping held onto a sliver of clarity, wanting to escape this world, but a voice in his mind kept calling to him, urging him to stay, promising he could become a pinnacle emperor.

Thus, a night passed, and when the morning light broke, Wen Ping, after enduring for three hours, finally stood at the 999th step–just one step away from the top.

When Wen Ping broke free from the illusion of the 999th step, he was utterly exhausted, lying powerless on the stone steps, unable even to lift his hand.

After lying there for half a stick of incense, Wen Ping finally had the energy to take out the Life Cigar and began to circulate the Changmo Technique. The Wood Qi and the life breath of the Tree of Life all burrowed into Wen Ping’s body. When the cigar burned out, and all available Wood Qi was absorbed, Wen Ping stood up, his eyes filled with joy.

Body Refinement, Thirteen Layers!

The Thousand Layers’ mental pressure actually helped him break the realm shackles!

Standing up, Wen Ping stepped powerfully onto the 1000th step, and just as both his feet were firmly placed, the flames burning on Hell Rock flowed over to Wen Ping.

Ah!

The fiery sensation, as if his entire body was about to melt, made Wen Ping black out and scream.

When all the flames entered Wen Ping’s body, the Thousand Layers suddenly quivered, and Yunlan Mountain trembled as if struck by an earthquake. Inch of Heaven and Earth suddenly failed, and the Red-eyed Giant Ape instantly burst out from the Thousand Layers, crashing into the houses under Yunlan Mountain, piercing through seven or eight houses due to the sheer force before stopping.

Though a bit disheveled, the Red-eyed Giant Ape was especially excited to have finally escaped the “trap.” After standing up from the ruins, it gleefully exclaimed, “Out!”

After speaking, it quickly dashed out of the house and disappeared without a trace into the deep alley.

Wen Ping at this moment couldn’t afford to care about the Red-eyed Giant Ape, for he was like burning coal, his skin completely reddened. As this sensation began to dissipate, his entire body suddenly went limp, as if all his strength was drained, causing him to lurch, nearly falling down the Thousand Layers!

“This…”

Wen Ping immediately used Inch of Heaven and Earth, directly falling to the foot of Yunlan Mountain, avoiding the long rolling process.

At this point, the people of Clear Water Street emerged from their homes–they had heard the sound of the Red-eyed Giant Ape crashing through the walls.

“What happened to my house?!”

“Whichever bastard knocked down my house!”

Accompanied by the curses from the homes, the crowd increasingly gathered.

Wen Ping did not go to watch the commotion and instead directly asked the system, “System, what kind of Anomalous Vein is this reward?”

“Fire!”

“Fire from the Five Elements?”

“Yes, but it’s not Mortal Fire; it’s Hellfire. It has no temperature but burns evil, burns souls, while incinerating everything.”

Even souls can burn?

Upon hearing the system’s explanation, Wen Ping was immediately delighted.

Anyway, according to his understanding, burning soul, burning everything, isn’t this the ability of the Evil Spirit Knight?

Feeling elated, as the noise in Clear Water Street grew louder, Wen Ping hurriedly made his way up the mountain, preparing to slip away, but just as he was about to move, his feet gave out as if unable to exert force, his whole body slumped, nearly kneeling to the ground, and a fiery, suffocating sensation rose in his chest.

Wen Ping immediately asked, “System, what’s happening to me?”

The system responded, “Just fused with Hellfire, the body needs to adapt. Rest for half a month to fully recover.”

Just as Wen Ping was kneeling on one knee, the sound of hooves came from Clear Water Street.

Not one or two horses, the cacophony of hooves drowned out the noise of Clear Water Street residents, giving Wen Ping the feeling that it was definitely a group.

Even before seeing people, shouts were heard.

“Hundred Sects Alliance law enforcement, clearing the unruly, idle people quickly disperse!”

The loud voice echoed around Clear Water Street’s sky, like a hand pulling the people of Clear Water Street to the sides of the road.

Simultaneously, Qin Shan and others who had noticed the tremor in Yunlan Mountain came down the mountain. Upon hearing this on the stone steps, they hastened their pace.

“Sect Leader!”

“Sect Leader!”

After descending the mountain, the group saw Wen Ping kneeling on one knee, looking extremely weak, and hurriedly came to help him up.

Qin Shan standing aside changed his expression and said, “It’s the law enforcement team of the Hundred Sects Alliance!”

Qin Mo on the side asked, “Uncle Qin, the law enforcement team?”

Qin Shan responded, “Replying to the Young Master, the law enforcement team is cultivated by the Hundred Sects Alliance headquarters in Huangli City, specifically helping sects within the alliance eradicate non-allied star-level sects. They usually only intervene in Two-star Sect conflicts, but each time they act, they decisively help allies crush the opposition. It’s rumored that each law enforcer is a cultivator long-residing in the Lower Profound Realm and battle-hardened, mostly unbeatable in the same realm.”

Yu Mo beside him added a sentence, “Five Profound cultivators coming at once! What extravagance!”

Hearing these words, the faces of Yang Lele and the others behind turned pale.

Especially Yang Xi, upon learning that five Profound cultivators had arrived, she couldn’t help but retreat a few steps, subconsciously clutching Yang Lele’s wrist.

At this time, the people of the Hundred Sects Alliance approached!

With great momentum, they stopped in front of the group, but Sun Wo didn’t face Wen Ping directly. Instead, he had his people form two lines and addressed those who followed along the way, saying, “By the command of the Alliance Chief, we’re ordered to eradicate the Immortal Sect of Cangwu City. Three charges: 1, murder of elders and stewards of the Hundred Sects Alliance and Kao Shan Sect, heinous crimes; 2, insult to the Alliance Chief; 3, under the guise of recruiting disciples, extorting large sums of money, tarnishing the name of the Hundred Sects Alliance, polluting the reputation of the entire Cultivation Realm. According to whistleblower reports and investigation by three Profound Realm cultivators from Huangli City, these three crimes are confirmed!”

Following Sun Wo’s words, thousands of people who tagged along, as well as those who had just stayed at Clear Water Street yesterday, looked towards the three people by Sun Wo’s right hand, and upon learning those three were Profound Realm cultivators, they couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.

“The Immortal Sect was reported by a whistleblower.”

“Three Profound Realm cultivators investigating together, such extravagance, it seems the Immortal Sect truly crossed a line in the Cultivation Realm.”

“What’s so surprising, someone who just knows to eat, drink, and laze around daily managing a sect, it’s no wonder things turned out this way!”

…

Discussions arose.

Miao Yin watched this scene, somewhat surprised, and asked, “What does the Hundred Sects Alliance want to do? Why not directly act with five Profound Realm cultivators?”

Qin Shan responded coldly, “Because they want more than just eradicating the Immortal Sect; they want the Immortal Sect to bear infamy. Now, almost tens of thousands are packed in Clear Water Street and nearby streets; they intend to utilize these people’s verbal swords. When the entire city condemns us, even if they don’t act, the tens of thousands of people in Cangwu City will directly expel the Immortal Sect, leaving it nowhere to shelter. And even if we are furious, we can’t kill these thousands. That’s the terrifying power of public opinion.”