Chapter 131: The Confrontation

“Is that so? You look quite exhausted, fellow cultivator.” Seeing Shui Bing reveal her suspicion, Zhou Qi decided to drop the pretense. Straining against the gravity, he clenched his fist and launched it toward her.

Shui Bing was startled. She had only been testing him and did not expect Zhou Qi to attack so abruptly. Outside, she wouldn't be afraid, but within this gravitational field, the advantage clearly lay with the body-refining cultivator.

Yet, she remained calm. She had already discerned Zhou Qi’s true cultivation level using Qi-seeing technique—only at the third stage of Foundation Establishment. Since he possessed the soul of the Heavenly Profound True Lord, it was surprising that he didn’t flee upon seeing her and even dared to strike.

“Boom!” The fist struck a suddenly appearing lotus flower, forcing Zhou Qi to stagger back a step, but the lotus remained unscathed.

Zhou Qi glanced over to see Shui Bing holding the lotus cautiously, watching him. Under the gravity, she had not initiated an offensive but merely maintained a defense.

With the protection of this lotus, even though his body had the advantage, it would be difficult for Zhou Qi to prevail. He realized his earlier strike was just a test; he had no intention of engaging in a life-or-death battle here.

Zhou Qi shook his hand and teased, “Fellow cultivator, using something you’re stepping on as a weapon is quite unhygienic. If you have athlete’s foot, it could cause cross-infection.”

“You...” Shui Bing was furious. As the revered Holy Maiden of the Xianxia Sect, pure and pristine, when had she ever been mocked this way?

“I will kill you!”

“I’m waiting,” Zhou Qi said, turning toward the teleportation portal.

The gravity here weighed heavily on him as well. Even after activating the Divine Dragon transformation, he still felt his movements were labored.

His pace slowed, forcing him to advance step by step, moving slightly faster than Shui Bing.

Seeing Zhou Qi cease his attacks and head for the portal, Shui Bing gradually increased her effort, hoping to reach it first.

Whether it was fate or an ambush, the one who arrived first would hold the advantage.

The two fell silent, quietly moving forward.

***

Their earlier skirmish had been clearly observed by the cultivators behind them, all pondering who this man was, daring to strike the Holy Maiden of the Xianxia Sect.

The atmosphere grew heavy and silent. The gravity intensified, pressing down on Zhou Qi like a mountain on his back. His spine remained straight, though his calves trembled, refusing to bend.

Shui Bing felt similarly. Gazing at the resolute figure ahead, she pondered deeply. Although she was a Golden Core cultivator, she could not afford to be careless. She knew well the capabilities of the Heavenly Profound True Lord; being at Foundation Establishment stage three did not fully reflect his combat strength.

“What is your name? I don’t kill nameless men,” Shui Bing asked, hoping to recognize him and gauge his abilities.

“Nameless,” he replied. “So you won’t attack me?”

Nameless? Shui Bing immediately saw through the lie and abandoned further questioning.

In another gravitational field, Huangfu Xiu struggled to advance. Beside him, Huangfu Rou was already exhausted. Gravity fields were tougher for female cultivators, who rarely trained their bodies to maintain beauty, relying mostly on strong spiritual power to endure. After fusing the Golden Core with the Dragon Pearl, Huangfu Xiu’s physical condition greatly improved. Combined with his Golden Core spiritual reserves and the Dragon Pearl’s power, traversing this gravity field was not difficult.

However, to accommodate Huangfu Rou, he moved more slowly. She was his clan cousin, raised together since childhood, and the only one who had ever caused a family uproar after his Golden Core shattered.

“Xiu, who exactly is Zhou Qi? Not only did he heal your Golden Core, but he also helped your progress leap forward,” Huangfu Rou asked curiously.

“He’s a remarkable person, my best friend. Though we don’t meet often, he has pulled me back from death twice,” Huangfu Xiu answered.

“If the clan opposed him, which side would you take? I heard uncle sought him out but failed,” she continued.

“Of course, I’d side with Zhou Qi. When I was in trouble, the clan’s actions didn’t match their words,” Huangfu Xiu replied without hesitation.

“And what if the woman you love most opposes him?” Huangfu Rou pressed further.

“What’s on your mind? Such a coincidence, forcing me to choose,” Huangfu Xiu laughed and scolded her.

Within the Taoist sect’s gravitational field, Dao Fan felt uncomfortable—not because the gravity was hard to resist, as Taoist cultivators rarely refine their bodies. Despite the strong gravity, combined with his cultivation, passing through was not difficult.

What troubled him was Dao Hui’s constant provocation beside him. Dao Hui kept taunting, “Dao Fan, have your testicles been crushed? Won’t they be crushed again under this gravity?”

Thanks to Dao Hui’s relentless teasing, everyone in the Taoist sect now knew about Dao Fan’s injury. Cultivators involuntarily glanced downward whenever they saw him, nearly driving Dao Fan mad. His hatred for Zhou Qi was beginning to eclipse his desire for the Medicine Immortal Sanctuary.

If there hadn’t been other Taoist cultivators around, Dao Fan might have fought Dao Hui to the death, especially since Dao Hui always ended his insults with loud laughter, fueling Dao Fan’s rage.

Within the Heavenly Dao Sect’s gravitational field, eighteen disciples silently followed the Holy Son and Holy Maiden. The sect had created six secret realm entrances, leading many scattered cultivators to be disappointed. The sect leader had cast spells to obscure the heavenly secrets, deceiving the scattered experts, preventing them from deducing the correct locations.

In other entrances, cultivators struggled forward, eager to be the first to enter the teleportation portal and seize the opportunity. Some were proud and refused to bow or kneel, while most chose a clever tactic—crawling on the ground, as the gravity was less intense that way.

In the final steps, Zhou Qi fully activated his Divine Dragon transformation and finally reached the glowing teleportation portal. Under envious gazes, he stepped through the gate of hope.

Shui Bing had already unleashed her full strength but was still a moment too slow, watching helplessly as Zhou Qi secured first place.

As soon as he stepped through the portal, Zhou Qi felt a sudden lightness. The omnipresent gravity vanished completely.

Before him lay a dark crimson landscape, as if a great battle had taken place. The land, lakes, and rocks all seemed soaked in blood. The entire space was suffused with the stench of blood and death.

“What is this place?” Zhou Qi murmured in shock. “Is this the legendary Sage’s Secret Realm?”

Through Zhou Qi’s senses, the area transformed into a blood-soaked battlefield. Various races lived here, but no cultivator aura could be detected.

Lost in thought, Zhou Qi suddenly saw countless demon and monster tribes emerging from the forests, lakes, and underground. Their auras were all above the second tier. Zhou Qi was alarmed—this was no opportunity, but a death trap. Fortunately, the teleportation portal remained. Zhou Qi hurriedly stepped back inside.

Within the gravity field, Shui Bing arrived at the entrance, only to see Zhou Qi emerge from the portal without a word. Puzzled but not questioning or attacking, she stepped forward into the portal herself.