Chapter 1102
The moves became increasingly fierce
He decided to take the stone tablet back and hand it over to the sect elders for study, hoping they might find a way to break the curse. However, just as he was about to take action, a chilling laugh came from behind him.
"Heh, I didn't expect anyone to be able to break in here," a cold voice said.
Shi Ji turned around and saw a man dressed in black robes standing in front of the altar, his eyes sinister and his aura imposing. He knew that this man was the leader of that mysterious force.
"Who are you?" Shi Ji asked coldly.
"Who I am is not important. What is important is that you fools have no idea what you are fighting against." The man in black robes sneered. "However, since you have found this place, I will show you what true power is."
With that, he waved his hand, unleashing a powerful force that instantly enveloped the entire altar in a black mist. Shi Ji felt an immense pressure, realizing that she was facing an extremely formidable opponent.
Shi Ji drew her sword to meet the attack. The man in black robes sneered, his figure flashing like a ghost. His black longsword clashed with Shi Ji's sword, producing a piercing metallic sound. After exchanging blows for a moment, Shi Ji sensed that his swordsmanship was strange and ruthless, every move carrying a deadly intent.
"Do you think you can win?" the man in black robes said coldly, his moves becoming increasingly fierce.
"The outcome is still uncertain," Shi Ji replied in a deep voice. Suddenly, her swordplay changed, becoming as graceful as the wind, like a blue dragon emerging from the sea, incredibly swift.
The battle between the two was fierce and dangerous; amidst the flashing swords, a tense atmosphere filled the air. Although Shi Ji's swordsmanship was superb, the black-robed man's strength was also formidable, and for the time being, neither could gain the upper hand.
At the same time, the array surrounding the altar suddenly trembled. Shi Ji's heart skipped a beat, knowing that the array master was breaking the seal. Time was of the essence; he had to deal with the enemy before him as soon as possible.
"It seems I have no choice but to fight with all my might." Shi Ji thought to himself as he concentrated his inner strength at the tip of his sword and suddenly unleashed a powerful sword aura that shot straight at the man in black robes.
The black-robed man's gaze turned cold, and he swung his sword to meet the attack. The two powerful forces collided in mid-air, unleashing a deafening roar. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shi Ji flipped over, her sword strikes like a raging storm, relentless and unstoppable, forcing the black-robed man back several steps.
"You're courting death!" the black-robed man roared, his body suddenly swelling, his black longsword dancing wildly, bringing with it a gust of cold wind.
Shi Ji faced the challenge head-on, knowing that only by forging ahead could he defeat his opponent. With his companions behind him and the peace of the martial world in mind, his swordplay grew even more fierce, each move carrying an unwavering determination.
Just then, the seal on the altar was suddenly broken, and a dazzling light shot into the sky from the altar, stunning both Shi Ji and the man in black robes. Seeing her opportunity, Shi Ji launched her final attack, her sword light as powerful as thunder, slashing straight at the man in black robes.
Caught off guard, the man in black robes was struck by the attack, spitting out a mouthful of blood and swaying precariously. But a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, and he thrust his black sword fiercely towards the altar, as if to unleash some even more terrifying power.
"Damn it!" Shi Ji exclaimed in alarm. He rushed forward, trying to stop the black-robed man's actions. However, it was too late. The black-robed man's sword had already pierced the altar, and the altar immediately erupted with a burst of violent power.
Shi Ji was blasted away by the force and crashed heavily to the ground. He struggled to his feet and saw a black current surging from the altar, as if some terrifying being was about to awaken.
Shi Ji felt a wave of despair. He knew he had to act immediately to stop the awakening of this evil force. He gritted his teeth, endured the pain in his body, quickly got up, and swung his sword at the black aura.
Seeing this, the man in black robes smirked, seemingly disdainful of Shi Ji's actions. He raised his black sword, preparing to unleash even more evil power from the altar.
Just then, a white light descended from above the altar, transforming into an indestructible barrier that blocked the spread of the black energy. Shi Ji looked up and saw that his fellow disciples had arrived and were working together to cast a formation, attempting to seal the altar's power.
"Senior brother! Come quickly and help us seal the altar!" a fellow disciple shouted.
Upon hearing this, Shi Ji immediately leaped into the air and joined the sealing formation. Their combined efforts gradually suppressed the black energy emanating from the altar. Seeing the situation was dire, the black-robed man's face darkened, and he quickly retreated.
"Do you think this will stop me?" the man in black robes sneered. "We'll meet again!"
Before he finished speaking, he transformed into a wisp of black mist and vanished from the altar. Shi Ji and the others did not pursue him, but instead focused all their efforts on sealing the altar, completely suppressing the evil power.
When everything settled down, Shi Ji and his fellow disciples were exhausted, but filled with a sense of accomplishment. They had successfully thwarted the evil forces' plot and protected the peace of the martial arts world.
"Senior brother, we really owe you a lot this time," a young disciple said gratefully.
“We are all fighting for the same goal,” Shi Ji replied with a smile. “Now we need to take this stone tablet back so that the elders can study it and find a way to completely eliminate this threat.”
Everyone nodded in agreement and together they removed the stone tablet from the altar, carefully carrying it back to their sect. Along the way, they remained vigilant, preventing any unexpected incidents.
Shi Ji and the others returned to the sect with the stone tablet, where they were warmly welcomed by the elders. The elders studied the stone tablet in detail and discovered that it contained an ancient secret, involving a formation capable of completely sealing away evil forces.
After several days of research and discussion, the elders finally deciphered the secret of the stone tablets, learning that only by collecting seven similar stone tablets could the sealing formation be fully activated. These stone tablets were scattered in various dangerous places throughout the primordial world, requiring Shi Ji and the others to find them one by one.
"Shiji, you and your fellow disciples must find the remaining stone tablets as soon as possible," the sect leader said solemnly. "Each stone tablet is related to the safety of the prehistoric world and must not fall into the hands of evil forces."
Shi Ji nodded firmly. He knew the mission was arduous, but also understood it was their inescapable responsibility. They quickly devised a plan to find the stone tablets, splitting up to form teams, each carrying the sect's strongest disciples and sufficient supplies. Shi Ji and his team were dispatched to the Northern Frost Lands, where the first stone tablet was located—an extremely cold place rumored to be teeming with unknown dangers and mysterious creatures. Before their departure, the sect leader entrusted Shi Ji with a protective artifact, one of the sect's most prized possessions, capable of protecting them in critical moments.
"Remember, all dangers are for the sake of protecting the peace of the primordial world," the sect leader solemnly instructed. "Your courage and wisdom will be your most powerful weapons."
After the group set off, Shi Ji led her disciples through one difficulty after another, finally arriving in the Northern Cold Lands. Here, they encountered various strange creatures and harsh environments, but they never gave up their determination to find the stone tablet. After several twists and turns, they finally found the second stone tablet in a frozen cave.
However, just as they were about to take the stone tablet away, a group of enemies dressed in black robes suddenly appeared, led by the man in the black robes.
"So you did come after all," the man in black robes sneered. "But you won't be taking this stone tablet with you!"
Shi Ji and her disciples immediately formed a battle formation, ready to fight. A fierce battle ensued in the cave, with snow flying and swords flashing. Shi Ji wielded her longsword, clashing fiercely with the black-robed man; each of her strikes was filled with power and determination.
The black-robed man moved swiftly and fiercely, each attack aimed directly at Shi Ji's vitals. However, Shi Ji was no ordinary person; she calmly countered his attacks while simultaneously directing her disciples to fight against the black-robed man's men.
"Shiji, do you really think you can withstand us?" the black-robed man said coldly during the fierce exchange.
Shi Ji blocked a heavy blow from the man in black robes and calmly replied, "We came for the peace of the primordial world, and we will do everything in our power to stop any force that attempts to disrupt this peace."
The man in black robes snorted, his figure suddenly vanishing from his spot. The next moment, he appeared behind Shi Ji, thrusting his sword towards her back. But Shi Ji seemed to have anticipated this; with a nimble turn, she not only dodged the fatal blow but also counterattacked, her sword tip aimed directly at the man in black robes' throat.
"Good response," the man in black robes nodded approvingly, and then disappeared again.
The battle in the cave intensified, with each sword strike imbued with powerful internal force and willpower. Shiji's disciples gradually demonstrated their strength and wisdom in their clashes with the black-robed enemy; despite being wounded multiple times, none of them retreated.
"Why are you so obsessed with this stone tablet?" Shi Ji suddenly asked during the battle.
As the man in black robes dodged Shi Ji's attacks, he sneered, "This is not a question for you to ask, Shi Ji. All you need to know is that this stone tablet is of paramount importance to us."
"Then what benefit would that bring to the peace of the primordial world?" Shi Ji pressed.
"Peace?" The man in black robes seemed to have heard a joke. "In the face of true power, peace is nothing but a false illusion."
As they spoke, the black-robed man's attacks intensified, but Shi Ji and her disciples held their ground. Their swordsmanship and formations were perfectly coordinated, and they gradually gained the upper hand.
"It seems you are indeed not to be underestimated." The black-robed man's tone revealed a hint of approval, but his attacks did not weaken; instead, they became even more frenzied.
With the blessings of the sect elders, Shi Ji left their place and embarked on a journey of cultivation. He understood that only through continuous cultivation and experience could he improve his strength and truly cope with the various challenges and dangers that might arise in the future.
After leaving her sect, Shi Ji first headed to Lingyin Mountain, a legendary sacred place for cultivation. Lingyin Mountain was said to be a place abundant in spiritual energy, ideal for cultivators to meditate and absorb the essence of heaven and earth. Shi Ji hoped to break through her current cultivation bottleneck and reach a higher realm there.
Along the way, Shi Ji traversed vast forests and treacherous mountains. He encountered all sorts of strange creatures and cultivators, experiencing some minor adventures, but none of these shook his determination to pursue a higher realm. Finally, one morning, he stood at the foot of Lingyin Mountain.
Lingyin Mountain was shrouded in layers of mist, with birds singing and flowers blooming, resembling a paradise on earth. Shi Ji took a deep breath, feeling the rich spiritual energy in the air, and his spirits immediately lifted. He climbed up the winding mountain path and came to a secluded valley.
In the valley stood an ancient Taoist temple, with a stone tablet at the entrance inscribed with the three large characters "Lingyin Temple." Shi Ji stepped forward to greet the old Taoist priest guarding the temple and explained his purpose. The old Taoist priest smiled slightly and nodded, saying, "Young man, you have a resolute heart; this is the perfect place for you to cultivate."
During his time at Lingyin Temple, Shi Ji meditated and cultivated in the mountains every day, feeling the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. His cultivation level continued to improve, not only breaking through his previous bottleneck, but also comprehending many mysteries of cultivation under the guidance of the old Taoist priest.
One day, the old Taoist priest said to Shi Ji, "Your cultivation here has come to an end. It's time to go out into the world and experience life. Cultivation is not just about staying behind closed doors and practicing asceticism; it also requires tempering your character in the mortal world."
Shi Ji nodded respectfully, deciding to continue his cultivation journey. He bid farewell to the old Taoist priest and left Lingyin Mountain with a resolute heart.
In the days that followed, Shi Ji traveled to many famous mountains and rivers, visiting renowned cultivators in various places to learn their unique skills and cultivation insights. He encountered powerful demonic beasts and also made some like-minded friends. Each battle and adventure made him more resilient and stronger.
One day, Shi Ji heard a mysterious legend in an ancient town. It was said that in the far west, there was a mysterious immortal mountain, containing endless treasures and secret methods of cultivation. However, that immortal mountain was sealed by a powerful barrier, and only the wisest and most courageous cultivators could break through it.
Shi Ji embarked on his journey to the mysterious immortal mountain, traversing countless mountains and rivers along the way, each step filled with challenges and trials. His heart remained steadfast, knowing that every experience was for greater achievements in the future.
The sun hung high in the sky as Shi Ji stood in the vast, boundless desert. The earth, baked by the scorching sun, resembled a golden furnace, the heat waves rolling in, suffocating the senses. He wiped the sweat from his brow and muttered to himself, "This desert is truly like a furnace."
Just as he was about to continue his journey, a gust of wind whipped up a cloud of sand. Shi Ji hurriedly covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve, his eyes darting around, searching for shelter from the wind. Suddenly, a deep voice rang in his ears: "Young man, are you here to find the Immortal Mountain?" (End of Chapter)