Chapter 480 - 363: Breaking into the Demon Cave! Lying Low Is the Best Strategy (Part 2)

Because Lin Chang’sheng made him feel inexplicably uneasy.

If Lin Chang’sheng doesn’t die, he might stir up a huge storm in the Immortal Realm someday.

...

As more and more sects gathered here,

the crowd grew overwhelming.

The Sect Leader of the Refining God Sect saw that everyone had arrived, then nodded to the Grand Elder.

The Grand Elder understood, leapt onto the stone platform in front, and looked down at everyone.

"Quiet, everyone––"

As soon as the Grand Elder spoke, everyone below the stone platform gradually stilled.

"Today, it’s our greatest honor that all major sects have gathered here. Anyone who came to this place will receive one hundred Immortal Crystals. In addition, contestants, regardless of win or lose, will get a Refining God Pill made from our sect’s exclusive recipe."

As soon as the Grand Elder of the Refining God Sect finished, the crowd below instantly became restless.

They weren’t really short on Immortal Crystals—after all, they’re all top talents from different sects.

But the Refining God Pill was extraordinary. Rumor had it one pill could temper Divine Sense, making it stronger.

This was truly a rare treasure!

"Besides, this year’s Celestial Pride List competition is split into two rounds! The top ten will be decided in duels."

"The top ten will not only get abundant Immortal Crystals, but also receive Immortal Techniques and Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasures. I hope everyone unleashes all your potential!"

"The first round is the Demon Cave Trial!"

Once the Grand Elder spoke, he reached out behind him.

Behind him, a massive cave was visible in the rock wall. The cave was thirty feet high, absolutely huge.

Inside, it was as dark as a bottomless abyss, as if it could swallow every living thing.

"We used to have three rounds, now they changed it to just two?"

"Yeah! Every year they tweak the rules, and now even the location of the first round is different. The Demon Cave looks anything but simple—it must be deadly dangerous inside!"

"If every competition was the same, how could it be called a trial? If you’re scared, just don’t compete!"

"Exactly! If you haven’t been through a trial, do you deserve to be called a celestial pride?"

...

The top talents all around started chattering immediately.

Some felt the Demon Cave was extremely dangerous, others were itching to test themselves.

"First round rule: The first hundred contestants to exit the Demon Cave advance, the rest are eliminated. Before the contest starts, there is one chance to withdraw. If anyone wants to quit, you can do it now—the Demon Cave is filled with dangers!"

The Grand Elder kindly reminded them.

Many disciples looked around nervously.

And honestly, a good number of disciples, after seeing the Demon Cave’s ominous aura, chose to quit.

"Brother Lin, it’s up to you this time!"

Hou Shaojie spoke up behind Lin Chang’sheng.

Of them all, Lin Chang’sheng was definitely the strongest.

"We’d better go in last. Once inside, don’t wander around!"

Lin Chang’sheng reminded them.

"Why go last?"

Zhou Qibai was confused.

Isn’t it the first hundred out that win?

If he’s late, won’t that be a disadvantage!

"If you’re not afraid of being attacked from all sides, be my guest and go first!"

Lin Chang’sheng replied.

Inside the Demon Cave, what Lin Chang’sheng feared wasn’t the dangers ahead, but the dirty tricks from cultivators behind him.

Who knows who’s a friend or an enemy?

If you get stabbed in the back, you wouldn’t even know how you died.

Going in last might mean missing the first wave, but it’s definitely the safest way to survive.

Besides, even if there are dangers inside, let those who go first deal with them.

"Alright, fine!"

Zhou Qibai could only reluctantly agree, since they’d already decided to stick together.

If they rushed in separately now, it wouldn’t feel right.

"Open the Demon Cave!"

With a loud command from the Grand Elder, brilliant lights from arrays lit up one after another.

The restriction outside the Demon Cave was opened.

Seeing the Demon Cave open, countless disciples didn’t hesitate and dashed inside.

Only those who come out in the first hundred can compete in the second round—they wouldn’t dare miss their chance.

But Lin Chang’sheng and his group didn’t move at all, quietly watching the disciples rush in.

"Are those guys stupid? They’re just standing there—are they planning to quit?"

"I bet they’re scared out of their minds and want to drop out!"

"Yeah! If you’re a coward, don’t participate. Entering and then chickening out is laughable!"

...

Disciples passing by Lin Chang’sheng immediately began mocking him loudly.

But how could they possibly know what Lin Chang’sheng was thinking?

Lin Chang’sheng was all about lying low and staying safe.

Whether he got in the top hundred didn’t matter—so long as there was a chance, he might find a stroke of luck.

Survival was what mattered most.

And who said going in last meant no hope?

"What kind of trick is this guy playing?"

The Dugu siblings stared at Lin Chang’sheng standing still, baffled about what he was planning.

They were sure Lin Chang’sheng hadn’t come all this way just to bail, so they decided to wait for him inside the Demon Cave.

Now the Dugu siblings had already pooled the power of the five great sects.

As long as Lin Chang’sheng and his people dared to step into the Demon Cave, Lin Chang’sheng was as good as dead.

Besides the Dugu siblings wanting to kill Lin Chang’sheng, the Vajra Sect disciples had their eye on him too.

After the Vajra Sect Elder disappeared, their disciples figured Lin Chang’sheng had something to do with it. So, they teamed up with other sects, vowing not to let him off if they found him.

Last up was Xiang Tian from the Celestial Nether Sword Sect.

After glancing at Lin Chang’sheng, he leapt straight into the Demon Cave.

Soon, everyone had entered.

"Let’s go!"

Seeing it was time, Lin Chang’sheng led his group in last.

Upon entering the Demon Cave, the inside was totally different from what they’d seen outside.

Instead of darkness, it was brilliantly lit.

"A Grand Array?"

That was Lin Chang’sheng’s first thought. As soon as they walked in, they entered a grand array.

They now found themselves in a huge stone cavern. Around them were dozens of tunnels leading off in different directions.

Who knew where these tunnels led.

"Which way should we go?"

Hou Shaojie asked.

Since the other disciples had already entered the tunnels and disappeared.

Lin Chang’sheng didn’t rush ahead or pick randomly, but first released his Divine Sense to try and identify the right exit.

Lin Chang’sheng thought his Divine Sense, stretching nearly twenty thousand miles, was enough to scan the whole maze.

But once he spread out his Divine Sense completely, he found he still couldn’t search all the tunnels.

And the winding, twisting passageways made his head spin.

Lin Chang’sheng quickly withdrew his Divine Sense.

Seems like finding the right way out with Divine Sense was a dead end.

Also, not everyone who entered the tunnels appeared in this same cavern.

This array was the Nine Instruments Unification Array.

Once you’re inside, you get placed in one of nine different locations: nine stone chambers, each with twenty-four different tunnels.

Only one tunnel leads to the array’s central core—the "Nine-Nine Unification."

Only by reaching the center can you hope to break the array and escape.

So the Dugu siblings, who thought they could just wait inside for Lin Chang’sheng to show up, ended up disappointed.

They had no choice but to just pick a tunnel and start exploring.

Luckily, Lin Chang’sheng was skilled with arrays, and when Divine Sense didn’t work, he began studying the grand array itself.

[Nine Instruments Unification Array Entry Level!]

Two Hours later, Lin Chang’sheng finally grasped the basics of the array.

While Zhou Qibai and Yu Tingting had already grown impatient from waiting.

"This array’s really something! This way—come on."

Once he found the right tunnel, Lin Chang’sheng immediately led the group toward a seemingly insignificant passage up ahead.

But just after Lin Chang’sheng’s group left, a figure stepped out from another tunnel.

"I want to see how capable you really are, kid."

Xiang Tian smirked.

The Celestial Nether Sword Sect sent five disciples this time, but Xiang Tian had already ordered the others ahead.

He stayed here specifically to wait for Lin Chang’sheng.

He didn’t expect to actually run into him after all.

Now he could see for himself whether Lin Chang’sheng really had skills or was just faking it.

Let the guy open the way, then follow along behind—he could break the array without lifting a finger.

Lin Chang’sheng’s Divine Sense was incredibly powerful, so of course he’d sensed Xiang Tian’s presence early on.

He just didn’t care, since the other’s only at Middle Stage of Void Refining.

Right now, finding an array-breaking technique was top priority. If the other guy didn’t make a move, he’d act like he hadn’t noticed.

If Xiang Tian attacked, he’d send him straight on his way.