Xu Xiaoxiao's Immortal Cultivation Life (Transmigration)

Chapter 62 The Secret Realm Trial of Haoyue Manor 5

After receiving the bamboo slips, the cultivation techniques, and the complete map of the ruins, everyone was initially excited and embraced each other, weeping with joy. However, upon calming down, they knew that the crisis was not over.

Yang Qingfeng spoke first: "We shouldn't stay here any longer. We need to find an exit quickly. The appearance of these bamboo slips is bound to cause quite a stir, and we might attract some ruthless characters."

Everyone nodded, hurriedly packed their belongings, and cautiously made their way back.

They hadn't gone far when they encountered other sects who had heard the news and were rushing to search for the treasure.

The cold-faced young man in the lead crossed his arms and sneered, "Hmph, you from Haoyue Manor, hand over the bamboo slips, or you'll suffer the consequences."

Xu Xiaoxiao raised her eyebrows and retorted angrily, "Why? We risked our lives to get it. If you're so capable, go find it yourself!" The two sides instantly became tense.

Yuan Mengyao advised in a low voice, "Don't be impulsive. If we really fight, we'll both be injured. Let's reveal a trivial piece of information from the bamboo slip and say there's another secret to it, and then we'll distract them."

Yang Qingfeng followed the plan. The other party was half-convinced and half-doubtful. While they hesitated, the group took the opportunity to escape.

Having just escaped their pursuit, the group accidentally wandered into a maze-like forest.

The forest was shrouded in thick fog, making it difficult to find one's way, and it was also filled with hallucinogenic miasma.

One of the senior brothers had a dazed look in his eyes, muttered to himself, and raised his sword as if to harm himself.

Yuan Mengyao reacted quickly, lashing him with her whip to wake him up, and shouted, "Hold your breath, use your spiritual power to protect your heart meridian, and stay close to me!" Yang Qingfeng used a bronze mirror to illuminate the area and dispel the miasma, struggling to find his way.

After finally emerging from the forest, a raging river blocked their path.

The river is turbulent with undercurrents and whirlpools, and strange fish heads occasionally emerge from the water, spewing out corrosive acid.

Xu Xiaoxiao used her sword to explore the path, and acid splashed onto the sword, making a "sizzling" sound.

A senior sister had a sudden inspiration: "Let's work together to build a spiritual energy bridge and cross quickly!"

With everyone working together, they had just stepped onto the floating bridge when a giant underwater python attacked, causing the bridge to sway precariously.

Yang Qingfeng led the group in a counterattack, and they fought with all their might to reach the other side.

As soon as they stepped onto the other side, before they could even catch their breath, the ground beneath their feet began to rustle as sharp, jagged rocks burst forth from the earth at an astonishing speed, heading straight for their ankles.

"Oh my, this land has come to life!" Xu Xiaoxiao exclaimed, leaping into the air and slashing her flying sword under her feet, knocking away several stone spikes.

Yuan Mengyao flicked her whip, which wrapped around a nearby boulder, using the force to pull her fellow disciples to safety. She shouted, "Don't huddle together! Spread out and watch your step!"

Yang Qingfeng's hands moved swiftly, forming hand seals. A golden light flashed around him, and a spiritual energy shield was erected, deflecting the approaching stone spikes. He said in a deep voice, "Hold on! Although the stone spike attack is fierce, we just need to get through this!"

Everyone used their own methods to dodge and evade.

Just as the stone spikes were beginning to slow down, a sudden gale arose all around, and amidst the flying sand and stones, a flock of iron-feathered eagles took flight. Their feathers, as hard as iron, rustled in the wind, and their sharp talons resembled gleaming steel hooks.

"Be careful, that eagle doesn't look friendly!" A senior female student raised her hand to shield herself from the wind and sand, and shouted a warning.

The eagles swooped down with sharp cries, their target the bamboo slips in the hands of the group.

Xu Xiaoxiao was both angry and anxious. Her flying sword drew several arcs of spiritual energy in the air as she roared, "Trying to steal the bamboo slips? No way!"

The flying sword struck the eagle, but only caused it to shake off a few feathers, leaving it completely unharmed.

Seeing this, Yuan Mengyao wrapped her spirit whip around the necks of the two eagles and twisted it forcefully, shouting, "Attack their wing joints! They're vulnerable there because they're not protected by feathers!"

Upon hearing this, everyone unleashed their full spiritual power to attack the eagle's wings.

Feathers flew wildly in the air. The eagle was in pain and its attack became even more ferocious. The strong wind generated by its wings made everyone lose their footing.

In the chaos of battle, a junior disciple was scratched on the shoulder by a hawk, and blood flowed freely.

Yang Qingfeng swiftly appeared beside him, pressed his palm against the wound, and channeled his spiritual energy to stop the bleeding. At the same time, he ordered, "Form a circle, back to back, and don't give them a chance to take advantage!"

The crowd followed his advice and struggled to hold on.

After defeating the eagle, everyone was covered in wounds.

Dragging their weary bodies, they continued onward, only to find themselves in a muddy swamp not far away. As soon as their feet sank in, the mud seemed to have a suction force, drawing them deeper and deeper.

"This swamp is really weird!" A senior sister struggled in panic, her eyes reddening.

Xu Xiaoxiao, quick-witted, drove her flying sword deep into the mud, using the momentum to pull herself up, and shouted, "Put your weapon in the ground, use that momentum, and pull your leg up gently!"

Yuan Mengyao flicked her spirit whip, which wrapped around a thick tree branch in the distance. She called out to the crowd, "Grab the spirit whip, and I'll pull you out!"

The group pulled each other out of the mud, only to see dark clouds gathering in the sky ahead, lightning flashing wildly, and several bolts of lightning as thick as buckets crashing down.

"Scatter, don't get hit!" Yang Qingfeng shouted hoarsely.

The group scrambled and crawled, each seeking cover.

But lightning struck one after another, blasting the ground and sending soil and rocks flying everywhere. The mud and water in the swamp were extremely corrosive and would hiss and smoke if they got on you.

"No, hiding like this isn't working!" Yuan Mengyao gasped for breath, then looked at Yang Qingfeng. "Senior Brother Qingfeng, how about using spiritual power to attract lightning?"

Yang Qingfeng's eyes flashed, and he nodded, saying, "That works! I'll draw the lightning, and you guys take the opportunity to rush forward. Once you're out of the lightning zone, you'll be safe!" With that, he formed a hand seal, and his spiritual energy surged around him, actively attracting the lightning.

Seizing the opportunity, the group braved the wind, rain, and mud, gritting their teeth and running wildly.

Just as they ran out of the minefield, a rickety suspension bridge appeared before them, spanning a bottomless abyss. The bottom of the bridge was pitch black, and the wind howled like ghosts wailing.

"Can this bridge hold up?" Xu Xiaoxiao asked hesitantly.

Yang Qingfeng stepped forward to check and said solemnly, "There's no other way. Be careful and go through them one by one. Don't make too much of a swaying."

Everyone stepped onto the suspension bridge with trepidation. Just as they reached the halfway point, several three-headed dragons suddenly leaped out from under the bridge, creating huge waves that crashed against the suspension bridge, causing it to shake violently.

"Stay calm! Don't panic!" Yuan Mengyao shouted, lashing out with her spirit whip to entangle the iron chains of the bridge in an attempt to stabilize it.

Xu Xiaoxiao slashed at the dragon's head with her sword, but it easily dodged. "This dragon is very powerful."

The group struggled to maintain their balance while dealing with the dragon.

At the critical moment, the junior brother, who was skilled in spirit control, summoned several spirit birds. The birds grabbed the ropes of the suspension bridge and pulled them upwards with all their might, allowing everyone to cross the suspension bridge in a perilous manner and head towards safety. With hearts full of trepidation, they continued their unknown journey.

Three dragons beneath the bridge stirred up towering waves, causing the bridge to sway violently. While one could fly on a sword, the only way to reach the other side was via this wooden bridge. The planks creaked and groaned, as if they might break at any moment.

"Hold on! Listen to my instructions and move slowly!" Yang Qingfeng was sweating, his hands forming a seal as he channeled spiritual energy into the ground to reinforce the bridge and encourage everyone.

Xu Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth, her flying sword flying so fast it was impenetrable, forcing back the dragon's head that reached out. As she fought, she shouted, "If I get out of this place, I'll need to sleep for three days and three nights!"

Yuan Mengyao tightened her whip around the iron chain, stabilizing the swaying, and shouted back, "Stop dreaming! We'll have a lot to do once we get out of here. Let's get out of here alive first!"

After a difficult battle to repel the dragon, the group stumbled and staggered across the suspension bridge.

But as soon as they landed, strange runes suddenly appeared on the ground, and with a flash of light, they were transported to a closed stone hall.

The interior of the hall was unbearably hot and stuffy, with lava slowly seeping from the walls, causing the temperature to soar.

"Here we go again! These ruins never seem to have a moment's peace." A junior brother said with a bitter face, his expression full of despair.

Yang Qingfeng quickly calmed down, looked around, and found a groove. He speculated, "Maybe putting the bamboo slip here will open the door. Let's give it a try!"

Although reluctant, Xu Xiaoxiao still handed over the bamboo slips.

As soon as they were put in, the palace doors slowly opened, and as soon as everyone rushed out, the stone palace behind them collapsed with a deafening roar.

Before us lay a winding passage, its end shimmering with light, seemingly the exit.

The group hurried along, but triggered a trap, unleashing a hail of arrows.

Yuan Mengyao wielded her spirit whip wildly, sweeping away the feathered arrows; Yang Qingfeng erected a spiritual energy shield to cover everyone; Xu Xiaoxiao cleared the way with her flying sword, cutting off the hidden arrows.

After escaping the rain of arrows, the passage began to collapse.

"Run! The exit is just ahead!" Yang Qingfeng shouted. Everyone unleashed their potential and sprinted out.

As soon as they stepped out of the ruins, they saw several groups of people surrounding the area, all from other sects who coveted the bamboo slips.

"Hand over the bamboo slips, and I'll spare your lives!" a thug shouted, brandishing his knife.

Yang Qingfeng sneered, "Don't even think about it!" The crowd quickly formed a sword formation, preparing for a desperate battle.

In the heat of battle, reinforcements from Haoyue Manor arrived, turning the tide of the battle.