The Romantic Cultivator

Chapter 974 Prelude To The SS Abyssal Trial

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It took Ji Yuan and his group only 1 day to find the next SS Trial. 

When they had arrived there, this SS Trial was already opened and there was a black stele in the place.

Ling Feiyue was astonished as she turned to say to Ji Yuan, "You have really led us to the next SS trial portal. This isn't luck, right?"

She was not the only ones that were astonished by it. 

Ji Yuan grinned to everyone, "I did say that the Trial Spirit has told me the location of the next SS Trial, right? Haha."

Mo Bei muttered weakly as he shrugged his shoulder, "I still think that this is pure luck."

The White Sword Monarch said in his old voice, "I am not going for any trial especially a SS Trial. Why don't you check the black stele with your divine sense and see if you have the courage to enter this SS Trial instead?"

Ji Yuan grinned, "This is actually my intention, haha!"

Little Princess smiled wryly, "I think Ji Yuan will enter this trial no matter how difficult it is. Why don't we bet on it?"

Ji Yuan: …

He said weakly, "I am not a young and foolish cultivator. Why should I do that for?"

Bai Qianfeng giggled as she looked at Yun Chi, Lu Jiangsu, Chu Lixue and Zhi Jiugong. "Rubbish. You just jump into all the SS Trial. All these trials are a trap for the greedy cultivators and the Trial Spirit only tell you the rules once you are inside the trial portal. Regardless if you are a young and foolish cultivator or not, you just enter the trial portal anyway."

Ji Yuan muttered weakly, "Well, this may well be the last trial in the final level of the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth. I don't want to wait for another 500 years."

Ling Feiyue sighed softly, "He probably can't find any high level trial in the Desolate Celestial Fraternity for him to do. Let him be as long as he don't die."

Ji Yuan laughed, "My Feiyue is the most understanding maiden. Hahaha…"

When he had said that, there were envious looks from Yang Mi, Yu Jingjing, Little Princess, Bai Qianfeng and the Lovely Empress Lu Jiangsu. 

The Smiling Divine Maiden Chu Lixue, Feng Minyue, Zhi Jiugong and Yun Chi were more nonchalant. 

Ji Yuan had already walked to the black stele and he was touching the black stele to read the black stele with his divine sense. 

As he did so, the others had also immediately followed suit.

As he focused his divine sense with his hand on the black stele, he saw that it was indeed an SS Trial Portal and the requirement to enter this portal was 1000 golden celestials.

This startled Ji Yuan; this was slightly more than 3 times the required number of golden celestials to open this trial portal. 

And he saw that it had already been opened.

He continued to read on.

The black stele read: This portal is the entrance of to the Dark Abyssal. Caution must be taken should you decide to step into the portal. You will be allowed to use the golden talisman to escape. This trial is the Abyssal Trial and is also a slaughter trial. 

Time remaining: 4 days here and 40 days in the Dark Abyssal.

JI Yuan was surprised that the trial information would actually be written in this black stele.

Bai Qianfeng turned to Ji Yuan and said quietly, "The Abyssals are not easy to deal with and they are even more fearsome than the Demonic Race. They cultivate body and infernal energies. I suspect that their world will be rich in infernal energies and not spiritual energies. If you go there, it would be hard for you to regain your profound strength."

The Lovely Empress Lu Jiangsu smiled dovely at Ji Yuan, "Maybe that is why the trial description is revealed openly as a warning. If we go in there, maybe we would even die without knowing why."

"This is a most dangerous trial," Feng Minyue said quietly. "I suggest that we skip this trial."

The White Sword Monarch nodded, "I got a feeling that there aren't 1000 golden celestials that are willing to enter in the first place. They just probably touch the black stele and go off to other places."

Mo Bei said, "I have to agree with the White Sword Monarch on this. Without spiritual energies, how the heck are we even going to regain our profound strength and even recover from our injuries?"

"Natural healing," Ji Yuan grinned.

Mo Bei: …

Everyone: ...

Mo Bei frowned, "Junior Ji Yuan, are you courting your own death? Natural healing?! You can still joke at a time like this."

Ji Yuan chuckled, "And also, we can use profound pills too for our healing too."

Mo Bei: …

"When did you become smart?"

Ji Yuan laughed, "I am always smart. Haha…"

Mo Bei growled, "You are only smart when you are not supposed to be smart." 

This caused a soft chuckle from Qin Shuang and the other maidens. 

Ji Yuan: …

He decided to ignore Mo Bei and grinned to the rest of the group, "It is a mere 40 days. The last SS Trial inside the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth. You should all come with me. I can't bang any maidens in there since I have no interest in any Abyssals. Haha…"

Ling Feiyue weakly said, "You never know… even the Goddess Destiny have declared that she wants to follow you and all the other divine consorts have also pledged their undying love for you."

Ji Yuan: …

I have already explained for a full day that I didn't bang anyone in the Spirit Divine Realm and only Xiao Muhan did. How come no one believes me?!

If I can have the will not to bang anyone in the Spirit Divine Realm, I can do the same as in the Dark Abyssal. Moreover, I have no interest in any Abyssals, frank speaking. 

Ji Yuan laughed as he ignored Ling Feiyue, "Hahaha… so who's going with me to the Dark Abyssal?"

The Lovely Empress Lu Jiangsu giggled, "In our last trial, our clothes got transformed. Do you think that this trial will transform us into Abyssals?"

Yun Chi smiled wryly, "Maybe."

"I don't want to be turned into an ugly Abyssal," Shui Xisi gasped with shock. "So I am not going."

"Sisi, you are not going with me?" Ji Yuan looked shocked. "You are not game to come with me?"

Shui Xisi giggled, "I am afraid that this time I have to disappoint you."

Ji Yuan was shocked; this was the very first time that Sisi had rejected him! And he was quite heartbroken.

He stammered to the rest of his group, "Erm, anyone else wants to go with me? Maybe you won't be turned into an Abyssal?"

The Smiling Divine Maiden smiled at Ji Yuan, "I am not taking the chance of being transformed into an Abyssal. Yuck."

Ji Yuan: …

Little Princess smiled, "Maybe you should go alone. You don't want us to be green by anyone in the trial, do you?"

Ji Yuan: …

Yang Mi smiled, "Brother Ji Yuan, I am afraid my cultivation is too low for a SS Trial."

"Same here." Yu Jingjing quickly explained as well.

They had found the perfect excuse not to go with Ji Yuan.

Feng Minyue said gently to Ji Yuan, "Maybe you want to consider giving up on this trial and stay here instead? After all, the trials of the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth is about to end."

Ji Yuan: …

No one seems to want to go?

Then he started to grin at Mo Bei, the White Sword Monarch and Qin Shuang, "Why don't we go and see what the Dark Abyssal is like?"

The White Sword Monarch stared coldly at Ji Yuan, "You just want to go exploring, am I right?"

Ji Yuan protested weakly, "I promise the Trial Spirit that I'd go in there."

Mo Bei cut in, "I think this little rascal is really taking every opportunity to go sightseeing on his own. This is a SS Trial and not a weak trial. You can die in there. Moreover, you will be going to the Dark Abyssal. Once you have appeared in that realm, do you think you won't attract any attention?"

"Ji Yuan," Bai Qianfeng nodded to agree with Mo Bei. "The Abyssals are a murderous lot and they lavished on blood to feed their infernal energies. That is why they are able to cultivate faster than any others. If it is not for the Great Beyond Goddess that curses them, the Six Immortal Realms would be overrun by the high level Abyssals a long time ago. You should stay here instead."

But Ji Yuan said firmly instead, "My mind is made up. I will go into the Dark Abyssal alone."

Everyone: …

The reason why Ji Yuan was firm, was because he had accepted the challenge of the Artefact Spirit of the Empyrean Warrior Labyrinth and also because he hoped that he could form an alliance with the Artefact Spirit. In this way, maybe Jiajia would be so proud of him.

And of course, he was also quite curious what sort of a place was the Dark Abyssal.

The White Sword Monarch frowned unhappily, "This rascal is really such a daredevil. I actually regret raising him. Maybe my two daughters would soon be widows instead."

Ji Yuan: …

Yang Mi and the Smiling Divine Maiden were both looking awkward when their old man had suddenly tease them.

Ji Yuan said weakly as he looked at his maidens, "Don't worry. The person that can kill me has not yet been born yet…"

Yang Mi giggled as she interrupted Ji Yuan, "Weird. Way back in the Spirit Divine Realm, you had said that you are number 2 under the heavens and number 1 has not been born yet. But you got defeated instead."

Ji Yuan: …

"I was just careless. I am sure that I can defeat Number 1 Ding Xiaoxiao now…"

Yun Chi interrupted him with a cold chuckle, "Dream on."

Ji Yuan: …

"You don't have faith in your lord?"

Yun Chi rolled her eyes with a playful smile, "I do have full faith in your boastful words, keke."

When she had said that, many of the maidens were all laughing jovially together. 

Ji Yuan: …

It is alright that you are all not accompanying me. I have my Xiang Li and Anyang with me…

Xiang Li interrupted him with a sob inside his soul sea: Sniff, Big Brother. Can I stay here instead?

Anyang said: I would like to stay here as well too…

Ji Yuan: …

Aura had suddenly emerged from the spiritual sea within Ji Yuan's soul sea: Mas…Master, I will stay with you…

Ji Yuan said to Aura with a weak voice: Maybe you should learn how to speak more coherently and faster first…

He quickly returned his attention to his group and said to them, "Well, I am going into the trial portal now. I see all of you in a short time. Farewell everyone." 

There were several longing glances that were made by the maidens but they were all nodding; it was the cultivator way not to prevent anyone from seeking their fortuitous encounters. After all, they were all defying the heavens through their cultivation.

Soon, Ji Yuan had leapt into the trial portal and had disappeared.

Ling Feiyue was suddenly gasping after Ji Yuan had entered the portal, "I have forgotten to remind Ji Yuan that 4 is his unlucky number and this trial lasts for 4 days." 

Little Princess muttered weakly, "It's alright. He probably goes in anyway."