Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

Bai Lufeng and Tao’s cultivation base were at the Origin Core Realm, so their reaction wasn’t nearly as intense as others. However, they had to catch their breaths and circulate their qi-essence to alleviate some of the disorientating side-effects.

"Heyo!" A rambunctious voice called out, a figure arrived on the platform with a jolly laughter. A round figure filled to the brim with fat appeared in everyone’s vision. It was a bald male with a round belly, stubby legs, and stout arms. He dressed in a yellow martial art attire, but despite his characteristics, his face was exceptionally handsome. It was a deep contrast to those who raise up believing in a specific type of handsomeness.

"Alright, so! You, you, you, and you!" The figure waved his hand, a trace of true-essence surged outwards to wrap around the form of everyone except Yan Zaizen’s group of three. They floated without resistance and allowed themselves to be taken away.

True Essence Realm?!

This individual possessed a profound cultivation base at the True Essence Realm, and he seemed to be nearing the peak of the mid-stage. This was an exceptional cultivation and could place one at the top in the entirety of Presba.

"Oh? New arrivals! Welcome! Enjoy your stay!" The man released his jolly laughter once more and took off, vanishing into the horizon in an instant. Those at the True Essence Realm could travel several li in a single step, and this was just the bare minimum. With a profound movement art, conceptual law, and other factors like armament, they could, in a single step, travel 100’s of li.

"Huh..." Yan Zaizen gazed at the man’s direction, and then his surroundings. Besides this giant mountain-like platform, there was literally nothing else! Just red sand. Tao had informed him of the Dead Soul Desert before, and the reason it was called as such. It was an odd area where several hundred thousands of li were nothing but a sea of red sand that sometimes exceeded mountains in height.

This red sand had a special property. It could absorb soul energy from one’s soul form. Because of that, it was one of the areas where soul crystals were naturally produced. Checking his soul energy, he could feel faint traces of his energy seeping into the sand as if returning to its origin. "Such a weird sand." Hearing about it and actually experiencing it was two very different things.

"The Anima Syndicate chose this spot for its unique properties. It seems it has locations which can help with enlightenment." Yan Zaizen recalled a few things Wu Yuanxu informed him of. Recalling how he mentioned the extraordinariness of the Anima Syndicate, Yan Zaizen wished that Wu Yuanxu had traveled with him also. In truth, he just wished he was still alive.

Tao’s eyes flickered with traces of pondering, glancing to and fro in curiosity. As for Bai Lufeng, he felt a little uncomfortable in this sea of red sand. The feeling of having your soul energy siphoned against your will felt unpleasant.

Taking out the Anima Syndicate’s Medallion, he recalled the characteristics of this Medallion. Unless one had the cultivation at the Advanced Nascent Soul, they couldn’t even lift it. This was how Wu Yuanxu tested him back then. His soul cultivation method was the Spirit Matrix Method, therefore, his soul energy had a unique quality to it which could activate the medallion’s features.

Yan Zaizen sent a trace of his soul energy into it. A map of the entire continent surged into his mind, of which included the Dead Soul Desert and the location of their Main Headquarters. After spreading his spiritual sense outwards, he furrowed his brows. Within this Dead Soul Desert, his spiritual sense could barely extend 1 li.

Tao, seeing his frustration, realized something, and sent out his initial-Origin Core qi-sense outwards. Its range wasn’t impeded by the Dead Soul Desert, but his spiritual sense definitely would be. As his cultivation was higher than Yan Zaizen, so was his qi-sense.

"The white-ash wraith bone tree is located to the west about 15 li out," Tao informed. He knew about the map within the Anima Syndicate Medallion and its map of the entire continent, he even saw it before. Now that they had a prominent landmark on the map, they could figure out their location and venture towards the syndicate.

Yan Zaizen softly nodded. After some calculations, he traveled to the north. Bai Lufeng and Tao followed along. As they flew across the desert, they saw a myriad of strange and bewitching things. There was a mirage that led one to a whirlpool of red sand, this location would swallow you up, suppress your soul and thoughts, and seal you within while slowly devouring your soul energy.

There were ethereal birds with semi-transparent bodies flying about. They would fly towards anyone they see and attempt to phase through their bodies, taking a bit of their soul flame with them, and they were immune to physical damage. This was insidious, it could consume your memories or even instincts. Essentially, devouring who you are.

Only a profound cultivation base could elicit their hesitation and retreat. Fortunately, they had this in spades and weren’t impeded by the odd creatures.

In the distance was a sandstorm of red sand, and it seemed like a blood storm. It gave one a chilling feeling, it was essentially a fast-moving storm of death. If you were to enter without proper protection, your soul and thoughts would be suppressed and devoured by every speck of sand.

"This place truly has its dangers." Yan Zaizen realized why a True-Essence expert came to pick up the ones who arrived with them. They all had low cultivation bases and wouldn’t survive a few days in this type of environment. After experiencing many of the dangers in the desert, Yan Zaizen finally took out his Heretical Lightning Skyship, having Tao pilot while he watched all the things from the safety of his skyship.

With its speed that could rival a True Essence expert, they sped through the desert with incredible speed, passing desert ships, small tents, and even tantalizing oases of death.

"In the myriad realms, there are far more dangerous areas," Tao remarked, his eyes scanning the surrounding with traces of wonder and excitement. "Some places, even those at the True Essence Realm could lose their lives in a second!" Truly! While many people may consider the True Essence Realm as the peak of cultivation, it was only the end of the Essence Path. After the Essence Path, one must step towards the Heavenly Path!

"I hope I can explore more areas one day!" Yan Zaizen’s eyes were filled to the brim with anticipation and excitement.