Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

I'm sorry!

Wang Chen silently expressed his apology to Zuo Xiaomo in his heart.

He had promised to be Zuo Xiaomo's Taoist Protector, but he hadn't expected such an accident to occur, and now he wasn't even sure if he could find his way back home, let alone continue to help the other party.

Wang Chen was also unclear whether Zuo Xiaomo had encountered the same situation as himself.

Whether he could make it back alive.

Everything now solely depended on Zuo Xiaomo himself!

But while feeling guilty, Wang Chen also felt that this was not purely a bad thing.

Wang Chen hadn't understood why the West Sea Sect allowed the role of a Taoist Protector during the disciples' assessment process.

Everyone knows that flowers cultivated in a greenhouse cannot withstand the wind and the rain, and it's only after soaring through the blue skies and enduring the baptism of frost and thunderstorms that an eagle can develop steel bones and iron wings.

If it's an assessment, it should be completed independently rather than with a nanny in tow.

Flowers that fear death shouldn't participate.

Disciples from Noble Clans like Zuo Xiaomo actually need to go through hardships to truly grow.

In fact, Wang Chen wasn't particularly worried about Zuo Xiaomo's safety, given that he had lent him a powerful body protection Spiritual Artifact, and Zuo Xiaomo himself was well-prepared.

Hope he's lucky!

Wang Chen cast aside the distracting thoughts in his mind and began to explore the surrounding area.

Due to the suppressing force of the space, he was extra cautious with every step he took. He first climbed the highest hill nearby to observe the surrounding environment.

However, as far as Wang Chen could see, there were simply innumerable hills undulating like dormant monster beasts, and he couldn't see any boundaries at all.

This made his heart sink slightly.

The Nine Dragons Land Palace was truly vast, and it should really be called the Nine Dragons Realm. No wonder the West Sea Sect had been exploring it for hundreds of years and had only developed up to the second tier, which still contained a great deal of unknown territory.

At this rate, it would probably take another thousand years to completely unveil the mystery of this ancient palace.

After some thought, Wang Chen stimulated his mana and leaped into the air.

His Sky Skip technique had reached the Great Achievement tier and could, in an instant, whisk him dozens of yards into the air.

However, this time, having risen just ten feet off the ground, Wang Chen suddenly felt the spatial force around him drastically increase, pressing down on him heavily as if he weighed a thousand pounds, and he uncontrollably plummeted downward!

Just as expected.

Wang Chen had learned before that the Nine Dragons Land Palace was a Forbidden Air area. Whether it was the Purple Mansion cultivators' Sky Skip technique, the Land Soaring Technique, or the use of Flying Artifacts or Flying Swords, none could achieve flight.

In other words, the advantage of being airborne was nonexistent here!

Wang Chen, back on the ground, shook his head—only after trying could he truly give up.

He extended his right palm, and a scorching flame suddenly emerged in the center of his palm.

A lifelike Fire Crow quickly took shape!

The next moment, Wang Chen abruptly clenched his fingers, squashing the Fire Crow into countless sparks that scattered and fluttered downward.

A very simple Spell test revealed that his casting speed here was reduced by thirty percent, and with the same amount of mana expended, the power of his Spells had visibly decreased.

The Nine Dragons Land Palace's "malice" towards mid to high-tier cultivators was truly disheartening.

Afterward, Wang Chen tested the strength of Talismans and Magic Artifacts, and all were weakened to varying degrees.

After all the trial and error, he had gained a basic understanding of the casting environment here.

Finally, Wang Chen took out an Omni-directional Compass.

An Omni-directional Compass is a small Magic Artifact used to determine direction, suitable for all types of environments and considered an essential item for cultivators.

However, no sooner had he taken out the compass than the needle on it started spinning wildly as if it had gone mad.

It couldn't point out the direction at all.

Damn it!

Wang Chen almost swore aloud.

Because according to his understanding, the Omni-directional Compass should have been able to function normally inside Nine Dragons Land Palace.

He guessed that this area must be special, causing significant interference with the Compass, rendering it unable to work as usual.

Having no choice, Wang Chen could only put away the Omni-directional Compass and then randomly chose a direction to move forward.

He looked up at the sky; it was a dull gray, with clumps of black clouds silently churning above, exuding an oppressive aura that weighed on one's spirits.

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Wandering aimlessly alone in such an environment, not knowing what dangers he might encounter, was undoubtedly a great test of willpower.

But Wang Chen knew no fear.

Perhaps due to habits formed in a previous life, whenever he went out on missions or for training, he would always pack an abundance of supplies in his Storage Bag to be prepared for any unexpected situations.

Now, within the Sumeru Ring on the ring finger of his left hand, there was enough Spirit Rice and Spiritual Wine to last dozens of years.

As for Talismans and Pills, he had even more than enough.

Even if he were truly trapped in this vast palace underground, Wang Chen was confident he could endure for hundreds of years.

He truly did not believe that he would be unable to find his way back!

Just as he had crossed over a small hill, Wang Chen's gaze abruptly sharpened.

Off in a depression over a hundred steps away, there was a pool of gloomy and dark water.

Half an inch high grass grew beside the pond, among which a few Starlight Grass blades moved on their own without wind, lightly trembling and shedding specks of glistening starlight.

Starlight Grass!

Although Wang Chen was not a Pill Master nor a herb collector, he had read a plethora of books and records and immediately recalled the corresponding information from his memory.

Starlight Grass was a type of Spirit Grass that existed only in dark environments, growing by absorbing Yin Sha Energy, with an extremely slow growth rate, expanding only an inch every hundred years.

It was easily identifiable by its outward traits: the grass core would secrete Spiritual Light that scattered, resembling broken starlight and quite beautiful.

This kind of Spirit Grass was an ingredient for refining various Spirit Pills and was extremely valuable.

With a single glance, Wang Chen spotted five stalks of Starlight Grass, all of which seemed very mature!

Although Wang Chen was not lacking in Spirit Stones at the moment, such an unexpected discovery still brought a flicker of joy to his heart.

Exploring unknown regions was dangerous, but risk came hand in hand with opportunity.

Since he had encountered it, there was no reason to pass it by.

Wang Chen quickened his pace.

However, just as he approached the small pond, a sudden sense of alarm surged within him.

Whoosh!

The water in the pond exploded abruptly, and a dark shadow shot towards Wang Chen like lightning, its speed unimaginably fast.

Though surprised, Wang Chen remained composed. Without dodging, he met the shadow head-on, throwing out his right fist.

His clenched fist radiated a reddish-golden light, colliding heavily with the attacker.

Bang!

Accompanied by a muffled sound, the shadow was sent flying, landing beside the pond, writhing and thrashing around.

It turned out to be a black snake as thick as an arm!

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The Red Nether Sword suddenly unsheathed, slashing fiercely towards the black snake.

Splash!

The sword was both swift and accurate, instantly severing the black snake's head, and filthy blood spurted from the wound.

The snake's body writhed and twisted for a moment before falling still.

[Human Virtue +126]

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The first update is here.