2634 Latent Dragon Abyss

Zheng Qiu led Duan Ling Tian and Qin Yu away from his residence to the east of the County Governor's estate. They passed through many places before they eventually arrived near a stone platform that was located in a vast open space. At glance, many people could be seen practicing and sparring. Apart from that, based on their auras, all of them shared a common trait; they were all younger than 100 years old!

"These people are the Golden Celestials younger than 100 years old. They're from the cities in Nine Specters County and some are from neighboring places of County City. The former is like both of you, selected by their respective City Governors. The latter is personally selected by the County Governor's estate," Zheng Qiu explained to Duan Ling Tian and Qin Yu.

Duan Ling Tian and Qin Yu instinctively turned to look at the stone platform and the 12 young men with strong auras. Apart from four pairs of men who were sparring, the other four men were looking at them as well.

"Down the stairway, in the middle of the stone platform, is the cultivation location for you in the County Governor's estate from today onward," Zheng Qiu said.

Duan Ling Tian and Qin Yu averted their eyes to where Zheng Qiu was looking. They saw a giant pit in the middle of the giant stone platform. It was not dug out, but it was deliberately built when the stone platform was made.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Duan Ling Tian and Qin Yu followed Zheng Qiu and landed on the center of the stone platform before the stairway. The stairway led into the giant pit where one could see its interior clearly. There were about 20 stone chambers with stone doors on the side of the stairway. The 20 stone chambers were separated by every 30 steps.

Zheng Qiu began to explain, "This stairway has a total of 900 steps. The first 30 steps down the stairway is where the first stone chamber is located. It's also the one with the worst cultivation environment. After another 30 steps, you have the second stone chamber with a slightly better cultivation environment compared to the first one. Naturally, the last and innermost stone chamber has the best cultivation environment. It's comparable to the cultivation environment of Lord County Governor and Revered Elder Zhou Tong. The cultivation environment of the second last stone chamber is roughly the same as the cultivation environment in my room while the third to last stone chamber has the same cultivation environment in my courtyard." He paused for a moment before he continued to speak, "Lord County Governor named this place the Latent Dragon Abyss. This place is created by him and many revered elders and inner-estate elders. You can temper yourself in this place. You'll have to rely on yourself to obtain the chamber with the best cultivation environment. You'll have to defeat the occupant of the stone chamber you want to claim for your own if it's already occupied!"

Based on Zheng Qiu's explanation, Duan Ling Tian easily understood the rules and situation of the Latent Dragon Abyss. The cultivation environment was the best in the stone chamber at the bottom of the stairs. If one wanted to claim an occupied chamber, one would have to challenge the occupant. Naturally, the battle for the chamber would be conducted under a set of rules to prevent mishaps. The combatants can only defeat the opponent without severely injuring their opponent. However, the challenged party could severely injure the challenger but was not allowed to kill or cripple the challenger.

"The occupant of the stone chamber in the deepest part of the Latent Dragon Abyss who managed to stay in the room for a month will receive three primitive Spirit Nourishing Pills as well?" Duan Ling Tian's eyes brightened when he learned about this. He was, naturally, excited since he was running out of pills.

Swoosh!

Without saying anything to Zheng Qiu and Qin Yu, Duan Ling Tian quickly made his way to the stone chamber located in the deepest part of the Latent Dragon Abyss.

Seeing that Duan Ling Tian had rushed into the Latent Dragon Abyss, Zheng Qiu, naturally, understood his plan. A bitter smile appeared on his face as he complained good-naturedly, "This kid is so… I'm not even done talking!" He turned to Qin Yu and said, "Qin Yu, I don't think you're in the mood to listen to me as well. In any case, after staying here for a week or two, you'll eventually learn about what I had to say. I'll let you explore this place on your own." After he finished speaking, he flew into the air and disappeared from the Latent Dragon Abyss.

From the beginning, Qin Yu's gaze had been following Duan Ling Tian when Duan Ling Tian had gone into the Latent Dragon Abyss. However, since Zheng Qiu was around, he decided to stay put. As soon as Zheng Qiu left, he shot into the deepest part of the Latent Dragon Abyss as well.

After Zheng Qiu left, he thought to himself, 'I think the Latent Dragon Abyss will be very lively today,' He knew Duan Ling Tian was strong so he did not doubt Duan Ling Tian would be able to occupy the stone chamber in the deepest part of the Latent Dragon Abyss. He even thought the stone chamber was specially designed for him.

...

In Latent Dragon Abyss.

"Who's he?"

"I haven't seen him before."

Duan Ling Tian who had rushed into the deepest part of the Latent Dragon Abyss, naturally, attracted the attention of the young men who had come out of their stone chambers. They watched as Duan Ling Tian made his way to the deepest part of the abyss.

At this moment, Duan Ling Tian looked at the stone door closely. Needless to say, the stone door was from the stone chamber with the best cultivation environment. He lifted his hand and a gust of wind landed on the door violently, producing a booming noise. He said confidently, "I, Duan Ling Tian, have come to challenge you for this stone chamber!" His voice was calm when he spoke.

Swoosh!

At this moment, Qin Yu had finally arrived.

Apart from the few young men who had just exited their respective stone chambers, more and more people began to emerge from their respective stone chambers when they heard the commotion.

"H-he intends to challenge the occupant of the deepest stone chamber?"

"Heavens! He's really brave! Although the occupant is less than 100 years old, he's a Yellow Sun Golden Celestial. He's much stronger than us"

"This person is unfamiliar so he must be new."

"Based on what I heard, the representatives from Bloody Specter City aren't here yet. Could he be from Bloody Specter City?"

"Eh? Another unfamiliar face?" Someone soon discovered Qin Yu.

"This man must have come with the purple-clad young man. To date, we haven't seen the candidates from Bloody Specter City. If I'm not mistaken, they should be the two candidates from that city," a young man said.

Many people agreed with this young man's words.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

The sound of wind blowing whistled in the air as more figures entered from outside. As soon as they reached the deepest area of the abyss, all of them turned to look at Duan Ling Tian.

"Didn't the purple-clad young man come with Elder Zheng Qiu?"

"Right. Elder Zheng Qiu seems to be responsible for escorting and guarding the candidates from Bloody Specter City. It seems like he's one of the candidates from Bloody Specter City."

"I remember he has a companion with him."

"He's over there!"

A few of them who had just entered the Latent Dragon Abyss shifted their gazes to Qin Yu. They knew he had come together with Duan Ling Tian.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A rumbling sound rang in the air as the stone door that Duan Ling Tian was looking at slowly opened.

At the same time, a cold and emotionless voice rang from behind the door, "Are you planning to challenge me for this stone chamber?"

When the door was fully opened, it revealed a young man with a medium build and an average appearance. He looked so average that it would be hard to locate him in a sea of people. Although his expression was calm, his eyes were fierce as he looked at Duan Ling Tian. It was as though he could not wait to kill Duan Ling Tian!