Chapter 9: Infiltrating the Battle Circle (Part 1)

Guo Shieru steered his altar through the sky at high speed, with Luo Zhan and Nan You following on either side as the three altars crossed the heavens. Suddenly, Eagle Demon said, “There’s someone ahead…” He pointed to the left. It was a master at the altar level, also riding an altar, speeding past. Guo Shieru turned his altar and chased after them.

Luo Zhan reacted quickly. By using teleportation repeatedly, he caught up with that altar master in just a few minutes. Guo Shieru and the others arrived shortly after. It was a high-ranking professional from the Gu Xi Long family, riding a virtual altar. Seeing Guo Shieru and the others approaching, he was secretly surprised. Since Guo Shieru was a master at the third-tier altar level, such a professional in the Gu Xi Long family should be among the core elite—in other words, a master at the patriarch level.

It was a middle-aged man with long hair, dressed in a black robe of the Gu Xi Long family, standing on his virtual altar. Luo Zhan stood in front of him. Upon seeing Guo Shieru, he immediately bowed and said, “Gu Xi Long family, Heng Lan Xi Long.” He didn’t mention his professional rank because it was obvious just by seeing him on the virtual altar.

To draw out information, Guo Shieru said, “A wandering professional, third-tier altar, Guo Shieru.” He now had enough confidence to refrain from using a fake name.

Heng Lan Xi Long was slightly taken aback. A wandering professional? How dare a wandering professional enter the Gu Xi Long Continent? But he didn’t dare question him. If he angered a wandering professional, they would kill mercilessly, as they had no roots and no way to seek revenge.

“May I ask, senior, why did you stop me?”
His tone was gentle, completely different from the arrogant and condescending attitude of the Gu Xi Long family masters Guo Shieru had encountered before.

Guo Shieru sighed inwardly. This was the advantage of having strength. He said, “I’d like to ask where those two Black Symbol people are.”

Heng Lan Xi Long was pleased and asked, “Are you here to surround and kill those Black Symbol people?”

Guo Shieru replied seriously, “Yes. I was invited by a friend.”

Heng Lan Xi Long asked, “Which member of the family invited you?”

Guo Shieru said, “Xiao Ban, Ban Xi Long.” As soon as he spoke, he was making up nonsense. Eagle Demon almost laughed out loud. Xiao Ban? Ban Xi Long had become Xiao Ban? He quickly turned his head to prevent Heng Lan Xi Long from noticing the lie.

Heng Lanxi Long couldn’t possibly know all the experts above the altar level in his family. However, coincidentally, he knew Ban Xi Long, and the two were friends, so he immediately relaxed and said with a smile, “So you’re a friend of Lord Ban. It’s an honor to meet you…” He bowed respectfully. After all, Guo Shier was an expert at the third-tier altar; in the Gu Xi Long family, he would be considered a grandmaster-level expert.

Guo Shier said, “No need to be polite. We just arrived. Could you introduce the situation?” He began to gather information.

Heng Lanxi Long said, “Please follow me.” He rushed forward and soon arrived at a small town, landing in a large courtyard.

Guo Shier and the others followed.

There were many low-level professionals in the courtyard, all of whom clearly knew Heng Lanxi Long. They immediately stepped forward to greet him. Heng Lanxi Long ordered, “Those who aren’t related, leave. Clean up the hall; I need to entertain distinguished guests.” His virtual altar hung above his head.

A few disciples immediately rushed out and got to work.

After a while, two disciples came over. One of the fat ones bowed and said, “Lord, the hall is ready. We can invite the distinguished guests in now.”

Guo Shier and the others also had altars above their heads, palm-sized altars rotating slowly above their heads. Heng Lanxi Long nodded and turned to Guo Shier, saying, “Please! Follow me…” He stepped forward first, gesturing for everyone to go with him.

They entered the hall. Thick animal skins covered the floor, and there were low tables with several large plates of fruit on them. Heng Lanxi Long politely invited Guo Shier and the others to sit down, saying, “Thank you for coming to help.” Given Guo Shier’s strength, he indeed should address him as a senior.

Guo Shier smiled and said, “No need to be polite. Could you introduce the situation?”

Heng Lanxi Long gave a bitter smile and said, “Sure. Those two Black Symbolists somehow managed to get into the teleportation array and came to our Gu Xi Long continent. As soon as they emerged from the array, they started killing people, advancing relentlessly with no one able to stop them.”

Guo Shier asked, “Do you know their names?”

Heng Lanxi Long replied, “No. They kill anyone they see, so it’s impossible to ask them questions.” He showed a look of hatred.

Eagle Demon interjected, “What do they look like? Do they have Symbol Shadows?”

Heng Lanxi Long said, “Symbol Shadows can only be recorded clearly when you get close. I have one here, recorded from a distance, so it’s rather blurry. You can take a look.” He took out a Shadow Symbol and handed it to Guo Shier.

Guo Shier stretched out his hand, and the shadow talisman fell into his palm. It was a very blurred image, shaking violently, with two figures fighting each other at incredible speed. In this blurred image, dozens of professionals could be seen dead. But he couldn’t tell for sure if those two were Luo Jie and Qi Nanshan; they seemed like two young people.

Ying Mo took the shadow talisman, examined it briefly, and handed it to Luo Zhan. He shook his head slightly, indicating that he too couldn’t distinguish them.

Luo Zhan also shook his head; he couldn’t identify the two either. They didn’t seem like Luo Jie and Qi Nanshan. He looked at Guo Shier and shook his head slightly.

Guo Shier sighed inwardly but still wasn’t giving up. He asked, “Are there any other shadow talismans?”

Heng Lanxilong was a bit puzzled and said, “None. No one dares to get within a kilometer of them. Once inside that range, survival is almost impossible. Their soul flames are too evil. One can only besiege them from afar, and only professionals with solid-form altars can approach. Those with lower-tier altars have to retreat.”

Guo Shier suddenly felt relieved. He asked, “Did the people from other ancient clans also retreat?”

Heng Lanxilong replied, “Most professionals with lower-tier altars have retreated. Only some experts with solid-form altars remain. Now, hundreds of such professionals are attacking the Black Talisman people together, but they dare not get close and can only attack from afar, with limited effectiveness. Those two move back and forth at speeds faster than lightning. Currently, the situation is stalemate.”

Guo Shier said, “We came from Xiao Ban’s fortress, which was almost completely destroyed.”

Heng Lanxilong smiled bitterly. “My fortress is there too. I know. Some time ago, due to carelessness, those two broke through the encirclement and slaughtered everyone in their path. Sigh…”

Guo Shier suddenly remembered something and asked, “What tier of altars do those two have?”

Heng Lanxilong replied, “One is at level six, the other at level seven… Truly terrifying experts.”

Guo Shier was shocked. If those two were Luo Jie and Qi Nanshan, they would be extremely powerful—their progression speed was astonishing. He said, “Damn, that high?” The handsome old man, who knew about Guo Shier, dismissed it with a shrug. “Joking. For professionals with soul altars, the speed of progression is proportional to their killing speed. The more they kill, the faster they advance.”

Guo Shier murmured to himself, “The more they kill… the faster they progress… terrifying…”

Heng Lanxilong said, “Indeed. When the two first arrived, one was at a five-story altar and the other at a six-story altar. In just over half a year, both of them advanced… I really don’t know how they managed to do that.”
Guo Shier didn’t know if those two were Luo Jie and Qi Nanshan. He still wanted to go and see for himself; otherwise, he wouldn’t be satisfied. He asked, “Where… have they gone now?”
Heng Lanxilong replied, “They’re trapped in Shangxilong Valley. The family’s experts and external allies are setting up a large talisman array to trap them. I just came back from there.”
Guo Shier asked, “Can you take us there?”
Heng Lanxilong nodded. “No problem. Let’s eat first. I’ve already had them prepare something.”
Guo Shier said, “No need for food. We’re not hungry.” He was extremely anxious, hoping to meet those two men in black talismans as soon as possible to confirm if they were Luo Jie and Qi Nanshan. If not, he would turn around and leave immediately, without staying a moment.
Heng Lanxilong nodded, secretly grateful. He hadn’t expected these wandering professionals to care so much about the Guxilong family. He stood up and said, “Then I’ll take my leave for now.” If Guo Shier and the others knew what he was thinking, they would probably laugh themselves to death. Although Guo Shier didn’t intend to destroy the Guxilong family, he didn’t have any goodwill toward them either.
The group set off again, with Heng Lanxilong leading the way. With someone guiding them, their speed increased significantly.
From the hills to the mountains, they quickly entered the mountainous area. Heng Lanxilong said, “This is the only mountain range on the Guxilong Continent—the Shangxilong Mountains. It’s still over eight hundred li away from Shangxilong Valley, but at our speed, we’ll arrive soon.”
Guo Shier sat on the altar, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
…
Thunder rumbled nonstop. From afar, Guo Shier could already hear the thunder and explosions. Distant talisman lights flickered, and the light from the altars cutting across the sky appeared one after another. Countless tiny figures swayed in the air. He knew the battlefield was near.
Heng Lanxilong said, “I can’t go any further. Senior, professionals on the Virtual Form Altar have almost no resistance and can’t be approached at all. I can only bring you this far.”
Guo Shier waved dismissively. “Go back. We can go there by ourselves.”

After Heng Lanxi Long bowed, he prepared to leave. This place was too dangerous. At first, he didn’t realize how powerful those two Black Talismanists were, and many experts from the Void Form Altar died before he realized it. That’s why the higher-ups of the Gu Xi Long family ordered that no professionals below the Void Form Altar level were allowed to approach the battlefield; only experts from the Solid Form Altar level or above could participate.
The Eagle Demon laughed and said, “We’ll go by ourselves. You go back, brother.”
Heng Lanxi Long waved his hand and quickly disappeared over the horizon—this guy could run really fast. Luo Zhan said with a smile, “Brother? How insincere!”
Nan You didn’t know about the grudges between them and the Gu Xi Long family, so he stayed silent and just followed.
Guo Shier said, “Everyone, bring out your altars and get ready for defense…” Suddenly, the handsome old man appeared. He threw three purple talismans, saying, “One each for you—insert them directly into your altars.” Then he threw another talisman and said, “There’s a spell inside this one. Don’t rush in just yet.”