Chapter 153: The Gray Mist

He had never expected this secret realm to be such a waste of time. He had originally thought he would be able to deal with everything here in two or three days at most.

Yet merely passing through the first level required fifteen days. Would that not make it impossible for him to fulfill his promise to Xu Bancheng?

Dou Ming continued, “The flow of time here is different from that of the outside world. According to the records preserved by our people, one month spent here is equivalent to only one day outside.”

After hearing this, the furrow between Lin Qiu’s brows finally relaxed. Even so, he had no intention of releasing Dou Ming just yet.

He circulated the power within his body, gradually forming a contract that he drove directly into Dou Ming’s body. Dou Ming’s expression changed at once.

“What are you doing?” Dou Ming demanded. “Didn’t you promise that you would spare my life if I told you all this?”

Seeing Dou Ming make such a fuss, a trace of mockery flashed across Lin Qiu’s face.

“I’ll spare you, of course—but not yet. I still need someone to serve as my guide. What treasures are there on this level?”

After hearing Lin Qiu’s words, a hint of doubt appeared in Dou Ming’s eyes.

Still, he understood that with matters having progressed this far, he had no choice but to do as Lin Qiu said. He obediently began to explain.

“Most of the treasures on the first level are intended for those in the second or third rank. They probably won’t be of much use to a monster like you.”

Hearing this, Lin Qiu let out a soft laugh.

Indeed, his cultivation was hardly in keeping with that of an ordinary member of the younger generation. But then again, he had a system.

“Then take me through the entire first level.”

From what Dou Ming had told him earlier, Lin Qiu knew that the passage to the second level would not open until the teleportation array activated fifteen days later. There was no need for him to hurry toward the central region, so he decided to have Dou Ming lead him through every part of the first level.

After all, with Lin Qiu’s current cultivation, the first level posed no great danger. He might as well use this opportunity to gather some precious natural treasures.

Although Lin Qiu did not particularly need such things, Sun Erniang’s cultivation was still far too weak. Moreover, she had only recently taken control of the Otherworldly King City, so Lin Qiu could not use the Ancient City Stele to forcibly raise her cultivation.

Dou Ming was displeased when he heard Lin Qiu’s request, but he could only obediently lead him toward the other regions of the first level.

The two soon set out together, encountering attacks from several monsters along the way.

Yet before Lin Qiu, those monsters were utterly helpless.

Before long, they arrived at a place shrouded in black mist. Dou Ming stopped, his voice carrying a trace of fear.

“This is considered the most dangerous place on the first level. According to the records, a sixth-rank expert once entered the secret realm through special means and died here. This place is also known as the Graymist Labyrinth. If you intend to enter, I’m afraid I can’t go in with you.”

After hearing Dou Ming’s warning, Lin Qiu did not immediately enter the Graymist Labyrinth. Instead, he communicated with the system.

“System, will I be in danger if I enter this place with my current cultivation?”

The system soon responded.

“There is no danger to your life.”

After receiving the system’s answer, Lin Qiu finally felt at ease. He turned back toward Dou Ming.

“Come in with me.”

With the system’s assurance, how could Lin Qiu possibly fear the Graymist Labyrinth?

As the most dangerous place on the first level, it naturally meant that the number of precious natural treasures within had to be considerable.

At the same time, Lin Qiu wanted to find out why that sixth-rank expert had died there.

After all, even Lin Qiu himself had yet to step into the sixth rank.

Dou Ming’s expression was filled with reluctance. Clearly, he had no desire to enter the Graymist Labyrinth.

But with the contract Lin Qiu had planted within him, he could not control his own body when faced with Lin Qiu’s command.

The two quickly flew into the Graymist Labyrinth.

The moment they entered, gray mist enveloped their bodies. Some of it even attempted to seep inside them.

Seeing this, Lin Qiu released his aura, blocking the gray mist and preventing it from drawing any closer.

Soon, a river appeared before them. The water flowing through it was entirely gray, creating an exceedingly strange sight.

Just as Lin Qiu and Dou Ming approached, an immense pressure suddenly erupted from within the gray river. One gray sword after another shot forth, flying straight toward them.

Lin Qiu immediately condensed a sword of gray mist and drew it with swift precision, shattering the incoming sword energies one after another.

A grave expression appeared on his face. Dou Ming, meanwhile, was still shaken from the encounter and quickly summoned a protective treasure from within his body.

A pale green barrier spread around him.

Clearly, he was worried that the river might launch another attack.

“System, can you exchange a map of this place for me?”

After what had just happened, Lin Qiu realized that the Graymist Labyrinth was not easy to traverse. He therefore decided to obtain a map through the system.

Before long, after spending some evolution points, Lin Qiu received a map of the Graymist Labyrinth.

With the map in hand, he and Dou Ming began moving much faster.

When Dou Ming saw what Lin Qiu was doing, a trace of curiosity flashed through his eyes.

Soon, the two arrived at the very center of the Graymist Labyrinth. A group of people was already gathered there. Most were prodigies from reclusive races, while Lin Qiu did not recognize a small number of the others.

Dou Ming’s expression changed at once.

“Why have people from the Northern Sea entered as well?”

Hearing this, Lin Qiu turned around.

“You mean those people I don’t recognize are from the Northern Sea?”

How could people from the Northern Sea have entered a secret realm opened in the Eastern Sea?

Dou Ming nodded, his voice icy.

“It seems the Eastern Sea has traitors. Someone has secretly allied themselves with people from the Northern Sea.”

The various seas had never enjoyed particularly harmonious relations. That was why the oceans generally only entered an era of unity after a royal race emerged.

After all, only the Oceanic Royal Family possessed the overwhelming strength needed to subdue the races of all four seas and unite them.

Lin Qiu did not dwell on the matter. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the center.

At the very heart of the Graymist Labyrinth stood a small pool filled with gray mist. Pure spiritual energy continuously surged upward from within it, occasionally carrying several treasures along with it.

Yet despite this, not a single person surrounding the pool showed any intention of entering the fountain.

Looking closely, one could see a skeleton lying beside it.

The bones were still remarkably fresh. It appeared that not long ago, someone had attempted to enter the fountain and retrieve its treasures, only to be killed by some mysterious force.