Gates of the Myriad Realms Chapter 356

The mountain stream was clear.

Guo Yunye filled a canteen with water, ran back to the temporary camp, and poured it into an iron kettle.

The fire started.

Once the water boiled, Xiao Mengyu poured it into an iron pot, threw in various ingredients to cook, and casually tossed a few potatoes into the fire to roast.

She busied herself cooking, occasionally looking up and glancing at the tent not far away.

Shen Ye had miraculously integrated into this world.

And seemed to have quite a reputation.

Now, he had even managed to get a transfer order, assigning himself, Nangong Sirui, and Guo Yunye to form a small team.

Their mission was to escort him back to the Imperial Capital.

It was almost impossible for outsiders to get permission to leave the front lines!

Let alone the power center in the human heartland!

Xiao Mengyu couldn’t help but sigh, feeling that Shen Ye’s luck was incredibly good.

However—

What was puzzling was why Shen Ye had organized people like this?

Nangong, herself, Yunye.

That was three people.

There were also two native Imperial Grand Knights, DuPont and Dewey.

The last one.

Was a woman wearing a black veil and a long robe.

No one knew her identity.

The two Imperial Grand Knights initially wanted to ask, but Shen Ye waved them off, telling them not to be presumptuous.

The knights’ attitudes immediately became respectful and humble.

—It seemed they had already guessed something.

The escort team consisted of six people in total.

The masked woman held the highest status; she did nothing, simply rode her horse along, lazily trailing behind the team.

The two Imperial Grand Knights were both at the peak of the Sixth Realm of the Dharma Realm and had to focus on protecting Shen Ye.

So, some trivial chores, like cooking, patrolling, and scouting, fell to their group of three.

Xiao Mengyu clearly felt that the people of this world were deeply wary of outsiders.

However, the three of them were all teenagers.

And Shen Ye clearly got along well with the three of them.

Seeing this, the two Grand Knights stopped their cold words.

At noon.

The masked woman personally inquired about the backgrounds of the three and, learning that they were still students sent for training, her attitude improved significantly.

The two Grand Knights even guided Nangong and Guo Yunye in their movement techniques and combat moves.

But she had never found a good opportunity to ask Shen Ye—

Who exactly was that woman?

—Asking that question was too risky.

These people were strong and highly vigilant.

Now that they had finally established a somewhat harmonious relationship.

She mustn’t mess it up.

Xiao Mengyu silently swallowed her question, managed the fire, tossed some seasonings into the iron pot, and glanced at Shen Ye.

Shen Ye was in a daze.

In fact, Shen Ye was a bit speechless at the moment.

“Test begins! The content is to successfully make a delicious pot of soup!”

He silently chanted in his mind.

Faint words of light appeared:

“Immortal Realm does not recognize this test, test will not begin!”

Not recognized.

He looked at Guo Yunye, who was practicing martial arts, and chanted, “Test begins! The content is to learn a move or two under the guidance of a Grand Knight!”

“This test is not recognized!”

Shen Ye then looked at Nangong Sirui, who had just returned from patrol.

Before he could speak, a line of small words already appeared:

“Under current conditions, he is not qualified to participate in the test!”

Shen Ye was stunned.

He hadn’t even said anything yet!

“Why? Didn’t those outsiders in the barracks get recognized for test participation before?”

He couldn’t help but ask.

Faint words of light quickly appeared:

“Immortal Realm tests can only be initiated in life-or-death situations.”

“Only by enduring such tests and surviving can one hope to survive upon entering the Immortal Realm.”

Shen Ye’s eyelids drooped.

This was too difficult.

One had to be in a life-and-death situation, have a test initiated at that exact moment, and then survive, only then could one enter the Immortal Realm.

Where could he find such an opportunity!

Hollywood wasn’t in this world.

Perhaps knowing that such a test was extremely difficult, two more lines of faint words of light appeared in the void:

“Rewards for opening a new branch!”

“Successfully recommending someone to enter the Immortal Realm for the first time will allow the Immortal Realm to bestow upon you an advanced new profession based on your existing profession!”

Advanced profession?

If you talk about that, I’m wide awake.

—How important a profession is.

Charlotte’s profession was incredibly powerful, and according to her, even people in the upper cosmos coveted it.

The teacher also said that the profession of the Great Tomb was very important.

A powerful profession could change anyone’s life.

So what was his current profession…?

“Night Wanderer,” “Bladesman,” “Darkness Devourer.”

Which profession should he advance based on?

Then he’ll choose—

Wait!

What the heck am I choosing!

Shen Ye almost slapped himself.

He composed himself, concentrated, and recited:

“Fusion.”

With his will, silently, as if something was secretly changing.

“You used the dark gold attribute ‘Blood Sucker’, which is a noble attribute.”

“With the power of this attribute, fuse your three professions.”

“—Fusion failed.”

“The three professions are not of the same category.”

Hmm, the first two professions are from the Great Tomb.

“Darkness Devourer” is a profession of the cosmic insectoids.

Then fuse “Night Wanderer” and “Bladesman”?

“Fuse!”

Shen Ye chanted again.

Faint words of light appeared accordingly:

“You have fused the two Great Tomb Immortal Realm professions: ‘Night Wanderer’ and ‘Bladesman’.”

“The current fusion has resulted in a super-evolutionary effect.”

“Congratulations.”

“You have obtained a brand new Great Tomb Immortal Realm profession:”

“Phantom Scout.”

“Immortal Realm Combat Profession.”

“This profession possesses the following powers:”

“1. Lunar Demon Summoning: Retains your original professional skills ‘Star Edge’ archery and ‘Mourning Blade’ swordsmanship; each attack will summon phantoms to assist you in battle;”

“2. Flesh Incarnation: You can transform into a phantasmal body, making you immune to damage for 3 seconds (once every ten minutes);”

“3. Ghoul Haunting: As the battle prolongs, each phantom you summon will be stronger than the last, until their strength reaches the Ninth Realm of the Dharma.”

So strong!

Shen Ye’s eyes gleamed as he read.

If he then acted as a pimp for the Immortal Realm, introducing a suitable person to pass the test, the Immortal Realm’s reward would be “an advanced new profession based on your existing profession.”

—He would obtain a higher-level profession based on “Phantom Scout.”

Suddenly, he felt motivated!

The Immortal Realm possessed powerful abilities like the Hun Tian Technique, capable of altering even the personality battles of the Nine Aspects.

It should also have very powerful professions!

“Hey! Piggy!”

Xiao Mengyu called out, interrupting Shen Ye’s thoughts.

“The soup is ready, want to try it?”

Shen Ye stood up and walked over, scooped a little soup with a spoon, blew on it to cool, and tasted it.

“It tastes excellent,” he praised, “I don’t know what you folks from other worlds usually eat to make such delicious soup.”

“We have this over there, do you want to try it?” Xiao Mengyu pulled out a chocolate bar.

Before the chocolate reached Shen Ye’s hand, it flew out and was caught by the masked woman, who glanced at it, then broke off a piece and put it in her mouth.

“It’s edible.”

After she spoke, the chocolate flew back and landed in Shen Ye’s hand.

“Mealtime!” Shen Ye shouted.

Everyone gathered around, sat together, scooped a spoonful of soup from the pot, and swallowed it with their portable military rations.

“What did you make?” Nangong Sirui asked with a frown.

“Beef soup, with potatoes in it,” Xiao Mengyu said.

Nangong Sirui’s brows relaxed.

“This is enough to replenish energy, and with these military rations, it’s not bad,” Nangong Sirui said.

Xiao Mengyu’s cooking was good, and everyone was satisfied.

Only the masked woman remained seated by herself, neither eating nor speaking.

When everyone was halfway through their meal, she suddenly stood up and said:

“It’s an expert at the Eighth Realm of the Dharma.”

“Protect Saint Piggy.”

“I’ll talk.”

The two Grand Knights immediately drew their body-sized tower shields and guarded Shen Ye, one on each side.

No sooner had they done this than a man riding an armored warhorse and wearing a white mask appeared on the gravel road outside the temporary camp.

“Outsiders?”

The masked woman asked.

“Yes, and you are?” the man asked.

“I am a follower. What is your purpose in coming to us?” the masked woman said curtly.

Seeing that she wouldn’t say, the man simply looked at the people before him and then spoke again:

“Do not misunderstand, please first look at this item.”

He tossed over a medal.

The masked woman caught the medal, looked at it, and said, “A thousand kills, Medal of Honor, that’s correct, under which lord do you serve?”

“Viscount Weiss,” the man showed the emblem on his chest.

“Good, one of us. What do you want?” the masked woman asked.

“Since we’re returning to the capital, why don’t we travel together? I hear that undead assassins have been frequently appearing on the road lately, and monsters occasionally emerge from the Great Tomb,” the man said.

“Undead assassins are nothing; what truly needs guarding against are those things from the Great Tomb,” the masked woman said.

“It seems we’re in agreement, so shall we go together?” the man chuckled.

“I cannot make that decision,” the masked woman turned to look at Shen Ye.

The two Grand Knights also looked at him.

The six-person team was merely an escort, unable to make decisions for “Saint Piggy,” who was truly dispatched by the monarch for this journey.

“Young man, I am an Eighth Realm Dharma Realm Desert Rage Warrior. If we combine forces, there will be someone to look after us on the way. What do you think?” the man reined his horse and asked loudly.

Shen Ye hesitated for a moment, about to agree, when suddenly he remembered something.

“Do you know who I am?”

He asked.

“Not quite,” the man said.

“I am Saint Piggy,” Shen Ye said.

“…” Xiao Mengyu.

“…” Nangong Sirui.

“…” Guo Yunye.

—Big brother, what’s reporting a name going to do?

He’s an Eighth Realm Dharma Realm expert, do you think he’ll be scared?

But the masked woman and the two Grand Knights all looked serious.

In this atmosphere, the burly man with a white mask, sitting on an armored warhorse, unconsciously shuddered.

He thought for a moment and then formally introduced himself:

“Greetings, Your Excellency Piggy, I am Joseph, captain of the cavalry under Viscount Weiss.”

“Joseph, I have a secret mission and cannot travel with you, I apologize. Please go ahead,” Shen Ye said.

Joseph the Desert Rage Warrior froze.

Why did this kid refuse so abruptly?

“Secret mission… I wonder if I can help… If needed, I can lend a hand.”

He pondered.

Shen Ye immediately refused: “No need, this is a top-secret military operation, and no one can know about it. Once you know, you will surely die under the encirclement and annihilation of the Brotherhood of Shadows.”

Joseph sat on his horse, silent for a while, then finally spoke:

“You’re so weak, yet you’re going on a secret mission. Isn’t that just seeking death?”

That was an interesting remark.

But Shen Ye laughed and said:

“No choice, superior orders must be obeyed.”

“Just don’t regret it.”

After Joseph finished speaking, he reined his horse, turned it around, and galloped off in the other direction of the road.

Soon, his figure disappeared.

Only then did everyone slowly relax.

“From now on, everyone raise your guard, don’t act alone, and be ready for battle at all times.”

Shen Ye said.

“Do you think he’s problematic?” the masked woman asked.

“Definitely problematic, please trust my judgment,” Shen Ye said.

In the void before his eyes, lines of faint words of light had already appeared:

“You used the gray term ‘Piggy’.”

“Description: Upon hearing this name, enemies will unconsciously shiver.”

“—Isn’t that powerful?”

Just now, the six members of the escort team heard him utter the name “Piggy” and none of them shivered.

That Desert Rage Warrior Joseph shivered.

He was an enemy!

“Steady, I’m here, it’s alright.”

The masked woman said calmly.

Shen Ye was a little concerned about another thing they had discussed earlier.

“Do things come out of the Great Tomb Immortal Realm?”

He asked.

“Sometimes—the monsters that come out of there are invincible; you can only flee, and after a while, the monsters will be reabsorbed by the Great Tomb,” the masked woman said.

She looked at Xiao Mengyu and the two others, and said in a deep voice:

“Originally, I didn’t care about this mission, but now I need to know your true strength to better arrange the troops and protect Piggy.”

Xiao Mengyu drew her longsword.

The masked woman glanced at it, nodded, and said, “With such a divine artifact and being a swordsman, your offensive power on the battlefield should be good.”

She looked at Nangong Sirui.

Behind Nangong Sirui, a giant shield carved with countless celestial maidens appeared.

“If anything happens, you are responsible for defense.”

The masked woman said.

“Understood,” Nangong Sirui said.

The masked woman shifted her gaze to Guo Yunye.

Guo Yunye placed his hand on Nangong Sirui and instantly transformed into a Yaksha Hound.

“Your talent is good, but it’s still not enough for frontal combat.”

The masked woman gestured for Guo Yunye to take her hand.

When Guo Yunye took her hand, his form changed again, transforming into a dark demonic wolf.

“Strange, how did I turn into a wolf?”

The demonic wolf spoke human language.

“Your ability is originally that of a wolf; you’ve mistaken it,” the masked woman said.

The demonic wolf adapted to its body, then suddenly vanished, invisible.

“Now you are the Night Demonic Wolf. Your stealth level is very high, and you can unleash level four fierce wind blades—you hide in the shadows, ready to assist at any time,” the masked woman said.

“Yes, thank you, Your Excellency,” the Night Demonic Wolf was overjoyed.

“Prepare to depart!” the masked woman commanded.

Everyone immediately packed their luggage and mounted their horses.

After a while.

The team set off again.

The journey was smooth, continuing from noon until dusk.

It was getting dark.

“Do you need to rest?” the masked woman asked Shen Ye.

Shen Ye looked at the few tired people, and just as he was about to speak, a line of faint words of light suddenly appeared before him:

“The Immortal Realm has sensed you and issued a formal reminder:”

“Your Excellency, the Selector, you can now begin to test the personnel you have designated.”

“If they can survive the battle, the Immortal Realm will recognize this test.”

“Do you wish to begin the test?”

Shen Ye’s heart tightened instantly.

The Immortal Realm and the Nightmare World were connected!

So it could naturally perceive the situation here.

It acted as a radar, invisibly.

“Stop!”

Shen Ye shouted.

Everyone reined in their horses, looking at him with confusion.

“Begin the tests for Xiao Mengyu, Nangong Sirui, and Guo Yunye.”

He silently chanted, then said, “I sense some danger ahead. From now on, we won’t take the original path.”

“Then which way should we go?” the masked woman asked.

“We’ll change direction and go to the nearest town, using a large teleportation array to return to the Imperial Capital,” Shen Ye said.

The masked woman was a little surprised but immediately offered her suggestion:

“Then head west for 150 li, cross the Coldstone River, and reach Rothenburg; there’s a teleportation array there.”

“Let’s go!” Shen Ye said.

The front lines generally would not have a large teleportation array directly connected to the Imperial Capital.

Otherwise, if the enemy succeeded in a surprise attack and entered the teleportation array, activating it—

They would strike directly at the heart of the capital.

Therefore, large teleportation arrays were generally set up in cities with considerable military defensive capabilities, and there had to be several means to immediately destroy them.

www ●T t k a n ●C ○

Everyone re-planned their route and spurred their horses onward again.

A quarter of an hour later.

On the road behind them, clouds of dust billowed.

“An army is catching up!”

Nangong Sirui rode up on his horse, shouting loudly.

Everyone looked at Shen Ye again.

Shen Ye unhesitatingly drew out his Guanghan Bow, turned around, and unleashed several Taiyin arrows.

“What if it’s an allied force?”

The masked woman asked.

Shen Ye said, “I’ll shoot in front of their position. If they mean no harm, they will definitely stop for a moment to avoid misunderstanding. If they’re coming to kill us, they’ll continue to pursue.”

Just then, those few Taiyin arrows split in the sky, instantly transforming into dozens, raining down onto the ground.

The Phantom Scout’s skill, “Lunar Demon Summoning,” was immediately activated.

Dong dong dong dong dong—

The ground cracked open, revealing numerous spectral creatures covered in dark energy.

Their bodies were like lizards, covered in armor scales as sharp as blades, flicking their tongues, quietly watching the approaching army.

First Realm Dharma Realm spectral monsters—

Bone Lizards!

A command rang out from within the army.

Immediately, a volley of spells rained down, blasting all the Bone Lizards into pieces.

“They attacked!”

Nangong Sirui said.

Everyone tensed up.

Since a volley of spells was launched, there must be ill intent.

It’s an enemy!

The masked woman instinctively grabbed a staff from thin air and bellowed,

“Piggy, listen up, our only advantage is that the enemy doesn’t know my identity and strength—”

“I will fully unleash my power to kill the enemy, but only my first move will catch the enemy off guard.”

“You must escape quickly!”

“No,” Shen Ye said.

“No?”

“Yes, it’s not time for you to act yet, we continue to run,” Shen Ye said.

He glanced at his attribute, secretly activating “Calamity.”

“Calamity.”

“Fate-type attribute, purple attribute (one in ten thousand).”

“Description: Designate a place you’ve been, causing it to face a catastrophic disaster.”

Shen Ye and his group quickly ran across a rocky valley with a stream, charged up the hill, and continued to gallop towards the Coldstone River.

Within a few minutes.

About several hundred professional soldiers caught up to the rocky valley, and also had to cross the stream and rush up the hill.

“What is that?”

“Damn it.”

“Run, run!”

A flood several meters high surged down from the upper stream, instantly scattering the formation.

High-level professionals were not afraid of floods.

But most of them were soldiers, only at the First Realm of the Dharma. Even if they didn’t die, they had already been swept away by the flood, temporarily losing their ability to pursue.

Only dozens of professionals broke free from the flood and continued to pursue.

“You can take action now.”

Shen Ye said.

The masked woman swung her staff with all her might.

A gigantic fiery hand suddenly descended from the sky, slamming forcefully within a five-kilometer radius.

The ground shook, and flames soared into the sky.

A series of screams erupted.

From afar, a voice emerged from the flames:

“My apologies, it seems you are a Grand Mage, Your Excellency. Had we known, we would not have come so lightly.”

The voice was Joseph’s!

The masked woman said, “Humph, an Eighth Realm Dharma Realm Desert Rage Warrior… I’ll hold him back, Piggy, you rely on them for protection.”

She removed her veil, revealing her true face.

It was the beautiful and exquisite face of a female forest elf.

—Court Archmage Udellia!

She was Norton’s chief archmage, always at the monarch’s side. This time, Norton, worried, sent her to meet Shen Ye.

Logically, an elf like her could completely refuse the monarch and not bother with such a trivial matter.

But Piggy had been kind to the elves!

Piggy was also a talent she had always favored; when he was canonized as Saint Piggy, she was present and even personally encouraged him.

Udelia was about to fly forward, but Shen Ye stopped her.

“Wait.”

Shen Ye shouted towards the opposite side, “Good brother, you’ve been chasing us, are you sick?!”

“The cyan attribute ‘Good Brother’ activated!”

“The mythical attribute ‘Danger’ real person activated!”

Two lines of faint words of light flashed and disappeared.

“You have so many Dharma Realm exclusive ‘names’?” Udellia sensed the fluctuation of the Dharma Realm and was deeply moved.

One must know that if an average professional could obtain one “name,” they would be extremely grateful.

This guy, however, had “names” appearing as if they were free.

“I’ll have to trouble you next.”

Shen Ye whispered.

“You go, I’ll take over,” Udellia said.

She soared into the sky, flying towards the other side.

Among the professionals on the opposite side, a professional with a large, bright red “Danger” above his head also rose into the air.

Shen Ye’s gaze sharpened.

That person also possessed the powerful ripple of an Eighth Realm Dharma, but he was not Joseph!

Where was Joseph?

In a flash of lightning, a thought flashed through Shen Ye’s mind, and he let out a roar:

“Block them!”

Almost simultaneously, a blurred figure suddenly emerged from underground.

The two Grand Knights, hearing his shout of “Block them,” had already become vigilant, and at this moment, they unhesitatingly rushed forward to meet him.

If time were slowed down, one would see that everyone reacted at this moment.

Facing a brutal warrior of the Eighth Realm Dharma—

Nangong Sirui immediately made a hand seal, pointing at Shen Ye.

A giant shield phantom appeared around Shen Ye.

Xiao Mengyu drew her Luo Shen Sword, striking with all her might, releasing an aerial slash from the blade.

Guo Yunye was gone.

As for Shen Ye—

He slapped his waist, causing the Hongying Saber to fly out of its sheath. He bit the hilt of the saber and unleashed the move “Mourning Blade.”

—If the opponent intended to kill explosively, and was at the Eighth Realm of the Dharma, then he absolutely must not be given a chance to get close!

The blade sliced out a gentle spring breeze.

Everything around seemed to become stagnant and slow.

Time was stretched!

Taking advantage of this, Shen Ye grabbed the Guanghan Bow, his hands blurring as he continuously plucked the bowstring.

Swish swish swish swish swish—

The frantic firing brought an even more frantic effect!

One Taiyin divine arrow after another flew out, each splitting into twelve curved arrows in mid-air, dancing chaotically and shooting towards Joseph, the Desert Rage Warrior.

This wasn’t because Shen Ye truly believed he could kill the opponent, but rather to continuously activate the Phantom Scout’s skill, “Lunar Demon Summoning”!

—Boom!

Hundreds of thousands of specters erupted from the ground, piling up into a small mountain-like barrier, blocking Joseph!

All the specters that appeared this time were armored ghost cavalry of the Second Realm of the Dharma!

“Ah—all of you, die!”

Joseph roared, punching open the two Grand Knights, scattering the arrows, and blasting through the entire mountain formed by the armored ghost cavalry.

The power of the Eighth Realm of the Dharma meant there was no need to dodge!

He took a step, crashing into Shen Ye head-on, but was blocked by the giant shield phantom.

Xiao Mengyu’s sword arrived.

Crimson face, white hair, where to find a soulmate in this mortal world!

The aerial slash’s sword light struck Joseph, and dozens of layers of sword light exploded on his body.

Joseph, enduring dozens of layers of sword light, turned and struck back.

Xiao Mengyu was hit by a punch before she could dodge, and a sword-wielding afterimage flew out from her, dissolving into dust in the distant sky.

She attacked again with her sword, but seven or eight more afterimages surged on her body, all wielding swords to strike Joseph.

This was the new swordsmanship she had comprehended with Shen Ye’s help—

Banished Immortal Descent!

“Twelve immortal shadows attack with you, carrying all suffering.”

“Die!”

Xiao Mengyu cried out, her sword almost piercing the enemy’s heart.

This sword was too strong; Joseph was forced to retreat, blocking the sword with both hands, and exclaimed with emotion:

“Excellent sword! Excellent swordsmanship—a fledgling swordsmanship genius like you is already worthy of being killed by me.”

He wasn’t in a hurry to find Shen Ye; a phantom dharma image appeared behind him.

The dharma image unfurled—

Desert Rage World!

One could only see endless explosive wild sands, obscuring the sky and sun, empowering him with raging force.

Joseph’s whole body surged with abruptly rising power, he gave a “hahaha” laugh, his fists glowing gold as he charged forward to strike Xiao Mengyu.

Xiao Mengyu had only just broken through to the Third Realm of the Dharma!

How could she possibly win this fight?

However, Xiao Mengyu did not retreat.

She held her sword with both hands, adopting a defensive stance, facing Joseph who was striding towards her, and softly said:

“Run.”

Shen Ye’s eyebrows twitched, but the spell he was casting was already complete.

Run?

Run my foot!

—He’s gonna fight him!

“Dharma image descends.”

He whispered.

In an instant.

A steep and perilous solitary peak suddenly rose from the ground, soaring into the clouds.

Immediately afterwards, the land transformed into a barren wilderness.

A metallic puppet, over ten meters tall, crashed onto the ground.

Joseph suddenly felt dizzy and disoriented; the girl opposite him vanished, and then he found himself at the top of a high mountain.

“This is—” he exclaimed in surprise.

A metal fist, taller than he was, smashed down, but he blocked it with one hand.

Immortal Puppet!

The full power strike of the Immortal Puppet was easily blocked.

“That’s it?”

Joseph sneered.

Suddenly.

Seven or eight wind blades appeared abruptly, stabbing into his butt.

Joseph let out a high-pitched shriek, curled up like a shrimp, and jumped high into the air, clutching his backside.

A dark demon wolf then appeared on the mountaintop.

Guo Yunye!

“Brother Ye! He’s got an anal fissure!”

The Night Demonic Wolf excitedly spoke in human words.

“…” Shen Ye.

This child is truly hardworking.

—To severely injure an Eighth Realm Dharma Realm in the butt in a chaotic battle, with merely the strength of a First Realm Dharma Realm, was likely unprecedented.

He immediately removed the demon wolf from the dharma-image, then glanced at the void.

3050 energy points.

It’s time to construct a dharma-image!