Myth Beyond Heaven

Chapter 2247  The Maze (1)

Everyone began to discuss in hushed tones. They had initially thought there would be an unlimited number of winners, but in the end, only a thousand people could advance to the next round.

"I know all of you are confused right now," the elder's voice echoed again. "Anyone who completes at least half of the maze will be considered qualified to enter the Holy Lands. However, your arrangements will be different from the top winners."

His words sent an uproar through the entire arena, especially among those who had just passed the first round of the competition. They were overjoyed and more determined to do well in the second round.

Yun Lintian and Huang Zheng exchanged surprised glances. It seemed the Holy Lands desperately needed more people. What was going on there?

"All of you have two hours to rest," the elder said, looking at the group of winners.

Huang Ba and the others quickly returned to their respective camps.

"Not bad," Yun Lintian said, handing a jar of wine to Huang Ba.

Huang Ba unceremoniously took a mouthful of wine and sat down beside him. "To tell you the truth, Brother Yun, I didn't expect it to be this easy."

"Oh? What do you mean?" Yun Lintian asked curiously.

"Compared to previous years, I felt this year's competition was much easier. It's like they're deliberately lowering the difficulty level," Huang Ba said with a hint of doubt.

The profound beasts he had faced earlier seemed weaker than they should have been. At first, he thought he was overthinking, but when he saw tens of thousands of winners, he immediately realized it was indeed unusual.

Hearing this, Yun Lintian turned to Huang Zheng, waiting for his opinion.

Huang Zheng slowly nodded. "It is indeed the case. I noticed it as well."

Yun Lintian furrowed his brow. This made him even more curious about the conspiracy behind the Holy Lands. Perhaps it was truly related to what Qing Shui had told him.

Two hours passed quickly. Huang Ba and the other winners returned to the arena and waited for the announcement.

"The second round starts now," the elder announced, looking at everyone.

A new portal shimmered into existence, its swirling energy beckoning the cultivators to step into the unknown.

Huang Ba, Gu Bingning, and Long Jingxia exchanged determined glances and made their way towards the portal, ready to face whatever trials awaited them in the depths of the maze.

As Huang Ba, Gu Bingning, and Long Jingxia stepped into the portal, the desolate plain of the simulated battlefield vanished, replaced by a labyrinth of towering hedges that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction.

The air was thick with an oppressive silence, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves and the distant echoes of unseen creatures.

Huang Ba, ever the boisterous one, let out a hearty laugh. "Well, this is a change of scenery! Let's see what kind of tricks this maze has up its sleeve."

Gu Bingning, her expression stoic as always, surveyed her surroundings with a keen eye. "We must be cautious. This maze is not as simple as it seems."

Long Jingxia nodded in agreement, her serene gaze sweeping across the intricate network of paths and dead ends. "There is a subtle energy permeating this maze. It seems to be interfering with our senses."

Huang Ba shrugged, his confidence unwavering. "Bah, a little disorientation won't stop me."

With that, he strode forward, his giant axe resting on his shoulder. Gu Bingning and Long Jingxia followed closely behind, their swords drawn and ready.

As they ventured deeper into the maze, the oppressive silence grew even more profound. The hedges seemed to close in around them, their shadows twisting and contorting into monstrous shapes.

Huang Ba, his laughter silenced, began to feel a sense of unease. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, their every move scrutinized by unseen eyes.

Gu Bingning and Long Jingxia shared his unease. They too felt the weight of an unseen presence, a malevolent force that seemed to feed on their fear and doubt.

Suddenly, the hedges ahead of them rustled, and a monstrous creature emerged. It was a grotesque amalgamation of plant and animal, its body covered in thorny vines and its head adorned with a crown of sharp teeth.

"Die!" Huang Ba roared, charging towards the creature with his axe raised. The creature let out a shriek, its thorny vines lashing out like whips.

Huang Ba dodged the vines with agility, his axe flashing as he hacked at the creature's body. The creature retaliated, its sharp teeth snapping at his heels.

Gu Bingning and Long Jingxia joined the fray, their swords dancing in a flurry of deadly strikes. The creature's body shuddered as it was pierced and slashed, its blood staining the leaves of the hedges.

However, the creature seemed to be impervious to pain. It continued to fight with relentless ferocity, its thorny vines and sharp teeth a constant threat.

Boom!

Suddenly, Long Jingxia was sent flying by the thick thorny vines and hit the wall. Instead of colliding, she magically disappeared into it. This scene immediately startled Huang Ba and Gu Bingning.

"Did you find anything?" Huang Ba hurriedly asked while swinging his giant axe at the oncoming vines.

"It's the law of space," Gu Bingning used her special ability to identify the lingering aura left behind on the wall where Long Jingxia had disappeared.

"Law of space?" Huang Ba was surprised.

In that instant, another vine appeared beneath Huang Ba and wrapped around his ankle. Before he could react, he was dragged into the ground and disappeared.

Gu Bingning tried her best to repel the vines but in the end, she suffered the same fate. She was dragged into the wall behind her. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Soon, the three found themselves in different places. Huang Ba stood on volcanic land with a sea of lava. Long Jingxia appeared in a dense forest where she couldn't determine her direction. Gu Bingning found herself in a desolate desert.

All the participants were the same. They were sent to different locations throughout the enormous maze, left to find their way out.

On the outside, Yun Lintian looked at the screens and said, "Interesting. This is a test of profound law comprehension."

"Ba'er is lucky. He is familiar with the law of fire. However, that Little Girl Gu is in trouble," Huang Zheng said calmly as he stared at Gu Bingning. The law of earth wasn't her forte. It would take her a long time to comprehend it.