Chapter 803: Camouflage

A tranquil lake, a secluded valley.

A group of seven or eight people appeared in this remote valley.

"Great Elder, is this really the Red Cloud Valley? It doesn't seem any different from an ordinary valley."

"Hmph! If even you could sense the difference, the Red Cloud Holy Land would have been destroyed long ago," the Great Elder snorted.

"Hehe, that's true!"

The speaker was Yang Xiao, one of the Seven Holy Sons.

This Yang Xiao always wore a playful grin, like a mischievous big kid. But being one of the Seven Holy Sons, his strength was not to be underestimated.

After Ye Yuan defeated Zhang Tianyi, the quasi-holy son selection competition came to an end.

Ye Yuan secured first place with a perfect record, earning the right to enter the Red Cloud Valley.

Zhang Tianyi, with fifty-eight wins and one loss, qualified in second place.

Finally, Han Feng defeated Wu Jiantong, barely making the cut.

Among the Seven Holy Sons, three were ultimately chosen to enter the Red Cloud Valley: Nalan Hong, Yang Xiao, and Pei Kun, the elder brother of Pei Wenqiang.

It seemed that Pei Kun's strength was outstanding among the Seven Holy Sons.

Early that morning, the Great Elder led the six to this extremely remote valley.

The valley was within the Holy Land's territory but was very hard to find.

"Great Elder, have we entered the Red Cloud Valley? Is this lake the legendary Primordial Yuan Pool?" Yang Xiao asked again.

As a Holy Son, though he had never been to the Red Cloud Valley, he knew exactly what was inside.

The Great Elder glared at him and said irritably, "You fool! Is there any Yuan power fluctuation in this lake? Why don't you jump in and try?"

Yang Xiao scratched his head, puzzled. "We haven't entered the Red Cloud Valley, and there's no path ahead. What should we do?"

The Great Elder couldn't be bothered with this blockhead and simply turned away, leaving only one word: "Wait!"

Yang Xiao was baffled. Seeing that the Great Elder ignored him, he turned to Ye Yuan.

"Hey, Little Leaf, I heard you're amazing. Can you see through this?" Yang Xiao sidled up to Ye Yuan.

Ye Yuan's name had spread throughout the Red Cloud Holy Land. The Holy Sons like Yang Xiao were certainly not ignorant of him.

Even though these Holy Sons held high status in the Holy Land, they couldn't help but marvel at Ye Yuan's genius.

Not all of them were comfortable with it, but they absolutely acknowledged Ye Yuan's extraordinary talent.

Along the way, Yang Xiao had occasionally chatted with Ye Yuan. Over time, they had become familiar.

Ye Yuan didn't mind Yang Xiao's antics.

People like him were far more interesting than those who always kept a straight face.

When Yang Xiao asked, Ye Yuan smiled and said, "There should be a very powerful camouflage here. Without the strength of the Dao Xuan realm, one probably can't see through it. And even for a Dao Xuan realm cultivator, breaking this camouflage would be quite difficult."

The Great Elder wasn't looking their way, but his ears perked up.

Hearing Ye Yuan's words, the Great Elder was inwardly astonished, unsure whether Ye Yuan was guessing or truly saw through it.

But Yang Xiao, for once, was perceptive and asked on his behalf, "Hey, you said one can't see through it without the Dao Xuan realm. How can you, at the Divine Travel realm, see through it?"

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "Of course, because I'm amazing."

Yang Xiao curled his lip and said, "How boring! Forget it if you won't say!"

Ye Yuan smiled without speaking and didn't pursue the topic. He couldn't exactly tell Yang Xiao that he was a ninth-rank formation emperor, could he?

The illusion here was extremely sophisticated; with the current level of the Red Cloud Sacred Land, it would be absolutely impossible to set up.

Ye Yuan estimated that it was likely arranged by a previous sacred lord long ago, possibly even the first sacred lord.

To forcibly break this illusion, one would probably need at least the strength of Dao Xuan's eighth or ninth level.

Even if Tu You knew the method to break it, sending them into Red Cloud Valley would likely cost him no small price.

From their conversation that day, Ye Yuan could also tell that Tu You's condition was not good.

If it weren't for that, he would never have done something like entrusting his child.

In such a poor condition, he still planned to break the illusion a second time, showing that his sincerity was indeed sufficient.

That day, Ye Yuan ultimately did not agree to Tu You, only saying he would consider it.

But now, Ye Yuan was beginning to feel tempted.

Just then, the valley shook as if an earthquake had occurred.

The grand elder's mouth twitched, and his eyes even grew moist.

The sacred lord's lifespan was already meager, and this only made matters worse.

Especially since this time he had to send six people in, the burden on Tu You was even greater.

Thinking of this, Shen Qin felt deeply distressed.

"Rumble..."

Under the horrified gazes of the crowd, the lake before them split in two, as if someone had cleaved it with a knife.

Between the two halves of the lake, a dazzling light emanated.

"You few, enter through this gap between the lake waters! Remember, you only have five days. After five days, regardless of what you have gained, you must come out. Otherwise, you'll have to wait three hundred years to come out again," Shen Qin warned.

Of course, Shen Qin knew that Tu You had the ability to forcibly break the formation, but the cost would be too great.

If Tu You performed that spell, he would surely die!

Naturally, Shen Qin would not mention this method, nor would he allow Tu You to perform it.

"Yes, Grand Elder!"

The six received the order and leaped into the dazzling light, then disappeared.

After Ye Yuan and the others vanished, the light flashed, revealing Tu You's aged figure.

At this moment, Tu You looked even older than before.

Seeing Tu You, Shen Qin's expression changed: "Sacred Lord, you..."

Around Tu You swirled a faint black aura; any martial artist would know that this faint black aura was death qi!

Once such an aura appeared around a martial artist, their lifespan was not far from exhaustion.

Tu You waved his hand and said, "This opening of the formation consumed too much primal power, but it's fine. I know my own body; I can hold on for about three years. I just hope these children can grow up quickly."

Shen Qin's old tears streamed down: "Sacred Lord, it's all my incompetence that I can't even open the Red Cloud Valley formation!"

Tu You smiled and said, "The Red Cloud Valley has always been opened by the sacred lord himself; when has it ever been your turn?"

If Tu You were still in his prime, opening the Red Cloud Valley would naturally not be a big problem, nor would it cost him lifespan.

But now, Tu You simply could not withstand such a huge consumption. Every time he moved his primal power, his lifespan would drain faster!