The seventh and eighth-grade martial arts skills were very precious and rare. Even the Peripatetic
Sect, the most powerful one of the five major sects, had no such high-grade martial arts manuals in
their possession.
In the five major sects of the Violet Orchid Empire, high graded martial arts skills had been regarded as
the treasures of each sect, and only the best principal disciples could learn and practice them.
The seventh and eighth-grade martial arts skills were things that were only heard in legends.
So when Iris and Anna heard that there were such martial arts skills in the Emperor Library, their eyes
glowed in excitement.
"Well, in that case, let's hurry up and try our luck in the Emperor Library, or we'll be outrun by others
and left out with nothing."
Austin was also looking forward to getting his hands on such high-grade martial arts skills.
So far, the highest grade martial arts skill Austin had practiced was the Overlord Body-refining Formula,
which, according to what Lois had said, was a grade seven martial arts skill handed down from her
ancestors.
However, after he had succeeded in practicing the fifth stage of the Overlord Body-refining Formula, he
had always felt that there was something incomplete with the formula.
Austin speculated that the formula he acquired was not the complete and refined variant. If it was not,
there should be some higher levels of cultivation manuals beyond the fifth stage.
The Overlord Body-refining Formula he was practicing was an incomplete grade seven martial arts
skill. So he was eager to go to the middle circle too, for a complete one laid in the Emperor Library.
Acquiring it would make all the risks he had taken in the Mysterious Nether World worthwhile.
"Okay, let's go."
Austin waved to Iris and Anna and headed for the middle circle of the Mysterious Nether World.
Although the girls knew that a greater danger awaited ahead, they were not afraid at all. Austin's
formidable strength assured them of their safety. They believed that they could overcome any threat
and make it to the Emperor Library. With that in mind, they quickly followed him.
The Mysterious Nether World was vast and wide, with massive mountain ranges and primeval forests
in its surroundings. Diverse landforms included rivers, grasslands, and swamps. It was a paradise for
diabolic beasts whose roar could be heard from far away.
On their way to the middle circle, they encountered a lot of fierce diabolic beasts, among which were
some rare and even extinct species in the outside world. The diabolic beasts were so ferocious that
Austin and his partners' advancing speed were slowed down a lot by the beasts' attacks.
Once, as they were passing through grassland, the ground suddenly opened and three huge cracks
appeared in front of them. Three giant insects with dozens of meters long rushed out of the crevice.
Their huge and ferocious mouths, full of smelly poisonous saliva, tried to swallow Austin and his
partners in one gulp.
The three giant insects were all fifth-level diabolic beasts.
Fortunately, Austin was able to sense them even before they broke out of the ground. He used the
Wind-commanding Skill and retreated at once, grabbing Iris and Anna.
Then they all worked together and killed the giant insects.
With Austin's current strength, he could deal with any diabolic beast under the eighth level.
But when they met the cannibal ants, they chose to run away. Although they were only low leveled
beasts, Austin, Iris, and Anna were all stunned to see hundreds of thousands of ants gushed out
together. At a glance, the ground beyond the crevice silently screamed in total eclipse, as if it was a
wriggling black sea with nothing but darkness beyond.
Austin's spiritual sense could feel the army of the cannibal ants from a long distance. So when he
found them, he told Iris and Anna about the situation, and they decided to escape as fast as they could.
Aside from the diabolic beasts, there were many more hazards in the Mysterious Nether World.
One of which would be the chilling white mist they encountered in a swamp. Its erosion ability was so
powerful that it could corrode everything into a pool of blood.
The area covered by the white fog was vast and could extend to a broader range. It could also move
around, and when combined with the wind, could drift even faster.
Because Angus had told Austin about the chilling mist beforehand, he was able to take precautions and
avoid the fog as soon as he found it.
In the process of avoiding the cold fog, they saw several Black Bone Elephants shrouded by a large
cloud of the white fog. Within seconds, as the mist gradually drifted, skeletons of the elephants flaunted
into their view.
Aside from that, they also picked some rare herbs they found on their way to the middle circle.
They also met some young cultivators from the Violet Orchid Empire. But among the one hundred
young warriors who entered the Mysterious Nether World with him, Austin only knew Dewey and Maria.
He didn't know anyone else.
So when they met those young cultivators, they just went their own ways without saying a word or even
greeting them.
Three days later, they finally reached the junction of the outer and middle circle.
"The middle circle of the Mysterious Nether World is right up ahead," Austin said to Iris and Anna.
He stood on a hillside, overlooking the dreary ground in the distance.
"Austin, why did you suddenly become so familiar with the Mysterious Nether World?"
Iris couldn't help asking the question that had been pressing her for days.
Three or four days ago, Austin knew nothing about the Mysterious Nether World and merely relied on
the notes left by the ancestor of the Pure Dream Convent to find their way.
However, over the past three days, Austin was able to lead them to the edge of the middle circle, as if
he knew all the routes in the Mysterious Nether World. Iris was very puzzled with that thought.
"Oh, it's just my hunch," answered Austin with a smile.
He didn't want to tell others about the secret of Angus.
Iris didn't believe Austin, but she dared not to ask more questions. She knew they were only
acquaintances and were not involved in a deep relationship for Austin to tell her everything.
"There is a clearing in the woods. We can go there and have a rest for a few hours before we enter the
middle circle. "
Austin suggested as he saw how tired Iris and Anna were. He then led the way to the clearing as he
spoke.
Iris and Anna had been traveling with him over the past three days. They didn't have a good rest along
their way, so they were exhausted physically and mentally.
Anna was more tired than Iris. Her cultivation base was the lowest among the three. Besides, she was
accustomed to a pampered life as the high-ups of the Pure Dream Convent all liked and spoiled her, so
it was difficult for her to stand the dusty and dangerous life in the Mysterious Nether World.
However, as they were about to reach the woods, Austin slowed down.
"What is wrong, Austin?" asked Iris as she saw how he gradually reduced his speed.
Austin stood for a moment, extending his spiritual sense to the woods to see what was going on inside.
"Well, I didn't expect them to be here too," Austin uttered smilingly. . .
In the woods, an open area was surrounded by dense trees which helped in clearing the surrounding
and making it a suitable place to rest.
Austin smiled as he saw the clearing filled with many people; it was buzzing with young cultivators.
Looking closely, Austin found that more than 20 people were sitting or standing in the open space in
the woods.
"It's outrageous. You guys are going too far! We had worked hard to collect these herbs. Why should
we give them all to you?"
An angry voice came out from the center of the clearing, causing ridicule and laughter from the people
around.
Seven men surrounded a man and a woman.
"Ha-ha, fatso, you better know your place. It's already kind of us not to beat you up and rob you of all
the herbs. Come on, give us all your herbs and we will spare your life.
You have two choices––hand them over to us yourselves, or we'll force you into surrendering them."
A young man made clear as a smile crept out of his face.
"You are imperial royals! How dare you rob us? Do you know that the emperor will severely punish you
for doing such despicable things?"
"Ha-ha! Be punished? Don't be silly, fatso. All of us here are from the imperial royal family, pure-
blooded and distinguished in status.
You lowly commoners! You don't deserve to be our equal, let alone be in the same place!
Do you really think that our emperor uncle will punish us for robbing you of some herbs?
I really can't understand why he has allowed so many lowly common men into the Mysterious Nether
World.
The Mysterious Nether World has always been owned by our imperial royal family. Everything here
belongs to us. You don't deserve to be in this place!
Ha! You can't take any of these herbs with you.
Hey! My patience is short. Hurry, and hand those herbs to us," a young man in black ordered
arrogantly.
"Dewey, we're outnumbered. Let's just have it their way.
Give them the herbs. We'll be able to collect some new ones on our way," the woman explained to the
man beside her.
She was well aware of their situation.
The two besieged were Dewey and Maria, who belonged to the Youngest Prince Reuben's camp.
Looking at the more than 20 young cultivators from the imperial royal family around him, Dewey
touched his Space Ring which stored all the herbs he had collected since he entered the Mysterious
Nether Word. He had worked hard and risked his life to fight many diabolic beasts and gather the
herbs, among which were even precious sixth-grade herbs. He'd rather die than hand over all of them.
Although unwilling to do so, Dewey knew that they would never let them leave unless he would
surrender the herbs. After all, there were more than 20 of them, and he and Maria were obviously
outnumbered.
So after he struggled internally, Dewey finally gave in. He gritted his teeth and looked at Maria. Both of
them took out all the herbs they had collected and placed them on the ground. Then they both turned
around, hoping to leave the place.
"Wait a minute. You can't just go now!"
Just as Dewey and Maria were about to leave, a voice was suddenly heard.
"Phillip, what do you want?"
Dewey turned and looked at the young man in black. He had a long radiant sword hanging on his back.
It was Phillip, who also came from Prince Reuben's camp.
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