Horror Camgirl - Ch. 86: Seven Kill Array
I asked Tang Mingli about the Seven Kill Array, and he explained, “The Medicine King Valley does indeed have a Seven Kill Array. Every year, a few people try to challenge it, but unfortunately, no one has succeeded in recent years.”
“What happens if you fail?” I asked.
“At best, you get seriously injured. At worst, you lose your life.”
I was secretly taken aback. This truly is a high-risk, high-reward endeavor. I began to feel some hesitation—after all, I’m only a low-ranked, Grade One cultivator without even a single spell to my name.
Noticing my apprehension, Huang Luzi scolded, “A disciple of the medical sect should face challenges head-on. How could you think of retreating at the first sign of difficulty?”
When did I become a disciple of the medical sect?
But then again, I had learned their medical skills, so I suppose I do owe them something.
I forced a bitter smile. “Senior Huang, it’s not that I’m unwilling; it’s just that my skills are too weak. Going in would be suicide.”
Huang Luzi gave a cold snort. “It’s only a simple Seven Kill Array—nothing to be afraid of. I’ll teach you how to pass it.”
I felt a surge of relief. With Senior Huang supporting me, it might be worth a try.
I tugged on Tang Mingli’s sleeve and asked, “Shall we go check out the Seven Kill Array?”
Tang Mingli gave a faint smile, wrapping his large hand around mine. “Alright, I’ll go with you.”
My face flushed, feeling slightly uneasy. But when I thought of how he’d snuck into Yin Shengyao’s courtyard alone for my sake, a strange warmth lingered in my heart. I didn’t pull my hand away.
Hand in hand, we made our way to the depths of a garden styled in the Qing dynasty. An overweight old man was lounging in a gazebo, watching a movie on his tablet and munching on sunflower seeds.
I approached and said, “Sir, I’d like to try challenging the Seven Kill Array.”
The old man glanced up and looked me over before waving his hand dismissively. “Run along, little girl, don’t make trouble.”
Tang Mingli hesitated. “Jun Yao, don’t joke around. Last year, a peak Grade Two cultivator and a Martial Artist in the early Transformation stage tried to challenge the Seven Kill Array. One was badly injured, and the other died on the spot. You don’t have even a fraction of their strength—trying to break through the formation is just suicide.”
The old man chuckled, spitting out sunflower seeds. “Listen to your boyfriend, young lady. Go home, have children, and look after the household instead.”
I frowned. “What if I’m determined to go through with it?”
The old man smirked with a hint of mockery. “If you insist on courting death, I won’t stop you. But think carefully—such a young lady like yourself might be better off dead than coming out missing an arm or a leg.”
I scoffed inwardly. I had never counted on marrying anyone anyway.
“By the way,” I asked, “what’s the prize this time?”
“It’s a piece of Black Vine Wood,” he replied.
My eyes lit up. Black Vine Wood—wasn’t that an ingredient for refining the Xuanyuan Pill, which could help a Grade One cultivator advance to Grade Two?
Though I didn’t have the Xuanyuan Pill recipe, I did have quite a few medicinal prescriptions. I could refine spirit liquid or powder—less effective but good enough to help Tang Mingli advance to Transformation Strength.
Just as I was about to step forward to take on the array, a cold voice interrupted. “Lu Pangzi, I want to try the array.”
The old man looked up, instantly putting on a fawning smile. He jumped to his feet, saying, “Ah, Young Master Xu, you’re here to challenge the array as well?”
“Yes,” replied the young man, whom Lu Pangzi greeted with, “With Young Master Xu here, the prize is surely yours!”
He logged the young man’s name in a small booklet, and I caught a glimpse of it: Xu Yang.
Xu Yang turned, noticing Tang Mingli. He nodded slightly at him before heading toward the formation.
I whispered, “Mingli, do you know him?”
“Of course,” Tang Mingli replied with a complex expression. “He’s the third young master of the Xu family, the designated heir. A prodigy known throughout the martial world, adept in both martial and Taoist arts. Though he’s two years younger than me, he’s already reached mid-level Transformation Strength, and he’s a Grade Two cultivator as well.”
I looked over this young man—tall and striking, though not quite as handsome as Tang Mingli, but not far behind.
Sigh. How can the gap between people be so vast? Some are born as favored sons of heaven, while people like me are rejected by their own parents from birth.
Xu Yang strode to the pond ahead, which appeared harmless enough but was filled with hidden dangers.
At this moment, word of Xu Yang’s challenge had spread, and soon a large crowd gathered.
“I heard Young Master Xu is taking on the array?”
“Of course he is! He’s a famous genius; that prize is as good as his.”
“What’s the prize this year?”
“I heard it’s Black Vine Wood.”
“What? Black Vine Wood! That can be used to refine the Xuanyuan Pill—it’s priceless! Medicine King Valley has only a small supply. With it, Young Master Xu could ask a Valley alchemist to refine it into a pill, and advancing to late Transformation Strength would be a given, maybe even to the peak.”
“Ah, if only I could get my hands on that Black Vine Wood…”
“You? A Martial Artist at the early stage of Bright Strength? You won’t even get past the first level of the Seven Kill Array.”
Xu Yang’s figure rose, landing gracefully on a lotus leaf in the pond.
Suddenly, a gust of eerie wind stirred across the water, seemingly coming from nowhere, yet the spectators on the shore felt nothing.
Amidst this ominous wind, Xu Yang remained calm and composed, leaping lightly from one lotus leaf to another with elegance.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck from within the wind. His expression changed, and he swiftly dodged to the side. The lotus leaf he had just stood on was charred to a crisp.
A gasp echoed from the onlookers, and someone inhaled sharply, remarking, “This formation is terrifying! If that lightning had hit him, he’d be dead on the spot.”
More lightning bolts filled the gusting wind, forcing Xu Yang to leap and dodge constantly. Just as he was about to exit the pond, a thick lightning bolt, as wide as a bowl, shot toward him.
Xu Yang gave a faint smile, raised his hand, and formed a spell seal. A flame surged from his palm, meeting the lightning in midair. With a single step, he crossed to the shore. Instantly, the eerie wind ceased, and the pond returned to its tranquil state.
“Well done!” A spectator cheered loudly, and the crowd broke into applause.
Xu Yang moved on to the second level.
This level was a Peach Tree grove, spanning only about eighty square meters. Yet, as he entered, it seemed as if he were trapped in an endless forest of peach trees. These trees moved, and every so often, a fierce beast would emerge from the branches, lunging at him menacingly.
This level, he cleared with some close calls, and then proceeded to the third, fourth, and eventually the fifth level.
When he reached the fifth level, countless spirits crawled out of the ground, scrambling toward him.
He drew a longsword, which appeared to be inscribed with talismans, and began fending off the spirits. But in the final moments, a two-headed vengeful ghost lunged forward and bit down fiercely on his neck.
With a roar, he slashed the ghost in two, but his carotid artery had been injured, and blood spurted out, leaving him barely able to stand.
He took out a medicinal pill, popped it into his mouth, and his bleeding gradually slowed. Just as his vision blurred, he found himself back in front of the pavilion.
The spectators sighed, noting that he had failed to complete all the levels. However, reaching the fifth level was already an impressive feat.
According to the rules set by Medicine King Valley, one originally had to clear all seven levels to receive a prize, with the winner being whoever completed the course the fastest if multiple people succeeded.
But as fewer people managed to pass all seven levels and the injuries and fatalities grew, the number of challengers dwindled.
Medicine King Valley eventually changed the rule: the prize would go to the person who completed the most levels.
One time, only a single challenger attempted, and he cleared just one level, yet he still won the prize.
“Young Master Xu, congratulations!” Lu Pangzi said with a smile. “Clearing five levels—no one’s done that in years. This Black Vine Wood is yours.”
“Hold on!” I called out, raising my voice. “I haven’t had my turn yet!”
Lu Pangzi looked at me in surprise, asking, “You’re going to try? Young Lady, what’s your cultivation level? Do you think you can match Young Master Xu? Clearing even one level might be too much.”
The crowd murmured in agreement. “That’s right, young lady. Don’t risk it—you’re still young.”
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