Chapter 270
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Chapter 270: Trial of the Array
The mountains around them stood in orderly disorder, yet each peak appeared identical upon closer inspection. Ye Yun and his four companions were stunned. Such a feat couldn’t have been achieved by the current masters of the Heavenly Sword Sect—this spatial magical array must’ve been left by ancient experts. The sect’s glory from a thousand years ago truly lived up to its reputation.
Ye Yun, having heard tales of the Heavenly Sword Sect’s past splendor in the Great Qin Empire from the Ancestor of the Sword Path, grew even more certain that the Secret Vault hidden within the empire held unimaginable treasures.
“Stay alert,” Ye Yun whispered after a steadying breath. “Since we’re here, focus on finding an exit. If we can uncover treasures along the way, even better.”
“Obviously! We didn’t enter this spatial magical array just to leave empty-handed,” Duan Chenfeng said with a careless shrug.
“Quiet. Don’t speak,” Su Ling snapped, scanning their surroundings. As the most knowledgeable about spatial arrays among them, the others fell silent while she studied the terrain.
After the time it took an incense stick to burn, Su Ling finally exhaled.
“Well, Ling’er?” Duan Chenfeng grinned eagerly.
She ignored him, turning to Su Yinxue instead. “Sister, you must’ve noticed too. This Deceptive Array holds no killing formations—it’s purely illusory.”
Su Yinxue nodded. “I suspected as much but hesitated to confirm it. Your judgment reassures me.”
Ye Yun patted Su Ling’s head. “Then let’s move forward slowly. We’ll find a way down the mountain.”
“Impossible,” Su Ling countered. “This Deceptive Array spans endless space. What looks like a single peak might take a decade to cross. Golden Core stage masters didn’t design this to be walked through casually.”
Yu Minghong’s tense expression eased. “If there’s no danger, we could wait here. The trial ends in five days—they’ll recall us to the sect then.”
Su Ling scoffed. “Little Yu, if escaping were that simple, why would a Golden Core expert bother creating this? True spatial Deceptive Arrays warp time itself. A year here might equal mere days outside.”
Duan Chenfeng’s eyes lit up. “If time flows slower here, cultivating for a year could make us unstoppable!”
Su Ling rolled her eyes as Su Yinxue gently corrected him. “Illusions yield no real growth. Even decades here wouldn’t improve our cultivation. Our priority is finding the exit before we’re trapped forever.”
“Exactly,” Su Ling added gravely. “Without breaking the array, our minds and bodies would still wither. We’d die here, spirits vanishing like smoke.”
Ye Yun frowned. “But illusions don’t age us physically.”
“Prolonged exposure warps perception,” Su Ling explained. “Even knowing it’s fake, our souls would fatigue until we dissolve into nothingness. A Golden Core master’s array makes centuries feel real. Our lifespans would burn out in what feels like moments outside.”
“How do we break it?” Ye Yun pressed.
“Remember the Hualun Secret Vault?” Su Ling asked. “We triggered the array to expose its flaws.”
Ye Yun nodded. “Activate it, then look for weaknesses.”
“Good memory.” Su Ling smirked before pointing at Duan Chenfeng. “You’ll provoke the array.”
“Why me?!” he protested.
“You’re ‘experienced.’” She smirked wider.
“No! What if it *does* have traps? I won’t be your sacrificial lamb!” Duan Chenfeng crossed his arms defiantly.
“That’s simple. Since you refuse to cooperate, don’t follow us later. Let me warn you clearly—even if you try tailing us, you’ll lose your way. Though I can’t guide everyone out, leading you in circles is effortless.” Su Ling’s eyes crinkled with amusement.
Duan Chenfeng’s lips twitched before he asked grudgingly, “How do we activate the array?”
“Just keep attacking one direction relentlessly. The array will activate eventually. But be warned—though there’s no killing formation here, the rebound force and defensive power might give you a beating. Tread carefully.” Su Ling grinned, squinting.
Duan Chenfeng snorted. After scanning his surroundings, he strode toward a massive stone. Light flashed around his fist as thick true qi enveloped it. With a glinting punch, he struck the stone.
Boom!
The impact sent light and shadow scattering, yet the stone remained intact—no cracks, let alone shattering.
“Why?!” Duan Chenfeng blurted, startled.
“Keep attacking!” Su Ling chirped.
Obediently, Duan Chenfeng channeled true qi into both fists, pummeling the stone. Explosions thundered as light engulfed the mountaintop.
CRASH!
A deafening roar split the air. The swirling light suddenly condensed, revealing a hairline crack on the stone. The fissure spiderwebbed outward before the stone exploded into fragments.
“The Deceptive Array activated!” Su Ling cried, her face brightening. “Duan Chenfeng, retreat! All five—form a circle, back-to-back!”
Duan Chenfeng had already begun retreating when the stones erupted skyward, whirling ominously. The shards gleamed before coalescing into a stone giant several stories tall.
A savage aura blanketed the mountain.
ROAR!
The colossus bellowed, its cry echoing through the peaks.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Each earth-shaking step rattled the mountainside.
“This presence… even spirit beasts rarely exude such power.” Su Yinxue frowned, her Foundation Establishment stage senses acutely detecting the crushing pressure.
Duan Chenfeng and Yu Minghong flushed red, trembling. Though their Qi refining stage cultivation surpassed most peers, lacking Foundation Establishment left them vulnerable to the spiritual pressure.
Ye Yun stood unaffected—his soul’s strength rendered the pressure meaningless. Su Yinxue, as a Foundation Establishment expert, remained composed.
Su Yinxue’s eyes narrowed at Su Ling’s calm demeanor. The girl showed no strain despite using no protective artifacts, weathering the pressure through sheer constitution.
“Ling’er’s physique is unusual,” Ye Yun murmured, noting Su Yinxue’s puzzlement. “Foundation Establishment-level pressure didn’t faze her before either.”
Su Yinxue gave a slight nod.
Stepping forward, Ye Yun shielded Su Ling, clasping her hand. “Fall back if it overwhelms you.”
“No need. Its pressure can’t touch me.” Su Ling shrugged. “But its brute strength’s real—even as a Deceptive Array illusion. Destroying it should weaken the array. I’ll watch for patterns to find an exit.”
Ye Yun released her hand. Blue light shimmered around his palm, chilling the air.
“Ice Spirit Qi?!” Su Yinxue gasped, eyes widening.
