Chapter 357

Chapter 357: Entrance to the Graveyard

Qi Chuan held in his hand a magical artifact resembling a compass, its golden pointer unceasingly swinging, like an ancient pendulum.

As he infused his spiritual power into it, the magical artifact exuded a thick spiritual light, and the originally swinging pointer also fixed onto a certain direction.

They exchanged a glance, spiritual power surged in their bodies, and they turned into a gust of wind and vanished from the spot.

Rumble —

As soon as the magical array dissipated, the cultivators’ fighting had already begun.

Some didn’t even have time to search for treasures before being targeted by others and then becoming embroiled in a chaotic battle.

In such a place, no one dared to fight alone.

So once conflict erupted, it usually meant a group of people were fiercely fighting there.

The originally tranquil mountain peak now became lively as well, with large patches of trees collapsing due to the fighting.

Zhou Luo and the others were completely unaffected.

They themselves were at the Foundation Establishment level; battles of this scale still couldn’t affect them.

Compared to others, their trio had a clearer objective.

After a moment, they arrived at the mountainside.

There, a stone forest was arrayed, looking unmistakably extraordinary.

Qi Chuan merely glanced at it and without hesitation passed through the side of the stone forest.

Zhou Luo and Long Yunshuang exchanged a look, following closely behind, with no hesitation whatsoever.

Since the three were in a cooperative relationship, they had to exhibit the necessary trust.

Qi Chuan had stayed in the Longfeng Mountain range for so many years, and behind him stood the massive Chimagong Sect, so following him was definitely the wisest choice.

Not only them, but others also arrived gracefully behind; specifically, Shangguan Qianxue and her Senior Brother Song Zhan.

Song Zhan watched the three traversing through the jungle, his eyes filled with confusion.

He couldn’t quite understand why his Junior Sister Shangguan Qianxue, after entering the mountain, had directly chosen to follow them without a trace of hesitation.

Just moments ago when passing the stone forest, he had clearly sensed a valuable treasure hidden there. Though not as precious as a spiritual artifact, it was still quite rare.

But his Junior Sister didn’t even glance at it; she only focused relentlessly on following them.

Recalling his Junior Sister’s usual methods of action, though Song Zhan was puzzled, he chose to follow suit.

Shangguan Qianxue stared at Zhou Luo’s back, her beautiful eyes unblinking, her face serious.

Compared to Senior Brother Song Zhan’s bewilderment, she felt clear-headed inside.

Based on her understanding of him as a person, for him to fly so unwaveringly toward one direction must mean he was aiming for the finest prize here.

Such a profit-driven person couldn’t have come merely for sightseeing.

Just then, his passing by that stone forest without a moment’s pause further strengthened her conviction.

For some unknown reason, she simply knew that by following him, she would surely uncover clues to the spiritual artifact.

And two other parties shared the same thought.

They were also at the Foundation Establishment stage, precisely the two groups Qi Chuan had mentioned.

Their knowledge of this mountain peak was limited, so immediately upon entering, they sought out the two Immortal Sect disciples, Shangguan Qianxue and Song Zhan. They figured sticking close to the Qinyuan Sect members would surely lead them to valuable treasures.

If they could then pull off stealing the spoils from behind, all the better.

This mountain peak wasn’t particularly large, but it stood remarkably tall.

It remained perpetually shrouded in mist, displaying little uniqueness during ordinary times.

Yet with the emergence of the ancient ruins, various previously unseen areas materialized here.

Most of these places were dominated by stone forests, as if deliberately arranged in specific positions. Each stone pillar bore intricate carvings, their potency still discernible despite being buried by windblown sand.

Zhou Luo, a formation master, detected this instantly.

He pondered thoughtfully, realizing this ruin was far more complex than imagined.

Thinking this, he glanced back at the fleeting figure behind them.

It seemed Shangguan Qianxue had recognized him.

Though it remained unknown whether she knew he was Zhou Luo.

Back then, when he’d ventured into the Illusionary Forest, he had maintained a false identity. Given her cultivation level at the time, she shouldn’t have been able to see through it.

"We’re almost there ahead," Qi Chuan observed the pointer on his compass, transmitting his voice.

"We must shake off this tail," Long Yunshuang’s voice carried a frigid edge.

She hadn’t expected these pursuers to be so relentless, apparently convinced they would find treasure.

"Leave it to me," Qi Chuan responded.

He then produced a spiritual symbol with his left hand. The symbol was Xuan Huang in color, adorned a complex pattern drawn in vermillion pigment.

As a Second Level spiritual symbol master, Zhou Luo immediately recognized it as a lower-grade Second Level spiritual symbol for entrapping foes. It could create a temporary illusion to trap enemies.

Simultaneously, a faintly familiar aura emanated from it.

It carried the essence of the Illusionary Forest.

The symbol’s creator must have infused it with Illusionary Power.

"Stay close!" Qi Chuan’s voice instructed as his speed abruptly surged.

Long Yunshuang, standing on a fine sword, channeled her spiritual power. Her robes fluttered like a passing breeze.

Zhou Luo stepped lightly on branches, covering vast distances with each leap, nimble and agile as a gibbon.

As the trio accelerated, Shangguan Qianxue also quietly channeled her power, unleashing greater force.

Boom–

At that very moment, a spiritual symbol shot towards them from ahead. The Xuan Huang symbol exploded mid-air, brilliant rays radiating outwards as the surrounding space began to warp.

Lush, green trees transformed into withered husks in an instant. One moment she was deep in a mountain forest, the next she found herself within a vast desert.

Shangguan Qianxue knew this scene intimately.

She had repeatedly fallen into illusions back in the Illusionary Forest.

Seeing the illusion descend now, her expression remained composed, but inwardly her conviction solidified: these others absolutely knew the location of that spiritual artifact.

Clang!

She stepped forward, her pristine green sword clearing its scabbard with a clear, resonant ring.

The sword erupted with a blinding emerald radiance, flooding the sky as it surged towards the desert vista.

Not a formation master, she could only rely on brute force to break the illusion.

Seeing this, Song Zhan beside her also sprang into action.

His magical artifact was a blade of snow-white cold steel. As it sliced through the air, a bitingly frigid wind erupted, threatening to freeze the very space around them.

This was an upper-grade Foundation Establishment magical artifact.

Outside, after activating the signal, Qi Chuan vanished with a few blinks of movement, reappearing before a cave mouth.

He glanced at the compass in his hand.

The pointer no longer moved. Instead, the device displayed an intricate pattern drawn in dazzling light.

"This is one of the entrances," Qi Chuan declared with utter confidence.

"Let’s go."

Long Yunshuang was the first to charge towards the cave.

Yet the instant she drew near, intense spiritual light blazed at the cave entrance.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh–

Immediately, countless energy blades shot from the cave like a torrential rain of pear blossoms.

Long Yunshuang’s icy expression didn’t falter. Raising her right hand, she gave a subtle flick of her wrist.

The fine golden chain bracelet circling it emitted an ethereal chime, unleashing formidable power.