Chapter 370

Chapter 370: Taking Grave Risks

Perhaps because they were nearing the Golden Core master’s tomb, the resistance faced by the four was significantly more powerful than before.

Especially within this darkness that blocked mental strength, compounded by the Gu insects strengthening the formation.

The four hurried forward, yet even as they quickened their pace, the formation’s space seemed endless, offering no trace of an exit.

Crack—

The Second Level defensive formation conjured by Song Zhan shattered completely, plunging everyone once more into encroaching darkness.

Meanwhile, the Black Abyss Gu hidden in the shadows continued its relentless assault.

A touch of this creature, while not immediately fatal, inflicted such powerful corrosion that it severely impaired their judgment moving forward.

Song Zhan had no choice but to form another formation, carving out a protected space for the group.

This time, his casting was slower than before. Had he not pre-inscribed the formation onto a specialized formation disk earlier, the process would’ve been even more sluggish.

Channeling a Second Level formation also drained enormous amounts of energy.

Thump-thump-thump—

Gu insects struck the luminous barrier, emitting a cascade of cracks and pops like raindrops, while vast swathes of black marks simultaneously eroded the entire formation.

Their time was running out.

It was then that the four realized this darkness likely constituted a formation possessing both offensive and spatial properties.

Regarding formations: a First Level Formation Master could only craft formations with single functions. Second Level Formation Masters created dual-function formations, while those of the Third Level mastered threefold capabilities.

Given this, none now believed the Golden Core master had been a mere Second Level Formation Master.

If he were a Third Level Formation Master, then this darkness likely held yet another ability.

Formations fell into six major categories covering six functions: besides offense and space, there were also defense, restriction, cultivation, and trapping.

Should this be a Third Level trapping formation, escaping would become considerably difficult.

"Senior Brother, are you confident?" Shangguan Qianxue asked Song Zhan, who was intently analyzing a formation disk.

Song Zhan frowned deeply, his voice grave. "Hold the fort for me. I’ll attempt to analyze this formation."

With that, he retrieved a second, golden formation disk, preparing to compute simultaneously with both.

This demanded immense mental strength and tested the very limits of a formation master’s ability.

Facing this dark abyss, Song Zhan resolved to hold nothing back.

"Understood."

Shangguan Qianxue acknowledged, raising her emerald-green sword and unleashing a brilliant flash of sword light.

The fierce glow stood stark against the gloom, slicing decisively toward the rushing tide of Black Abyss Gu.

Zhou Luo and Long Yunshuang exchanged a glance. Neither chose to remain idle; both joined the fray, striking against the encroaching attacks.

Yet this very act provoked the formation’s fierce counteroffensive.

The deep darkness suddenly birthed tendrils of white mist. Intertwining with the shadows, they warped the scenery, rendering reality uncertain and twisting the very space before them.

This formation integrated defensive functions too. It was indeed a Third Level formation.

The four had a start in their hearts and dared not be negligent. They could only continue their attacks.

But under the influence of that mist, their spiritual energy became sluggish. Their bodies felt as if bearing a mountain, their movements significantly slower.

A Third Level formation was not something to be dealt with so easily.

At this moment, Long Yunshuang finally revealed her true strength.

Her hand gripped a seven-colored spiritual umbrella. When the umbrella unfurled, shimmering lights in seven hues flowed across its surface. Streams of terrifying force continuously radiated outward, dispelling the encroaching dark mist.

With a gentle push of her right hand forward, the seven-colored spiritual umbrella erupted with blinding brilliance in the darkness. Wherever it passed, darkness was pierced, and even the Black Abyss Gu worms were sliced down.

Shangguan Qianxue and Zhou Luo were equally shocked in their hearts.

From the seven-colored spiritual umbrella, they sensed a vast and immense force—fierce, powerful, and far more terrifying than the upper-grade Foundation Establishment magical artifact they had encountered before.

This was a top-tier Foundation Establishment magical artifact.

Truly worthy of her imperial background, to possess such a powerful magical artifact.

One had to know, not a single top-tier Foundation Establishment magical artifact had ever appeared on the market in the entire Immortal City.

Artifacts of such caliber typically only existed within colossal entities like the Immortal Sect.

In fact, as far as Shangguan Qianxue knew, within their entire sect, apart from perhaps direct disciples, only those who had reached the Golden Core stage possessed the ability to wield such things.

At this moment, the two gained a much clearer understanding of Long Yunshuang’s capabilities.

Seeing Long Yunshuang bring out such a high-level item, Shangguan Qianxue was unwilling to be outdone.

She produced an upper-level Second Level talisman and slapped it into the air.

Golden light erupted from the talisman, fierce winds howled, and a terrifying hurricane seemed capable of scattering all the black mist.

In the darkness, the silhouettes of the two young women appeared particularly imposing and powerful.

Facing the Third Level formation, their expressions were utterly serious and grave, not daring the slightest negligence.

Meanwhile, Zhou Luo had quietly landed back on the field. Standing beside Song Zhan, he gripped his Fu Yao magic sword and spoke softly, "Friend Song, I shall serve as your Guardian."

Song Zhan felt utterly speechless inside.

He never expected this guy to have such thick skin, letting the two women charge ahead while he hid beside him.

"No need. Go assist them," Song Zhan refused.

"That won’t do. We are counting on you to lead us out of here," Zhou Luo declared with a solemn face, remaining firmly planted right beside him.

Finding him impossible to dislodge, Song Zhan had no choice but to refocus on breaking the formation.

Beyond the four of them, in the darkness, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators who had pursued Long Yunshuang had also infiltrated this place.

Neither was a formation master, yet they had located the quartet’s position by relying on their special items.

"Now might be a good opportunity to strike," one transmitted mentally.

Seeing the seven-colored radiance spread outward in the darkness, he recognized it as Long Yunshuang’s natal magical artifact and immediately made a decision.

"Don’t rush. This formation is extremely strange. There might be further surprises," his companion, however, did not agree with his decision.

Faced with these words, the other said nothing more.

Because this companion was also a formation master. Though his true realm hadn’t been disclosed, in such a place, it was undoubtedly better to follow his lead.

The two silently endured the attacks in the darkness, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far from the four others.

An hour passed.

Song Zhan’s face was pale and sweaty. His dantian power was greatly depleted, forcing him to swallow several more potions to replenish his strength.

Under these conditions, he barely managed to deduce out a path.

But he could not be certain whether this path was viable.

So he informed the other three about this matter.

"I’ll go first."

Right then, Zhou Luo immediately stated he would test the danger with his own body.

He spoke up, startling the two young women slightly. Shangguan Qianxue especially, a flicker of surprise passing through her beautiful eyes.

With his character, why would he choose to do such a thing?

Just moments ago, he had unabashedly hidden at the back.

This was far too unusual.