bookbashuk Chapter 318 Rescue
Chapter 318 Rescue
Wanling Mountains.
A valley in the first line.
"Lingyu, Big Brother, Thirteen, and this Fellow Daoist Yue, this is the location of the cave dwelling that Menghan and Yuanyao mentioned." On the open ground, a fat cultivator pointed to the narrow valley in front of him, looking anxious.
This person is Zhang Xingfu, who is in full charge of managing the Tianliucheng stores.
Before Zhang Yuanyao and his two companions came here for training, the family had informed him, instructing him to take good care of these three juniors and teach them the principles of conduct and interpersonal relationships.
The fact that the family entrusted these three people to him was a testament to their trust in him.
So for a long time, he followed him in everything until he was completely familiar with the situation in Tianliu City before he felt at ease.
He also had some concerns about this exploration of the cave dwellings of those who had lived there before.
However, considering that it was left behind by a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, and given that the three of them were quite skilled, they treated it as an ordinary outing and would return soon.
Who would have thought that this departure would last for seven or eight days?
He was terrified when Zhang Yuanyao and the other two did not return. He spent a sleepless night but dared not report it to his family, as he was partly responsible for their failure to keep a close watch on them.
So they secretly approached Lin Qing and his wife, asking them to come and help. However, after searching the area, the three of them couldn't even find the entrance to the cave.
Seeing that the situation was getting worse, Zhang Xingfu had no choice but to send a message to his family immediately.
Upon receiving the message, the Zhang family immediately organized their forces, including Zhang Lingyu and Zhang Xingyao, who had the highest cultivation levels, as well as Zhang Xinghao, who had already advanced to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.
In addition, they also brought in Lin Qing and his wife, as well as Yue Yi, Zhang Lingyu's "good friend" in Tianliu City, who is currently in the early stage of Foundation Establishment.
Everyone had different expressions regarding Yue Yi. They felt that having someone at the early stage of Foundation Establishment wouldn't be of much use, but since Zhang Lingyu had specifically invited him, they had no objections.
"Clan leader, and elder brother, Xingfu acted carelessly and failed to keep a close watch on Yuanyao and the others, thus betraying the family's trust in me. I hope the family will punish him severely."
"Uncle Xingfu, there's no need to blame yourself. When Menghan and the others sent a message back to the clan, we didn't pay much attention either, did we?"
Zhang Lingyu didn't blame him, and comforted him, "The cultivation world is unpredictable, and anything can happen. Fortunately, their soul lamps in the clan are still burning brightly, so they should be trapped in this place."
"really?"
"Of course, would I joke about the lives of those three?"
"Alright, Xingfu, you should go back to Tianliu City now. Leave the rest to us. Don't blame yourself too much; the clan won't hold it against you."
Only after Zhang Xingyao, who had been silent all along, spoke did Zhang Xingfu finally relent and leave.
The former then turned around and asked in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, have you found any clues to the entrance?"
"Still nothing..." Lin Qing and his wife shook their heads. Before the three Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Zhang family arrived, they had already searched the entire First Line Valley.
But this place is so small and dilapidated, there's not a trace of a cave dwelling at all.
Could it be that this cave is not located in Yixian Valley at all?
"Is that so..." Zhang Xingyao's expression was gloomy and restless. Even though the three of them had no problems with their soul lamps when they left the family, who knew what might happen in a day?
Zhang Yuanyao and the other two are not just three Foundation Establishment cultivators; they are the future pillars of their family and seeds for Core Formation. They must not be lost!
"If we still can't find it, we'll have to ask my uncle to come back from Linhai County."
He glanced at Zhang Lingyu and asked, "Lingyu, is there any progress?"
"We've made some progress, but we're still confirming it..."
"Really!?" Upon hearing this, the group all turned to look at the man.
"That's right, the entrance to the cave should be in the First Line Valley, but it's been covered by something, which is why we haven't been able to find it." Zhang Lingyu withdrew her divine sense and looked at Yue Yi, who was standing not far away.
The latter understood immediately and whispered, "If I'm not mistaken, there should be a formation set up ahead to cover up the location of the cave."
"A formation?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Qing asked doubtfully, "If there really is some kind of formation, then my husband and I have been wandering around Yixian Valley for several days and haven't found any trace of it. Even if there really is one, we must have already been inside."
"And if it was concealed, how did Menghan and the others find it?"
"That's easy, there's something to guide them."
Upon hearing this, everyone except Zhang Lingyu immediately realized that Zhang Yuanyao and the others had come here to explore the cultivator's cave because they had obtained a tattered map.
"Fellow Daoist Yue, since you can sense the formation ahead, you must have a way to break it, right?"
"Of course, I'm almost sure of the locations of the four array flags, but it will take some more time." After saying this, Yue Yi fell silent, sat down cross-legged, and silently investigated.
After successfully seizing the body and establishing his foundation, he combined it with many pills, and his spiritual sense had recovered to the strength of the mid-stage Golden Core realm. Unlike Zhang Lingyu, who remained at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, the latter could only detect the anomaly but could never find the location of the array flag.
Before long, he reported the location of the battle flags.
Zhang Lingyu and the others immediately dispersed. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they could hear a slight noise coming from inside the valley. Although the scenery in front of them had not changed, something had indeed appeared.
The group possessed strong spiritual senses and immediately detected a cave entrance appearing three miles away.
Upon arriving outside the cave, Lin Qing and his wife, along with Yue Yi, immediately sensed something was amiss. The area beyond the entrance felt all too familiar. Yue Yi narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "If I'm not mistaken, this is a secret realm, not some kind of cultivator's cave."
"A secret realm... How could a secret realm suddenly appear here for no reason?" Apart from Zhang Lingyu, Zhang Xingyao and the other two were shocked. Among the cultivators present, everyone else had entered and exited the secret realm.
And shouldn't secret realms exist within spatial turbulence?
"That being said, not all secret realms rely on spatial turbulence. I estimate that this should be a miniature secret realm, the kind that is relatively easy to maintain."
Yue Yi explained, "Any cultivator who reaches the Nascent Soul stage can open up a secret realm. It's not surprising that any of the major sects don't have a few secret realms."
"This place must have been opened up by a Nascent Soul cultivator in his early years. Since it is a small secret realm, the fact that the three of you clansmen were able to enter means that it can also accommodate us. Even if there are any dangers inside, at most you will only be at the peak of Foundation Establishment."
"Are there really no enemies at the Golden Core level?"
"If there really is one, there can only be one: the master of the secret realm. Only he is not subject to the suppression of the secret realm," Yue Yi explained, glancing at Zhang Xingyao.
As the sect leader of the Spirit Puppet Sect and a former peak Golden Core cultivator, he knew these things all too well.
However, saying that the enemy is at the Golden Core level does not mean that there is a Golden Core cultivator in the secret realm. Rather, it means that the master of the secret realm is able to be comparable to a Golden Core cultivator by means of the secret realm's methods.
If this limit is exceeded, the secret realm will collapse.
"This explains why Yuan Yao and the others have been safe and sound until now. Before I left, I gave each of them a mid-grade fifth-level talisman. Once activated, the secret realm will inevitably collapse. That's why the master of this secret realm doesn't dare to act rashly."
Zhang Lingyu nodded and said, "I think they are probably being held captive somewhere in the secret realm right now."
"Fellow Daoist is right." Yue Yi nodded, inwardly marveling at the extravagance he had imagined in protecting three early Foundation Establishment stage clansmen.
"Alright, if there are no other questions, let's go in and meet the owner of this secret realm."
The moment they stepped into the entrance to the secret realm, they felt themselves sinking into an endless quagmire, with invisible pressure squeezing them from all directions.
It's not just the physical pressure that's acting directly on the bones, meridians, and even the soul, causing people to grit their teeth in pain and have veins bulging on their foreheads.
Without a doubt, the secret realm is resisting their entry.
They were all Foundation Establishment cultivators, and their cultivation levels had not exceeded the upper limit of the secret realm. The secret realm itself should not refuse them.
It's likely that the master of that secret realm is behind it all.
"Thirteenth Uncle, you should stay outside and keep watch." Zhang Lingyu turned her head and looked at Zhang Xinghao's tottering and nearly collapsing appearance, and couldn't help but advise him.
The latter was drenched in sweat. He knew that with his current cultivation level, forcing himself to go deeper would not only be useless, but would also become a burden to everyone else.
He took a deep breath, nodded with difficulty, and replied hoarsely, "Okay...you all, please be careful!"
As his body was slowly pushed out by the repulsive force of the secret realm, just as he was about to disappear, Zhang Xinghao endured the excruciating pain and his gaze fell on Yue Yi in the group.
That glance sent a jolt through him.
Despite being under the same terrifying pressure, Yue Yi remained calm and composed, his breathing steady, as if the overwhelming force around him was nothing more than a gentle breeze.
The reason for this was that his robes were covered in a layer of pale golden spiritual light, which formed a thin but stable barrier that effortlessly isolated the pressure coming from all directions.
"Just who is this person? He's only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, yet he possesses such a treasure. How did Lingyu... get to know such a person?" Zhang Xinghao was filled with doubts and couldn't help but take a few more glances at the other person.
Just then, the repulsive force of the secret realm suddenly intensified, as if it were a final warning.
Unable to resist any longer, Zhang Xinghao's figure blurred, transforming into a streak of light, and with a soft sound, disappeared beyond the halo.
Seeing that the resistance was about to exceed the Foundation Establishment cultivators' tolerance, Zhang Lingyu took out the small Sumeru Shield and wrapped it around the group.
Although it is a low-grade Golden Core magic weapon, it is still a magic weapon.
With the shields providing protection, the pressure on everyone was immediately reduced, but the pressure coming from all directions not only did not decrease, but became even stronger.
It can be said that these few Foundation Establishment cultivators are fighting against the power of the entire world in a secret realm.
"Everyone, please channel your magic power into this magical artifact and break through the barrier of the secret realm in one fell swoop!"
Zhang Lingyu gave a low shout and secretly activated the Spirit Puppet Transformation Box. With the combined resistance of the two magic treasures, the group finally broke into the secret realm after half an hour!
The moment they landed, a powerful divine sense swept over them, but then quickly retreated.
Is it in the southeast direction?
Zhang Lingyu and Yue Yi glanced casually in that direction but did not immediately give chase. They had consumed a lot of magical energy when they broke in, so it was better to be cautious.
This is a good opportunity to thoroughly observe this secret realm.
The secret realm was lush and green, with no trace of any buildings. As it was only a small secret realm, the concentration of spiritual energy was equivalent to that of a second-tier spiritual vein, and its area was about a quarter the size of Yingchuan County.
After resting for nearly an hour, the group headed southeast to search for the source of the divine sense.
"How strange. Not only have we not seen any cultivators along the way, but we haven't even encountered many demonic beasts." After flying for a while, Zhang Xingyao said with a hint of doubt.
Interestingly, along the way, we encountered quite a few mature spiritual plants and fruits, some of which were over three hundred years old.
They saw some ordinary first- and second-tier spiritual plants, and even some third- and fourth-tier spiritual plants. They also found a third-tier water lily tree by a lake.
"If I'm not mistaken, this place should be a secret realm used for cultivating spiritual plants, equivalent to a spiritual herb garden," Zhang Lingyu said after a moment of contemplation.
Zhang Xingyao and the others were startled and all looked at him, only to hear him continue:
"When I was in the Qi Refining stage, I trained in Yanxing County and entered a secret realm hidden in Jade Spirit Valley. It was opened up by the ancient sect, Shenmu Sect. I speculate that this secret realm was also left behind by this sect."
This statement, though seemingly speculative, is in fact an accurate answer provided by the intelligence system.
"It is truly a great opportunity for you, fellow Daoist, to be able to enter the spiritual herb secret realm left behind by the Divine Wood Sect. In my opinion, it is almost certainly true."
A hint of surprise flashed in Yue Yi's eyes as he explained:
"I read in ancient books that in ancient times this place was not called Wanling Mountain Range, but Yunmeng Mountain Range. The Shenmu Sect developed here and was a true Nascent Soul sect. Later, it was destroyed in a great calamity. Although the sect was gone, some of the large and small secret realms were left behind."
"Since this place is located on the outskirts of the Ten Thousand Spirits Mountain Range, and it is mostly filled with spiritual herbs, it should be the place."
The group was somewhat surprised after hearing this, not expecting that someone at the early Foundation Establishment stage would know so many ancient secrets. Zhang Lingyu remained calm, as the Spirit Puppet Sect had been passed down for over four thousand years and should know some of the ancient secrets.
"If that's the case, then who is the owner of this secret realm? Could it be a descendant of a disciple or member of the Divine Wood Sect?" Lin Qing asked curiously.
"It's possible. After all, in order to avoid the great calamity, many sects placed their disciples and followers in secret realms to preserve their heritage. Or it's also possible that outsiders occupied this place."
Yue Yi continued, "In short, the oldest spiritual plants we've encountered along the way haven't exceeded five hundred years. Someone must have come to harvest them during that time. We haven't met anyone yet, so they're probably still waiting for us ahead."
The group continued their journey southeast. After passing through a grove of trees, a shadow fell upon them despite the lack of trees providing cover.
They instinctively looked up and saw a towering tree in the distance that defied description.
That towering figure seemed to have been rooted here since ancient times, majestically occupying the sky and earth in the southeast corner.
The main trunk extends upwards, branching out into countless branches that stretch in all directions, layer upon layer, weaving together to form a magnificent dome that blocks out the sun.
It was as if this giant tree itself was the backbone supporting the southeastern corner of the sky in this secret realm.
Yue Yi, who had been calm and composed, finally changed his expression. After sensing the immense vitality contained within the giant tree, he seemed to know who the owner of this secret realm was.
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