Though Chu Feng’s words heightened the group’s unease, they had no choice but to follow him. If even Chu Feng couldn’t navigate the Twenty-Three Dragon Caverns Formation, no one among them stood a chance.
Chu Feng didn’t waste time explaining further.
As Liangqiu Lanyue had said, passing through this array truly relied on intuition—or more precisely, a World Spiritist’s skill. The formation shifted unpredictably, without any discernible pattern. Breaking it depended on ability.
This was tied to the strength of one’s spirit techniques, but that wasn’t the deciding factor. What mattered most was the World Spiritist’s judgment.
Chu Feng entered the first path. Before long, he encountered a fork and chose the left branch, only to face another split soon after.
Each fork wasn’t a simple binary choice—it came with subtle hints that a World Spiritist had to discern, observe, and judge.
Because Chu Feng took this seriously, his progress was painstakingly slow.
Meanwhile, it wasn’t just Chu Feng’s group facing the Twenty-Three Dragon Caverns Formation.
Liangqiu Chengfeng and the older generation’s powerhouses were also tackling it.
As a Saint-cloak World Spiritist, Liangqiu Chengfeng—backed by formidable allies—moved swiftly.
While Chu Feng and his group crept forward cautiously, Liangqiu Chengfeng’s team had already passed through the formation, reaching the deepest part of the ancient ruin.
But Liangqiu Chengfeng was carried out, supported by a special boundary formation crafted by the Wuma Celestial Clan Leader and the Chu Celestial Clan Leader.
His face was pale, his body wrapped in layers of boundary energy that seeped into him like poison, leaving him visibly tormented.
Despite this, he surveyed his surroundings with a grave gaze, finally locking onto a boundary formation at the heart of this deep chamber.
The formation rose from the ground to the ceiling, transparent like glass—so subtle it was nearly invisible unless scrutinized, yet radiating immense power.
Around it stood eight stone tablets, each engraved with a unique dragon.
But what truly drew the eye was within the formation.
A melon-sized object floated midair, bobbing up and down. It glowed a vibrant green, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly light—an unmistakable treasure.
Most strikingly, it pulsed as if alive.
“It seems this is the treasure of this place,” Liangqiu Chengfeng said, his voice weak.
“Lord Liangqiu, what is it?” someone asked.
“I don’t know what it is, but I can confirm the treasure here isn’t limited to what’s inside that formation,” he replied. “The walls hold treasures too.”
Everyone had been fixated on the object within the formation. Only at his words did they notice the walls, where blue lights flickered like fireflies.
“Are these treasures?” someone wondered, reaching out.
*Whoosh—*
Suddenly, the blue lights detached from the walls, swarming chaotically like a frenzied insect horde.
In that instant, a rich surge of cosmic energy emanated from them, palpable to everyone present.
“These are indeed treasures—cultivation treasures!”
Realizing the power within these glowing entities, the group sprang into action, using various techniques to capture the darting insects.
In moments, the insects were snatched up entirely, with each person securing a share—the only difference being the quantity.
“Lord Liangqiu, what’s wrong?”
Amid the group’s elation, a panicked cry rang out from the Chu Celestial Clan Leader.
All eyes turned to see him and the Wuma Celestial Clan Leader standing before Liangqiu Chengfeng.
Liangqiu Chengfeng had been laid on the ground, his eyes now closed.
“This is bad—Lord Liangqiu’s injuries are worse than we thought.”
The group rushed to his side, not just crowding around but employing their skills to diagnose and treat him.
They all knew what had happened in the Twenty-Three Dragon Caverns Formation. When Elder Li Taiyi of the Li Celestial Clan accidentally triggered a trap, countless boundary beasts had descended from above, lunging at them.
Liangqiu Chengfeng had single-handedly held them off.
The group emerged unscathed, but he’d suffered grievous wounds.
The injury was bizarre—beyond his ability to heal, only to mitigate.
He’d likely foreseen he couldn’t hold out long. Instead of focusing on recovery, he’d pressed on to guide them after easing his condition.
He knew that without him, they’d be trapped in the formation.
The journey hadn’t been easy—he couldn’t even walk unaided, hence being carried by the two clan leaders’ boundary formation.
Now, having led them here, he’d reached his limit.
Naturally, the group was worried. Without him, they wouldn’t be standing here.
Yet despite their best efforts, no one could rouse him.
His wounds were terrifying.
A boundary energy, like a toxic gas, coiled around and seeped into him.
But they were powerless to expel it, forced to watch as it continued to devour him.
*Boom—*
A muffled thud rang out, and a figure flew backward from the crowd.
“What’s this?”
Looking closer, they saw it was the Chu Celestial Clan Leader.
His chest was pierced, his body trembling. A single blow had wounded his soul, leaving him on the brink of death.
“Li Taiyi, what are you doing?”
The Wuma Celestial Clan Leader turned to Elder Li Taiyi of the Li Celestial Clan.
It was he who’d struck, grievously injuring the Chu Celestial Clan Leader.
“No need to make a fuss,” Li Taiyi said coolly, unfazed by the group’s bewildered and faintly angry stares. A cold smirk played on his lips as he added, “Just clearing out loose ends.”
