The plump Daoist cast a wary glance at the elderly woman, who was still seething with resentment over the ghost king's self-destruction. Ignoring her frustration, he calmly suggested, "Let's pause here to recover some of our spiritual energy before continuing. Pressing forward in our current state would be too risky."
The crone nodded reluctantly, her expression sour. Their journey thus far had not only left them gravely injured but also drained their resources significantly. To leave now would mean a complete loss.
The two settled a few meters apart, each holding a mid-grade spirit stone in hand, and began absorbing its energy to restore their strength. This place was too unstable for consuming medicinal pills, leaving them with no choice but to rely on spirit stones to replenish their energy and suppress their injuries.
Half an hour later, they both opened their eyes, their spiritual energy largely restored and their pallor replaced by healthier complexions.
"Let's proceed."
They exchanged a glance, erected several layers of spiritual shields around themselves, and cautiously activated their light-body techniques, floating forward.
In another part of the structure, Xiao Chen's usually composed demeanor faltered. His face flushed as he stared, dumbfounded, at the room before him.
After navigating the courtyard and collecting several valuable spiritual herbs, he had reached a set of rooms. While the doors bore no visible seals, what lay inside had caught him completely off guard.
The chamber resembled a woman's boudoir, fragrant with a faint, intoxicating aroma. Clothes hung neatly on racks, and among them, a red, embroidered dudou with blue threads and floral patterns swayed slightly from the door's motion.
Despite his disciplined upbringing, Xiao Chen found himself unable to avert his gaze. The audacity of the situation turned his face crimson.
Cough! Cough! He coughed forcefully, trying to suppress his embarrassment. Who would've thought that amid all these deadly traps and treasures, I'd stumble upon... this?
A sharp, indignant voice erupted in his ear, breaking his thoughts.
"GET OUT OF MY ROOM, YOU SCOUNDREL!"
The furious, embarrassed cry of the mysterious woman echoed unnervingly in his mind, like a sharp blade cutting through the air.
Startled, Xiao Chen instinctively scanned the room again to ensure no traps had been set. Convinced there was nothing of value, he retreated hastily, his face burning hotter than before.
In the jade altar, the mysterious woman's rage boiled over. "You damned scoundrel! How dare you intrude upon my private space!" she fumed, her face flushed with a mixture of humiliation and fury. "I'll kill you! I swear I'll make you regret this!"
Despite her threats, Xiao Chen continued his exploration. He had been aware from the start that breaking the first spiritual barrier would alert the woman. But since she had not confronted him directly, he deduced she was preoccupied elsewhere. This gave him a rare opportunity to scour the place thoroughly.
With a determined glint in his eye, he pushed open another door, vowing to make the most of his time.
In the depths of the jade altar, the woman seethed, her cheeks flushed with anger. Her usual composure and shifting demeanor evaporated, leaving behind pure, unbridled humiliation. She bit her lip furiously, her ethereal beauty tinged with a newfound vulnerability that only heightened her allure.
"That bastard... I won't let him get away with this!" she hissed through gritted teeth, her body trembling with suppressed rage.
Meanwhile, in the Path of Destruction, the corpse puppet had shattered the final restriction with brute force. The massive Jiangshi's body radiated intense corpse energy, which surged into the teleportation array beneath its feet. Its hulking frame shimmered before vanishing entirely.
"Spirit Beast Egg!" Xiao Chen's eyes lit up with excitement.
Before him stood a peculiar tree, its gnarled branches forming a natural nest. Resting within was a half-meter-long egg covered in intricate, glowing patterns.
Cautiously, Xiao Chen extended his spiritual sense toward the egg, only to find it repelled by a strange force. Yet the faint pulse of life within the egg was undeniable.
His lips curved into a smile. An egg capable of resisting my spiritual sense, which rivals that of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator? This must be an extraordinary spirit beast.
For cultivators, spirit beasts were an invaluable asset. Many prominent sects arranged for their elite disciples to form life-long pacts with powerful beasts from a young age, granting them immense combat prowess even beyond their cultivation level.
Xiao Chen carefully retrieved a mid-grade spirit tool—a shovel-like weapon—from his storage pouch. Though it was unrefined and acquired from Wu Wanli, it seemed perfect for this delicate task.
Injecting a thread of spiritual energy into the tool, Xiao Chen began to dig around the tree's roots with precision. Soon, he lifted the entire tree, nest, and egg into a separate storage pouch, ensuring they remained intact.
Satisfied, he meticulously scanned the room for anything he might have missed before moving on.
Elsewhere, the crone and the plump Daoist found themselves standing in a massive, barren hall.
"This doesn't look like an ancient cultivator's abode," the crone muttered darkly. "It feels more like... a prison."
The Daoist's expression turned contemplative. "Even if it's a prison, there may still be treasures left behind by its creator. Perhaps even greater rewards than we can imagine."
The crone's eyes flickered with understanding. Rumors had been circulating across Beihua Prefecture about a relic site where cultivators had accidentally released a fearsome demonic being. The survivor of that expedition had emerged as a Golden Core powerhouse with a treasure capable of challenging Nascent Soul cultivators.
Could this place hold similar secrets?
Both cultivators exchanged glances, their gazes burning with ambition.
Erecting layers of protective barriers, they cautiously advanced into the ominous hall, their minds racing with possibilities.
The atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive as they progressed.
"'Nine-Wu Locking Yin Array.'"
"'Seng Luo Soul-Cracking Array.'"
"'Chiza God-Destroying Array!'"
The Daoist's and the crone's expressions paled as they identified the terrifying formations arrayed before them. These arrays, some unfamiliar and others only recognized through ancient records, emanated an overwhelming sense of danger.
"This place..." the crone muttered, her voice trembling. "What kind of monster required such defenses?"
Suddenly, the crone froze mid-step. A faint pulse of spiritual energy rippled beneath her feet. Her face drained of color.
"HELP ME!" she screamed, vanishing in an instant.
The Daoist recoiled, retreating several steps without hesitation. Cold sweat beaded his brow as he stared at the spot where the crone had disappeared.
"Even she couldn't resist..." he muttered, his heart pounding.
Steeling himself, he advanced cautiously, determined to unravel the hall's secrets—even if it meant stepping into the abyss.