Li Yunjingâs fingers gently brushed over the lines of the ancient array, his fingertips emitting a faint rainbow glow.
With his movements, those originally dim array patterns began to flicker slightly, as if infused with new life.
"This array, although intricate, is not difficult to decipher given its disrepair and the depletion of spirit stones."
As he spoke, Li Yunjing quickly replaced the crumbled top-grade spirit stones with several low-grade spirit stones taken from his storage ring.
"Rise!"
With his light shout, the ancient array suddenly lit up with dazzling light, though the glow was too weak.
The surrounding sludge was pushed aside by an invisible force, revealing a deep entrance.
Regarding the obstacles of the array, because it was only activated by low-grade spirit stones, its power was pitifully weak. The various attacks striking Li Yunjing felt no stronger than an itch.
Li Yunjing and Fu Chao gazed down the entrance, faintly seeing the outline of a majestic palace in the depths, exuding a sense of antiquity.
"Itâs really here!"
Fu Chao exclaimed excitedly, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes.
"Letâs go, have a look inside."
Li Yunjing pointed inward, speaking lightly: "However, we need to be cautious. Since the old demon treated the palaceâs information as an important bargaining chip, it obviously isnât an ordinary palace; it probably wonât be peaceful inside."
Fu Chao nodded, calming himself, and entered the entrance with Li Yunjing.
The two proceeded along the dim passage, the walls on all sides carved with ancient murals, depicting various ancient symbols.
Various demon beasts, fierce beasts, divine beasts, as well as scenes of human race life.
Among these pictures, Li Yunjing scrutinized them closely and unexpectedly discovered the dawn of the Southern Heaven Continent!
"Look! Hereâs the âSouthern Heaven Continentâ!"
Li Yunjing looked at the murals, exclaiming.
This is a memory from ancient times!
Someone depicted that era on the stone wall.
"Indeed! This mountain range! This mountain range is the âShenxiao Mountain Rangeâ! And this one! Doesnât it look like the âTransverse Mountain Rangeâ? Thatâs the East Sea! Thatâs the South Sea!"
Fu Chao widened his eyes, becoming increasingly astonished, exclaiming repeatedly.
"Yes! Itâs our place!"
Li Yunjingâs face grew solemn as he took out a jade scroll, imprinting all the murals onto it.
Despite the maps not being particularly detailed here, they are of certain reference value.
After all, Li Yunjing had not fully understood the Southern Heaven Continent, not to mention other continents.
On those murals, there was also the "Land of the Far North"!
That place was crucial for his survival.
No matter how little information there was, Li Yunjing would never miss it.
Li Yunjingâs gaze was fixed on the stone wallâs depiction of the "Land of the Far North," illustrated as a desolate plain covered in ice and snow, with nine blood moons hanging in the sky, the ground ripped with countless abysses, seemingly connected to the netherworld.
More startling was the faint outline of a massive black altar in the murals, surrounded by countless indistinct human figures, seemingly conducting some ancient ritual.
"Could this be the legendary âNine Netherworld Blood Sacrificeâ?"
Li Yunjingâs heart trembled, his fingers unconsciously brushing the stone wall, as if trying to extract more information from it.
"Brother Li, whatâs the matter? Is there a problem with the Land of the Far North?"
Fu Chao noticed his grave expression and approached to ask.
"Legend has it that the Land of the Far North was the ancestral land of the âNine Netherworld Demon Sectâ during ancient times, where an unparalleled fierce demon was sealed. Whenever the blood moon hangs in the sky, the altar would open, nourishing the demonâs body with the blood of all beings... If this mural is true, then the Land of the Far North might be more perilous than imagined."
Li Yunjing took a deep breath, murmuring to himself.
He continued recording the information on the stone wall into the jade scroll, especially the vague runes and terrain details, meticulously imprinting them.
This information might save his life at a critical moment.
Once all the murals were imprinted, Li Yunjing felt a sense of relief, letting out a long breath.
With these murals, even if there are no treasures inside the so-called palace, Li Yunjing would consider the trip worthwhile.
Maps and understanding of the world are essential to him, more so than anything else.
"Letâs go! We continue downwards!"
Having completed their task, Li Yunjing led Fu Chao further down.
Before long, the way ahead revealed a magnificent white palace, towering in the center of the vast underground space.
The palace was enormous, standing three hundred and thirty feet high.
Outside the palace on the plaza, various statues stood around.
These statues were lifelike, emitting an astonishing aura despite the countless years of sediment, instilling fear.
"Old Li, wonât these guys come to life?"
Fu Chao was startled, his legs trembling.
Itâs known within the Immortal Cultivation Realm, there are countless ways to seal powerful forces within statues.
Who knows if there are any special restrictions within these statues?
If they stepped forward, perhaps the restrictions would be triggered, causing these statues to come to life.
Judging by the terrifying appearances of these different species, they canât be anything good!
If they really came to life, Fu Chao seriously doubted their ability to handle them.
Certainly not on his own!
Just Li Yunjing?
His good brother is powerful, but can he take on ten by himself?
"Letâs go! If things go awry, weâll withdraw immediately!"
They were already at the door, they couldnât just turn back, could they?