202: Under the thunderclouds, a preliminary exploration of reality.

The cloud piercing shuttle silently landed in a hidden valley on the outskirts of the Thunder Roar Mountain Range. This location was still over a hundred miles away from the core settlement of the Gongsun Family, with dense forests and steep terrain, making it the perfect temporary base.

The four people stepped out of the shuttle and immediately felt the pure Thunder-elemental Spiritual Qi permeating the air, which was far denser than the outside world, along with a faint, oppressive feeling covering the entire mountain range. In the distance, the perpetually overcast thunder clouds hung low, occasionally pierced by streaks of electric snakes, followed by muffled roars.

"The Thunder Spiritual Qi is so dense." Gongsun Yu took a deep breath. Having just achieved a Breakthrough to the Late Golden Core Stage, she felt a strong affinity for this environment. The thunder techniques within her body circulated automatically, slightly faster than usual. But when she thought of the Family's current situation, this affinity turned into heavy worry.

Lin Xuan's Divine Sense spread out like water ripples, cautiously probing the surroundings. "System, conduct a comprehensive scan of energy fluctuations, Formation nodes, and suspicious targets within a fifty-mile radius."

[Scanning... Detected multiple traces of man-made Formations, ranging from Foundation Establishment Rank to Golden Core Rank, mostly for warning and alert purposes. Found three energy anomaly points, suspected to be small mineral veins or Spiritual Eye locations. No energy reactions from individuals above the Nascent Soul Rank were detected. Detected faint residual spatial fluctuations thirty miles to the northwest, with 67% similarity to known Guixu Cult Teleportation Formation fluctuations.]

Sure enough, there were traces of the Guixu Cult! Those spatial fluctuations were likely one of their channels for traveling to and from this place.

"We will first establish a temporary camp here and set up a Concealment Formation," Lin Xuan said solemnly. "Wanqing, Feiyan, you two are responsible for vigilance and setting up the Formation. Xiaoyu, carefully recall and outline the detailed layout of the Family's interior that you know, especially the Forbidden Ground, the residences of important figures, and the potential locations of the Formation cores."

"Yes!" the Three women responded in unison.

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan immediately got to work. Su Wanqing changed her hand Seals, and streams of Taiyin Cold Qi merged into the surroundings, forming an invisible "Ice Mist Barrier," which could not only distort light and isolate Divine Sense probing but also slow down intruders. Qu Feiyan, meanwhile, took out several blood-colored Formation Flags. With a flick of her wrist, she drove them into the ground according to specific directions, setting up a "blood lotus Illusion Kill Formation," which combined illusion techniques with fierce attacks, complementing Su Wanqing's Ice Mist Barrier.

With two Peak Golden Core Cultivators working together to set up the Formation, the efficiency was extremely high. Moments later, this temporary camp was impregnable, its presence perfectly concealed within the mountains and forests.

On the other side, Gongsun Yu squatted on the ground, using her own Thunder Spiritual Power as a guide to meticulously sketch a three-dimensional map of the core area of the Gongsun Family. The Main Hall, Elder Council, Martial Arts Field, Scripture Pavilion, Family Treasury, and the rear mountain area designated as the Forbidden Ground, perpetually shrouded in lightning, were all marked by her.

"The rear mountain Forbidden Ground has historically only been accessible to the Clan Chief and core Elders," Gongsun Yu said, her voice low as she pointed to the area. "I accidentally trespassed on the periphery once when I was little and was immediately repelled by the Formation, and severely punished by my father. That place... gives me a very bad feeling, very oppressive, and the Thunder Spiritual Qi is mixed with a kind of... deathly silent aura."

Lin Xuan stared at the map, his gaze sharp. "The Guixu Cult's base is almost certainly in this rear mountain Forbidden Ground. Your aunt's location is likely inside or adjacent to it." He looked at Gongsun Yu. "Within the Family, besides your eldest uncle Gongsun Hao and those Black-Robed Figures, who else might be controlled, or who can we trust?"

Gongsun Yu frowned in thought for a moment, then said uncertainly, "Elder Gongsun Li of the Hall of Punishment has a tough stance, but I'm not sure if he knows anything. Perhaps... Seventh Uncle-Grandfather, who guards the Family Ancestral Hall, might still be clear-headed? He has been in seclusion for years, rarely interferes with secular affairs, and his cultivation is profound, having reached Golden Core Perfection many years ago..."

"Ancestral Hall..." Lin Xuan noted the piece of information. An elderly Cultivator who has been in perpetual seclusion and detached from worldly affairs might indeed be an uncompromised sanctuary.

"We should not attack directly," Su Wanqing said coolly, walking over after finishing the Formation setup. "The enemy has geographical advantage, Formations, and possibly a Nascent Soul Cultivator overseeing the area. We need to use strategy."

Qu Feiyan also came closer, her charming eyes scanning the map, and she laughed, "Forcing our way in is boring. Why don't we... let them fall into chaos first? For example, create an 'accident' to make the controlled Gongsun Hao reveal his flaws? Or, stir up the waters first, and then act according to the situation to sneak into the rear mountain?"

Lin Xuan nodded; Qu Feiyan's idea coincided perfectly with his own. "That's right. We need more intelligence to understand their exact strength, personnel distribution, especially the precise location of your aunt. Blind action carries too much risk."

He pondered for a moment, having made a decision: "Tonight, I will infiltrate the periphery alone and bring back a 'tongue' [informant]. Wanqing, Feiyan, you two guard the camp and be ready to provide support at any time. Xiaoyu, you are familiar with the environment, mark out the places where hidden sentries or patrol routes might exist."

"Big Brother Lin, you're going alone? That's too dangerous!" Gongsun Yu immediately worried.

"No worries." Lin Xuan smiled confidently. "With my Nascent Soul cultivation and the System's assistance, as long as I don't venture deep into the core area and maintain careful concealment, the probability of being discovered is extremely low. I just need to capture a lone Golden Core Steward who knows some internal information and clarify the situation."

Seeing that Lin Xuan's mind was made up and his arrangements were secure, the Three women no longer objected. Su Wanqing silently sealed a strand of pure Taiyin Sword Intent into a jade talisman and handed it to Lin Xuan: "If there is an emergency, crush this talisman, and I can sense your location."

Qu Feiyan also slipped a small, blood-colored bell to Lin Xuan: "'Heart Confusing Bell.' When shaken, it can disturb a person's mind, and it works well against Golden Core Cultivators."

Gongsun Yu watched eagerly, unable to offer any powerful treasure, and could only say forcefully, "Big Brother Lin, you must be careful!"

Feeling the concern of the Three women, Lin Xuan felt warmth in his heart. He put away the jade talisman and the bell, and nodded to them: "Wait for my news."

Night fell completely. The night in the Thunder Roar Mountain Range was not quiet, filled with the intertwined sounds of beast roars, insect chirps, and distant, faint thunder. Lin Xuan's figure flickered, merging into the darkness like a phantom. The Taichu Power circulated around him, perfectly concealing his aura as he stealthily moved toward the periphery of the Gongsun Family territory.

Based on the clues provided by Gongsun Yu and the System's real-time scan, he avoided several overt and covert sentry posts and warning Formations, moving through the familiar yet strange Family territory like an invisible shadow.

His target was an outpost on the Family periphery responsible for patrols and material transportation. The personnel there were relatively complex, making it easier to find a suitable target.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Lin Xuan silently lurked in the shadow of a giant tree, his gaze fixed on an Early Golden Core Stage Steward inside the outpost who had just finished his shift and was grumbling as he walked toward a secluded spot. This person was dressed in the Gongsun Family Steward uniform and had a hint of malice on his face, making him the ideal "tongue."

Just as Lin Xuan prepared to make his move, he suddenly frowned, and a warning came from the System.

[Warning: Detected faint Divine Soul Restriction fluctuations on the target, Nascent Soul Rank intensity. Forcibly searching the soul may trigger the Restriction, leading to the target's Divine Soul collapsing or alerting the Restriction setter.]

Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed. The Guixu Cult was indeed cautious; they had even planted a Divine Soul Restriction on an outer steward!

It seemed the plan to capture a "tongue" for questioning would not work. A different approach was necessary.

His eyes flickered as he watched the unaware steward walking deeper into the woods to relieve himself. A more covert and safer plan quietly surfaced in his mind.

Perhaps, there was no need to ask. He just needed to... listen.