102: Chapter 102 Obtaining Clues from Array Patterns, Encountering Cultivators from Flowing Cloud City

Within the hollow in the center of the altar, broken metal components and remnants of formation patterns intersected, permeating with a mixed aura of time and residual energy.

Ye Qing squatted down, his fingers gently brushing over those broken patterns, and a faint, almost imperceptible resistance and spatial fluctuation came from his fingertips.

He carefully distinguished the direction, material, and residual energy attributes of these patterns.

The technique used to carve these formation patterns was extremely ancient, sharing some conceptual similarities with parts of the Great Dao Scripture of Zhou Tian Stars he had obtained previously, but it was more primitive, crude, and contained a more direct, domineering application of spatial and stellar power.

"This is not merely a foundation for a teleportation array, but more like… a component of some 'Star Gate' or 'Void Realm Anchor'. It is used to calibrate distant starry sky coordinates and establish a stable spatial channel."

Ye Qing gradually formed a judgment in his heart.

He had once obtained a partial Legacy regarding the ancient teleportation array in the Cuiping Mountain Secret Realm. Now, verifying it against the actual object before him, many vague points became clear.

"This altar should be an important 'relay node' or 'calibration base point' within the system of the ancient teleportation array. Unfortunately, the core components have been taken away, and the formation patterns are severely damaged, making it impossible to directly activate or teleport."

His gaze fell on a relatively complete, palm-sized, dark silver metal base at the bottom of the hollow.

On the surface of the base was a complex miniature star map composed of countless concentric circles and stellar symbols. In the center of the star map was a grain-sized groove, which seemed to have originally been inlaid with some core object.

"The core hub has been taken away. Looking at these marks, it should have been done recently, and the technique was quite professional, without causing secondary damage to the base. Is it the people from the Tianxing Sect? Or Liuyun City?"

Ye Qing pondered for a moment, carefully removed the dark silver metal base, stored it in his Cave Heaven World, and left it for future study.

He stood up and his gaze swept over the corpses scattered around the altar.

These people had died from various causes; some had been torn by sharp claws, some blasted by Spells, and there were also traces of those killed by poison or Demonic Weapons. Clearly, more than one chaotic battle had broken out here to fight for something on this altar or for the qualification to explore it.

"This place is not suitable for a long stay. The commotion from the battle just now was not small and might attract more trouble."

He was just about to leave when his expression suddenly shifted, and he looked toward a certain direction in the fog.

A moment later, three beams of light flew out from the fog and landed on the edge of the altar.

The three newcomers were all wearing the standard silver-grey light armor of Liuyun City, with cultivation levels ranging from Foundation Establishment Late Stage to Perfection. The leader was a middle-aged man with a square face and a steady aura, carrying a wide and thick silver iron sword on his back; he was the "Iron Sword" Zhao Wuji mentioned by the Tianxing Sect Disciple earlier.

After landing, the three saw the mess and undried bloodstains all over the ground, as well as Ye Qing, who was standing in the center of the altar with an unfathomable aura. Their expressions changed, and they immediately adopted a defensive posture.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" Iron Sword Zhao Wuji scanned Ye Qing with vigilant eyes and asked in a deep voice. He sensed that Ye Qing's aura was obscure and difficult to see through, and he was secretly shocked, knowing he had encountered a tough opponent.

Ye Qing's expression was calm as his gaze swept over the three: "I was passing by and happened to encounter a wolf pack, so I cleaned them up. Are you all Cultivators from Liuyun City?"

Upon hearing this, Iron Sword Zhao Wuji glanced at the remains of the magic wolves on the ground that had not yet been fully processed, and a chill went through his heart. To be able to kill such a number of Star Fiend Magic Wolves alone, including a Third Stage leader, this strength was definitely not ordinary.

His attitude immediately became a bit more polite, and he cupped his hands: "I am Iron Sword Zhao Wuji from Liuyun City, ordered to come here to investigate the anomalies of the ancient altar. May I ask for the Senior's honorable name? Do you know what happened here?"

"Ye Qing, a mere Loose Cultivator." Ye Qing said indifferently, "When I arrived, this place was already in this state. The core object of the altar seems to have been taken away by someone."

Iron Sword Zhao Wuji exchanged a look with his two companions, and their expressions were a bit ugly.

"As expected, someone has beaten us to it." Iron Sword Zhao Wuji sighed, "We received a mission to come and recover any potential 'Star Cores' or 'Void Realm Stone' fragments. It seems we are a step late. May I ask if the Senior saw who did this?"

"I did not see. When I came, only the wolf pack was entrenched here." Ye Qing shook his head, paused, and then added, "However, although the formation patterns of this altar are damaged, the 'Star Gate' concept contained within is quite interesting. If you want to repair the ancient teleportation array, I am afraid you will need to find the 'core hub' that was taken away."

Upon hearing this, a flash of light appeared in Iron Sword Zhao Wuji's eyes, and he looked deeply at Ye Qing: "Does the Senior also have research on ancient formations?"

"I know a thing or two." Ye Qing said vaguely.

Iron Sword Zhao Wuji pondered for a moment, seemingly having made a decision, and cupped his hands: "The Senior has profound strength and also understands the principles of ancient formations. To tell you the truth, besides recovering Materials, our mission this time also has another purpose: to draw a detailed formation pattern map of this altar for the Sect's Formation Master to study. I wonder if the Senior could do us a favor and let us record the remaining formation patterns of this altar? As a token of gratitude, we can share some known information and a map of the Restrictions distribution on the outskirts of this ancient teleportation array ruin."

Ye Qing's heart stirred. He was worried that he did not have a detailed understanding of the situation on the outskirts of the ruins. If he could get a piece of official intelligence from Liuyun City, it would be of great benefit to his subsequent exploration. As for the formation pattern map, he had already recorded seven or eight out of ten just now, so letting them make a rubbing would not hurt.

"Very well." He nodded in agreement.

Iron Sword Zhao Wuji breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly went up with his two companions, taking out a special Jade Slip and rubbing tool to carefully record the remaining formation patterns and runes on the altar.

Ye Qing watched quietly from the side, occasionally asking a few questions about the surrounding terrain, Restrictions, and Yao Beast distribution of the ruins, seemingly casually.

Perhaps to befriend this unfathomable "Senior Loose Cultivator," or perhaps because he felt this information was not top secret, Iron Sword Zhao Wuji answered quite detailedly, even proactively informing him of several known, relatively safe paths and resource points.

About half an hour later, Iron Sword Zhao Wuji and the other two finished the rubbing work.

"Many thanks to the Senior for the accommodation." Iron Sword Zhao Wuji cupped his hands again, "This place is dangerous. If the Senior wants to continue deeper, please be careful. As far as we know, there are not only powerful ancient Restrictions and spatial turbulence in the depths of the basin, but also several Third Stage peak Yao Beasts entrenched there, and it is even rumored that a terrifying Nascent Soul Stage existence is sleeping. If it is not necessary, it is best not to go deep into the core area."

"Thank you for the reminder." Ye Qing nodded and accepted the Jade Slip shared by Iron Sword Zhao Wuji, which recorded part of the terrain and Restriction distribution on the outskirts of the ruins.

After the two sides exchanged a few more polite words, Iron Sword Zhao Wuji and his two companions did not stay any longer, set up their escape lights, and quickly left along the way they came.

Ye Qing watched them leave, then cast his gaze toward the deeper part of the fog.

"The core hub was taken away... Liuyun City and the Tianxing Sect are both looking for 'Star Cores' and 'Void Realm Stones'... It seems that the repair of the ancient teleportation array has reached a critical stage. The core hub that was taken away might be in the hands of the Tianxing Sect or Liuyun City, or it might... have fallen into the hands of the Yao Race."

He rubbed the dark silver metal base obtained from the altar, and a deep light flashed in his eyes.

"In any case, I must go into this ancient teleportation array ruin to take a look. Perhaps I can find clues to leave this world and go to a broader starry sky."

He put away the metal base, his figure flickered, and he merged into the grey-black fog again, quietly sneaking toward the deeper part of the basin.

Inside his body, the twenty-thousand-zhang Cave Heaven, the Earth Vein Star Sea, and the Chaos Nascent Soul sat in the Dantian, breathing in and out the Chaos Infant Essence, providing a steady stream of support for the upcoming exploration.