160: Back to the spirit stone mine! Repair the teleportation array!

Chapter 160: Return to the Spirit Stone Mine! Repairing the Teleportation Array!

The next day, before the sky had brightened, the Yellow Maple Valley Market was still shrouded in the silence of dawn, a mix of haze and panic.

Lu Qiu and his group were already prepared.

He summoned Han Li, who was already packed and ready, and took Xin Ruyin, Xiao Mei, Zhao Wen, and the Incarnation Black Fiend—who stood silently to the side with a deep aura—quietly leaving the rented small courtyard.

Without alerting anyone, the group was like drops of water merging into a stream, quickly disappearing into the mist and mountain forests on the outskirts of the market.

After leaving the range of the Taiyue Mountain Range, Lu Qiu immediately instructed everyone to change their attire.

He changed into a black robe embroidered with a ferocious ghost head, while Han Li, Zhao Wen, and the others also changed into various styles of clothing that clearly bore the style of the Demonic Path.

Xin Ruyin and Xiao Mei put on large cloaks that could conceal their figures and auras.

At this moment, the heartland of the State of Yue was already in a state of chaos.

The news of the great defeat at Golden Drum Plain had completely shattered the Seven Sects' will to resist. Stragglers and fleeing Cultivators were wandering everywhere, while the vanguard of the Six Demonic Sects, like sharks smelling blood, began to penetrate deep into the State of Yue in groups, killing, looting, occupying key locations, and searching for remnants and resources of the Seven Sects.

The Seven Sects were too busy looking after themselves; high-level Cultivators were occupied with organizing retreats or guarding vital points, completely unable to maintain order in the vast regions.

This made the journey of Lu Qiu's group, disguised as Demonic Path Cultivators, proceed more smoothly than expected.

They traveled on an inconspicuous black flying boat summoned by Lu Qiu, flying at low altitude along the mountain forests, trying their best to avoid areas where there might be large-scale battles or the auras of high-level Cultivators.

On the way, they encountered a patrol of about seven or eight Demonic Flame Sect Cultivators head-on.

Seeing that the several people on the flying boat had extraordinary auras, Lu Qiu deliberately displayed his Late Foundation Establishment Stage pressure, and Zhao Wen also timely emitted the aura of pure "Qingyang Demonic Fire". Being dressed in Demonic Path attire, the other party only swept over them with Divine Sense from a distance. Sensing the pure Qingyang Demonic Art fluctuations from Zhao Wen, they lowered their guard, and both sides passed each other by tacit agreement without any conflict.

On the flying boat, the Divine Thought transmission of True Person Ling Yun, filled with a bit of novelty, echoed in Lu Qiu's mind:

“Tsk tsk, I didn't expect that having survived until now, I would still have a chance to witness the activation of this ancient teleportation array. This kind of spatial displacement across realms is not something an ordinary Cultivator can experience, even in the Great Jin.”

Lu Qiu replied in his heart: “Senior, are you not looking forward to going to a completely unfamiliar region? Perhaps there is an Opportunity there that can allow Senior to recover your Primordial Spirit.”

True Person Ling Yun chuckled, his remnant soul fluctuating with a hint of freedom and worldliness: “Looking forward? Not really. In this state, being able to persist for a few more days and see more scenery is already a stroke of luck. However, being able to see the sights of a new world is always good. The name of this Chaotic Star Sea is something I occasionally heard of during my travels back then. It is said to be a vast and boundless overseas cultivation world, very different from Tiannan or the Great Jin. You have chosen an interesting place for this trip, young friend.”

...Two days later, after a journey without any major scares, the group successfully entered the desolate and remote Withered Wind Wasteland.

After another half a day, following the accurate coordinates provided by Han Li, they finally arrived at the location of the Spirit Stone mine where the ancient teleportation array was hidden—the Ghost Sorrow Great Canyon.

Unlike the last time Han Li investigated, the entrance to the canyon was now covered by a light black curtain of light. Eerie ghost-face runes occasionally moved across the curtain, clearly a Demonic Path Formation sealing the entrance.

Inside and outside the canyon, several Foundation Establishment Stage auras could be faintly sensed patrolling.

“As expected, it has been occupied by the Demonic Path,” Han Li said in a low voice, his brow slightly furrowed.

“No matter,” Lu Qiu's expression was calm as he looked at Xin Ruyin beside him.

Xin Ruyin understood, her delicate hand lifting slightly as several pale silver Formation Flags flew out silently, sinking into the ground near the canyon entrance.

Her eyes closed slightly as her Divine Sense carefully probed the Spiritual Qi flow nodes of that black light curtain. A moment later, her fingertips pinched several hand seals.

The few Formation Flags brightened slightly, and the pale silver spiritual light, like mercury spreading on the ground, silently merged into the black light curtain.

The ghost-face runes on the light curtain suddenly became disordered, their flow speed becoming sluggish, and the curtain itself became thin and transparent at a speed visible to the naked eye.

“It's done. The core of this Formation has been temporarily disrupted. It won't recover within half an incense stick of time, nor will it trigger any alarms.” Xin Ruyin retracted her Formation Flags, her tone indifferent as if she had only done a trivial matter.

Lu Qiu gave her an appreciative look and was the first to transform into a streak of green smoke, flashing through the thinnest part of the light curtain.

Han Li, Black Fiend, and the others followed closely behind.

Inside the canyon, there was indeed a team of about ten Demonic Path Cultivators on guard. The leader was a black-robed old man in the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, sitting cross-legged on a giant rock with his eyes closed to rest.

The others were in the Early or Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, scattered near the entrance of the mine tunnel.

The intrusion of Lu Qiu and his group immediately alerted the guards.

The black-robed old man suddenly opened his eyes and shouted sharply: “Who is it?! How dare you trespass into my Ghost Spirit Sect's forbid...”

Before his words could finish, he only felt a sudden pain in his brow, as if a red-hot steel needle had been ruthlessly thrust into his Sea of Consciousness!

Spirit Shocking Thorn!

Lu Qiu's sneak attack was silent but incredibly sharp.

The black-robed old man screamed, clutching his head and staggering back. Blood instantly seeped from his seven orifices. His Divine Sense suffered a heavy blow, and for a moment, he was completely unable to condense his magic power.

In the instant he lost focus, a speck of golden light arrived!

The sky burning gilded plumes transformed into a blazing golden line, instantly piercing through his protective spiritual light and chest, leaving a charred hollow.

The light in the black-robed old man's eyes quickly dimmed, and his corpse fell to the ground.

At the same time, Han Li had already struck. Several Puppets boldly pounced on the nearest few demonic Cultivators, while Azure Essence Sword Radiance crisscrossed the air.

Zhao Wen also gave a low roar, Qingyang Demonic Fire rising around him and condensing into several fire pythons that lunged at the enemies.

Black Fiend flickered like a ghost, and wherever the Blood Refining Divine Light passed, the demonic Cultivators were either killed or injured.

The battle ended extremely quickly.

After Lu Qiu took the lead in insta-killing the strongest Late Foundation Establishment Stage leader, the remaining demonic Cultivators could not organize any effective resistance and were soon cleared away.

Without any delay, the group quickly entered the mine tunnel, passing through the complex mine passages with ease, and once again arrived at the giant karst cave where the ancient teleportation array was hidden.

The huge hexagonal array platform still lay quietly in the center of the cave, the dust of ages unable to hide the profound and ancient runes upon it.

Compared to when Han Li first discovered it, there was no difference.

Lu Qiu took out various rare Materials he had already prepared—Void Crystal Stone, Silver Essence, Ironwood, dream illusion stone, etc. These were all keys to repairing the ancient teleportation array.

Following the guidance of the array diagram Xin Ruyin had completed, he began to carefully fill and repair the missing or worn runes and structures on the array platform.

Xin Ruyin assisted from the side, using her exquisite Formation expertise to point out some particularly delicate or error-prone steps to Lu Qiu.

Han Li, Zhao Wen, and the others stood guard vigilantly at the entrance of the cave, guarding against any possible accidents.

The repair work was tedious and precise, allowing for no mistakes.

For two full days, Lu Qiu barely slept or rested, putting his whole heart and soul into it.

When the last broken array pattern was perfectly connected by the Silver Essence solution, and the last dim rune was re-injected with magic power and lit up—

The entire ancient teleportation array platform suddenly emitted a low resonance, as if coming from ancient times!

All the runes lit up in sequence, flowing with a warm and mysterious milky-white luster. A stable and vast spatial fluctuation faintly emanated from the center of the array platform.

The ancient teleportation array was repaired!

...Standing before the newly repaired ancient teleportation array, the milky-white spiritual light flowing from the platform reflected on everyone's faces.

Lu Qiu and Han Li looked at each other at the same time, both seeing an irrepressible excitement in the other's eyes, as well as a hint of nervousness deep in their eyes about the completely unknown path ahead.

Crossing an endless distance to go to a strange world that only existed in legends or ancient books.

There might be a broader world, richer resources, and more profound legacies there, but it would also inevitably be accompanied by unpredictable dangers, different rules, and a state of being lonely and without help.

Lu Qiu took a deep breath, suppressing the waves in his heart.

After planning for several years and going through life and death, he had finally reached this step.

The Chaotic Star Sea, that vast and boundless overseas cultivation world with abundant resources and scattered islands, was the perfect stage for him to utilize his Golden Finger advantages and rise rapidly.

With the guidance of his Opportunity, he believed he could definitely establish a foothold there and even carve out a new world.

He turned his head, his gaze sweeping over his companions.

Xin Ruyin met his gaze, quietly reaching out and tightly holding his hand. Her fingertips were slightly cool, yet they carried an incredibly firm strength.

Her eyes were clear and firm, needing no words.

Xiao Mei nodded vigorously, her face showing a look of complete trust.

Zhao Wen cupped his fists and bowed, his posture respectful and resolute.

Black Fiend stood silently, his crimson eyes holding only obedience.

“Are you ready?” Lu Qiu asked softly, his voice echoing in the empty karst cave.

“Ready,” Han Li nodded heavily, clenching his fists.

“Good.”

Without any more hesitation, Lu Qiu took the first step, treading onto the center of the hexagonal array platform flowing with milky-white light.

Xin Ruyin, Xiao Mei, Zhao Wen, and Black Fiend followed closely behind.

Han Li hesitated for a moment, then also stepped on firmly.

The six of them each stood in their positions, forming a circle.

Lu Qiu's left hand tightly held that ancient "great teleportation token", and with a wave of his right hand, five Mid-grade Spirit Stones, dense with Spiritual Qi and crystal clear like top-quality jade, flew out, accurately embedding into five specific grooves around the array platform.

“Stand firm!”

He gave a low shout, his Divine Sense triggering as a majestic amount of magic power boomed into the array platform beneath his feet, while simultaneously activating the great teleportation token in his left hand!