Volume I, Chapter 21: Ancient Gaze, Choices on the Path Ahead

In his palm, the warmth and faint tremors emanating from the "miasma source formation core" felt like the lingering echo of this ancient heart refusing to fall silent. Lin Xuan stood at the center of the vortex where the Evil Qi had gradually calmed. The blood seeping from his seven orifices was not conspicuous against the dark red hue on his skin. Only his eyes, due to the intense consumption of his Divine Soul and will, appeared exceptionally deep, yet also exceptionally bright.

He could clearly perceive the faint connection established with this Forbidden Ground through the Formation core. One stick of incense—this was the brief authority gained after the "Trial of Strength." He could "see" the changes on the main battlefield outside: the stone statue army Formation was like rusted gears, their movements stiff and sluggish, their defensive halos dimming, and under the desperate counterattacks of Han Feiyu and the others, they were turning into rubble one by one.

The crisis was temporarily averted.

But Lin Xuan's mind did not relax in the slightest. Because that blood-colored gaze cast from the depths of the cave had not weakened due to the Formation core being controlled; instead, it had become clearer, more... penetrating. That gaze was like an invisible tentacle, brushing over his body, focusing on the Formation core in his hand, and on the aura of the Ancient God Body Refining Technique circulating within him, carrying a sense of scrutiny, exploration, and even... a hint of indescribable, complex emotion.

There were no words, no increase in pressure. Just being "looked at" like this made Lin Xuan feel a pressure even greater than facing the stone statue army. This was the natural awe brought about by the absolute gap in the level of life and the status of existence.

"Brother Lin! Are you alright?" The shouts of Wang Mang and Li Dali came from the edge of the vortex, filled with worry and urgency. Seeing Lin Xuan drenched in blood yet standing tall, holding a crystal emitting a strange light, while the surrounding Evil Qi vortex was calming down, they felt both shocked and relieved.

Lin Xuan composed his mind, holding the Formation core, and walked out step by step from the center of the calming vortex. Each step was slightly heavy, not just from the exhaustion of his Physical Body bearing a huge load, but also from the feeling of emptiness due to the excessive consumption of his Divine Soul and will. However, his back remained straight as he arrived before Wang Mang and the others.

"I'm fine, the consumption was just a bit high." Lin Xuan spoke concisely, showing the Formation core to the two of them. "This object can temporarily control the stone statues, but the time is limited. Let's head back first."

Wang Mang and Li Dali looked at the pitch-black, dark red crystal that contained mysterious power, feeling the majestic miasma source aura emanating from it. Both felt a chill in their hearts and nodded quickly.

When Lin Xuan and the two returned to the main battlefield, the battle here was nearing its end.

The twenty stone statue guards, along with those four quasi-Foundation Establishment existences, had all been reduced to rubble and broken limbs scattered across the ground. The air was filled with the strong smell of stone dust and a faint scent of blood. The survivors of the Yunni Sect sat on the ground, disheveled and panting, seizing the time to consume Medicinal Pills and treat their wounds. Everyone's face bore the relief of having survived a disaster and a bone-deep exhaustion.

Han Feiyu leaned against a recess in the rock wall, his face as pale as paper, his aura withered, his moon-white brocade robe torn in many places, stained with blood and stone dust. The backlash from the "Violent Blood Thunder Miasma Pill" he had taken was severe, and he was currently closing his eyes, fully suppressing the chaotic spiritual energy and surging blood Qi in his body. The jade box obtained from the Formation was tightly gripped in his hand, not yet put away.

Sun Miao, Chen Feng, and the others had slightly lighter injuries and were directing the Disciples who could still move to treat the severely wounded and count the losses. The wound on Su Qingyue's arm had been simply bandaged, and she was distributing a bottle of healing Medicinal Pills to several injured Guest Elders, though her gaze would occasionally glance towards the direction from which Lin Xuan returned.

Seeing Lin Xuan return holding a strange crystal, his aura weak but still steady, the crowd gathered with complex gazes. Awe, gratitude, curiosity, wariness, greed... all sorts of emotions were intertwined.

"Junior Brother... Junior Brother Lin," Sun Miao spoke first, his tone more polite than ever before, even carrying a hint of respect. "Thanks to your risky venture to retrieve the core, we were able to survive this disaster. This is a great merit!" He glanced at the Formation core in Lin Xuan's hand, his eyes unable to hide his astonishment.

Chen Feng also cupped his hands and said: "Senior Brother Lin, this life-saving grace will never be forgotten!" Several Disciples who had been indirectly saved by Lin Xuan also expressed their gratitude one after another.

Lin Xuan shook his head slightly: "Elder Sun, Senior Brother Chen, you are too kind. It was just my duty." He briefly explained the situation of the Formation core: "This object can only control the stone statues for one stick of incense, and most of the time has already passed. We must decide our next move as soon as possible."

His voice was not loud, but it caused the atmosphere that had just relaxed to tighten again. Indeed, the stone statues were dealt with, but the threat of this Forbidden Ground was far from over. The heart-palpitating heartbeat and pressure from the depths still existed, and because of the destruction of the stone statue army, the feeling of being watched by those blood-colored eyes seemed even more unbridled.

"Senior Brother Han?" Sun Miao looked at Han Feiyu, who was still adjusting his breathing.

Han Feiyu slowly opened his eyes, the bloodshot veins not yet faded. His gaze first fell on the Formation core in Lin Xuan's hand, his pupils shrinking slightly, then shifted to scan the rubble and the battered crowd, his expression gloomy. He struggled to stand up, his voice hoarse: "Count the number of people and summarize the injuries. Junior Brother Lin, can this Formation core... sense the details of that thing in the depths? Or, find another way out?"

He no longer called him "Lin Xuan" or "Young Friend Lin," but changed it to "Junior Brother Lin," invisibly pulling Lin Xuan into the category of Yunni Sect Disciples. This was both an acknowledgment of his merit and strength, and a subtle form of wooing and control. At the same time, the question pointed directly to the key, revealing his current dependence on the object in Lin Xuan's hand.

Lin Xuan held the Formation core, attempting to connect his Divine Sense with the ancient will remaining within it, while simultaneously activating the Ancient God Body Refining Technique and the metal disc fragment in his bosom. After a moment, he frowned slightly: "The will remaining in the core of the Formation is limited. I only know that the depths are the final 'Legacy Trial' or 'Place of Guardianship' of the 'Ancient God Martial Training Grounds.' As for the way out... there is no relevant information within the Formation core's authority." He paused and added: "However, I can feel that the gaze from the depths is focused more on this object," he shook the Formation core, "and... on me. Perhaps, it will be different for those who have passed the trial."

Once these words were spoken, everyone's expressions changed. Those who have passed the trial? Referring to the "Trial of Strength" that Lin Xuan just experienced? Doesn't that mean that for the path ahead, Lin Xuan is likely to become the key, or even... the target of everyone's focus?

Han Feiyu's eyes flickered. After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked: "Junior Brother Lin, does that broken disc in your hand, and the metal fragments you obtained before, have any resonance with this Formation core, or the place in the depths?"

He finally asked about this point.

Lin Xuan nodded frankly: "There is indeed a faint resonance, all pointing to the depths, possibly related to some kind of Legacy or secret of the ancient Body Cultivators. But the information is incomplete, so it's hard to know the specifics." He did not completely hide it, because this point probably couldn't be hidden, so it was better to put it on the table and see the reactions of all parties.

Sure enough, Han Feiyu, Sun Miao, and even Su Qingyue and others had a flash of realization and deeper exploration in their eyes. The Legacy of the ancient Body Cultivators... this temptation was too great.

"Since that is the case," Han Feiyu took a deep breath, seemingly having made a decision, his face regaining some of the decisiveness of a leader, "This place is full of crises, and there is no way back. We can only move forward and face that 'final trial' directly, perhaps there is a glimmer of survival, or even... an Opportunity." He looked at Lin Xuan, his tone solemn, "Junior Brother Lin, you have already passed the preliminary trial and carry the resonating object. I am afraid we will need you to contribute more in the subsequent exploration. I promise on behalf of the Yunni Sect that no matter what is gained in the depths, no one will dare to seize your merit and due share!" This was spoken with high-sounding words; it was both reliance and a promise, and even more so, an invisible form of restraint—binding Lin Xuan's gains to the Yunni Sect.

Lin Xuan knew clearly in his heart that this was just an expedient measure. But he also needed to use the strength of the team, especially Foundation Establishment Cultivators like Han Feiyu and Sun Miao, to deal with the unknown dangers in the depths. As for the promise... in the face of sufficient benefits, it was often fragile.

"Lin will do his best." Lin Xuan replied calmly, without saying more.

"Good! Seize the time to rest, and we will set off in half a quarter of an hour!" Han Feiyu ordered, "Gather the seriously injured in the middle, and let the lightly injured take care of them. Junior Martial Uncle, you and Junior Brother Chen Feng lead the way. Junior Sister Su, you are responsible for the flanks. I will provide support from the center. Junior Brother Lin... you will act with me, and be ready to deal with any Restrictions or tests that may require special means."

With arrangements made, everyone moved silently. The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive; no one spoke, only the light clinking of Medicinal Pill bottles and suppressed groans of pain.

Lin Xuan found a relatively clean place to sit down, adjusting his breathing to recover while carefully sensing the Formation core and the metal fragments. The desolate will in the Formation core was slowly dissipating, and the time of one stick of incense was coming to an end. And the resonance between the metal disc fragment and the fragment in his bosom, while pointing to the depths, seemed to faintly outline an incomplete, three-dimensional pattern... like a key, or a part of some complex structure?

Su Qingyue walked over, placed a bottle of Qi-recovering Medicinal Pills of clearly better quality beside Lin Xuan, and whispered: "This... might be more useful for your recovery." After saying this, without waiting for Lin Xuan to respond, she turned and walked away, her earlobes seeming a bit red.

Lin Xuan glanced at the Medicinal Pills, then at Su Qingyue's cold back, feeling slightly surprised, but still picked up the pills and took them. The pure medicinal power dissolved; it was indeed much better than ordinary Medicinal Pills.

Half a quarter of an hour passed in a flash.

When Han Feiyu struggled to stand up and signaled to set off, the light of the Formation core in Lin Xuan's hand completely extinguished, returning to its pitch-black, silent state, and that faint control authority also disappeared without a trace. Fortunately, the stone statue army had been destroyed, and no new threats appeared for the time being.

The team reassembled, with fewer than twenty people left, and most were injured, but the desire to survive and the potential Opportunity in the depths drove them to continue moving forward.

Passing through the passage filled with the wreckage of stone statues, the cave ahead suddenly narrowed, then extended downwards, forming a natural stone staircase spiraling downwards. The stone steps were wide but extremely steep, as if leading to the center of the earth. On the rock walls on both sides, more and more ancient murals and reliefs began to appear. The content was mostly scenes of giants fighting Yao Beasts, using earth fire and heavenly thunder for Body Refining, or holding some grand sacrificial ceremonies. The style was rough and barbaric, exuding an aura of power supremacy.

That heavy heartbeat was amplified countless times in this spiraling downward staircase, and every beat felt like it was pounding on everyone's heart. The pressure from the depths also became clearer and clearer, and even began to carry a hint of... anticipation?

Lin Xuan walked in the middle of the team, not far from Han Feiyu. He could feel that the gaze of the blood-colored eyes was locked onto him almost the entire time, like a searchlight. And as they went deeper, the resonance between the metal fragments in his bosom and the disc became stronger and stronger, and the incomplete three-dimensional pattern in his mind became clearer and clearer—it seemed to be a... altar? Or the base structure of a tripod furnace?

Suddenly, Sun Miao, who was walking in front, stopped abruptly and shouted in a low voice: "Be careful! There is light ahead! And... sound?"

Everyone immediately became alert. Staring intently, they saw that the spiraling staircase seemed to have reached its end. Ahead was a huge exit shrouded in a hazy blood-colored light. And besides that eternal heartbeat, faintly, it seemed that other sounds were really coming...

It sounded like... the friction of chains being dragged?

And, low and painful... gasping?

(End of Volume I, Chapter 21)

[Preview of Next Chapter]: At the end of the staircase, the sound of chains! The team arrives at the end of the spiral staircase. What is hidden behind the exit shrouded in blood-colored light ahead? Is it the final place of Legacy, or a cage imprisoning a terrifying existence? What truth do the sound of chains and painful gasping portend? Can the clues in Lin Xuan's hands piece together the answer? Under the gaze of the ancient existence, the team will make the final choice. Next chapter: The Gate of Blood, The Shadow of the Prisoner! Lin Xuan: "What the chains lock, is it a gift, or a disaster?"