You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

"The array warning was not fully triggered, but the spirit stones used to maintain the array were consumed much faster than expected. Moreover, when I approached, I could clearly feel that the remaining void-attribute spiritual energy there was unusually active, unlike the previous lifeless state."

Gu Jinghui said.

“I was a little scared to be alone, so I didn’t dare to get too close to check carefully, let alone go in. When I got back, I told Uncle Li, and he also thought it was strange. But we both felt that the place was too eerie, and without you leading the way, we really didn’t dare to go in and investigate rashly.”

Chen Yang pondered for a moment, then spoke decisively.

"Ignore it for now. We've already gained the most from that place, and I've taken the core. What's left are just some buildings and possibly some scattered items."

If someone manages to bypass our seal and enter, that's their skill. As long as they don't provoke us, we don't need to waste our energy or take any risks.

"But... what if there are treasures inside that we haven't discovered yet, or what if the people who go in cause some trouble that affects the outside?"

Gu Jinghui hesitated.

"Our sealing formation combines concealment, protection, and warning. If someone forcefully breaks the seal or a drastic change occurs inside, I will be able to sense it."

Chen Yang analyzed the situation calmly.

"As for the treasure, I'm lucky to have it, and I'm destined to lose it. Right now, the sect has many affairs to attend to, and there's another operation on the river in three days. We shouldn't cause any unnecessary trouble. Remember, that place is 'secret' now. The fewer people who know about it, the better, and the less noise we make, the better. Just pretend you haven't noticed anything unusual and continue with what you were doing."

After a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, Gu Jinghui's slightly helpless voice came through.

"Alright, I'll listen to you. You're always so reliable. I'll tell Uncle Li that we'll pretend we don't know anything about this."

"Well, hard work."

Chen Yang hung up the phone, his gaze fixed on the depths of the mountains, his eyes narrowing slightly. The cave entrance was unusual? Was it a natural occurrence, or… had that automatically regenerating stone door triggered something else?
It seems that even without Li Yue, the Mysterious Netherworld still holds many secrets. However, now is not the time to delve into them.

He put away his phone and strolled towards the sect's main hall. As soon as he entered the hall, he saw Li Zhengguo returning from outside, looking travel-worn, with a black sword hanging at his waist, his aura even more composed than before.

"metropolitan!"

Upon seeing Chen Yang, Li Zhengguo immediately clasped his hands in a respectful greeting.

"Elder Li is back. How did today's inspection go?"

Chen Yang nodded and asked.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, everything is normal. The spiritual energy in the mountains is becoming increasingly rich and active, many spiritual herbs are growing faster, and some low-level spiritual beasts are also more active. This is an auspicious sign. Apart from this, no abnormalities or suspicious traces have been found."

Li Zhengguo reports.

"The other patrol teams have not all returned yet, and I am not sure if they have made any special discoveries. Today, we mainly strengthened the patrols at various passes and spiritual spring nodes along the established route, and drove away a few ferocious beasts that had wandered into the outer area."

Chen Yang nodded.

"Thank you for your hard work, Elder Li. The spiritual energy is recovering rapidly, and the creatures in the mountains are the most sensitive to it, which is a good thing. However, we must also be wary of the possibility that it may give rise to even more powerful demons. We must not slacken our patrols."

"My subordinate understands!"

"If any of the other teams that were exploring the ruins of the immortal abode return, whether they have found anything or not, have them come directly to the main hall to report to me."

Chen Yang gave the instructions.

"If we have any leads, we can make a decision as soon as possible."

"Yes! I will go and instruct the disciples on duty to keep an eye out."

Li Zhengguo accepted the order, bowed again, and turned to leave.

The main hall was temporarily quiet again. Chen Yang walked to the head of the sect and sat down, closing his eyes to rest and process the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

The hidden dangers of the Spirit Orb, Liyue's confession, the anomaly discovered by Gu Jinghui at the cave entrance, Jiang He's upcoming joint operation, the training of sect disciples, the possible existence of the Immortal Abode ruins...

Time passed in silence, and the light and shadow outside the hall moved slowly. Until the setting sun dyed the threshold of the hall orange-red, a series of slightly hurried but still light footsteps came.

Chen Yang opened his eyes and saw Liu Yu Zhenren stride into the hall. She was still wearing that simple Taoist robe, her face was cold, but there was a glimmer of discovery in her eyes.

"Master."

Liu Yu bowed.

"Elder Liu is back. Judging from your expression, you seem to have gained something?"

Chen Yang asked directly.

"There was indeed a discovery, but... something is amiss, and I dare not make a judgment on it."

Liu Yu said cautiously.

"Today I was ordered to patrol the deep valley behind 'Luoxia Peak' in the southeast direction. That place is usually deserted, but the spiritual energy is unusually rich, even forming a thin layer of spiritual mist. At first I thought it was a natural accumulation, but when I approached a rock wall at the bottom of the valley, I discovered something unusual."

"What's abnormal?"

"The rock wall looked ordinary, but when I got within about three zhang, no matter which direction I approached from, I was pushed away by a gentle but irresistible force and teleported directly to the outside of the valley. I tried several times and it was always the same. It was as if there was an invisible array or restriction there that automatically repelled those who approached."

Liu Yu described it.

“I tried to probe with my divine sense, but I was blocked by the layer of spiritual mist and the invisible force field, and I couldn’t go any deeper. The rock wall itself does not show any trace of artificial carving or runes, but that precise repulsion and transmission is definitely not formed naturally.”

Chen Yang became interested.

"An automatic repulsion system against those who approach? Interesting. Have you sensed any aggressive or malevolent aura?"

"It is not aggressive, and you can't feel any evil or murderous intent. It's just a simple 'don't come near' warning."

Liu Yu shook her head.

"That's why it seems strange. If it were a defensive or offensive formation, there should be some energy fluctuations overflowing, but apart from the dense spiritual energy and repulsive force, everything else there is normal."

My subordinate suspects that something might be hidden behind that rock wall—perhaps a cave dwelling of someone from the past, or perhaps a naturally formed entrance to a strange space, concealed by some ingenious means of hiding and protection.

"The spiritual energy is abundant, yet it is protected by repulsive restrictions..."

Chen Yang tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the seat, his eyes growing thoughtful.

This does sound like a sign that there's "something" hidden inside. With the resurgence of spiritual energy, many dormant restrictions may be reactivated due to the replenishment of energy.

"Sect Leader, should we go and investigate?"

Liu Yu asked.

"However, the restriction is quite strange, and I fear I alone would be unable to handle it. Besides, it is already late..."

Chen Yang glanced at the fading light outside the hall and said decisively.

"It's better to act sooner rather than later. Now that we've discovered it, we can't just leave it unattended. If it's unclaimed land or a legacy from a predecessor, our Qingwei Sect has the advantage of proximity and naturally can't miss it. If there are any hidden dangers, we must investigate and deal with them as soon as possible to prevent future complications. The longer we wait, the more things can go wrong. Let's go now!"

Seeing his resolute attitude, Liu Yu stopped trying to persuade him that nighttime was inappropriate and instead offered a suggestion.

"Sect Leader, the situation there is unclear, and the restrictions are quite peculiar. To be on the safe side, should we gather a few more fellow disciples to go together? That way, we can look out for each other. If anything unexpected happens, more people will provide more support." Chen Yang thought for a moment and agreed. Although he was confident in his own strength, it was always better to be cautious when exploring unknown ruins. The sect was now full of talented people, and this was a good opportunity to hone their teamwork skills.

"Alright. Go and see which True Immortals are still on the mountain without any trouble, or which of your capable disciples have just returned and haven't rested yet. Call two or three of them. Three or four of us going together should be enough. Remember, they need to be discreet, reliable, and obedient."

Chen Yang gave the instructions.

"Yes, Sect Leader, I will go and gather the manpower right away."

Liu Yu accepted the order, turned around, and quickly walked out of the main hall to find a suitable candidate.

Not long after, Liu Yu returned, followed by two people.

One was Huang Zhenren, with white hair and beard and a ruddy complexion, and the other was a middle-aged Taoist with a burly build, a red face, and a fiery aura. He was none other than Chiyang Zhenjun, who had just returned to the mountain to report on his mission after being stationed at a fire-attribute spiritual spring.

"Head!"

Upon seeing Chen Yang, the two quickly bowed.

Chen Yang nodded slightly.

"Master Huang, Elder Chiyang, thank you for making this trip. Elder Liu has discovered a suspicious place, which may contain relics from the past or a strange space, but it is protected by a peculiar restriction. Just in case, please come and investigate together."

Master Huang stroked his beard and smiled.

"We must obey the sect leader's orders. I am also quite interested in the strange restrictions Elder Liu mentioned."

The voice of the Crimson Sun True Lord was like a booming bell, carrying the fiery intensity of fire.

"Sect Master, rest assured! I don't care about any restrictions or formations. If anyone dares to obstruct me, I'll burn them to the ground!"

He seems to have a rather straightforward and fiery personality.

Chen Yang remained noncommittal and looked at Liu Yu.

"Everyone's here, Elder Liu, lead the way."

"Yes, Sect Leader, please follow me."

Liu Yu said nothing more and turned to walk out of the hall. Chen Yang, Huang Zhenren, and Chiyang Zhenjun followed closely behind.

All four were highly skilled cultivators, and without the aid of flying swords or other external aids, they moved with the ease of four wisps of smoke, disappearing from the mountain gate and disappearing into the twilight-covered mountain range. The mountain path was rugged, and the forest was dense and lush, but for them, it was as if they were walking on flat ground.

Along the way, the group naturally began to discuss the valley.

As Liu Yu led the way, she briefly explained again.

"That valley is located deep in the back mountains of Luoxia Peak, and the spiritual energy inside is exceptionally dense, forming a mist. The key lies in a rock wall at the bottom of the valley. Anyone who gets within three zhang (approximately 10 meters) from any direction will be directly transported to the valley entrance by a gentle force, and it is difficult for divine sense to enter."

I tried several times, and it was always the same. It felt like some kind of very sophisticated protection or concealment technique that only blocked without harming.

Upon hearing this, True Lord Chiyang raised a thick eyebrow.

"A teleportation barrier that doesn't harm anyone? That's strange. Usually, protective formations either block directly or counterattack. This gentle 'invitation' of people out suggests that they don't want to completely isolate outsiders, leaving some kind of... leeway or test?"

Master Huang pondered for a moment.

"Elder Chiyang's words are not without reason. Ancient books do record that some ancient powerful beings were gentle in nature, and perhaps in order to select those destined to inherit their legacy, they would set up such a 'reject but not harm' restriction."

But it's also possible that the barrier is so ancient that its offensive components have become ineffective, leaving only its basic repulsive function. Elder Liu, have you sensed the energy attribute of the barrier itself? Is it Yin or Yang? Which of the Five Elements does it belong to?

Liu Yu shook her head.

"It feels very balanced and peaceful, without any obvious attribute bias, and I can't sense any residual emotions or will of the person who set up the array. It's like... like a pure program or rule."

Listening to their discussion, Chen Yang had already made up his mind and spoke up.

"It's alright. We'll find out what kind of restriction it is once we go and see. I have my own ways of dealing with it."

Upon hearing this, True Lord Chiyang laughed heartily.

"With the Sect Master's words, I am relieved! The Sect Master can come and go freely even in the ancient immortal mansion, so breaking the restrictions of a valley is a piece of cake for him."

Master Huang smiled and agreed.

"The sect leader is incredibly powerful; he will surely be unharmed."

Although Liu Yu didn't speak, her eyes revealed her trust in Chen Yang. After all, Chen Yang had already created and solved quite a few "miracles".

After traveling swiftly for about an hour, the sky had completely darkened, but the clear moonlight shone down, providing unobstructed vision for cultivators. The four finally arrived at the back of Sunset Peak and stopped at the entrance to a deep canyon formed by two mountains.

The valley entrance was narrow, allowing only a few people to walk side by side. Looking inside, its depths were unknown. A night breeze blew from the valley, carrying the unique damp coolness of the mountain forest, but upon closer inspection, one could sense that the wind was indeed mixed with spiritual energy several times more concentrated than the surrounding area.

"This is it."

Liu Yu stopped and pointed to the entrance of the valley.

"Enter from here, walk forward for about a hundred feet, turn a corner, and you will reach the small platform at the bottom of the valley where that rock wall is located."

True Lord Chiyang took two steps forward, twitched his nose a few times, and carefully examined the vegetation inside and outside the valley entrance, then asked in surprise.

"Huh? The scenery inside and outside the valley is quite different. Look, it's already late autumn outside, and most of the grass and trees are withered and yellow, but inside the valley, even by the moonlight, you can see that the grass and trees are green and full of life, like the turn of spring and summer!"

Master Huang also noticed it, and after observing for a moment, he said.

"That's right. The valley is exceptionally rich in spiritual energy, creating a local microclimate that slows down or even reverses the cycle of growth and decay of plants. This is either due to the natural nourishment within the valley and the convergence of spiritual veins, or... it is the result of long-term effects from man-made formations."

Liu Yu nodded.

“It was even more noticeable when I came during the day. The valley was warm as spring, full of blooming flowers, like a different world from the outside. Moreover, the power of the restriction seemed to be integrated with the spiritual environment, and it felt more active during the day.”

Chen Yang's gaze swept across the valley entrance, his Fiery Eyes subtly activating, a fleeting golden glint in his eyes. In his eyes, there was no obvious, well-defined array of light or energy barriers at the valley entrance.

However, there is a subtle and regular flow of energy circulating slowly between the air and the ground, connecting with the denser spiritual mist in the valley to form a vast and obscure energy field.

"The restrictions already exist, and they are not exclusive to daytime."

Chen Yang spoke up.

"Let's go in and take a look. Elder Liu, you lead the way, we'll follow closely."

"Yes."

Liu Yu responded and took the lead in stepping into the valley entrance. Chen Yang followed closely behind, and Huang Zhenren and Chiyang Zhenjun also hurriedly followed.

The winding paths through the valley, flanked by towering cliffs, blocked most of the moonlight, making it appear even darker.

But just as Liu Yu and True Lord Chiyang had said, the grass beneath their feet was soft and verdant, the crevices of the rock walls were covered with emerald moss, and they could even see some out-of-season wildflowers quietly blooming in the shadows. The air was filled with spiritual energy, and every breath felt soothing to the heart and lungs. (End of Chapter)