Clan Cultivation: Starting from Foundation Establishment on Mount Luoxia

The next day, at Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

Outside Zhixu Station, on the designated exit platform, Li Xiaoyao and Shuyu Zhenren met on time.

Today, Master Shuyu changed into a dark blue outfit that would allow for easy movement.

She wore a protective robe with a subtle shimmering light, and her black hair was tied up, making her look even more capable.

Li Xiaoyao was still wearing that green robe, covered by a magic robe that subtly concealed the rosy glow.

The two exchanged a glance, and without saying a word, simultaneously activated their escape lights.

Li Xiaoyao transformed into a rainbow of colorful clouds, while Master Shuyu rode a beam of azure water, like the Milky Way rolling backwards.

The two flew side by side out of the defensive array of Zhixu Station and plunged into the void at the edge of the desolate corridor where light and shadow were distorted.

Once they left the shelter of the inn, the surrounding environment changed instantly.

The void is filled with thin, chaotic energy flows.

Occasionally, tiny spatial cracks would flash by like black lightning.

The shattered dimensional debris and distorted light and shadow in the distance appeared even more grotesque.

The Time-Stabilizing Pearl emitted a stable, cool sensation, helping the two to solidify their understanding of space and time.

Following the mission coordinates, the two flew cautiously for about three hours.

Along the way, they encountered several groups of cultivators also heading towards the Boundary Ruins. They all kept a wary distance from each other and no one spoke to them.

Finally, a wondrous sight appeared in the void ahead.

It was an extremely vast expanse, a colossal object that seemed to be haphazardly pieced together and piled up from countless broken mirrors, fragments of a dim continent, and dark matter.

It floated silently in the void, with tiny fragments constantly peeling off and dissipating from its edges.

New substances surged out from within, and the whole thing was constantly and slowly wriggling and changing.

Its surface is mottled and colorful, sometimes flashing with an ominous dark red or pale green luster, exuding an aura of chaos, decay, antiquity, and extreme danger.

Their target—the Unnamed Ruins!

On the ever-changing surface of the Boundary Ruins, there was a dark purple vortex about a hundred feet in diameter, slowly rotating, with its center seemingly leading to an unfathomable abyss.

That was one of the relatively safe entrances detected by the Immortal Sect, and it was also the place the mission required them to enter.

Near the entrance, several flying boats of various styles or a few scattered groups of cultivators were already hovering and watching.

They seem to be hesitating or waiting for something.

Li Xiaoyao and Master Shuyu stopped their escape light a thousand miles from the entrance and observed carefully.

"The aura of the chaotic laws... is even stronger than expected."

Master Shuyu frowned slightly, and an invisible barrier of water vapor rose around her to resist the chaotic fluctuations of the laws that were spreading and disturbing her mind.

"The spacetime structure is extremely unstable, and the fluctuations fed back by the Time-Stabilizing Pearl are very violent."

Li Xiaoyao sensed the information emanating from the pearl in his arms, his expression grave. "Moreover, it seems to have some kind of... spying sensation."

Both were experienced individuals and did not approach rashly.

With a thought, ten Foundation Establishment stage "Six-Legged Probing Puppets" and fifty Qi Refining stage "Iron Beetle Puppets" emerged one after another from Li Xiaoyao's storage artifact and hovered in front of him.

He attached a portion of his divine sense to it, manipulating the puppet vanguard into a simple formation, and slowly flew towards the entrance of the dark purple vortex.

At the same time, Master Shuyu also made a hand seal, and a thin, almost imperceptible wisp of water vapor quietly spread out.

It clung to several insect puppets from a distance, serving as another extension of its senses.

The puppet army gradually approached the entrance.

Thousand li, five hundred li, one hundred li...

When we were about fifty miles from the entrance, something strange happened!

The dark purple vortex suddenly accelerated its rotation, and a thick, viscous, ink-like wave of shadow surged from its center!

The wave surged silently, carrying a terrifying aura that devoured light and annihilated spiritual energy, sweeping towards the few armored beetle puppets at the forefront!

"retreat!"

Li Xiaoyao urged his thoughts urgently.

However, the shadow wave was too fast and instantly engulfed the three armored beetle golems.

Through the last images transmitted back by the puppet, Li Xiaoyao only saw absolute darkness and a chilling feeling as his spiritual energy rapidly dissipated, before the connection was severed.

The shadow wave did not spread too far. After engulfing a few insect puppets, it quickly retreated back to the center of the vortex, and the vortex's rotation speed slowly returned to normal.

"The entrance is subject to intermittent surges of shadows, the cycle of which is unknown. Its power... can instantly annihilate Qi Refining stage puppets and poses a great threat to Foundation Establishment stage puppets."

"Li Xiaoyao quickly analyzed, looking at Master Shuyu.

Master Shuyu closed his eyes and sensed for a moment. With the help of the thin water vapor, he said softly, "The interval between tidal surges is about thirty breaths. The duration of the eruption is about three breaths."

"Before the eruption, the vortex shows a slight acceleration, which can provide a half-breath warning."

"Thirty breaths interval, three breaths burst... that's enough."

A glint flashed in Li Xiaoyao's eyes, and he made a decisive decision: "Let's rush in at full speed after the next eruption ends!"

"I'll clear the way, fellow Daoist, you'll be in charge of defense, dealing with the lingering shadows, and keeping watch from the rear."

"good!"

Without any hesitation, Master Shuyu clasped his hands together, and a solid, azure-blue water shield enveloped both of them simultaneously. The surface of the shield rippled with water, implying vastness.

Li Xiaoyao then activated the radiant light, adding another layer of flowing radiant light film inside the protective shield, further enhancing both protection and speed.

The two held their breath, staring intently at the dark purple vortex, silently counting in their minds.

Twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine...

The eerie light at the edge of the vortex seemed to flicker slightly, and the rotation accelerated for a moment—Master Shuyu uttered softly:

"Half a breath later!"

The two instantly pushed their magical power to its limit!

"Now!"

Just as the shadowy waves receded back into the center of the vortex, the light of the blue glow merging between Li Xiaoyao and the True Person Shuyu shot into the still unsettled entrance of the vortex!

Fifty miles is an instant for the Purple Mansion Escape Light when it is unleashed at full power!

Just before they were plunged into the vortex, they vaguely heard shouts and curses from other onlookers behind them. It seemed that some people wanted to take the opportunity to follow, but it was too late.

Everything went black, followed by an incredibly intense spinning sensation and a feeling of space being torn apart!

The Time-Stabilizing Pearl emitted unprecedentedly violent fluctuations, as if it were frantically calibrating the disordered spacetime coordinates.

The water-light shield of Master Shuyu and the radiant membrane of Li Xiaoyao vibrated violently, emitting a humming sound as if they were about to collapse under the strain.

This feeling is a hundred times stronger than going through a remote teleportation array!

I don't know how much time passed; it might have been a moment, or it might have been a long time.

As soon as his feet touched solid ground, the terrifying tearing force vanished instantly.

The two staggered, barely managing to steady themselves.

Upon closer inspection, one finds oneself in a bizarre and indescribable world.

The sky was dark red, covered with constantly writhing, twisting lines like blood vessels, and there was no sun, moon, or stars.

The earth is composed of a strange, rugged, purplish-black substance.

Some places are as soft as mud, while others are as hard as metal.

Further away, one can see inverted mountain peaks, flowing luminous rivers, and some indescribable, eerie entities that seem to exist somewhere between minerals and living beings.

The air was filled with a dense, chaotic energy that was so thick it was almost impenetrable, and the five elements of spiritual energy were thin and extremely unbalanced.

Sometimes it is as hot as a fiery hell, and sometimes as cold as an ice cave.

What's even more frightening is that the rules here are clearly different from those outside.

The direction of gravity seemed to be somewhat disordered, and the divine sense was severely interfered with and distorted, only able to travel a hundred feet away from the body before it could not continue.

"This is... the interior of the Realm Ruins."

Li Xiaoyao took a deep breath, suppressing the discomfort caused by the sudden change in environment.

The glow of the sunset danced across the surface of the body, adapting to the chaotic laws of this place.

The water-light shield of Master Shuyu had also shrunk, transforming into a layer of lustrous blue light that adhered closely to her body.

Her face was slightly pale, clearly indicating that she had expended a lot of energy just now by crossing the entrance, but her eyes remained calm as she quickly surveyed her surroundings.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness and wariness in each other's eyes.

There is no turning back, only moving forward.

With a wave of his hand, Li Xiaoyao released the remaining puppets, which scattered around the area, forming a mobile perimeter.

"Walk."

He whispered, having chosen a path with relatively stable energy fluctuations.

Two figures, one in blue and one in rosy clouds, led a silent puppet team into the depths of this chaotic and frenzied realm.