Martial Arts Crossover: The Sweeping Monk of Wudang? That's our patriarch!

The spiritual energy between the peaks was thick as mist, surging silently, as if the entire mountain was breathing. Linley looked up, two clusters of ghostly fire igniting in his eyes: "The fragment is inside; I must retrieve it myself."

Lin Daochen nodded. The oppressive aura emanating from deep within the mountain made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end—it was an ancient power in harmony with heaven and earth. The two exchanged a glance, took a deep breath, and stepped into the valley entrance.

Upon entering the valley, a vast spiritual pressure swept over them, the entire valley resembling a living array! Countless runes flickered and danced on the jagged black rocks, breathing like living beings. Lin Daochen's heart trembled, his fingertips burning—the fragment of the treasure map was within reach.

The spiritual energy here is surging like boiling water, so dense it's impossible to disperse; a slight misstep could lead to being burned alive. Long Ze warned in a low voice.

They walked slowly and breathlessly through the valley. Occasionally, weathered stone statues appeared on the rugged mountain walls on either side, their solemn postures suggesting they had stood silently since ancient times, guarding this forbidden land. Just as they reached the halfway point, a sudden gust of cold wind tore through the silence, carrying a biting chill that made even breathing difficult.

There was movement! Lin Lei's pupils suddenly contracted, and a low growl escaped his throat.

In an instant, dozens of dark-colored demonic beasts burst forth from the depths of the valley, their fangs menacing, their eyes burning crimson, their killing intent almost tangible. Their muscles were bulging, their spines protruding, their ferocious appearances seemingly not of this world; they were clearly the most ferocious guardian spirits of this place.

Beware! These beasts are no ordinary creatures! Long Ze warned sternly.

Lin Lei gritted his teeth, his sword hummed as it was drawn, its cold light slicing through the air as he charged straight up against the beast horde. Lin Daochen lightly touched the ground with his toes, his weapon spinning rapidly through the air as he darted through the beasts like lightning, leaving only afterimages. The battle erupted instantly; even the wind in the valley seemed to freeze, the air heavy and oppressive, each breath carrying the metallic smell of steel.

Lin Lei's swordplay was sharp and fierce, like cutting through clouds and cleaving mountains. Wherever the blade passed, the thick hides of the monsters tore open like paper. Lin Daochen, on the other hand, was like a fish swimming in water. He slid and dodged the claws that pounced on him, and then delivered a vicious thrust with his backhand. Every move was aimed at vital points.

The two acted as one, needing no words, their hearts already in sync.

Long Ze stood high above, his ten fingers flying, ancient runes rising from his fingertips and weaving into a net in mid-air, binding several demonic beasts tightly. His powerful incantation and the dazzling light of the runes carved a path to survival for the two of them.

The battle intensified, yet the number of demonic beasts surged ever greater, a dark, seemingly endless mass. Lin Lei's sword intent grew ever sharper, each strike carrying a tearing force that cleaved through the void; the demonic beasts were cleaved in two the moment they got close. Lin Daochen, on the other hand, moved with ghostly agility, his fists and feet whipping through the air, targeting joints, eyes, and noses, causing the beasts to roar and their formation to crumble.

This battle was not just a fight, but a resonance with heaven and earth—with each move, the black earth beneath their feet trembled, and eerie blue arcs of electricity seeped from the cracks in the rocks, while the wind swirled with fiery patterns. They finally tasted the true meaning of "fighting by borrowing momentum," realizing that the roots of their cultivation were planted in the very pulse of this land.

As the last few demonic beasts collapsed with mournful cries, the three men's robes were stained with blood, and their breathing was labored. Though they had won, they felt no relief whatsoever.

The guardian beasts here are far more ferocious than expected... The treasure map fragments are likely involved in some terrible karmic entanglement. Long Ze wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his eyes so deep they could drip water.

Lin Daochen and Lin Lei exchanged a glance, both reading shock in each other's eyes. The danger of this valley far exceeded what was described in the ancient texts. However, finding the map was of utmost urgency; no matter how difficult, they had to move forward. Lin Lei volunteered to scout ahead, eager to find clues on the edge of a knife and to unleash even deeper potential amidst blood and fire.

Lin Lei, slow down, we'll catch up. Lin Daochen's voice wasn't loud, but every word was firm and resonant.

Lin Lei nodded, his eyes still burning with passion: This battle is not only to avenge his clan's grievances, but also to pave the way for the future.

Lin Daochen stood at the valley entrance, his gaze sweeping across the scorched, frozen earth stretching into the distance. Breaking the restrictions here required far more than brute force. After much deliberation, he decided to seek guidance from a true master of array principles and secret techniques—Tianlangzi. This man, who lived in seclusion in Cangwu Ridge outside the Divine City for many years, was the undisputed leader of array techniques in the spiritual cultivation world, possessing unfathomable secret arts.

Lin Daochen flapped his wings and soared through the air, breaking through the clouds and mist, and soon landed in front of a cliffside cave.

"Tianlangzi, I have an important matter to ask of you, senior. I wonder if you would be willing to give me some guidance?" Lin Daochen bowed respectfully, his attitude humble yet dignified.

Tianlangzi slowly raised his eyes, his pupils seemingly swirling with starlight, and a slight smile played on his lips: Oh? Tell me about it.

Lin Daochen made no attempt to conceal anything, clearly explaining the clues from the treasure map fragments, the strange phenomena in the valley, and the characteristics of the demonic beasts, hoping that this master of formations could dispel the fog and point out the key.

Tianlangzi pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Alright, I'll help you out. But—you have to do me a favor."

"Please give your instructions. I will do my best to assist you." Lin Daochen answered readily.

Tianlangzi's smile deepened: "I have been studying secret techniques for many years, but I lack a few rare spiritual materials. If you can bring back what I need on this trip, I will not only not take a penny, but I will also help you break through three layers of restrictions."

Lin Daochen immediately agreed. He already knew that deep in that valley were hidden the rare items that Tianlangzi had specifically requested.

Tianlangzi personally accompanied them to the valley entrance. His gaze swept over the black soil and cliffs, and a long-lost interest flashed in his eyes: Hmm... the secret power here has been accumulating for a long time, making it a rare training ground.

Lin Lei stood solemnly to the side, his hands hanging at his sides. He had heard too many legends about Tianlangzi, but seeing it with his own eyes today, he realized that the rumors were far from true—the man's aura was as still as a deep pool, yet it concealed a thunderous force.

"Let's go explore the valley and see where the treasure map fragments are hidden." Tianlangzi flicked his sleeves and took the lead, followed closely by the others, who filed in.

The scene in the valley suddenly changed—the black soil turned into reddish-brown earth, scorched and cracked, emanating a bone-chilling cold that seeped into one's very bones. The air was heavy and oppressive, pressing down on one's chest, as if the entire valley was being gripped tightly by a pair of invisible giant hands, making even the wind unable to catch its breath.

The changes are too great. Lin Daochen frowned.

Tianlangzi's lips curled slightly, his eyes sharp: "The spiritual energy here is disordered, there must be an ancient formation lurking here. If we are not careful, we will be doomed. Everyone must be careful."

Following his directions, the group ventured deeper into the mountains. Before they had gone far, the mountain wind suddenly turned fierce and mournful, howling like the wailing of wronged souls; in the distance, intermittent hissing could be heard, neither beast nor human, sending chills down their spines.

Something was wrong. Yang Kai narrowed his eyes, his fingertips quietly pressing against the short blade at his waist, his gaze like a hook, sweeping over the jagged rocks and swirling mist.

Upon reaching the heart of the valley, Tianlangzi suddenly stopped, raised his hand, and pointed ahead: "The target is right there—the treasure bottle, within this area."

Lin Lei's weapon hummed slightly in his hand, and he clenched his fingers: "I'll go scout the location first, you guys cover me."

Tianlangzi nodded. Lin Lei's figure blurred, like a hawk skimming a cliff or a shadow clinging to a wall. He was fast-moving with his ears and eyes wide open, breathing very lightly, not daring to disturb even the slightest bit of the loose stones under his feet.

The wind howled ever sharper, like a dull knife scraping bone. Linley abruptly stopped, his pupils contracting sharply as he stared intently at the distorted air ahead: "Something's amiss—it's not an ordinary restriction, it's a living array!"

Yang Kai stepped forward, his eyes flashing with a sharp light: "I've seen this kind of formation before... It's ridiculously huge. I tried to break through three times back then, and I was bounced back every time."

Lin Daochen's heart skipped a beat. He immediately took out the fragment of the divine map, activated the remaining divine essence, and tried to use its power to break through the illusion.

But as soon as the fragment left his palm, it trembled slightly, its light dimmed, as if it were bound by invisible chains, unable to move an inch further, unable to advance even half a foot.

"This isn't an ordinary formation," Yang Kai said in a low voice. "It's an ancient extinction formation—look at those points of light!"

Everyone looked up and saw a giant array slowly emerging from the dark depths of the valley. The runes were like blood, and the flames were like fire, with a force that could scorch the heavens and boil the seas. The ground was covered with white bones, lying haphazardly, all the remains of those who came before—none of them survived.

"It really is a world-destroying ancient formation... No wonder there are corpses everywhere." Tianlangzi's expression was solemn, and his jaw was taut.

Lin Lei stood motionless, yet felt a burning pain on his skin and a resonating sensation in his blood. The surging destructive intent within the formation subtly stirred his fighting spirit: "Retreat? No. The treasure bottle must be obtained."

Tianlangzi nodded: "I can tear open a gate of life, but I need to set up an array in a moment. You guard the outer perimeter and don't let any external forces disturb me."

Thick, dark energy, like spilled ink, sealed off the entire valley. Lin Daochen knew that Tianlangzi was skilled in ancient secret arts, so he immediately bowed and pleaded, "This formation is treacherous. We can only rely on your skills, senior. Please help us find the treasure bottle."

"The formation is indeed strange." Tianlangzi took a deep breath, a vein throbbing slightly on his forehead. "However... I can carve a small gap and send you in."

Lin Lei and Yang Kai watched in breathless silence. Tianlangzi took out several dark gold talismans from his storage bag, his ten fingers flying as he formed hand seals, his fingertips tearing through the void and leaving scorching marks. He chanted an ancient incantation, each word as sharp as a nail.

In an instant, the array patterns trembled, and the light and shadow flickered, as if a thin crack had been forcibly torn open in the sky. At this moment, Lin Daochen quickly took out the fragment of the divine map and presented it with both hands: "Senior Tianlangzi, the power of this place is strange and unpredictable. I only hope that you can lend a hand to find the treasure bottle—only you can solve this mystery."

Tianlangzi took the fragment, his fingertips touching the cool patterns, and a blazing light suddenly appeared in his eyes: "Alright! I agree! However—" He paused, a smile appearing on his lips, "When helping someone break an array, one must have some 'sincerity'."

Lin Daochen was prepared and handed over two bulging storage bags with both hands: "These two bags are what I have risked my life for over the years. Although they are not as good as the Divine Map, they may be of benefit to your study of secret techniques."

Tianlangzi took it and casually lifted a corner—the spirit herbs glowed with a cold, eerie blue light, the spirit stones contained lightning patterns, and there were several incomplete magical artifacts etched with ancient inscriptions… His throat bobbed, and the greed in his eyes was undisguised.

"Tsk, that's quite substantial!" He grinned, his laughter revealing a hint of smugness and a touch of certainty.

Lin Lei stared at Tianlangzi, who was willing to confront the ancient formation head-on in order to compete for resources, and a sense of displeasure rose in his heart.

He had always disliked the practice of using spiritual materials as bait, but with the whereabouts of the treasure bottle still unknown, he could only swallow his dissatisfaction.

Tianlangzi took the storage bag and then took out a celadon porcelain bottle. The bottle was covered with ancient symbols with mottled erosion marks, and a faint light shimmered, as if whispers were wandering between the patterns.

"This is my Great River Map, specially designed to break ancient restrictions." He raised an eyebrow and smiled, lightly tapping the belly of the bottle with his fingertips.

In an instant, a phantom celestial river surged out from the bottle's mouth, its silver waves churning and starlight scattering; at the same time, crimson-gold flames rose from his palm, transforming into a dome-like fire shield that steadily enveloped everyone.

The runes that had been dormant on the walls of the valley for many years suddenly appeared as if awakened, floating in the air one after another, like fireflies being pulled by invisible threads.