Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

The gray-white mist surged endlessly, and the ancient, persistent miasma pressed down heavily, completely enveloping the entire Qingwu Ancient Plain.

Following Lin Yan, the group slowly made their way forward. Having just witnessed the horrific scenes of cultivators perishing upon contact with the array, the restlessness in their hearts had completely dissipated, leaving only a chilling sense of caution and fear. Lin Yan's spiritual barrier had cleansed their minds, dispelling the illusions in their sea of ​​consciousness, but lingering traces of sluggishness and drowsiness remained in their souls. The greed and fear hidden deep within their hearts were still subtly stirred by the lingering thoughts of the remnant souls in the mist, making it difficult to completely quell them.

The procession fell silent, the only sound the soft clatter of footsteps echoing through the desolate sea of ​​fog.

Yunxi walked on the left side of the group, sword in hand. Her cold sword intent always hung three feet around her, and the blade trembled slightly as it actively severed the remaining strands of miasma that approached her. Her Dao heart was firm, and she had completely broken free from the shackles of the illusion. However, the companionship and devotion she had experienced day and night in the illusory dream still lingered in her heart, adding a faint touch of gentleness to her cold eyes.

She glanced at the back of the young man who was steadily clearing the way in front of her. The thick fog could not conceal his tall and straight figure. Despite being shrouded in layers of killing intent, he still walked with composure, each step precise and perfectly avoiding all the killing formation nodes beneath the earth's veins.

Such profound insight into the trajectory of formations, and such heaven-defying foundation that fears no ancient miasma, far surpasses the reach of cultivators of the same level.

Chen Dagang, standing to the side, remained somber, his fists slightly clenched. The image of his mother being humiliated and brutally murdered in the illusion was deeply ingrained in his mind. Even though the illusion had dissipated, the guilt and violence buried deep in his bones still lingered in his consciousness. He forcibly suppressed his turbulent emotions and said in a deep voice, "This fog is too sinister, and the array's mechanisms are even more difficult to defend against. If we go any deeper, the danger will likely be even greater."

Qingyao nodded slightly, her gaze carefully sweeping over the surging mist around her. She softly echoed, "The miasma is confusing, the remnants of the formation are deadly, and there are lurking killing intents in the shadows. We are attacked from three sides. If we are not careful, we will be doomed. If Lin Yan hadn't opened the barrier in time, we would probably have all fallen into the illusion and become dead souls under the formation."

The other disciples from Laoshan and Shuiyue Pavilion were still shaken, keeping their minds on high alert and not daring to relax for a moment.

After this experience, everyone understood that the Qingwu Ancient Plain of the Shaohao Emperor Ruins was not an ordinary secret realm training ground, but a true death trap that buried countless cultivators throughout the ages.

Lin Yan, who was leading the way, remained calm and composed throughout.

A glint of light flickered in his eyes. Relying on the original memories of the Imperial Ruins sealed deep within his soul sea, the patterns of every inch of the earth's veins beneath his feet and the hidden killing intent of every array eye were clearly reflected in his mind.

This ancient sealing formation, though eroded by countless ages and its mechanisms incomplete, still retains the terrifying power of its ancient killing intent. The remnants of the formation are perfectly integrated with the bewitching miasma and lingering thoughts of souls, nested layer upon layer, forming an unsolvable deadly trap, specifically designed for intruders who have lost their guard and become complacent.

Within the sea of ​​fog, the faint, chilling divine senses became increasingly dense and ferocious as the group ventured deeper.

Not only were the disgraced cultivators who had failed to be selected and were stranded, but the elite forces of the Wang and Hao families had also completed their encirclement and were now hidden in the shadows on both sides of the thick fog, quietly following and preparing to strike.

They were wary of the densely packed killing formations ahead and dared not rush forward rashly, but they kept a close eye on the Laoshan team.

the reason is simple.

Lin Yan was the only one unaffected by the bewitching miasma and possessed the keen insight to detect the deadly traps within the array. Following the Laoshan team was the safest way to survive. As long as they patiently lay low and waited until they reached the altar and the array's traps were less active, they could launch a sudden attack to steal the treasures and seize the opportunity.

Human hearts are unpredictable, and murderous intent lurks in the shadows.

Amidst the thick fog, a faint sound of wind breaking suddenly rang out, so faint that it was instantly drowned out by the sound of the churning fog.

A jet-black needle pierced through layers of gray-white mist, carrying a chilling aura that seeped into the bones, and silently shot towards the back of a female cultivator from the Water Moon Pavilion at the end of the group.

The female cultivator's soul still retained the lingering effects of the illusion, and her mind was slightly relaxed, so she was completely unaware of the approaching killing intent.

At the critical moment!

hum!

A faint, clear light suddenly spread out from the perimeter of the group. The spiritual light barrier that Lin Yan had activated in advance trembled slightly, and a layer of shimmering white ripples appeared on its surface.

The insidious Soul-Refining Needle struck the barrier, instantly bursting into a wisp of black smoke. The chilling malevolent energy was instantly cleansed by the barrier's pure energy, and the needle shattered inch by inch, turning into ashes and dissipating into the mist.

"Someone's attacking!"

Chen Dagang instantly became alert, his spiritual power surged, his powerful aura spread out, and his sharp eyes swept across the vast sea of ​​fog.

Everyone tensed up instantly, summoning their personal magical artifacts and spirit swords to guard against any hidden dangers.

Deep within the mist, all was empty, without a single human figure. Only the faint whispers of lingering souls still echoed in the air, as if the sneak attack had never happened.

"They are rogue cultivators lurking in the shadows," Lin Yan said calmly. "They don't dare to confront us head-on. They only want to use us to clear a path, then ambush lone individuals and plunder the secret realm's opportunities and personal treasures."

Before he finished speaking, the thick fog on the right side shifted again!

Three cold and sharp gusts of wind suddenly burst out from the mist. Three black-clad rogue cultivators moved erratically, using the miasma to conceal their figures. Holding sharp blades, they rushed towards the flank of the group to attack two Qingyun Sect disciples who were losing their composure.

These desperate rogue cultivators are all people who have survived in dire straits. They are ruthless and vicious, and have long been bloodthirsty in the secret realm. They only want to seize treasures and survive, and they do not care about any morality or rules.

"court death!"

Chen Dagang roared and charged forward, channeling his powerful spiritual energy into his fists. The fierce and domineering fist force slammed out, directly facing the black-clad rogue cultivator who was attacking.

Boom!

Fist and blade collided, the force exploded, and the surrounding thick fog churned and scattered.

A rogue cultivator's protective spiritual energy was instantly shattered by the force of the punch, and his body flew backward. Before he even landed, the stone patterns under his feet suddenly lit up with a scarlet red light!

He retreated hastily, but accidentally stepped into the hidden array eye. The void blade wind erupted instantly, his miserable scream stopped abruptly, and he was directly shredded into a cloud of blood foam, which dissipated into the thick fog.

The remaining two rogue cultivators were terrified upon seeing this. Knowing the horror of the ancient killing formation, they dared not linger and tried to escape into the mist.

"Now that the deed is done, there's no going back."

A clear, cold sword cry suddenly rang out!

With a light flick of her sword, Yunxi Shuiyun, a highly refined azure sword aura burst forth from the mist. The sword light was light yet unstoppable, piercing through the thick fog and precisely catching up with the two fleeing rogue cultivators.

Two muffled sounds rang out almost simultaneously.

The sword energy pierced their bodies, severing the foundation of their spiritual power. The two desperate rogue cultivators stiffened and fell straight to the ground. Before they could struggle to their feet, the underground array automatically activated, flashing a crimson light, and they were completely annihilated within the Ancient Plains Killing Array.

In the blink of an eye, three sneak attacks were launched, and all were wiped out.

However, the sense of crisis in everyone's hearts did not diminish, but instead became even stronger.

This is just the beginning.

The dangers lurking deep within the foggy sea are far more terrifying than anyone imagined.

"Don't get distracted. Keep your eyes on the road ahead and focus your mind." Lin Yan's voice rang out again, steadily calming the restless hearts. "The sneak attack from the shadows is just a minor disturbance. The real killing trap lies at the core of the altar ahead. The closer we get to the opportunity, the more the trump cards and killing intent of all parties will be completely exposed."

Everyone agreed wholeheartedly, and quickly composed themselves, regrouped, and followed closely behind Lin Yan, not daring to make the slightest move.

The group continued to advance deeper into the territory.

Scattered remains of cultivators and broken magical artifacts can be seen everywhere along the way. Some are disciples from various sects who perished during the opening of this secret realm, while others are ancient cultivators who were buried here over countless ages. Layer upon layer, they silently tell the cruelty of this ancient plain. The closer one gets to the depths of the secret realm, the thicker the fog becomes, and the faint whispers of lingering souls become clearer, penetrating the eardrums and amplifying the desires and cowardice in people's hearts.

The main forces of the Wang and Hao families remained at a safe distance, staying hundreds of feet away in the thick fog.

As they watched the Laoshan team advance steadily, avoiding all the dangers lurking in the formation, their greed grew even stronger.

In the center of the Wang clan's group, a young man in white, with a deep gaze, spoke in a low, cold voice: "This boy is extremely strange. He is not afraid of the miasma of the soul and understands the ancient formations. With him clearing the way, the path to the altar will be unobstructed. Let's wait a little longer. When the formation's cores become less visible and the altar appears, that will be the time for us to seize the opportunity."

The Wang family disciples beside him nodded, their eyes concealing a murderous intent as they quietly gathered their strength.

The Hao clan members also had grim expressions. The resentment they had lost in the previous battle and the unwillingness to miss the initiative had all turned into a strong killing intent, and they quietly lay in wait for their orders.

Everyone is waiting for the right moment.

This is an excellent opportunity to reap the benefits and seize the core of the ancient altar.

Just then, the churning, gray-white fog ahead suddenly showed a subtle change.

From the depths of the originally dark and desolate sea of ​​fog, a wisp of hazy and distant golden imperial light slowly pierced through layers of miasma and gently fell.

Vast, ancient, boundless, and noble.

A wisp of imperial aura swept across the surroundings, instantly scattering the scattered remnants of souls and thoughts. Even the domineering miasma of bewitching spirits slightly receded under this imperial light.

"The altar! It's the primordial imperial light of the ancient altar!"

Someone gasped in a low voice, their tone filled with excitement and fervor.

The core of the Eternal Secret Realm, the Shaohao Emperor Ruins Altar, is finally within sight!

The group's spirits lifted, and the fatigue from days of travel and the fear of facing danger were all washed away by the allure of this extraordinary opportunity.

Even though the road ahead is fraught with dead ends, such an ancient imperial opportunity is enough to make all cultivators take risks and fight to the death.

Lin Yan raised his eyes and gazed at the golden imperial light piercing through the sea of ​​mist. The fragment of the Imperial Heart Jade Disc in his sleeve trembled more violently, and a burning warmth flowed through his body, resonating strongly with the source of the altar in the distance.

He could clearly sense that the core of the altar contained an extremely powerful ancient Daoist aura, sealed the original creation left by Emperor Shaohao, and also held the ultimate secret of the entire Imperial Ruins Secret Realm.

But at the same time, his brow furrowed slightly.

The appearance of the Emperor's Light signifies the emergence of opportunity, but it also means that all the lurking killing intent within the Sea of ​​Mist has been fully awakened.

A hundred feet behind them, the spiritual energy fluctuations of the Wang and Hao families suddenly became fierce and restless, and countless hidden divine senses locked onto the Laoshan team in front, no longer concealing their spying intentions.

From the thick fog and shadows all around, dozens of chilling auras converged, their murderous intent enveloping the entire area.

Desperate rogue cultivators, elite clan warriors, and hidden powerhouses from sects—all forces are in place.

A sea of ​​fog forms a cage, a net of killing intent hangs in the air, an altar stands before them, and countless enemies lurk all around.

Lin Yan slowly stopped, his tall figure standing amidst the surging mist, his eyes clear and cold as he swept across the dark void.

"The final game is approaching, and all the heroes are gathered."