After being jilted by the saintess at the beginning, why is she crying?

And the facts proved his guess to be true.

Many of the restrictions bear shocking marks.

On some parts of the ground were large pools of dried, blackened bloodstains, stretching for several feet.

Some lay with several corpses, their clothes tattered, their flesh mangled, their deaths gruesome.

Clearly, someone had arrived before them and attempted to forcefully break through these restrictions, but...

"These gestures..." Lin Fengmian raised an eyebrow, pondering to himself.

The owner of this cave must be exceptionally powerful.

Reaching the pinnacle of the Golden Elixir is probably a conservative estimate.

This scale of craftsmanship, the profoundness of these restrictions... it is highly likely to be the cave dwelling of a Nascent Soul True Monarch!

Thinking of this, Lin Fengmian felt a surge of excitement.

The cave dwelling of a Nascent Soul True Monarch!

That's a Nascent Soul True Monarch!

In the entire Zhao Kingdom, the number of Nascent Soul cultivators on the surface is only a handful!

The things left behind by such beings are enough to feed a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like myself!

"Junior Brother Lin."

Just as Lin Fengmian's heart was burning with excitement, a clear, cold voice suddenly reached his ears.

He turned his head and saw Xiao Xiyue looking at him, her cold eyes filled with caution.

"Although this is the cave dwelling of a senior, the restrictions within are extremely dangerous." She paused, her gaze sweeping over the corpses and bloodstains, her tone growing increasingly grave. "We should try our best to find some opportunities on the outskirts, and not risk going deeper."

Upon hearing this, Lin Fengmian nodded inwardly.

Teammates like this are the ones you can trust.

Don't be greedy, don't be reckless, and know your own limitations.

Unlike some people who, upon seeing an opportunity, flutter around like flies drawn to blood, recklessly rushing towards it and not even knowing how they died in the end.

"Senior sister is right." Lin Fengmian nodded and smiled. "Then let's take a stroll around the outskirts and see if we can find anything we can snag."

Xiao Xiyue gave a soft "hmm" and followed beside him.

The two walked along the passageway toward the nearest area.

---

It was an area surrounded by a barrier of spiritual light. Through that light, the pale blue screen could be vaguely seen, and the spiritual energy was so rich that it was almost overflowing.

As Lin Fengmian approached, he discovered that a considerable number of cultivators had already gathered there.

In twos and threes, some standing and some sitting, dressed in different clothes, they were clearly disciples from different sects and families.

But at this moment, all of these people wore the same expression—

resignedly.

There was even a hint of annoyance.

"Damn it! What the hell is this thing?!"

A burly man roared and channeled all his spiritual power, slamming his fist into the light barrier!

"Bang--!"

A dull, resounding boom echoed outwards, but the light screen didn't even ripple.

The burly man's attack vanished without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

And the next moment—

"call out!"

A burst of energy, exactly the same as his previous attack, suddenly rebounded from the light barrier and slammed into his chest!

"puff--!"

The burly man spat out a mouthful of blood, flew backward, crashed heavily to the ground, and slid several meters away.

"This...this is damn weird!" The burly man clutched his chest, his face ashen, but he dared not approach the light screen again.

Lin Fengmian frowned slightly as he watched this scene.

He stepped forward and peered inside through the pale blue light curtain.

Upon seeing this, his eyes immediately lit up.

Inside the light curtain was a medicinal herb field.

It wasn't large, only about two or three zhang in size, but the high grade and rare variety of the spiritual herbs growing inside made Lin Fengmian's heart beat faster!

Purple Dragon Emperor Ginseng, Seven-Leaf Green Lotus, Earth Core Fire Fungus, Cold Marrow Elixir...

Rare and precious medicinal herbs that are rarely seen in the outside world are growing in large quantities here!

Moreover, judging from its condition and age, it must be at least several hundred years old!

There were even some medicinal herbs that Lin Fengmian had only seen illustrated guides in ancient books, and he couldn't even name them.

"Good stuff..." Lin Fengmian took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with desire.

These elixirs are exactly what he needs right now!

After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, the quality and variety of the pills he needs for cultivation will need to be greatly improved.

With these spiritual herbs, he can refine high-level pills suitable for Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, and his cultivation will surely reach a new level!

But the problem is...

How do we break through this light barrier?

Lin Fengmian withdrew his gaze and looked at the seemingly thin spiritual light barrier that kept everyone outside.

The light screen was a pale blue color, with faint flowing light rotating on its surface, exuding a mysterious and profound aura.

That aura... contained all five elements, mutually generating and restraining each other, circulating endlessly, creating life without ceasing.

Although Lin Fengmian didn't understand formations, he could still sense that this restriction was not simple.

Just then, an elderly man with white hair stepped out from the crowd.

The old man was dressed in a gray robe, with a gaunt face, sharp eyes, and a faint spiritual pressure emanating from him.

Lin Fengmian scanned the area with his divine sense, and a slight thought stirred within him.

Late stage of foundation building.

"Let this old man take a look."

The old man stood with his hands behind his back, walked to the light screen, and squinted at it for a moment.

Immediately, he reached into his robe and took out a compass about the size of a palm.

The compass was covered with densely packed runes, and the pointer spun wildly, making a soft "clicking" sound.

The old man made hand seals, channeling spiritual energy into the compass while chanting incantations.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, a hint of seriousness flashing in them.

"This is... a Five Elements Mutual Generation Restriction!"

He took a deep breath, his voice tinged with disbelief, "This kind of restriction has long been lost! I never expected to see it here today!"

"A Five Elements Mutual Generation Restriction?" someone asked curiously. "Senior, what kind of formation is this? Is there a way to break it?"

The old man shook his head, his expression grave:

"The Five Elements Mutual Generation Restriction is based on the principle of mutual generation of the Five Elements: metal generates water, water generates wood, wood generates fire, fire generates earth, and earth generates metal, in a continuous cycle."

He paused, pointed to the light screen, and continued:

"The stronger the external attack, the faster the restriction can mobilize the power of the five elements to dissolve it, and it may even reflect the attack back intact. It is almost impossible to break it by brute force."

As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of sighs erupted from all around.

"This...this is unsolvable?!"

"Then we're just stuck staring at the medicinal herbs inside without any recourse?"

"Sigh, forget it, let's not waste time here. Let's try our luck somewhere else."

Several cultivators shook their heads and sighed, then transformed into streaks of light and left the place.

At this moment, someone else recognized the old man's identity.

"Isn't that Master Tianshui from Tianshui Mountain? I heard he's a second-tier array master! Even he can't handle this?"

"Even a second-tier formation master is helpless, what else can we do?"

"Let's go, let's go, don't delay."

Several more people left.

But most people stayed behind, staring at the light screen with resentment on their faces.