The Eternal Saint of Alchemy

Although the suction layer limits speed, the suction intensity fluctuates regularly at different locations, and the concentration of spiritual energy is higher in areas where the suction layer is weaker.

He shared his discovery with the others, and the group proceeded along a relatively weaker route, while Bai Ye stopped when they passed some special star patterns and gently touched the center of the pattern with the tip of his Silverfrost Sword.

There is a noticeable bend in the middle of the passage—the star pattern is cut off by half a foot here, turning into a flat stone slab.

On each side of the stone slab, a bronze mirror was inlaid in the wall. The mirrors reflected the figures of people in the passage and the light of the stars, as if it were a checkpoint.

Just as Xiao Fan walked to the center of the stone slab, both bronze mirrors emitted a soft light at the same time.

The beam of light swept over him, then shot towards Bai Ye, landing on the Silver Frost Sword.

Two beams of light crossed paths and disappeared into the bronze mirror. The broken star pattern in front of the stone slab began to extend again, and the passage returned to normal.

When Bai Ye reached the door, she glanced at herself in the mirror, and then their eyes met.

The group continued walking forward, and the mane on the Earth Core Golden Mane Beast shone slightly.

At the end of the passage appeared an octagonal stone chamber.

In the center of the stone chamber was a circular recess, similar in shape to the spare interface on the silvery-white plain, only about two feet in diameter.

Xiao Fan squatted down and used his spiritual core to sense the energy, confirming that the residual spiritual energy at the bottom of the groove was the same material as the crystal in the hall—this was the core mechanism to open the stone chamber.

He placed the rhombus-shaped crystal into the groove.

The moment the crystal fell, dark golden light simultaneously illuminated all eight walls, and an independent star map appeared on each wall. The eight star maps combined to form a complete three-dimensional star map.

In the center of the star chart is a line of text completely different from the Taixu Dansheng system.

Bai Ye examined it carefully and said, "These inscriptions are several hundred years older than the era of the Grandmaster of Pill Refining. There are also some records on the Silver Frost Sword. 'The Star Pattern Tower is divided into three levels, each with two layers.' Once you pass this level, you will be able to see the core of the sect."

The Earth Core Golden Mane Beast turned around and walked to a wall in the southeast corner. It gently patted the wall with one front paw, making a dull sound.

Xiao Fan stepped forward and knocked on the wall to confirm that there was more space behind it.

He took out a short axe, channeled his spiritual power into it, and drew a thin detection line on the wall. The detection line showed that the stone wall was only about half a foot thick, not very thick.

He changed to cutting horizontally along the grain, and the stone layer, more than half a foot thick, was peeled off layer by layer.

A diamond-shaped transparent crystal, similar to the one in the hall, floated in mid-air. It was larger and contained many more silver specks, seemingly accumulating more spiritual power.

Xiao Fan reached out and took off the second crystal, and the octagonal star map immediately dimmed.

The pale golden patterns on the Earth Core Golden Mane Beast flashed by, seemingly absorbing the residual energy in the star map.

He also acquired the second crystal.

Bai Ye lowered his head and looked at the light patterns on the Silver Frost Sword. They were brighter than when he first entered the passage, as if the spiritual energy environment of this ancient space had gently activated and optimized the interior of the Silver Frost Sword.

After the second crystal was taken from the octagonal stone chamber, there was no further movement.

Xiao Fan held the two crystals in his palm and compared them, and found that there was indeed a big difference in the concentration of spiritual energy between them—the first crystal was lighter and the second was darker.

The third crystal should lead to a deeper place, and these three layers should correspond to three core areas of different densities.

Xiao Fan stood in the octagonal stone chamber for a while longer, making sure that the walls behind the other seven stone walls were solid. Only then did he put away the two crystals, and then led everyone out of the stone chamber, retreating through the star-patterned passage.

On his way back to the hall, Xiao Fan noticed that the crystal relief above the altar and the distribution of light spots on the second crystal were exactly the same.

He stopped and held the second crystal up to the relief. As the crystal approached the relief, a slight resonance emanated from it, and the rhombus-shaped crystal on the relief also lit up slightly.

Bai Ye watched the whole process unfold. She gently traced the bottom of the relief with the tip of her Silver Frost Sword—there was a pattern there that he hadn't noticed before.

The crack caved inward, revealing a thin metal plate.

Upon examining the metal piece, one discovers a map on the back that is even more detailed than the map on the bone fragment, clearly indicating the function and passageways of each layer.

The first level on the map corresponds to the hall, corridor, and octagonal stone chamber, while the entrance to the second level is behind the east wall of the octagonal stone chamber, a place that no one had noticed before.

The third floor is located deeper on the second floor. There is a small circle drawn on the map, which seems to be where important things are stored.

Xiao Fan carefully wrapped the metal block and placed it into his spatial magic item.

With this structural diagram, they no longer have to grope around in unknown spaces as they used to.

When the metal block was removed, the patterns on the Earth Core Golden Mane Beast lit up.

The entrance to the second floor is a hidden door shown on the blueprints behind the east wall.

The hidden door requires two crystals to be placed in the groove at the same time to be activated. When Xiao Fan put the first and second crystals into the groove, the wall silently receded, revealing a second downward circular stone step.

This stone staircase is much shorter than the first one; it ends after three rounds.

The space below the stone steps was much larger than he had imagined, measuring more than ten zhang in size, with a dome several zhang high and walls made of a mixture of dark metal and bluish-gray rock.

Dozens of square pillars are neatly arranged on the ground, each pillar is covered with complete star patterns, and the same star patterns connect the pillars on the ground.

In the center of the main hall is a three-foot-high stone platform, on which a third rhombus-shaped crystal is suspended.

This crystal was much larger than the previous two, and its silvery light almost enveloped the entire room. It floated quietly in mid-air, slowly rotating.

However, the main hall contains more than just these crystals.

Between the pillars were several inactive metal golems, much larger and heavier than those in the hall.

They waited motionless for orders, but the spirit lines on their bases still flickered faintly—the defense system was still functioning.

Xiao Fan stood at the door, not in a hurry to go in.

He looked down at the Golden Mane Beast at his feet. He saw it stretch out its two front paws and feel around on the star patterns on the edge of the hall. After a moment, it let out a soft roar at Xiao Fan, and the patterns on its mane remained stable.

Bai Ye stood beside him, the Silver Frost Sword in her hand ready to be drawn. The silver patterns flowed much faster than usual after entering the hall, as if sensing the richer spiritual energy contained in this space.