In the spacious, pitch-black cave atop Jian Ge Mountain.
Two youths, clad in black bamboo hats, strode forward, navigating without any light yet managing to avoid every scattered stone and obstacle on the ground.
"We're almost there," Xu Mu's calm voice echoed. Fifty meters ahead of him, a shadow darker than the night pulsed – it was a power he'd seized from Feng Tianzhu, possessing a will of its own, capable of exploring darkness and sharing its vision with him.
Zuo Mingqiu followed closely behind Xu Mu, his footsteps landing precisely where Xu Mu's had, his expression serene. He lacked the shadow ability; if he wanted to see in the darkness, he'd need fire, but the disciples guarding the cave entrance had explicitly forbidden any open flames inside, lest they face punishment from Jian Ge.
"We've arrived." Xu Mu slowed his pace. The shadow ability retreated, silently rejoining his body. Ahead in the cave, a blindingly bright object illuminated the darkness: the spatial teleportation array they sought. The colossal formation, composed of countless mystic seals and strokes, pulsed with a soft, jade-like glow, bathing the cave in light.
The array was already teeming with people; Xu Mu estimated over a hundred.
"Jian Ge has no particular strict rules; no prohibition on martial arts, no forbidden zones. Everyone coming up or going down the mountain, whether to collect swords, buy swords, sightsee, or find someone, is welcome."
"However, one thing: no matter what you do, do not harm our disciples. Violators will be dealt with according to Jian Ge's sect rules, with no mercy!"
Standing before the spatial teleportation array was a middle-aged steward, ordinary in appearance but possessing an imposing aura. His voice boomed as he, dressed in a dark gray robe with a sword at his waist, briefed the cultivators who had arrived at Jian Ge via the teleportation array from all corners of the land on the sect's regulations.
"Jian Ge rarely opens its doors to outsiders. Compared to other factions, we have very few disciples and elders, and they all have their own tasks. If you have any questions, you can ask me here, or seek out the elder guarding the immortal swords in the deepest part of the mountain gate. Please do not disturb others."
"Alright, you may leave now." The gray-robed steward spoke, manipulating a formation disk in his hand. The spatial teleportation array dimmed considerably, and the cultivators within poured out like a receding tide.
"Quick, hurry! If we're any later, those swords will be claimed by others!" The crowd didn't linger, rushing out of the cave entrance in a single surge, quickly disappearing. Clearly, they were not first-time visitors to Jian Ge.
Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu remained in place, patiently waiting for the last person to squeeze past them before stepping forward. Xu Mu then addressed the middle-aged steward, "May I ask if you are Senior Qi Long?"
The middle-aged man in the gray robe studied Xu Mu from head to toe, then asked with a hint of surprise, "Who are you, and how do you know my name?"
Xu Mu retrieved the heavy wooden box from his spatial ring and handed it directly to the man, stating calmly, "We are from the Hundred Races Alliance and wish to use Jian Ge's teleportation array to travel to the Great Zhou Imperial City."
"Three days ago, we stayed at an inn in Peach City. Before we left, the innkeeper entrusted us with this item to deliver to Steward Qi Long, who is in charge of Jian Ge's teleportation array."
Qi Long received the box with a grave expression, took two steps back, and cautiously inspected the seal on the edge. Finding no signs of tampering, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. The man put the wooden box away, then stared at Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu with a look of suspicion, as if wondering why his old friend would entrust such an important item to two strangers.
Qi Long raised an eyebrow and asked, "You wish to use the array?"
Xu Mu nodded. "Yes."
Qi Long inquired again, "You know the rules, correct?"
Hearing this, Xu Mu nodded with a smile. "Of course. We have prepared sufficient silver." As Xu Mu spoke, he reached for the small mountain of gold ingots he had prepared in his spatial ring, but the man stopped him.
"No need to rush," Qi Long coughed unnaturally, then added, "As you just saw, people have been arriving at Jian Ge via the spatial teleportation array in waves. The array's operational load is too high, and it needs to be temporarily shut down for repairs."
Xu Mu frowned at this. "Even just the two of us won't do?"
Qi Long shook his head, looking towards the array. "I can only say you've come at an inconvenient time. The last teleportation has just concluded, and the elder responsible for repairing the array is already on his way."
Xu Mu frowned, extending his divine sense to perceive. He indeed found that the spatial teleportation array had been completely shut down. He could only offer a wry smile and exchange a glance with Zuo Mingqiu. Their luck was truly terrible.
"The array will take several days to repair. Senior, could you give us a specific timeframe?" Xu Mu asked again.
Qi Long pondered for a moment, then replied, "At the earliest, ten days. But the exact duration will depend on the progress of the array's recovery. After all, using it without complete repairs carries risks."
"You wouldn't want to be caught in spatial turbulence, would you?" Qi Long said, looking into Xu Mu's eyes with a hint of jest.
Xu Mu shook his head. Spatial turbulence could obliterate everything, something even Human Kings treated with caution. Back then, Charles had sacrificed a massive data stream just to hold it back for a moment, and even powerful Elven Kings had to fear it. He certainly didn't want to fall into it.
"Ten days from now, I will come to find you, Senior. We hope you will help conceal our whereabouts." After a three-second pause, Xu Mu cupped his hands towards Qi Long and turned, quickly walking towards the cave entrance.
Qi Long watched Xu Mu's retreating back without a word. Xu Mu strode purposefully outwards. His reasoning was simple: Jian Ge was now crowded with people; hiding here for ten days wouldn't be difficult, provided they weren't trapped in this cave.
However, as fate would have it, his fear materialized. Xu Mu stopped abruptly about thirty meters out, staring intently into the darkness ahead, his body half-crouched as if sensing danger. Zuo Mingqiu immediately gripped the hilt of his sword, his expression grave. Though he could see nothing, Xu Mu's reaction was telling.
"You two little brats from Peach City, get out here!" a hoarse, furious roar erupted from the cave entrance. The immense sound waves echoed through the dark rock walls, dislodging a few small stones that clattered to the ground.
Xu Mu's eyes narrowed. He spoke to Zuo Mingqiu, "Same as usual. I'll use wind, fire, and lightning arts, you use your Dao Sword. No matter what domain he's in, break through it first."
Zuo Mingqiu nodded, his sword unsheathing with a clang. The two stood side-by-side, listening to the approaching thundering footsteps from within the cave, ready to act.
But at that moment, Qi Long spoke from behind. The entire cave lit up instantly, countless runes flashing simultaneously as a killing formation quietly activated, enshrouding everyone.
"Any grievances you have, please resolve them outside. This is a formation hub; no fighting is permitted!" Qi Long, his hands tucked into the sleeves of his gray robe, walked slowly in front of Xu Mu and addressed the approaching guard of the Seventh Prince, Commander An, "Any grudges you have, please resolve them outside. This is a formation hub; no fighting is permitted!"
Commander An, sensing the terrifying nature of the formation and seeing the sudden appearance of Qi Long, stopped warily in the center of the cave, facing Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu from dozens of meters away, his eyes burning with barely suppressed murderous intent.
"My name is An Jin, Commander of the Scythe Army of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and personal guard to His Highness the Seventh Prince." An Jin stared at Qi Long, pointing at Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu, his teeth gritted. "These two killed five of my guards at the third stage and verbally insulted the Third Prince, Zhou Yuan, and injured two female disciples from Plum Blossom Valley!"
"When His Highness the Seventh Prince learned of this, he was immensely enraged. Therefore, these two must die today. I implore you to grant us this convenience!" After speaking, Commander An didn't wait for Qi Long's reply. As if assuming consent, he raised his hand into a claw, and profound Dao rules coalesced in his palm, reaching out to bind Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu from a distance.
"Die!" Having gathered his power, An Jin charged forward, seemingly intending to finish Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu with a single palm strike. But the moment he moved, the Dao runes in the cave flared several times brighter, blindingly so. Qi Long manipulated the formation disk, and terrifying Dao rules condensed into solid, ice-like shards, slashing towards the charging An Jin from all directions. The Dao he was using to bind shattered violently.
"Crack!" Sensing the danger, An Jin's pupils contracted sharply. He stamped his right foot on a stone, coming to an abrupt halt. Spreading his hands outwards, his earthy-gray domain, like dried mud hardened into rock, expanded. The moment it spread, the rune lights seemed to be significantly weakened, and the killing intent condensed by the formation became mired, allowing him to dodge it with visible speed.
"Pa pa pa pa pa!" With a series of impacts, the solidified Dao killing intent struck the cave walls, kicking up a shower of stone fragments.
"For His Highness the Seventh Prince's sake, this is your final warning," Qi Long ceased his attack, supporting the formation disk with one hand, his gaze indifferent as he addressed Commander An. "Resolve any grievances outside. This is a formation hub."
An Jin continued to spread his domain, his muddy gray clashing with the killing formation. Killing intent contorted his aged face as he glared at Qi Long, saying, "And what if I don't?"
"These two brats possess extraordinary strength. If they go outside, who knows what might happen. If I insist on killing them here, what can you do to me?" As An Jin spoke, he prepared to step forward.
"Boom crack!" The killing formation flared. Qi Long manipulated the formation disk, and a terrifyingly solidified Dao killing strike landed precisely at An Jin's toes, easily slicing through his domain. Subsequently, the Dao killing strike plunged into the rock, disappearing without a ripple, like a drop of water into the ocean.
"Move again, and you die."