These restrictions and formations are remnants of ancient times, truly terrifying.
If one accidentally triggers a restriction or formation, the weaker ones, if damaged, might be able to break free after being trapped for a while.
The stronger ones would likely be imprisoned within to await death. If one encounters even more formidable restrictions or killing formations, it could lead to instant disintegration.
Along the way, Wu Tao had already evaded more than a dozen hidden restrictions and formations.
Of course, the reason Wu Tao had managed to avoid any accidents so far, besides his own caution, was also thanks to the few Spirit-Seeking Rats that had scouted ahead for him and perished.
Wu Tao had also encountered a few inner disciples from the Demonic Heaven Sect and the Cold Water True Spirit Sect, but he had dealt with them all preemptively.
Naturally, their wealth eventually became Wu Tao's.
To be honest, cultivators who reached the Foundation Establishment stage generally possessed considerable skills and substantial assets.
Within the storage bags of these cultivators, Wu Tao found two or three precious treasures that even he did not possess.
After spending several more days, Wu Tao discovered a medicinal herb garden. It appeared to contain quite a few spirit herbs and medicinal plants, which should be of considerable value.
However, before Wu Tao could enter, a surge of fire light flashed, blasting a large pit into the ground before him.
Wu Tao looked up and saw that one of his fellow disciples had already arrived at the medicinal herb garden.
This fellow disciple held a top-grade magical artifact, the Giant Spirit Pulse Axe, its spiritual light surging. He pointed at Wu Tao and said unceremoniously, "This place has already been claimed by me. Senior Brother, please leave."
Wu Tao was slightly stunned by this. He did not wish to get into a dispute with his fellow disciple over a mere medicinal herb garden, leading to a fight for life and death. Finding other opportunities was more important, so Wu Tao immediately headed in another direction.
Seeing Wu Tao leave, this fellow disciple cautiously inspected his surroundings before bending down to collect the numerous spiritual herbs from the medicinal herb garden. After clearing it out, he patted his backside and departed.
…
After some time, when Wu Tao found another medicinal herb garden, he discovered it was also occupied by an inner disciple of the Demonic Heaven Sect.
This time, Wu Tao showed no politeness. Within a dozen moves, he had shattered all of the Demonic Heaven Sect disciple's magical artifacts.
By the end, this inner disciple of the Demonic Heaven Sect had even thrown out dozens of life-saving Five Elements Talismans. Some transformed into wooden shields, others into stone walls, and some directly manifested as offensive spells, attacking Wu Tao.
However, at the Foundation Establishment stage, few cultivators could compete with Wu Tao in terms of wealth. As for Foundation Establishment cultivators who were even wealthier than Wu Tao, they were exceedingly rare.
Seeing this, Wu Tao directly unleashed hundreds of talismans, obliterating the inner disciple of the Demonic Heaven Sect into ashes, leaving behind nothing but a pile of bone dust.
The only thing Wu Tao regretted was that this extravagant combat style had also destroyed the storage bag carried by this Demonic Heaven Sect disciple.
After claiming this medicinal herb garden, Wu Tao immediately began digging three feet deep, scooping up all the spirit herbs and medicinal plants within, and storing them in his own storage bag.
When Wu Tao reached the third medicinal herb garden, he found it had already been plundered. Someone had gotten there first and cleaned it out, leaving not even a single weed.
Wu Tao could only consider himself unlucky and continued onward.
…
After another day and night of travel, Wu Tao gazed at a vast expanse of ruins before him. This was the site of the Artifact Refining Hall within the Sea God's Ruins. The broken yet ancient walls, filled with the historical aura of the primeval era, seemed to speak of the terrifying passage of time.
Having spent five to six hours here, Wu Tao, in a thorough search, found many fragments and remnants of magical artifacts and treasures left behind from ancient times.
Moreover, by tapping and searching everywhere, Wu Tao, while rummaging, uncovered a hidden treasure vault, concealed by common mechanical techniques, specifically for storing refining materials and spiritual items.
Precious ores such as Yi Shui Jing Shi, Po Xuan Ling Shi, Chi Yan Huo Shi, Hundred Year Copper Essence, Ruan Yu, Dian Xing Hui Xing Shi, Hui Yue Hun Shi, and He Han Mo Sha were neatly piled inside.
This allowed Wu Tao to strike it rich instantly.
With these refining materials, Wu Tao could use the ancient secret forging techniques from his inherited memories to repair and forge the damaged ancient sword he possessed.
His own combat power would also significantly increase, greatly improving his chances of victory in future battles.
Just as Wu Tao emerged from the ruins, he suddenly sensed something was amiss. Several faint killing intents were directed at him. This ominous feeling instantly put Wu Tao on high alert.
"This is bad. Someone is planning to ambush me!"
As Wu Tao retreated, he shouted loudly, "Who is lurking nearby? Come out!"
After a moment of silence, a series of claps echoed.
"Clap! Clap! Clap!"
"Such a keen sense. As expected of Wu Tao of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, who has killed many experts from our sect and is renowned!"
The path down the mountain was suddenly blocked by these three cultivators working together.
Wu Tao looked at the three cultivators surrounding him; they were all inner disciples of the Cold Water True Spirit Sect.
Furthermore, their positions were meticulously chosen, forming a three-pronged formation that allowed for seamless offense and defense, clearly indicating their prior coordination.
…
Working together, the three of them had ambushed him. The underlying circumstances were clearly not simple.
Strike first, suffer later! Especially since Wu Tao was at a disadvantage.
Suddenly, Wu Tao launched an attack. The damaged ancient sword let out a resonant hum.
Like the first thunderclap of early spring, it pierced the mind and shook the surroundings.
The sound of the sword was a sound of slaughter.
The prolonged sound urged the sword, its momentum like nine dragons. A chilling glint, sharp and bone-piercing, transformed into a celestial sword that chased stars and seized the moon, unleashing streams of scattered, dancing golden sword energy lotuses, dense and vast, sweeping in all directions.
The leading cultivator of the Cold Water True Spirit Sect, prepared for this, unleashed his pair of top-grade magical artifacts, the "Falling Goose鸣刀" (Falling Goose鸣Dao).
The Falling Goose鸣刀 lunged towards the surging sword light. Simultaneously, he raised a top-grade magical artifact shield to protect himself.
Then he called out, "Junior Brothers, strike quickly! Let us work together to slay this person, avenge our fallen comrades, and then equally divide the treasures within his storage bag."
After the leader of the Cold Water True Spirit Sect shouted, the other two immediately joined him in attacking Wu Tao.
Another cultivator raised the top-grade magical artifact "Phantom Crystal Ball" above his head. The Phantom Crystal Ball then split into two, two into four, four into eight, eight into sixteen, multiplying continuously.
It stopped when it reached one hundred and eighty-six crystal balls.
The one hundred and eighty-six crystal balls surged out, forming a terrifying blue torrent that swept towards Wu Tao.
As for the last cultivator, he was a rare Beast Tamer among cultivators, specializing in controlling spirit beasts.
He patted his spirit beast bag, summoning dozens of demonic beasts at the Qi Condensation stage. He then took out a top-grade water-attribute flying sword and joined the other two in attacking Wu Tao.
…
*Poof! Boom! Poof! Boom!*
The sounds of various collisions echoed, thrilling and terrifying…
The three surrounded and attacked Wu Tao. Wu Tao resisted with all his might but was still at a disadvantage.
However, the three cultivators of the Cold Water True Spirit Sect were not pushing their full strength. The leading cultivator of the Cold Water True Spirit Sect reminded the other two companions to proceed steadily, depleting the enemy's spiritual energy.
Boiling frogs in warm water, everything was about stability, to avoid any last-ditch counterattacks that might cost a companion's life.
Wu Tao actually had several ways to instantly turn the tide of the battle. For instance, the ancient semi-treasure Myriad Spirits Flying Butterfly Pot in his hand, or his trump card, the Myriad Swords Subduing Immortals Diagram.
Either of these could break the stalemate immediately, but they were life-saving items that Wu Tao was reluctant to use unless absolutely necessary.
Moreover, these were not a true reflection of his strength. Wu Tao currently wished to fight these three purely with his own abilities.
However, the Sea God's Ruins were fraught with danger, and considerable time was needed to search for various opportunities. If this battle dragged on, the advantages might be seized by others.
Thus, Wu Tao hesitated over which method to use to end this troublesome battle.
At this moment, the leading cultivator of the Cold Water True Spirit Sect suddenly threw out several mid-grade spirit stones.
These mid-grade spirit stones flew directly to different locations, and along with them were thrown some spiritual materials and formation flags.
Wu Tao's pupils, having experienced countless battles, narrowed slightly. He knew these were items for setting up formations. Was this fellow planning to set up a formation?
Wu Tao's brow furrowed. This was going to be troublesome.
The people besieging him, in addition to the Beast Tamer, surprisingly included an even rarer Formation Master.
Aware of the danger, Wu Tao would not let him succeed. His sword momentum suddenly shifted, changing from defense to offense, the sword's power following closely.
Moving like leaves dancing in the autumn wind, the power of his sword qi surged like a sudden storm, like a mighty river reversing its course. Every move was a killing blow, forcing the three to retreat several steps.
Following this, two more soaring sword energies were instantly unleashed, slashing towards the other two cultivators of the Cold Water True Spirit Sect.
Seizing the opportunity, Wu Tao immediately used the Myriad Spirits Flying Butterfly Pot. Within moments, thousands of fiery red butterflies flew out from his pot.
Each butterfly was less than a finger in length, but they flew like moths to a flame, swooping towards the leader of the Cold Water True Spirit Sect.
As the fluttering red butterflies landed on the leading cultivator of the Cold Water True Spirit Sect, there were successive explosions of 'peng', 'peng', 'peng', a blaze of fire from top to bottom.
(New book updating, seeking collections, recommendation tickets, shares, and more support. Thank you friends, your support is my motivation!)