In the spacious, pitch-black cave atop Jian Ge Mountain.
Two youths wearing black straw hats moved swiftly within, with no light to guide them, yet they avoided every pebble obstacle that occasionally appeared on the ground.
"We're almost there," Xu Mu's calm voice sounded. Fifty meters ahead of him, a shadow darker than the night moved. This was an ability he had acquired from Feng Tianzhu, possessing an independent consciousness that could help him explore the darkness and share its vision.
Zuo Mingqiu followed closely behind Xu Mu, each of his footsteps landing precisely where Xu Mu's had, his expression serene. He did not possess the shadow ability. If he wanted to see clearly in the dark, his only option would be fire, but before entering the cave, the disciples guarding the entrance had specifically warned against using fire inside, lest they face punishment from Jian Ge.
"We've arrived." Xu Mu's pace gradually slowed. The shadow ability returned, silently re-entering his body. Ahead in the cave, a blindingly bright object illuminated the darkness—it was the spatial teleportation array they were looking for. The massive formation, comprised of thousands of runes, shimmered with a soft, jade-like glow, bathing the cave in light.
The array was already crowded with people; Xu Mu estimated over a hundred.
"Jian Ge has no particularly strict rules; no prohibition on martial arts, no forbidden zones. Everyone coming up or down the mountain, fetching swords or buying them, sightseeing or finding someone, is free to do so."
"However, there is one rule: no matter what you do, do not harm any of Jian Ge's disciples. Violators will be dealt with according to Jian Ge's sect rules, without mercy!"
Standing before the spatial teleportation array was a middle-aged steward with an ordinary appearance but an imposing demeanor, a loud voice, and a sword at his waist, clad in a dark gray robe. He was currently explaining Jian Ge's rules to the cultivators who had arrived via the teleportation array from all corners of the land.
"Jian Ge rarely opens its doors to the outside. 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 at the deepest part of the mountain gate. Please do not disturb others."
"Alright, you may go now." The middle-aged steward in the gray robe spoke, manipulating a formation disk in his hand. The spatial teleportation array immediately dimmed considerably, and the cultivators within poured out like a receding tide.
"Hurry up! If we're any later, all the good swords will be claimed!" The group did not linger, rushing out of the cave entrance like a swarm. They quickly disappeared, clearly not their first time visiting Jian Ge.
Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu stood still, quietly waiting for the last person to squeeze past them before stepping forward. Xu Mu then spoke to the middle-aged steward, "May I ask if you are Senior Qi Long?"
The middle-aged man in the gray robe looked Xu Mu up and down, then asked with some surprise, "Who are you, and how do you know my name?"
Xu Mu retrieved the weighty wooden box from his spatial ring and handed it directly to the man. He said calmly, "We are from the Hundred Clan Alliance, and we 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 delivering this to Steward Qi Long, who is in charge of Jian Ge's teleportation array."
Qi Long's expression became solemn as he took the box from Xu Mu. He took two steps back and carefully examined the seal on the edge. Finding no signs of it being opened, he finally relaxed. The man put away the wooden box and then stared at Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu with suspicion, seemingly wondering why his old friend would entrust such an important item to two unfamiliar youths.
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?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Mu nodded and smiled, "Of course. We have prepared sufficient funds." 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 somewhat unnaturally and then said, "As you've seen, there's been a continuous stream of people using the spatial teleportation array to come to Jian Ge. The array is overloaded and needs to be temporarily shut down for repairs."
Xu Mu frowned upon hearing this. "Even for just the two of us, it's not possible?"
Qi Long shook his head and looked at the array. "I can only say that your timing is unfortunate. The last teleportation was the final one for the next few days. The elder responsible for repairing the array is already on his way."
Xu Mu frowned and extended his divine sense to perceive. He indeed found that the spatial teleportation array had been completely shut down. He could only exchange a wry smile with Zuo Mingqiu. Their luck was truly abysmal.
"How many days will the array repair take, Senior? Could you provide a specific timeframe?" Xu Mu asked again.
Qi Long pondered for a moment, then replied, "At the earliest, ten days. But it will depend on the progress of the array's repair. After all, there are risks if it's not fully repaired."
"You wouldn't want to be caught in the spatial turbulence, would you?" Qi Long said, looking at Xu Mu with a hint of a jest.
Xu Mu shook his head. Spatial turbulence could annihilate everything; even Human Kings kept their distance. Years ago, Charles had discarded a massive data stream to block it for a moment, and those powerful Elf Kings could only fear it. Of course, he didn't want to fall into it.
"I will come to find you in ten days, Senior. We hope you can keep our whereabouts a secret." Xu Mu stood still for three seconds, then clasped his hands to Qi Long. He then turned directly and quickly walked towards the cave entrance.
Qi Long watched Xu Mu's retreating back without a word.
Xu Mu strode outwards with purpose. His thinking was simple: Jian Ge was teeming with people now, and hiding here for ten days would be no trouble, provided they weren't trapped in this cave. However, what one fears most often comes to pass.
Just thirty meters out, Xu Mu suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed ahead into the darkness with a solemn expression. He bent his body slightly as if sensing danger. Seeing this, Zuo Mingqiu immediately gripped the hilt of his sword, his expression serious. Though he could see nothing, Xu Mu's reaction clearly indicated a problem.
"Those two scummy brats from Peach City, get out here!" A hoarse, enraged roar echoed from the cave entrance. The immense sound wave reverberated through the dark rock walls, dislodging a few small stones that fell to the ground with crisp clinks.
Xu Mu's eyes narrowed. He turned to Zuo Mingqiu and said, "Same as usual. I'll use wind, fire, and lightning arts; you use your Dao sword. No matter what domain he possesses, break it first, then we'll talk."
Zuo Mingqiu nodded. His sword was drawn with a clang. The two stood side by side, listening to the rapidly approaching thundering sound from within the cave, ready to act at any moment.
But at this moment, Qi Long, who was behind them, spoke. The entire cave instantly lit up, countless runes flashing simultaneously as a killing array quietly activated, enveloping everyone within.
"Gentlemen, whatever grievances you have, please resolve them outside. This is a formation site, and martial acts are forbidden!" Qi Long, with his hands tucked into the sleeves of his gray robe, walked slowly to Xu Mu's front and addressed the approaching guard of the Seventh Prince, Commander An, who was hurtling towards them.
Commander An, sensing the terrifying power of the array and seeing Qi Long suddenly appear, stopped warily in the center of the cave, maintaining a distance of tens of meters from Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu. The killing intent in his eyes was almost uncontrollable.
"My name is An Jin, and I am the commander of the Scythe Army of the Great Zhou Dynasty, as well as a personal guard to His Highness the Seventh Prince." An Jin stared at Qi Long, pointing at Xu Mu and Zuo Mingqiu with gritted teeth. "These two have killed five of my guards at the third stage, and they verbally insulted His Highness the Third Prince, Zhou Yuan, and injured two female disciples from Plum Blossom Valley!"
"His Highness the Seventh Prince was immensely enraged upon hearing this, so these two must die today. I implore you to grant us this favor!" After Commander An finished speaking, he didn't wait for Qi Long's reply, as if it were already a foregone conclusion. He raised his hand like a claw, and profound Dao rules condensed in his palm, preparing 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 instant he moved, the Dao runes in the cave suddenly brightened several times, blindingly intense.
Qi Long manipulated the formation disk, and terrifying Dao rules condensed into crystalline solids, shredding towards the charging An Jin from all directions. The Dao used for binding in An Jin's palm instantly shattered.
"Crack!" An Jin sensed the danger, his pupils constricting. He stamped his right foot on a stone to stop himself, spreading his hands outwards. His earthy-gray domain, like dried mud turned to stone, diffused outwards, and in an instant, the light from the runes seemed to weaken considerably. The killing intent generated by the formation became bogged down, and he dodged it with visible speed.
"Pa pa pa pa pa!" A series of sounds followed as the solidified Dao killing intent struck the cave walls, scattering stone fragments.
"For the sake of His Highness the Seventh Prince, I will warn you one last time." Qi Long stopped attacking, holding the formation disk in one hand, his gaze indifferent as he looked at Commander An. "Whatever grievances you have, resolve them outside."
An Jin continued to expand his domain, the mud-like gray clashing with the killing array. His aged face was filled with killing intent as he stared at Qi Long and said, "What if I don't?"
"These two brats possess extraordinary strength. If they go outside, who knows what will happen. If I insist on killing them here, what can you do to me?" As An Jin spoke, he made to step forward.
"Boom!" The killing array flared. Qi Long manipulated the formation disk, and a terrifying, solid Dao killing strike landed at An Jin's toes, easily slicing through his domain. Then, 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."