Xu Chuan and Ning Youci walked side-by-side across the vast, boundless mountainous land, heading towards the Taiyin Sect ruins.
The Taiyin Sect ruins were located in the core area of the Dark Soul Mountain Range. Logically, they should have encountered many powerful demonic beasts along the way.
However, under Ning Youci's guidance, they didn't meet a single one.
They had all been cleverly bypassed by Ning Youci using a special method.
Clearly, she had prepared for the journey to the Taiyin Sect ruins long ago, and it wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision.
After walking for half a day.
Ning Youci stopped.
Before them stood a stone forest filled with peculiar rocks.
"After this stone forest, we'll be entering the Taiyin Sect's territory. Be careful!"
Ning Youci turned back and cautioned Xu Chuan.
Upon hearing this, Xu Chuan frowned and glanced at the stone forest ahead.
His intuition told him that this stone forest was no ordinary place.
Thus, Xu Chuan took out his God Killing Blade from his storage ring, wary of the dangers ahead.
"What is it?"
Ning Youci noticed Xu Chuan's unusual demeanor and asked.
"This stone forest feels wrong. There might be danger. Be mindful as we pass through!"
Xu Chuan said.
As soon as he spoke, Ning Youci's expression also turned serious.
She didn't doubt the truthfulness of Xu Chuan's words.
After all, Xu Chuan had managed to escape from several Divine Ability realm cultivators while only in the second stage of the Mortal Transcending realm. When it came to sensing danger and seeking fortune, he definitely had his unique skills.
Therefore, she also took out the bow and arrows from her back, prepared her combat gear, and then stepped into the stone forest.
"Boom!"
The moment Xu Chuan and Ning Youci stepped into the stone forest, a massive pressure descended upon them from above.
"Gravity Field!?"
Xu Chuan, enduring the pressure, exclaimed in surprise.
This stone forest was clearly covered by a gravity formation.
Even Xu Chuan couldn't help but marvel at the Taiyin Sect's extravagant methods.
This stone forest was not small in area, and the cost of covering such a vast expanse with a gravity formation must have been considerable.
Of course, Xu Chuan merely marveled.
Although the gravity field was strong, it couldn't pose a threat to Xu Chuan.
However, as they ventured deeper, the pressure within the stone forest increased.
Eventually, it was as if they were carrying a mountain on their backs. Every step Xu Chuan took required him to stop and rest for a long time.
As for Ning Youci beside him, though under immense pressure, her cultivation was higher than Xu Chuan's, so she wasn't as strained as he was.
"Could this stone forest be a trial ground for Taiyin Sect disciples?"
Xu Chuan muttered to himself, bearing the immense pressure.
This gravity field was only effective against Mortal Transcending realm martial cultivators. Ordinary Mortal Transcending realm cultivators would find it impossible to move here.
Only by continuously tempering themselves could they possibly withstand the terrifying gravity and walk out.
This was why Xu Chuan suspected it was a trial ground of the Taiyin Sect.
After passing through the stone forest, Xu Chuan felt the pressure vanish, and his body felt incredibly light.
It was clear that they had left the area covered by the gravity field.
"Finally out!"
Xu Chuan panted.
Ahead, a forest of stone towers came into view.
Looking around, there were probably thousands of them.
These stone towers were a peculiar pitch black, which immediately suggested something was amiss.
Xu Chuan didn't dare to relax, tightly gripping his God Killing Blade.
He cautiously entered the area of the stone towers.
Suddenly, a thick tentacle shot out from a stone tower behind Xu Chuan, striking towards his back.
"Careful!"
Ning Youci, seeing this from behind, quickly shouted a warning.
Upon hearing her, Xu Chuan's expression remained unchanged as he drew his God Killing Blade with ferocity.
A terrifying blade energy whistled out, imbued with boundless killing intent, and directly severed the tentacle, sending it crashing to the ground.
After landing, the tentacle didn't die. Instead, it burrowed into the ground and vanished.
It was as if nothing had happened.
"These stone towers are strange. They should be demonic beasts. Be careful!"
Xu Chuan frowned, scanning the surrounding stone towers, trying to find the true form of the demonic beasts.
As soon as he spoke, more tentacles shot out from the stone towers, heading straight for Xu Chuan and Ning Youci.
"You court death!"
Xu Chuan roared, unleashing another saber strike.
However, these tentacles did not break off as expected. Instead, they blocked the strike and then continued their onslaught towards Xu Chuan with undiminished force.
Over there, Ning Youci was also struggling to cope.
These tentacles seemed endless. After one was severed, a new one would emerge from the black stone tower.
For a time, both of them were occupied fending them off.
Moreover, these tentacles were constantly growing stronger. The more times they were cut, the tougher the newly grown tentacles became.
By the end, Xu Chuan could no longer sever the newly formed tentacles and could only constantly dodge.
"This cannot go on!"
Xu Chuan's eyes narrowed.
He stopped using the Slaughter God Saber Art and instead infused his Great Sun Yuan Power into the God Killing Blade, slashing at the tentacles.
This time, the tentacles seemed to have met their nemesis. The tentacles that had been incredibly tough moments ago let out a shrill cry upon contact with the Great Sun Yuan Power, then dissolved into black smoke, disappearing completely.
And the stone towers themselves, which had been black, turned white.
"These tentacles fear the Great Sun Yuan Power!"
Xu Chuan rejoiced upon seeing this.
With a weakness, things became much easier. He was afraid of them having no weakness.
Then, Xu Chuan no longer held back. His Great Sun Yuan Power erupted completely, and the God Killing Blade unleashed a barrage of strikes. The blade energy, interwoven with the Great Sun Yuan Power, formed a dense net, instantly annihilating the tentacles.
Following that.
He rapidly charged into the stone tower forest.
Everywhere he went, all tentacles that emerged from the stone towers were severed by Xu Chuan.
And those stone towers also turned white one by one.
Soon, Xu Chuan cleared a vacuum zone in the vicinity.
At the same time.
Ning Youci also unleashed her ultimate skills. The long bow in her hand continuously shot energy arrows imbued with the aura of the scorching sun.
Every tentacle that was hit melted away like ice and snow.
At this point, neither of them spoke.
They were solely focused on clearing the tentacles before them.
Under their combined efforts, the thousands of stone towers gradually began to turn white.
"Phew!"
After clearing the last tentacle, both of them let out a long sigh of relief.
The sheer number of tentacles had been overwhelming.
At this moment, both Xu Chuan and Ning Youci were exhausted.
Sitting on the ground, they took out Yuan Stones and began to recover.
After their recovery was complete.
They then began to properly examine these white stone towers.
"These stone towers seem to form a teleportation array?"
Xu Chuan observed for a moment and said with some uncertainty.
"This should be the teleportation array leading to the Taiyin Sect ruins."
Ning Youci's eyes sparkled with brilliance. "According to the information I obtained, the Taiyin Sect ruins are located in a broken small world. This teleportation array must be the way to enter that small world!"
As she spoke, she walked to the center of the stone tower forest, took out a jade talisman engraved with the characters "Taiyin," and infused it into the void before her.
Xu Chuan pondered for a moment and followed suit.
"Buzz buzz buzz!"
As the jade talisman disappeared, the stone tower forest began to operate.
Then, amidst a silver light, the two of them vanished.