"Make haste to the Hidden Buddha Cave, departure in three minutes!"
As Ye Kunlun finished speaking, a plump ticket seller from a nearby booth called out.
Ye Kunlun blinked, chuckling, "What a coincidence. Let's go, we'll check out the Hidden Buddha Cave."
An Xiaoqiao seemed unsure. Ye Kunlun told her, "My golden needles have temporarily suppressed the power within you. You'll be fine for three days. You should head back to your lodging."
Without another word, Ye Kunlun walked towards the approaching bus.
"Boss, three tickets!" Yan Shuo stepped forward, handing over three large bills.
"Oh, what a coincidence, we have exactly three seats left!"
The three boarded the bus.
Ye Kunlun didn't use his aerial evasion ability directly because he wanted to observe the other passengers for any anomalies.
When someone is selling Buddhas at the Hidden Buddha Cave, there are usually accomplices.
Unfortunately, Ye Kunlun scanned the bus but found no suspicious individuals.
The journey of over a hundred kilometers took a full two and a half hours.
Upon disembarking, everyone felt as if they had entered a land of ten thousand Buddhas. All visible structures and even the road were carved with depictions of Buddhas.
Even the two nearby hotels were designed to resemble reclining Buddhas.
Tickets had been purchased on the bus.
The three followed the crowd into the scenic area.
Ye Kunlun had no interest in Buddhas. He only wanted to quickly investigate the connection between the strange Buddha statue and his pendant.
Before coming, he had already asked An Xiaoqiao for the precise location of the statue.
Ye Kunlun and his companions headed straight for their destination.
"Although I was born in the Northern Frontier, this is my first time visiting the Hidden Buddha Cave," Shasha said with emotion, looking at the compassionate faces of the Buddhas.
Yan Shuo's eyes widened with curiosity, "Shasha, you grew up in the Northern Frontier? I can't tell at all!"
Women from the Northern Frontier were generally taller and more robust than those from inland regions.
Shasha, however, appeared rather slender, showing none of the typical physical traits of people from the Northern Frontier!
Shasha ignored Yan Shuo, keeping pace with Ye Kunlun.
Because this matter might be related to the Barbarian tribe, she couldn't help but care!
Yan Shuo, having his warm overture met with a cold shoulder, awkwardly rubbed his nose and quickly followed.
After navigating through three or four Buddha caves, they finally reached the one An Xiaoqiao had mentioned.
"Sorry, this Buddha cave is not open today!"
As the three approached the entrance of the cave, they were stopped by a staff member.
"Not open?" Shasha sounded displeased. "We bought tickets, and no one told us it was closed!"
"Apologies, it was a last-minute decision by the scenic area management. If you have any complaints, please take them to the management office!"
While the staff member offered an apology, their expression held no trace of regret. Instead, they wore a cold, impassive look.
Shasha was about to say more, but Ye Kunlun glanced at the staff member.
In an instant, a living, breathing person simply vanished from in front of Shasha and Yan Shuo.
"Let's go!"
Ye Kunlun stepped into the Buddha cave, his gaze sweeping over the countless Buddha statues as he proceeded deeper into the sanctuary.
Finally, in the deepest recess, they saw the Four-Eyed Buddha.
Standing over four meters tall, its features were indistinct, but its silhouette was identical to his pendant.
Ye Kunlun leaped, positioning himself directly above the Four-Eyed Buddha. As he looked at the statue's face, his gaze sharpened.
The face of the Four-Eyed Buddha was entirely black, its four white eyes staring blankly at him, creating an incredibly eerie sight!
Ye Kunlun scanned the Four-Eyed Buddha with his divine sense. It was merely an ordinary Buddha statue, with nothing special about it.
Returning to the ground, Shasha quickly asked, "Sir, did you discover anything?"
Ye Kunlun shook his head and stepped closer to examine the Four-Eyed Buddha. Since the strange power was connected to his pendant, this statue must be problematic.
"Perhaps An Xiaoqiao was mistaken, and it's not this particular statue?" Shasha mused.
"Boss, I heard that these Buddha caves often have hidden chambers. Let's search further!" Yan Shuo added.
Ye Kunlun had already scanned the cave with his divine sense and found no other anomalies.
However, this was precisely what made it suspicious, just as Yan Shuo suggested.
Anciently constructed Buddha caves often contained hidden chambers, of varying sizes, used for storing Buddhist scriptures and ancient scrolls.
The fact that Ye Kunlun found none here was unusual!
Yet, he hadn't detected any formations or other methods, which was similar to what happened last night.
After tracking a strange power, it had vanished into thin air, and he had eventually detected it deep beneath the Barbarian territory, only for it to disappear again!
Listening to their words, Ye Kunlun returned to stand above the Four-Eyed Buddha.
He circulated the Myriad Ancient Starry Arts, concentrating its power within his eyes, and gazed at the Four-Eyed Buddha once more!
At this moment, Ye Kunlun's eyes glowed with a mixture of blue and gold as he stared intently at the darkened Four-Eyed Buddha.
The next second, the black surface of the Four-Eyed Buddha changed. Squiggly characters, resembling arcane scribbles, appeared on its face.
"Ancient script!"
Ye Kunlun's gaze focused. Indeed, only with the augmentation of the Myriad Ancient Starry Arts could he perceive certain existences that his divine sense could not detect.
From this, it was further proof of the Myriad Ancient Starry Arts' uniqueness, just as his masters had said.
The Myriad Ancient Starry Arts had been brought from the Buried Immortal Tomb. None of his one hundred and eight masters could cultivate it.
At the time, his eldest master had remarked that the Myriad Ancient Starry Arts was likely an ancient cultivation method!
Now, Ye Kunlun was increasingly certain that the Myriad Ancient Starry Arts was an ancient cultivation technique.
With the power of the Myriad Ancient Starry Arts, Ye Kunlun not only deciphered the ancient script on the Buddha's face.
Four characters also materialized within its pale, vacant eyes.
"Misfortune!"
Ye Kunlun recognized two of the characters.
Suddenly—
A peculiar force shot out from the Four-Eyed Buddha's four eyes, targeting Ye Kunlun's own!
The speed was so immense that even if Ye Kunlun wanted to dodge, it was too late!
In an instant, Ye Kunlun condensed all the power of the Myriad Ancient Starry Arts within his eyes.
Crack—
A fissure appeared on the face of the Four-Eyed Buddha. Ye Kunlun, however, remained unharmed, only feeling a slight soreness in his eyes.
The strange power flashed and vanished without a trace.
However, Ye Kunlun detected a trace of its origin: the aura emanated from the Northern Barbarian tribe!
Shasha and Yan Shuo had not witnessed the events that had just transpired.
But they heard the sound of the Four-Eyed Buddha cracking.
"Boss (Sir)!"
Ye Kunlun returned to the ground, and the two approached him again to inquire.
"This Buddha statue is related to the Barbarian tribe, and the Barbarian tribe is connected to ancient script. It seems the Barbarian tribe holds a great secret. No matter what, I must investigate deeply into the Barbarian territory."
Ye Kunlun spoke these words while looking at Shasha.
He wasn't speaking without basis; the facts indeed supported his statement.
Shasha took a deep breath and said to Ye Kunlun, "Sir, I am willing to draw a map of the Barbarian territory for you, but please do not harm any innocent Barbarian people."
She looked at Ye Kunlun with a hint of pleading.
Ye Kunlun nodded, "I promise you!"