Similar situations occurred every few miles forward, until after experiencing it five or six times, the path ahead finally became truly unobstructed.
But at the same time, the surroundings suddenly turned eerie.
Corpses...
The valley floor was littered with corpses everywhere!
Various corpses, in different states of death, turned into piles of bones after the ravages of time, densely covered with broken magic artifacts.
"The skeletons of Nascent Soul cultivators!"
Qian Qiren's voice trembled slightly.
At a corner ahead, a corpse that had collapsed into the grass, though its flesh had decayed, still had faint, weak spirit light circulating its bones.
"And here, the skeleton of a Golden Body Realm martial cultivator!"
Another skeleton, shining entirely with golden light, appeared as though it was made of gold, exuding a terrifying Evil Qi even after the passage of years, keeping people away with caution.
In the Glazed Golden Body Realm, the internal organs are as clear as glaze, and the bones and flesh appear as gold.
"Another body of a Nascent Soul elder."
"..."
The further they looked ahead, the more horrifying it became. Bodies of high-level cultivators of Golden Core and Nascent Soul Realm were everywhere. If not for the long time since their death, their bones could even be used to refine magic artifacts of the Demon Path...
For a moment, many cultivators dared not proceed further.
"What happened in this forbidden land in the past, for so many great powers to have died here?"
"With so many powerful beings dead, proceeding further, could it be dangerous?"
"Indeed..."
"..."
Chen Sansi mingled with the crowd, transmitting his location to the people of Sky Wall City through a sensing talisman, while cautiously observing everything in front of him.
He also vaguely felt something was wrong, and quietly stayed at the back of the group.
"Now that we're here."
Xu Baoren's pupils emitted a bright blue spirit light, scanning the surroundings: "Can we just retreat now? I see no immediate danger here, why not press forward and take a look."
"Makes sense."
Zhang Susu of Spirit Silence Cave nodded: "Moreover, the Nine Nether Forbidden Land, has restrictions preventing Golden Core and above cultivators from entering. If even we cannot explore it, then perhaps no one in the world can.
"Daoist Zhang, Daoist Xu, moving forward, I hope our disciples from the three sects can cooperate sincerely to find the ultimate treasure."
"I agree."
Xu Baoren responded calmly.
Zhang Jincheng also chose to consent.
The disciples of the three sects continued forward, passing through a valley bottom piled with corpses, reaching a broad and flat spirit land that came into view.
In the spirit land, there were various spirit plants, including a Third-tier spirit plant.
The visible count of Second-tier millennial spirit plants was no less than five!
On witnessing such a scene, the eyes of the cultivators from the three sects gleamed brightly.
"Be careful, there's a restriction!"
Zhang Susu narrowed her eyes slightly, raising her hand to summon a wolf puppet.
The wolf lunged forward, and as it was about to enter the spirit land, complex and mysterious array patterns suddenly lit up on the ground, unveiling a golden boundary covering the land.
On the surface of the boundary, Sword Qi surged wildly, resembling numerous flying swords swirling, instantly grinding the wolf puppet into powder!
"A Third-tier boundary!"
Seeing its power, all the cultivators were dumbfounded.
A Third-tier Great Formation.
That's the grade of their sect's Mountain Protection Array!
"Not right."
Zhang Susu from Spirit Silence Cave, seemingly knowledgeable in formations, observed the boundary in front and murmured: "It's not just Third-tier."
"Not just Third-tier?"
Xu Baoren frowned: "The power it displays is evidently Mid-grade Third-tier."
"No formation or restriction can be eternal."
Zhang Susu gently shook her head and explained: "Even in the Eastern Continent, restrictions laid down by the ancient great powers show signs of loosening every few years, let alone here. The boundary before us clearly results from weakening over the years."
"Oh?"
Zhang Jincheng's eyes moved slightly: "You mean, after countless years, the boundary here still possesses Third-tier power?"
"That's correct."
Cui Zhichen analyzed: "With so many Nascent Soul ancestor skeletons nearby, how could a mere Third-tier formation have worked back then?"
"So..."
Xu Baoren, stroking his bearded chin, said with some frustration: "How can we get inside?"
A Third-tier boundary is beyond what these Foundation Establishment cultivators can handle.
"Everyone, please wait a moment."
Zhang Susu controlled her flying sword and soared into the sky, circled the barrier several times, and arrived at the cliff on the eastern side. She then used a spell to burn away the vines on the rock surface, revealing an Array Plate carved into the cliff.
The Array Plate was not large, approximately the size of a dish, circular in shape, with array patterns engraved on the edges and many grooves for placing Spirit Stones.
The very center of the Array Plate was a palm-sized gap.
"If my guess is correct."
Zhang Susu said, "Here lies the mechanism to activate the barrier, and the gap at the center is where the Array Eye is located."
Upon hearing this.
Zhang, Xu, and others ascended into the sky, approaching to observe the Array Eye.
"This shape appears..."
Xu Baoren took out an irregular copper plate: "Could it be this?"
"Let's try to piece them together first."
Zhang Susu was the first to take out a fragment and placed it in the gap.
The other two immediately followed suit.
There were four fragments in total, Zhang Jincheng had two himself, and when all four were pieced together, they formed something resembling a token.
On the surface, three large characters were engraved — Guardian.
Guardian!
Chen Sanshi's heart stirred slightly.
He remembered very clearly, among the relics left by his master, there was a wooden token with the same inscription.
Only...
His token was wooden, while the ones in their hands were copper plates.
Immediately afterwards.
Zhang Susu and the others laid out Spirit Stones, inserting them into the grooves of the Array Plate, all of which were expensive Mid-grade Spirit Stones.
After completing all this, the Array Plate truly began to draw Spiritual Power from the Spirit Stones, emitting a radiant glow.
Zhang Susu's slender fingers pressed on the Array Plate, slowly adjusting it according to the positions of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, causing the barrier to flicker with each move.
"Boom—"
Until she found the right position, she slammed her palm down heavily, and the Third-tier barrier before them suddenly vanished without a trace.
"It worked!"
Qian Qiren exclaimed joyfully.
"Ha ha~"
Xu Baoren clasped his hands and said: "Fairy Zhang, at such a young age, has such profound understanding of arrays, able to manipulate even ancient barriers. You will surely become a master of formations in the future."
"You flatter me."
Zhang Susu said indifferently: "I merely used the existing Array Eye, not truly breaking this formation."
She then removed the copper plate fragments, returning each to its respective owner.
"Please keep the fragments safe. Once inside the Secret Realm, avoid internal strife; we may need to cooperate further."
"No problem."
Xu Baoren said: "But how should the discovered treasures be distributed?"
"If found together, like the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures in this spirit land here, we divide them equally. Even if disputes arise, it's best to resolve them through resource exchange."
Zhang Susu, familiar with both of them, acted as a mediator: "On the contrary, once inside the depths, if separated and acting independently, naturally whoever takes it first owns it. Absolutely no plundering."
"Reasonable."
Xu and Zhang both agreed.
Once allowed, the cultivators rushed in, each taking their share of the gathered herbs. Though disputes occurred, they managed to avoid physical conflict.
After all, they were sect disciples, each wearing their battle robes. If they started fighting, it would not be personal anymore but a sect matter.
No matter how proud a disciple may be, they must still be mindful of the impact.
"There's more ahead!"
Qian Qiren pointed to an area richly suffused with Spiritual Energy.
"Hold off on going deeper for now."
Xu Baoren cautioned, "Should the barrier that was just shut suddenly reactivate again and there be no other exit within, what should be done?"
"I don't think it will."
Zhang Susu stated, "We have already removed the Array Eye."
"Better safe than sorry, recently the Seven Kill Sect has been active, who knows if they'll come looking?"
Xu Baoren suggested, "Let's have each of our three sects send someone to guard the Array Plate at the entrance."
At this very moment, faced with all sorts of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, the cultivators grew somewhat envious, unwilling to stay behind.
"Qian You."
Zhang Susu had no choice but to name someone: "You stay."
Only Wang Jun, looking at the vast spirit plants ahead, took a step back willingly: "Senior brother, I am willing to stay."