Chapter 1181: Chapter 356: Wait, How Can You Be This Awesome?
He pondered, "The neighboring Level 4 Cultivation Country is none other than Jiu Li, which means the other party is a Level 4 Master from Jiu Li."
"However, it’s already been over three thousand years. If that master hasn’t ascended to Spirit Slash, with a lifespan of two thousand years at the Divinity Transformation Realm, they likely would have already passed away."
A trace of melancholy arose in Zhou Qing’s heart.
This elder’s understanding of Array Dao far surpassed his peers, even though this formation was not his original creation. The ability to perfectly recreate an ancient formation within the Dynasty’s borders speaks volumes about his skill.
He indeed wanted to take this opportunity to have an exchange with this master.
Then, he gathered his thoughts and once more examined the entire Array Star Map.
"Sikong Yan was right, it’s indeed possible to ’catch a ride halfway,’ but... I still need to refine some things that can deceive others and pass undetected."
Zhou Qing’s gaze fell on the seventh node of the Array Map, where there was an almost imperceptible weak point in the formation.
Ordinary cultivators wouldn’t be able to perceive it, but to him, a Fourth-level Array Master, it was a perfect "shortcut."
Looking at the pale light of dawn outside the window, Zhou Qing put away the Array Map, then contacted his senior brother and second senior sister.
Only his second senior sister responded. The location his senior brother was searching was likely beyond the range of the three-colored Communication Jade Scroll he refined.
After all, the Imperial City was immensely vast, with countless cultivators and numerous restrictions, inevitably causing some interference.
"Better to rest for a while first!" Zhou Qing promptly took out two pieces of Top-Grade Spirit Stones and began absorbing and adjusting.
...
Two days later, he once again came to Jintian Palace.
"It’s only been a month, and you’ve already grasped it?" Sikong Yan closed his folding fan with a "snap," his eyes revealing astonishment.
Zhou Qing nodded slightly, "Tell me your plan."
"Hahaha!" Sikong Yan suddenly burst into laughter, "Marvelous! Looks like I’ve underestimated you once again."
He eagerly waved his hand, tearing open the space, "No time to lose, we can leave now!"
A deep rift appeared in the void, and Sikong Yan leapt inside.
Zhou Qing’s eyes flashed, following closely behind.
In an instant, they appeared deep within the Inner City.
In the distance, stood a massive altar of profound black, with nine dragon-engraved columns piercing the sky and the golden dragon patterns coiled around their bodies glowing brightly under the sunlight.
In the center of the altar, ribbons of four-colored spiritual light intertwined to form a column reaching the heavens, with an ethereal dragon shadow vaguely visible within.
This was precisely the core formation eye of Hidden Dragon Path.
Thirty thousand Golden Armor Guards stood like statues around it, their mysterious iron heavy armor reflecting a chilling cold light in the sun.
Each guard had an "Spirit Extermination Crossbow" hanging at their waist, its blue-tainted arrows carved with Spirit Extermination runes.
Outside the altar, nine layers of restriction light screens flowed like waves, each intricately engraved with exclusive Royal Family dragon patterns.
Any non-Royal Family blood, upon touching it, would be incinerated instantly.
Sikong Yan whispered, "Those restrictions are more sensitive than a spider web. Even a Spirit Severing Realm can tear the space forcibly, but it would be detected in an instant."
A trace of coldness flashed in his eyes, "What’s even more troublesome is that the Xuanyuan Family can easily manipulate it, twisting the originally fixed path into a nine-turn labyrinth."
"By then, intruders would either be lost in endless spatial folds or be shredded to dust by the rampaging spatial storm."
He sneered softly, barely audible, "Thus, other than the Xuanyuan Family members, no Spirit Severing Realm dares to recklessly charge or hitch a ride until now."
"After all, compared to dissipating in soul and entrusting one’s life to others, taking more time on the journey turns out to be the wiser choice."
Zhou Qing nodded silently, his pupils suddenly splitting—Heavy Pupils emerged!
In an instant, the scene before him transformed into a different view.
Beneath the apparent restrictions, there lay layers upon layers of dual-colored array patterns, intertwined in red and black like venomous snakes.
"Just as expected..." His Adam’s apple moved.
This is no path whatsoever.
It’s clearly a wide-open dragon’s mouth!
Once triggered, it not only would draw the Royal Family’s Spirit Severing Realm for instant kill, but might activate hidden measures not recorded even in the Jade Scroll.
"Now, it’s all up to you," Sikong Yan said gravely.
Zhou Qing said nothing, but Heavy Pupils emitted a ray of dim light, repeatedly verifying with the Array Map in the Jade Scroll.
"It should be about right." He suddenly spoke, "From this heart point, head a hundred miles west."
Sikong Yan’s eyes flashed with brilliance, his fingertips swiftly sketching in the void, as if calculating some invisible trajectory.
The next moment, he abruptly brought his fingers together like a sword, with a "shzz" tore open the space.
"Let’s go!"
The two figures flickered and vanished into the rift.
"Hmm?" The commander in charge of guarding, emanating Divinity Transformation Realm Perfection cultivation, suddenly looked towards this place.
He moved instantly, appearing at the spot where they had just been, expanding his enormous Divine Sense and confirming no one was there before departing in doubt.
When the two emerged again, they were beneath a segment of ancient city walls.
Without another word, Zhou Qing swiftly made a Sealing gesture with his hands—a myriad of Spiritual Seals burst forth, weaving into a dazzling star map in the void.
A light dragon leaped out from the star map, its dragon’s chant melodious, causing ripples to appear in the surrounding air.
Each dragon scale was engraved with intricate array patterns, as the light flowed, it seemed to silently resonate with a certain part of the void above.
Sikong Yan watched in awe, his breath catching for an instant.
—Such a technique is truly profound!
But Zhou Qing suddenly raised his hand, a golden beam shot from his fingertip, embedding in a node of the star map.
"Found it!" He shouted softly, Heavy Pupils in his eyes glowing with red light, "The weak point is right in the void three yards above—take me in!"
Sikong Yan looked up, but saw nothing peculiar.
