This Is What a Villain Is Like

Chapter 135: Chapter 87: Once the Crack in Trust Widens, This Is the Taste It Leaves (Part 3)

After he left, several figures appeared, each holding an Exotic Treasure. A divine light flashed from within them, shimmering with brilliant colors. They clearly had some kind of treasure-detecting function.

"Something’s not right. The Exotic Treasure isn’t giving any indication, so why have there been such astonishing phenomena recently?"

"Could there be a problem?" one of them speculated, his brows furrowing as he looked at the Exotic Treasure in his hand.

"It couldn’t be that someone deliberately set a trap to lure everyone here," said the person next to him.

"If that’s really the case, what incredible nerve that would take. Disciples from countless Immortal Sect Lineages in the current Celestial Central Province have all rushed here. If something went wrong, wouldn’t the entire province be turned upside down?" Another person shook his head, finding the idea impossible.

"Forget about it. We’re just here on orders to investigate. It’s not like we’ll get this lucky opportunity anyway."

"Linglong is still waiting..."

As they spoke, the figures gradually blended into the night and soon vanished without a trace.

Only the Observatory Tokens at their waists reflected the moonlight, giving off an exceptionally cold glint.

By the time Jiang Lan and the others arrived outside Purple Mist Mountain, it was already 5:00 PM. The sun was setting in the west.

The majestic, rolling mountain range was shrouded in a thick purple fog, with only faint outlines visible.

Many cultivators had stopped in various places. Some stood alone, while others were in groups of three or five, all studying how to get inside.

At a glance, at least several thousand people had gathered in the area. In other directions, there were also bustling crowds of considerable size.

"Why are there so many people here? I even see a few young Celestial Prides and some extremely famous old masters," a female disciple from the Jasper Pool Sect said in surprise.

Seeing this, Qi Heng ordered a subordinate to investigate. The subordinate returned a short while later, a grim expression on his face.

"Master, it seems we’re too late. We can’t get into Purple Mist Mountain anymore..." the subordinate replied.

Qi Heng frowned. "What exactly is going on?"

"In the past few days, a thick purple fog has appeared outside Purple Mist Mountain. Its source is unknown, and it can’t be dispersed. It simply emerges at a specific time."

"Any cultivator who enters gets trapped, unable to find their way out. No matter what method they try, they eventually find themselves right back where they started."

"Then, at a certain hour, after the fog disperses, they find themselves outside the mountain range again—right back at their original starting point," the subordinate said respectfully.

His words stunned everyone.

Ling Zhuyun’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She gazed at the purple fog that had all but swallowed the mountain range, silently contemplating a solution.

Ye Ming’s expression remained impassive, but he was also considering how to get inside.

Just then, a young cultivator with a sword on his back noticed them from a distance and walked over, a look of delight on his face.

"Qi..."

he said, greeting Qi Heng with a cupped-fist salute.

’Someone from Yijian Mountain?’

Someone noticed the pattern on his sleeves and recognized the newcomer’s affiliation.

Qi Heng nodded slightly. "Brother Wang, what are you doing here? I thought you went on ahead with Yao Chen and the others."

The Yao Chen he mentioned was a True Inheritor of Yijian Mountain with whom he was well-acquainted. This young Sword Cultivator was also a disciple from Yijian Mountain, and they knew each other.

"To be honest, Qi, this place is bizarre. I originally went in with a group of my senior brothers from Yijian Mountain, but I lost track of them before long."

"So I tried to retrace my steps, but no matter how long I walked, I always ended up back where I started."

"I had no choice but to wait for the purple fog to recede. I only managed to hurry out once I could see my surroundings clearly again."

"This went on for days. Eventually, I was out of options and decided to just wait here."

"I suspect this is some kind of Ancient Array, left behind by the Purple Mist True Monarch specifically to test those who are fated to be here."

the disciple explained with great conviction.

"Young Master, there is indeed the aura of an Array here. The previous investigators never detected one, so it must have appeared recently."

Behind Jiang Lan, a young expert from an Alien Race materialized a round, jade-like disk in his hand and began investigating the area’s aura.

Hearing this, Li Daoyi, who was clad in a Daoist Robe, took several steps forward.

A divine light flashed in his calm eyes as he activated a Pupil Skill, gazing toward Purple Mist Mountain in an attempt to see through the pervasive purple fog.

Soon after, however, he shook his head, indicating he could not see through it.

"This Array is indeed tricky," he sighed softly. "I wonder if those who entered Purple Mist Mountain earlier have encountered the same thing."

Chu Chan, who was following closely beside Jiang Lan, was also surprised. ’My brother never told me about this.’

However, Chu Yun had already left Anyang City, so it was useless to ask him now.

’I’ll just have to figure it out on my own.’

"No matter. If it’s an Array, then there’s a way to break it."

"Fortunately, I came prepared..."

Jiang Lan said casually. With a wave of his hand, a few of his subordinates led several white-haired elders forward.

These elders all wore wide robes. Their faces were thin and gaunt, yet they carried themselves with the air of otherworldly sages.

In their hands, each held items like a Compass, a Geomancy Stone, and an Ink Pot. Without a word, they stepped forward and began their investigation.

Someone noticed the insignia on their chests and was inwardly shocked.

’Those are masters from the Celestial Craftsmanship Creation Institute! Their skill with Arrays is profound. It’s rare for ordinary people to ever see them.’