Discovering a Trail

When Zhang Tie's figure solidified once more, he was already deep within the cold, damp White Flood Dragon's nest.

As far as the eye could see, the cave remained exactly as it had been when he had left in haste.

Most conspicuous of all were the complex array patterns on the ground, all of them completely intact.

After steadying himself slightly, he used a translucent giant hand to firmly restrain the fourth-rank demonic beast whose soul had been instantly destroyed by the Soul Piercing Thorn. The remaining flame of life in its eyes was like a candle in the wind, so weak it was nearly extinguished.

Zhang Tie did not hesitate in the slightest. With a flick of the sleeve of his free hand, a streak of black light shot out and landed at the core of the ground array patterns—the sacrificial altar.

It dropped heavily back into place, fitting perfectly into the array patterns on the ground with a dull thud.

Immediately afterward, Zhang Tie flicked all ten fingers and rapidly formed hand seals, his movements so swift that they left behind a blur of afterimages.

More than a hundred array flags of varying colors, gleaming with spiritual light, shot toward their predetermined positions throughout the cave like guided fish. They silently sank into the rock walls and ground, leaving behind only faint ripples of energy.

He then took out high-grade spirit stones and embedded them into specific grooves around the altar.

Only after completing all this did Zhang Tie slowly walk over to the White Jade Absorption Platform, which stood merely three inches high, and sit down cross-legged.

He closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, immersed his mind within his body, and began to wait patiently.

About an hour later, when Zhang Tie opened his eyes again, the