The Female Remnant Soul within the Sword-shaped Pendant could naturally sense the terror of this formation, perhaps even more deeply than Ye Xuan could.
Her willow-leaf brows furrowed slightly as she said gravely, "Ye Xuan, are you truly certain that the Divine Sword Sect is on the verge of destruction?"
First, there had been the plaque at the Sect Gate containing Dao Rhyme Laws and World-Shaking Sword Intent; then came that immortal-tier stone monument brimming with great terror; and now there was this infinitely powerful Mountain Protecting Array. Which part of this looked like a sect about to perish?
As long as one's eyes were not blind, anyone could tell this was clearly an extraordinary sect!
Ye Xuan was instantly embarrassed. Scratching the back of his head, he said, "Th-this was all spread by outsiders. They said the Divine Sword Sect was utterly dilapidated and its inheritance had been severed."
He shook his head and sighed with a dejected expression. "Rumors are truly hateful..."
After thinking it over, he added, "Senior, how about we make a run for it?"
"This Mountain Protecting Array is too terrifying. I have no confidence at all in breaking through it."
"Run?"
The woman's voice was faint and ghostly. "Do you think you can simply run out of this great array whenever you please?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, the moment we arrived at the Divine Sword Sect's Sect Gate, the experts within the sect had already noticed you!"
"Once you attempt to flee, there will be only one outcome—your soul will scatter and your spirit will perish!"
"Clearly, the Divine Sword Sect absolutely has a supreme expert guarding it. Otherwise, it would be impossible for them to set up such a Mountain Protecting Array!"
"Besides, you intruded into the Divine Sword Sect without permission. That is an act of disrespect toward any sect."
Her expression was more solemn than ever before.
At this, Ye Xuan's face went pale with fright. He asked anxiously, "Th-then what should we do now?"
At that moment, he was desperately circulating his spiritual qi to resist the sharp pressure, beads of sweat constantly emerging across his body.
The layer of white spiritual qi radiance around his body was also being rapidly compressed by the sharp pressure.
His entire body could not stop trembling slightly.
Though he was exerting every ounce of strength, he knew he would not be able to hold on for much longer.
The power of this Mountain Protecting Array was beyond anything he could imagine. If he did not make a decision quickly, he might be crushed to death alive!
"Since the sect's experts have not acted, that means they are giving you an opportunity. Right now, the only viable path is to break through the formation."
"Although this formation is infinitely powerful, it is not impossible to pass through. You must not let your mind fall into chaos!"
At this point, the woman's tone abruptly became proud and domineering. "In my lifetime, I was at least an Earth Immortal expert. Though formations were not my specialty, I still possess some knowledge. You need only act according to my instructions, and you can avoid the formation's attacks. Spend a little more time, and you will surely pass through this formation!"
Hearing this, Ye Xuan was overjoyed. "That would be excellent. Please instruct me, Senior."
The woman in the pendant did not waste words and immediately issued her commands. "Three steps left, one step right; advance nine, retreat two; step Qian, leap Kun!"
"..."
With the woman's guidance, Ye Xuan immediately felt the pressure lessen greatly and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.
Outside the array, atop Heaven-Defying Peak.
Lin Feng sat cross-legged on the Bodhi Meditation Cushion, enveloped in misty qi as waves of profound and mysterious aura continuously spread from him.
He was cultivating the Heavenly Secret Art.
Suddenly, he seemed to sense something. Opening his eyes, he looked toward the Divine Sword Sect map.
Within his field of vision, a slender, handsome youth was moving through the Mountain Protecting Array.
"Oh?"
"This fellow is pretty impressive. He can actually move freely through the Mountain Protecting Array?"
"Tsk, tsk. Now this is interesting."
Lin Feng was slightly surprised.
Although this Mountain Protecting Array did not reach the level of those ancient killing formations, it was not something just anyone could break through. No one understood that better than he did.
Yet now, a teenager barely over ten years old was casually strolling about while avoiding the formation's power. Was that not a little exaggerated?
Even someone specializing in this field could not possibly do it so easily at that age.
He frowned slightly, enlarged the map, and looked again. He discovered that a Sword-shaped Pendant hung around the youth's neck, emitting a faint red glow from time to time.
"What the hell? Did it have to be this cliché?"
The corners of Lin Feng's mouth twitched wildly.
As someone from Water Blue Planet, he had suffered deeply from the poison of webnovels. One look at this situation told him exactly what sort of setup it was.
Without a doubt, this youth was the kind of down-on-his-luck protagonist found in webnovels, equipped with the standard hidden badass Old Man by his side.
And the reason he could remain so composed within the formation was precisely because of the Old Man's guidance.
Anyone who did not know better would definitely think it was incredibly lofty and impressive.
Lin Feng smiled. "If my guess is correct, this youth should be the heaven-defying genius with great luck sent over by the system."
At that thought, the corner of his mouth curved upward. His interest piqued, he directly activated the Heavenly Secrets Art.
In an instant.
All of the youth's information was displayed before Lin Feng one by one.
Name: Ye Xuan. Age: 17. Realm: Fifth-stage Qi Gathering Realm. Physique: Innate Sword Body. Luck: 19000. Loyalty: Ten percent.
"Ye Xuan?"
"This name does suit a Son of Destiny. It has that flavor."
"His physique is not bad either, and his Luck Value is even better."
Lin Feng nodded in satisfaction.
Compared to Ye Jingyun, Ye Xuan was superior in every aspect. Especially the purple qi representing Luck Value—it was clearly much denser than Ye Jingyun's.
"Tsk, tsk. As expected of someone carrying an Old Man around with him. He really is more badass than ordinary people." Lin Feng smiled.
On the other side, within the Mountain Protecting Array.
Following the woman's instructions, Ye Xuan walked step by step and only barely managed to evade the formation's attacks.
Even so, his forehead was covered in fine sweat.
"Senior, thank you so much this time."
"If not for your guidance, there is an eighty to ninety percent chance I would already have been slain by the formation."
Ye Xuan spoke sincerely.
"It is still too early to give thanks."
The woman's tone was not relaxed in the slightest. "The power of this formation is far from as simple as I imagined."
"You must keep yourself completely alert. Under no circumstances may you take a single wrong step."
"Once you make a mistake, the consequences will be unthinkable!"
Ye Xuan's expression hardened, and he nodded heavily. "This junior understands!"
Half an hour later.
Ye Xuan's vision blurred. The scenery before him twisted and shifted like fleeting light and passing shadows, and within several breaths, he found himself in an entirely different scene.
Under the woman's guidance, he had finally succeeded in passing through the Mountain Protecting Array!
At that moment, he felt his entire body become incomparably relaxed. Even the air he breathed seemed sweet.
Boundless joy instantly surrounded him.
At that moment, he could not help but raise his head and look ahead.
Before his eyes, the Divine Sword Sect finally revealed its true face—lofty and majestic, its presence vast and grand, auspicious clouds curling around it.
That single glance made an uncontrollable urge to bow in worship rise within him, and reverence sprang forth spontaneously.
"Good heavens!"
"Th-this is clearly a sacred land for cultivation!"
"No, it is an immortal realm descended to earth!"
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