Lotus Platform, a Chilling Strike to the Heart (5K)

During their conversation, Lin Fan and his two companions did not stop walking.

Ahead, there are patches of purple bamboo forest, but not the entire island is covered with purple bamboo.

At first glance, it is not difficult to see that there are many sections of purple bamboo forest, and there are some forest paths connecting them.

However, there is no trace of anyone having ever lived there.

There were no footprints, no stone tablets, and no houses in sight.

But this was only what they could see at the moment, so Lin Fan and the other two were not discouraged and continued to move forward slowly and cautiously.

Even after arriving on the island, Lin Fan's Divine Sense still couldn't 'scan' it.

As he followed a path leading to the center of the island, after walking several dozen steps, Lin Fan frowned slightly, sensing that something was amiss.

"Etc."

"How?"

Old Chen and Zhou Xiaoran stopped in their tracks, expressing their confusion.

"There's a formation."

Lin Fan thought for a moment, then with a surge of Divine Sense, he caught a fish from the seawater behind him and threw it forward.

Bang.

The fish seemed to have hit an invisible wall, bounced back, and fell to the ground, struggling wildly.

"It must be the existence of this formation that prevents my Divine Sense from penetrating it."

Lin Fan murmured to himself...

"I'll take a look."

Seeing Old Chen gently reached out and touched the formation.

After all, the fish was only blocked when it touched it, so what is there to be afraid of?

He reached out, and in fact, nothing went wrong. It was as if he had touched an invisible wall, something he could neither see nor touch, and it was extremely hard.

"It's different from any formation I've ever known."

Old Chen frowned slowly. "At least in the formations Lin Fan gave me, there is no such formation."

Lin Fan was also exploring, but since he didn't know much about formations, he was completely baffled.

Although he had seen more formations than Old Chen, it was still very limited, and he had only looked at them without studying them.

Furthermore, this formation can block Divine Sense; it would be a miracle if he could understand it.

Zhou Xiaoran remained silent, but mysterious symbols flickered in her eyes. After a short while, she walked to the side, as if she had discovered something.

Lin Fan and his companion quickly followed.

A moment later, Zhou Xiaoran stopped in front of the 'family' of purple bamboo.

"There should be an Array Foundation here."

She spoke with a hint of hesitation, "But I can only barely see the location of some of the Array Foundation. We have no way of knowing what's inside the array, or whether the scenes we see inside the array are real or illusions."

"I can't say for sure what will happen if we break the formation."

"What do you think, sir?"

"Ultimately, it needs to be explored."

Lin Fan frowned slightly, but then relaxed. "If we don't come, the others definitely won't let us off the hook either."

"No problem."

Old Chen had already started digging a hole and said, "And now that we've found the Array Foundation, I might be able to try to create a 'back door' that will allow us to get in."

"Then, just close the door."

"I'll dig it."

Lin Fan made a move, and large chunks of soil flew out.

At the same time, he was somewhat curious. "As far as I know, the Array Foundation such Guardian Array should be within the formation's protective range, right?"

"Why are the Array Foundation here located outside?"

Old Chen casually remarked, "It should indeed be inside, so I guess, could this Array Foundation be a back entrance?"

Lin Fan stroked his chin and thought for a moment, "You know what, it's actually quite possible!"

"Found it!"

During the exchange, the Array Foundation emerged.

It was actually a section of glowing purple bamboo!

This section of purple bamboo, no more than half a foot long, had some mysterious runes engraved on its surface, making it look quite extraordinary.

"Huh?"

Old Chen picked it up, looked at it again and again, and finally raised an eyebrow. "This thing doesn't look like Array Foundation. I've never seen this kind of array rune before."

"It certainly doesn't look like it..."

Lin Fan took the purple bamboo and smiled, "This is the 'key'."

He wasn't entirely unfamiliar with this type of rune.

The runes on the 'key' to the Purple Mansion Protector Array are somewhat similar to the runes on this purple bamboo.

"It really is a back door?"

Zhou Xiaoran also laughed, "I must have been mistaken. I thought it was Array Foundation."

"If it's a key... then that makes sense?"

Lin Fan and the other person both nodded upon hearing this.

That's understandable.

This behavior is like putting a key under the rug in front of an ordinary person's house, or in some other corner.

"Looking at it this way, the time when the island's original inhabitants lived was actually quite peaceful, wasn't it?"

Old Chen laughed and said, "Otherwise, I wouldn't dare to be so careless as to leave my keys at the front door."

"There is another possibility."

Thinking of the murals in the First Emperor's Mausoleum, Lin Fan pondered, "Perhaps the owner of this place has 'gone on a long journey,' and doesn't even know if he will ever return."

So, you bury the key by your front door, waiting for the right person to find it?

"Then I hope it's the second one, that way there shouldn't be any danger going in." Old Chen nodded repeatedly.

"It should be the second one."

Zhou Xiaoran analyzed, "Since an array has been set up for protection, then the area inside the array should be the island lord's 'home'."

"I doubt many people would create so much danger in their own homes, right?"

That's true.

It's like asking, what kind of lunatic would plant landmines in their own house?

Only a true lunatic would do something like that, right?

Lin Fan held the purple bamboo and enveloped the two of them with his own True Essence. When they moved forward again, the view opened up and they were no longer blocked by the formation.

Once inside, it looked exactly the same as before, which indicated that the formation was only for isolation and did not create any illusions.

Even so, Lin Fan's Divine Sense was still suppressed.

"It seems that if one is not the master of this place, Divine Sense will ultimately be suppressed."

He shook his head and chuckled, "Let's go, let's continue exploring."

The three continued on their way.

The circular island, five kilometers in diameter, was not very big for Lin Fan. It was only because his Divine Sense was suppressed and there was a large bamboo forest to block the view that he could see it from beginning to end at a glance.

Even so, it doesn't take long to visit the whole place.

As they had just discussed, they encountered no danger, but they also did not see any houses, Cave Residence, or similar structures.

"That's strange."

Old Chen wondered, "Could it be that the Cave Residence, the house or something, is still hidden, still underground and hasn't 'grown' yet?"

"That's quite possible."

Lin Fan stroked his chin. "Just like a bamboo shoot, it might sprout tomorrow."

"Are you kidding me?"

Old Chen amused and exasperated. "But I think there's still a tiny bit of a possibility."

"Probably not."

But Zhou Xiaoran slowly shook her head. "My intuition tells me that there is nothing to hide."

"When I visited places like Wudang before, I had a feeling that space was being folded."

"But I don't feel that way here."

"..."

"In other words, this is just an ordinary island?" Lin Fan raised an eyebrow. "That's not right either, the commotion earlier was anything but ordinary."

"It probably isn't an ordinary island. There might be something I haven't discovered yet."

Zhou Xiaoran was no longer entirely sure.

After all, her cultivation level was still low. Although she had seemingly defied the odds and reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, her knowledge was still far too limited.

All of this is an ability that comes with her 'cheat code'.

There is almost no benefit from acquired cultivation or increased knowledge.

The commotion that had just occurred was terrifyingly loud; she was certain that this was the strange thing.

"Don't rush."

Lin Fan gently shook his head. "Let's take another look."

"We haven't finished shopping yet, have we?"

He couldn't say for sure either.

This place is really small, especially for cultivators. If you were to fly, you could pass through it in the blink of an eye.

It's a tiny place.

And yet, they caused such a huge commotion when they came out, but now nothing has been found?!

He couldn't help but wonder if this was indeed the dojo of some powerful figure before, but when the spiritual energy was depleted, that powerful figure went to the Beyond the Heavens and emptied his own home along with it?

Moving house, moving everything clean?

Or perhaps...

Didn't that person bury the key in front of their house?

After he left, someone emptied his house, and then for some reason, the island disappeared into the sea or somewhere else.

At the same time, this guy caught the key words that Zhou Xiaoran had mentioned earlier.

Spatial folding?

However, even if Zhou Xiaoran were to explain it now, she certainly wouldn't be able to say for sure, so Lin Fan didn't ask any further questions.

However, there were more doubts in my mind than anything else.

This made Lin Fan want to curse.

On Earth, I should have known very clearly and understood everything, right?

As a result, it has now created more problems than the Cultivation World. Isn't that ridiculous?

But reality is just that absurd.

"We've made a discovery!"

Suddenly, Old Chen exclaimed in surprise.

Lin Fan looked in the direction of the sound and indeed found something.

It was a lotus platform.

It is crystal clear like white jade, and there is not a speck of dust on it.

The surrounding area was already piled high with purple bamboo leaves, but there wasn't a single withered bamboo leaf on the lotus platform; it was as smooth as a mirror.

This alone is enough to show that this lotus platform is extraordinary.

"Interesting, we've finally made a discovery."

The three approached together, Lin Fan said softly, "But speaking of which, the lotus platform... doesn't it look just like something belonging to Guanyin Bodhisattva?"

"Could this really be the legendary Purple Bamboo Forest of the South China Sea?"

No one can answer this question.

Upon closer inspection, the lotus platform was not protected by any formations or anything like that; it seemed to be placed alone in the very center of the small island, and apart from being untouched by dust, it did not appear to have any other extraordinary features.

"Shall we sit on it and try it out?"

Old Chen made the suggestion.

"There shouldn't be any problem."

The symbol in Zhou Xiaoran's eyes was hidden.

"Then I'll give it a try."

Lin Fan wasn't intimidated at all.

I plopped down on it, and then...

Whoosh.

A gentle breeze, seemingly from nowhere, rustled the surrounding purple bamboo grove, causing leaves to dance and fall upon them.

The three of them. "(⊙o⊙)..."

What the heck?!

When no one sits on it, bamboo leaves can't fall on it. But when someone sits on it, even this only 'characteristic' that has been discovered so far disappears?

How does it feel?

Old Chen and asked.

No.

Lin Fan shrugged.

"That's strange!"

Old Chen circled around a few times, constantly touching his chin. Then, as if struck by a sudden inspiration, he stared intently at Lin Fan's movements.

"I think your movements are not standard."

"Forehead?"

"Look, whether it's in the works or in the descriptions, when people sit on a lotus platform, they sit cross-legged or something. But you're sitting like an old man on a bench, with your legs dangling down there."

"What if they don't approve of you?"

Lin Fan was stunned. "..."

"That makes some sense, but could this lotus platform possibly have consciousness?"

He muttered to himself as he crossed his legs and sat on the lotus platform in the Buddhist meditation style.

Then...

His expression changed.

"How about it? Are you feeling it now?!"

Old Chen immediately became interested.

"There really is!"

Lin Fan's expression was strange.

I definitely felt it; to put it simply, it was like... Spirit Gathering Array!

Moreover, it was a rather powerful Spirit Gathering Array. At least Lin Fan couldn't see how it was set up, but the surrounding spiritual energy was gathered and then transmitted to him through the lotus platform.

"What does it feel like?!"

"Something's strange."

Lin Fan's expression became even stranger.

"Go ahead and say it."

Old Chen was so anxious that he almost couldn't help but laugh and scold the fellow.

"Why don't you experience it for yourself?"

"What the hell am I supposed to feel?!"

Old Chen amused and exasperated. "What exactly is going on?"

"Well, to put it simply, there's a spiritual energy that runs from under me straight up to the top of my head."

After thinking for a moment, Lin Fan finally expressed his feelings in a more elegant way.

Upon hearing this, Old Chen widened immediately. "That's it?"

"That's it!"

Lin Fan shrugged. "The effect should be better than our Great Spirit Gathering Array, but since the surrounding spiritual energy is too thin, it probably won't be of much use in the short term."

He got up without making a sound.

"Why did you come down?"

Old Chen was a little puzzled, and asked with a smile.

"Hmm... not really appropriate."

Hehehe.

At that moment, Old Chen suddenly understood something, and his smile became somewhat lewd.

Why are you laughing so lewdly?

"You understand."

Lin Fan rolled his eyes.

But at that moment, Zhou Xiaoran slowly approached the lotus platform, and then, imitating Lin Fan's posture, sat cross-legged.

call.

Another gust of wind blew by.

Then...

"Ah?!"

Zhou Xiaoran cried out in surprise, her face turning red. She almost fell off the lotus platform. Even so, she dared not sit down anymore. She got off with a red face and stood aside with a strange expression.

"Puff..."

Lin Fan couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Old Chen was convinced of his own idea and laughed heartily.

"You..."

Zhou Xiaoran's face turned even redder, but she quickly suppressed it, giving Old Chen a speechless glare. "Teacher Chen, do you even remember what it means to be a teacher?"

Old Chen was stunned and confused. He pointed at Lin Fan and said, "He laughed first."

To everyone's surprise, Zhou Xiaoran glanced at her with her beautiful eyes.

How can you be the same as my husband?

"Hey?"

Old Chen understood, and glared at him, saying, "You're a classic example of double standards!"

"That's double standards, so what?"

Lin Fan couldn't stop smiling, then changed the subject. "But speaking of which, I really don't know who designed this lotus platform, I'm speechless..."

Zhou Xiaoran's face flushed again.

"Actually, it's quite reasonable."

Old Chen stopped joking and carefully analyzed, "Now we can easily figure out that the main function of the lotus platform is equivalent to a Spirit Gathering Array."

"And it gathers spiritual energy within the spiritual platform, so I reckon there are quite a few Array Pattern below, right?"

"But in short, its principle is the combination of Spirit Gathering Array and high-speed transmission."

"It's not just an ordinary Spirit Gathering Array; it gathers spiritual energy into the lotus platform, so it won't disperse like a regular Spirit Gathering Array, making it much more effective."

"So, how can we achieve high-speed transmission?"

"Perhaps oral transmission would be faster?"

"But you can't just bite your mouth on the lotus platform, can you? So transmitting from... well, it's the same thing, it's also a high-speed transmission entrance."

Zhou Xiaoran: "..."

Lin Fan shrugged. "That's true, but I still find it a bit hard to accept. Why don't you give it a try, Old Chen?"

Old Chen's expression immediately changed. He took a step back and asked warily, "What's wrong?"

"I'm an old man, and you expect me to experience the refreshing sensation of chrysanthemums? That's outrageous!"

"Hahaha!"

Lin Fan laughed wildly.

Zhou Xiaoran lowered her head imperceptibly, her expression quite peculiar.

So, you feel differently than I do?

But that makes sense, since men and women are physically different, it's only natural that they would make some differences, right?

She immediately felt her face burning, and frantically suppressed her thoughts, trying to distract herself.

"So, what do we do with this thing?"

Old Chen shrugged. "In my opinion, moving it will definitely have no effect. There must be various Array Pattern connected below, possibly even covering the entire island and the sea beyond the island?"

"The Array Pattern have likely spread into the sea. If we move them... they probably won't be of much use anymore."

Zhou Xiaoran also spoke up based on her intuition.

"Then let's keep it."

Lin Fan glanced at the lotus platform with lingering fear...

It wasn't that I was actually... you know.

After all, spiritual energy is formless; it's actually a kind of 'transparency,' or rather, a 'cool to the core' feeling...

But even if it was just an 'illusion', it was enough to terrify him.

He now vehemently resists it and would never sit on it again.

benefit?

Yes, there are.

But men...

Some things, you just have to stick to.

What if you get used to it later...

This guy suddenly thought of a scene.

Then one day, he met the Saintess, and they got married. On their wedding night... it just so happened that he and the Saintess swapped clothes.

At this moment...

Lin·Purple Firmament chuckled, "Come, my wife, a moment of bliss on this spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold."

Then he himself, Qi Zi·Fan, turned pale.

And then...

Wow!

He shuddered and almost couldn't resist blowing up the lotus platform!

"Stay here!"

In a flash, he made his decision. "You guys keep the keys, whoever wants to sit can sit!"

"As for now... let's search the island again and see if we find anything else. If not... I'll be leaving now."

Lin Fan said he was really scared!

Most people might give it a try, but I'm different!