As they drew closer.
Everyone froze in shock at the sight before them.
Rows of tombstones had been violently overturned to either side, leaving behind only a broad passageway. The path was covered in crisscrossing, chaotically tangled earthen spikes. Every spike was unusually solid, like an iron rod, and bristled with dense barbs.
From afar, it looked like a vast forest of earth-colored thorns, entwined and interwoven into an insurmountable barrier that struck fear into anyone who saw it.
Sensing it, Qian Meng exclaimed in alarm, "This formation covers at least a hundred meters. It has already far surpassed the limit of what Old Du's Thick Earth Thorns Array could possibly produce when he consigned it for sale."
"From this alone, they most likely made considerable improvements to that array plate."
"Anyone capable of making such improvements to Old Du's array plate must be a formation master with no shallow attainments among them."
"That's all it is," Tang Yuan spat disdainfully. He swung a backhanded punch at the outer section of thorny earthen spikes. Under the terrifying force of his fist, that patch of thorns was instantly blasted into dust.
He casually dusted off his hands. "It's not all that tough. If Old Lu had enhanced and arranged it instead, there's no way this punch of mine could have damaged it."
His words were clearly in response to Qian Meng, signaling for her not to bolster others' morale.
Rustle, rustle~
Following Tang Yuan's punch, the depths of the thorn forest suddenly erupted with the sound of soil breaking apart, as though something were tearing through layer upon layer of thorny earthen spikes.
"Save~ save me~"
A weak cry came from within.
That hoarse, heavy voice seemed to come from the earth itself, carrying a chilling edge.
"There's actually someone alive?"