Yellow Springs Skeleton

Inside the Three Purities Hall, the atmosphere was more somber than usual.

Not only were Sect Leader Shi Jian and the elders present, but the spiritual projections of Celestial Master Zhang from Dragon Tiger Mountain and Qingxu Zhenren from Ge Zao Mountain had also manifested through the communication array.

Clearly, something extremely significant had occurred.

Mo Yuan and Uncle Nine stepped into the hall, immediately drawing everyone's gaze.

Upon sensing Mo Yuan's mid-stage Foundation Establishment aura, which was perfectly harmonious and profound, subtly imbued with the intent of the five thunders, even Sect Leader Shi Jian and the two leaders from outside sects couldn't hide their astonishment.

This child's progress was simply astonishing!

"Mo Yuan, you've emerged from seclusion at the perfect time,"

Shi Jian spoke first, breaking the silence. He waved his sleeve, and a light screen unfolded in the hall, displaying a map. It marked a new location on the edge of Burial Demon Valley, deviating from the previous site of the ruins.

"Three days ago, our patrolling disciples discovered a newly opened fissure here. Extremely pure and ancient Demonic Qi was leaking from it, accompanied by... Yellow Springs energy!"

Yellow Springs!

These two words made Mo Yuan's pupils contract. He immediately recalled the warning left by the senior in the Ancestor Cave: "Beware of the Yellow Springs!"

"We went to investigate,"

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji interjected, his expression extremely serious. "Deep within the fissure, we discovered a skeleton... suspected to be of an ancient Demon God.

The skeleton was entwined with solidified Yellow Springs death energy, its pressure so immense that even approaching it made our souls freeze.

Even more troublesome, a powerful Nine Nether Forbidden Demon Array had naturally formed around the skeleton, sealing it off from the outside.

Forcibly breaking the array might trigger mutations in the skeleton, or even accelerate the encroachment of Yellow Springs energy into the world!"

The image on the screen switched, revealing the scene deep within the fissure—a colossal, mountain-like black skeleton lay prostrate.

The bones were covered in bizarre golden demonic patterns, and around it writhed a grayish-yellow current, like a living thing, exuding an aura of death and finality. This was the Yellow Springs death energy.

Around the skeleton, dark red demonic light formed an incredibly complex array, locking the skeleton and the earth vein tightly. Just looking at it made one dizzy and their spiritual sense sting.

"After joint analysis by Junior Brother Qing Yun, Senior Brother Qing Ming, and myself, combined with ancient records,"

Shi Jian's voice was heavy. "This skeleton is likely the remains of the Demon God 'Yellow Springs,' who was suppressed in ancient times.

And the Nine Nether Forbidden Demon Array was not set up by later individuals. It seems to have formed naturally from the interweaving of its Demonic Dao and Yellow Springs Law at the moment of its demise. It serves as both a seal and a form of protection, preventing its remains from completely dissipating and blocking external forces from contact."

The projection of Celestial Master Zhang stroked his beard and sighed, "The Yellow Springs Demon God... according to ancient legends, it was a terrifying entity that governed death and connected the yin and yang. The appearance of its remains and the leakage of Yellow Springs energy...

If mishandled, at best, the surrounding ten thousand miles could turn into a dead domain. At worst, it could open a passage between yin and yang, causing catastrophic disaster!"

Qingxu Zhenren also said, "The immediate priority is to find a way to stabilize the demonic array, prevent further diffusion of the Yellow Springs death energy, and discover a method to safely interact with, or even purify, the skeleton.

However, this array is profoundly mysterious and obscure. The profound principles of Demonic Dao and the laws of Yellow Springs contained within far exceed our understanding. Attempting to deduce it forcefully is extremely perilous."

Everyone's gaze once again focused on Mo Yuan, with a hint of expectation.

This child had repeatedly created miracles, possessed heaven-defying comprehension, and had a great opportunity in the Ancestor Cave. Perhaps... he could discern something?

Mo Yuan stared at the Nine Nether Forbidden Demon Array and the Yellow Springs skeleton on the light screen, his brow furrowed.

This array was indeed extraordinarily profound, far beyond what his current knowledge of the Array Dao Primer could comprehend. The demonic patterns and Yellow Springs Law within made him feel an instinctive discomfort and repulsion.

However, his Primordial Comprehension was born precisely to understand, analyze, and even surpass all laws under heaven.

He took a deep breath, no longer trying to fathom it with conventional logic. Instead, he completely emptied his mind and pushed his Primordial Comprehension to its absolute limit.

Simultaneously, he activated the knowledge of Ancient Demonic Script Analysis (Basic) obtained from the system's sign-in in his sea of consciousness, along with the strand of indomitable Thunder Emperor's Will integrated into his Dao Foundation, and the intent of the Five Thunder Divine Method he had just comprehended!

The Thunder Emperor's Will, which commanded all thunders, could also dispel evil and reveal the truth, illuminating reality.

The Five Thunder Divine Method, encompassing the destruction of evil, the shattering of delusion, creation and destruction, punishment, and destiny, was akin to the fundamental origin of the Great Dao.

Primordial Comprehension, transcending rules, pointed directly to the essence.

The combination of these three allowed him to enter a state of profound enlightenment.

His eyes no longer reflected specific array patterns but saw the countless fundamental Dao threads that constituted this demonic array and the Yellow Springs Law.

The twisted demonic patterns were deconstructed and restored in his eyes, and the flow of the Yellow Springs death energy also seemed to become traceable.

What he saw was no longer the superficial danger and malevolence, but its inherent "reason" and "order."

His heaven-defying comprehension was fully displayed at this moment.

Inside the hall, everyone watched Mo Yuan standing still, Daoist resonance naturally flowing around him. His eyes seemed vacant, as if he had lost focus, yet they also appeared to contain the mysteries of the entire universe.

He did not perform calculations like other array masters. He simply "looked" at the light screen quietly. Yet, everyone could feel...

An invisible but immense will, centered on him, enveloped the entire projected image, carrying out an analysis that surpassed their level of understanding.

Time ticked by. The hall was so quiet one could hear a pin drop. No one dared to disturb him.

Suddenly, Mo Yuan's body trembled slightly, and his eyes regained their focus. However, his complexion was somewhat pale, clearly indicating that the preceding deduction had consumed a tremendous amount of energy.

He slowly spoke, his voice hoarse and laced with disbelief:

"This array... is not purely a seal and protection."

His astonishing statement immediately captured everyone's attention.

"This formation's core isn't just about locking away the skeleton and the Yellow Springs death energy, it's also... absorbing!"

Mo Yuan pointed to several inconspicuous energy nodes on the magic formation displayed on the light screen. "It's incredibly slowly drawing in the Earth Vein Yin Energy, as well as... the residual souls and grudges drifting through the world. Through the formation's conversion, it's being injected into that Yellow Springs skeleton!"

"What?!"

Everyone's expressions changed drastically.

Absorbing energy and injecting it into the skeleton? What did this mean? Could it be that this Yellow Springs Demon God hadn't completely perished? Its skeleton was still instinctively absorbing power, attempting to revive?

"Not only that,"

Mo Yuan's gaze was sharp as he pointed to an area near the skeleton's skull, shrouded in dense Yellow Springs death energy.

"That is the 'Gate of Life' for the entire formation, and also the core area of the Yellow Springs skeleton's residual consciousness, or rather, its instincts.

But the Gate of Life is covered by death energy, forming a situation of 'life from death.' Ordinary methods cannot approach it; any forceful attempt will only trigger a frenzied backlash from the entire formation and the skeleton."

He paused, combining this with the spiritual imprint obtained from the Ancestor Cave, and a flash of inspiration struck him like lightning!

"I understand!"

Brilliant light erupted from Mo Yuan's eyes. "That senior perished together with the demonic shadow, setting up a seal and burying it deep in the earth! This Yellow Springs skeleton is likely the indestructible remnant left behind after that demonic shadow was destroyed.

And the Nine Nether Forbidden Demon Array, is both the 'tomb' that naturally formed after its demise, and perhaps... it also contains residual sealing techniques from that senior, forming this bizarre balance.

It prevents external forces from touching it, and also prevents the skeleton from fully reviving, while slowly absorbing energy to maintain a state of 'neither alive nor dead'!"

This deduction was earth-shattering.

It connected the newly discovered Yellow Springs skeleton with the ancient secrets from the Ancestor Cave.

"And the 'key' that the Black Fiend Sect and the Netherworld are searching for..."

Mo Yuan's voice lowered. "Perhaps it is the key to breaking this balance, completely activating the Yellow Springs skeleton, or... opening the true 'Nine Nether Gate.'

Their previous blood sacrifice was likely not just to open the entrance to the ruins, but also to provide nourishment for this skeleton!"

The entire place fell silent.

Mo Yuan's deduction, based on his heaven-defying comprehension, was bold yet logically rigorous. It connected many scattered clues, outlining a clearer and more terrifying conspiracy.

Sect Leader Shi Jian took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the shock in his heart, and asked in a deep voice, "Mo Yuan, in your opinion, how should we respond now?"

Mo Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "The immediate priority is to stabilize the current situation.

Although this formation is absorbing energy, its speed is extremely slow, and it maintains a fragile balance.

We should not forcefully break the formation. Instead, we should set up isolation and purification formations on the periphery to slow down its absorption rate and purify the leaking Yellow Springs death energy.

At the same time, we must go all out to track down the whereabouts of the 'key'! We must find it before the cults do!"

"As for approaching or even purifying the skeleton..."

Mo Yuan looked at the 'Gate of Life' shrouded in death energy, the intent of the Five Thunders flowing in his eyes. "Perhaps, it requires extremely yang and extremely firm lightning, imbued with the power of creation and destruction, to open up 'life' within 'death' in a specific manner... But this requires timing, and also a deeper understanding of the Five Thunder Divine Method."

His thoughts were clear, and his strategies were progressive, causing all the elders present to nod in agreement.

"Good!"

Sect Leader Shi Jian made the final decision. "We will proceed as Mo Yuan suggested. Xuan Ji, Qing Ming, Qing Yun, the three junior brothers, will immediately lead teams to the fissure and set up an isolation formation.

At the same time, send orders to all disciples and affiliated forces outside to spare no effort in investigating clues about the 'key'! Mo Yuan..."

He looked at Mo Yuan, his gaze complex and solemn. "Since you have already glimpsed the secrets of this formation, the heavy responsibility of purifying the Yellow Springs skeleton may truly fall upon your shoulders.

You may use the sect's resources as you see fit. I hope you can cultivate the Five Thunder Divine Method to a higher realm as soon as possible!"

"This disciple will do his utmost!" Mo Yuan bowed to receive the order, feeling both ambition and pressure.

He knew that he had once again been thrust into the spotlight. The Yellow Springs skeleton, the Nine Nether Gate, the conspiracy of the ancient Demon God's revival... the crisis behind this was far greater than anything before.

But at the same time, his eyes blazed with fighting spirit.

"System, sign in!"

[Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Top-Grade Spirit Stone x10, Nine Nether Soul Suppression Incantation Fragment x1, Yellow Springs Stone (small piece) x1, Remnant Aura of the Primordial World: A faint trace of Samsara Law!]

[Nine Nether Soul Suppression Incantation Fragment]: An ancient incantation fragment involving soul suppression and Yellow Springs power, with miraculous effects on spirits and the undead.

[Yellow Springs Stone]: A strange stone containing pure Yellow Springs death energy, usable for cultivating specific Spiritual Powers or refining special magic artifacts (extremely dangerous).

[A faint trace of Samsara Law]: A faint Dao mark containing the power of Samsara, which can aid in comprehending the mysteries of life and death, and enhance understanding of souls, reincarnation, and related fields.

The sign-in rewards were once again precisely delivered.

The Nine Nether Soul Suppression Incantation might be useful against the residual consciousness of the Yellow Springs skeleton, and the Yellow Springs Stone, though dangerous, held opportunities.

As for that trace of Samsara Law, it directly pointed towards the Great Dao of life and death, holding immeasurable value for his understanding of the Yellow Springs, and even for dealing with future life-and-death crises.