Dharma Protector Token lit up one morning.
Li Yuan opened his eyes from practice and poured in spiritual power to receive the message.
Chen Yi's voice was a bit urgent.
"There is a situation in the depths of Ghost Mist Forest. Several sect disciples operating in the depths reported to Rogue Cultivator that there were abnormal spiritual power fluctuations in the deepest parts, accompanied by strong residual demonic energy. The fluctuations are located in the west-west area of the deepest part of Ghost Mist Forest, which is at least two thousand feet away from Wulin Marketplace. Almost no one has ever been there."
"The sect initially determines that it is related to Dark Abyss Society. Devil Cultivator may be conducting some large-scale activities in the depths, and it is suspected that Ruins is digging or opening somewhere."
"The sect is organizing forces for an in-depth investigation and summoning Foundation Establishment monks to participate in the operation. You are the Market Master stationed in the Ghost Mist Forest area. You are the most familiar with the deep terrain. The sect hopes that you will participate in this operation."
Chen Yi paused.
"After the operation is completed, there will be Contribution Point rewards, and the materials discovered during the operation will also be distributed according to contribution."
Li Yuan put Token away.
Dark Abyss Society's activities in the deepest part of Ghost Mist Forest are consistent with the information previously reported by Elder. If Treasury, who took over as Demon Sect, and the Nascent Soul-level sect's legacy are really hidden deep in Ghost Mist Forest, then it makes perfect sense for Dark Abyss Society to dig here.
Moreover, one of the three demonic people in the city is inquiring about the Fiend Ore area. Fiend Ore is to the south of the deepest part of Ghost Mist Forest, and Ruins is to the west of the deepest part. The two directions are different but the distance is not too far.
Even if I don't go there, this market might become Devil Cultivator's target.
Li Yuan took out a piece of Wayfinding Talisman from the storage bag.
This was drawn a few days ago using a newly purchased production method, and it is in good condition.
The way to use Wayfinding Talisman is very simple. Inject spiritual power to activate, and Talisman will sense the general direction that is most suitable for you.
If the target is extremely close, Talisman Pattern will rotate rapidly and it will be difficult to determine the specific direction.
Li Yuan is infused with spiritual power.
Spirit Pattern on the surface of Wayfinding Talisman shines with a pale golden luster, and the sensing core in the center of the ring structure rotates slightly, finally pointing in one direction.
West-southwest.
Ghost Mist Forest The deepest direction.
It roughly matches the abnormal fluctuation position mentioned by Chen Yi.
The luster of Wayfinding Talisman lasted for a few breaths and then dimmed, Spirit Pattern dissipated, and Talisman Paper turned into ashes.
Wayfinding Talisman can only be used as a reference, but it is enough for Li Yuan to make a judgment.
Two days later, the team assembled at Wulin Marketplace.
Chen Yi brought seven Foundation Establishment monks, including himself and Li Yuan, a total of nine people. There were several familiar faces among them, Li Ze'an was among them, and Zhao the Cultivator was also there. The remaining few were formal disciples of the Yuanyang Sect, and their cultivation levels were all at Foundation Establishment Early Stage.
Chen Yi briefly explained the action plan before departure.
"The goal is to find out the source of the abnormal fluctuations and confirm whether it is the stronghold of Dark Abyss Society or the entrance of Ruins. If you encounter Devil Cultivator, decide whether to fight based on the situation. If there are not enough people or the opponent is too strong, withdraw. Do not fight head-on."
"The traveling route goes south along the main road of Ghost Mist Forest, and turns southwest after reaching the depth. Fellow Daoist Li is the most familiar with the terrain of Ghost Mist Forest, so he will lead the way."
Li Yuan nodded.
The team sets off.
The nine Foundation Establishment monks pushed deeper along the main road of Ghost Mist Forest. The deeper they went, the thicker the fog and the higher the Fiend Qi concentration. Most of the Foundation Establishment The monks need to use their spiritual power to resist the erosion of Fiend Qi. Only Li Yuan and Fiend Origin Unification are not affected. Instead, they actively absorb the surrounding Fiend Qi.
After walking for about half a day, the terrain began to change.
The dead trees became taller and denser, with trunks as thick as buckets, and intertwined branches blocking the sky above. The ground changed from gravel to black soil, which was soft when stepped on, with a rotten smell.
The color of the dense fog changed from gray to dark purple, and the visibility was less than five feet.
Li Yuan walked at the front of the team, Spirit Sense Clarity's passive perception covered fifty feet, Fiend Vein's perception extended to the ground, and his spiritual consciousness stretched forward a hundred feet.
It continued for about two hours.
Li Yuan stopped.
The concentration of Fiend Qi ahead suddenly dropped.
The concentration of Fiend Qi in the deep Ghost Mist Forest should be getting higher as you go deeper, but the Fiend Qi in the front area becomes thinner. It seems that something has absorbed or dispersed a large amount of Fiend Qi in that area.
At the same time, a strange wave of spiritual energy came from the front.
It's not Reiki, and it's not Fiend Qi.
It is a compound fluctuation that mixes spiritual power and demonic energy. The frequency is unstable, as if there is a problem in the operation of a large Array.
"There is a situation ahead."
Li Yuan whispered.
The team slowed down, lowered their breath and moved forward.
After walking about another three hundred feet, the thick fog suddenly dispersed in front of us.
A cleared open space appeared in front of everyone.
The open space is about a hundred feet square. The surrounding dead trees have been cut down by their roots, and traces of spiritual cutting remain on the tree stumps. The ground has been turned over, and the black soil is mixed with gravel and slag.
In the center of the clearing was a huge pit, and Li Yuan felt the evil energy in it.
The pit is about ten feet in diameter with regular edges and is not naturally formed. There are obvious traces of man-made excavation on the pit wall, and the lines cut by tools are neat and uniform.
A section of gray-white stone structure was exposed at the bottom of the pit.
It's a building.
A corner of the underground building was dug out, and the gray-white stone wall was densely engraved with Spirit Pattern. The style of Spirit Pattern is simple and heavy, which is obviously different from the Spirit Pattern system commonly used by monks today.
There is a half-open door Stone Gate on the stone wall, with traces of dark purple demonic energy remaining on the door leaf.
Ruins entrance.
Chen Yi walked to the edge of the pothole and reached down with his spiritual consciousness.
"Stone Gate contains residual fluctuations of Array and prohibition."
He frowned.
"Part of it has been triggered or destroyed. Someone went there first."
He knelt down and touched the remaining traces of demonic energy on the stone wall with his fingers.
"The concentration of demonic energy is not low, and the remaining time is about ten days to half a month."
People from Dark Abyss Society have entered Ruins first.
Chen Yi stood up and looked at the other people in the team.
"Most of the Array and the restrictions around Ruins have been destroyed. The remaining parts are not sure whether they are dangerous."
He pondered for a moment.
"First explore the Array residue on the periphery and confirm it is safe before entering."
Nine Foundation Establishment monks spread out around the pit, each exploring the surrounding Array and the restricted status.
Li Yuan stood next to Stone Gate, and his spiritual sense probed into Entry Level.
Behind Stone Gate is a stone corridor extending downward, about two feet wide and one and a half feet high. Both walls of the corridor are covered with Spirit Pattern, most of which are dim and useless, and only a few places still have a faint luster.
There is a strong demonic energy remaining in the corridor, which is consistent with the traces on Stone Gate.
There were footprints on the ground. The footprints of more than one person, at least three or four people, were directed towards the depths of the corridor.
Demonic Origin Avatar's passive perception captured the fluctuations of demonic energy in the corridor, and the concentration was dozens of times higher than the residue on the three people in the city.
People from Dark Abyss Society have indeed gone in, and there are quite a few of them.
Chen Yi came over and took a look at the situation in the corridor.
"Prepare to enter."