Incense Wreathed Before the Altar, the Heart Ape Stirs Within

Noticing the situation with his physical body, Qiu Yan was not in a hurry. Besides, his soul was in the Heart Path, so there was no use in rushing. He continued to follow the fork in the road, but his flying speed increased considerably.

Before long, the path ahead suddenly changed, revealing a huge vortex that emitted dazzling light and shadow, giving people a sense of temporal and spatial distortion.

Qiu Yan stared at the vortex for a moment, extending his senses towards it, but he couldn't penetrate it, as if it were blocked by some force. Then, he withdrew his senses, leaped into the vortex, and his twisted and stretched Divine Soul merged into the vortex, spinning with the current until it disappeared!

Spring and Autumn Academy, Sage Worthies Hall.

This Sage Worthies Hall has existed for many years and has undergone several renovations and expansions, but many places still bear the marks of time. However, it does not appear dilapidated; instead, it gives people a sense of antiquity.

On the altar, two clay sculptures were enshrined. Every line on the clay sculptures seemed to contain ancient charm, deep and profound.

On the ground in front of the altar, seven or eight Confucian scholars knelt upright, their movements ancient, heads bowed and silent. If a martial arts master were here, he would be astonished at a glance, for these scholars, with their relaxed physiques, possessed an inner strength and spirit that seemed to have been ingrained in their very bones.

Several sticks of incense burned, their smoke curling upwards, filling the hall and lingering there like a giant dome, enveloping the seated scholar.

Within the smoke, there was also a masculine energy, like human Qi and Blood and qi, moving with the smoke and flowing through the pores and flesh of the many scholars.

Outside the main hall, five people sat, but unlike the many scholars, they were dressed casually, some even in shorts. They sat cross-legged on the ground, heads bowed and eyes closed, exuding little aura or presence. They seemed to be asleep, but upon closer inspection, one could see that their entire bodies were tense, and their flesh would occasionally twitch.

Compared to the many Confucian scholars in the hall, these five people were much stronger. Two of them had their arms exposed, and the muscles on their arms gleamed faintly, giving them a powerful look.

From a distance, the five seated figures looked as if they were waiting for something, or perhaps gathering strength, lying in wait, ready to strike at any moment.

Sudden!

"Um?"

The five people moved in unison, uttering sounds of confusion one after another. Then, they opened their eyes simultaneously. In an instant, it seemed as if a sharp light shot out from their eyes, slightly brightening the surrounding light, but it quickly returned to normal.

Then, without any apparent movement, they sprang to their feet as if springs had been inserted into their bodies. They all turned to look at the main hall, their five sharp eyes piercing through like swords!

Swish!

Pierced by these gazes, the wisps of smoke surrounding the scholar appeared as if slashed by swords, with several gaps appearing before being filled by the surrounding smoke. The hazy smoke immediately began to churn!

Immediately afterwards, the thin Qi and Blood within the smoke moved, causing fluctuations in the temperature inside the hall.

Just then, above the eight Confucian scholars, in the empty space above them, the light and shadow suddenly distorted and began to rotate, forming a vortex out of thin air!

Outside the door, the leader of the five men narrowed his eyes, a Fire Star flashing in the slits. He said, "These scholars have only been inside for a short time, how could anyone have returned! Something must have happened! Gentlemen, prepare to make your move, but do not disturb those who have entered the forest!" This man was dressed in a straight robe, with a stern face, a hooked nose, and a deep voice.

As soon as he finished speaking, the other four nodded, and then their bodies flickered and they disappeared without a trace. When they looked again, the four of them had appeared in the hall, occupying the Four Horns, their muscles and bones trembling, manifesting various strange phenomena.

They were all swollen with flesh and blood, their Essence Blood flowing, exhaling breath, their strength coursing through their bodies, their center unmoving, their five senses spreading, and their acupoints drawing upon Spiritual Qi!

They were all cultivators Seven Souls Convergence and were manifesting outwards!

In an instant, the four men's auras surged, their feet radiating power. From the four directions and four positions, the four symbols emerged, forming a formation that enveloped the entire hall. Then, they hummed and hawed, activating their True Qi energy. Their pores opened and closed, causing their Qi and Blood and qi to flow like the wind, blurring the scene inside the hall and creating a sense of oppression. Even the air became viscous, heavy, and difficult to circulate!

For a moment, outside air could not enter, giving the impression that everything inside was imprisoned!

When Qiu Yan's Divine Soul emerged from the vortex, he immediately felt the power of the formation. After leaving the Heart Path, his Divine Soul recovered from that twisted and stretched state, but as soon as he entered the Sage Worthies Hall, his soul suddenly froze and he could not move!

"Hmm? Who made this move? Such astonishing skill! The mere pressure of their aura made it difficult for my Third Realm, Third Tier Divine Soul to move forward. No, the flow of their aura is slightly sluggish. This isn't a single person making this move!"

Although surprised, Qiu Yan had already predicted the fifteen possible scenarios he might encounter after leaving the Heart Path.

The best-case scenario is being unhindered, while the worst-case scenario is being attacked the moment one appears. The current situation of having one's Divine Soul imprisoned can only be described as neither good nor bad.

"Oh? These scholars sit cross-legged, their energy and spirit contained within. At first glance, they seem like martial arts masters, but in reality, their souls have left their bodies. They must all be people who have entered the forest. The smoke enveloping them is also quite strange..."

However, before he could figure out his surroundings, four surging streams of Qi and Blood rushed towards him!

These Qi and Blood did not spread aimlessly, but rather twisted together, drawn by the internal Martial Dao Will and solidified by the seven outer Soul Shadow, like four large spears, carrying a killing aura, directly stabbing, with the momentum of charging into Sand Battlefield and advancing without hesitation!

The strong and masculine aura is the nemesis of the soul. Even if one has condensed their Divine Soul and can Spirit Projection their body during the day and travel for a hundred days, they can withstand the sunlight. However, if they are hit by strong and pure Qi and Blood, they will still be eroded, and may even suffer a regression in their cultivation level!

Qiu Yan was hit by four attacks and imprisoned by the formation, leaving him with almost no way to avoid them. His Divine Soul was even forced to shrink by the heat from the spear of Qi and Blood!

This situation is extremely dangerous!

But Qiu Yan was not surprised; instead, she was delighted, and a thought welled up in her mind.

"Excellent! Four experts at the Third Realm, with the Seven Souls Manifestation, joining forces in one attack—perfect for me to examine the Heart Ape's combat strength in the Mortal Realm!"

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Qiu Yan's Heart Fire swelled, then burned fiercely, and a roar came from within, followed by a magnificent ape leaping out!

At the same time, the Soul Aperture trembled violently, and Incense Faith surged forth!

Outside the door, the man with the hooked nose was squinting at the scene inside the hall, about to step forward, when a voice called out to him from behind.

"Brother Qin, please wait..."

Upon hearing the voice, he turned around and found a man standing behind him, who had arrived silently without him noticing.

The man with the hooked nose wasn't surprised. He bowed slightly and said, "Mr. Zheng, what about the people in that hall...?"

Before he could finish speaking, a loud roar erupted from the Sage Worthies Hall, followed by a howling wind that dispersed the wind of Qi and Blood and qi!

Whoosh!

Sage Worthies Hall, the wind howled, and the sweltering heat dissipated the Qi and Blood.

The doors and windows rattled loudly as the hot air rushed out, condensing upon contact with the cold air and creating specks of frost around them!

"What's going on..." The hook-nosed man was shocked, sensing an indescribable, violent aura. He quickly turned around and saw four muscular figures.

The four men were thrown out of the four windows, each assuming a defensive stance, their flesh trembling and spitting blood!

"You scoundrel!" The hook-nosed man was enraged at the sight. His whole body trembled, his inner False Core spun, and his acupoints on the surface of his body seemed to shift. His body seemed to be deforming. He pushed off with his feet, leaving two neat footprints on the ground, and was about to pounce.

Just then, a hand landed on his shoulder.

The hand touched the man's shoulder silently, causing the surging aura to dissipate and the vaguely changing Fleshly Body to instantly freeze.

"Mr. Zheng, what are you doing?" The hook-nosed man turned his head and couldn't help but ask.

The hand that stopped him was extended by Mr. Zheng.

Hearing the question, Mr. Zheng shook his head and said, "Brother Qin, don't make a move. You are no match for him."

"Even if we are no match for them, we must stall for a moment. There is a person in that hall whose Soul Entry into the Scholar Forest. If an outsider breaks the Spirit-Calming Qi-Replenishing Incense's aura, I, Qin Li, cannot bear the consequences!" The hook-nosed man struggled for a moment but could not break free.

Mr. Zheng shook his head again. "No need to worry, this person will not harm the scholars in the hall."

No sooner had the words been spoken than a voice rang out from the Sage Worthies Hall: "The Spring and Autumn Academy truly lives up to its long-standing reputation as a school of thought, boasting so many outstanding young talents, with a full eight of them capable of Soul Entry into the Scholar Forest."

As they spoke, the heat within the Sage Worthies Hall dissipated, and a divine Divine Soul floated out from the main entrance; it was Qiu Yan.

Upon seeing this, Mr. Zheng withdrew his hand and said, "Of those eight people, only three are disciples of the academy; the rest are related to other schools of thought."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yan nodded. After a moment's thought, he understood the reason. It was nothing more than the monopoly of the Aristocratic Clan and the infighting among factions, things he had no interest in.

Thinking of this, Qiu Yan didn't say much. He raised his hand and, under Qin Li's wary gaze, tossed out a point of light, saying, "This trip into the forest was quite by chance, as it fulfilled the request of Book Elder. Having obtained this item, I entrust it to you."

Mr. Zheng reached out and caught the light, not even bothering to examine it closely, and said, "Thank you very much, Young Master Qiu, this is a great favor. Please come with me to the Book Pavilion..."

Faced with the invitation, Qiu Yan shook his head. "This matter will be postponed for now. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now..."

As soon as he finished speaking, his soul shifted, transforming into a wisp of green smoke that disappeared into the crack in the ground in the blink of an eye.

"This person has no manners!" Qin Li frowned, about to speak, but suddenly his expression changed, and then...

Rumble!

The ground suddenly started shaking!

P. S.: Thank you to "Soaring Stars in the Universe" for the review vote!