"We can confirm that this is our Buddhist School's Vajra Demon-Subduing Circle Formation. Unfortunately, we cannot find its central nexus, no matter how we search." Zan Yue shook his head helplessly.
"You two could try widening your search. Perhaps you might discover something else," Shen Luo said after a moment's thought.
"Widen our search?" Zan Yue and Ku Lin both hesitated, then retreated a short distance and began carefully examining the outer reaches of the plaza.
Shen Luo said nothing more. With a smile, he led the thoroughly bewildered Bai Xiaotian and Nie Caizhu onward to continue their inspection.
They had not gone far before they saw Zheng Jun and Lin Qianqian sitting on a large rock.
Lin Qianqian rested her elbows on her legs and propped her chin in both hands, her face filled with dejection. Beside her, Zheng Jun watched her with smiling eyes, seemingly unconcerned about whether they could break through the barrier.
When the two saw Shen Luo and his companions approach, they greeted them but said little else.
Shen Luo's group did not linger either and continued onward.
Just as the three had made their way around more than half the barrier, a sudden boom rang out ahead.
Shen Luo looked up toward the sound and saw Huang Ting standing alone, striking the barrier's curtain of light with a snow-white longsword.
Immediately afterward, what sounded like Sanskrit chanting rose into the air. An enormous golden palm print abruptly appeared on the translucent curtain of light and struck upward at Huang Ting's sword.
Boom! An even more violent crash rang out.
The tremendous force hurled Huang Ting backward, sword and all. She flew a full hundred zhang, spitting a mouthful of blood that instantly soaked the white veil covering her face.
She struggled to her feet,