Likewise, the river at the foot of the mountain flowed on eternally with a "gurgle," yet a faint blue phosphorescence glimmered within it. No fish could be seen, nor any aquatic plants. The riverbank was likewise covered in fist-sized pebbles, each smoother than the last, glittering beneath the sunlight. Things commonly found by rivers, such as algae, were nowhere to be seen. Only a thousand zhang away from the riverbank did sparse water plants or moss begin to appear, along with tiny creatures such as grasshoppers.
The mountain looked somewhat strange, yet when divine sense swept over it, there were no fluctuations of magical power. Even the Primordial Qi was no different from elsewhere, without the slightest sign of gathering. Far beyond the mountain lay another vast forest, lush with flourishing trees and gusting winds, brimming with vitality. Aside from the several-li-wide stretch of flat land where Xiao Hua and the others had arrived, the mountain's other two sides were flanked by even taller ranges. Those mountains were steep and perilous, their strange peaks towering skyward, possessing far more grandeur than this mountain.
When Xiao Hua and the others arrived, neither Gu Suqiudi nor Gongshu Yixin was nearby. They had likely gone elsewhere to investigate. Xiao Hua and the others did not mind. Zhang Daoran glanced around, then turned to Xue Ping and the others. "After this old man received your jade slips, I examined them carefully and discovered that your opinions were not unanimous. Some said this was the Four Gates Binding Dragon Formation, some said it was the Heavenly River Spirit-Locking Formation, and others said it was the Golden Water Level Hill Formation. Since we intend to break this formation, we must first determine exactly what formation it is."
Xue Ping respectfully replied, "To inform Senior, this junior