"Master, Zhao Qingyan said he discovered a concealed formation during his routine patrol of the rear mountain just now. He dared not investigate it on his own, so he came specifically to ask me to report it to you."
Tie Dali strode up to Lin Feng, his expression solemn, and faithfully reported the unusual discovery on the rear mountain.
One day outside, one year within the sect.
By now, Tie Dali had spent seven years of sect time in the Evergreen Sect.
Compared to when he first joined, his face had grown more mature and composed, and the traces of age had begun to show.
But thanks to his green trait [Growing Stronger with Age], his physique had only grown more powerful. His essence, vitality, and spirit brimmed abundantly, his entire body bursting with life, without the slightest weariness of age.
The passage of time within the sect was entirely real; cultivators' years and accumulated cultivation would both steadily increase.
And precisely for that reason, starting on the second day after the difference in the sect's flow of time became apparent.
Lin Feng had specifically arranged for all menial disciples without cultivation aptitude to move to the outer peaks, removing them from the influence of the sect's special time domain so they would not squander the prime of their lives for nothing.
Upon hearing the report, a flicker of genuine delight crossed Lin Feng's eyes.
He had long suspected that ancient sect ruins were very likely buried somewhere within the Evergreen Sect's territory.
Previously, he had personally scoured the mountains, rivers, and woodlands inside and outside the sect, conducting several meticulous searches, yet had found nothing.
Even then, he had known that either the ruins' concealment methods were extraordinary, or his own cultivation and discernment were insufficient to unravel their mysteries.
After all, numerous examples had confirmed that an awakened E-rank sect would most likely contain ruins left behind by its predecessor, though their sizes varied.
But Lin Feng had never imagined that, just as the first week's demonic beast trial concluded, this dormant opportunity would surface of its own accord.
Understanding this, Lin Feng then thought of Zhao Qingyan.
This disciple was a cultivator with a low-grade spirit root whom he had recruited after Liu Yurou on his second day at the sect. After six years of accumulation in sect time, he had firmly reached the Qi Refining third layer.
Diligent and steady in his daily conduct, aside from devoting himself to cultivation, he was specifically responsible for patrolling the rear mountain. Meticulous by nature and reliable in his actions, he was by no means reckless.
An opportunity could not be delayed. Lin Feng immediately rose and took Liu Yurou and Tie Dali with him, following Zhao Qingyan's lead at full speed toward the secret realm on the rear mountain.
They passed through layers of dense forest and reached a secluded mountain hollow on the rear mountain, where the scene before them was plain to see.
A hazy, faint curtain of light shrouded the entire hollow, while formless formation power sealed off every direction. Fine, ancient formation patterns faintly circulated through the air, half-hidden and half-revealed, blending seamlessly with heaven, earth, mountains, and forest.
Were it not for the minute distortions in the flow of spiritual energy and the abnormal deathly stillness of the surroundings, an ordinary cultivator could have strained their eyes to the utmost and still never discovered the hidden mystery here.
"Sect Master, this is where this disciple discovered the anomaly. This curtain of light is indestructible, and this disciple dared not touch it rashly."
Zhao Qingyan bowed respectfully, his tone deferential.
Lin Feng gave a slight nod and stepped forward, gazing intently at the concealed formation before him.
He concentrated and circulated his spiritual power. The pure spiritual power of the Qi Refining tenth layer slowly surged into his eyes as he tried to see through the formation's true nature.
Yet all he saw were overlapping layers of mist in the void.
The circulating ancient formation patterns were obscure and profound, far beyond the understanding of the current low-level cultivation system.
The arrangement of every line and the pattern of every wisp of circulating spiritual power carried the distinctive flavor of ancient Daoist arts, utterly different from the basic formation arts circulating in the world today.
"You three, step back."
Lin Feng gave the order, preparing to test the formation's power himself.
Liu Yurou and the other two retreated several zhang as instructed and watched quietly.
Lin Feng raised his hand and gathered his strength. A wisp of exceedingly condensed, pure spiritual power gathered in his palm, and he slowly pushed it forward, gently touching the formation's curtain of light.
Hum!
A deep, weighty resonance from the formation abruptly rang throughout the mountain hollow.
The previously tranquil, subdued curtain of light instantly erupted with dazzling pale-gold spiritual radiance. Countless ancient formation patterns lit up at once, crisscrossing to form an indestructible formation barrier.
The instant the spiritual power in Lin Feng's palm touched the curtain, a vast, boundless recoil force, heavy with the weight of antiquity, bounced it back.
That force was gentle yet overbearing, without the slightest viciousness, yet possessed absolute suppressive might. It directly dissolved his spiritual power completely, leaving his fingertips faintly numb from the impact and his entire arm aching and swollen.
His brows furrowed slightly, but he was not discouraged. He repeatedly changed his methods and summoned greater spiritual power, making several attempts to strike, penetrate, and draw upon the formation patterns.
Yet no matter how he exerted himself, this ancient formation remained as steady as a rock.
The seemingly thin curtain of light was like an impassable heavenly chasm, separating the worlds within and without.
His spiritual power was either instantly flung away or silently devoured and dissolved by the formation patterns. He could not shake the formation in the slightest, let alone locate its core and break the restriction.
After several probes, Lin Feng had reached a clear judgment.
First, his cultivation realm was insufficient.
This was a sect-protecting bewilderment formation left over from ancient times, of an extremely high grade. The strength and reserves of spiritual power required to break it were far beyond the reach of a Qi Refining realm cultivator.
Before such an age-old restriction, his Qi Refining tenth layer cultivation was as insignificant as an ant trying to shake a tree, with no possibility of budging it.
Second, his knowledge of formation arts was lacking.
At present, he understood only the most basic, simple spirit-gathering and mountain-protecting formations. Faced with an ancient secret formation containing ancient Dao resonance, an intricate structure, and countless mysteries, he had absolutely no idea where to begin.
He could not discern the formation's foundations, distinguish the patterns' governing rules, or find any weakness through which to break it. He lacked even the qualifications to begin investigating it.
With every attempt coming to nothing, Lin Feng could only withdraw his spiritual power and slowly lower his hand.
The curtain of light continued to circulate steadily, an ancient and mysterious aura shrouding the hollow. The entrance to the ruins remained firmly sealed, quietly hidden within the rear mountain, with no one able to glimpse the world inside.
As Lin Feng gazed at the concealed formation before him, he was already certain: this was absolutely a genuine ancient sect ruin.
Perhaps it held countless opportunities, but with the Evergreen Sect's current strength and foundations, they were not yet qualified to open it.
He drew a deep breath, suppressed his regret and anticipation, then turned toward the three beside him and instructed gravely, "This matter is classified as a sect secret. The three of you must remember to keep your mouths sealed tight. Not a word is to be leaked outside."
"These disciples will obey Master's instructions!"
The three answered in unison.
Lin Feng's gaze returned to the hazy curtain of light.
Though I can't break the formation and enter the ruins today, with the blessing of the sect trait One Day Like a Year and Tie Dali's cultivation speed with his heavenly spiritual root, sooner or later I'll break this formation and enter these ruins to find out what lies within!