The low hum of the Abyss-Devouring Sword echoed along the corridor.
The dark red patterns on the bronze gate lit up slightly, as if sensing some kind of sharp aura.
But that change only lasted a few breaths before returning to silence.
Chu Yunfei gripped the hilt of his sword, not drawing it rashly.
He could sense that the restrictions on the door were completely different from the formations he had encountered before.
There is no key point in the formation.
At least, there is no key point in the formation that can be destroyed from the outside.
"There's probably something extraordinary hidden behind that door."
Xiao Yihan stared at the massive bronze gate, his voice low and deep.
Chu Yunfei nodded.
"It's definitely a good product."
Wu Changge twitched his nostrils and took half a step forward.
"Danxiang?"
"Could there be even higher-grade pills behind the door?"
"Have."
Chu Yunfei looked at the faint medicinal smell emanating from the crack in the door.
"Besides pills, there are other things."
"However, it might not be safe inside."
Upon hearing this, the few Rogue Cultivator who were about to approach immediately froze in their tracks.
Having just witnessed two Divine Sea Realm Seventh Level demonic beasts go berserk, naturally no one dared to underestimate Chu Yunfei's judgment.
Zhao Manshan gripped his heavy sword tightly and asked in a low voice, "Young Master Chu, is it possible to break this restriction?"
"Can."
Chu Yunfei did not explain immediately.
The restrictions on the door were arranged in a very strange way.
It does not rely on spirit stones for sustaining itself, nor does it actively absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. Instead, it gathers all the array patterns into the blood-red groove in the center.
To open this door, nothing else is needed.
It is essence and blood.
Furthermore, ordinary essence and blood are not enough.
It would take the blood essence of at least several Divine Sea Realm cultivators to fully activate the array patterns within the gate.
If the method to activate the barrier is unknown and the barrier is forcibly attacked, the formation will actively devour the attacker's flesh and soul until it accumulates enough power.
"What a vicious way to open the door."
Chu Yunfei's eyes turned slightly cold.
The person who set up this restriction had no intention of letting the intruder leave unscathed.
They either voluntarily offer their lifeblood as a sacrifice.
Either they force their way in, only to be swallowed up by the formation.
In any case, someone must die before this door can be opened.
After seeing through this, Chu Yunfei withdrew his divine sense and took two steps back.
Si Yunshu noticed his movement and asked softly, "Young Master Chu, is there a problem with the formation?"
"Have."
Chu Yunfei said calmly, "Don't touch the door, and don't use spiritual power to attack."
Xiao Yihan's expression hardened, and he immediately turned to remind the Heavenly Edict Sect members.
"All disciples, step back ten feet. No one is allowed to make a move without my order."
Wu Changge didn't ask any questions and directly stood in front of Wu Mingyue.
"Disciples of the Divine Martial Sect, all retreat!"
Zhao Manshan also Rogue Cultivator cultivators behind him.
"Did you all hear that? Anyone who dares to touch it, don't blame me for not warning you if you die!"
Although everyone was anxious, they still slowly retreated.
Just then, a flurry of footsteps suddenly came from the corridor behind them.
There are people ahead!
"Quick! The treasures deep within the ruins haven't been taken yet!"
"I've come all this way, and there's not a single medicinal herb left in the outer areas. This time, anyone who dares to block my way, I'll kill them!"
A cacophony of angry shouts grew louder as it approached.
In just a few breaths, dozens of figures rushed out of the dark corridor.
The person in the lead was none other than Situ Shuang'er.
She changed out of her blood-stained outer robe, her face as rosy as ever, while the Ice Soul Sword was already hanging back at her waist.
Behind her were not only two disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect, but also a large, dark crowd.
Nearly a thousand people!
Most of these people were Rogue Cultivator and martial artists from second-rate forces who had just arrived at the ruins.
Their robes were still stained with blood, and they exuded a strong Sha Qi, clearly indicating that they had fought many battles along the way.
The three outer side halls had already been looted.
They had come all this way without acquiring any cultivation techniques, spiritual artifacts, or even a single low-grade spiritual herb, and were already seething with anger.
Now, upon seeing the colossal bronze gate stretching across the end of the corridor, nearly a thousand eyes lit up simultaneously.
Such a large bronze door?
"This must be the core of the ruins!"
"Wait, can you smell it?"
An elderly man with a broad nose and a gray robe took a deep breath, and his face immediately flushed.
"Fragrance!"
"A fragrant aroma is wafting from behind the bronze door!"
His exclamation caused an instant uproar throughout the corridor.
Hundreds of cultivators held their breath and carefully sensed the surroundings.
really.
Behind the tightly closed bronze gate, a faint fragrance of elixir slowly wafted out from the crack in the door.
The medicinal fragrance was extremely pure.
The cultivator at the Divine Sea Realm only needed to take one breath for the spiritual energy within his body to subtly accelerate its circulation.
"At least a sixth-grade elixir!"
"No, a sixth-grade pill couldn't possibly have such medicinal power even through a restriction!"
"Could there be a seventh-grade elixir hidden inside?"
As soon as the words "seventh grade" were uttered, everyone's breathing became heavy.
That's a seventh-grade elixir!
Let alone these Rogue Cultivator, even the high-ranking sect leaders of the six major sects outside would fight to the death for it.
Whoever gets it may use it to rise to the top!
But the frenzy lasted only a few breaths.
When everyone saw the dark red array patterns on the surface of the bronze gate, which moved slowly like veins, their burning greed was doused with cold water.
That restrictive aura was extremely dangerous.
Even the top geniuses standing at the forefront, such as Chu Yunfei and Xiao Yihan, did not make any rash moves, so naturally the others did not dare to step forward and risk trouble.
"Get out of here!"
A one-eyed, burly man roughly shoved aside the cultivator blocking his way and walked to the front, carrying a heavy, ghost-headed sword.
His aura as Divine Sea Realm Sixth Layer cultivator was completely undisguised, and there were still traces of blood on his face that had not yet dried.
"You've been blocking this place for ages, and you can't even open a single door? You're a bunch of useless idiots!"
Zhao Manshan frowned.
" Hong Tiankui, there's something strange about the restrictions on this door. Young Master Chu has already warned us not to attack it recklessly."
"Young Master Chu?"
Hong Tiankui followed Zhao Manshan's gaze to Chu Yunfei, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly suppressed by greed.
"You're afraid of him? I'm not!"
"The treasures of the ruins belong to the capable. Does Chu Yunfei, relying on the support of the Pill Pavilion, intend to monopolize the seventh-grade pills?"
Chu Yunfei remained calm, not even bothering to glance at him.
Such people aren't truly fearless.
But the seventh-grade elixir was right behind the door, and he couldn't bear to leave.
Another elderly man dressed in a red robe stepped forward.
His cultivation level had reached the Divine Sea Realm Sixth Layer.
He squinted at the bronze door and said coldly, "Fellow Daoist Hong is right. No matter how strong the restriction is, it should weaken over time."
"If several of us join forces and attack one point, we might be able to blast it open."
Three more rogue Rogue Cultivator at the Divine Sea Realm Fifth Layer stepped out from the crowd.
The five men exchanged glances, a glint of cunning flashing in each of their eyes.
They had already made a secret agreement.
Once the bronze door was breached, the five immediately formed a battle formation and rushed inside, seizing the elixir as their first priority.
As for Chu Yunfei...
They dare not provoke them directly, but they can seize the initiative.
"Gentlemen."
Xiao Yihan warned in a deep voice, "Brother Chu is proficient in formations. Since he said we cannot attack, there must be a reason. If you insist on attacking, you will bear the consequences."
The old man in the red robe sneered.
"Young Master Xiao, your sect's disciples have already amassed quite a few opportunities, so there's no rush."
"We Rogue Cultivator have walked a life fraught with danger. If we are still timid and hesitant, how can we compete with the disciples of your sect for opportunities?"
"Well said!"
Hong Tiankui raised his ghost-headed dagger, his Sha Qi soaring to the sky.
"I refuse to believe that a mere Death Gate can devour five of us Divine Sea Realm cultivators!"
Chu Yunfei finally raised his eyes.
"It does eat people."
Hong Tiankui's face darkened.
The red-robed elder immediately chimed in, " Chu Yunfei, if you truly understand how to open the door, why have you hesitated for so long?"
"In my opinion, you're just trying to scare everyone away so you can keep the treasure behind the door for yourself!"
Many of the surrounding cultivators' gazes flickered slightly.
They might not believe the old man in the red robe.
But as long as the profits are large enough, whether it's true or false becomes irrelevant.
"The Heaven-grade battle blade and the sixth-grade pill from before have both fallen into their hands."
"Does this mean they have to choose first here too?"
"That's a seventh-grade elixir, why should we give it to someone else?"
Discussions gradually arose.
However, only Hong Tiankui and his four companions actually managed to get close to the bronze gate.
The others shouted loudly, but didn't move an inch.
Everyone wants to seize the treasure.
They all wanted others to risk their lives to pave the way first.
Situ Shuang'er stood to the side of the crowd, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.
Although she was unwilling to speak to Chu Yunfei anymore, she knew very well that this man never did anything meaningless.
The fact that he voluntarily stepped back indicates that the bronze door was indeed a deadly danger.
"If you want to die, no one will stop you."
Situ Shuang'er's voice was icy. "But before you make a move, you'd better tell the people behind you to retreat further, lest you not only court death but also implicate others."
Hong Tiankui's face was grim, but he didn't dare to argue with her.
He and the red-robed old man and others walked to the bronze gate and each took out their weapons.
"The five of them will join forces to attack the central recess!"
"Good!"
Five streams of spiritual energy from the Divine Sea Realm erupted simultaneously.
The flashes of blades, the aura of swords, and the palm prints converged and slammed fiercely into the center of the entrance.
boom!
The massive bronze gate trembled violently.
Dust settled and fell from the top of the corridor.
The dark red array patterns on the door lit up simultaneously.
Just as Hong Tiankui showed a look of joy, a deep rumble came from inside the door.
A terrifying suction force erupted from above!
What is that?
The ghost-headed saber in Hong Tiankui's hand instantly slipped from his grasp and firmly adhered to the bronze door.
The next moment, he was dragged over as well.
Bang!
Hong Tiankui crashed into the doorway.
Dark red array patterns wrapped around his limbs like living things and burrowed into his skin.
The old man in red robes and the others also failed to escape.
The spiritual energy they just unleashed has already established a connection with the restriction.
The formation followed the five streams of power and locked onto the aura in the opposite direction.
Five people were thrown into the air one after another, and were pinned firmly to the bronze door.
No matter how much it struggled, it couldn't move an inch.
"Help me!"
"Quickly pull this old man away!"
"It's sucking my blood!"
Screams echoed through the corridor.
Several cultivators who were familiar with them instinctively stepped forward, but were stopped by Xiao Yihan with his sword.
Don't go there!
"The ban hasn't been lifted yet; anyone who gets close will be swallowed up!"
The array patterns on the door quickly spread all over the five people's bodies.
Their skin shrank at a visible rate.
The essence and blood seeped out continuously from the pores, turning into tiny blood vessels that were all injected into the central groove.
Hong Tiankui's eyeballs almost bulged out of their sockets.
He turned his head with difficulty to look at Chu Yunfei.
"Help... help me..."
Chu Yunfei remained expressionless.
"I warned you."
Hong Tiankui's lips trembled.
"No..."
The dark red array patterns tightened abruptly.
"Ah!"
The screams stopped abruptly.
Five shriveled bodies exploded simultaneously.
Flesh and bones, along with the souls that hadn't yet escaped, were all crushed into scarlet blood by the formation, which adhered firmly to the bronze door.
The corridor was deathly silent.
The cultivators who had been questioning Chu Yunfei just moments before all fell silent.
Several people quietly retreated, afraid that Chu Yunfei would remember their faces.
The next moment, blood plasma flowed rapidly along the array patterns.
The mechanisms that had been dormant for countless years began to turn.
Click!
Click!
A heavy scraping sound came from behind the door.
Two massive bronze doors slowly opened inward.
A rich, fragrant aroma gushed out from the cracks, almost transforming into a pale blue mist visible to the naked eye.
Someone in the crowd swallowed hard.
A trembling voice broke the silence.
"The door... is open!"