Above the twelve-directional ancient array, a vast gray-gold radiance slowly flowed along the twelve circular array platforms, and wide, dark-gold bridges of light traversed the void, extending towards the central area shrouded by an ancient barrier.
The ten thousand cultivators of the Chi Lineage stood in the center of the ox-shaped array platform, gazing at the eleven massive circular areas suspended in different directions around them. Their expressions still held the shock they felt during their battle with Vajra Radiance. Countless intricate primordial patterns were engraved on the dark blue stone beneath their feet. The ancient ox-shaped seal hung deep within the array platform, its dark yellow radiance slowly rising along the patterns. With each turn, everyone felt a calm and profound ancient aura.
Chi Tongyue stood at the front of the group, her dark blue dress draped slightly, her cold face still somewhat pale. Her Eternal Silence cultivation, which she had sunk to the bottom of the Myriad Illusions Return to Truth Pool to activate it, had not yet returned, and she could only rely on the remaining foundation of her Fate Soul to maintain her figure.
Chi Tianhong stood to the side, leaning on his dark blue ancient staff. The wrinkles on his aged face were even more pronounced. The other eight elders who participated in the Ten Directions Return to Truth Formation also slowly gathered with the help of their clansmen. Although the ten of them successfully sank the Illusory Generation True Scripture to the bottom of the pool, the price was equally heavy. The vast Eternal Silence Origin within their bodies had all returned to the Myriad Illusions Return to Truth Pool, and even their walking carried an undisguised weariness.
Chi Ninghua, along with several elders who still had some strength, guarded the outer perimeter of the group, her gaze slowly moving along the eleven array platforms around them. In the distance, several circular areas had already appeared with the figures of cultivators, and on one of the array platforms, hundreds of ancient clan cultivators dressed in dark purple robes were gathered, their bodies wrapped in intricate Dao patterns of time;
On another platform stood dozens of tall figures clad in silver-gray armor, their armor engraved with intricate primordial patterns. Each of them exuded a deep and imposing aura, and some of the cultivators still bore extremely gruesome wounds.
Further away, several more groups from different ancient races appeared one after another. They varied in number and were separated by a long, empty bridge of light. Although it was impossible to see the faces of each person clearly, one could tell from their tattered robes and dim divine weapons that they had experienced a fierce battle.
"Elder Tongyue, it seems that other clans have also passed the trial!" Chi Ninghua slowly walked to Chi Tongyue's side, a hint of surprise appearing on her beautiful face. She pointed to several circular array platforms in the distance, her voice low, "The Dao aura remaining on these cultivators is different, some even carrying extremely ancient zodiac auras. Could it be that they also encountered an existence similar to Vajra Radiance?"
Chi Tongyue nodded slowly, her gaze sweeping over the twelve circular array platforms one by one, before settling on the slowly glowing bull-shaped star pattern at her feet. A hint of understanding gradually appeared in her clear, cold eyes.
"The twelve directions correspond to the twelve zodiac animals. The platform we are on corresponds to the ox. Since the Vajra Radiance is guarding this place, the other directions naturally have their own corresponding Primordial Beast Luminary. Cultivators who have made it here should have already passed their own trials!"
Upon hearing this, Chi Tianhong slowly raised his head, gazing at a circular array platform in the distance, its gray-white light exceptionally bright. A deep solemnity appeared in his aged eyes. "The Twelve Zodiac Primordial Beast Luminary, all related to the Source of Wuji, are all connected to the source of the universe. If other races had also encountered ancient beings of the same level, they would have likely paid a considerable price to survive and reach this place!"
As they were talking, a dark golden bridge on a circular platform in the distance suddenly lit up, and dozens of cultivators dressed in black and white robes slowly walked along the bridge. Leading them was an old man with white hair and beard, holding a broken ancient sword, his robe stained with large patches of dark red blood, and several pale-faced middle-aged cultivators beside him.
As soon as everyone stepped near the array platform where the Chi Lineage was located, they all looked at the huge Chi Lineage group, their eyes filled with undisguised shock.
"Tens of thousands of cultivators actually survived!" The white-haired elder abruptly stopped, his aged face filled with disbelief. He slowly surveyed the members of the Chi Lineage, then his gaze fell on Chi Tongyue and Chi Tianhong. He cupped his hands and asked, "Fellow Daoists, may I ask if you are from the Chi Lineage the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain?"
Chi Tongyue slowly turned around. Although her Eternal Silence cultivation had not yet returned, her expression remained calm. She gave a slight nod in return. "It is indeed the Chi Lineage. May I ask where you all come from?"
Upon hearing this, a bitter expression appeared on the old man's face. He glanced down at the remaining members of his clan behind him and sighed softly, "I come from the Xuan Yan Ancient Clan. Originally, I had several thousand clansmen traveling with me into this secret realm, but who would have thought we would fall into an ancient illusionary realm?"
Having endured the terrifying trials arising from the ox of the twelve zodiac animals, and survived numerous life-or-death battles, only these few dozen remain. Seeing you all emerge from the ox-shaped array platform just now, you must have only recently emerged from the trials!
Chi Tianhong nodded slowly, his aged face growing increasingly grave. "The beast Huang that my Chi Lineage encountered was named Vajra Radiance, which wielded the origin of Illusory Generation and was also of the ox-like appearance. Without the assistance of our Primordial Supreme Treasure, I'm afraid we wouldn't have been able to escape unscathed!"
"It's also Vajra Radiance?!" The white-haired old man suddenly looked up, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes. Then he looked at the ancient stone pool that was quietly floating in the center of the Chi Lineage, and his expression gradually became complicated.
He seemed to want to ask something more, but several more groups of cultivators slowly walked along different light bridges from afar, their black robes, silver-gray armor, and crimson-gold ancient garments appearing intertwined in the gray-gold radiance.
The cultivators from different races sized each other up, some occasionally whispering among themselves, while most others gazed solemnly at the vast barrier in the center, clearly unwilling to engage in another rash confrontation after just experiencing a brutal trial.
Chi Tongyue did not delay any longer. She slowly raised her head, her gaze extending from the dark golden light bridge beneath her feet towards the center. The Gray-Gold Barrier lay at the deepest part of the twelve-directional ancient array, its surface covered with countless ancient primordial patterns that slowly flowed. The twelve light bridges converged from different directions at the outer edge of the barrier.
As cultivators from various races approached one after another, the originally thick gray-gold light curtain slowly revealed an extremely wide entrance. Inside the entrance, there were no mountains or star seas, only an unfathomable gray-white color that floated quietly.
She gazed at the entrance, a thoughtful look appearing in her cool eyes, then slowly turned to face the ten thousand members of the Chi Family Lineage behind her. "Let's go, that should be the true entrance to the secret realm!"
Chi Tianhong nodded slowly, taking a step forward with his dark blue ancient staff. Chi Ninghua immediately turned around and waved gently to the many elders and deacons behind her. The ten thousand disciples who had been gathered in the center of the array platform quickly regrouped, with the more seriously injured clansmen placed in the center, and the remaining cultivators assigned to guard the perimeter.
The ten elders, who had exhausted their cultivation of Eternal Silence, were carefully protected by several deacons. The group slowly moved forward along the dark gold bridge, their Qingyi flowing together in the gray-gold glow.
As the Chi Lineage's group gradually approached the central barrier, other clans around them began to gather one after another. The white-haired elder of the Xuan Yan Ancient Clan led dozens of survivors on the other side, while hundreds of cultivators dressed in dark purple robes slowly moved forward along the adjacent light bridge. Several cultivators in silver-gray armor looked up at the central entrance, their faces full of vigilance.
The various races maintained a proper distance from each other. Occasionally, their eyes would meet, and then they would look away again. After experiencing the trials of the twelve zodiac animals, everyone was well aware of the dangers hidden in this secret realm, and no one dared to let their guard down easily.
Soon after, Chi Tongyue finally led ten thousand clansmen to the outer edge of the central barrier. The gray-gold entrance floated silently in front of them, with no obvious portal outline on its surface, only a very thin layer of ancient radiance slowly flowing along the void.
Chi Tongyue raised her right hand, and a wisp of extremely weak Fate Soul condensed in her palm. She tentatively reached forward to touch it. As soon as the wisp of essence approached the light screen, it was gently accepted by a soft and ancient power. There was no backlash or rejection. The gray-gold radiance in front of her then slowly spread to both sides.
Chi Tongyue and Chi Tianhong exchanged a glance, then nodded slightly. "Everyone, please follow me inside!"
She took the lead, her figure slowly disappearing into the gray-gold light barrier. Chi Tianhong followed closely behind, and Chi Ninghua and the elders immediately led ten thousand disciples to step in one after another. The vast Chi Lineage procession continued to move forward along the entrance, and one after another, dark blue figures were slowly enveloped by the gray-gold radiance, and then gradually disappeared into the depths of the barrier.
When Chi Tongyue finally passed through the layer of gray-gold light curtain, the scene before her made her suddenly stop in her tracks. There were no mountains, no palaces, and no boundaries of heaven and earth to help her determine her direction. What appeared before her was a vast, immeasurable gray-white space.
She slowly lowered her head and found that although she was standing on something extremely stable, and her feet could clearly feel the solid texture, she could not see any real ground anywhere in sight.
Beneath my feet lies an infinitely extending transparent plane, within which floats a bottomless, grayish-white primordial chaos. Vast swathes of ancient radiance flow slowly along this void, and the deeper one looks, the deeper the grayish-white becomes, eventually disappearing into an unseen, distant depth.