Chapter 737: Anger (I)
Spatial turbulence and chaotic energy raged within the spatial rift. The entire void was shrouded in darkness, without the slightest trace of light. Spiritual sense was heavily suppressed here and could cover an area of less than ten meters around the body.
This was Lin Zheyu's first time entering a spatial rift, so he was quite curious about the conditions within. Although his spiritual sense was restricted, his martial cultivation senses were only slightly affected. He spread his powerful senses outward and curiously studied the spatial rift.
Are there other creatures living here? Lin Zheyu wondered as he vigilantly monitored his surroundings.
His experience in Honggedis Trench had made him extremely wary of the strange creatures that inhabited spatial rifts. Such creatures were so terrifying that merely touching one with his senses had nearly caused him to suffer a backlash. Here, however, Lin Zheyu found no trace of any living creature.
Fan Hongwei maintained his serene, otherworldly bearing as he said calmly, "Please wait a while. There is no pattern to when the entrance to the ruins appears. If we are fortunate, it may open as soon as we enter the spatial rift. If not, waiting two or three days would be perfectly normal."
He secretly observed Lin Zheyu with his spiritual sense. Seeing him curiously examining the spatial rift like an ignorant country bumpkin, Fan Hongwei could not help but scorn him inwardly.
As expected of a crude martial brute. This is probably his first time entering a spatial rift, Fan Hongwei guessed.
Lin Zheyu gave a quiet acknowledgment and paid no further attention to Fan Hongwei. "Mm."
He was currently immersed in studying the spatial rift. Apart from spatial turbulence and chaotic energy, it was also permeated by an astonishing power of spatial laws. The spatial laws here were violent, chaotic, and utterly devoid of order. Comprehending them in such a place would be extremely difficult, while the powerful suppression of divine sense made it unsuitable for cultivation. For Lin Zheyu, however, it was quite a good place.
Not bad. This place is even more suitable for comprehending the power of spatial laws than the outermost forbidden zone of life in Honggedis Trench, Lin Zheyu thought.
If he could not find a more suitable place in the future, he could try entering a spatial rift and cultivating in seclusion within it. However, that would only be a last resort. Comprehending the laws on his own was far less effective than using rule fragments as he had before.
Even with his spiritual Heavenly Eye, Lin Zheyu would struggle to gain anything without at least ten years of effort. If other cultivators learned what he was thinking, they would probably want to drown him in their spit. It was easy for him to say when he had no idea how fortunate he was.
Comprehending the power of spatial laws was extraordinarily difficult for ordinary cultivators. Even in an environment suited to comprehending and cultivating spatial laws, they would struggle to gain anything without several decades of effort, much less within the harsh and chaotic environment of a spatial rift. For Lin Zheyu to achieve results after cultivating here for just over ten years would be nothing short of heaven-defying.
As Lin Zheyu curiously used his Heavenly Eye to observe the spatial rift and study the movement of its various spatial currents and chaotic energies, a dim light appeared within the endless darkness. The light flickered and steadily brightened, gradually transforming into an entrance roughly twice the height of a person.
"Now! Go!" Fan Hongwei called out softly.
Fan Hongwei flickered and charged through first. Seeing this, Lin Zheyu quietly put away the Jadebone Armor as golden scales spread across his entire body beneath his skin, emitting a faint golden glow. Following the latest improvements to his divine patterns, Lin Zheyu's control over them had grown increasingly refined.
He could now conceal the golden scales beneath his skin without revealing them. Their defensive power was somewhat reduced in this state, reaching only about 80% of their full strength, but that was already sufficient.
Without the protection of the Jadebone Armor, spatial turbulence and chaotic energy battered Lin Zheyu's body with a series of muffled impacts. However, he felt only a pain akin to mosquito bites, and not even a mark was left on his skin.
My defenses have always far surpassed my combat strength. I wonder how powerful these scales have become now. Could they withstand a strike from a peak Nascent Soul realm cultivator...? Lin Zheyu wondered.
He had never fought a Nascent Soul realm cultivator in a true life-or-death battle. His previous clash with Cao Hongchang did not count. Cao Hongchang had been unable to exert the slightest pressure on him, and his attacks could not even break through Lin Zheyu's protective scales.
Throughout the battle, Lin Zheyu had merely been trying to intimidate him and prevent him from escaping with short-range teleportation. As a result, Lin Zheyu had yet to truly test the limits of his defenses.
I hope your hidden trump card is powerful enough to give me a chance to discover the limits of these defenses, Lin Zheyu thought with a smile.
These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. After Fan Hongwei entered, Lin Zheyu flickered and followed him inside. His surroundings shifted, revealing lush greenery, verdant mountains, and clear waters. Ripples like waves spread across the cloudless blue sky as two figures emerged from them in succession.
Earth Power. Such abundant Earth Power! I have not felt this in a long time!
The moment he entered this void, Lin Zheyu sensed an extraordinary abundance of Earth Power. In truth, after the passage of countless years, very little Earth Power remained within these Shamanic Clan Ruins. However, compared to the outside world, where Earth Power was nearly nonexistent, it seemed exceptionally abundant here.
"These are the Shamanic Clan Ruins. For some unknown reason, the Shamanic Clan tribe that once lived here departed in great haste, leaving the ruins exceptionally well preserved. However, the Shamanic Clan restrictions found throughout the ruins are incredibly powerful and cannot be breached through brute force. Their power has weakened considerably over time, creating many flaws and vulnerable points. However, these weak points are extremely well concealed, so we will need your powerful spirit divine ability to detect them," Fan Hongwei explained with a smile.
Fan Hongwei descended onto the mountaintop below, and Lin Zheyu followed him. Lin Zheyu had already spread his powerful senses outward to monitor the surroundings. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he glanced down to his right, where he had detected a concealed aura.
"Did you also come alone? I recall you saying last time that you intended to invite a friend to accompany us," Lin Zheyu asked with a faint, knowing smile.
He was in no hurry to strike. His spiritual Heavenly Eye silently surveyed the surroundings, locating every possible nearby trap.
"That is true. Unfortunately, due to your repeated delays, my friend recently became occupied with other matters and could no longer come." Fan Hongwei spoke regretfully. "This time, we can only rely on the strength of the two of us."
"I see. That truly is unfortunate. Your friend must be exceptionally skilled in the Dao of Formations. Without the assistance of a formation master, I fear we may return from this trip empty-handed." Lin Zheyu nodded in agreement, sounding equally regretful.
The corners of his mouth rose slightly as he tightened his right hand around the Voidcleaver Saber. Through his senses, Lin Zheyu had detected the elderly man in green robes approaching the spatial rift the moment they entered the ruins. While Fan Hongwei distracted Lin Zheyu, Ling Feng secretly activated a secret art and sealed the exit from this void.
This was precisely what Lin Zheyu wanted. Fan Hongwei and Ling Feng feared that Lin Zheyu might escape using a special dharma treasure or secret art, while Lin Zheyu was equally concerned that they might use some special method to flee. Ling Feng's covert action had conveniently eliminated that concern.
"Is that so? I would not be so sure. This expedition will undoubtedly yield my greatest harvest since I first entered these ruins." Seeing that Ling Feng had sealed the exit, Fan Hongwei spoke meaningfully with an expression of complete confidence. He openly appraised Lin Zheyu as though examining a plump and succulent prey.
"Oh..." Lin Zheyu grinned in return.
His eyes narrowed as the blood qi within him quietly began to circulate. However, his powerful senses were not focused on Fan Hongwei, but on the powerful and familiar aura behind him.
An impatient voice rang out, "Useless. The entrance to the ruins has already been sealed. Why waste so much time dealing with a mere Shackles realm martial artist? Boy, do you recognize me?"
A fierce wind howled as a burly elderly man appeared from nowhere and landed heavily before Fan Hongwei. His presence was extraordinarily powerful, and a terrifying purple blood aura enveloped his entire body, vaguely condensing into the phantom of a ferocious tiger. The phantom radiated such horrifying pressure that even Fan Hongwei felt an immense strain and involuntarily retreated two steps.