The people Luo Fengxue pointed out to Mo Tiange were all at late-stage Foundation Establishment, on the verge of Foundation Establishment perfection and preparing to impact Core Formation. Among them were elite disciples as well as ordinary ones.
"These are all people who plan to attempt Core Formation in the near future, and their temperaments aren't particularly good. You need to be especially careful of them. Also, even if it's not these specific people, you should be cautious around anyone at late-stage Foundation Establishment."
Although Luo Fengxue's cultivation wasn't outstanding, she was extremely experienced in dealing with people. Mo Tiange committed her words to memory. "I understand."
Luo Fengxue smiled again. "Actually, you don't need to be overly cautious. This is a trial array for disciples after all. Even if something happens, you'll just be teleported out. Besides, given our Grandmaster's personality, even if you get nothing from this, he definitely won't shortchange you when it's time for your Core Formation."
Mo Tiange also smiled. "You really understand Grandmaster well."
"How could I not?" Luo Fengxue giggled. "Once you figure out Grandmaster's personality, it's so easy to get things from him."
Mo Tiange couldn't help but want to laugh. Others said Dao Lord Jinghe was tyrannical, fond of killing, and unpredictable in his moods. But once his disciples and grand-disciples figured out his preferences, they could twist him around their fingers.
As the two were speaking, a Nascent Soul cultivator and several Core Formation cultivators walked in from outside. It was Head Grand Elder Dao Lord Zhenyang, along with the Sect Master and various managing elders.
After Dao Lord Zhenyang arrived, he took the seat at the head of the hall and closed his eyes without speaking. The Sect Master standing beside him stepped forward.
Sect Master Shen Yijian was Dao Lord Zhenyang's disciple. Although he was called the Sect Master of the Xuanqing Sect, major matters were actually decided by Dao Lord Zhenyang, while minor matters were handled by the managing elders of each peak. This Sect Master only stepped forward to speak on Dao Lord Zhenyang's behalf when matters of moderate importance arose.
Regardless, this person was still the Sect Master of the Xuanqing Sect, with status and position far above Foundation Establishment disciples like them. Seeing him step forward, the disciples who had been whispering among themselves all fell silent.
Shen Yijian swept his gaze across the hall and spoke: "Disciples, regarding the important matter for which we summoned everyone back to the mountain, your respective peak masters have likely already given you a general idea. Today, I will explain it to you in detail. Not long ago, beneath the main peak, we discovered an array. This array is extremely complex—a massive formation composed of hundreds or even thousands of smaller arrays. After research by the Grand Elders, this array poses no danger. It should have been used by ancient cultivation sects to test their disciples. Now, after over a hundred thousand years, this array still retains some of its functions. The rewards for disciples within it also remain partially intact. Furthermore, and most importantly, the array maintains the spiritual energy environment from hundreds of thousands of years ago. Originally unremarkable spiritual herbs, after over a hundred thousand years of propagation, have become immense wealth in today's world!"
At this point, Shen Yijian observed the disciples' reactions. As expected, although rumors had already spread, many ordinary disciples were hearing the specific details for the first time. They immediately began whispering and discussing among themselves.
Shen Yijian raised his hand to stop the murmuring. "Everyone should understand—this is a tremendous opportunity for the development of our Xuanqing Sect! If the spiritual herbs growing within this array are refined into pills, who knows how many high-level cultivators our sect will produce! After research by several Grand Elders, this array functions best when entered by Foundation Establishment disciples. Therefore, we have recalled all Foundation Establishment disciples. The opportunity is equal for all. However many spiritual herbs you gather from within the array, the sect will reward you with that many pills."
Pill rewards! Although they had already heard rumors, now that it was confirmed by the Sect Master, expressions of joy appeared on the Foundation Establishment disciples' faces. From Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, the preciousness of pills wasn't simply a matter of advancing one stage. Qi Refining disciples' Nourishing Qi Pills cost only two spirit stones each. Those with substantial resources could afford to take them continuously without issue. But at the Foundation Establishment stage, even elite disciples only received twenty Foundation Consolidation Pills per year. Ordinary disciples received even fewer.
Therefore, for these Foundation Establishment disciples, other things aside, pill rewards were truly something they couldn't pass up.
"Good. Now that everyone understands the background, let me explain the characteristics of this array." Seeing the enthusiastic atmosphere below, Shen Yijian nodded with a smile. "After research by several Grand Elders consulting ancient texts, this array has been identified as the Myriad Laws of Nature Array recorded in ancient texts. Everyone, don't underestimate it. Any formation called an 'array' is composed of multiple combined formations, and this one is no exception. The specific powers of this array aren't recorded in the ancient texts. However, several Grand Elders have already investigated it. This array is purely for testing disciples and poses no life-threatening danger..."
"This array is roughly divided into three parts. The first part: Five Elements Body-Killing. In this section, disciples must pass through one level after another, breaking through via combat. Everyone can proceed as they wish, seeing how many levels they can pass based on their own abilities. Remember, passing levels isn't the goal. At each level, your task is to collect the spiritual herbs present there."
"The second part: Five Hindrances Obscuring Consciousness. In this section, everyone must be especially careful, firmly guarding their minds and spirits. Beware of the five hindrances of greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt. If entangled by these five hindrances, not only will you be immediately expelled from the array, but your mind and spirit will also suffer short-term damage. You must absolutely not take this lightly."
"The final part: Five Confusions Entangling Spirit. The five confusions are: confusing the heart, confusing wisdom, confusing thoughts, confusing spirit, and confusing intent. It sounds complex, but you only need to remember one thing: no matter what appears before your eyes, distinguish truth from falsehood and firmly maintain your Dao Heart!"
After saying this, Shen Yijian glanced at Dao Lord Zhenyang. Seeing no objection, he continued: "Regarding the so-called Myriad Laws of Nature Array, everyone remember the four words 'Myriad Laws of Nature,' and you will surely reach the end! Alright, I'll give you some time to think about how to proceed."
As soon as he finished speaking, a disciple asked: "May I ask, Sect Master Uncle, how many disciples are allowed to enter this array together?"
Sect Master Shen answered: "This array is endlessly changing. Once entered, it cannot be controlled. Therefore, you can only enter alone."
Hearing this, the discussion in the hall grew even louder.
While outsiders couldn't be trusted, within the sect, one still had their own close friends. During trials, having a trusted friend by your side provided much more reassurance. If one had to face dangers alone, the risks increased significantly.
Mo Tiange and Luo Fengxue had already learned about this matter beforehand, so neither was particularly concerned.
Another disciple stepped forward: "Sect Master Uncle, will we encounter each other within the array?"
Sect Master Shen stroked his beard and smiled. "Naturally. There are over three hundred of you. Although the array is large, it's impossible to completely separate all of you. If you happen to encounter each other, I hope you will help one another and overcome difficulties together."
Mo Tiange and Luo Fengxue exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes. Although they were fellow sect members, there were also people they disliked. Right now, they were all competitors. While some might help each other, others would surely harm one another. In the end, everything depended on oneself.
After a while, the commotion gradually subsided. Seeing that everyone had accepted the situation, Sect Master Shen said: "Since everyone is prepared, let's enter the array now."
Nearly three hundred Foundation Establishment disciples filed out of the hall in an orderly stream, then each mounted their flying artifacts. They followed the Sect Master and several elders in a grand procession, flying toward the area below the main peak.
At this moment, Mo Tiange spotted Ye Zhenji in the crowd, excitedly discussing something with Hua Ling. She flew over and called out: "Zhenji?"
"Ah, Aunt!" Although both were now cultivators of the same stage—one at early-stage Foundation Establishment, the other at late-stage—the gap was still significant.
Mo Tiange asked in a low voice: "Has your master prepared things for you?"
Ye Zhenji nodded. "Yes. Master bestowed many spirit talismans and rare treasures upon me and taught me what to do."
"That's good." After a moment's thought, she took out several bottles of pills from her robe. "Take all of these. Don't be stingy—use them when needed."
"Okay." Knowing his aunt wasn't lacking in pills, Ye Zhenji didn't stand on ceremony.
Mo Tiange was still uneasy and cautioned: "Just do your best. Don't force anything. Protecting yourself is paramount. Absolutely don't get injured."
"I know." Actually, Ye Zhenji was extremely excited about this array trial. Before his Foundation Establishment, he had only returned to the mortal world once. After Foundation Establishment, at most he had gone down the mountain with fellow sect brothers to handle minor tasks. He had never been on a proper trial mission.
After finishing her instructions and smiling at Hua Ling, Mo Tiange flew back to her own queue.
Seeing this, Luo Fengxue moved closer to her and laughed. "You really dote on this nephew of yours. He's Uncle-Master Shoujing's only disciple—would he lack for anything? Don't worry needlessly."
Mentioning this actually made Mo Tiange somewhat depressed. She shook her head and didn't reply.
The group soon flew to the valley floor and once again lined up in formation.
After everyone had assembled, the Sect Master and several elders stepped forward. Each began forming hand seals. White light rose from each of them, growing brighter and brighter until finally merging into one and rushing toward the cliff wall.
The white light vanished upon contact. In the blink of an eye, a dark opening appeared on the cliff wall.
Then, they began setting up an extremely complex array before the opening, embedding piece after piece of high-level spirit stones.
Seeing these high-level spirit stones, the Foundation Establishment disciples' eyes gleamed.
These were high-level spirit stones! For Foundation Establishment disciples like them, they didn't even see many mid-level spirit stones. And now, hundreds of high-level spirit stones were being brought out at once!
After the spirit stones were arranged, several elders joined forces to strike a palm strike. Spiritual light flashed across the array. The hundreds of high-level spirit stones flashed brightly once, then began continuously outputting spiritual energy.
Sect Master Shen turned around and announced loudly: "Disciples, as you can all see, operating this array consumes too many spirit stones. After this activation, it will take at least thirty to fifty years before it can be activated again. I hope all disciples seize this opportunity well!"
With that, Sect Master Shen signaled and retreated to the side with the other elders. "Alright, starting now, from left to right, enter one by one."
The first queue consisted of the disciples of the Nascent Soul cultivators. There weren't many. Currently, the Xuanqing Sect had six Nascent Soul cultivators. Five of them had advanced several hundred years ago, and among their disciples, only a handful remained at Foundation Establishment. Only Dao Lord Xuanyin had advanced not long ago, and all his named disciples were at Foundation Establishment. But combined, there were only about twenty.
After Luo Fengxue, who was ahead of her in line, entered, Mo Tiange also stepped forward toward the Myriad Laws of Nature Array.
Crossing the supporting array outside that maintained the formation's operation and entering the cave in the cliff wall, she felt her vision darken then brighten. Mo Tiange turned to look around and found herself standing on an impossibly vast expanse of water.