Protective talismans, the White Silk Kerchief, the Primordial Unity Art—Mo Tiange deployed all her defensive methods. By the time she was ready, Qin Xi had already summoned the Three Yang True Fire Sword, transforming it into a sword aura formation. He then also used a talisman himself.
Venerable Wuming and Juewu were much simpler. Their Buddhist cultivation methods inherently included body refinement techniques. At this moment, Venerable Wuming chanted a Buddhist invocation, flicked the prayer beads at his chest, and a sacred Buddhist Light blossomed from his fingertips, enveloping the four of them.
Seeing this, Qin Xi bowed slightly to Venerable Wuming. "Thank you, Master."
Venerable Wuming smiled faintly, his eyes still closed, his expression benevolent.
Mo Tiange understood that this act was likely a reciprocal gesture for the matter of the Heaven and Earth Net. Venerable Wuming had said that Juewu cultivated in meditation. Though her understanding of Buddhist cultivators was limited, she gathered from his words that this was a relatively gentle sect within Buddhist cultivation. Judging by Venerable Wuming's actions, he also differed from those self-serving cultivators. While prioritizing his own safety, he was not stingy in lending a hand to others. Thinking this way, if there were no fundamental conflicts of interest along the journey, the two of them would indeed be excellent partners.
With several layers of defense established, the four of them entered the passage one by one.
The moment they stepped into the passage, all light seemed to be instantly swallowed. Apart from the faint glow emitted by the Three Yang True Fire Sword's sword aura and their protective barriers, there was nothing else.
In the darkness, Mo Tiange felt her hand tighten—it was Qin Xi gripping hers firmly. He whispered, "Be careful not to get separated."
Warmth blossomed in her heart, and she responded with a smile.
This passage was not a teleportation formation like the one that opened the entrance. Instead, it was a special space temporarily created by borrowing the formation's power to break the restriction. In the real space, the two ends of the passage might be separated by just a door, but within this passage, they might have to walk a considerable distance.
In other words, this could be considered a spatial rift created by tearing space, a small world independent of the outside.
Tearing space—this was absolutely not a spell that existed in the current cultivation world. Only ancient cultivators knew of such great divine abilities that could shatter the void.
Precisely because of this, even with Scholar Yu's vast knowledge, he couldn't discern the mysteries of the formation Mo Tiange had set up.
Of course, the opening technique used by the Five Sages back then wasn't a true void-shattering technique. True void-shattering and space-tearing were like the Void Heaven Realm, creating an independent, stable space with its own cycle, akin to a small world. This restriction-breaking formation only used the most superficial aspects of space-tearing techniques. The space it created was unstable, filled with danger, and could only be maintained for a brief time.
Yet, such a method was already a heaven-shaking divine ability for the current cultivation world. This was an incomplete technique that the legendary Fuyaozi had obtained from an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling, and it was also the reliance that allowed him to obtain the greatest opportunity within the Immortal Palace.
Not long after entering the passage, they heard a series of *pfft pfft* sounds. Mo Tiange turned to look—it was the stray restrictions from outside striking their defensive barriers.
Qin Xi frowned slightly and said softly, "Such a formidable restriction. If one's defensive methods were slightly weaker, they'd likely be breached."
Venerable Wuming, seated on the Lotus Platform ahead, chuckled. "Fellow Daoist Qin's sword formation is truly impressive. This old monk underestimated it."
"You flatter me, Master," Qin Xi smiled. "Without your assistance, I wouldn't be handling this so easily."
Just as they finished speaking, they saw the outer Buddhist Light barrier tremble slightly.
Venerable Wuming paused for a moment, then pinched the prayer beads in his hand. Buddhist Light flickered at his fingertips, and the barrier immediately stabilized.
Qin Xi didn't stand idly by either. He directed his spiritual energy, and the sword aura transformed into tens of thousands of sword lights, densely covering the area.
Inside the barrier, Mo Tiange and Juewu, though not under direct attack, both felt the pressure of the external restrictions. The oppressive force in the darkness penetrated through the outermost Buddhist Light and sword lights. This intangible pressure directly weighed on their divine souls, causing their faces to pale involuntarily.
Noticing this, Mo Tiange silently activated the Soul Refinement Art. Her Soul Refinement Art had already reached the third layer. If fully unleashed, the pressure it emitted far exceeded that of cultivators of the same rank. As she circulated it now, she immediately felt the pressure lighten.
"Little Friend Mo's secret techniques are truly remarkable. No wonder you dared to travel alone to Yunzhong and even bargained with us old folks."
Venerable Wuming's voice came through. Mo Tiange was taken aback for a moment, feeling somewhat helpless. This old monk usually kept his eyes closed, making others think he was blind. But as it turned out, without even turning his head, he could sense her using the Soul Refinement Art so clearly. His Dharma name really shouldn't be Wuming (Without Light); it should be Taiming (Too Bright).
Though she thought this, she still replied politely, "Senior praises me too highly. This junior merely had some fortunate Opportunities and was a bit more diligent, thus acquiring these secret techniques."
"Hehe," Venerable Wuming chuckled lightly. "Well said. Opportunity and diligence—are they not the very elements for becoming a great cultivator? Little Friend, you possess both Opportunity and understand diligence. Seeing your young age and such cultivation, your comprehension and aptitude must be equally exceptional. Your future prospects are limitless."
Praised like this, Mo Tiange felt somewhat embarrassed. "Senior's praise is too generous; this junior does not deserve it. Compared to a great cultivator like yourself, this junior hasn't even formed a Nascent Soul yet."
"In this old monk's view, Little Friend will soon undergo Core Formation, won't you?" Venerable Wuming continued unhurriedly. "Perhaps, before this old monk passes away, I might see Little Friend become a great Late-Nascent Soul cultivator. Today can be considered forming a good affinity for the disciples of Huayan Temple."
"..." Mo Tiange thought to herself, this Venerable Wuming really looked far ahead. Though she believed she could form her Core, becoming a great Late-Nascent Soul cultivator was something she didn't dare imagine yet. After all, the cultivation path after the Nascent Soul stage was even more difficult than reaching it. She never expected Venerable Wuming to think so highly of her, that a great Late-Nascent Soul cultivator like him would seek to form a good affinity with her.
This was something she had overlooked. Although she was only a Core Formation cultivator, even if she formed her Nascent Soul, in the eyes of a top-tier cultivator in the human world like Venerable Wuming, she would still be insignificant. But she had Qin Xi by her side, who was not only her current Dao companion but also her former Senior Brother. Since her sect could nurture a great cultivator like Qin Xi, it must be a major sect in the outer seas. This made it worth his while to form this good affinity. After all, although Huayan Temple was a major Buddhist sect, it couldn't compare to the wealth and abundance of talent of the Jiuyan Sect.
"Master thinks too highly of my wife. Becoming a great Late-Nascent Soul cultivator is still a long way off!" Qin Xi said with a laugh.
Though his words were modest, he only said it was a long way off.
Venerable Wuming turned his head slightly and gave them a meaningful look. "Fellow Daoist Qin, you are quite confident..."
Before Qin Xi could reply, a soft sound suddenly rang out. Juewu groaned and nearly toppled from the Lotus Platform.
Venerable Wuming moved with extreme speed. With a sweep of his kasaya, he caught Juewu and placed him back on the Lotus Platform. His left hand fingers moved in a rapid sequence, performing a set of hand seals. A golden light showered over Juewu. In just a few breaths, Juewu groaned and regained consciousness.
He stood up somewhat shamefacedly and bowed his head. "Uncle-Master, this disciple is useless..."
"No need for that," Venerable Wuming said gently, his expression unchanged. "With your cultivation level, even with protective divine light, it's difficult to remain unharmed in this passage."
"But, Benefactor Mo she..." He glanced back at Mo Tiange, who only looked slightly grave.
"Little Friend Mo is different from you," Venerable Wuming said simply. Then, he plucked a single bead from the string of Buddhist Prayer Beads at his chest, chanted a Buddhist invocation, and the bead erupted with an immensely powerful, sacred aura. Even the nearby stray restrictions were pushed back slightly. Venerable Wuming pinched the bead between his fingers, crushing it forcefully, and slapped it onto Juewu's body.
"Uncle-Master," Juewu exclaimed in surprise, looking at the protective golden light rising from his body. "This..."
"External objects are not to be regretted," Venerable Wuming said only this.
Mo Tiange and Qin Xi exchanged a glance. Both understood that this string of Buddhist Prayer Beads must be Venerable Wuming's life-bound dharma treasure. Just one bead possessed such an aura. The strength of a great Late-Nascent Soul cultivator was truly unfathomable.
With the aid of Venerable Wuming's prayer bead, the situation temporarily stabilized. The four of them advanced through the passage in an orderly manner.
However, the true danger of this journey was only just beginning. If it were merely stray restrictions, even a slightly stronger early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator could pass through. Fuyaozi would never have needed to give such a warning. Only now did the four of them realize that the danger of the passage was no exaggeration.
With a *boom*, the sound of wind and thunder erupted in the darkness, followed by a sudden, unannounced hurricane assault.
Qin Xi's expression changed slightly. The sword aura around him emitted a light hum, red light flashing as it was almost displaced from its original position. Venerable Wuming's Buddhist Light barrier shook even more violently, as if it might shatter the next moment.
Despite all the secret techniques protecting her, Mo Tiange felt her breath catch. An immense pressure almost crushed her. Even though her strength surpassed cultivators of her rank, she was ultimately not a Nascent Soul cultivator and couldn't resist such pressure. In contrast, Juewu, thanks to Venerable Wuming's earlier prayer bead, still stood steadily on the Lotus Platform.
But at this moment, even Qin Xi couldn't attend to her. His expression grave, he focused entirely on controlling the sword formation to resist the hurricane.
Mo Tiange slapped several talismans onto herself, gathered the White Silk Kerchief tightly around her for protection, then fumbled in her Qiankun Bag for pills and swallowed them without counting.
After doing this, the pressure finally lessened somewhat. She let out a relieved breath and kept up with the group to avoid causing trouble.
The hurricane grew stronger. The *booming* thunderclaps began to sound more frequently, carrying astonishing momentum as they exploded around them. Yet, even such terrifying thunder couldn't tear through the darkness. It was as if this was a bottomless pit with no exit in sight.
"Heavenly Thunder!" Qin Xi said in a low voice.
Mo Tiange's face paled. Heavenly Thunder? Could it be the thunder of a heavenly Tribulation? Thunder spells had always been the most destructive in the cultivation world. In terms of raw power, they might not necessarily surpass fire-attribute spells, but they were more effective at breaking through defenses and striking weaknesses directly! Therefore, heavenly Tribulations were generally thunder Tribulations. The fearsomeness of thunder spells was evident.
"Amitabha!" Venerable Wuming suddenly shouted loudly. The Buddhist invocation roared like thunder, its sound harmonizing with the Heavenly Thunder, transforming into sound waves that suppressed the thunderclaps.
Qin Xi's movements were not slow either. The sword lights instantly transformed back into streams of sword aura. Azure-blue flames shot from his arm as he infused the Three Yang True Fire into the Three Yang True Fire Sword, opposing the hurricane and thunderous light.
*Boom!* *Hiss!* The sounds were unceasing. Mo Tiange did her utmost to protect herself, sticking close by their side.
They didn't know how long this danger lasted. Finally, white light appeared before their eyes. In an instant, the thunder vanished, the hurricane disappeared without a trace, and rich spiritual qi washed over them.