Monk Bu’er, munching on his delicious barbecue, chased after them.
Only Wei Qing and Qing Ning remained in the grand hall.
Wei Qing stood with his head lowered, gazing at the desiccated corpse in the corner, while Qing Ning stared at Wei Qing with an expression of utter disbelief.
She had never seen Wei Qing show such deference to anyone before—deferential enough to immediately step aside when that person approached, deferential enough to answer every question without reservation when asked, deferential enough to not even dare raise his head in that person's presence.
Was this still Wei Qing?
In Qing Ning's memory, Wei Qing had never been so deferential to anyone—yes, anyone. Whether it was the Grand Stewards or the Grand Elders of the Nine-Hua Alliance, even when facing the Alliance's few peerless geniuses, or those reincarnated great powers, or even the Alliance Leader himself and the big shots behind him, Wei Qing had always maintained his composure, neither servile nor overbearing.
In the eyes of others within the Nine-Hua Alliance, Wei Qing might just be a special envoy for a certain region. However, Qing Ning had once heard her father say that Wei Qing was one of the Alliance's most low-key and inscrutable figures. His strength was far beyond what others could compare to.
And yet, such a person dared not even lift his head in the presence of Gu Qingfeng.
One must remember, Wei Qing was someone who had slain a reincarnated great power!
How could this be...
"Brother Wei Qing, that Gu... that Crimson Flame Young Master, is he really... really that terrifying?"
Qing Ning frowned, utterly unable to believe what she had just witnessed, and asked doubtfully, "How could you... how could you be like that towards him..."
"I don't know exactly how terrifying he is, but..." Wei Qing replied expressionlessly, "the feeling he gives me is dreadful. It's the most dreadful feeling I've ever encountered, without exception."
Qing Ning opened her mouth but found herself at a loss for words.
She couldn't even imagine what kind of concept Wei Qing's so-called 'dreadful feeling' entailed.
Shaking her head, she decided not to dwell on it further. Seeing Wei Qing walk to the corner and look at the desiccated corpse, Qing Ning pressed on, "How long has this person been dead?"
"Three thousand, two hundred, and twenty-two years."
Wei Qing crouched down, looking at the desiccated corpse, his eyes holding a peculiar light. Qing Ning was an observant person and seemed to notice something. She asked, "Brother Wei Qing, do you... know who this person is?"
"A former... acquaintance."
With that, Wei Qing raised his hand. Light shimmered as his five fingers pinched and moved, a spiritual formula manifesting. The desiccated corpse in the corner gradually turned to ashes.
Closing his eyes, Wei Qing took a deep breath, as if steadying his emotions.
After a moment, he opened his eyes and said, "Let's go."
Just as they were about to leave, as if remembering something, he added, "Qing Ning, if I recall correctly, Elder Rong and your father are good friends, right?"
"My father and Elder Rong are indeed very close friends."
"When you get back, tell your father to either leave the Alliance or go into seclusion. Even if he doesn't go into seclusion, when the year-end comes, he must not participate in any of the Alliance's affairs."
"Why?"
"Because Elder Rong took the Yanyang Heart from the Yunxia Sect. If my guess is correct, Elder Rong was merely the frontman. The one who truly needs the Yanyang Heart isn't him. And I know full well that the person behind him likely won't return it."
Wei Qing sighed softly and shook his head slightly, speaking gravely, "Who took the Yanyang Heart isn't important. Whether it's returned or not isn't important either. What's important is that *he* is looking for the Yanyang Heart."
He stopped, closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and took another deep breath before continuing, "The Great Calamity of the Heavens, the rebirth of the world, the condensation of laws, the renewal of all things... Most importantly, during the Calamity, the greatest Reincarnation Storm in history occurred...
The Nine Heavens, the Nine Nethers, the Nine Firmaments; Heaven, Hell, the Abyss of Ten Thousand Zhang... No one knows just how many great powers reincarnated...
And even fewer know just how terrifying these reincarnated individuals are."
"But... Brother Wei Qing, didn't you say the Crimson Flame Young Master isn't a reincarnated person?"
"Precisely because he isn't a reincarnated person, that makes him all the more terrifying."
...
The Cave Dwelling was filled with toxic spiritual energy everywhere, and the deeper one went, the stronger the toxicity became. Although thousands had rushed in at the beginning, many soon couldn't withstand the erosion of the toxic spiritual energy and had no choice but to leave.
What was truly frightening was that the Cave Dwelling contained not only toxic spiritual energy but was also riddled with Mechanisms. Less than a quarter of an hour after entering, hundreds of people, ignoring orders and acting recklessly, had triggered Mechanisms and lost their lives. Others had simply vanished.
Only a little over a hundred people remained, holding on until now.
At this moment, in one of the Cave Dwelling's grand halls, True Being Da Qian and several other True Beings proficient in Mechanism Formations were working to crack a Mechanism on a Stone Gate.
People like Qin Wanli, as well as Color Spirit geniuses from the Lingdu Sect such as Mu Yulong and Gu Xin, could only stand obediently to the side, quietly waiting.
Although they were all Color Spirit geniuses, they were just that—Color Spirit geniuses.
Each might be skilled in martial arts, spells, or swordsmanship, but when it came to Formations, they weren't very proficient. Even those who had some understanding didn't dare to interfere recklessly.
The Ten Arts of the Immortal Dao were as different from each other as mountains are from valleys.
Not only did they not dare to interfere, even True Being Ziyun, who was proficient in Formations, could only offer constructive suggestions from the sidelines.
Mechanism Formations were, after all, Mechanism Formations. They were profound upon profound, mysterious upon mysterious. Every Formation contained the wondrous principles of the natural world's Yin-Yang and Five Elements, their mutual generation and restraint. To crack one required deep Formation expertise and extensive experience.
Because the slightest mistake, even an error in executing a single spiritual formula, could trigger the Mechanism.
As for trying to force it open with brute strength, the result was singular: triggering the Mechanism. That was how those hundreds had died when they first entered the Cave Dwelling.
"Everyone, step back."
True Being Da Qian spoke, and no one dared delay, quickly clearing the area.
"We will proceed according to the method we just discussed. We strike simultaneously."
The other several elders nodded, then joined True Being Da Qian in pinching and moving their fingers to execute spiritual formulas. *Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!* In an instant, over a dozen Formations in the surrounding area activated. These were Formations they had set up earlier to crack the Mechanism on the Stone Gate. As the dozen-plus Formations began to operate, the Formation on the Stone Gate immediately glowed with radiant light. The light spun, then blurred, and gradually dissipated.
Everyone knew the Formation on the Stone Gate had been cracked by True Being Da Qian.
"Senior Da Qian is truly a master!"
"Senior Da Qian's Formation expertise is indeed peerless. We are in awe..."
Facing the flattery, True Being Da Qian modestly said, "It is not due to this old man's profound skill, but rather because these Mechanism Formations have endured countless years. Although their structure remains intact, the profound mysteries within are far inferior to what they once were. If not for that, even with heaven-defying abilities, this old man would not have been able to crack them."
True Being Da Qian spoke the truth. Since entering the Cave Dwelling, he and the other elders had jointly cracked seven or eight Mechanisms. He clearly understood that if most of the profound mysteries within these Mechanism Formations hadn't dissipated, with his skill, he wouldn't have been able to break through at all.
After the Stone Gate opened, True Being Ziyun took Qin Wanli and the Lingdu Sect's Mu Yulong as the vanguard to investigate ahead. This had been agreed upon earlier for safety's sake. The reason for only taking Qin Wanli and Mu Yulong was that they were both geniuses who had opened three golden-colored lights—not only were they powerful, but they also had Color Spirit protection. If they encountered danger, they could retreat unscathed.
Those remaining outside, with nothing better to do, continued to flatter True Being Da Qian. It was less flattery and more currying favor, as True Being Da Qian was leading this Cave Dwelling expedition. Everyone wanted to stay on his good side, hoping he would step in if they encountered danger or found some spiritual treasure.
No one disliked hearing flattering words, and True Being Da Qian was no exception. Bathed in such praise, he couldn't help but reveal a proud demeanor on his face, stroking the long beard on his chin. "This old man has long said that the Dao of Formations lies in the accumulation of experience; it is not something achieved overnight. Unfortunately, young people nowadays are too self-important and have no sense of their own limitations. With ancient Cave Dwellings like this, if there isn't someone experienced leading the way, it only brings harm to themselves and others."
"Senior Da Qian speaks wisely. It is likely that those few who disregarded your advice earlier have already met with misfortune..."
"Young people are, after all, young people... Ancient Cave Dwellings are riddled with Mechanisms. One must proceed step by step, with utmost caution. Otherwise, it only brings harm to themselves and others. Once a Mechanism is triggered, no matter how high your cultivation or how strong your power, even if you are a Color Spirit genius, there is only one outcome: death."
Remembering those few young people who had ignored his warnings when the Cave Dwelling opened, True Being Da Qian shook his head and sighed again. "This old man has led everyone through seven Stone Gates in succession, and those few young people still haven't caught up. It seems they must have met with misfortune..."