frightfiction Chapter 321 : Ruins of the Formation Sect
Chapter 321 : Ruins of the Formation Sect
“I am willing to swear upon my Dao Heart that every word I have spoken is true. I only beg the three fairies to show mercy and let me leave. When the time comes, all the opportunities within the cave dwelling will belong to you.” Li Senyi’s breathing was hurried, his words tumbling out rapidly.“Opportunities within a cave dwelling?”
A trace of greed flashed through the red-robed female cultivator’s eyes as she spoke cautiously, “Explain in detail. If it is truly as you say, we three sisters may not be unwilling to spare your life.”
The other two female cultivators nodded slightly and ceased their attacks, lest they corner their prey too tightly and miss out on the opportunity.
Sensing their reaction, Li Senyi felt a slight relief in his heart.
He was not foolish enough to trust the words of bandit cultivators. But to stall for time and think of a countermeasure, he carefully chose his words and revealed part of the truth:
“Sixty-five years ago, near Withered Poison Ravine in the Black Wind Mountain Range, I accidentally discovered the entrance to a cave dwelling left behind by an ancient cultivator.”
“The formation restrictions within that cave dwelling had endured countless years. Though damaged, they still shimmered with spiritual light and were by no means ordinary.”
At this point, Li Senyi paused slightly. “Back then, my strength was meager. As an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, I managed to break through two layers of restrictions and obtained some formation inheritance and medicinal pills, but I was stopped at the third layer.
With the methods of you three fairies, breaking the subsequent restrictions and obtaining the inheritance within the cave dwelling should not be difficult.”
Upon hearing this, the red-robed female cultivator was stirred.
In merely sixty-five years, Li Senyi had advanced from early-stage Foundation Establishment to late-stage Foundation Establishment. Clearly, the opportunity within that cave dwelling was no small matter.
But only children made choices. She wanted the opportunity—and she wanted the man as well.
After all, robbing and killing a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was no easy feat.
If not for a cultivation family within the Biyuan Mountain Range being displeased with Li Senyi’s existence and secretly providing information, the three sisters would usually only dare to prey upon peak Qi Refining or early- to mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
“Withered Poison Ravine is infested with venomous insects and traces of Golden Core demonic beasts. Do you take us for fools, trying to lure us there to die?” the red-robed female cultivator suddenly barked.
“I have absolutely no such intention.”
Li Senyi hurriedly shook his head. “That cave dwelling lies deep within Withered Poison Ravine, its entrance extremely concealed.
Had I not been tracking a Miasma-Horned Scorpion back then, I would never have discovered it.
If the three fairies are willing to spare my life, I can swear a Dao Heart oath immediately and provide a detailed map along with all the information I know.”
Hearing this, the Bone-Eroding Three Fiends were visibly tempted and exchanged glances.
The inheritance opportunity of a cave dwelling far exceeded the value of a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator. They had to extract the information first.
The red-robed female cultivator fixed her gaze on Li Senyi, the lewdness in her eyes slightly receding. “Very well. Then swear upon your heart-demon now.”
Without hesitation, Li Senyi pointed to the heavens and swore a grand heart-demon oath, then produced a jade slip recording the cave dwelling’s information.
After finishing, he looked resolutely at the Bone-Eroding Three Fiends. “Now it is your turn to swear. Otherwise, even if I perish here, I will not give you the chance to search my soul.”
The three women exchanged glances and simultaneously made Dao Heart oaths.
Li Senyi relaxed slightly, maintained a distance for escape, and tossed out the jade slip in his hand.
“Not bad. You know your place.” The red-robed female cultivator swept it with her divine sense and examined the contents. “However, to prevent you from deliberately concealing crucial information, you must accompany us until the cave dwelling’s opportunity is fully obtained. Only then will we let you go. What do you say?”
“You dare violate your Dao Heart oath? Are you not afraid of heart-demon backlash and stagnating cultivation?” Li Senyi’s expression changed drastically, though inwardly he rejoiced.
They had finally taken the bait!
He was a second-tier high-grade Spirit Formation Master. Having been ambushed, he had been unable to display a formation master’s full strength and thus was restrained everywhere, unable to repel the Bone-Eroding Three Fiends.
But within that mysterious cave dwelling, with the residual power of its restrictions, even if he failed to counter-kill them, he was confident he could retreat safely.
“We swore to let you go, but we never said when.”
The red-robed female cultivator smiled playfully. “If you dare not accompany us, then you are guilty of hiding key information and setting a trap.
If we kill you now, we would not violate the Dao Heart oath we just made.”
Compared to orthodox cultivators, evil and demonic cultivators who practiced with ruthless haste would not easily violate their Dao Heart oaths.
Exploiting this, the three sisters had over the years drained many cultivators through seemingly strict but actually concept-swapping oaths laden with hidden preconditions.
Did those cultivators truly fail to see the loopholes? Not necessarily. But the initiative in making the oath lay in the sisters’ hands—they could make it or not.
And those cultivators were fish on the chopping block, forced to gamble for a sliver of survival amid certain death.
“Three fairies… what meticulous scheming!”
Li Senyi’s voice was hoarse, like a beast cornered at a cliff’s edge. “I can take you there. But if you go back on your word again, even in death I will drag one of you down with me.”
“That is only natural.” The red-robed female cultivator smiled enchantingly.
The strategy of boiling a frog in warm water seemed simple, yet it never failed.
“Na!” (There’s an opportunity!)
Five Qi Vine gazed brightly at Chen Beiwu.
Their fate was truly fortunate—while traveling outside, an inheritance opportunity had practically delivered itself.
Chen Beiwu’s expression remained calm.
Southern Wastes cultivators were cunning and treacherous. For resources and the pursuit of immortality, they would use any means necessary—he understood this deeply.
Especially those proficient in formations and calculation.
The “inheritances” and “opportunities” left behind before their deaths were, nine times out of ten, riddled with traps—either schemes for body possession or killing arrays meant to drag others into the grave.
Very few Southern Wastes cultivators truly wished to leave behind a Dao lineage inheritance, and even then, the requirements were extremely harsh.
For example, when Chen Beiwu previously entered the Tianyan True Realm, True Monarch Tianyan had indeed left a Dao lineage inheritance. But once Foundation Establishment cultivators encountered the demonic ape, it was almost certain death.
His survival at the time had been purely due to his extraordinary talent—his Three Yuan evaluation had all been supreme grade, meeting the requirements of the Battle Demon Ape.
Precisely because of this, Chen Beiwu was not particularly interested in the inheritance opportunity mentioned by these Foundation Establishment cultivators.
No matter how great the opportunity, could it surpass the Five Great Sects that governed the Earth Proliferation Territory with ancient heritage?
With this thought, Chen Beiwu did not slow his steps.
“Tap!”
“Tap!”
“Tap!”
A steady, unhurried sequence of footsteps sounded, approaching clearly from the southeast.
The red-robed female cultivator’s eyes narrowed as she abruptly turned her head, her divine sense probing toward the source.
The footsteps were steady—steady as if one were strolling leisurely through a courtyard.
The instincts honed from years of living on the blade’s edge made her heart tighten inexplicably.
In the next instant, within her divine sense, a tall and refined figure gradually became clear.
The newcomer had handsome features and wore an ordinary green Daoist robe. There was not the slightest fluctuation of mana around him, like an utterly unremarkable mortal. Yet the red-robed female cultivator’s pupils contracted sharply.
It was not unheard of for mortals to appear near the Biyuan Mountain Range. But this man’s eyes were far too calm.
That detached bearing surpassed most cultivators she had ever seen.
Something was wrong. There was definitely a problem. This man was absolutely not an ordinary mortal!
Alarm bells rang wildly in her mind. She subconsciously tightened her grip on her spiritual artifact and activated her divine sense to warn her sisters.
But the green-robed female cultivator, perhaps having grown too accustomed to smooth victories in recent years, lacked vigilance.
Seeing only a handsome youth without the slightest mana fluctuation, and noticing her elder sister momentarily stunned, she assumed her sister had taken interest in the prey and let out a coquettish laugh.
“Oh? Which household’s lost young master is this? How delicately handsome!”
She sized up Chen Beiwu, desire filling her gaze. “Elder Sister, look at him—so fair and tender, his appearance and bearing are first-rate. Shall we take him back and have some fun?”
The yellow-robed female cultivator covered her mouth and giggled, her eyes fixed tightly on Chen Beiwu. “Heehee, Second Sister speaks truly. Such a supreme mortal is rarely seen. May little sister taste first?”
“Shut up!”
The red-robed female cultivator’s face changed drastically as she shouted sharply, wishing she could sew her two pig-brained companions’ mouths shut.
What supreme mortal?
Had their brains been flooded, daring to tease such a mysterious cultivator of unknown background?
But her reprimand came too late. Chen Beiwu’s calm gaze shifted slightly.
He had little interest in the opportunity discussed by these bandit cultivators—such inheritances, uncertain in truth, often held more danger than reward.
He had not concealed his presence from the beginning. He had simply been strolling along the great road toward Biyuan Market with a leisurely mindset.
Frankly speaking, a group of Foundation Establishment bandits was not worthy of making Chen Beiwu suppress his aura or detour.
What he truly cared about was the fate on the red-robed female cultivator and the male cultivator. Instead, he had heard some displeasing teasing.
Chen Beiwu’s gaze lightly swept over the green-robed female cultivator who had spoken obscenely, as if looking at a noisy summer cicada.
With just that glance, the smile froze on her face. Her mana congealed. She had no chance even to activate her divine sense and cry for help. Her entire body stiffened in place; then her eyes lost their light, and her vitality completely dissipated.
Seeing this scene, the red-robed female cultivator was utterly horrified.
No spell was cast. No mana fluctuation. Not even a finger moved.
Just a calm gaze, and a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator’s life was crushed like dry weeds.
Such a mystical method was far beyond her comprehension.
‘Gold… Golden Core True Person?’
The thought flashed through her mind. Without the slightest hesitation, she dropped to her knees with a thud, her forehead pressed firmly into the damp earth. “Senior, please spare my life!”
The yellow-robed female cultivator swallowed, intending to kneel and beg for mercy as well. But the moment she opened her mouth, her vision went black and all consciousness vanished.
Seeing two cultivators of the same realm perish instantly, Li Senyi’s heart trembled violently. Before he could even rejoice, his body reacted before his mind, and he knelt heavily to the ground.
“This junior Li Senyi thanks Senior for saving my life!”
He spoke respectfully. “This junior’s cultivation is shallow and possessions few. I only know of the location of an ancient cave dwelling ruin, which may perhaps hold some value for Senior.”
“This servant Zhao Wuyan is willing to serve Senior loyally,” the red-robed female cultivator hurriedly added.
Becoming an enemy was impossible.
Sisterly affection was weighty, but how could it compare to her own life?
Looking at it another way, if she could seize this opportunity to attach herself to a Golden Core True Person—even as a cauldron for dual cultivation—she could become an untouchable Foundation Establishment cultivator within the Biyuan Mountain Range, perhaps even reach peak Foundation Establishment and attempt Core Formation.
Her only fear was that this Golden Core Senior’s standards were too high, and her willow-like beauty would not catch his eye.
“Na.”
Five Qi Vine shook its head.
Its instinct told it that neither of these cultivators was anything good.
Chen Beiwu’s gaze swept over the two kneeling figures.
He possessed the Nine-Breath Chaos Divine Ability and could easily discern their fate.
Above Zhao Wuyan’s head churned an extremely dense mass of Scarlet Baleful Fate, clearly the result of accumulated karma from countless sins.
Even if Chen Beiwu did not act today, this woman would inevitably suffer violent calamity in the future and meet a miserable end.
However, what truly caught Chen Beiwu’s attention was that within the depths of her crimson-black calamity radiance lay an incomparably dark strand of tribulation qi, clinging like a bone-burrowing parasite.
With just a single glance, he faintly sensed the omen of dark clouds gathering overhead and a great tribulation approaching.
‘Why would a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator bear such ferocious tribulation qi?’ Chen Beiwu pondered.
If crimson-black tribulation qi corresponded to third-tier calamity, then this dark, cloud-covering tribulation qi was comparable to a fourth-tier calamity in his estimation.
This was only the second time Chen Beiwu had seen tribulation qi of this level. The first had been on Yu Zhaoli, Hall Master of the Talisman Hall.
As one of the Five Great Sects of the Earth Proliferation Territory, the Mirror Moon Sect’s main lineage elders were at least peak Golden Core, a mere step from Nascent Soul True Monarch.
Ranked near the top and honored as the Sect’s Fourth Elder, Yu Zhaoli was a Golden Core consummation True Person, only half a step away from attaining the position of True Monarch and becoming one of the foremost cultivation powerhouses in the Southern Wastes Domain.
For Zhao Wuyan, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, to possess tribulation qi of this level was truly inconceivable.
Compared to Zhao Wuyan, Li Senyi’s fate was relatively normal.
He bore a third-tier faint orange fate radiance, alongside Scarlet Baleful Fate occupying two-thirds of his overall fortune.
If Chen Beiwu’s guess was correct, this scarlet baleful fate stemmed either from today’s calamity or from that cave dwelling ruin.
Between the two, Chen Beiwu was more inclined toward the latter.
“Swoosh.”
With a movement of Chen Beiwu’s divine sense, the jade slip in Zhao Wuyan’s hand flew into his grasp.
In the next instant, a stream of information entered his mind.
The jade slip’s contents were not complex. It merely described the inherited cave dwelling within Withered Poison Ravine, speculating that it might originate from the ancient grand formation sect, Tai Void Formation Sect.
This made Chen Beiwu recall the inner sect disciple token of Tai Void Formation Sect stored in his storage ring.
Those who possessed the disciple token could use inheritance cave dwellings scattered across the Southern Wastes to directly enter Tai Void Formation Sect for trial.
The cave dwelling recorded in the jade slip was undoubtedly one of them—and a hidden entrance not yet discovered by the Blazing Flame Sect.
‘When a whale falls, all things are born. Though Tai Void Formation Sect has declined, it left behind many ruins and inheritances within the Earth Proliferation Territory, nurturing numerous rogue cultivator powerhouses,’ Chen Beiwu reflected inwardly.
Opportunity and harvest were equal in measure.
True Monarch Tianyan had been a rogue cultivator with no backing. Without the fortune of obtaining Tai Void Formation Sect’s inheritance, he likely would never have, in his lifetime, attained Nascent Soul as a rogue cultivator.
But Chen Beiwu was different. As the Mirror Moon Dao Child and Yuqing Immortal Sect Team Leader, rather than risk entering an ancient ruin of unknown danger, he would rather attempt to subdue the Heart Monkey and seize True Monarch Tianyan’s inheritance.
——