64: Chapter 64 Exploring the Cave, Encountering a Remnant Array, Breaking the Void Barrier

Night was deep, and the lake water was freezing.

Ye Qing suppressed his aura, blending into the dark water current like a shadow, and quietly arrived before the crack in the underwater rock wall.

The crack remained as it was, obscured by aquatic plants, with the residual fluctuations of the Restriction and traces of destruction clearly visible on the edges.

He did not enter directly, but first condensed his Divine Sense into a thin line, carefully probing into the depths of the crack.

His Divine Sense traveled several zhang forward, passing through the narrow passage, and suddenly the view opened up, as if he had entered a larger space.

However, the space was filled with chaotic water currents and complex Spiritual Qi fluctuations, interfering with his perception.

Further inside, there was a faint glimmer, along with that intermittent, special fluctuation mixed with spatial turbulence and the scent of blood.

"It seems the people from the Bishui Sect have indeed entered, and a battle occurred. I just don't know if the opponent was the Immortal Cave's own defensive mechanism or something else."

Ye Qing pondered in his heart, but his movements did not stop.

He first took out the simplified version of the "Portable Five Elements Restriction Breaking Formation Plate," set it up behind a hidden reef outside the crack, established a warning system, and left a miniature sub-Formation Talisman that echoed with the main Formation of Hunyuan Island.

Once there was a change inside the Immortal Cave, or if someone approached from the outside, he could perceive it at the first moment, and could even use the sub-Formation Talisman to briefly control the outer Formation Plate to block enemies or create Chaos, buying time to escape.

Having prepared properly, he took a "void concealment pill." The effect of the pill was still active, but to be safe, he took another one.

His figure swayed slightly, and he used the Bone-Shrinking Technique to easily squeeze into the crack.

The passage was narrow and damp, the stone walls were slippery, and there were fresh bloodstains and water stains, clearly left by the Bishui Sect Cultivator.

After moving forward about ten zhang, the end of the passage was a downward-sloping ramp. At the end of the slope, a light blue Restriction light curtain was vaguely visible. On the light curtain, an irregular gap large enough for a person to pass through had been broken open, which was exactly where the Bishui Sect Cultivator had destroyed it.

Inside the light curtain, it seemed to be a dry space with air circulation, isolated from the lake water outside.

Ye Qing did not rush to enter. He first carefully scanned the area around the gap in the light curtain with his Divine Sense, confirming there were no hidden traps or triggered Restrictions.

He then took out several low-grade scouting Talismans obtained from Blackwater Market, activated them, and threw them into the gap.

The Talismans turned into spiritual light and submerged. A moment later, they fed back blurry images and information: inside was a spacious stone chamber with signs of fighting and bloodstains, but there was currently no sign of any living creature.

"Safe."

Ye Qing did not hesitate anymore. His figure flashed, passing through the gap in the Restriction, and he entered the stone chamber.

Upon landing, the air was slightly turbid, carrying a faint musty smell and the scent of blood.

The stone chamber was circular, over ten zhang in radius. Embedded in the ceiling were several long-dimmed night pearls, providing a weak light source. The floor was paved with azure stone slabs, engraved with simple Spirit Gathering and dust-removal Formation patterns, but most had already failed.

In the center of the stone chamber stood a stone platform half a person's height. The platform was empty, as if something had originally been placed there but had already been taken away.

There were several stone doors on the surrounding walls, but they were all tightly closed. The runes on the doors were dim, and it was clear the Restrictions were still in place.

Scattered on the ground were some shattered fragments of Magical Artifacts, ashes from ice spike Talismans, and several pools of blood that had not yet completely dried. The bloodstains extended all the way to a half-open stone door on the left side of the stone chamber.

"The people from the Bishui Sect went in and were injured. Looking at the amount of blood, the injury is not light."

Ye Qing's gaze swept over, and he analyzed quickly. He did not touch the fragments and bloodstains but first came to the stone platform.

The surface of the stone platform had a thick layer of dust, but there was a clear square imprint in the center where the dust was thinner, obviously caused by an item previously placed there. On the edge of the imprint, there was a trace of extremely weak, almost dissipated starlight energy.

"So the item placed here contained starlight energy? Was it star pattern steel jade? Or something else? Was it taken by the people from the Bishui Sect?"

He noted this clue and turned to walk toward the half-open stone door.

The stone door was thick, made of some kind of dark cyan stone, with complex water ripple patterns engraved on the surface, and the spiritual light of a Restriction faintly flowing. However, at this moment, the Restriction had clearly been violently broken at one corner, causing the stone door to be unable to close completely.

Ye Qing did not enter immediately but probed inside through the crack in the door with his Divine Sense.

Behind the door was a downward stone staircase, spiraling and extending, bottomless. There were sporadic bloodstains on the stone stairs, and the air was filled with a thicker scent of blood and a hint of... faint, cold Demonic Qi?

"Demonic Qi? Are there Yao Beasts in the Immortal Cave? Or does it mean the people from the Bishui Sect encountered a Yao Beast inside?"

He pondered slightly, did not walk on the stone stairs, but instead cast "Void Step," and his figure passed directly through the crack in the door, appearing above the stone stairs.

Not touching the ground, he floated in the air and slowly drifted downward, while his Divine Sense was fully deployed, alert to every corner.

The stone stairs spiraled downward. After descending about several tens of zhang, faint light and the vague sound of water came from ahead.

At the end was another stone chamber entrance.

But this time, the entrance was sealed by a layer of light blue water curtain that rippled constantly. The water curtain looked soft, but it emitted not-weak Spiritual Qi fluctuations; it was clearly a type of defensive Restriction.

On the water curtain, there were several fresh, charred-edged holes, seemingly caused by some kind of thunder-fire Spell forcefully bombarding it, but it had not completely broken the water curtain.

Around the holes remained the Spiritual Qi aura of that blue Flying Sword from the Bishui Sect, as well as a few drops of fresh blood.

"It seems the people from the Bishui Sect were blocked by this water curtain Restriction and suffered a loss. This Restriction... seems not simple."

Ye Qing did not attack rashly but stood quietly before the water curtain, observing carefully.

The water curtain looked ordinary, but its method of Spiritual Qi circulation was quite profound; it was not a dead object but moved and changed like living water, dispersing and dissolving the force of attacks. Unless the attack power far exceeded the limit the Restriction could withstand, it was difficult to be effective.

"It seems to be a variation of some kind of 'Soft Water Spirit-Sealing Formation,' borrowing the power of the water vein here, endless and continuous. The Bishui Sect primarily uses water-element Cultivation Techniques; facing this Formation, they would get half the result with double the effort, no wonder they returned defeated."

He tried to probe a wisp of his Divine Sense into the water curtain and immediately felt a viscous resistance and a faint sense of erosion. His Divine Sense felt like it was stuck in a quagmire, difficult to penetrate.

"The Restriction also hinders Divine Sense. However..."

A silver glint flashed in Ye Qing's eyes, and the "Void Dao Seed" deep in his Divine Soul fluctuated slightly.

He quietly shifted the attribute of his Divine Sense to the "penetration" and "ignoring" characteristics of the Void Realm power, and probed toward the water curtain again.

This time, the resistance was greatly reduced.

His Divine Sense, like an invisible fine needle, slowly penetrated along the tiny gaps in the Spiritual Qi circulation of the water curtain. Although slow, it was indeed moving forward.

A moment later, his Divine Sense finally passed through the water curtain and perceived the scene behind it.

Behind the water curtain was a larger natural cave.

In the center of the cave was a small lake about ten zhang in radius. The lake water was milky white, filled with Spiritual Qi, clearly not ordinary water. In the center of the lake was a small stone island, and there seemed to be a simple stone house on the island.

And what made Ye Qing's pupils shrink was that on the edge of the lake, on the side near the water curtain, two corpses were lying there!

They were exactly those two Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivators from the Bishui Sect! One had their chest pierced, the other's neck was twisted; both were already dead, and the blood had not yet dried.

And beside the two corpses, in the shallow water area of the lake, a long, thin, jet-black monster snake with a single horn on its head was coiled on a rock exposed above the water. Its scarlet snake tongue flickered, and its cold, vertical pupils happened to "look" toward the direction of the water curtain, as if it were "locking eyes" with Ye Qing's Divine Sense through the Restriction!

Ink-line Horned Snake! That Second Stage Late Stage, insidious and cunning Yao Beast! It was actually here!

Clearly, after the three members of the Bishui Sect entered the Immortal Cave, they broke through the Restrictions all the way here, only to be ambushed by the combination of this water curtain and the lurking Ink-line Horned Snake. Two were killed, and the team leader at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage was likely also in grave danger.

"What a cunning beast! It turns out that when it retreated before, it wasn't entirely because it sensed the pressure of the Hunyuan Island Formation, but even more so because its nest was here, and it was anxious to return to guard it, while incidentally waiting for rabbits to hunt intruders!"

Ye Qing realized in his heart. This Ink-line Horned Snake was actually the "native" guardian beast of this Immortal Cave, or a Yao Beast that had occupied this place later.

At this moment, the Ink-line Horned Snake seemed to notice someone peeping from outside the water curtain. Its body arched slightly, the ghost light on its horn flickered, and it assumed an attacking posture. But it did not immediately attack the water curtain, clearly quite confident in the Restriction, or perhaps waiting for the best opportunity.

"A Second Stage Late Stage Yao Beast, and on its home turf, it's a bit troublesome. However..."

Ye Qing withdrew his Divine Sense, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

If he were still at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, he might need to spend some effort. But now that he was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, his strength had skyrocketed, and with the Void Dao Seed and numerous means, he had much greater confidence in dealing with this beast.

More importantly, this water curtain Restriction might be something he could use.

He stopped hiding, stepped back a few steps, and left the attack range of the water curtain.

He raised both hands, his ten fingers moving like butterflies, quickly forming hand seals.

The thick magic power of his Foundation Establishment Late Stage surged out, outlining complex and mysterious pale silver runes in the Void Realm in front of him.

These runes were not for attack, but a unique "Breaking Restriction Spirit Pattern" composed of his analysis of the "Soft Water Spirit-Sealing Formation," the penetration characteristics of the Void Realm power, and a hint of the stable artistic conception of starlight energy.

What he wanted to do was not to forcefully break the water curtain, but to use skill to break force, temporarily interfering with, disrupting, or even reversely controlling a part of the water curtain Restriction's Spiritual Qi circulation, to open a passage for himself.

"Void Restriction Tampering Technique... Go!"

With a low shout, dozens of pale silver runes, like living creatures, flew into the water curtain one after another.

The water curtain rippled violently, and the ripples on the surface became chaotic.

The Ink-line Horned Snake noticed the abnormality and let out a sharp hiss. Opening its mouth, it spat a condensed jet-black venom arrow toward the water curtain, attempting to reinforce or attack.

However, Ye Qing's "Void Restriction Tampering Technique" had already taken effect.

On the water curtain, in the area where the runes had merged, the Spiritual Qi circulation suddenly lagged and became inverted, briefly forming a "void hole" with a diameter of about one foot, where the Spiritual Qi was thin!

Now!

Ye Qing's figure was like lightning, "Void Step" activated, and he instantly passed through the "void hole," appearing inside the water curtain, on the edge of the lake!

Almost at the same time he appeared, the Ink-line Horned Snake's venom arrow also shot over but only hit the water curtain that was resuming its flow, splashing a sizzling cloud of poisonous smoke.

"Hiss—!"

Seeing that the prey had passed through the Restriction, the Ink-line Horned Snake was both shocked and angry. Its body sprang up, turning into a black lightning bolt. The ghost light on its horn surged, stabbing straight at Ye Qing's face! The speed was more than twice as fast as when it was outside the lake! Clearly, it had not used its full strength just now.

"Well come!"

A cold light flashed in Ye Qing's eyes. He did not dodge or evade. His right hand formed a finger sword, Chaos Magic Power surged, and a point of starlight condensed at his fingertip. Void Star Finger, arriving first despite starting later, pointed at the snake's head!

At the same time, his left hand waved, and the "Five Elements Demon Sealing Chain," which had long been prepared, shot out silently. It was not attacking the snake's body, but submerged into the surrounding lake water and ground, instantly disrupting the Five Elements Spiritual Qi and delaying the Yao Beast's movements.

Chi!

The finger radiance collided with the snake's head.

The expected penetration did not happen.

The ghost light on the Ink-line Horned Snake's horn flared, actually forcefully resisting the Void Star Finger, exploding into a dazzling halo.

The snake's body was shaken backward by the immense force, but the horn was undamaged. Clearly, this horn was its strongest part, exceptionally sturdy.

"Interesting."

Ye Qing's expression did not change. Taking advantage of its unstable footing, his left hand gripped the air, grabbing toward the snake's body.

"Void Realm Imprisonment!"

An invisible fluctuation carrying the power of spatial solidification enveloped the Ink-line Horned Snake.

The Ink-line Horned Snake's body stiffened, its movements instantly slowed, and shock flashed in its eyes.

Although it did not understand the Dao of Space, it instinctively felt a fatal threat and its inner Yao power erupted wildly, trying to break free.

However, would Ye Qing give it a chance?

His figure moved again, close as a shadow, appearing at the seven-inch mark of the Ink-line Horned Snake. His right hand formed a fist, Chaos Magic Power, starlight energy, and Void Realm fluctuations combined into one, and he punched out without any fancy moves!

"Hunxu Star-Shattering Fist!"

As the fist went out, wind and thunder followed, stars flickered and extinguished, and Void Realm ripples surged, slamming solidly into the seven-inch mark of the snake's body!

Bang!!!

The muffled sound was like thunder.

The Ink-line Horned Snake's body shook violently, scales exploded at the seven-inch mark, flesh and blood were blurred, and the sound of breaking bones was clearly audible.

It let out a shrill howl, the light in its eyes quickly dimmed, its massive body fell limply into the water, splashing a large spray, twitched a few times, and then there was no more sound.

Second Stage Late Stage Yao Beast, Ink-line Horned Snake, dead.

From passing through the water curtain to killing the Yao Beast, it had been no more than three breaths.

Ye Qing stood on the waves, his aura steady, and shook his somewhat numb fist.

"Foundation Establishment Late Stage, Hunxu Yandao Scripture, truly formidable. This Ink-line Horned Snake's strength is not weak, especially the sturdy horn, but under absolute power and the restraint of Divine Abilities, it is still vulnerable."

He took a Ningyuan Pill and adjusted his breath slightly.

Then, he began to clean up the battlefield.

First, he collected the Ink-line Horned Snake's corpse into the space waste area. The Materials of this snake were precious, especially the sturdy horn, which was an excellent material for refining armor-piercing Magic Treasures.

He then took the Storage Pouches of the two Bishui Sect Cultivators. Probing slightly, they contained some Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills, Materials, and a few Jade Slips of Bishui Sect Cultivation Techniques. The value was not great, but even mosquito legs are meat, so he collected them by category.

The two corpses were cremated on the spot with true fire, and the ashes were scattered into the lake.

After doing this, he finally had time to carefully examine this cave.

His gaze finally fell on the simple stone house on the stone island in the center of the lake.