105: Chapter 105 Cutting Off Their Path Back, A Treasure Left in the Void

The night on the wasteland was thick as ink.

Lin Yue and Lin Yan skimmed close to the ground, their figures flickering in and out among scattered rocks and withered grass.

Thirty li ahead was the spot where the lotus platform used by the Black Lotus Ancestor to descend had taken root.

The closer they got, the denser the corrosive spiritual power permeating the air became. The vegetation on the ground had long since withered and died, and the rock surfaces were covered with a slimy layer of black moss that emitted a faint sizzling corrosion sound when stepped on.

"City Lord, there are spiritual power fluctuations ahead."

Lin Yan suddenly stopped, the star-embracing sword trembling slightly in his hand, its tip pointing northeast. "Three sources, all at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, arranged in a triangular formation, seemingly patrolling."

Lin Yue quietly extended his Divine Sense.

Sure enough, within three li of the lotus platform, three Black-robed Cultivators were patrolling along fixed routes. Each held a black Formation Flag in hand, its surface embroidered with twisted lotus patterns, faintly connected to the aura of the lotus platform itself.

"It's the 'Black Lotus Alert Formation'."

Lin Yue whispered, "The Formation Flags in their hands are linked to the lotus platform's core. If any one of them dies or their flag is destroyed, the lotus platform will immediately send a warning, and the Black Lotus Ancestor will sense it instantly."

"What do we do then?" Lin Yan frowned. "We only have half an hour."

Lin Yue scanned the surroundings.

The terrain of the wasteland rapidly formed in his mind—the lotus platform was located in the center of a low-lying basin, surrounded by slopes on three sides, with only the north side being a flat entrance.

The patrol routes of the three Cultivators precisely covered the three slopes.

The northern entrance, however, was left empty.

"A trap."

Lin Yue sneered, "The north side appears undefended, but there must be corrosion traps or warning talismans buried underground. Stepping there would immediately expose us."

He looked at Lin Yan: "How large an area of earth vein fluctuations can your star-embracing sword trigger now?"

Lin Yan pondered briefly: "If I exert full effort, I can trigger earth vein tremors within a radius of fifty zhang. But that would consume a large amount of spiritual power and create significant commotion."

"No need for full effort."

Lin Yue pointed to the western slope. "The terrain there is higher, and a small tributary of the earth vein passes underground. You only need to trigger a local tremor in the tributary, creating a small-scale 'ground collapse' to lure the patrol Cultivator on the west side over to investigate."

"Then we infiltrate from the east side?"

"No."

Lin Yue shook his head. "The east side will also be alerted. We're going—underground."

He crouched down, pressing his right hand against the ground.

Although the Pocket Realm was dormant and he couldn't use Spiritual Vein teleportation, when the Pocket Realm was deeply connected to Luoxia City's earth veins earlier, he memorized the flow direction of the earth veins in this area.

Beneath the basin where the lotus platform was located, there was a main tributary connecting to Luoxia City's Spiritual Vein.

As long as they dug along the earth vein flow... "Dig?"

Lin Yan was stunned. "But we don't have earth-escape Magical Artifacts, and the concentration of corrosive spiritual power underground is higher. Prolonged exposure would be dangerous."

"Who said we need prolonged exposure?"

Lin Yue took out three fist-sized silver crystals from his storage ring.

The crystal surfaces were covered with fine spatial patterns, with silver light flowing inside.

"This is... Space Stone?" Lin Yan exclaimed in surprise.

Space Stone, a rare Ore produced at the edges of spatial rifts, containing faint spatial attributes. Typically used for refining storage Magical Artifacts or stabilizing teleportation formations, extremely precious.

"Found them in the Black Fiend Lotus Venerable's storage ring, five in total."

Lin Yue handed two of them to Lin Yan. "Activate with spiritual power to form a layer of 'Spatial Film' on the body surface, lasting thirty breaths. The film can isolate most spiritual power erosion, including corrosive spiritual power."

He paused: "Thirty breaths is enough for us to dig directly beneath the lotus platform."

Lin Yan took the Space Stones and nodded firmly.

"Let's begin."

Lin Yue put away the last Space Stone. "You trigger the ground collapse first. When the patrol Cultivator on the west side is lured away, and the attention of the Cultivators on the east and north sides is drawn, we'll dig straight down from the southern slope."

"Understood."

Lin Yan turned and dashed toward the western hillside.

He found a rock crevice, inserted the star-embracing sword into the ground, the blade vibrating slightly to communicate with the earth vein.

Three breaths later.

Rumble—

In the middle section of the western hillside, the ground suddenly collapsed into a large pit three zhang in diameter!

The collapse triggered a chain reaction: nearby rock layers cracked, rubble tumbled, and dust filled the air.

"What's that commotion?!"

The black-robed Cultivator on the west side immediately turned and sped toward the collapse site.

The two Cultivators on the east and north sides also looked westward simultaneously, their Formation Flags glowing with black light, seemingly confirming the situation.

Now!

Lin Yue and Lin Yan activated the Space Stones simultaneously.

Silver film covered their entire bodies. Like two phantom shadows, they leaped down from the southern slope. Mid-air, the dragon thunder sword and star-embracing sword were drawn simultaneously, their sword lights overlapping as they fiercely stabbed into the ground!

Thud!

The soil layer, dense with corrosive spiritual power like substance, was sliced through like tofu under the sword edges.

Their figures submerged underground, rapidly descending.

The Spatial Film isolated the erosion of corrosive spiritual power, but the underground pressure still paled Lin Yan's face. After all, he was only at the Foundation Establishment Stage, his Physical Body far weaker than Lin Yue's at the Golden Core Stage.

"Hold on."

Lin Yue transmitted his voice, his sword edge not stopping as he dug downward along the edge of the earth vein tributary.

Ten zhang, twenty zhang, thirty zhang... When they reached fifty zhang deep, the color of the surrounding soil began to change—from black and slimy to dark red, then to an eerie purplish-black.

That was the root zone of the lotus platform.

Lin Yue could feel intense spatial fluctuations coming from ahead.

"Almost there."

He accelerated, digging another ten zhang downward.

Suddenly, it opened up.

At sixty zhang underground, there was actually a naturally formed Cavern.

In the center of the Cavern, a black lotus platform three zhang in diameter hovered. Below the lotus platform was a constantly rotating Void Vortex, with silver-black spatial cracks flickering at its edges.

That was the temporary spatial channel connecting to the Central Region!

The surface of the lotus platform was carved with dense, intricate runes. The runes brightened and dimmed in a certain pattern, maintaining the channel's stability.

And around the lotus platform, nine Black-robed Cultivators sat cross-legged.

Their hands formed seals, continuously channeling spiritual power into the lotus platform, clearly maintaining the channel's operation.

Among these nine, the weakest in aura was at the Middle Foundation Establishment Stage, while the strongest had actually reached the Early Golden Core Stage!

"They actually left a Golden Core Cultivator guarding here..."

Lin Yue's expression turned grave.

He and Lin Yan were currently hidden in a crevice in the Cavern wall at the edge, with fifteen breaths remaining on the Spatial Film's effect.

They had to finish this quickly.

"Lin Yan, see that largest rune in the center of the lotus platform?"

Lin Yue transmitted his voice. "That's the 'Anchor Rune' of the spatial channel. Once destroyed, the channel will collapse. But the Anchor Rune has an automatic defense mechanism; when attacked, it instantly activates the power of all runes to counterattack."

"What do we do then?"

"I need you to do two things simultaneously."

Lin Yue spoke rapidly. "First, use the star-embracing sword to trigger earth vein power, interfering with the connection between the lotus platform and the earth vein, causing its defense to stall for an instant. Second, the moment I strike, use your Spatial Sword Intent to lock onto the Anchor Rune, delaying the speed at which it activates the counterattack—even if only by half a breath, it'll be enough."

Lin Yan gripped his sword hilt: "I'll do my best."

"Not your best, you must do it."

Lin Yue looked at him. "We only have one chance. Failure will not only alert the Black Lotus Ancestor, but the spatial channel's counterattack is enough to blow this Cavern sky-high."

Lin Yan took a deep breath, determination flashing in his eyes.

"City Lord, I can do it."

"Good."

Lin Yue said no more, his gaze fixed on the fist-sized, silver-glowing Anchor Rune in the center of the lotus platform.

Ten breaths remained on the Spatial Film.

Nine breaths.

Eight breaths... "Now!"

Lin Yue shot out like lightning!

Almost simultaneously, Lin Yan gripped his sword with both hands and fiercely stabbed it into the ground!

Hum—

The star-embracing sword communicated with the earth vein, causing the entire Cavern floor to tremble violently!

The connection between the lotus platform and the earth vein was disrupted for an instant.

"Enemy attack!!"

The guarding Golden Core Cultivator's eyes snapped open, but it was too late.

Lin Yue's dragon thunder sword was already within three chi of the Anchor Rune!

The Anchor Rune blazed with light, all runes brightening simultaneously, a terrifying counterattack force about to erupt—

At that very moment.

Lin Yan's Sword Intent arrived.

It wasn't a substantial Sword Qi, but a subtle interference with space.

The space around the Anchor Rune seemed to be gently "pressed" by an invisible hand.

The speed at which the runes activated slowed by a fraction.

Just that fraction.

It was enough.

The dragon thunder sword pierced the center of the Anchor Rune!

Crack—

A crisp shattering sound echoed piercingly in the Cavern.

The Anchor Rune turned into a shower of light points.

All runes on the lotus platform instantly dimmed, and the Void Vortex below began to twist and collapse violently!

"No—!!"

The guarding Golden Core Cultivator's eyes bulged with rage as he frantically lunged toward the lotus platform, trying to stabilize the channel.

But it was already too late.

Once the collapse of a spatial channel begins, it cannot be reversed.

Boom!!!

The Void Vortex completely exploded!

Violent Spatial Turbulence, like countless invisible blades, ravaged the Cavern!

The Cavern walls were carved with countless deep gashes. The nine Black-robed Cultivators didn't even have time to scream before being shredded into fragments by the Spatial Turbulence!

Even the Golden Core Cultivator had his entire left arm severed at the shoulder when grazed by a spatial crack!

"Go!"

Lin Yue grabbed Lin Yan, and the two charged toward the passage they came from, enduring the residual waves of Spatial Turbulence.

Behind them, the lotus platform began to shatter inch by inch under the pressure of spatial collapse.

And at the instant before the lotus platform completely crumbled, Lin Yue glimpsed out of the corner of his eye—from the core of the lotus platform, a silver light point the size of a lotus seed flew out.

That light point emitted a pure Spatial Origin aura, unaffected by the Spatial Turbulence, drifting toward the Cavern ceiling.

Void Lotus Seed!

Lin Yue's heart shook.

This was the Spatial Origin crystal nurtured by the Void Black Lotus, a hundred times more precious than the lotus platform itself!

Without hesitation, he reached back, his spiritual power forming an invisible hand to seize that silver lotus seed.

The lotus seed felt warm and smooth to the touch, with a rotating galaxy illusion inside.

No time to examine it closely. Lin Yue stored it in his storage ring and pulled Lin Yan into the passage they had dug.

Behind them, the Cavern completely collapsed.

The ground of the entire basin sank ten zhang!

"What happened?!"

In the sky, the Black Lotus Ancestor, locked in fierce battle with the Three Elders of Qinglan, suddenly turned his head toward the lotus platform's direction.

He sensed it—the spatial channel was destroyed!

"Lin Yue—!!"

A furious roar shook for a hundred li.

The hundred-zhang black lotus illusion behind the Black Lotus Ancestor spun wildly. Disregarding the Three Elders of Qinglan'sSiege, he withstood three sword lights and slammed a palm toward the wasteland basin!

He wanted to erase whoever destroyed the channel, along with that land, from the world!

But Lin Yue and Lin Yan had long since used the earth vein's cover to sneak back to the edge of Luoxia City.

The two emerged from a hidden ground fissure, covered in mud, looking utterly disheveled.

Lin Yan gasped for breath, his face pale—that earlier sword strike had nearly exhausted all his spiritual power and mental energy.

Lin Yue wasn't much better off; forcing the strike plus the impact of Spatial Turbulence had worsened his already unhealed injuries.

But in his eyes, there was a trace of relief.

The channel was destroyed.

The Black Lotus Cult couldn't send reinforcements over in a short time.

Now, as long as they dealt with the Black Lotus Ancestor and the Black Prison Lotus Venerable before them... "City Lord!"

Lin Hu leaped down from the city wall, urgently saying, "The three Elders of the Qinglan Sect are about to be overwhelmed! The Black Lotus Ancestor has gone berserk and has already injured Elder Cloud Crane!"

Lin Yue looked up.

In the sky, the light of the Qinglan Three Talents Formation had dimmed significantly.

Elder Cloud Crane's left shoulder was a bloody mess, his aura feeble. Qing Yunzi and the other Elder also had blood trickling from their mouths, clearly seriously injured.

And the black lotus illusion behind the Black Lotus Ancestor had expanded to a hundred and fifty zhang, with black blood seeping from the edges of the lotus petals—he was burning his life essence blood, forcibly boosting his combat power!

"Half an hour... only the final quarter-hour left."

Lin Yue murmured.

The light of the Thunderfire Formation was also weakening. Over at Elder Lin Shi's side, they were probably nearing their limit too.

The desperate situation was still not resolved.

But—

Lin Yue tightened his grip on the Void Lotus Seed in his storage ring.

The Pocket Realm's dormancy still had two days.

But if he fed this Void Lotus Seed, containing Spatial Origin and unpolluted, into the Pocket Realm in advance... perhaps it could shorten the dormancy time.

Or even allow the Pocket Realm to recover some functions early!

"Lin Yan, return to the city to heal first."

Lin Yue turned and walked toward the back mountain Forbidden Ground.

"City Lord, where are you going?"

"To make one final gamble."

Lin Yue's voice drifted in the night wind.

"Tell everyone to hold on for another quarter-hour."

"When I return in a quarter-hour—"

"it will be time for the counterattack."

The Forbidden Ground's stone door slowly closed.

Lin Yue sat cross-legged before the Pocket Realm entrance and took out that Void Lotus Seed.

Silver radiance illuminated his resolute face.

And illuminated, deep in his palm, the Pocket Realm Mark—dormant yet still emitting a faint, weak fluctuation.