270: Chapter 270 Obtaining the Title of Saint Master, Test of Soul Power

The shocking events at the Ancient Inheritance Ground were like a meteorite falling into a deep pool, stirring up unprecedented, towering waves within the Taihu Clan.

A hundred beams of Legacy Holy Light appeared simultaneously, resonating with the phantoms of ancient Saints—a scene only vaguely mentioned in the oldest clan legends and never before truly manifested in the world.

And all of this was triggered by an outsider, a youth only at the Qi Refinement Stage—no, to be precise, he had, by his own strength, completed and upgraded the hundred damaged saint tablets that the Taihu Clan had been unable to resolve for eternal ages!

When the Clan Chief and the Supreme Mage walked out of the Legacy grounds with indescribably complex expressions, accompanied by Xu Ruyu, the area outside Moon Fox Palace was already filled with Taihu Clan members who had knelt upon hearing the news.

They were not forced; rather, out of a shock and awe from the depths of their Souls, they spontaneously bowed, looking up with burning eyes at the slightly tired but clear-eyed youth.

In those gazes, there was no longer any doubt, contempt, or curiosity—only pure, near-worshipful reverence and gratitude remained.

What Xu Ruyu had done was no longer a simple "passing of a trial," but a great kindness that benefited the entire clan and would bless thousands of future generations!

The value of those hundred completed and upgraded Cultivation Techniques was simply immeasurable, enough to allow the Taihu Clan's overall strength and future potential to leap several levels!

"Holy Master... Xu." The Clan Chief's cold voice rang out before the silent palace, using the respectful title "Holy Master" for the first time, her tone incredibly solemn. "The Taihu Clan... will never forget the kindness shown at the Legacy grounds.

Such great virtue cannot be thanked with words."

The phantom of the Supreme Mage also nodded slightly, her ethereal voice carrying an unprecedented gentleness: "Little Friend Xu's Dao is no longer something we can fathom.

The subsequent trials of the Nine-Aperture Exquisite Array are no longer necessary.

However, the Formation was activated according to rules; the nine stages are linked, and it cannot be abandoned halfway. And..."

She paused slightly: "The Clan Chief and I also wish to witness with our own eyes whether Little Friend can still bring... surprises in other aspects."

The Clan Chief took over, her gaze under the moonlight fixed on Xu Ruyu: "The fifth stage is the 'Soul Power Trial'.

This stage tests the strength, resilience, and precision of Soul Power control, as well as the ability to understand and break Formation Restrictions.

The location is our clan's Forbidden Ground, the 'Thousand-Illusion Lost Track Cave,' the core of which is the 'Taihu Forbidden Array' left from ancient times."

"The rules: those who enter the Formation must use Soul Power to sense and deduce, finding the hidden 'True Eye' of the Forbidden Array and breaking it with Soul Power or corresponding means to exit. The time limit is three days."

The Clan Chief's voice was calm, but anyone could hear the underlying expectation: "This Formation is mysterious and is one of the core components of our clan's Mountain Protection Array. Throughout history, those who could break the Formation and emerge are few and far between, and all possessed extraordinary Soul Power and supreme intelligence."

Xu Ruyu listened quietly, without much disturbance in his heart.

Soul Power?

Because of his Transmigration, his Divine Soul was already more resilient than ordinary people's. After practicing the "True Explanation of Taixu Source Energy," it had been continuously nourished and strengthened as his understanding of the essence of energy deepened. Although he had no specific method for cultivating Soul Power, its total volume, resilience, and sensitivity to energy were likely not inferior to an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator.

As for Formations... back at the Hehuan Sect, he had put in hard work to study them to deal with potential crises, not to mention the "Acetylene Great Array" he used to unexpectedly defeat Fairy Caidie of the Meiying Sect.

The path of Formations was essentially an art of energy circuits, rule constraints, and information processing, which shared much in common with his concept of "Scientific Cultivation."

"This Junior is willing to go."

Xu Ruyu cupped his hands, his tone composed.

The Clan Chief and the Supreme Mage exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.

This time, the group heading to the "Thousand-Illusion Lost Track Cave" was far larger than before.

Not only did the Clan Chief and the Supreme Mage attend in person, but the Grand Elder, Elder Lan Yi, almost all Elders at or above the Nascent Soul Stage within the clan, the masters of various halls, and even some high-profile Core Disciples were granted permission to observe.

Lady Qingli was naturally among them. She looked at Xu Ruyu's back, her eyes filled with pride and undisguised trust.

The Thousand-Illusion Lost Track Cave was located in the deepest part of the Tianyin Mountains, in a secluded valley shrouded year-round by thick, grayish-white mist.

The valley was filled with jagged rocks and complex, ever-changing terrain. Natural illusory auras intertwined with countless Acquired warning and confusing Restrictions, making this one of the most heavily guarded Forbidden Grounds of the Taihu Clan.

The group passed through layers of mist and Restrictions, finally arriving at the entrance of a massive natural stone grotto at the bottom of the valley.

The cave entrance was over ten zhang high and about five zhang wide, shaped like a giant maw waiting to devour someone. The interior was dark and deep, with various faint lights flickering, emitting unsettling buzzes and a sense of spatial distortion.

On the open ground in front of the cave stood nine bronze pillars covered in strange patterns, arranged in the Nine Palaces positions, faintly connected to the aura within the cave.

"This is the entrance to the 'Thousand-Illusion Lost Track Cave,' where the core of the Taihu Forbidden Array resides." The Clan Chief pointed to the cave entrance. "The Forbidden Array's attacking and trapping capabilities have been temporarily disabled, leaving only its most basic illusory, maze, and defensive properties for the trial.

Holy Master Xu, you only need to step inside, and the Forbidden Array will activate automatically.

Break the Formation and emerge within three days, and you will pass the trial."

Xu Ruyu nodded without asking further questions. Under the gaze of countless eyes, he stepped toward the deep, dark cave entrance.

Just as he was about to step into the entrance, the Clan Chief seemed to remember something and added: "Holy Master Xu must remember, to break the Formation, you must find the 'True Eye.' This Formation has countless 'False Eyes' and 'Pseudo-Pivots' that are highly deceptive. Do not be fooled by appearances and waste your Soul Power in vain."

"Thank you for the reminder, Clan Chief."

Xu Ruyu looked back with a slight smile, then his figure vanished into the darkness of the cave.

The moment he entered, the nine bronze pillars at the entrance lit up simultaneously with a soft glow. The patterns on the pillars flowed, forming a massive, semi-transparent screen of light in front of the cave.

On the screen, blurry and constantly changing fragments of scenes from inside the cave began to appear—this was a limited "projection" of the Forbidden Array for external observers. They could only see general environmental changes and energy flows, unable to spy on specific details or the real-time status of the person inside. Its main purpose was to confirm if the person was still active and the exact moment the Formation was broken.

Everyone's eyes focused on that light screen, holding their breath.

Inside the cave.

Xu Ruyu felt as if he had stepped into a completely different world.

The sounds, lights, and scents of the outside world were instantly cut off.

What lay before him was not simple darkness, but a bizarre sea of light and shadow formed by countless colors mixing, flowing, and distorting.

The ground beneath his feet seemed to be constantly moving, rising, falling, and twisting. The surrounding stone walls were sometimes near and sometimes far, occasionally turning into hideous beast heads or beautiful Fairies. Countless whispers, shrieks, and illusions surged from all directions, attempting to interfere with his mind.