286: Gather in front of the great formation

Unlike the solemn atmosphere at the Xihua Sect's camp, the Xuan Yin Sect's base was currently filled with a dense Evil Qi.

Elder Yin Gu sat in the main seat, his black robes almost merging with the shadows in the tent. The wrinkles on his Face were twisted, and his expression was so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.

On the table before him, a cup of freshly brewed spiritual tea had already gone cold. Droplets of water condensed on the side of the cup and dripped down the edge of the table, creating small wet marks on the ground, yet no one dared to step forward to wipe them away.

"That old fox Mo Chenggui!"

He let out a raspy low growl and slammed his palm onto the table. With a "crack," the solid wooden table actually split open with a fissure.

"Breaking the Restriction? Easier said than done! The core Restriction of the Nether Crow Cave Mansion was personally set by a Void Refining powerhouse; how could it be so easily broken? He clearly wants to use everyone's strength to clear the way for the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce so he can reap the benefits for himself, all while trying to set up a 'Saving the Common People' facade. Utterly hypocritical!"

The few Xuan Yin Sect Disciples standing below the tent were so scared they didn't even dare to breathe. One of the slightly braver Disciples spoke up cautiously:

"Elder, then should we... still gather at the valley entrance? If we go, won't we be falling right into Mo Chenggui's trap?"

"Go! Why wouldn't we go!"

A burst of eerie green light suddenly erupted from Elder Yin Gu's eyes, his tone carrying a hint of ruthlessness:

"Since he's willing to be the one to stick his neck out, we might as well save some strength! Pass down the order: have everyone prepare their Magical Artifacts and Yin Evil Talismans. Be smart when the Restriction is being broken! Don't exert effort if you don't have to; preserve our strength as much as possible and wait for an Opportunity to act!"

He paused, a sinister smile curling his lips:

"Once the Restriction is broken, the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce wants to monopolize the Opportunity? It won't be that easy! At that time, whoever grabs it gets it. As long as we can obtain Daoist Ming Ya's Legacy, what does it matter even if we fall out with the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce!"

"Yes! This Disciple will go pass the order now!"

Several Disciples responded in unison, turned, and quickly walked out of the tent, their Faces also carrying a hint of excitement and ferocity.

At the Ten Thousand Gu Sect's camp.

The Withered Bone Ascetic sat cross-legged atop a skull carved from black stone. His black robes moved without wind, and a dense, cold aura emanated from his body, causing the surrounding temperature to drop several degrees.

His cloudy eyes stared intently in the direction of Black Wind Valley, and a "cluck-cluck" strange laugh escaped his throat, sounding like an old crow crying in the night sky, making one's skin crawl.

"Dragging on for three months, it's finally about to open..."

While laughing strangely, he slowly stood up. The fingers beneath his black robes were as withered as tree branches, yet they carried a heart-palpitating power:

"Old man Ming Ya, the treasures you've hidden for a thousand years should finally have a new keeper."

He turned to look at the several Ten Thousand Gu Sect Disciples standing behind him, his voice raspy:

"Is everything ready? The Gu insects and poison powder that should be brought, pack them all for me! Remember, once inside the Immortal Cave, if you see a living person, poison them first; if you see a treasure, grab it first—if anyone dares to drag us down, this old monk will throw him into the Gu vat to feed my Golden Silkworm Gu!"

"Yes, Elder!"

Several Disciples responded in unison, their voices carrying a hint of fear but also an irrepressible excitement.

They had followed the Withered Bone Ascetic in the Southern Border for so long, and they had long been hoping for a great Opportunity. Now that the chance had finally arrived, how could they care about the danger?

The Withered Bone Ascetic nodded with satisfaction and said no more. His figure flickered, turning into a mass of dense black mist, and flew toward the direction of Black Wind Valley.

The Disciples behind him immediately followed, each of them moving like a ghost, quickly disappearing into the forest.

There was also the White-robed Nascent Soul Cultivator, some old monsters hidden in the shadows, and some ordinary Cultivators, all swarming toward the Immortal Cave.

Besides the Cultivators from these great Sects, many figures hidden in the shadows also moved.

The White-robed Nascent Soul Cultivator, who had competed with the Mysterious Clarity Master for the cold marrow jade fruit at the auction, was currently standing on a clifftop, looking down at the surging crowd with a cold glint in his eyes.

Some old monsters who usually stayed hidden in the marketplace also revealed themselves one after another.

Some leaned on walking sticks, looking like they were staggering, but in fact, every step covered several dozen feet; some turned into a clear breeze, weaving through the forest at an astonishing speed.

They all understood that the Legacy of the Nether Crow Cave Mansion was a once-in-a-century occurrence. If they missed this chance, they might never encounter such an Opportunity again in this lifetime.

Ordinary low-level Cultivators swarmed toward the Immortal Cave like a tide. Even though they knew they couldn't compete with the high-level Cultivators, they still held a glimmer of hope—what if they could pick up a treasure others missed? What if they could obtain even a few words from the Legacy?

...An hour later, the outskirts of the Primordial Mountain Range where the Nether Crow Cave Mansion was located were already a sea of people.

Various spiritual lights flickered in the mountain forests. Countless Cultivators either stood, sat, or hovered in mid-air, everyone's gaze burning as they looked deep into the mountain range.

There, a massive grey light curtain that shrouded several mountain peaks was rising and falling slightly like breathing, emanating an ancient and majestic pressure.

That was the outer Restriction of the Nether Crow Cave Mansion.

The light curtain looked thin, but it gave off a feeling of being indestructible. Occasionally, twisted runes would flash across its surface, emitting heart-palpitating energy fluctuations.

The forces of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce gathered at the very front. Mo Chenggui stood with his hands behind his back, several Elders with deep auras standing beside him, along with a group of Formation Cultivators holding Formation Plates and compasses.

As time passed, more and more Cultivators arrived, a dense black mass that almost had no end in sight.

The clamor, discussions, and the sound of Magical Artifacts cutting through the air intertwined, creating a tense and heated atmosphere.

Situ Jun, with Hua Hanxiang, Bai Yu, and dozens of elite Guards, occupied a slightly higher hillside, from which they could clearly see the full view of the Restriction light curtain ahead.

Widow Ya also arrived with the people from the Poison Scorpion Cult, setting up camp on another nearby hill, facing Situ Jun's side from a distance, the two exchanging a tacit look.

The Withered Bone Ascetic, Mysterious Clarity Master, and several other Nascent Soul Cultivators, both out in the open and in the shadows, had also taken up advantageous positions. Their auras were restrained but ready, like crouching Vicious Beasts.

Everyone's gaze was focused on the direction of the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce, waiting for the start of the Formation-breaking.

Finally, when the hour arrived, Mo Chenggui took a step forward. His voice, like a great bell, spread across the fields:

"That all of you Fellow Daoists could come gives me, Mo, and the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce Face, and it also shows you have the common people of the Southern Border in your hearts! I won't waste words. Three miles ahead, according to our Chamber's repeated measurements, is the weakest point of the Nether Crow Cave Mansion's core Restriction! In a moment, our Chamber's 'cloud shuttle' will activate the 'Void-Stabilizing Grand Formation' to stabilize the spatial turbulence! At the same time, please follow the guidance of our Chamber's deacons to gather everyone's strength and attack the Formation, tearing through the Restriction in one go!"

His gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Elder Yin Gu, Luo Yu, the Withered Bone Ascetic, and the white-robed Cultivator: "Elder Yin Gu, Fairy Luo, and all you Sect Leaders and Elders, the key to breaking the Restriction requires your full assistance!"

Elder Yin Gu and the Withered Bone Ascetic gave a cold snort as a response. Luo Yu and the white-robed Cultivator nodded slightly.

In that case—" Mo Chenggui's voice suddenly rose, "Let the breaking of the Restriction begin!"