57: Breaking through a desperate situation, clues to a spiritual object

Qiao Feng and Fu Hongxue were at the entrance of the Stone Chamber, enduring the fierce attacks of the Cult Master of the Dark Holy Cult and numerous Cultists. Qiao Feng's Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms possessed astonishing power; with every strike, golden palm prints blasted toward the enemy. However, the Cult Master of the Dark Holy Cult was highly skilled, and with the auxiliary attacks of the Cultists, Qiao Feng gradually felt the pressure multiply. Fu Hongxue's "Bright Moon Blade of the Horizon" Saber Qi crisscrossed, attempting to break through the enemy's defensive line, but the enemies surged like a tide, unending.

"Hmph, how much longer can you hold out?" the Cult Master of the Dark Holy Cult sneered while driving his attacks. The Magic Wand in his hand waved continuously, as black flames and eerie spiritual power coiled toward Qiao Feng and Fu Hongxue like venomous snakes.

Qiao Feng's expression was solemn, and bean-sized beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, yet his gaze remained firm. "As long as I still have a breath left, I won't let you pass!" He took a deep breath, circulating the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms to the limit and striking out with both palms repeatedly. For a moment, golden palm prints flew across the sky, colliding with the attacks of the Dark Holy Cult members and erupting in a deafening roar.

Fu Hongxue gritted his teeth, his long saber waving so fast it was airtight. The Saber Qi of the "Bright Moon Blade of the Horizon" formed a black barrier around him, temporarily blocking the enemy's offensive. But he also knew that such a defense would be difficult to sustain; they had to find a way to break out as soon as possible.

Inside the Stone Chamber, Jun Xiaoyao, West Gate Blows Snow, and Ye Gucheng were also tensely thinking of a countermeasure. Jun Xiaoyao knew well that they couldn't panic at this moment and had to calmly find a way to break the deadlock. He looked around the Stone Chamber, trying to find inspiration from the surrounding environment.

"West Gate Blows Snow, Ye Gucheng, we can't just sit and wait for death. Since this Stone Chamber is related to the secrets of the Ancient Seal, there must be other mechanisms or means we can utilize. Let's search carefully again," Jun Xiaoyao said.

The three began searching for clues throughout the Stone Chamber. West Gate Blows Snow had a keen gaze and discovered a small groove in a corner of the chamber; the shape of the groove seemed to fit a certain object. "Master, there's a strange groove here; perhaps it can be of use," West Gate Blows Snow said.

Jun Xiaoyao and Ye Gucheng immediately gathered around. Jun Xiaoyao carefully observed the groove, and a thought struck him: "The shape of this groove seems similar to a certain Divine Artifact we saw earlier on the murals. Perhaps we can use this groove to activate the Stone Chamber's other defensive mechanisms."

Just then, a slight loosening appeared in the defensive line where Qiao Feng and Fu Hongxue were. An Elder of the Dark Holy Cult took advantage of the gap while Qiao Feng was resisting the Cult Master's attack, broke through Fu Hongxue's Saber Qi barrier, and rushed toward the Stone Chamber.

"Not good!" Seeing this, Jun Xiaoyao quickly drew his long sword and performed an exquisite sword technique to meet the Elder. "If you want to come in, you'll have to get past me first!" Jun Xiaoyao's sword moves were as smooth as flowing water yet contained powerful strength, as streaks of Sword Qi shot toward the Elder.

The Elder hadn't expected Jun Xiaoyao's sword technique to be so formidable. He hurriedly waved the Staff in his hand and performed the Dark Holy Cult's Cultivation Technique to resist. For a time, spiritual power light flickered as the two engaged in a fierce clash at the entrance of the Stone Chamber.

Ye Gucheng and West Gate Blows Snow were not idle either; while keeping an eye on the battle between Jun Xiaoyao and the Elder, they continued to search for a solution. Ye Gucheng discovered some tiny runes on the wall, which seemed to have some connection to the runes they had studied before.

"Master, these runes might be the key to activating the defensive mechanism," Ye Gucheng said.

While fighting the Elder, Jun Xiaoyao shouted, "You guys study them first; I'll hold him off!" Jun Xiaoyao knew he had to buy time for West Gate Blows Snow and Ye Gucheng to find the way to activate the defensive mechanism; otherwise, once the people from the Dark Holy Cult all rushed in, they would be in a desperate situation.

West Gate Blows Snow and Ye Gucheng concentrated on studying the runes. Based on the arrangement of the runes and the clues obtained previously, they tried to activate the runes in a specific order. Finally, as the last rune was lit, the floor of the Stone Chamber suddenly vibrated.

Stone walls rose from the ground one after another, blocking the entrance of the Stone Chamber tightly. The Cult Master of the Dark Holy Cult and the Cultists were shut outside; they angrily attacked the stone walls, but the walls were exceptionally sturdy and difficult to break through for the moment.

"Dammit! They actually activated a defensive mechanism. Attack with all your might! We must break through these stone walls!" the Cult Master of the Dark Holy Cult roared.

Inside the Stone Chamber, Jun Xiaoyao and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief. "We are safe for now, but we can't stay here long. The people from the Dark Holy Cult will eventually find a way to break through the stone walls. We must leave as soon as possible with the clues," Jun Xiaoyao said.

Everyone remembered the five elements spiritual objects mentioned by the old man in the pillar of light. "The five elements spiritual objects—where exactly can they be found?" Fu Hongxue asked.

After pondering for a moment, Jun Xiaoyao said, "Based on our previous discoveries in the ruins and some legends in the Jianghu, the five elements spiritual objects might be scattered across various mysterious places on the continent. We need to return to Beyond Heaven and gather the forces of various Alliances to search for clues to the five elements spiritual objects together."

Thus, the group began searching for a way to leave the ruins. After some exploration, they finally found a hidden passage. This passage was winding and tortuous, leading to the exit of the ruins.

However, what they didn't know was that after failing to attack the stone walls, the Cult Master of the Dark Holy Cult had already sent Cultists to find other ways into the Stone Chamber. Moreover, the remnant forces of the Blood Demon Hall and the Nether Ghost Sect had also received the news and were rushing toward the Cangyun Ruins.

Whether Jun Xiaoyao and the others could smoothly leave the ruins and find the five elements spiritual objects with the help of the Alliance forces? How would the Dark Holy Cult, Blood Demon Hall, and Nether Ghost Sect stop them? The situation in the Jianghu grew increasingly complex, waiting for Jun Xiaoyao and his companions to deal with it...