You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

Upon hearing this, Xing San scratched his head curiously and asked in a deep voice.

"Not in a hurry or looking for traces of immortality? Then Chen Yang, what are we going to do today? Find a place to hide and wait until nightfall?"

Su Meng blinked her big eyes and looked at Chen Yang with a puzzled expression.

"Yes, Senior Brother Chen Yang, isn't the reason we came here to find opportunities and companions? If we're not looking for traces of immortality, what else are we looking for?"

Chen Yang's gaze swept over everyone as he spoke slowly.

"What we are looking for is a safe zone like last night, or rather, the array formations and restrictions that support the safe zone."

"Find a safe area? Why?"

Qiuniu also came over.

"Wasn't that breached last night? What's the point of looking for it now?"

"Haven't you noticed a problem?"

Chen Yang's voice was calm, yet it carried a thought-provoking power.

"That white mutated monster's movements don't seem to be completely random."

From our first encounter with it outside the Black Tower to its precise location and breach of the largest safe zone last night… it seemed to be constantly chasing the direction of the gathering crowd. Our pace of travel was probably slower than its pursuit.

He paused, allowing everyone to process the meaning behind his words.

"If we just blindly rush on today and then find a seemingly safe area to hide in at night, it is very likely that the white monster will come chasing us with a horde of monsters the moment we step inside. Last night's tragedy may repeat itself on us."

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over their heads, sending chills down the spines of Qiu Niu, Xing San, and Su Meng.

Recalling the terrifying power of the white monster in destroying the barrier with overwhelming force last night, and the hellish scene after the barrier shattered, a strong sense of lingering fear and agreement arose in their hearts.

"Brother Chen is right!"

Liu Piaopiao was the first to react, a flash of understanding appearing in her beautiful eyes.

"Thinking about it carefully, the places where the white demon appeared were indeed accompanied by a large number of cultivators gathering."

The first time was near the Black Tower, and quite a few people were drawn there then. Last night, it happened even in the safe zone where there were the most people... It's like... like it's deliberately hunting us 'prey'!

Chen Yang gave Liu Piaopiao an approving look and added.

"More accurately, it may have an extraordinary sensitivity to 'popularity,' 'array fluctuations,' or the special energy field generated by the gathering of cultivators."

It will be attracted to places with large populations and strong protective measures.

Therefore, simply finding a safe area to hide in does not guarantee safety; on the contrary, it may make you a more conspicuous target.

Qiuniu scratched his head, a troubled look on his face.

"But... even if we find a new safe zone, so what? That thing can forcefully break through such a large formation; ordinary formations and restrictions would probably be even more vulnerable to it. Wouldn't finding it still be useless?"

"Yes, Chen Shuai."

Su Meng also expressed her concerns.

“We can’t keep relying on your parade banners and those…ghosts to hide like we did last night, can we? That’s not a long-term solution.”

Chen Yang, however, revealed a confident expression.

"I have thought of a possible solution."

However, we need to find a suitable safe area as a 'base site' first. We'll discuss the details once we find the place. For now, let's follow Piaopiao's directions to find the next safe point.

Xing San slapped his thigh and said with great pride.

"OK!

Chen Yang, we believe in you! Just tell us what to do, and we'll do it!

Su Meng nodded vigorously.

"right!

"If Senior Brother Chen Yang has a solution, we'll listen to you!"

"Okay, let's set off then."

Chen Yang looked at Liu Piaopiao.

"Piao Piao, can your compass directly locate any potentially safe areas nearby? Ideally, those that aren't too large but have relatively intact formations."

Liu Piaopiao focused her mind on the compass again, and nodded after a moment.

"It can be vaguely sensed."

Because we've deviated from the main road, we're now in the middle of two main routes. The compass indicates that after about another hour and a half of adjusting our route northeast, we should pass a place with residual energy fluctuations from an array formation, likely a safe haven converted from a small outpost or family residence left behind by our predecessors.

"Great, let's go there."

Chen Yang made the decision.

So, without further delay, the group headed northeast under Liu Piaopiao's guidance.

Along the way, they traveled through barren hills and scattered woodlands, carefully avoiding areas where danger might lurk, and their pace was not particularly fast.

Along the way, Qiuniu looked at the magical compass in Liu Piaopiao's hand and couldn't help but ask a question out of curiosity.

"Miss Piaopiao, this compass of yours is truly a treasure! It can pinpoint direction and sense the fluctuations of array formations. Which master craftsman made it? Or... is it passed down from your sect?"

While keeping an eye on the compass, Liu Piaopiao answered casually.

"This compass was passed down from my ancestors. I'm not entirely sure of its exact origin, but I do know that it's quite sensitive to spiritual energy channels and special energy fields."

In our family, it's considered an heirloom.

"Family legacy?"

Qiuniu smacked his lips, his tone filled with envy.

"Your family is really well-off! Having such a good item will give you a huge advantage in the Trial Grounds!"
Unlike us, who have no connections, we just wander around like headless flies. It's so unfair!

Chen Yang walked ahead, and upon hearing this, turned around and smiled faintly.

"Fairness? There is no such thing as absolute fairness in this world. You come from the Special Administration Bureau, have official backing, and already have an organization and resources, which is already unfair to many people."

It can only be said that each family has its own destiny, and the depth of its foundation is itself a part of its strength.

Qiuniu was taken aback by Chen Yang's words, then chuckled sheepishly.

"Hehe, Chen Yang, you're right. I was being stubborn. The Special Administration Bureau did give me a lot of support and convenience."

Su Meng listened from the side, then suddenly thought of something and asked curiously.

"Chen Shuai, aren't you also the leader of the Qingwei Sect? The Qingwei Sect is a prestigious and righteous sect with a long history. Don't you have any treasures for location tracking passed down to you?"

Chen Yang said frankly.

"The Qingwei School does have some foundation, but its focus is different."

The sect's traditions are primarily focused on cultivation techniques, talismans, and formations. As for specialized magical artifacts for locating objects and exploring earth veins, there are indeed none with the same function as the one Piao Piao possesses. "If I had one, I would have used it long ago; why wait until now?"

These candid words made everyone like Chen Yang even more.

A trustworthy companion is one who doesn't exaggerate, doesn't conceal, and speaks the truth.

The group chatted as they walked, which somewhat alleviated the boredom of the journey and their worries about the road ahead.

About an hour and a half later, they passed through a dense forest of dead trees that smelled of decay, and suddenly the view opened up before them.

Ahead lay a relatively flat valley, and in the center of the valley stood a sizable complex of buildings!
Although it is also covered with the marks of time, with collapsed walls, broken roof tiles, and vines climbing all over the beams and pillars, one can still vaguely see the former layout and grandeur.

The towering gate tower, the continuous courtyard walls, and the well-arranged pavilions and towers all indicate that this place was once a family residence with considerable power and wealth.

What is most striking is that the perimeter of this ruin is shrouded in a faint, transparent halo that blends almost seamlessly with the surrounding environment, a sign that the array restrictions are still operating weakly!

Although the light was dim and far less conspicuous than the large safe zone from last night, it definitely existed.

"This is it!"

Liu Piaopiao put away the compass and said with certainty.

"The source of the array fluctuations sensed by the compass is here."

Judging from its size, it must have been a sizable cultivation family in the past. I wonder why it declined, leaving only these ruins and a defensive array barely clinging to life.

Qiuniu approached and looked at the tall, cracked stone gatehouse and the faintly discernible, blurred family crest on it, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Tsk tsk, look at this grandeur, it must have been incredibly glorious back in the day. How did it end up like this? Not even a descendant left to protect the family business?"

Chen Yang calmly swept his gaze across the ruins and said.

"The world is unpredictable, and rise and fall are ever-changing. This is especially true in the cultivation world. Today's glory and prosperity may vanish into thin air tomorrow. The fact that this family was able to leave behind such a foundation and an array that can still function indicates that it was quite powerful in its time. Its demise was probably not due to ordinary reasons, but rather bad luck or a terrible disaster."

Liu Piaopiao also sighed softly and chimed in.

"Yes, even families hiding in blessed lands are still in danger of collapse. There is no place that is an absolutely eternal safe haven."

"A blessed land?"

Qiuniu, with its sharp ears, immediately caught the keyword and looked at Liu Piaopiao with curiosity.

"Miss Piaopiao, do you know about blessed lands? Do those legendary places really exist?"

Liu Piaopiao felt a chill run down her spine, realizing she had misspoke, and quickly covered it up.

"Ah? I've heard Brother Chen mention it before, saying that some ancient powerful beings could create their own independent small worlds or something..."

She glanced at Chen Yang furtively as she spoke.

Chen Yang naturally wouldn't expose her, and nodded in agreement.

"Yes, it is indeed recorded in ancient books."

But that's too far removed from us.

The most urgent task is to assess the situation here.

He waved.

"Everyone, spread out and search the ruins for anything of value. Take what you can before the other cultivators find this place. Be careful and don't trigger any remaining attack restrictions."

"okay!"

Upon hearing this, Qiuniu immediately perked up and ran towards the nearest secluded courtyard, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. Xing San and Su Meng also each chose a direction and began searching cautiously.

For them, exploring ruins and seeking the legacy of their predecessors is one of the important pleasures and purposes of the trial.

Liu Piaopiao also wandered around the vicinity as a symbolic gesture, but she soon discovered that Chen Yang did not join the search. Instead, he walked alone to the edge of the faint halo shrouding the ruins, stretched out his hand, closed his eyes, and seemed to be sensing something.

She walked over curiously and asked in a low voice.

"Brother Chen, aren't you going to go look for it? What are you studying here?"

Chen Yang opened his eyes, a thoughtful glint in them, and said in a low voice.

"Piaopiao, do you remember the special formations we encountered in the Black Tower and on the arena last night that could generate immense pressure and imprison the soul and magic power?"

Liu Piaopiao nodded.

"I remember, you even taught me how to sense, adapt to, and even integrate into the 'fluctuations' of that formation."

That feeling...it's unforgettable.

"That's right."

Chen Yang pointed to the almost transparent halo in front of him.

"What I'm trying to do now is to use my divine sense to contact and analyze the 'array pattern' structure that makes up this protective barrier, in an attempt to understand its energy flow and core principles."

If I can combine the principles of this formation with the mysteries of the 'potential field' formation I previously comprehended, and integrate them, perhaps... I can attempt to replicate, or at least improve, the formation's restrictions here.

"Replica? Improved version?"

Liu Piaopiao was taken aback, her beautiful eyes widening.

"Brother Chen, this...this is easier said than done!"

The array formations and restrictions here are clearly from ancient times, with a complex and profound structure, completely different from the ordinary array formations we usually encounter.

To understand this clearly, I'm afraid...

"For ordinary people, it is indeed as difficult as climbing to the sky."

Chen Yang's tone, however, carried a calm confidence.

"But I think... I've figured it out a little."

Liu Piaopiao wanted to ask more questions, but Chen Yang gestured for her to be quiet.

"I need absolute quiet and to concentrate. Piaopiao, go and look around somewhere else, or help them look for it. I'll take care of things here."

Seeing Chen Yang's serious expression, Liu Piaopiao had no choice but to swallow her questions, nod, and quietly retreat, no longer wanting to disturb him.

After Liu Piaopiao left, Chen Yang closed his eyes again and devoted himself to perceiving the formation.

He transformed his divine sense into the finest tendrils, carefully penetrating the seemingly thin but actually meticulously structured protective aura. The Pure Subtle Primordial Descent Technique circulated, bringing a peaceful yet acute perception.

His previous experiences of confronting and integrating with the "power field" formation gave him a unique "affinity" and a foundation for understanding this ancient formation.

His "divine sense tendrils" began to wander along the invisible yet real energy veins within the halo, attempting to outline the basic structure of the entire formation.

At first, things went smoothly, and he seemed to "see" a three-dimensional network composed of countless complex runes and energy circuits.

However, whenever he tried to delve deeper into a key point, or attempted to synchronize his spiritual fluctuations with the array's fluctuations at a deeper level, he would always encounter an invisible interference and repulsion!
That was not an attack initiated by the formation, but rather a kind of "encryption" or "disruption" mechanism inherent in the formation itself, which would automatically disrupt the external divine sense that was trying to analyze it, forcing it to disconnect or receive incorrect information.

Time and again, Chen Yang's connection with his consciousness was interrupted, and the fragmented perceptions he received were difficult to piece together into a complete picture.

"It wasn't that simple after all..." (End of Chapter)