Clan Cultivation: Starting from Foundation Establishment on Mount Luoxia

"go!"

He gave a low shout, and ten talismans transformed into streams of light, accurately disappearing into the foreheads of the ten prisoners.

"Ugh—"

The prisoners simultaneously let out painful groans, their bodies trembling violently, their faces drained of color, as if an invisible thread had suddenly tightened around their hearts and souls.

A moment later, the pain subsided like a receding tide.

But when they looked at Li Mutian again, their eyes held a deep-seated fear and an irresistible submission, stemming from their very survival instincts.

Li Mutian directly attacked the two confused old priests.

He violently erased some of the relevant memories with his divine sense, plunging them into a deeper state of confusion, but he left that aside for now.

"The restriction is complete. Unless someone's cultivation far surpasses mine and they are proficient in bloodline incantations and the way of the soul, it will be difficult to lift."

Li Mutian's face was slightly pale, clearly indicating that separating his divine sense and refining the restriction had taken a considerable toll.

Li Xiaoyao nodded and said to Li Tongya:

"Tongya, you take Xiang Ping, Scarface, and the others to escort these prisoners, and also pick some able-bodied men from among the unconscious local tribes outside, and bring them back with you."

"Be careful on the road. Go straight back to Hou Tu Jin Ya and hand it over to Chang Hu for resettlement. First, you will be assigned to the mine's hard labor team and kept under strict guard."

He then looked at Li Xiangping:

"Xiang Ping, you assist Tong Ya. Scarface, you and the others go back together and provide protection along the way."

"Second Uncle, what about you and Father?"

Li Xiangping said urgently.

"Your father and I will walk around here a bit more."

Li Xiaoyao pointed in the direction of the Sanctuary.

"Since we're already here and have made such a commotion, it would be a waste not to take this opportunity to observe the entrance to this 'dungeon' more closely."

"Don't worry, we're both Foundation Establishment cultivators. If we can't beat them, we can at least run away. You two go back first, repair the flying boat as much as possible, and make preparations for our rendezvous."

Li Xiangping wanted to say something, but was stopped by a look from Li Mutian:

"Do as your second uncle says. Go and come back quickly."

"yes!"

Li Xiangping dared not say anything more and quickly took action with Li Tongya, Scarface, and others.

They selected about three hundred relatively strong young men from among the unconscious indigenous people.

Together with the ten captured leaders who had been placed under restrictions, they were linked together with simple rope magic tools.

Escorted by a group of cultivators, they slowly departed in the direction where the flying boat was docked.

The depression was empty again, leaving only the brothers Li Xiaoyao and Li Mutian, the mess on the ground, and the still desolate outline of the sanctuary in the distance.

"Big brother, how are you feeling?"

Li Xiaoyao looked at Li Mutian's slightly pale face.

"It's alright, it'll just take a little energy and a short rest."

Li Mutian took out the pill, swallowed it, and sat down cross-legged.

"You should also focus on recovery. We'll observe you more closely from now on, and you need to maintain your best condition."

Li Xiaoyao nodded and sat down to regulate his breathing.

About half an hour later, the two opened their eyes one after the other, and their condition had basically recovered.

They did not delay any longer and decided to head directly to the outer area of ​​the sanctuary, even attempting to approach the entrance to the ruins.

The previous interrogations and observations had brought their curiosity and desire to explore the sanctuary to a fever pitch.

The two brothers transformed into streaks of light and cautiously flew towards the sanctuary.

The closer you get, the stronger the oppressive and ancient aura emanating from the depths of the ruins becomes.

More traces of human intervention began to appear on the ground.

The broken giant stone bricks, the fractured relief columns, and the faintly discernible outline of the passageway all tell of the place's former grandeur and its current desolate decay.

"Brother, look at these stones."

Li Xiaoyao landed beside a section of crumbling wall half-buried in scorched earth, touching its cold, hard surface.

Faint traces of protective runes, long since rendered ineffective, still remain on it.

"This isn't local stone; it looks like it was transported from elsewhere in its entirety. The scale of this project..."

Li Mutian's expression was also grave:

"This place was not formed naturally, nor could it have been built by the natives. It is probably just as you suspected, closely related to the ancient 'demonic calamity'."

The two continued deeper into the area and discovered some signs of recent activity along the way—

Scattered footprints, ashes from a recently extinguished campfire, and even a few hidden pits that seemed to be used for observation.

These marks are all very new and likely belong to the "gatekeeper priests" or their informants.

Finally, they arrived at the edge of a relatively open square.

At the end of the square was a huge portico, more than ten feet high, built of some kind of pitch-black boulders.

Most of the porch has collapsed, leaving only a twisted frame.

Then came unfathomable darkness and an even thicker, slowly flowing, dark red aura.

This is the entrance to the sanctuary.

A chilling silence filled the air, broken only by the faint whistling sounds of the shifting malevolent energy.

"Let's go in and take a look."

Li Mutian took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with determination.

Having come this far, there's no point in retreating; we might as well take the risk and explore, perhaps we'll make an amazing discovery.

He lifted his foot, about to step into the dark doorway.

Just as his foot was about to step into the shadowy area in front of the door—

"etc!"

Li Xiaoyao suddenly shouted in a low voice, which was urgent and sharp!

Almost instinctively, he reached out his right hand, grabbed Li Mutian's arm tightly, and pulled him back with all his might!

Li Mutian reacted extremely quickly. Although he didn't understand why, his trust in his younger brother made him not resist at all. He used the force to retreat backward like lightning!

The very next second after the two figures left the area in front of the door—

hum! ! !

A deep, muffled roar, seemingly originating from the depths of the earth, resounded!

Suddenly, a blinding crimson light burst forth from the pitch-black doorway!

A massive, solid light barrier, as dense as blood-red crystal, suddenly expanded outwards from the porch without warning!

The surface of the light shield was covered with countless ancient runes that were extremely complex and mysterious, radiating a terrifying pressure and sealing power that could freeze one's soul!

The light shield expanded at an astonishing speed, almost instantly enveloping Li Xiaoyao and his companion who had not yet fully retreated!

At the critical moment, the "Four Seasons Mirror" at Li Xiaoyao's waist hummed on its own, and its mirror surface flashed rapidly!

It seemed to be strongly sensing and repelling the runes on the blood-red light shield!

It was precisely through this subtle feeling, and the keen insight of an array master into energy flow and spatial structure, that he was able to achieve this.

Only then was Li Xiaoyao able to pull Li Mutian along an almost distorted trajectory in the blink of an eye.

They narrowly escaped the blood-red light barrier, barely brushing past its edge!

"boom--!"

The crimson light barrier finally stabilized, completely enveloping the entrance to the Sanctuary ruins and a large surrounding area.

Inside the light shield, the scene became blurry and distorted, as if viewed through a layer of flowing blood-red crystal, filled with a sense of ominousness and isolation.

Li Xiaoyao and Li Mutian landed dozens of feet away, looking at the suddenly appearing blood-red light shield with lingering fear, their backs already soaked with cold sweat.

"That was close!"