Dual cultivation makes you stronger, everyone else is a prodigy, and I'm the only one slacking

Faced with the dissipating and then reassembling light barrier, the Third Elder's expression turned solemn, and the shock in his eyes was instantly replaced by composure. He was not blindly optimistic.

Instead, he summoned a compass and used his powerful divine sense, which was at the half-step Purple Mansion level, to sweep across the surrounding area like a tidal wave.

"You all need to control your aura, don't relax too soon."

At the Third Elder's stern shout, the other elite disciples, who had been somewhat excited, all stiffened and immediately and skillfully concealed themselves.

The Third Elder walked in front of the Heavenly Pillar Formation, reached out and touched the array patterns on the stone pillar. After a moment, he felt a chill and instantly understood what kind of array patterns these were.

He stared at Yu Luoning, sighed deeply, and said, "We got in too easily. The real heavy forces and defensive core should be underground."

He then pointed to a hidden, pitch-black crack behind the pillar. It was dark and resembled the entrance to a passage, except that there were defensive runes above the entrance.

Elder Feng San added, "Fortunately, Miss Yu did not go down rashly. If she had followed the path of this spiritual energy into the underground, the great formation above would have immediately closed, trapping the infiltrator inside to death."

Yu Luoning was startled: "I see this is the only passage around here. And the spiritual energy below is extremely dense. How can we reach the spiritual energy center without going down?"

"This is why the Ancestor sent me here. You protect me, I'll study the array patterns on the rocks first."

After saying that, the Third Elder squatted down beside the rocks next to the crack.

With a wave of his hand, ancient array patterns soon appeared on the rock wall.

He stared at the array patterns for less than three breaths before breaking out in a cold sweat.

"This is a fake entrance designed to lure infiltrators. Look at the pattern above. If I'm not mistaken, it should be a kind of ancient array. This passage is called the Death Gate in the array gate. It's a one-way cage, with no way out once you enter."

"If any living creature leaps down from here, the array patterns will sense the fluctuations in spiritual energy and immediately activate the strangulation mechanism."

Upon hearing this, the surrounding Feng family disciples all gasped, feeling a chill run from the soles of their feet straight to the top of their heads.

It seems that cultivation requires more than just improving one's cultivation level. One should also learn a thing or two about various unorthodox skills, especially array formations and talisman techniques. One should never just bury oneself in swordsmanship.

Yu Luoning swallowed hard, patted her heart, and secretly rejoiced.

Fortunately, the Feng family patriarch sent an old man to come with her; otherwise, even if she had the Transcendent Technique, she would have been severely injured if she had fallen into this ancient death formation.

Feng Qiguang frowned and said, "Third Grandfather, since this passage is fake, the real entrance to the spiritual vein should be somewhere else, right?"

"Indeed, since there is a death gate, there must also be a life gate that provides a way out for their own people." The Third Elder chuckled coldly.

After saying that, he sat down cross-legged, bit his finger, squeezed out a wisp of blood essence, and drew it on his natal compass.

"Heaven and Earth, Qiankun... rise!"

As the essence and blood permeated the compass, the pointer on the compass gradually moved.

It eventually stopped about thirty yards west of Tianzhu.

Then he quickly walked in that direction, closed his eyes, and made a few gestures in the air with his hands.

An invisible rock suddenly revealed its true form.

With a snap, the water rippled in the void.

The next moment, a heavy, hidden door appeared in the mountain wall behind the rocks.

The Third Elder took a deep breath and glanced at Feng Qiguang and Yu Luoning. "We can't all rush in at once, otherwise we'll be caught in a pincer movement underground, and we won't even have anyone to keep watch or provide support."

We'll split into two groups. I'll lead four elite soldiers skilled in stealth to the first half.

Even if I were to encounter the old monster guarding the Jiang family's veins, with my cultivation and mastery of formations, stalling for half an incense stick's time wouldn't be a problem.

As he spoke, he looked at Feng Qiguang, "Guang'er, you are the hope of the entire clan. You, Miss Yu, and the remaining seven disciples will follow a hundred feet behind."

"Third Grandfather, the underground is so dangerous, I should be the one to scout ahead." Feng Qiguang's expression changed.

"Nonsense! What good would you be? I've lived longer than you've walked. How can we let a junior lead the charge? If a fierce battle breaks out underground, your and Miss Yu's spatial magic is our only way out. You must cooperate with Miss Yu to use the teleportation technique to evacuate, leaving a lifeline for the Feng family, understand?"

Feng Qiguang gritted his teeth, his eyes welling up with tears, and solemnly said, "Yes, junior obeys."

Yu Luoning's gaze turned solemn with respect: "Senior, please be careful in all matters."

"Well, I'll go explore the underground first. You all keep track of the time and enter the crevice after a hundred breaths."

After saying that, Elder Feng San, along with four Feng family disciples, took the lead and jumped into the passage.

Yu Luoning and the others paused for a hundred breaths before following suit.

The passage was extremely wide, with torches embedded in the walls, casting flickering shadows on the stone walls.

The nine people descended one by one, with Yu Luoning walking in the middle, her expression wary, a large black sword in her hand.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from ahead, followed by a Feng family disciple limping out.

Half of his shoulder was a bloody mess. Seeing the crowd rush towards him, he grabbed Feng Qiguang's sleeve and cried, "Young Master, don't go any further! There's a Golden Core cultivator inside! Run!"

Everyone's expression changed simultaneously. Feng Qiguang grabbed his wrist and asked in a deep voice, "What happened? Tell me in detail."

The disciple was panting heavily, his face pale. "We followed the Third Elder down to explore the underground hall. In the center of the hall was a strange coffin. We didn't even touch the mechanism. As soon as we stepped into the hall, the aura of living people overflowing from it directly awakened the Golden Core expert sleeping in the coffin."

"The Third Elder is currently leading the others in desperately buying us time, but the enemy's strength is terrifying. In just one move, we lost two brothers. The Third Elder is fighting desperately to hold them off, which is how I managed to escape and deliver this message to you..."

The air was deathly still, and the remaining elite disciples looked grave, none of them speaking first.

Let alone the Golden Core stage, they couldn't even defeat someone at the Purple Mansion stage, let alone someone two stages higher.

For a moment, the few elite disciples of the Feng family who remained behind couldn't help but tremble.

Feng Qiguang's beautiful eyebrows were tightly furrowed together.

He turned his head, his starry eyes looking intently at Yu Luoning. Their gazes met, and no words were needed.

Yu Luoning said in a deep voice, "It's too late to back down now. The people from the Northern Sword Alliance have probably already arrived in Phoenix Perch Town. The Feng family is doomed no matter what, we must find a way out. At least let them know that taking over the Feng family will come at a price."

Yu Luoning's expression turned cold, and he ordered in a deep voice, "Leave one person to take care of him, the rest of you come with me."

After saying that, she made a hand seal and activated the Transcendental Technique. The group of people flashed and landed directly in the palace below.

As expected, the palace was extremely spacious, enough to accommodate thousands of people.

The hall was gloomy and dark, with a bronze coffin lying in the center, and behind it was a bronze door weighing over a thousand tons.

Three ancient seals were cast on the door, and the burgeoning innate spiritual energy, almost solidified as milky white, was trickling out from behind the door.

Undoubtedly, the channel to spiritual energy lies behind that door.

That was the only way to reach the central area of ​​the spiritual vein, and the one guarding this bronze door at this moment was a Golden Core expert.

Elder Feng San and that Golden Core expert had been locked in a fierce battle for a long time, and Elder Feng was clearly at a disadvantage.

The old man in the dark blue Taoist robe had his hands behind his back and was radiating a pure golden aura.

He stood in mid-air, laughing loudly, his voice booming like thunder: "I thought some powerful figure had arrived, but it turns out to be a bunch of Foundation Establishment novices who haven't even grown their hair yet."

Of all of you, only this old fellow can hold his own against me.

I've been guarding this place for years, and my bones are practically growing mold from boredom. Old man, don't disappoint me. Give me a good, satisfying fight!

He was arrogant and looked down on everyone.

Yu Luoning pursed her lips.

Even someone as powerful as Cui Xiu, who could instantly kill twelve Golden Core cultivators, wasn't as arrogant as him.

Meanwhile, Elder Feng San caught a glimpse of Yu Luoning, Feng Qiguang, and the other disciples.

Seeing that they hadn't left but had instead come, his pupils suddenly contracted.

He had been struggling to withstand the heavy blows from the Golden Core cultivator for a long time, and his arms under his sleeves were so trembling that he could no longer lift them.

Everyone knows that the Purple Mansion opens the Sea of ​​Consciousness, allowing the divine soul to reach the heavens. However, the Purple Mansion is ultimately limited. Only after the Golden Core emerges can one truly integrate the vast divine soul with one's own spiritual power and embark on the right path of cultivation.

A Golden Core cultivator is almost completely overwhelmed by a Purple Mansion cultivator.

It was already quite remarkable that Elder Feng San was able to withstand dozens of moves from that person!

He gritted his teeth, looking at the crowd who showed no intention of leaving, his lips moved slightly, but he didn't say anything.

Yu Luoning stepped forward, drew his black sword, and pointed it at the Golden Core elder.

A clear, cold voice echoed throughout the hall: "Even a large number of ants can shake a tree. No matter how strong he is at the Golden Core stage, he only has two hands. We have more than a dozen people. Who will emerge victorious today is still uncertain. Fellow Feng brothers, rest assured, I have a backup plan to ensure your survival."

A sudden jolt filled the air.

Everyone stared at her as she spoke.

Especially the pale-faced elite members of the Feng family.

Hearing that this young lady from the ancient clan actually held a trump card to save her life, they were free from all worries and their fighting spirit was instantly ignited.

Yu Luoning was extremely panicked. Although she had many trump cards, they could only protect herself.

But if we show fear before the battle even begins, then we will definitely not be able to win this battle.

With a quick glance, she spotted two Foundation Establishment disciples of the Feng family, covered in blood and on the verge of death, at the edge of the main hall.

Without saying a word, Yu Luoning summoned the bronze coffin from her spatial jade bracelet, then strode over and, as if picking up chicks, threw the two people inside.

In mid-air, the Golden Core elder paused, looking at Yu Luoning with some surprise.

A glint of greed flashed in his eyes as he looked at the ancient coffin that seemed capable of pulling even the soul of a Golden Core cultivator inside.

"Little one, this coffin you're holding is quite interesting. How about you present it to this old man as a token of your respect?"

Yu Luoning sneered, "You old codger, you like coffins so much, why don't you come and get one?"

"You little brat, you're asking for it!"

The old man's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. In all his years, he had never been scolded by a little girl in the Foundation Establishment stage.

"You are the first Foundation Establishment child to dare to be so arrogant in front of me. Since you are in such a hurry to be reborn, I will grant your wish."

The next moment, he raised his hand in mid-air and pressed down, and a golden Dan realm transformed into a giant palm that blotted out the sky, sweeping towards Yu Luoning.

Yu Luoning's gaze sharpened, and he summoned the Backlash Seal and the Drawing a Circle as a Prison early on.

However, the power of the Golden Core elder's attack was too terrifying.

There was a click.

The once invincible backlash seal didn't even last a moment before turning into countless fragments of light.

The shockwave forced everyone to retreat, some even collapsing to their knees.

Yu Luoning slowly stood up and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.

Immediately afterwards, the Third Elder and Feng Qiguang provided cover from both sides, and the group went forward to meet them. They fought back and forth, barely managing to hold off the Golden Core elder with sheer numbers.

The battle lasted a full fifteen minutes.

In the corner of the main hall, inside the ancient bronze coffin, two Foundation Establishment disciples of the Feng family, whose meridians had just been shattered and who were barely clinging to life, suddenly leaped out of the coffin with rosy complexions and high spirits.

The two stood beside the coffin, somewhat bewildered, completely unable to understand how they had been fully resurrected.

Yu Luoning shouted, not even having time to explain, "Are you still standing there watching the show? Hurry up and replace the injured!"

The two shuddered, then snapped out of their daze and returned to the front lines.

He then shoved several other seriously injured fellow disciples, who were on the verge of death, into the coffin. Luckily, the bronze coffin was big enough. Regardless of whether it could fit them all, they were all put in!

With a loud bang.

Yu Luoning kicked the coffin lid shut with her toes, sealing it completely.