Cultivation Starting from Choosing Augments

Chapter 315 - 176: The Opening of the Yellow Springs Traveling Palace

If there had been just one Foundation Establishment Cultivator nearby to maintain order, the chaos wouldn’t have gotten this severe.

’Besides, logically speaking, the Lingyuan Sect wouldn’t do something like reassign all of its Foundation Establishment Cultivators, would they?’

’Unless something incredibly important had happened, something that made even these Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators willingly rush over.’

Even though he guessed something major was happening, Xiao Chen still slowed his Escape Speed slightly to deal with all the Tribulation Cultivators he encountered along the way.

This delayed him by four hours, and he didn’t return to Elemental Magnetic Peak until around 7 p.m.

However, to his surprise, Elemental Magnetic Peak was currently enveloped in a bright golden radiance.

Chains formed from runes flickered in and out of view, resembling a massive inverted bowl that sealed a thirty-li radius with Elemental Magnetic Peak at its center.

It was clearly the Mountain Protection Array, fully activated and cutting off all contact between the inside and out.

Generally, a situation like this meant one of two things.

Either an enemy was at the gates, forcing them to mount a defense, or their own forces had left en masse, leaving the peak undefended.

Judging by the current situation, it had to be the latter.

Xiao Chen turned and headed for Xianghe Market. The usual hustle and bustle was gone; nearly all the shops, large and small, had shut their gates.

Only a single elder from the Qiu Family remained, likely to watch over the Spirit Turtle Egg.

"Mr. Qiu, may I ask where everyone else has gone?"

.

As it turned out, he had spent so much time comprehending the Path of Yin and Yang that it was already the eighteenth of the fourth month.

A full six days had passed since the Yellow Springs Traveling Palace opened.

"Five days ago, a rumor started spreading that an Ancient Secret Realm had opened, and within it lay an opportunity for Core Formation."

"Then, three days ago, an unusual phenomenon appeared, and it drained nearly all the Spiritual Qi from the entire Black Flame Mountain Range."

"Everyone said someone had already seized the opportunity, so they all followed them into the Secret Realm, hoping to find more opportunities of their own."

"Xiao, you should hurry and try your luck. If you go now, you should still make it in time."

Huh?

’An Ancient Secret Realm opened, and it has an opportunity for Core Formation inside?’

’Is that for real?’

After learning the situation from the Qiu Family, Xiao Chen wasted no time in rushing south.

After crossing the Black Flame Mountain Range, he immediately spotted a great mass of black clouds hovering in the distant sky.

Beneath the cloud mass, several Golden Core True Men sat cross-legged. Large numbers of runes swirled beneath each of them, collectively forming some kind of Array.

Brilliant light flared from the Array, pouring ceaselessly into the Yellow Springs Traveling Palace.

On the ground was a wide-open hole, a full ten zhang across.

Gong Lingfeng and the others stood at the edge of the hole, their faces etched with anxiety as they waited.

Seeing him approach, they were first startled. "Xiao, you’re still out here?"

Then, his expression relaxed slightly. "It’s a huge relief that you’re okay."

Xiao Chen asked curiously, "Gong, I heard an Ancient Secret Realm opened and that there’s an opportunity for Core Formation inside?"

"Why are you all standing out here? And what did you mean by that remark?"

Upon hearing this, a sorrowful look immediately crossed Gong Lingfeng’s face, and he began to sigh.

Seeing this, an Elder behind him explained agitatedly, "Xiao, there’s something you don’t know! This isn’t some Ancient Secret Realm at all."

"And there’s no damn opportunity inside, either."

"It’s a trap set for us by those bastards from the Divine Fire Sect!"

His voice grew more and more agitated as he spoke, interspersed with numerous curses aimed at the Divine Fire Sect.

The gist of his explanation was that for the first three days, the entrance to the Relic had been concealed by a massive Illusion Array composed entirely of Magical Power, one that had even fooled the Golden Core True Men.

Without exception, every Cultivator who arrived was misled and rushed inside to search for treasure.

Only after nearly everyone had scrambled to get inside did they discover it was a deathtrap you could enter but never leave.

It wasn’t until those who had stayed behind outside received no return messages that they began to grow suspicious.

They finally realized what was happening and destroyed the Illusion Array.

But the discovery clearly came too late, as a large number of Cultivators were already trapped inside.

The small number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators who remained had gathered nearby to wait.

Until the Golden Core True Men could secure the exit, no one was willing to risk going down.

Gong Lingfeng’s expression was also grim. "According to Master Gongliang’s calculations, this is the rumored entrance to the Yellow Springs Traveling Palace, a relic left behind by the Demon Sect."

"It will be no easy task for the True Men to break through."

"The prospects are grim for our comrades who went inside. I fear few, if any, will survive."

HISS!

’The Yellow Springs Traveling Palace!’

Xiao Chen instantly recalled the Ancient Texts he had read. This was an excellent place, a place that concealed the Five Elements Evil Qi.

’Well now, doesn’t that mean there really *is* an opportunity for Core Formation inside?’

’For me, at least, the Five Elements Evil Qi itself can increase the success rate of Core Formation.’

"Don’t worry, Gong. I’m going inside to check out the situation."

With that, Xiao Chen started to head inside.

Huh?

Gong Lingfeng froze, then quickly reached out to stop him. "Xiao, this is a Demon Sect Relic! You can’t go in there!"

"It’s likely full of Divine Fire Sect Cultivators now, not to mention all sorts of hidden mechanisms and traps."

But Xiao Chen just waved his hand. "Then that’s all the more reason for me to go. There may be comrades in there right now who need my help."

"My mind is made up. Don’t try to persuade me further, Gong."

Gu Qiu Ling, who had heard the commotion and come over, also tried to dissuade him. "Xiao, the Celestial Secret Pavilion has confirmed that shadows of Evil Qi are visible outside the Yellow Springs Traveling Palace. There is definitely a buildup of Evil Qi inside."

"Going in now means not only facing Demon Cultivators but also guarding against the corrosion of Evil Qi. It’s no different than a suicide mission."

"If we wait another two days for the True Men to stabilize the exit, it won’t be too late to go in and save people then."

She hadn’t been able to leave Wangyan Mountain immediately, and by the time she arrived, the Illusion Array had already been broken. Thus, she was fortunate enough to have remained outside.