Chapter 963: Deploying the Formation

Fairy Caiyi, being very familiar with the place, led them swiftly through the poisonous algae. Seeing no opportunity, Qin Sang had no choice but to patiently accompany them. Fortunately, these transformed demonic beasts still didn't suspect him.

There was no visible soil in Flower Immortal Lake; the ground was covered with withered toxic algae and thick flower buds filled with seeds. Soon, they ventured deeper into Flower Immortal Lake. Due to the potent toxins, not many cultivators were capable of entering Flower Immortal Lake to search for treasures. They didn't encounter a single one along the way, making their journey exceptionally smooth.

At this point, the demonic beasts grew even more cautious. Soon, they arrived before a raised, circular mound.

Fairy Caiyi suddenly signaled Qin Sang and the others to stop. She then flew towards the mound alone, her figure vanishing instantly among the poisonous algae. A moment later, Fairy Caiyi returned, smiling, and said, "The restrictions here are unchanged from last time; they haven't been triggered. This was originally an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling, but all the treasures inside have been cleared out, leaving only an empty dwelling. The restrictions are still relatively intact and can isolate fluctuations, making them suitable for setting up a spirit array. We shouldn't need to go anywhere else."

Hearing this, all the demonic beasts rejoiced.

"Fairy Caiyi, please lead the way quickly."

Fairy Caiyi nodded and led the demonic beasts towards the mound, soon reaching the very center of its summit.

"The entrance is right here."

Under the astonished gaze of the demonic beasts, Fairy Caiyi pointed at the ground beneath her feet. Immediately, she waved her jade-like hand, and a sharp gust of wind, like a steel blade, shot out, easily breaking through the thick layer of decaying poisonous algae and revealing the mound's true surface.

Beneath the algae, black rock was revealed; it was extremely flat and clearly artificially created. Wisps of black-green smoke emanated from the decaying poisonous algae, instantly filling the opening completely. Looking at the smoke, Fairy Caiyi said with a grave tone, "The toxicity of the smoke below is far more potent than that in the air. Even if you've taken the Thousand-Year Viper's antidote, you must not be careless. This is the entrance to the cave dwelling below. The immortal restrictions have already been deciphered by cultivators, so entering won't be difficult."

Next, Fairy Caiyi took out some treasures and placed them at the opening. After making these arrangements, the demonic beasts formed a circle and slowly descended into the opening.

The poisonous smoke emanating from the decaying algae was no less potent than the toxic mist in the Violet Mist Chasm. Qin Sang felt his feet sink as he stepped onto the black rock, surrounded by toxic smoke and an extreme, bone-chilling cold.

"Now!"

Fairy Caiyi let out a low cry, flicking her brocade sleeve. A bright light instantly shone within the toxic smoke, and a clear phoenix cry echoed as a fist-sized phoenix flew out from her sleeve. Yuan Zhu and the other demonic beasts were not to be outdone, each displaying their own methods; some even used magic treasures.

Qin Sang, maintaining his Celestial Demonic Transformation form, violently flapped his wings and forcefully threw a punch downwards. A blue fist-shadow shot out from his body, smashing into the rock. The demonic beasts' attacks came almost simultaneously.

The ancient restriction felt the impact and finally manifested; the surface of the rock became covered with dense runes. The poisonous smoke, which could even corrode true essence, was instantly dispersed completely by an unknown force. But then Qin Sang and the others felt their bodies tighten, as if they had fallen into a vast sea of mist. The sea of mist only existed for a short time before their attacks arrived.

'Boom!'

The mound trembled slightly, the poisonous algae vibrated, and countless nearly ripe seeds were shaken off, forming a rain of flowers in the sky. With a grinding sound, the black rock split open from the middle, flipping inwards to reveal a passageway leading inside. As soon as the restriction was broken, Qin Sang and the others had already escaped the mist's confinement.

"Go in; there's no danger inside."

Fairy Caiyi entered the passageway first, with the demonic beasts following her in single file. The passageway was straight, leading directly to a heavy iron door. When the demonic beasts opened it, they saw an exceptionally magnificent stone hall. Several side chambers connected to the stone hall.

It was evident that the furnishings in the stone hall must have been extremely elaborate in the past, but now nothing remained. It was dilapidated, and even if any treasures had survived, they had long since been plundered.

"Fairy Caiyi was right; this place is indeed perfect," Gu Heng said, a satisfied expression on his face. After surveying the hall, he walked to a raised platform and declared, "Without further delay, let's begin setting up the array."

With that, Gu Heng patted his mustard seed pouch, and hundreds of streaks of light swarmed out, enveloping various treasures that floated in the air, almost filling the platform. Seeing this, the others swiftly ascended the platform and began setting up the array together, following Gu Heng and Fairy Caiyi's instructions. This spirit array was extremely complex. Qin Sang silently helped set it up while also attempting to analyze it.

He had some experience in array formations and restrictions, yet he had no clue how to approach this spirit array. It was completely different from any spirit array he had encountered before. It seemed that not only did humans and demonic beasts cultivate differently, but there were also differences in other aspects.

Unexpectedly, the mission was going so smoothly that the demonic beasts were in excellent spirits, chatting and laughing as they set up the array. Qin Sang glanced at the demonic beasts, then looked at Yuan Zhu beside him and asked aloud, "After completing the King's mission, what do you plan to do, Fellow Daoist Yuan?"

"I plan to leave the Seven Kills Palace..." Yuan Zhu replied.

Just then, the Guiche descendant next to them interjected, "I've actually discovered a secret realm within the Seven Kills Palace. It's quite interesting and might be related to our demonic predecessors. If you have nothing else to do, why not explore it with me? We've gone through great effort to come to the human sacred land; we shouldn't return empty-handed. As for any treasures we find, I, Che, will pick one first, and the rest will be divided equally. Taking treasures from humans is also a contribution to our demonic race."

Yuan Zhu chuckled, "It seems, Fellow Daoist Che, that you didn't exert your full effort last time, only thinking about finding treasures, right?"

The Guiche descendant smiled without speaking.

Yuan Zhu pondered for a moment and said, "If there truly is a relic of a demonic predecessor, it wouldn't hurt to make a trip. I actually have something to attend to myself, let me think about it a bit more..."

Qin Sang also chimed in noncommittally.

His heart eased. It seemed that after the spirit array was set up, these transformed demonic beasts would disperse. At that time, he would not only be able to escape easily but also have the opportunity to defeat them one by one. He could then capture a few and ask them how they managed to transform early. Thinking of this, Qin Sang was no longer so anxious.

With the combined efforts of the demonic beasts, the grand array quickly took shape. On the high platform, a grand array appeared out of thin air, with a square altar in its center. The base of the altar was made of white jade, intricately carved with countless famous auspicious immortal beasts such as dragons, phoenixes, Qilins, Kunpeng, and more. Each one was lifelike, as if ready to fly out of the white jade and into reality. At the top of the altar, at the moment it took shape, a mass of gray mist suddenly emerged. Within the mist were subtle, unfathomable fluctuations.

Finally, the spirit array was completed.

Gu Heng and Fairy Caiyi landed on opposite sides of the altar, one to the left and one to the right. The demonic beasts arrayed themselves around them, encircling the altar.