Chapter 170: True Adventure

With Tuantuan's help, Xu Yang and his group successfully bypassed the Sky Guardian Formation without alerting the Yuanyang Empire, reaching the foot of the mountain range.

Their next task was to find an entrance into the mountain.

"Little one, it's your turn. From now on, the resources you gain will be directly tied to your contributions to the team." Xu Yang's simple words completely energized the little dragon python. It maximized its perceptive abilities and began meticulously scanning the mountain, inch by inch, to pinpoint the areas where dragon qi was most concentrated.

In less than three hours, the little dragon python provided feedback.

"Boss, something's strange here!"

Xu Yang and the others approached, noticing that the temperature emanating from the mountain surface at the spot indicated by the little dragon python was distinctly different from other areas.

"It's indeed strange! Such high temperatures suggest this is a point of energy circulation within the mountain. If I'm not mistaken, there must be a vast vacuum area inside!"

Bai Lianxue's analysis solidified Xu Yang's resolve.

"This is it. We'll force open an entrance here and go into the mountain!" Xu Yang knew very well that a Dragon's Hoard of this nature wouldn't have a proper, conventional entrance. To get inside, they would have to create an entry point themselves.

"Together?" Ling Yao's cool tone matched her usual aloof and serene demeanor; she never wasted words.

"No need, I can handle it myself." Xu Yang didn't use his sword techniques because this location was close to the Sky Guardian Formation, and creating too much commotion would not be wise.

Xu Yang gently pressed his palm against the mountain surface, feeling the scorching heat emanating from within. Faintly, a glowing Tai Chi totem materialized.

"Three Origins Return to One!"

He murmured a few words, and then Xu Yang's self-created Dao rules began to take effect. With an astonishing force, they disintegrated the soil and rock structures on the mountain surface, causing the material to rapidly shrink and disappear, dissolving into its most primordial spiritual energy form.

"My god... what kind of cultivation method is this? It's terrifying! Are you a creator?" "Master, have you broken through again?"

Bai Lianxue was also startled. Given Xu Yang's level of cultivation, she couldn't imagine what kind of further breakthroughs her master could achieve. Yet, the realm he displayed with his initial move was already beyond ordinary comprehension. Such a feat couldn't possibly be accomplished by merely absorbing spiritual energy or improving a specific cultivation method.

"It's nothing. I merely integrated my previous foundations and created a new Dao lineage leaning towards primordial laws. When the time is right, I will teach this method to you."

Everyone was speechless.

It sounded good, but with a foundation of 100,000 years, when would they ever be truly qualified to inherit this Dao lineage? Bai Lianxue and the other two goddesses simply listened, though they were utterly awestruck by Xu Yang's now almost divine strength.

Soon, a half-meter wide cave was created in the mountain. The opening appeared incredibly deep, and just as they had suspected, it undoubtedly connected to a much wider vacuum space inside.

"I'll go first, you follow. If you encounter danger, don't worry about me, withdraw immediately." As Xu Yang spoke, Long Kun patted his chest. "Why don't you use me? You have an indestructible mountain of flesh here, yet you insist on putting yourself in harm's way?"

Long Kun genuinely meant well, wanting to contribute to the team. It wasn't that Xu Yang didn't trust him, but the Dragon's Hoard was so mysterious that the situations inside would be beyond imagination. No matter how resilient Long Kun was, his adaptability could never match Xu Yang, who had lived for 100,000 years. Often, experience and wisdom were far more valuable than raw power.

"Don't worry, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to show your skills. I'm just concerned that if it truly is a vacuum world inside, it might contain a special substance that corrodes souls, rendering your cultivation methods ineffective!"

Long Kun nodded gravely and obediently stayed at the very end of the group, as Xu Yang instructed.

Little Tuantuan was second to last, positioned between Long Kun and Ling Qingshu. Bai Lianxue was in the middle of the group, while Ling Yao followed closely behind Xu Yang, ready to cast spells and eliminate any dangers.

At the very front, Xu Yang naturally bore the greatest pressure, almost supporting the weight of everyone above him with his hands. With every descent, he would extend his spiritual energy to check for dangers. Moreover, because this underground space had been in a vacuum state for a long time, the air was incredibly thin, which in itself put immense pressure on the cultivators.

"My god... what kind of place is this down here? I'm feeling a bit scared." Long Kun had never experienced anything like this. He was trembling and apprehensive the entire time, even less composed than the more spirited Little Tuantuan ahead of him.

"Look at you! You're so tough, yet you're such a coward? It's baffling!" Tuantuan's teasing drew laughter from the three goddesses ahead, lightening the mood somewhat.

Just then, Xu Yang suddenly released his hands and dropped rapidly until his feet landed firmly. He immediately raised his arms, and a powerful surge of spiritual energy quickly condensed into a light barrier, gently catching each descending person.

"This is... a passage? Does this mean we're on the right track?"

"It seems so. The end of this cave should lead to the true Dragon's Hoard! Although I'm not sure what it looks like inside, based on the structure here, it appears to be an underground tomb."

Ling Qingshu's 'Luminous Moon Anomaly' reappeared. The long corridor was fully illuminated by her cultivation method, and everyone was once again blessed by the moonlight, significantly enhancing their resistance.

Xu Yang led the way, bringing everyone before a massive stone gate.

"Huh! The writing on this... isn't from the Ancient Desolation?"

Bai Lianxue was greatly surprised! The Ancient Desolation was, in fact, the most renowned superpower of the Three Thousand Dao Provinces hundreds of thousands of years ago, and also the ancient collective name for several major empires in the present-day Dao Provinces. It was said that at the peak of the Ancient Desolation Dynasty, its influence spanned nearly half the continent, possessing extraordinary foundations. Later, with the passage of time, the Ancient Desolation's power waned, leading to the emergence of numerous subsequent empires. However, the Yuanyang Empire, which appeared suddenly less than ten thousand years ago, was truly an anomaly.

"So, the Dragon's Hoard is the imperial tomb of the Ancient Desolation Dynasty?"

As this realization dawned on everyone, the massive stone gate before them undoubtedly gained an added layer of mystery.

"If that's truly the case, then this imperial tomb must contain an unimaginable inheritance and foundation!"