Chapter 1058: Traveler Without Boundaries (Part 1)

"A spatial formation?"

Zhang Xuan was puzzled. He had heard of maze formations, illusion formations, and killing formations, but what was a spatial formation, and how was it different from folded space?

"A spatial formation is a formation that creates its own self-contained space. It's less stable than folded space, but it can more easily accommodate large formations like killing formations, illusion formations, or maze formations... trapping people inside without them even realizing it!" President Han's voice trembled. As a peak seven-star formation master, he knew the terror of such a formation. Once inside a self-contained space, one's consciousness would be affected by its rules, making escape impossible. Most importantly, it was highly likely to hide powerful killing formations that even those with great strength couldn't break unless they reached Saint 9-dan.

Hearing his words, everyone exchanged glances and frowned. Although they still didn't fully understand spatial formations, President Han was always composed. For him to be so shaken meant this place was undoubtedly terrifying.

"What if we just directly break this formation?" Zhang Xuan looked over. He thought, regardless of how powerful the formation was, at worst, it would just be a wasted effort; there was no need to be so nervous!

"Other formations can be broken, but a spatial formation is almost impossible to dismantle, unless... you possess the power to remain unharmed even if the space itself shatters!" President Han replied.

Zhang Xuan's mouth twitched. This was far more destructive than an explosion. If he truly encountered it, let alone his current strength as a Half-Saint, even if he advanced by six or seven major cultivation levels, he wouldn't be able to withstand it. His soul would be easily annihilated by shattering space. How could one survive if the space they lived in shattered? It was like the saying, "If the skin is gone, what can the hair attach to?"

"Precisely! That's why, with a spatial formation, one can only advance step by step along the path designed by its creator, without the slightest deviation!" President Han's voice became grave. "This means we have now entered the actual ruins, and every step we take is fraught with danger..."

"Danger at every step?" Everyone's expressions turned solemn. The previous two trials, though difficult, didn't pose significant danger if one couldn't pass them. For example, above the lava, if they couldn't cross the scorching magma to enter the palace below, flying above it wouldn't immediately endanger their lives. And in the second trial, if they didn't attack the seal, they wouldn't be harmed even if they stayed inside for years. But now, judging by President Han's tone, entering this formation space was different. Whether they moved or stayed, advanced or not, danger could arise at any moment. In other words, the true test of these ruins had just begun.

"Since we are here, we must make the best of it," Wu Tianqiong said. "Given that this is the true ruin, it means Zhang Yinqiu and the others must have come here. We can search for the path they took; if we find it, our safety will undoubtedly increase significantly!"

"Indeed!" The others nodded in agreement. They had long disregarded life and death on this journey. Since they had already entered the ruins, it meant their objective was achieved, and they hadn't gone to the wrong place. They should be pleased.

"Zhang Yinqiu and the others came two years ago. Even if there were any traces, they would have mostly faded," Master Wu nodded and began walking forward. "However, since they managed to send out a message, they must be trapped somewhere. As long as we keep moving forward, we should discover something..." No one could confirm whether the old dean was dead or alive, but since he was able to transmit a message, he must have been alive at the time. If he was alive, he would certainly leave clues for those who followed; otherwise, the message would have been meaningless.

"Okay." Zhang Xuan said no more. He secretly activated his Eye of Insight, scanning the surroundings. After a while, he couldn't help but shake his head. Whether it was a formation space or a folded space, the person who created this place was far more powerful than him. The disparity in their cultivation levels was too vast; even a rare special ability like the Eye of Insight couldn't see through it.

"Flaws..." He then had an idea. However, after a short while, he shook his head again. Although this was a formation, being inside it felt like being trapped between heaven and earth. He could only observe and interact with what was tangible or actively running, but he was powerless to do anything about the formation itself. It was like trying to find flaws in the world outside by observing sunrises, moonsets, rain, and clouds. The scope was too vast; even the Heaven's Path Library, with its incredible abilities, could do nothing.

"It seems we can only move forward step by step..." Knowing he couldn't simply destroy it, Zhang Xuan, feeling frustrated, followed closely behind the others, walking onward. It had to be said that this formation space was incredibly lifelike. Walking through it, if they hadn't known they were deep beneath the lava, they might have genuinely believed they were in a sunny, mild, spring-like mountain range.

As they walked along the path, observing the lush green vegetation around them, they felt no dread of entering ruins. Instead, it gave them a sense of leisurely comfort. Especially when they heard the soft sighing of the wind through the trees, it evoked an even greater feeling of relaxation and detachment from worldly concerns.

"Isn't there any danger here?""Right! It feels like there's abundant spiritual energy here. If I ever wanted to stop fighting, living here would be wonderful!""The environment truly is excellent, perfect for cultivating one's mind and nurturing one's spirit..."After walking for a while, everyone's eyes lit up. President Han had spoken of such terrifying things earlier, making them incredibly nervous, but as they actually walked, they found it was far from what he described. Instead, it gave them a quiet and peaceful feeling. Wandering within, it made one feel like staying there for a lifetime.

"No, wait. Everyone, stay alert; I'm afraid we're already under attack..." As the group continued walking without perceiving any issues, President Han couldn't help but interject.

"Under attack? President Han, are you joking? I don't see anything," a combat master said with a laugh."Right," another combat master nodded. "I think President Han is being overly nervous and worrying for nothing. With so many of us, if we were truly under attack, we'd definitely notice."Each of them was seasoned in battle; if they were actually attacked, they would certainly retaliate. It was impossible for them to feel nothing, as they did now.

"Not noticing anything is precisely what's most terrifying!" President Han's face was grim. If it were a blatant attack, even if they couldn't win, they could fight to the death. What he feared most was the "boiling frog" scenario, where people were under attack without even realizing it.

"Has President Han discovered something?" Master Wu asked."Have you noticed that ever since we entered here, our previously tense nerves have completely relaxed?" President Han said. "In such a state, if danger were to arise, we might not even have time to react... And what's more crucial is that we've been walking for so long, yet we still see no end or any traces... It's as if something is drawing us onward! It's far too strange..."

"This..." Master Wu was startled. He hadn't noticed it until President Han mentioned it, but now he immediately felt that something was amiss. Walking here, they were too relaxed, even forgetting their basic defenses. It made people willing to stay and reluctant to leave. Even without considering anything else, this alone was extremely strange and unusual.

"Pfft!" As the two discussed, they heard a sound of someone spitting blood not far away. They quickly turned to look and saw the combat master who had earlier laughed about President Han being overly nervous. His face was pale, blood continuously spilled from the corners of his mouth, yet he still wore a smile as he continued to follow the group forward.

"This..." Seeing this person spitting blood continuously as if oblivious to pain, with the corners of his mouth still slightly upturned in a smile... The sight sent shivers down both their spines. The scene before them was truly too bizarre! Even with their vast experience, they had never encountered anything so strange.

"His zhenqi is depleted, and he's exhausted..." After observing for a moment, Master Wu's expression darkened. With his discerning eye as a seven-star master teacher, he could easily tell that this combat master's condition was due to completely depleted zhenqi and a degree of exhaustion. How long had they been walking? How could a combat master, known for their enduring strength, be unable to withstand it already?

President Han was still puzzled when he heard Master Wu's tense voice continue, "Look at your own Dantian...""Dantian?" President Han froze for a moment, then looked down. At what he saw, his pupils involuntarily contracted. He saw that the abundant zhenqi within his body was almost completely depleted. If his Dantian were a pond, it was now nearly dry, threatening to shrivel up at any moment.

"My zhenqi... how could it be depleted so quickly?" His body trembled. President Han was a peak seven-star formation master and a peak Saint 4-dan expert, the strongest among them with the most abundant zhenqi. He could sustain himself for one or two hours, even in combat, without exhaustion, let alone just walking... But now, after only a short walk, without even flying, his zhenqi was almost gone. What on earth had happened? This was truly terrifying!

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! While still in shock, they heard more sounds of spitting blood. Several lower-cultivation combat masters began coughing up blood. Even Wu Tianqiong, Shen Pingchao, and the other two master teacher academy deans had pale faces and bulging veins on their foreheads, as if their strength was rapidly depleting and they might collapse at any moment. Wu Tianqiong, in particular, not only looked grim but his hair also seemed to have turned even whiter, as if he had aged ten years in a short span.

"This..." President Han's body trembled as he instinctively looked at Master Wu. Although he was certain this was a formation space and knew it was dangerous, he completely failed to understand the current situation. He had no idea what was happening.

"I don't know either..." Master Wu shook his head. They were like people who had fallen into a deep well; those involved were bewildered, and even with their extensive knowledge, they remained utterly perplexed.

"We've likely been drawn in by the sounds of the wind in these mountains and have fallen into a special artistic conception," Zhang Xuan's voice cut through their confusion. "Not only is our zhenqi being depleted rapidly, but our lifespans are also being consumed. If we don't break free, we'll end up like them, walking endlessly without fatigue until our zhenqi and vital blood are completely exhausted, leading to death!"They turned to look and saw the young man with furrowed brows, lost in thought.