Chapter 165: Breaking the Formation

At the city gate, Li Tianzheng and Song Yihang stood together, occasionally gazing into the distance. Li Tianzheng's expression was calm, but his heart was secretly filled with anticipation. He had originally intended only to lure and kill Song Yihang and Wang Ruyan, not expecting Wang Changsheng to also join. To maintain secrecy, he hadn't informed any of his fellow sect members.

Song Yihang also hadn't told his other sect members. He had invited Wang Ruyan partly because he and Li Tianzheng genuinely couldn't break through the restriction, and partly to curry favor with her. However, he didn't anticipate that Wang Ruyan would insist on bringing Wang Changsheng along. To be honest, he didn't want to bring Wang Changsheng; an extra person meant having to divide more treasures. But Wang Ruyan insisted repeatedly, and Li Tianzheng also agreed, so Song Yihang finally relented.

Li Tianzheng glanced at the sky and urged, "Fellow Daoist Song, they aren't going to back out, are they? It's not good to delay too long. If they leak the news, we'll be in trouble." He was worried that delays might lead to unforeseen complications. If worst came to worst, luring and killing Song Yihang alone would also be acceptable. Song Yihang also felt a bit anxious. Just as he was about to say something, his eyes lit up: "They're here. No need to wait anymore." Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan walked towards them and soon arrived before them.

"Fellow Daoist Song, Fellow Daoist Li, I apologize for making you wait so long," Wang Ruyan said politely, her face showing an apologetic expression. "No matter," Song Yihang said meaningfully. "Since everyone is here, let's set off! However, I hope the two of you won't play any tricks, to avoid unpleasant incidents." Having said that, he walked out of the city and disappeared into the vast mountains.

Nine days later, the four, including Wang Changsheng, appeared in a verdant bamboo forest, proceeding slowly. "Fellow Daoist Song, Fellow Daoist Li, you've been leading us around for so many days. Do you still not trust us? How much longer will you keep us circling?" Wang Ruyan asked with a frown. Song Yihang and Li Tianzheng had been leading them in circles, stopping and starting. Wang Ruyan could understand at first, but after half a month of circling in the deep mountains, even a clay figure would get angry. Of course, from this perspective, Song Yihang and Li Tianzheng didn't seem to be lying; it appeared they had genuinely discovered an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling. Wang Changsheng said nothing, but he remained vigilant. At each location, he would release his divine sense to probe, checking for any ambushes. Song Yihang nodded with a smile and said, "Don't worry, Immortal Wang. We won't be circling anymore this time. We're heading straight to our destination now." Hearing this, Wang Ruyan's expression softened, and she nodded, "I hope so!"

Passing through the bamboo forest, a valley overgrown with flowers and plants appeared before the four. The valley was flanked by steep stone cliffs. "Is the cave dwelling here?" Wang Ruyan frowned, her face full of caution. This terrain was very suitable for setting up formations, and it would be difficult to escape if ambushed. "Precisely. Immortal Wang, please don't misunderstand. Fellow Daoist Li and I discovered this place while chasing a second-order Azure-Spotted Golden-Eyed Wolf," Song Yihang explained, then strode towards the valley, with Li Tianzheng following behind.

Wang Ruyan showed hesitation. Wang Changsheng transmitted a message, "Immortal Wang, since we've already come this far, let's follow them! We just need to be extra careful. If a fight breaks out, we'll kill Song Yihang first." Song Yihang and Li Tianzheng didn't know that Wang Changsheng was a body cultivator, so they would likely suffer a great loss if caught off guard. Wang Ruyan nodded and stepped towards the valley, with Wang Changsheng close behind. Many purple sunflowers grew on both sides of the valley, and a faint floral fragrance permeated the air. At the end of the valley was a steep stone cliff, with no apparent exit. "Fellow Daoist Song, Fellow Daoist Li, didn't you say there was an ancient cultivator's secluded dwelling here? Where is the cave dwelling?" Wang Ruyan's face was full of vigilance, and Wang Changsheng's hand rested on his storage pouch. "Immortal Wang, Fellow Daoist Wang, don't misunderstand; we merely blocked the entrance." Song Yihang smiled slightly, shook his sleeve, and a three-foot-long silver flying sword, about an inch wide, flew out, striking the stone wall. A loud rumble! A hole about ten feet in size was blasted into the stone wall, revealing a dark cave before the four. The cave wasn't large; two people walking side-by-side wouldn't be an issue, but three would be a tight squeeze.

Li Tianzheng took a foot-long blue wooden box from his robe, and from it, he retrieved four shimmering yellow talismans. He said with a smile, "These are Spirit-Seeking Parent-Child Talismans. There's one parent talisman and three child talismans. When used, activate the parent talisman, and if anyone approaches within a hundred zhang, the parent talisman will send a warning to the child talismans. Fellow Daoist Song, Immortal Wang, we'll each take one." Wang Ruyan and Song Yihang carefully inspected the four talismans. After confirming they were in order, each put away one child talisman. Wang Changsheng had heard of Spirit-Seeking Parent-Child Talismans before and had no doubts. Li Tianzheng activated the parent talisman, which transformed into a yellow light and vanished into the ground. "Let's go! The cave dwelling is inside," Song Yihang declared, striding in, with Li Tianzheng close behind.

Wang Ruyan secretly instructed Wang Changsheng, then followed inside, with Wang Changsheng right behind her. After entering the cave, there was a narrow passage with scattered loose stones on the ground. The four proceeded slowly. As Wang Changsheng walked forward, he released his divine sense to probe, fortunately finding nothing unusual. After walking for about a hundred zhang, the path suddenly opened up, and a spacious natural grotto appeared before them. Song Yihang activated his silver flying sword, striking it with a spell. The silver flying sword glowed brightly, dividing into two, then four, then eight, until hundreds of identical silver flying swords appeared out of thin air, vying to strike the stone wall. With a dull thud of metal striking stone, a dazzling yellow light suddenly illuminated the rock wall. "Immortal Wang, this is the restriction," Song Yihang said solemnly. "Fellow Daoist Li and I attacked it for several days straight but couldn't break through. Let's all strike together in a moment, hoping to break this restriction." Wang Ruyan and Wang Changsheng agreed in unison and took out their magic tools. Each of the four had their own plans, and they guarded against each other.

Wang Ruyan took out a foot-long red flute and gently blew it. A large amount of firelight appeared out of thin air, transforming into massive crimson fireballs that smashed against the stone wall. Wang Changsheng activated two blue flying daggers, while Li Tianzheng activated the green wooden sword from his back. For a time, explosions echoed continuously, and flames surged. The Three Talents Thick Earth Formation truly lived up to its name as a middle-grade third-tier formation. Even with the four of them working together, they couldn't break the restriction. Of course, they were wary of each other and held back, not using their full power. Otherwise, the outcome would have been uncertain. After more than an hour, the restriction still hadn't been broken, though its light had dimmed slightly. "Three fellow Daoists, let's not hold back anymore," Song Yihang urged. "The Three Talents Thick Earth Formation has strong recovery abilities, and we won't be able to break it without using our full power." Song Yihang chanted a spell, and his silver flying sword let out a crisp hum. Its light flared brightly as it viciously struck the yellow light barrier, which immediately caved inward. Li Tianzheng changed his spell, and a layer of green flame appeared on the surface of his green wooden sword, which then fiercely stabbed the yellow light barrier. The flute's melody grew rapid, and a large amount of firelight appeared out of thin air, transforming into foot-long crimson fire blades that struck the yellow light barrier, sending flames surging. With two "whoosh" sounds, the two blue flying daggers struck the yellow light barrier. The yellow light barrier remained intact, but its light grew even dimmer. Wang Changsheng hesitated briefly, then activated another blue flying dagger, fiercely striking the dim yellow light barrier. A thunderous boom! With a massive sound, the yellow light barrier shattered.