Chapter 2728: The Nirvana Cave Dwelling of the Xutian Clan

A colossal, sky-piercing peak, ten thousand zhang tall, was densely covered with vegetation.

Five Essence Fire Clan members, including Jin Ye, stood at the foot of the mountain. A voluptuous woman in a red dress held a gleaming red dharma plate, which had a flame pattern on its front.

"What's going on? Where are the others?" Jin Ye frowned. The Essence Fire Clan had sent over ten Spirit Transformation cultivators into the Mysterious Spirit Cave Abode, yet only five of them were present.

"They might be trapped elsewhere, or perhaps killed by human cultivators," the woman in the red dress said cautiously. The Mysterious Spirit Cave Abode was vast, and before setting out, Jin Ye hadn't specified a meeting point, only instructing them to use the Skyfire Plate for contact. Their entry into the Mysterious Spirit Cave Abode to seek treasures was random in terms of location. Whether they could meet up depended heavily on luck; some clan members had appeared in the lairs of sixth-order demonic beasts and were directly annihilated.

Jin Ye's brow was deeply furrowed, and he said nothing.

A moment later, the young woman in the red dress excitedly exclaimed, "Two clan members are coming!"

Two streaks of light appeared on the distant horizon. Soon after, the two streaks appeared directly above them. As the lights faded, they revealed a tall, slender youth in a golden shirt and a slightly hunched old man in a black robe. The golden-shirted youth's left arm was gone, and his aura was weak. The old man in the black robe had a slightly pale face. Both appeared to be severely injured.

"What happened? Did you encounter a sixth-order demonic beast?" Jin Ye asked, puzzled.

"We encountered a fifth-order flood dragon and barely managed to shake it off," the old man in the black robe explained, his voice somewhat weak.

"Seven people are enough. The Mysterious Spirit Cave Abode is about to close. Come with me! We must acquire that item," Jin Ye commanded, conjuring a golden-gleaming flying boat.

The seven stood on the golden flying boat. Jin Ye chanted an incantation, and the golden flying boat flew towards the southwest at a moderate speed.

A thousand zhang beneath the ground, a yellow light cluster moved rapidly forward. Wang Mofei and the other three had solemn expressions, with Wang Mofei holding a golden-gleaming orb in his hand. The Essence Fire Clan had actually gathered seven Spirit Transformation cultivators. Could it be that the treasure's location was guarded by a sixth-order demonic beast?

"Let's go, follow them and see. Perhaps our opportunity has arrived," Wang Mofei commanded.

Zhang Yuyun had previously activated a fifth-order flood dragon to injure two Essence Fire Clan members. They had been tracking them underground, following them all the way to this spot.

The golden flying boat flew for over a million li before coming to a halt. The woman in the red dress flicked her sleeve, and thousands of yellow-glowing formation flags shot out, flying in all directions and disappearing into the ground. The woman in the red dress then took out a yellow-glowing formation plate and channeled several incantations into it.

Ahead was an open-air giant pit, ten thousand zhang in diameter. The pit was covered in vegetation, and its stone walls were covered with numerous green vines. Jin Ye chanted an incantation, and the golden flying boat flew towards the giant pit.

"A formation?" Wang Mofei frowned deeply. The Essence Fire Clan was so cautious; it seemed their objective was significant. Was it something that could help Integration stage cultivators advance? Or a rare spiritual fruit that could aid in reaching the Mahayana stage? Or a Xuantian treasure?

"The Essence Fire Clan has set up a formation! If we rush in recklessly, we'll certainly be discovered. It would be better to stay outside and ambush them," Wang Chuanming suggested. They were in the open while Wang Mofei's group was hidden. Rushing out rashly would make the outcome uncertain; it would be better to set up a formation and wait for them.

"Who can guarantee they'll fall into our trap? Setting up a formation directly might attract their attention. Let's observe for a while first!" Wang Mofei commanded.

"If only Ancestor Yuanjiang were with us," Wang Jingfeng said with some regret. Wang Yuanjiang was very powerful; otherwise, he couldn't have held the position of Enforcement Elder.

"Let's wait and see," Wang Mofei commanded, emphasizing that the more critical the moment, the more crucial it was to remain calm.

Inside the giant pit, Jin Ye and the other six appeared in a small underground cave about an *mu* in size. The stone walls were uneven, and the ceiling was adorned with stalactites of varying lengths.

"Finally, we're here," Jin Ye said excitedly. He flicked his sleeve, and a yellow-glowing formation flag flew out, disappearing into the stone wall. The stone wall shook violently, and large amounts of rubble fell. A thick golden light barrier appeared out of nowhere, its surface adorned with mysterious Buddhist runes.

The last time the Mysterious Spirit Cave Abode opened, the Essence Fire Clan also sent people in to search for treasures. They unexpectedly discovered an ancient cultivator's dwelling. After expending great effort to break through the outer restrictions, they obtained various miscellaneous items. From a jade slip, they learned that this person was an Enforcement Elder of the Void Heaven Clan, and an Integration stage cultivator. The Void Heaven Clan had been destroyed, and he had been severely wounded. Under duress, he used spatial divine abilities, and with the assistance of a spatial treasure, hid in the Mysterious Spirit Cave Abode. However, his spiritual power was restricted by the prohibitions. Without a key, and no cultivators to receive him outside, he had no way to leave. Not long after hiding in the Mysterious Spirit Cave Abode, his fourth great heavenly tribulation arrived, and he died from his injuries.

Due to time constraints, the Essence Fire Clan experts didn't have time to break through the last few prohibitions before the Mysterious Spirit Cave Abode closed, forcing them to leave. This time, they were determined to break through the prohibitions and claim the treasures.

"Yan Feng, it's up to you," Jin Ye commanded. "This Golden Adamant Formation can only be broken by brute force; otherwise, we would have broken the prohibition last time."

A broad-shouldered, thick-waisted youth in a yellow shirt stepped forward. His body emitted crackling sounds of bones as his physique expanded significantly, veins bulging and blood vessels clearly visible beneath his skin. He donned a pair of yellow-glowing gauntlets on his hands. His fists erupted with dazzling yellow light as he smashed them towards the golden light barrier.

With a resounding boom, the golden light barrier twisted, deformed, and caved in. Before long, the golden light barrier slowly returned to normal, bouncing Yan Feng away. Yan Feng retreated several steps before finally stopping.

"The Golden Adamant Formation is a seventh-order formation. Even if damaged, it's not something a Spirit Transformation junior like you can break. Don't dawdle. Use the Skyfire Infusion Talisman and your secret technique!" Jin Ye urged.

Yan Feng acknowledged. Innumerable yellow spiritual patterns emerged on his body, and a reddish-yellow python was faintly visible, constantly slithering across his skin. He then took out a continuously flashing red talisman and slapped it onto his body.

With a flash of red light, a red glow enveloped Yan Feng. His face turned crimson, his body expanded again, and his fists erupted with dazzling yellow light as he smashed them towards the golden light barrier.

A thunderous roar ensued! The golden light barrier caved in, and the Buddhist runes flickered incessantly.

Outside the giant pit, Wang Mofei and the other three were observing the situation. The ground shook violently, and the soil loosened. A dazzling golden light shot up into the sky, piercing directly into the clouds.

"What is this?" Wang Mofei was stunned. How could there be a prohibition here? Was the Essence Fire Clan trying to destroy the Mysterious Spirit Cave Abode? That's impossible! Human cultivators constantly strengthened the prohibitions; how could it be so easily destroyed? If the Essence Fire Clan wasn't trying to destroy the Mysterious Spirit Cave Abode, then was it an ancient cultivator's dwelling? Only Spirit Transformation cultivators could enter the Mysterious Spirit Cave Abode; anyone with a cultivation level exceeding Spirit Transformation was barred. So how could there be an ancient cultivator's dwelling here? Could it be a legacy left by Celestial Venerable Xuanling? Or something else?

Wang Mofei and the other three were filled with thoughts, unable to comprehend what was happening.