Chapter 241: Intruding into the Cave Dwelling, Bronze Snake Puppet

"How about this, Array Master Long? I'll help you break into the Snake Manor. After you take the heritage you need, we'll split the remaining spiritual treasures equally. I'm also interested in the Geomancy Art that Array Masters possess."

As he spoke, Long Yiran's brows furrowed, but she patiently waited for Wang Yu to finish.

"The ancient sect ruins I control belong to the Heavenly Soul Sect, which specializes in soul cultivation. If you help me pinpoint its location, I can complete my heritage, and we'll still split the spiritual treasures found in the ruins equally. Furthermore, you, Array Master Long, can choose one inheritance from the Heavenly Soul Sect, and I will certainly impart it to you as compensation for the Geomancy Art. What do you say?"

He finished speaking.

Long Yiran fell silent. Due to her own extraordinary heritage and her partial cultivation of the soul dao, she had some knowledge of the ancient Heavenly Soul Sect. This was one of the dominant powers that were annihilated during the ancient Blood Devil Rebellion. Its mountain gate ruins would undoubtedly contain multiple Nascent Soul stage inheritances related to the soul dao, possibly even involving the Soul Transformation stage, with countless techniques.

Its value far exceeded that of the Snake Manor. Similarly, the danger would also far surpass the Snake Manor. She had a strong grasp of the situation here, but if they went to the Heavenly Soul Sect ruins... Yet, for a rogue cultivator struggling to cultivate, this was an offer too significant to refuse. She had to consider whether this was her only chance in this lifetime.

Seeing her conflicted, Wang Yu did not rush her.

Bringing Long Yiran in was a result of his careful consideration. The inheritance of a Heavenly Array Master was elusive, but an Earth Array Master was the progenitor of feng shui divination. In this regard, they surely possessed many powerful techniques.

The Heavenly Soul Sect ruins wouldn't be his last exploration. It would be better to learn some Geomancy Art early on, as he couldn't always find an Earth Array Master to help him locate other ancient sites in the future. It's better to rely on oneself than on others.

Secondly, the ancient Heavenly Soul Sect ruins were extremely dangerous. It would be like him breaking into the dilapidated mountain gate of the Spirit Reversal Blood Sect. Having someone proficient in formations by his side would be safer.

After a long moment of thought, Long Yiran suddenly spoke.

"How can I be sure you're telling the truth?"

"Simple."

Wang Yu proposed the cooperation because he trusted his judgment of Long Yiran; she didn't have the temperament of a Red Kite demonic cultivator, but rather seemed more like someone from Taihu. It was strange, though, ever since entering the Heavenly Demonic Bone Forest. Even Elder Ruan had some characteristics of Taihu cultivators, even though he was clearly in the territory of Red Kite cultivators.

"A River Styx Contract?"

"Precisely."

Before setting out, he had made many preparations to ensure everything went smoothly, and this River Styx Contract was something he had obtained from Zuo Qiuming. He didn't have many, just a stack. When traveling, one inevitably encounters issues that cannot be resolved through combat.

After the terms were drafted, Long Yiran meticulously checked them several times, only exhaling in relief after officially signing. Besides the trade Wang Yu had just proposed, the contract also stipulated that neither person could scheme against the other, with the agreement lasting until after they left the Myriad Demon Bone Forest. Furthermore, during their cooperation, they were not to conceal any information related to caves or ruins, thus laying a foundation of trust.

Long Yiran's expression held a hint of curiosity. "Fellow Daoist Wang, where did you get this River Styx Contract? These things are very expensive and rarely seen among rogue cultivators."

Wang Yu bluffed: "Naturally, I snatched them from those second-generation heirs. Let's talk about the Snake Manor now, and you can show me around."

"Very well."

The path to the Snake Manor had long been cleared by Long Yiran. Wang Yu, as a newcomer, followed her footsteps into a passage. In less than an hour, they arrived at a more expansive underground space, which had been renovated and resembled a rectangular plaza.

Long Yiran explained. "There's an anti-flight formation here, deeply embedded within the bronze. Divine sense cannot penetrate it, making it difficult to observe or break. Fellow Daoist Wang, do not attempt to fly rashly."

"Understood."

Only when they truly walked onto the central straight path did Wang Yu realize that the pools on both sides seemed to be filled with snake eggs, each one to two meters tall. "This is..."

"This is how the Snake Manor got its name. This array grandmaster was skilled in both beast taming and puppet arts, using them to set up formations. These are all eggs of the ancient demonic beast, the Earth Turbid Serpent. Over time, they tragically became dead eggs, which also caused the Turbid Poison Grand Formation on this plaza to become ineffective."

"I see." Long Yiran continued to explain as she led the way.

After walking for a while longer, they reached the end of the rectangular plaza, where a gigantic bronze door, several hundred meters tall, appeared in their view. One side was carved with mountains, rivers, plants, and trees; the other with birds, beasts, insects, and fish. In the very center was a massive image of a hissing snake head!

"Fellow Daoist Wang, according to my knowledge, when this ancient senior set up the Snake Manor, it was to find an outstanding inheritor. Their strength must have reached the Nascent Soul stage. After tens of thousands of years, many of the formations within must have lost power. The danger should be around the Core Formation stage. Are you truly coming in with me?"

"Of course. Since I'm already here, it would be a shame not to explore it."

"Very well." Long Yiran nodded. She had only asked out of politeness; with the contract signed, there was no way Wang Yu wouldn't go in.

"Later, when I'm breaking the formation, Fellow Daoist Wang, you can use your own methods."

"Sounds good. Let's begin."

Wang Yu had only a rudimentary understanding of formations. As for why he was so confident... he was wealthy! Money could solve most problems. As Long Yiran began, the hand seals she conjured transformed into array imprints, embedding themselves into various nodes on the bronze door. She was meticulously following the manor master's original design, using a technique passed down through her lineage, a legitimate path to break the formation. Therefore, her understanding of the Dao of Formations needed to meet the specific requirements for her to succeed. This was also why she had stayed here for several years. Confronting the bronze door's formation also honed her array mastery; it was, in fact, a very beneficial test.

Wang Yu's intended method, however, was unorthodox.

As Long Yiran's speed in conjuring formation imprints slowed and sweat beaded on her forehead, the snake head pattern in the center of the bronze door seemed to come alive. A pair of turbid yellow eyes stared coldly at the two people in front of the door.

Wang Yu didn't recognize the specific formation, so he took out several Grade-3 Formation-Breaking Talismans from his Sea Heart Ring. These items were created by Talisman Grandmasters specifically for cultivators across the world to break formations and restrictions. They were strictly contraband, whether in Taihu or Red Kite territory.

Although Long Yiran had mastered the Earth Array Master's techniques, her methods were incomplete and required her to undergo trials at the Snake Manor to complete them. Her friendship with the Ruan family further indicated that she was actually a rogue cultivator with limited worldly experience. Therefore, when she saw Wang Yu take out the Formation-Breaking Talismans, her eyes widened considerably.

As the shimmering silver talismans flew through the air and adhered to the snake head pattern, within just three breaths, a layer of green light appeared on the bronze door. Spiderweb-like cracks began to emerge, and Long Yiran's expression brightened: "Almost there! Break!"

With a deafening boom, the green ethereal light shattered. The snake head carving exploded outright, though the entire bronze door itself didn't suffer much damage, only gaining a thirty-meter diameter hole in the center, creating a clear path through! She hadn't wasted her years of effort here; she had already broken the formation for the most part. Wang Yu's Formation-Breaking Talisman was merely the final push. Otherwise, if the formation had been in its complete state, it would have required at least three such talismans to start.

This level of strength also fueled greater expectations in Wang Yu's heart.

"Let's go, let's go inside and see."

The two entered through the broken hole in the bronze door. Long Yiran handed him a small jade seal and explained, "I haven't been inside here either, but there's definitely a hidden formation to identify inheritors. This jade seal will prevent you from being targeted by the Snake Manor's defensive mechanisms." Wang Yu nodded in thanks. It was unexpectedly logical that the Snake Manor, designed as a trial for inheritors, would kill those who didn't meet the requirements.

Upon entering, they found themselves in yet another bronze passage, with no branching paths. The difference was that the walls on both sides had many patterns, like murals, but different. They were entirely composed of continuously extending curved lines, forming serpent-like patterns that were difficult to decipher as clear images. Moreover, this bronze passage was excessively large, perfectly matching the size of the entrance door. Wang Yu and Long Yiran looked like ants standing at the entrance.

"We can fly now." Wang Yu instinctively tried to hover to survey the terrain, only to find himself airborne. Clearly, there was no anti-flight formation set up here.

Notified, Long Yiran also flew over.

"Brother Wang, let's proceed together." Her form of address had subtly changed, and she didn't ask about the anti-flight talisman from earlier. Her attitude had become noticeably friendlier, though she wasn't sure why. Was it because he showed his sincerity?

"Let's go."

Without further words, the two flew straight along the passage. At first, they accelerated using true essence, but after flying for most of the day without seeing the end, they slowed down. Using the innate flying ability gained from the Foundation Establishment stage, they slowly flew forward. This state didn't consume true essence, and though it was described as slow, it was still comparable to the speed of a Qi Condensation stage cultivator riding a flying sword.

"What's going on?" Wang Yu released his divine sense to check, but found no traces of any formation. "Can a single passage lead into a maze formation? Or is this passage just incredibly long?" Long Yiran was also somewhat surprised, but affirmed, "There's no maze formation here. Perhaps... it's a kind of Spirit Delusion Trap."

"A Spirit Delusion Trap?"

"Yes." He had only a superficial understanding of formations, let alone the "traps" that involved the Geomancy Art!

"The world, influenced by heavenly timing and geographical advantage, can naturally form various feng shui layouts, and one of these is the Spirit Delusion Trap. It operates without any formations or spiritual energy, relying solely on topography to make people go in circles. This must also be a trial set by the manor master."

"How do we break it?"

Learning about the long-desired Geomancy Art, Wang Yu was keenly interested and wanted to see Long Yiran's methods. She smiled proudly. "My formation attainment is limited by my cultivation, but this Geomancy Art is a fundamental skill. Brother Wang, rest assured and leave it to me."

Immediately after, Long Yiran took out a small array disk inscribed with the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, stepped in ritualistic paces, and mumbled incantations. As she passed Wang Yu, she grabbed his hand, and they actually walked right into the bronze wall.

"It worked!"

*Boom!*

Before either of them could react, the passage suddenly trembled, and a terrifying bronze giant snake, over a thousand meters long, crushed its way from behind. "You...!"