Chapter 300: Burial Pit Secret Realm, Securing the First Victory

Zhuo Wenshi, however, paid no mind to their concerns. She extended a slender finger and declared, "I'll give you the time it takes for one incense stick to burn... no, half that time. If you can't open it by then, you can go."

Gulp—

The middle-aged formation master swallowed hard. Under the intense pressure of life and death, his efficiency skyrocketed.

In less than a third of an incense stick's time, on one side of the valley before them, the air rippled, revealing a geometric structure, like a twisted mirror, with a shimmering, water-like passage at its center.

"It's open!"

"This guy, it looks like he's been slacking off the whole time. Could he have been doing it on purpose?"

The formation master's eyes flickered as he hastily explained, "That's a malicious accusation! I told you it would be quick; you just didn't believe me."

Zhuo Wenshi raised a hand, eyeing the man suspiciously for a few moments before speaking. "Let's go in first. That good-for-nothing might send people to compete with us for it. Everyone stay vigilant."

"Sister Shi, why worry about that good-for-nothing? Young Master Yun hasn't even laid a hand on him. Would he dare to make a move on his own?" A Zhuo family member, privy to the internal affairs, spoke with a dismissive expression, and the others nodded in agreement.

"Brother Cang is right. If it comes to a real fight, that good-for-nothing will be the one to lose."

"Enough!"

Zhuo Wenshi, weary of their bickering, fixated on the formation master before kicking him through the passage. The group filed in, and the entrance to the ancient burial pit's secret realm closed behind them.

Soon after, Wang Yu revealed himself.

When he arrived, the group hadn't yet entered, but he didn't attack immediately. Firstly, this was the outside world; he couldn't eliminate everyone at once without exposing himself. It was better to let them enter, allowing him to set up traps at the exit. He could then enter the secret realm and eliminate them. Secondly, while the female cultivator Zhuo Wenshi appeared cautious, she didn't truly assess Zhuo Shouqing as a significant threat; it was more a force of habit. It was a clear indication. If the elites under Zhuo Shouyun were all like this, it suggested that Zhuo Shouqing's hidden tactics had been highly successful, at least in deceiving some.

"Thirteen people, plus a formation master." The leader was a late Core Formation cultivator, three were mid Core Formation, and the remaining nine were at Foundation Establishment levels seven to nine, likely seeking opportunities to achieve Core Formation. According to intelligence about the ancient burial pit, this location was a cluster of tombs, meaning they would likely split into separate groups to explore different crypts. This would facilitate his actions. After all, if they all stayed together, he might not be able to defeat them, as he regarded Core Formation cultivators from the Zhuo clan as opponents of comparable strength. Especially since Zhuo Wenshi was a late Core Formation cultivator.

After taking out the "key" and activating it with spiritual power, he plunged it into the air. The portal he had just witnessed reopened, and Wang Yu donned the Earth Net Ghost Mask. Spiritual power gathered on the Ghost Cry Flute, and the perfected Cry of Despair Blade was poised for unleash.

"Buzz—"

A strong sense of dizziness washed over him, as if he were inside a tumbling washing machine, severely disorienting his sense of direction. This was clearly another spatial technique. This secret realm passage was far rougher than using a Void Escape Talisman; a Qi Refining cultivator entering would likely vomit on the spot.

As the spatial fluctuations subsided and his vision recovered from the incessant spinning, Wang Yu immediately activated his Aurora Escape technique, departing the spot.

"Someone's here!"

At the entrance, it was a flat expanse of black earth, enveloped by thin, grey mist condensed from Yin Corpse Qi. The low temperature made it an ideal battleground for Wang Yu. The spot where he landed was rigged with multiple small containment formations, and six cultivators were on guard nearby: five late Foundation Establishment and one mid Core Formation! His vigilance, it seemed, was justified. Zhuo Wenshi had deliberately chosen not to deploy personnel outside, opting instead for an internal ambush. If someone arrived, it would be prescient; if not, it wouldn't be a wasted effort, as it secured a clear retreat path.

"Damn it!" he swore loudly. "How did you watch over this? Someone escaped."

The Foundation Establishment cultivators exchanged glances. How could they have possibly anticipated someone arriving so quickly? Could it truly be Zhuo Shouqing's people? Had they gone mad? Besides, that escape speed was gone in a flash. If you, a mid-Core Formation cultivator, couldn't react in time, how could they have possibly reacted?! However, as they were being berated, they all bowed their heads, not daring to utter a single word in retort.

"You all pursue in that direction; I'll go report to Sister Shi." With that, the mid-Core Formation cultivator prepared to flee.

But someone sensed something amiss and cautiously inquired, "Lord Zhuo Cang, you could simply use a sound transmission jade slip to notify them. Why go yourself?"

As Zhuo Cang turned back, irritation flared within him. "Idiot, the mist here can block the effects of sound transmission jade slips."

"That's not what I meant, Lord Zhuo Cang. How could we trouble you with such a menial task? I am willing to undertake it."

At this point, several of them sensed something was amiss. Why did it feel like Zhuo Cang was trying to escape?

At this moment, Zhuo Cang was filled with anxiety. The escape speed he had just witnessed was, at the very least, that of a peak Core Formation cultivator. He would be insane to attempt to fight them. Unfortunately... they had delayed too long.

On Wang Yu's end, the intense spatial dizziness had already receded, and his attention naturally turned to these individuals. The Yin Corpse Malign Curse! The Grand Yin Corpse had long reached the threshold for advancement, only being suppressed by Wang Yu. With both corpses unleashed together in this burial pit secret realm, the timing and location couldn't have been more perfect. This sudden counter-attack caught them completely off guard. As the Grand Yin Moon Malevolence enveloped him, Zhuo Cang's strength rapidly declined. In his panic, he didn't even consider sending a report, focusing solely on escaping with his life. He even directly activated a Tier 3 Void Escape Talisman, a decisive action that greatly surprised Wang Yu. Wealthy, yet terrified of death!

Boom—

The Tier 3 Thunder Corpse descended. As soon as its Thunder Summoning and Lightning Calling divine ability was unleashed, the five late Foundation Establishment cultivators were sent flying backward like kites with snapped strings. They were blasted into charred remains by the wild lightning. Amidst the scent of burning flesh, residual lightning still flickered in the cracks on their bodies; they had been instantly annihilated by this widespread lightning ability. Truly formidable!

Simultaneously, an aurora streaked across the low altitude. Wang Yu hurled the Ghost Cry Flute with immense force, sending it shooting forth like an arrow. Mid-flight, it transformed into the peculiar image of a shadowy crow, its head tipped with a sharp blade.

"Pfft~"

A large hole appeared in Zhuo Cang's chest. Wang Yu had just managed to seize the golden core with his Core-Plucking Hand technique when Zhuo Cang vanished amidst a spatial fluctuation.

"Phantom Moon!"

At this critical moment, besides adding an eye technique, Wang Yu could do nothing more. Given such severe injuries, the loss of his golden core, and being trapped within an illusion, the probability of the opponent's death was over ninety percent. Yet, Wang Yu still felt deep annoyance; he hadn't managed to take the storage ring, a significant loss! Furthermore, as long as the person hadn't died on the spot, it implied lingering variables, and he detested variables.

The battle concluded in a flash. This was because the opponent had not retaliated at all, focusing entirely on escape, a stark contrast to his initial bluster at the secret realm's entrance. He could only hope the opponent hadn't teleported out of the secret realm. Otherwise, finding the body later would consume considerable time. If still within the secret realm...

Wang Yu placed the blood-stained golden core in his palm and activated the Divine Sense Secret Art: Tracing Ten Thousand Miles. This was more than just a large-scale search secret art; it could also extend to directional tracking effects. Using a golden core, an intrinsically linked item of the same origin, to locate its owner was incredibly easy.

Soon after, a smile touched Wang Yu's lips. "Good, he didn't get out."

He casually tossed all the corpses and the formation flags from the secret realm's entrance into his Cold Blood Ring, planning to sort them out later. Having dealt with these matters, he then vanished in the direction indicated by the secret art's trace.

In a depression nestled between several hills, in front of a dark grey grand hall, sealed on all four sides, two mid Core Formation cultivators and the remaining four late Foundation Establishment cultivators were preparing to enter and explore. They weren't thoroughly informed about the ancient burial pit but generally knew it was a tomb cluster type of secret realm—places abundant in opportunities, yet equally rife with dangers.

"The Yin Corpse Qi here is dense, so there should be many yin ghosts and zombie-like monsters. Remember, once we're inside, do not touch anything without our permission."

"Understood!"

If, out of greed, they were to accidentally trigger any restrictions or traps, their teammates wouldn't let them off easily after the crisis passed, unless it was the leader who initiated it...

Upon entering, they had split into three teams. The individuals who had angered Zhuo Wenshi at the entrance were tasked with staying behind. One team comprised themselves, while Zhuo Wenshi formed a separate team with the formation master. Due to the potent obscuring effect of the yin mist, they remained completely unaware of the changes at the secret realm entrance, their full attention fixed on the sealed grand hall.

As they ascended the steps, a faint plant pattern could be discerned on the surrounding dusty, yellowish jade railings: long stems with petals resembling closed chrysanthemums.

"Brother Jie, doesn't this pattern look familiar?" Zhuo Jie, who possessed some knowledge of ancient history, remarked.

"It does look somewhat familiar. It's likely from the late ancient era, a time when the Five Demonic Sects had just been established and hadn't yet reached their peak. I must have encountered it in some ancient texts within the sect. However, rest assured, as long as this isn't a demonic sealing ground, it's impossible for Tier 4 ferocious beasts to exist here given the scale of this secret realm." He based this judgment on the absence of any Tier 4 spirit veins in the area, and even the mutated Yin脈 was only Tier 3, unable to sustain Tier 4 creatures in its natural environment long-term. This allowed for a certain estimation of the maximum danger level.

"Let's go."

At the main entrance of the dark grey grand hall, the two Core Formation cultivators employed various techniques, drawing on the experience and methods passed down by their family elders, and quickly made a discovery. "This place is sealed off. It seems we'll have to use brute force to break it. This particular restriction is relatively weak; use the penetration seal."

"Alright."

The penetration seal was silent and imperceptible. It triggered no widespread restrictions and made no sound. The massive stone sealing the hall entrance automatically melted, creating a passage wide enough for one person. This clearly demonstrated the versatility of their methods.

Shortly after the six individuals entered, a spatial fluctuation emanated, and a "corpse" with a football-sized bloodied hole in its chest dropped to the ground, motionless. Were it not for a faint pulse, it would have been indistinguishable from a true corpse. It was indeed Zhuo Cang, who had teleported away using a Void Escape Talisman. He had pre-set his coordinates to appear near his companions, but unfortunately, they had entered the palace, which likely contained a teleportation-blocking enchantment.