Chapter 1039: The Traveler Knows No Bounds (Part 1)

"A spatial formation?"

Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

He had heard of maze formations, illusion formations, and killing formations. What was a spatial formation, and how did it differ from folded space?

"A spatial formation is one that creates its own space within the formation. It is less stable than folded space, but it can more easily accommodate large formations like killing formations, illusion formations, and maze formations... trapping people inside without them even realizing it!"

President Han's voice trembled.

As a七星 peak formation master, he knew the terror of such formations. They created their own space; once trapped inside, one's consciousness would be influenced by the laws, making it impossible to escape. Most importantly, they might conceal powerful killing formations. Even if you were strong, unless you reached the ninth level of the Saint Domain, you couldn't break them.

Hearing his words, everyone exchanged glances and furrowed their brows.

Although they still didn't fully understand spatial formations, President Han was always steady. For him to be so alarmed meant this place was extremely dangerous.

"What if we just break the formation directly?" Zhang Xuan looked over.

No matter how powerful the formation, it was just a matter of wasting a kick. Why be so nervous?

"Other formations can be broken, but a spatial formation is nearly impossible—unless you possess the strength to remain unharmed even if space itself shatters!"

President Han said.

Zhang Xuan's mouth twitched.

That was far more terrifying than an explosion. If he encountered it, not only would his current strength as a Saint be insufficient, even if he advanced six or seven major levels, he couldn't withstand it. Even his primordial spirit would be easily shredded in the shattering of space!

Living within space, if space shattered, how could one survive?

Without the skin, what can the hair adhere to?

"Exactly! That's why in a spatial formation, you can only advance step by step along the path set by the designer, without any deviation!"

President Han's voice grew low: "In other words, we have now entered the ruins, and every step is fraught with danger..."

"Every step dangerous?"

Everyone's expressions turned grave.

The previous two trials, though difficult, weren't too dangerous if you couldn't pass.

For instance, above the lava, if you couldn't cross the scorching magma to enter the palace below, flying above it posed no immediate life threat.

And in the second trial, if you didn't attack the seal, you could stay there for years without harm.

But now, from President Han's tone, entering this formation space was different. Whether you moved or not, advanced or not, danger could strike at any moment. The real test of the ruins had just begun.

"Since we're here, we might as well make the best of it. If this is the real ruins, then Zhang Yinqiu and the others must have come here. We can follow their path. If we find it, safety will surely increase!"

Wu Tianqiong said.

"Right!" The others nodded.

They had already put life and death aside when they came. Since they had entered the ruins, their goal was achieved; they hadn't gone astray, so they should be glad.

"Zhang Yinqiu and the others came two years ago. Even if they left traces, they've mostly faded. But since they managed to send a message, they must be trapped somewhere. If we advance, we should find something..."

Wu Shi nodded and walked ahead.

No one could confirm whether the old dean was dead or alive, but since he could send a message, he must have been alive then. If alive, he would leave traces for later seekers. Otherwise, sending the message would be meaningless.

"Mm."

Zhang Xuan said nothing more. He quietly activated his Eye of Insight and scanned the surroundings. After a while, he couldn't help shaking his head.

Whether it was a spatial formation or folded space, the person who left this place was far stronger than him. The gap in level was too great; even the Eye of Insight, a rare special ability that appeared once in ten thousand years, couldn't see through it.

"Flaws..." He had a sudden thought.

But after a moment, he shook his head again.

Although this was a formation, being inside it felt like being trapped between heaven and earth. The Library of Heaven's Path could only inspect things that were touched or in operation; it was helpless against this.

It was like trying to find flaws in heaven and earth by observing the sun's rising and setting, or the rain and clouds.

The scope was too vast; even the heaven-defying library had no way.

"It seems I can only advance step by step..."

Knowing he couldn't cause any disruption, Zhang Xuan felt frustrated but followed the others forward.

This formation space was incredibly realistic. Walking through it, if you didn't know you were deep beneath the lava, you might think it was a sunny, spring-like mountain range.

Following the path, looking at the lush green vegetation, instead of the terror of entering ruins, it gave a leisurely comfort.

Especially hearing the mountain wind rustling the trees, it brought a sense of relaxation and detachment from worldly strife.

"Isn't this harmless?"

"Yeah! The spiritual energy here is abundant. If I didn't want to fight anymore in the future, living here would be wonderful!"

"The environment is indeed good, suitable for cultivating the mind..."

...

After walking a while, everyone's eyes lit up.

President Han had spoken so terrifyingly that they were all nervous, but now they found it far from what he described—instead, it gave a sense of peace and harmony.

Strolling through it, one felt like staying inside forever.

"No, everyone, stay alert. I think we've already been attacked..."

As everyone walked on without noticing anything wrong, President Han couldn't help saying.

"Attacked? President Han, you must be joking! I didn't see anything," a war master laughed.

"Yes, I think President Han is being overly nervous and worrying unnecessarily. With so many of us, if we were truly attacked, we'd definitely notice," another war master nodded.

They were all seasoned fighters. If they were attacked, they would counterattack; they couldn't feel nothing.

"Not noticing is the most terrifying thing!"

President Han's face darkened.

If it were an open attack, even if they couldn't win, they could fight to the death. What was most feared was like boiling a frog in warm water—being attacked without realizing it.

"President Han, have you noticed something?" Wu Shi asked.

"Have you noticed that since we entered here, our tense nerves have all relaxed? In this state, if danger appears, we might not even have time to react..."

President Han said: "And... most importantly, we've been walking for so long, yet we see no traces or end... It's as if something is guiding us to keep walking! It's too eerie..."

"This..."

Wu Shi was startled.

He hadn't noticed until it was mentioned, but now he also felt something was wrong.

Walking here, they were too relaxed, even abandoning basic defenses, willingly staying and unwilling to leave. That alone was very strange and unusual.

"Pfft!"

As they were discussing, they heard a sound of spitting blood not far away. Turning quickly, they saw the war master who had said President Han was overly nervous, his face pale, blood continuously seeping from the corners of his mouth, yet still smiling as he followed behind.

"This..."

Seeing this man seemingly unaware of pain, continuously spitting blood while his lips curled into a smile...

Both of them felt a chill run down their spines.

The scene before them was too bizarre!

Even with their vast experience, they had never encountered such a strange thing.

"He's exhausted his true qi, his strength is failing..."

After a moment, Wu Shi's face darkened.

With his insight as a七星 master teacher, he could easily see that this war master's true qi was depleted, leading to exhaustion.

How long had they walked?

How could a war master, known for his enduring strength, have collapsed?

President Han was wondering when Wu Shi's tense voice continued: "Look at your own dantian..."

"Dantian?"

Startled, President Han looked down. His pupils involuntarily contracted.

His own abundant true qi was also nearly depleted. If the dantian were a pond, it was almost dry, about to run out.

"How... how did my true qi deplete so quickly?"

His body trembled.

President Han was a七星 peak formation master, a Saint Domain fourth level peak powerhouse, the strongest among them, with the most abundant true qi. Even in battle, he could sustain for one or two hours without exhaustion...

But now, after walking for just a while, without even flying, he was nearly depleted. What was happening?

This was too terrifying!

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

While still in shock, they heard more spitting sounds. Several war masters of lower cultivation were spitting blood. Even Wu Tianqiong, Shen Pingchao, and the other two academy deans had pale faces, veins bulging on their foreheads, as if their strength was nearly exhausted and they could collapse at any moment.

Especially Wu Tianqiong, not only was his face ugly, but his hair seemed to have turned whiter, as if he had aged ten years in a short time.

"This..."

President Han's body shook, and he couldn't help looking at Wu Shi.

Although he confirmed this was a spatial formation and knew it was dangerous, he had no idea what was happening now.

"I don't know either..." Wu Shi shook his head.

They were like people who had fallen into a deep well, unable to see the whole picture. Even after reading countless books, they were still at a loss.

"We must have been lured by the mountain wind into a special state of mind. Not only is our true qi depleting too fast, but our lifespan is also being drained. If we don't break free, we'll be like them, walking forward tirelessly until our true qi and essence blood are exhausted and we die!"

Just as the two were bewildered, Zhang Xuan's voice sounded.

Turning to look, they saw the young man frowning, lost in thought.