Narrow Escape from the Perilous Secret Passage

By now, the treasure seekers had already ventured deep into the heart of the mountain.

Luo Yu scrutinized the door frames, feeling increasingly unsettled. This place looked nothing like a sanctuary for secluded meditation; if anything, it resembled a dungeon for confining monsters. Layer upon layer of doors, with switches both inside and out—not designed to keep people out, for who but a beast couldn’t open a door? And the way the doors further in had been ripped away seemed unnatural, as if torn off by brute force. The floor bore deep, terrifying gouges... How frightening! But then again, even if there were monsters, after being locked away for so long, wouldn’t they already be dead? Otherwise, why was it so deathly silent inside?

Pressing on, they found the passageway cluttered with towering slabs of metal and raw ore, stacked so high on either side that the corridor was nearly blocked. Everyone was curious—what would a cultivator of the Great Ascension need with such mundane materials? Even they themselves would turn up their noses at these.

Driven by curiosity, they finally reached the end of the corridor: a vast, circular hall, forged entirely from materials used in artifact refinement, seamless and flawless, inscribed everywhere with defensive formations. The entire room was shrouded in oppressive darkness.

Along the walls, more massive chunks of metal were stacked in rings. In the center stood a circular platform, ten meters across, engraved with a peculiar formation: a perfect circle about two meters in diameter, inscribed not only with standard formation patterns but also a distinct seven-pointed star. Embedded at each of the star’s seven points was a crystal.

Beside this strange formation sat a figure, or rather, a corporeal remains, seated in the lotus position, palms upward, long since passed into final repose. At his side lay a rolled leather scroll.

“We’ve found it!” someone exclaimed in delight. The group eagerly crowded around, except for Luo Yu, who stared fixedly at the formation on the floor, puzzled. Wasn’t the seven-pointed star a western symbol said to summon demons? Could this man have been summoning some demon? Was this a summoning formation? How fantastical! Did the ancient cultivation world have deeper ties with the barbarians they so despised than anyone thought?

Lost in his musings, Luo Yu barely noticed as others discovered the crystals in the formation—each reportedly worth a thousand spirit stones. Someone tried to pry one out, but it was set too firmly to budge. What a pity—seven of them could buy a top-grade magical artifact.

Another person picked up the leather scroll, unrolled it, and after a long, baffled look, muttered, “I thought it was a cultivation manual, but it’s just a formation. Luo, would you like to have a look?”

“Absolutely!” Luo Yu replied, scampering over to snatch up the scroll. Sure enough, it described the very formation before them.

Meanwhile, the others had found a bracelet on the remains. Xuanjing bowed toward the departed, intoning, “Amitabha. Venerable one, you have already transcended all Buddhas, neither born nor destroyed, without self or form; relinquishing earthly possessions, you have sown the seeds of karma and opened the door of convenience for us juniors—a deed of great merit. In time, we too shall follow you and likewise act with generosity.”

With his chant concluded, Xuanjing calmly removed the bracelet and peered inside. He couldn’t help but beam with joy. “Such great fortune! The venerable has blessed us all with immeasurable merit.” One by one, the others took turns inspecting it. Within were heaps of spirit jade, many crystals, a few immortal stones, a dozen magical treasures, several scrolls, piles of jade bottles and boxes, and dozens of rare, high-grade artifact materials—a veritable windfall! However, dividing it fairly was no simple matter: aside from the stones, each item needed to be appraised and valued.

After some discussion, everyone agreed to entrust the valuables to the venerable Xuanjing for safekeeping, to be divvied up later in a suitable place once they had left. Having inspected the contents, they all had a general idea of their value.

With that settled, they began to search the hall for anything else of worth, even stripping the magical treasures from the owner’s remains and placing them in the bracelet—for cultivators, the body was but a decaying shell, easily replaced if necessary by seizing another. The soul was the true essence, and once lost, left no hope for reincarnation but dissipated into nothingness. Thus, looting corpses for treasures was no more shameful to them than a beggar rifling through a dead man’s clothes for a wallet.

Now assured, their attention turned to the formation. Luo Yu was engrossed in the scroll, oblivious to the others’ actions. Qin Yue silently followed the crowd, showing no particular excitement after seeing the treasures, and drifted back to Luo Yu’s side.

The five disciples of the Bamboo Court gathered around the formation, while the rest watched on. At this moment, an elderly man sidled up to Luo Yu. “Young friend Luo, pardon my interruption... Heh, I am Yun Jingdan, head of the Yun clan of Snow Court. Might you know the origin of this formation?”

Luo Yu glanced at the old man and recognized him as the one who’d stumbled on the White Jade Steps during their ascent. He couldn’t help but be amused. “I’ve never seen this type of formation before... But judging by its structure, it seems designed to transport objects—perhaps a teleportation array?”

The crowd was stunned. Yun Jingdan exclaimed, “An ancient teleportation array? This art was lost ages ago! Even the former Celestial Court couldn’t recreate it. How could one be here?”

Luo Yu hesitated. “I can’t be certain... Perhaps the owner created it himself.”

Xuanjing murmured, “A truly gifted genius!”

Yun Jingdan’s eyes gleamed with delight. “Since this is the work of a mighty predecessor, the destination must be extraordinary! Why not activate the formation and see for ourselves? There may be treasures beyond imagination!”

His words stirred the group, and many nodded in agreement.

Alarmed, Luo Yu quickly protested, “No! This formation seems incomplete. The predecessor didn’t finish it!”

Yun Jingdan laughed. “No need for concern! This is no attack formation; what harm could there be? We’ll activate it, and if anything seems amiss, we’ll stop at once without entering. Simple as that!”

With that, he strode toward the formation, intent on activating it.

Luo Yu felt a vague unease, though he couldn’t say why. He rushed to block Yun Jingdan, insisting, “There are crystals set in the formation—it won’t be easy to stop once it’s activated! Best not to try!”

Yun Jingdan’s eyes narrowed, his tone turning cold. “It’s only a teleportation array... Why prevent us from starting it? Planning to return alone later and take the spoils for yourself?”

Furious, Luo Yu snapped, “You’re biting the hand that feeds you! What if activating it releases some kind of monster?”

Yun Jingdan’s face darkened. “A mere Foundation cultivator dares speak to me so rudely? Hmph! I call you ‘young friend’ out of courtesy, but you know nothing of respect!”

Four other Yun clansmen moved in menacingly. Qin Yue stepped in front of Luo Yu, her voice icy: “What do you intend?”

Sensing the situation turning ugly, Xuanjing quickly intervened. “Friends, let us not quarrel! We’ve already gained much from this venture. In my view, we should leave it at that; if anyone wishes to return, let it be another time.”

Yun Jingdan sneered, “You may leave if you wish, but I intend to see what lies beyond this formation!” With a wave of his sleeve, he channeled his power into the array.

Luo Yu hurriedly stashed away the scroll, grabbed Qin Yue, and retreated. The others, seeing this, also withdrew to the doorway to watch.

Yun Jingdan poured his energy into the formation. The seven crystals erupted with beams of light, connecting to form the seven-pointed star. As the array activated, the outer ring glowed, and spiritual energy began to gather above the formation, swirling in midair.

Once the formation was fully active, Yun Jingdan retreated to the entrance to observe.

Above the formation, spiritual energy coalesced into a small, vertical vortex, as dazzling as a galaxy in the night sky—brilliant, mesmerizing, and almost otherworldly. Except for Luo Yu and Qin Yue, everyone watched in breathless anticipation.

With spiritual energy pouring from the crystals, the vortex spun faster and grew in size, its center a blinding, mirror-like disc suspended in the air. Suddenly, this “mirror” began to emit a strange energy—like a vibration, or perhaps a magnetic force. Moments later, the vortex’s center exploded with a powerful suction. Caught off guard, the crowd was pulled several meters forward before regaining their footing. But the vortex’s pull only grew stronger, soon reaching the size of a bowl. It began to suck in the massive metal blocks lining the hall, which vanished without a trace.

Luo Yu cried out in terror, “A black hole!” Seizing Qin Yue, he bolted for the exit. A few who had failed to steady themselves were pulled into the vortex, their screams cut short as they were ground instantly to dust.

“Spatial rift!” someone shouted as panic swept through the crowd. All scrambled for the exit.

But the black hole’s gravitational pull intensified, slowing everyone’s movements to a crawl. The metal blocks were all sucked in. Strangely, each time a block was absorbed, the black hole’s expansion slowed slightly before resuming. At last, everyone understood why the blocks had been placed there—they were meant to plug the rift.

Cursing their misfortune, the group clawed at the floor, inching toward safety, fighting with every ounce of strength and luck. The corridor was littered with rolling metal blocks, each a deadly hazard—collide with one, and you’d be swept away without hope.

Qin Yue clung tightly to Luo Yu. Because they had fled early, they were farthest from the black hole and avoided most of the flying debris, nearly reaching the first door’s threshold. Amazingly, Yun Jingdan managed to catch up as well.

As he crawled past Xuanjing, Yun Jingdan’s face twisted with malice. He snatched the storage pouch from Xuanjing’s waist and kicked him toward the black hole. Xuanjing, quick to react, managed to grab onto a fallen door frame, barely saving his life. “How dare you, Yun! To turn on your own companions so viciously!”

Yun Jingdan heard the outcry and glanced back—damn, the bald monk wasn’t dead! If he escaped, he’d never let this go. This threat couldn’t be left alive!

Up ahead, Qin Yue and Luo Yu were unaware of the treachery behind them; the black hole’s pull was swallowing even sound. They focused only on escaping, but Luo Yu’s lack of strength was dragging Qin Yue down, and soon Yun Jingdan caught up.

Just two or three meters from the first door, Yun Jingdan overtook them. His eyes flashed murderously as he struck Qin Yue squarely on the back. Caught off guard, even her formidable body couldn’t withstand the blow. With a stifled groan, her grip loosened. Before she could react, Yun Jingdan kicked Luo Yu toward the black hole, using the momentum to vault past the threshold and slam the door shut.

The force of the kick tore Luo Yu from Qin Yue’s grasp, and he was sucked helplessly toward the vortex.

Qin Yue, feeling her hand empty, whirled around—Luo Yu was tumbling through the air, terror etched on his face, reaching out in vain for anything to hold onto. His strength seemed pitifully small as he looked back at her, tears welling in his eyes and scattering into shining droplets, instantly snatched away.

Her heart rending with anguish, Qin Yue felt as if plunged into an icy abyss. She wanted to cry out but no sound came. In that instant, all hope died. Her grip loosened, and she too was drawn toward the black hole.

Luo Yu, seeing her give up and follow him to her death, was stunned—then a wave of fury erupted within him, and flames burst forth from his body. A golden phoenix materialized, spreading its wings to shield Qin Yue.

But no matter how mighty its wings, the pull was irresistible. All he could do was nudge Qin Yue slightly off course before being dragged toward oblivion. The phoenix let out a shattering, mournful cry—cut off mid-note, as if words left unspoken had been silenced forever.

The phoenix’s collision sent Qin Yue reeling off the black hole’s direct path, its cry leaving her dizzy and in pain. When she came to her senses, the teleportation array beneath her was shattered, and the black hole had vanished. Frantically, she searched for Luo Yu—only to find the hall empty, as if nothing had happened. Only the lingering shockwaves in the air proved that something had transpired.

Slowly, Qin Yue rose to her feet, standing beside the ruined formation in silence—her face expressionless, her aura as cold as ever, untouched by what had passed.