The First Immortal of Destiny

"SIZZLE, SIZZLE!"

Shen Mo and Lu Ming walked in tandem, one slightly ahead of the other, over the Thunder Pool.

Around them, the Thunder Pool continually unleashed streaks of purple lightning, rushing at Shen Mo and Lu Ming.

This lightning had almost no effect on Lu Ming.

Because Lu Ming possessed a Thunder Body, he had a natural elemental advantage.

However, Shen Mo, despite having consumed the Thunder Transforming Pill, still felt a slight pain from the purple lightning swirling around him.

Fortunately, the "Dragon-shaped Undead Body" technique endowed Shen Mo with sufficient physical resilience.

He circulated his breath slightly, and his Dragon Body abruptly materialized.

The lightning, which had initially caused some pain, now elicited no reaction from him at all.

This lightning power couldn't even break Shen Mo's skin.

The two of them pressed forward. The further they went, the more turbulent the Thunder Pool became.

However, Shen Mo himself had a strong physique, and the Thunder Transforming Pill helped alleviate some of the strain.

By the time they reached the other side, they hadn't sustained any serious injuries.

"We've crossed the Thunder Pool; we can go straight in now!"

Their senior martial brothers saw Shen Mo and Lu Ming cross the bridge and quickly began to ascend the stone steps.

There were more than a hundred stone steps. When everyone reached the end, a wide plain stretched out before them.

Upon the plain stood a majestic and vast immortal sect. Even if it was smaller than the Riverside Sect, it wouldn't be by much.

From afar, one could see that the various areas connected to the sect gate were filled with many grand buildings.

Even after thousands of years, the ruins of this sect were still staggering to behold.

Evidently, in its prime, it must have been an immortal sect of considerable power within the Red Flame Country.

It was just unknown why it had fallen into such ruin, becoming a treasure-hunting ground for cultivators.

"Let's go, let's go in and have a look!"

There were no obstructions at the entrance of the sect.

The passage of countless years had long since worn away the gate Formation that once protected these sect ruins.

After crossing the square, Shen Mo and his companions split up to explore for a while.

As expected, they found nothing of value.

"It seems everything has been thoroughly searched."

Lu Yao's brow furrowed slightly as he said, "Although news of these ruins hasn't spread beyond Qing State yet, many cultivators from within the state have already come in groups. Any place in the ruins not protected by a Prohibition Array has clearly been scoured thoroughly."

"We shouldn't waste our energy. Let's go straight to the Spirit Treasury!"

They had come here specifically for the treasures within the Spirit Treasury.

Spirit Treasury?

Shen Mo had been slightly disappointed at finding nothing. Hearing Lu Yao's words, he was momentarily startled.

The information Lu Yao had purchased seemed more comprehensive than what the bandit cultivator knew.

He impassively followed the group, arriving at the deepest area in the northern part of the sect.

Before them was a stone door.

The passage inside this stone door was likely the only way to the Spirit Treasury.

"A Mountain Guarding Sword Array blocks the entrance to the Spirit Treasury."

"The power of this Sword Array is extremely strong; even a Qi Gathering Realm Seventh Layer cultivator could not force their way through."

Lu Yao approached the stone door and, as was the old custom, tossed a stone to test the way.

"WHOOSH!"

When he tossed a stone toward the stone door, a sudden change occurred as the stone came within about ten meters of it.

"BOOM!"

In front of the stone gate, from four different positions, streaks of light suddenly shot skyward.

Immediately after, an indescribably terrifying sword Qi swept across, completely sealing off the space.

Anything that came within a ten-meter radius would be shredded by the sword Qi, reduced to pulp.

"We can't force our way through. We'll need our two senior brothers to handle this."

After demonstrating the Sword Array's power, Lu Yao turned his gaze to Duan Rui and Fang Ming.

Both of them were Stars Peak disciples skilled in Formations and Prohibitions.

They possessed numerous methods for breaking Formations and Prohibitions.

This was why Lu Yao had specifically invited them.

"Well? Can you two senior brothers break it?"

Shen Mo also looked towards the two men.

"This Sword Array is anything but simple."

Duan Rui scrutinized it carefully, his expression growing serious. "After thousands of years, it still possesses such power. In its prime, trapping and killing a Spirit Sea Realm Cultivator would have been as easy as reaching into a bag to retrieve something."

"However, there is a way to break it."

Fang Ming and Duan Rui exchanged a look; clearly, both had seen a flaw.

"Find the array core and destroy it, and this Sword Array will shatter."

Array core?

Lu Ming and the others heard this but didn't rush to interject, waiting for them to continue.

Because that statement was obviously common sense.

Even cultivators like them, not proficient in Formations, knew that if the array core was destroyed, any Formation, no matter how ingenious or powerful, could be broken.

The crucial part was locating the array core!

This was no easy task.

Duan Rui confidently pulled an ancient, octagonal Star Disk from his robes.

"If this Formation were at its peak, finding the array core would naturally be difficult."

"But now, after so many years of depletion, the Sword Array has lost eight or nine-tenths of its strength. It can only maintain its killing power and is no longer able to conceal the location of its array core!"

He lightly tapped the Star Disk, and Spiritual Qi from his body rapidly flowed into it.

"HUM!"

Infused with a large amount of Spiritual Qi, the Star Disk emitted a hum.

The next moment, a series of trigram patterns on it lit up, finally coalescing into a streak of light that shot out.

The streak of light flew into the Sword Array, eventually landing on an area to its south.

"Where the light landed, that's the location of the array core."

Duan Rui retrieved the Star Disk.

Fang Ming then volunteered to go destroy the array core.

Shen Mo and the others stayed put, not moving recklessly.

Because destroying the array core required entering the Formation.

Fang Ming had studied various Formations and Prohibitions for many years and was naturally confident in his ability to enter and exit safely.

However, Shen Mo and the others lacked this skill and would certainly not risk their lives needlessly.

They waited patiently for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

"CRACK!"

Suddenly, a loud sound echoed in their ears.

Then, the Sword Array that had stretched before them, blocking the passage through the stone gate, rapidly dissipated.

Evidently, Fang Ming had destroyed the array core.

"What a pity. The Spirit Swords used to set up this Sword Array are all excellent magic artifacts."

Fang Ming, having shattered the array core, quickly rejoined the group. He was holding a weathered, broken sword as he spoke.

"The Spirit Swords used in its construction, capable of sustaining the Sword Array for a thousand years without failing and enduring a prolonged drain of power, must naturally be fine treasures."

"But I imagine they are all damaged by now, right?"

Seeing Fang Ming's expression, Duan Rui knew what he was regretting.

Indeed, Fang Ming nodded with a sigh. "If these Spirit Swords were still usable, just these few alone would have been enough to make us fabulously wealthy."

These Spirit Swords had once been, at the very least, middle-grade Profound level magic artifacts, possibly even higher.

If sold, it's no exaggeration to say each would have been worth thousands of Spirit Stones.

But now, they were so damaged they were practically worthless, not even possessing the value to be smelted back into ore.

Such is the immense and cruel power of time.

No matter how resilient or seemingly imperishable something is, if it cannot achieve true longevity, it will inevitably be eroded and eventually turn to dust.

"Enough lamenting. Let's get down to business!"

Seeing the Sword Array shattered, Lu Yao was eager to proceed.

At his words, the group quickly composed themselves, pushed open the stone gate, and ventured into the Spirit Treasury.