As the runes rained down and the petrified bright moon was about to fall, Ding Yan waved his right hand to collect it into his sleeve.
The ninth-level rune was the foundation of the spatial formation, and this type of rune was unattainable without the skill of a master-level formation expert. For Ding Yan, this rune was as precious as a top-grade treasure.
After the bright moon fell into the void, a huge hole appeared, and the surrounding runes continued to squirm, evidently repairing the formation on their own. If a few hundred years passed, this formation would likely be fully restored. This was the power of a master-level formation, capable of self-repair.
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Proceeding along the Hei River, as the journey continued deeper, the surrounding gray mist became thicker, to the extent that visibility was almost minimal. What made Ding Yan even more uneasy was that his immortal awareness began to be suppressed. At this point, he could only separate from his body by a maximum of five hundred meters; any further and it would dissipate on its own.
"Just up ahead," Ding Yan confirmed as he crossed a river bend.
According to the damaged map, the destination was not far after crossing the river bend.
Sure enough, after about five hundred meters, Ding Yan's immortal awareness reached the end of the Hei River…
A pitch-black city wall extending for miles, with no end in sight. This was the border between the inner and outer parts of the Wasteland City. Legend has it that the death place of the Yellow Spring Old Immortal is within this inner city.
The gray mist swirled, and Ding Yan's figure emerged from the mist.
"Oh? Another wandering immortal…" rasped an old crone leaning on a cane.
Hearing the voice, Ding Yan became wary.
After crossing the end of the Hei River, all the fog vanished, replaced by a dark sky. Ahead was a massive city wall, with a pervasive aura of death, and occasional flashes of runes. It was clear that these runes were inscribed on the wall, and attempting to forcefully enter would certainly lead to being trapped by the runes on the city wall, and even possibly being transported to a desolate place.
Below the city wall, many cultivators had gathered, mostly at the Qi Refining stage, with seven or eight wandering immortals. However, only two individuals truly caught Ding Yan's attention.
One was the previously speaking crone, who was hunched over and sitting on a black stone, appearing as if a breeze could topple her. But in Ding Yan's eyes, he could clearly see the terrifying elemental force and an immortal force far beyond what an ordinary wandering immortal could possess within the old woman. Moreover, within her soul, there was a faint glimmer of lightning. A soul containing lightning was the most prominent sign of a thunder tribulation wandering immortal.
This seemingly inconspicuous old crone was actually a thunder tribulation wandering immortal!
The other person was a cloaked figure sitting not far from the old crone. This person sat still as if petrified, not even moving a muscle upon Ding Yan's arrival, seemingly unaware of anyone's presence. However, Ding Yan sensed a soul fluctuation within this person, similar to the old crone's, clearly indicating that this person was also a thunder tribulation wandering immortal.
"Didn't they say that the end of the Hei River was the death place of the Yellow Spring Old Immortal? According to the damaged map, there should be a gate here," Ding Yan surveyed the surroundings, but did not find any presence resembling a gate.
In contemplation, a white-bearded wandering immortal approached Ding Yan and bowed.
"I don't know your name. I am Yunmo, an independent wandering immortal…"
Ding Yan frowned. With his discerning eyes, he could naturally see that Yunmo, like him, was at the early stage of wandering immortal.
"Ding Yan."
"So, you're Ding Daoist friend," Yunmo stroked his beard. "I assume you're here for the treasure of the Yellow Spring Old Immortal. Well, it just so happens that we are all here for that purpose. Maybe there will be a chance for us to cooperate."
"Oh?" Ding Yan raised an eyebrow.
Yunmo smiled and said, "Do you know why there are so many people here?"
Before Ding Yan could answer, Yunmo continued, "Because this is the only gate to the inner city, which is not recorded on the treasure map. If it weren't for Senior Jinjiuliu, we probably wouldn't have found this place in our lifetimes." After saying this, Yunmo's gaze shifted toward the cloaked figure as if it were petrified.
"A gate?" Ding Yan's gaze flickered as he unconsciously gripped the damaged map in his hand.
Ding Yan had seen three types of forged maps, all of which did not mention anything about a gate.
Yunmo affirmed, "That's right, it's a gate. To enter the inner city, we have to wait for the gate to appear; it's almost impossible to force our way in."
Yunmo then pointed to the huge city wall in front and said, "Ancient runes are inscribed on this wall. If you forcibly fly over, you will trigger the runes, and be sent elsewhere. There was a friend before who didn't believe this. As a result, he was sent to another place by the runes. According to Senior Wumie's estimation, that friend is likely to be in a very dangerous situation."
The Senior Wumie mentioned by Yunmo was the old crone with a cane.
"When will the gate appear?" Ding Yan asked.
"Sometimes ten days, sometimes half a month; it varies. However, the ghost gate opened last time twelve days ago. I speculate that it should open again within these three days," Yunmo patiently explained.
"The last time it opened…" Ding Yan caught on to the implication in Yunmo's words. "Since you've seen the gate open before, why didn't you go in?"
Upon hearing this, Yunmo stroked his beard, chuckling. "This is the part where we need to work together, Daoist friend."
"Oh?"
"Every time the gate opens, there will be a monster guarding it. Anyone who wants to pass will be attacked by the monster. Previously, there were many young cultivators at the Qi Refining stage who went to explore it several times, but without exception, they were all devoured by the monster." As Yunmo said this, he seemed to recall something, and his right hand involuntarily trembled.
Seeing this, Ding Yan became wary. "Even the two seniors couldn't pass?"
Yunmo seemed to realize his own slip and adjusted his mood, nodding. "Last time the gate opened, the two seniors tried together but were both blocked by the monster and had to turn back. However, they didn't go all out last time, and we didn't make a move. If the gate opens this time, the few of us wandering immortals will join forces, along with the two seniors. It should be feasible."
Ding Yan nodded, not saying anything.
He didn't think the matter was as simple as Yunmo made it out to be. Judging from the old crone's expression, it was clear that she was waiting for someone.
A gatekeeper monster that gives two thunder tribulation wandering immortals a sense of hesitation and requires people to join forces is definitely not as easily solvable as Yunmo said.
Declining Yunmo's invitation, Ding Yan found a secluded place and sat down in meditation.
The Qi Refining cultivators around him either withdrew or showed respectful gestures, addressing him as senior. For these Qi Refining cultivators, wandering immortals were revered and only a fellow wandering immortal like Yunmo had the qualifications to converse with them.
After sitting down, Ding Yan inscribed three runes around him and began to practice meditation.
In his body, yin descended while yang ascended.
The two energies of heaven and earth began to circulate automatically.
Being able to cultivate the Qiankun Dao Scripture within the Wasteland City was an opportunity for Ding Yan. If he could meditate here for five to ten years, he was confident that he would definitely break through to the next major realm and trigger the wandering immortal tribulation in this world.
On the other side, Yunmo returned to the original spot.
A handsome wanderer waved his hand and set up a restriction.
"How was it?" asked the handsome wanderer.
"This person is extremely vigilant and refused our invitation," Yunmo said, his countenance darkening from the previous one.
"He doesn't know his place. Does he think that with his cultivation, he can contend with those two old guys for the Yellow Spring Scripture?" A lean wanderer nearby showed a murderous intent on his face.
The Hades Scripture is the cultivation method practiced by Old Immortal Hades. According to legend, it can cultivate to the level of an Eighth-Tribulation Loose Immortal.
For a Loose Immortal, the cultivation method is of utmost importance!
Without a corresponding cultivation method, it is very likely that when the next celestial tribulation arrives, one would still be at an early stage of cultivation. In that case, it is almost impossible to survive. Therefore, under normal circumstances, as long as there is news of a cultivation method appearing, countless people would likely go all out to obtain it.
This time, the reason for the appearance of the Wasteland City is mainly because very few Loose Immortals have received the news within the mundane world. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been so few people present.
"Do not provoke him at will. Our greatest enemies are Wumie and the Jiu Clan... Fortunately, the Loose Immortals from their sects have not found this place, otherwise we would have had no chance." The handsome Loose Immortal said.
Several Loose Immortals have united to compete with those two Tribulation Loose Immortals for the Hades Scripture. The pressure from the Tribulation Loose Immortals is simply too great for them. As for the remaining disciples in the Qi Refinement stage, they are not even worth mentioning.
They are just a bunch of ants.
"This person can actually set up a formation!" A voice suddenly sounded.
The handsome Loose Immortal showed a surprised look. Looking towards the place where Ding Yan was cultivating, he found that the area was covered with thick fog, blocking all outside investigations, and could only be sensed with divine consciousness that it should be a formation.
"No wonder he does not want to cooperate with us." A deep sense of fear appeared in his eyes, and Yunmo, an independent Loose Immortal, said darkly.
Only a high-level formation expert could set up a formation. For them, the threat of a high-level formation is no less than that of the two Tribulation Loose Immortals Wumie and the Jiu Clan.
"Be careful and watch out for this person..."
...
The old woman sitting on the black stone glanced at the people discussing, a trace of disdain in her eyes.
If they treat Loose Immortals like Qi Refinement cultivators, in her eyes, these Loose Immortals are nothing more than ants.
The realm of Loose Immortals has a huge disparity with each advancement, which cannot be offset by quantity. Unless they possess exceptional spiritual treasures, it is impossible to confront enemies across realms.
"It will be at most three days before Guimen opens again. Why hasn't that old ghost from the Five Sources arrived yet..."