The earth dragon's self-detonation was not particularly powerful, equivalent to only just entering the second realm. However, the ensuing spectacle was astonishing.
Twenty to thirty cultivators were repelled by the surging spiritual energy, revealing a passage two to three zhang wide, leading directly to the mountain gate.
Upon seeing this, Ji Yuan and the other seven immediately displayed their unique abilities, traversing the passage at maximum speed!
Some activated a jade pendant, enveloping themselves in a hazy glow.
Others employed secret clan techniques, unhesitatingly expending vast amounts of spiritual energy.
Still others consumed special elixirs, instantly boosting their physical strength.
Ji Yuan pressed the Divine Speed Talisman, which still held half its spiritual energy, directly to his chest. He then grabbed Zhou Lianying's arm and closely followed the six individuals ahead.
Although the Divine Speed Talisman had little spiritual energy left, its power remained the same, neither increasing nor decreasing with the amount of energy.
With his own speed augmented by the talisman, he was sure to be among the top three, if not the fastest, of the eight. However, he chose not to show off, deliberately lagging behind to conserve his strength.
The distance of thirty zhang was covered in no time by the eight at full speed, reaching the halfway point. At this moment, the numerous cultivators surrounding them began to recover from the initial shock.
Most of the cultivators were bewildered by what they had witnessed. Only a few, however, sensed something unusual and keenly realized that the target of these eight individuals was likely not the jade tablet.
Moments later, someone made a decisive move, unleashing various attacks while their eyes flickered, contemplating something unknown.
The eight, who were currently rushing forward, seemed prepared for this. As a dozen or so spells rained down, a man and a woman, who appeared to be from the same sect, immediately flung out small flags.
A total of fifteen to sixteen small flags spun rapidly around them, emitting gentle light that wove together, forming a protective screen that enveloped them all.
No matter how many spells struck, those protected by the fifteen to sixteen flags felt only the external surge of spiritual energy, remaining completely unaffected.
"Formation Master!"
Ji Yuan's brow twitched. From this display, he immediately recognized the identities of the man and woman.
Only a Formation Master could use an array to so easily withstand the spells of over ten cultivators in the second realm.
The next moment, something unexpected happened that surprised all the cultivators present. The eight did not head for the Wangyue Sect cultivator who had obtained the jade tablet. Instead, they swiftly passed by him and headed straight for the mountain gate, which was now not far away.
In an instant, a thought arose in the minds of the cultivators. After all, those who could cultivate to such a level were not foolish. They quickly guessed a portion of the truth.
"Stop them!"
A disciple of the Wangyue Sect shouted.
As he spoke, he intended to lead his fellow disciples in intercepting the eight who had just passed by.
However, just as they were about to move, they were blocked by over thirty cultivators. Although they suspected that the eight rushing towards the mountain gate might also possess the necessary jade tablets, seeing was believing. If their suspicions were wrong, and they allowed the Wangyue Sect disciples to regroup, it would be much harder to seize the jade tablet.
It was better to take this opportunity to work together and capture the jade tablet!
However, over ten cultivators, feeling that they could not snatch a jade tablet in full view of everyone, turned their attention to the other eight.
Ji Yuan couldn't help but let out a wry smile. He had not expected that by staying at the back, he would become the person under the most pressure.
While the pair of formation masters had set up a defensive array that could withstand some attacks, it would be difficult to break into the mountain protection formation if the more than ten cultivators behind him managed to latch onto them.
Furthermore, the six individuals ahead would not stop their advance, missing their opportunity and turning back to help.
With a wry smile, he suddenly waved his hand, scattering a large handful of talismans. Although they were all of no rank, the sheer quantity of over thirty was truly intimidating!
In an instant, a sky full of fire, water arrows, wind blades, and other spells appeared, descending like a torrential downpour. In a flash, they engulfed the more than ten cultivators.
These talismans might have had considerable power against cultivators in the Enlightenment Realm, but for cultivators in the Spirit Guiding Realm who had cultivated spiritual energy, even a large number of them were merely a minor threat.
However, Ji Yuan had no intention of causing significant casualties with these talismans. His sole purpose was to impede the progress of the more than ten cultivators behind him.
"Halt!"
As he scattered more than thirty talismans, a loud shout came from the front.
Ji Yuan turned his head and saw several Wangyue Sect disciples blocking the way. Two of them unleashed their full aura, the cultivation of the middle stage of the Spirit Guiding Realm bursting forth without reservation.
At this moment, he saw them simultaneously form hand seals, their movements synchronized as they jointly unleashed a wave of pure white moonlight.
"It's the Wangyue Sect's illusion technique!"
Li Buwei let out a low cry, warning those around him.
Having been prepared, they quickly took out talismans with calming properties and affixed them to themselves. They then immediately consumed one or two pills to maintain a peaceful state of mind.
As the vast expanse of white moonlight cascaded down, Ji Yuan's vision blurred, and he found himself in a night sky.
Before him stood a colossal full moon, emanating a gentle radiance. The light that fell upon him was not cold but felt warm and comforting.
With just a glance, even though he knew it was an illusion, he couldn't help but gaze into the distance, a myriad of emotions surging within him.
His eyes seemed to perceive familiar streets and alleys, and at the end of a secluded alley, a dilapidated Daoist temple that few people ever visited.
In a daze, he seemed to hear laughter emanating from the rundown temple, and occasionally, the scolding of an old man reprimanding a young disciple for mischief.
Ji Yuan found himself in the side courtyard of the temple, watching an old Daoist chase a six or seven-year-old young Daoist, his horsetail whisk flicking in the air. Several older Daoists watched with smiles, occasionally fanning the flames, reminding the young Daoist not to be caught.
This was one of the few times he remembered being truly happy. Back then, his master had not yet revealed his intention to pass on the temple to him, and his senior brothers had not yet harbored any resentment towards him because of it.
And he... at that time, he had not yet developed hostility towards the world due to his senior brothers' actions, nor had he harbored malicious thoughts towards peers walking with their families on the streets.
"The past is like the wind, why disturb my heart?"
He murmured to himself, and suddenly, a sharp light blazed in his eyes.
The figures of his master and senior brothers before him vanished, and the temple where he stood transformed back into a night sky. However, beneath the colossal full moon emitting pure, gentle radiance, stood a young Daoist, about seven or eight years old.
That young Daoist bore a striking resemblance to him, but his face was etched with malice, and he glared with fierce eyes.
Ji Yuan knew in his heart that it was his past self, the self that had grown malevolent due to the changed attitudes of his senior brothers.
It was also the memory he had always been most unwilling to face.
"All that has passed, I shall sever with a single sword, and let my Dao heart illuminate!"
He whispered, and abundant sword intent flowed from his body.
A dark, profound sword materialized, condensed from his sword intent. With a single thought, it slashed between him and his malevolent reflection.
As the sword descended, his heart suddenly felt lighter, as if he had finally shed a burden. The condensed Dao heart became even more translucent.
In an instant, all abnormalities before him dissipated. Amidst the vast moonlight, he maintained his forward momentum, his steps faltering only slightly before resuming their pace.
As for the six individuals before him, they too broke free from the illusion one after another, regaining their senses.
No matter how much time seemed to pass within the illusion, as long as one did not succumb to it, in reality, it was merely a breath or two.
"To disturb my Dao heart with illusions... damn it!"
A middle-aged man spoke in a deep voice.
He reached for his waist, drew a long sword, and a chilling sword light instantly flashed.
The vast moonlight was split in two by this sword, then shattered and dispersed like scraps of paper.
The middle-aged man, holding his sword, covered several zhang with a single stride. Within two or three steps, he was before the Wangyue Sect disciples.
Without hesitation, he horizontally slashed his sword, and an incredibly condensed sword qi emerged. With its sharpness bursting forth, it directly swept away several moon wheels that were closing in, striking without any flourish!
The Wangyue Sect disciples quickly employed their respective techniques, retreating behind them, daring not to touch its edge!
However, no matter how fast they were, they could not outrun the lightning-fast sword qi!
*Poof, poof, poof!!!*
Several strange sounds echoed. All the Wangyue Sect disciples in the early stage of the second realm were wounded by this sword qi, with deep, bone-revealing gashes appearing on their chests, from which blood gushed profusely!
Only the two in the middle stage of the Spirit Guiding Realm, relying on their own abilities and spiritual energy far more robust than those in the early stage, managed to barely block the sword qi before them.
Yet, even though they successfully blocked it, they still suffered considerable damage and expended several precious protective talismans.
"Attack together!"
Li Buwei shouted, taking the lead by discarding several technique talismans.
These three talismans were different from the large handful Ji Yuan had scattered earlier. They were all ranked, and although their quality was not exceptional, each was equivalent to the full-power strike of an ordinary cultivator in the early stage of the second realm.
The others also employed their respective skills, either unleashing streams of spells or directly bringing out their magical artifacts.
Even Ji Yuan, who was at the rear, activated a Divine Sword Talisman, which was also a ranked talisman, possessing power close to that of a full-power strike from a cultivator in the middle stage of the second realm!
Seeing this, the Wangyue Sect disciples dared not confront them head-on!
In just a moment, they scrambled to the sides, clearing the path to the mountain gate.
*Boom!!!*
As the various attacks landed, the area was immediately shrouded in dust and smoke, with surging spiritual energy scattering outwards.
The faces of the Wangyue Sect disciples changed drastically. If they had been even a little slower to retreat, they would likely have been torn to shreds by this wave of energy!
Even the two cultivators in the middle stage of the Spirit Guiding Realm now looked on with deep apprehension. With their cultivation levels, even if they could withstand it without dying, they would at least suffer broken bones and fractured tendons.
One to two breaths later, eight figures emerged from the dust and smoke, flashing several times to arrive outside the mountain gate.
The five leading the group took out three jade tablets. With a slight surge of spiritual energy, a halo emanated, rendering them unaffected by the formation and allowing them to pass smoothly into the mountain gate.
Behind the five, Ji Yuan, holding Zhou Lianying's hand, took out a jade tablet. Just as he was about to activate it, he saw Li Buwei retreat a few steps and come to his side.
"What are you waiting for!"
The latter shouted anxiously.
Hearing this, he finally realized that what the other party had thrown out earlier was none other than the jade tablet he had obtained.
Immediately, Ji Yuan infused spiritual energy into the jade tablet. As the halo enveloped him and the three people beside him, he strode into the mountain gate before him.
With the jade tablet's radiant halo, the mountain protection formation, which possessed astonishing fluctuations, seemed to cease to exist, allowing them to pass through unhindered.
At the same time, several cultivators attempted to blend in, but they were not within the halo's coverage.
Consequently, as they collided with the mountain protection formation, a spiritual pressure akin to heavenly might erupted. Although it flashed by, it caused the hearts and minds of everyone present to tremble.
As for those few cultivators, they were violently repelled by the chaotic spiritual energy. Fortunately, they had not attacked the formation, merely touched it. Although severely injured, their lives were not in peril.
However, their internal spiritual energy had scattered. Even if their injuries healed, much of their cultivation would likely dissipate, and it was uncertain whether they would drop from the second realm as a result.
*Poof!*
A strange sound was heard, followed by a sudden burst of blood. Amidst the smell of blood, the cultivators who had been severely injured by the formation had their heads severed by sharp blades.
Three to four mountain bandits, with sinister smiles, scanned their surroundings, intimidating the other cultivators while swiftly looting the deceased.
Ji Yuan's gaze deepened. From the beginning, he had known that the targets of many cultivators here were not solely the peaks within the mountain protection formation. Many harbored other intentions.
For example, taking advantage of the chaos to attack weaker cultivators or those who were severely injured, and looting their possessions!
If they were lucky enough to obtain a jade tablet and enter the mountain protection formation, it would naturally be an excellent outcome.
But if they were not so fortunate, it would not have been a wasted trip. The few cultivators they had ambushed and killed were enough to make them a substantial profit.
The wealth of a Spirit Guiding Realm cultivator, if sold off completely, was a considerable sum.
Whether in the martial world or among cultivators, there was a saying: 'Robbing and killing leads to wealth, true love leads to no fortune.'
For many cultivators, robbery and murder were often the easiest paths to sudden riches. Such risks could lead to decades of worry-free cultivation, or even allow them to soar to great heights and become influential figures.
(PS: The numbering of some chapters earlier had errors and is currently being corrected. This does not affect the content. We apologize to our readers! This section will not be charged.)