After spending more than half an hour, a passage about two to three zhang wide appeared before them.
At the end of this passage was a cave dwelling gate built at the foot of a collapsed mountain peak.
As countless soil and stones were cleared, streams of pure spiritual energy gushed out from the broken gate. The group quickly took out their specially prepared magic artifacts and intercepted the spiritual energy.
Although spiritual energy was everywhere in the world, it was sparse in most places. Only in some blessed lands and paradises did large amounts of spiritual energy gather.
However, these places were invariably the mountain gates of various sects, with very few unclaimed areas.
The Nine Xuan Sect's location, though a rare cultivation ground that gathered vast and pure spiritual energy, could not be freely drawn upon by its disciples for fear of damaging the very foundation of the earth's veins, leading to a depletion of spiritual energy and rendering it a wasteland.
Therefore, for the spiritual energy required for cultivation, even those from renowned immortal sects had to rack their brains and employ countless methods.
After all the overflowing spiritual energy was collected into special magic artifacts, Ji Yuan and the others stepped forward towards the cave dwelling.
Apart from Zhao Yuansong, whose magic power was greatly depleted, and Wang Xiaoxuan, who was in charge of the formation, Lin Miaoyi and Zheng Wanrong remained behind.
Only Li Junxian and the Tang brothers accompanied Ji Yuan and the others into the cave dwelling.
This way, they ensured a retreat route, not being cornered from behind. If others encountered danger, they could provide support from the outside.
When cultivators explore the remnants of ancient dwellings, they would not rush in blindly based on their cultivation. Only those who knew nothing, such as rogue cultivators, or those who were foolish, would commit such a stupid act.
Typically, such cultivators would perish during their first exploration. Those with better luck might even manage to escape with their lives.
Before stepping through the gate of the cave dwelling, Ji Yuan and the others each took out a luminous pearl and infused it with their magic power. The specially inscribed restrictions on it would cause it to emit a stable light.
Furthermore, this light could even adjust its direction and intensity with the manipulation of magic power.
Simultaneously, each person took a pill that could counteract various poisons and miasmas, and also pasted a talisman for warding off evil spirits and yin energy.
With these preparations made, they solemnly stepped into the cave dwelling.
Upon entering, they could feel that the residual spiritual energy within the cave dwelling was much purer than that outside, and there was no worldly turbid energy intertwined.
If they breathed in the spiritual energy here, it would only require simple refinement to transform into their own magic power, without the need for patient effort to remove the turbid energy.
"This is at least the dwelling of a third-realm cultivator."
Using the luminous pearl in his hand to illuminate the way, Wu Chengqing quietly said.
This cave dwelling appeared to have been hollowed out from the foot of the mountain. Inside the gate was a very spacious area, far larger than an ordinary mansion.
To their left and right were presumably spiritual fields cultivated by the dwelling's owner. However, due to thousands of years of time and the collapse of the mountain at that time, a large amount of rubble had fallen, and not a single spiritual herb in survival could be seen.
On the dry spiritual soil, there were only some withered branches and leaves.
After a brief observation, they continued deeper into the cave dwelling, not wasting too much energy here.
Beyond the spiritual fields, another large door appeared before them. However, this door was not broken. The rough stone surface still retained faint spiritual energy fluctuations, clearly indicating that some restrictions remained.
"Who will do it?"
Wu Chengqing turned and looked at his two companions.
As for Li Junxian and the Tang brothers behind them, they were automatically disregarded by him, as first-realm cultivators had not yet cultivated magic power and were left with only brute force for breaking restrictions.
"I'll do it."
Ji Yuan pondered for a moment and stepped forward a few paces.
He approached the stone door in two or three steps, concentrating and observing for a while. Then, he raised his left hand, and a glow flowed from his fingertips.
He gently directed the glow, which contained spiritual-devouring power, towards the residual restrictions on the stone door. It then swirled around, actually absorbing the spiritual energy from them.
In just seven or eight breaths, the glow grew several times stronger. After devouring the residual restrictions on the stone door, it instantly vanished, entering Ji Yuan's body.
Seeing this, Wu Chengqing and the others' eyes flickered, somewhat envious of his ability.
Ji Yuan took two steps back, and the Tang brothers immediately stepped forward, slowly pushing open the stone door before them.
"This is..."
Several beams of light from the luminous pearls shone forth, revealing a large hall.
This was likely a place for receiving guests. Besides the main seat in the center, there was a row of tables and chairs on either side, with neatly arranged vessels on their surfaces.
On the supporting stone pillars around the hall, lifelike mythical beasts were carved, some baring their fangs and brandishing their claws, others roaring at the sky.
Their gazes swept past the hall, falling upon the stone wall behind, where three deep passages were located.
They walked slowly, their eyes scanning every corner of the hall, and finding no abnormalities, they finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Standing before the three passages, their gazes fell upon Ji Yuan. Unconsciously, he had become the center of attention.
"One by one."
He looked back and forth, casually chose the leftmost passage, and led the others inward.
When they pushed open the stone door at the end of the passage, a quiet room appeared before them, its floor covered with decaying wood, interspersed with some dim jade slips.
About an hour later, Ji Yuan and the others slowly left the cave dwelling. Under the expectant gazes of Zhao Yuansong and the others, they shook their heads helplessly.
This cave dwelling was indeed left by a third-realm cultivator, but after thousands of years, nothing of value remained. Apart from the spiritual energy initially absorbed, it could be considered a complete loss.
Fortunately, that stream of pure spiritual energy made up for the depletion of elixirs and talismans.
After collecting the formation they had set up, Ji Yuan took out the treasure-seeking mouse again and followed it underground.
In the blink of an eye, more than half a day passed. They found two more cave dwellings. One was left by a third-realm cultivator, and its contents had long since turned to dust.
The other, left by a second-realm cultivator, surprisingly contained quite a few good things. Protected by residual restrictions, although the spiritual essence had severely leaked, there were still some valuable items.
The group estimated that this second-realm cultivator must have possessed a complete inheritance, and the restrictions left behind were extremely profound, far beyond what ordinary rogue cultivators could set up.
Otherwise, it would not have been possible for them to preserve even a trace of spiritual energy and protect the items within from destruction over thousands of years.
Of course, this was also related to the special environment of the underground dojo. Otherwise, even with a profound inheritance, a second-realm cultivator would not have been able to achieve this.
Although the harvest from this trip was acceptable, estimated to be worth several hundred taels of silver, the group's mood became increasingly somber.
This place was vastly different from their initial expectations. It was not a serene immortal realm but seemed to have suffered immense destruction, with devastation as far as the eye could see.
"Could it be that this dojo was invaded by a great enemy thousands of years ago?"
In an open space, Wu Chengqing, who had finished his breathing and recuperation, muttered thoughtfully.
The people around him nodded, sharing the same doubts.
But if it was due to an invasion by a great enemy, they only saw shattered mountain peaks and widespread devastation, with no bones to be found.
Even over thousands of years, exposed bones would have long since weathered into dust. However, in cave dwellings where restrictions still remained, some traces should have been visible.
"Have you noticed that no matter what happened outside, the three cave dwellings we explored showed no signs of fighting?"
Zhao Yuansong frowned, finding this difficult to understand.
If there had truly been an invasion by a great enemy, it should not have been like this. It was unlikely that the enemy would be shouting outside the cave dwelling, waiting for the occupant to emerge from seclusion for a decisive battle.
"Perhaps it's just our luck?"
Liu Donglai quietly offered his suggestion.
Given the current situation, this seemed to be the only explanation.
Among the group, only Ji Yuan frowned, knowing the deep reason behind it. He understood why such an abnormal scene had occurred.
Thousands of years ago, under the blood sacrifice of Daoist Chixin, all cultivators had left their cave dwellings and headed towards the core of the dojo, attempting to kill the corrupted Daoist and secure a sliver of hope for themselves.
As a result, it was naturally impossible for any bones to be left in the cave dwellings, and no signs of fighting would be seen.
After a brief rest, the group set off again. However, this time, they did not release the treasure-seeking mouse but took out another item.
In Wu Qingfeng's hand was a Qiankun Bagua disk. As magic power was infused into it, streams of gentle wind flowed out and drifted in all directions.
After a full quarter of an hour, he opened his tightly closed eyes. Then, a spot on his "Wind Listening and Spirit Seeking Disk" lit up.
The group immediately followed the direction indicated by the light. Along the way, Wu Chengqing stopped several times, using the "Wind Listening and Spirit Seeking Disk" to ascertain their direction, so as not to overshoot.
After about half an hour, they stopped outside a petrified forest.
"What happened here back then?"
Looking at the stone forest standing in the darkness before them, Lin Miaoyi couldn't help but murmur to herself.
Before them stood towering trees, lifeless and petrified by some unknown force. Faint black mist still coiled around them, giving a chilling impression.
Illuminated by countless glowing plants, this stone forest resembled some ancient beast, its mere sight evoking resistance and an unwillingness to approach even half a step.
"The spiritual item detected by the Wind Listening and Spirit Seeking Disk is within this stone forest?"
Zhao Yuansong turned and looked at Wu Chengqing beside him.
Upon hearing this, Wu Chengqing also frowned, channeling more magic power into the Bagua disk in his hand, and continuously performing incantations and deductions.
After a long while, Wu Chengqing nodded with a solemn expression. The spiritual item perceived by the disk indeed pointed towards the stone forest.
"Let's all discuss. Do we go in and investigate, or do we change to another place?"
Ji Yuan pondered for a while and then looked at the people around him.
Under such circumstances, a discussion was usually necessary. If they acted recklessly, they might stumble into a death trap.