Chapter 306: Underground Cave Abode

Another year or so passed, and Zhang Nuo finally cultivated the "Shangqing Sword Art" to the fifth level, though his cultivation base did not improve because of this, remaining at the Golden Core Middle Stage level.

The fifth level of the "Shangqing Sword Art" did not add new techniques, but it provided better control over the numerous Flying Swords, which invisibly strengthened the cultivator's Divine Sense.

Although this strengthening of Divine Sense was not as significant as those specific techniques for strengthening Divine Sense, it was more than enough to improve the control of the Flying Swords!

In six years, under the effect of powerful Spirit Power, Zhang Nuo still had not crossed into the Golden Core Late Stage realm, which left him somewhat discouraged! He had thought that with the help of the Divine Tree and the Sword Box, he could break through the shackles of the middle stage within a few years and step directly into the late stage, but he had not expected this seemingly simple matter to be so laborious!

A few days later, the "Mysterious Heaven Gold-Devouring Insect" finally returned to Zhang Nuo's side. After this little fellow transformed into human form, its little belly was rounded, looking extremely comical!

This time the Spirit Insect had eaten for a full six years; it was truly unimaginable how much the little fellow had eaten! It lazily rolled over in mid-air and then burrowed into the Spirit Beast Bag in Zhang Nuo's hand.

Now that the Spirit Insect had returned, whether to continue cultivating in this place became a matter for Zhang Nuo to consider. Just as he was caught in a dilemma, a burst of extremely dense Spiritual Qi suddenly emerged from the hole where the Spirit Insect had crawled out.

This Spiritual Qi was like a tangible object, slowly forming a human face above the hole! Zhang Nuo was so frightened that he gasped, his body suddenly standing up! This action of his also gave the human face formed by the Spiritual Qi a big fright; with a 'whoosh', the face disappeared, and the Spiritual Qi rapidly retracted into the ground.

"What is this thing?"

The hair on Zhang Nuo's head was almost standing on end. The bizarre scene just now had appeared too suddenly, and he had no preparation at all. Fortunately, the human face formed by the Spiritual Qi had not attacked him!

"It seems to be Spiritual Qi driven by soul power!"

Chunyangzi said in surprise after hesitating for a moment.

Zhang Nuo walked a few steps toward the hole. This hole was not very large; it had been chiseled out by the "Mysterious Heaven Gold-Devouring Insect" and could only accommodate its body to enter!

"Where does this passage made by the Spirit Insect lead? How could a cultivator's soul appear?"

Confused, Zhang Nuo slowly probed his Divine Sense into the hole, but after descending a hundred feet, he still found no abnormalities, so he withdrew it.

"The soul power just now was very strong, far above mine! It should also belong to some big figure! Little Zhang, why not go down and take a look? We might even gain something!"

Chunyangzi, who loved to watch the excitement, encouraged Zhang Nuo. Actually, Zhang Nuo himself was also very curious about this matter, but facing such powerful soul power, he thought that the cultivator must definitely not be an ordinary person. If he went in easily and encountered danger, not only would he fail to find treasures, but he might even lose his life, which would not be worth it!

"Go down and take a look? Only soul power came out just now, so even if he is powerful, what use is it? You have the 'Hell Butterfly' with you; if the situation is unfavorable to you, just release the 'Hell Butterfly' to take him!"

Seeing Zhang Nuo hesitate, Chunyangzi said again.

"Alright! Anyway, cultivating in this place is not a long-term plan, so let's go down and take a look first!"

Swayed by Chunyangzi, Zhang Nuo made up his mind. He immediately raised his right palm high above his head, and with a movement of his Divine Sense, the "Pure Meditation Divine Tree" shrank rapidly, finally disappearing completely into his palm.

Having cultivated at the base of the tree roots for six years, Zhang Nuo felt a bit dazzled upon seeing sunlight, but after a moment, he adapted to the surrounding environment.

With a movement of his Divine Sense, a Flying Sword rushed out from his body and hung quietly in front of him. At this time, the Flying Sword was no longer what it used to be; sharp Sword Qi flashed with cold light, and a faint dragon shadow swam uncertainly within the sword body!

Pointing at the hole, the Flying Sword flashed with spiritual light and rushed in first, and then Zhang Nuo transformed into a streak of escape light, following behind the Flying Sword into the hole.

For safety, he let the Flying Sword lead the way and hid behind it. He flew toward the underground for nearly half an hour, yet there was still no sign of reaching the bottom. However, the space where Zhang Nuo passed became larger and larger, and traces of being gnawed by the Spirit Insect were everywhere on the surrounding cave walls!

It was truly hard to imagine how such a small insect could eat so much ore! Continuing to fly toward the underground, Zhang Nuo felt bursts of pure Spirit Power. These Spirit Powers were like dew; wherever his body passed, even his pores could feel them.

"Senior, the Spiritual Qi here is unusually dense. It seems there should be a powerful cultivator present!"

"En! But Little Zhang, there is one thing you haven't considered. If that powerful cultivator were still alive, why would he appear using soul power? I think he has mostly fallen, like me, possessing a trace of a Remnant Soul!"

Hearing the meaning in Zhang Nuo's words, he was a bit inclined to back out! Chunyangzi hurriedly explained. Thinking carefully about what Chunyangzi said, it was not entirely unreasonable. If it were only a soul, no matter how powerful the cultivator was in life, it would be of no use in front of Zhang Nuo.

The "Hell Butterfly" in his body relied on devouring souls to improve; the more powerful the soul, the more it would like it! While pondering, the space in front of Zhang Nuo suddenly widened, and a space of a hundred feet in size appeared before his eyes.

There was no light at all around, cold and damp. It looked like this huge space was left behind after the Spirit Insect had gnawed away the ore here.

With his Divine Sense wide open, Zhang Nuo instantly enveloped the place. A moment later, he suddenly raised his head, his eyes staring fixedly at a certain place ahead.

With a sudden flip of his single hand, a cluster of Silver Flame surged out. The silver flame was only the size of a fist, and the shimmering silver light instantly illuminated the place. Only then did Zhang Nuo see clearly that directly in front of him, there was a stone door about a zhang high, and many Fowen were engraved on the surface of the stone door, looking very bizarre!

"Hehe! Sure enough, there is something strange!"

Chunyangzi gave a cold laugh. In such a deep underground place, a stone door would never appear for no reason; there must be a secret behind it!

Zhang Nuo was suspicious for a moment and took a few steps forward. Just when he was three zhang away from the stone door, the space in front of him suddenly twisted, and then rapidly erupted with dazzling colorful light.

"It's a Restriction!"

His figure retreated rapidly, and at the same time, dozens of Flying Swords swarmed out from his body, all blocking in front of him. In such a bizarre place, the Restriction must not be underestimated, but what happened next made Zhang Nuo somewhat puzzled! After the colorful light on the surface of the Restriction dissipated, everything returned to calm.

With his brows tightly furrowed, Zhang Nuo did not know exactly what had happened. He moved his Divine Sense and swept it gently toward the front, but he found no traces of the Restriction where it passed. His Divine Sense reached the front of the stone door before it was blocked and could not advance even half a step.

Pointing at the front in the void, the cluster of Silver Flame he had released earlier rushed toward the stone door, but when the silver flame was still three zhang away from the stone door, it seemed to be blocked by an invisible force. Immediately after, five-colored light appeared again, and in a flash, it swallowed the silver flame, which disappeared without a trace in the blink of an eye!

He gasped slightly. The Restriction that could not be discovered by Divine Sense was so overbearing that even the "Red Glow Fire" had no ability to resist in front of it!

"What a terrifying Restriction! It seems that the cultivator who could create such a Restriction must have a cultivation base at least at the Spirit Severing Stage!"

Chunyangzi was also greatly shocked; he knew the power of the silver flame better than anyone!

"Such a powerful Restriction, can Senior break it?"

If he didn't touch the Restriction in front of the stone door, it wouldn't be triggered. This design was clearly intended to protect the stone door. Zhang Nuo simply put away his Flying Swords, stood in the darkness, and sent a sound transmission to Chunyangzi.

"I'll try! But there's not much hope!"

Sighing lightly, Chunyangzi could not be considered proficient in the way of Restrictions and Arrays, so he said reluctantly. Just at this moment, a bizarre scene appeared!

The surface of the stone door erupted with rays of spiritual light, and the Fowen flowed incessantly. With a heavy sound of opening, the stone door slowly opened!

Neither Zhang Nuo nor Chunyangzi had expected that this stone door would open automatically. Looking vigilantly at the interior of the stone door, both of them were very curious about what was inside!

The opening speed of the stone door was very slow, slowly starting to widen from a small crack until it was completely opened. As the stone door opened wide, the things behind it were revealed.

Zhang Nuo focused his gaze and looked, and everything in front of him surprised and delighted him! Because behind the stone door was a spacious hall, more like a cultivator's Cave Abode. Although the area was only a hundred feet or so, it was filled with Spiritual Qi!

The moment the stone door opened, his Divine Sense rushed into the hall. After probing for a moment, he saw that it was empty inside, and not even a shadow of a cultivator could be seen!

"Little Zhang, be careful. The other party might want to lure the guest into the urn!"

With a slight twitch of the corner of his mouth, Zhang Nuo nodded gently. After the stone door opened, the five-colored light in front of it suddenly appeared like a tide, and after a few surges, it all flew into the surface of the stone door.

"Even the Restriction has been lifted! It seems the other party has no good intentions at all!"

The scene in front of him made Chunyangzi even more certain that the owner of the Cave Abode must have some trick! Zhang Nuo took a deep breath, moved his steps slightly forward, and approached the stone door step by step. Sure enough, when he was three zhang away from the stone door, there was no attack from the Restriction!

If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you get the tiger's cub? Having reached this point, even if there was a dragon's pool or a tiger's den ahead, Zhang Nuo had to break in! Perhaps there would be a great opportunity waiting for him!