Chapter 367: Mountain-Guarding Sacred Beast

When Zhang Nuo and the other two walked into the valley, they were followed by hundreds of disciples. These disciples were all filled with excitement the moment they heard that a Purple Mansion Immortal Cave might exist within the valley!

If one performed well in the Pavilion, perhaps one day, one could also enter the Immortal Cave to cultivate for a period of time. If that were truly to happen, one would certainly benefit immensely!

Zhou Huizheng did not stop them either, letting these disciples follow behind him. Zhang Nuo followed slowly behind Yang Huzi, his gaze constantly scanning the valley!

One could see green hills and clear waters within the valley, with birds singing and flowers fragrant everywhere—a scene of peace and tranquility! Occasionally, a few small beasts would run past, appearing extremely cute!

"I've been at Yulong Immortal Mountain for so long, yet I never knew there was such a wonderful place!"

Looking at the surrounding scenery, Yang Huzi could not help but feel a sense of being moved. Most of his time, aside from cultivation, was spent fighting outside; he rarely had the chance to appreciate such beautiful scenery!

"If you like it, I'll just give this place to you as your Cave Abode!"

Zhou Huizheng was also attracted by the beautiful scenery before him and said with a faint smile.

"Hehe! That would be great! The boss must keep his word!"

After the two exchanged a few jokes, the atmosphere was eased, and it was no longer as tense as it had been before entering the valley. Zhang Nuo, however, remained calm and composed, releasing his powerful Divine Sense to carefully scan every place he walked, fearing he might miss any clues!

"Fourth Brother, any discoveries?"

Seeing Zhang Nuo lost in thought and silent, Yang Huzi asked with concern.

Shaking his head, Zhang Nuo gave a helpless, bitter smile. At this moment, the group arrived at the depths of the valley. In the central area, there was an extremely wide expanse where no plants grew; the ground was entirely paved with white jade stone!

"This is it!"

Zhou Huizheng said with a solemn expression. In this valley, everything was natural; only this spot was barren, which was very eye-catching! Zhang Nuo took a few steps forward. Just as he was about to approach the jade stone ground, a hidden force emanated from the ground here, forcibly pushing him back!

Raising his eyebrows slightly, Zhang Nuo did not force his way in again but lowered his head to think carefully! The jade-paved ground here was only a few zhang in size; as long as one did not attempt to approach it, no repulsive force would be generated. Could there really be something strange about this place?

Just as Zhang Nuo was thinking, Zhou Huizheng and Yang Huzi also tentatively walked forward, but the result was the same as Zhang Nuo's!

"I'll try to charge it with brute force!"

Yang Huzi had a hot temper. Without waiting for Zhou Huizheng's agreement, a fierce cyan light erupted from his body, and he forcibly charged toward the jade stone ground!

Boom! After a muffled sound, the moment Yang Huzi's body made contact with the area near the jade stone ground, he was immediately thrown dozens of zhang away by a massive force! Fortunately, he stabilized his figure in mid-air and did not fall to the ground, though his body was aching faintly!

"Are you alright!"

Zhang Nuo walked quickly to Yang Huzi's side and asked with concern.

"I'm fine! This Restriction force is truly immense, but it doesn't seem to have any intention of harming people!"

After one charge, Yang Huzi had sensed the true function of the Restriction!

"Fourth Brother, in your opinion, is this the entrance to the Purple Mansion Immortal Cave?"

Zhou Huizheng asked with a grave expression. Zhang Nuo only shook his head slightly and then let out a long sigh.

"I can't say for sure! We can only find a way to break the Restriction and see!"

"Since that's the case, let's find the Array Masters in the Pavilion to try!"

Seeing that Zhang Nuo was also unable to judge the truth, Zhou Huizheng immediately summoned several Array Masters from the Pavilion to let them attempt to break the Restriction.

After the few Array Masters discussed around the jade stone ground for over an hour, they finally decided to take action. For a time, various Array Disks floated in mid-air, and five-colored rays of light were continuously triggered.

Zhang Nuo, Zhou Huizheng, and the others retreated nearly a hundred zhang away, while simultaneously warning the ordinary disciples behind them not to approach easily!

Hum!

A red beam of light rose from the surface of one of the Array Disks and slammed violently toward the jade stone ground. The next moment, the previously calm jade stone ground trembled, and at the same time, a red light erupted from its surface, forcibly scattering the red light released by the Array Disk!

Seeing this, the other Array Masters all revealed solemn expressions. Almost at the same time, the several Array Masters frantically activated their Array Disks, and rays of light of various colors shot toward the jade stone ground in unison!

Humming sounds continued, and the jade stone ground also released several red lights to counterattack! The two sides reached a stalemate just like that! In the distance, Zhang Nuo's expression changed slightly, his gaze never leaving the jade stone ground!

"Senior, have you noticed any clues?"

Sending a voice transmission to Chunyangzi, Zhang Nuo wanted to obtain some useful clues from him!

"No! However, the Restriction here is very strange; it grows stronger when met with strength. Just now, when Yang Huzi went to charge it, the Restriction didn't make any counterattack, but when these Array Masters tried to break the Array, the Restriction made a corresponding retaliation! What a strange Array!"

After pondering for a moment, Chunyangzi said this, feeling at a loss.

Zhang Nuo was also speechless for a long time. He was not proficient in the way of Arrays, and since Chunyangzi had no way either, he was even more helpless!

Just as Zhang Nuo was bowing his head in thought, the several Array Masters around the jade stone ground all pushed the power of their Array Disks to the maximum. For a time, rays of light of various colors shrouded the entire jade stone ground, and booming sounds could be heard from within from time to time!

"Awoo!"

From the jade stone ground wrapped in countless rays of light, two sounds like beast roars suddenly erupted. Zhou Huizheng and the other two quickly looked at each other; in each other's eyes, there was an unmistakable look of disbelief!

"What's going on?"

Yang Huzi stared at the jade stone ground in shock, his face full of disbelief! A beast roar had actually come from the perfectly fine ground; could it be that there was some kind of Spirit Beast beneath the jade stone ground?

Zhang Nuo was equally astonished. He released his Divine Sense and scanned deep into the jade stone ground amidst the cluster of light! This scan immediately made him gasp, and his figure could not help but retreat several steps!

"What's wrong, Fourth Brother?"

Having been with Zhang Nuo for such a long time, Yang Huzi had rarely seen him show such an expression.

"There's something down there!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhou Huizheng and Yang Huzi simultaneously released their Divine Sense to scan forward. But before their Divine Sense could reach the jade stone ground, they felt the earth shake, and the light released from the several Array Disks was dispersed by an invisible force!

Following a long beast roar, a red figure slowly condensed from the center of the jade stone ground. This figure was dreamlike and illusory, yet everyone could clearly see its existence.

This was a Spirit Beast with a completely crimson body, like a tiger, but it was much larger than a tiger, reaching two zhang in length, and it even had a pair of white fleshy wings on its back!

"Qiongqi Beast!"

Just by glancing at it, Zhou Huizheng recognized this beast! The 'Qiongqi Beast' was a rare type of ancient Spirit Beast, and its power far exceeded the imagination of cultivators! It is said that an adult 'Qiongqi Beast' could easily wipe out a Spirit Severing Stage cultivator!

However, the 'Qiongqi Beast' on the jade stone ground before them did not seem to exist in its true form, but was in a soul state! Even so, the powerful Spiritual Pressure erupting from its body still made Zhang Nuo frown!

"It seems this must be a Spirit Beast guarding the mountain! After tens of thousands of years, its physical body was destroyed, but its soul remains undying!"

Yang Huzi stroked his beard, which felt like steel needles. He truly had not expected that there would be such a divine beast in the Yulong Immortal Mountain of the past!

Just as the few were marveling at the 'Qiongqi Beast', they saw the beast's copper-bell-like eyes widen, and it quickly swept across the several Array Disks nearby! With a light flick of its slender tail!

With a 'pop', it smashed the nearest Array Disk to pieces! Immediately after, the beast's mouth opened slightly, and a red beam of light sprayed out, directly blasting five more Array Disks to pieces!

"Everyone, scatter quickly!"

At this moment, the several Array Masters breaking the array were already scared silly, actually standing rooted to the spot without any reaction! Hearing Zhou Huizheng's exclamation, they finally retreated toward the rear one after another!

The moment the "Qiongqi Beast" appeared, a burst of restlessness came from the Spirit Beast Bag in Zhang Nuo's embrace, from the "Mysterious Heaven Spirit Insect"! The little fellow seemed to have something especially important!

Frowning slightly, Zhang Nuo had never displayed his Spirit Insect after its Transformation Stage in front of outsiders; while he was hesitating, the voice transmission of the Spirit Insect came into his mind!

"Master! Quickly let me out, I have a way to subdue the soul of this 'Qiongqi Beast'!"

"Xuan Jin! Do you really have a way to subdue this beast?"

Zhang Nuo felt slightly surprised; what method could the Spirit Insect possibly have to subdue the "Qiongqi Beast"?

"En!"

The Spirit Insect only gave a light grunt and did not offer much explanation. Zhang Nuo weighed the pros and cons; even if he released the Spirit Insect after its Transformation Stage, no one would recognize it as a "Mysterious Heaven Gold-Devouring Insect"!

After making the decision in his heart, Zhang Nuo reached out and touched his embrace, quickly taking out the Spirit Beast Bag. At the same time, the "Qiongqi Beast" on the jade floor let out a long howl, and the beam of light emitted from its mouth became even more intense, forcing Zhou Huizheng and the others to retreat rapidly!

A flash of spiritual light appeared on Zhang Nuo's five fingers, and he quickly opened the Spirit Beast Bag. A flash of Golden Light was seen within, and the Spirit Insect after its Transformation Stage flew out like lightning, stopping directly in mid-air!

The instant the Spirit Insect appeared, the gazes of both Zhou Huizheng and Yang Huzi fell upon it! They saw a child who looked to be five or six years old hovering in mid-air without the aid of any Flying Magic Tool.

Even they, as cultivators at the Nascent Soul Stage, had no way to perform this kind of technique of flying directly through the air! For a time, they felt Zhang Nuo was even more mysterious; this person always gave them quite a few surprises at critical moments.