Chapter 621: This is an ancient formation

Finally, they arrived at the mountaintop.

Before them stood an altar dedicated to the Fire God, the surrounding flames blazing fiercely.

Mo Di surveyed the surroundings and pointed to a spot: 'There is a huge boulder there; I sense fluctuations of the fire element.'

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan and Su Liyan immediately went over.

They carefully explored around the boulder and eventually found the Scarlet Yang Divine Artifact in a hidden mechanism.

'Finally found it!' Lu Yuan exclaimed excitedly.

Su Liyan stared at the Scarlet Yang Divine Artifact, feeling its powerful fire elemental force.

'This will be the key to further enhancing our strength.'

They carefully put away the Scarlet Yang Divine Artifact and hurriedly left the mountaintop.

They rushed back to Heavenly Wind City and gathered the entire team.

The Supreme Dao Ancestor took out an ancient book, which recorded the structure and guards of the Holy Yuan Pagoda.

'The Holy Yuan Pagoda is the core of Mysterious Yellow City, consisting of eighteen tiers, each guarded by powerful sentinels.'

'We need to act carefully to avoid unnecessary trouble,' the Supreme Dao Ancestor reminded everyone.

Lu Yuan furrowed his brows.

'Then how do we enter the Holy Yuan Pagoda?'

'According to the ancient text, only by solving the riddles of each layer's formation can we advance to the next,' the Supreme Dao Ancestor replied.

Zi Xi'er pondered for a moment and said: 'We can split into two groups; one group handles solving the riddles, while the other protects them while they solve.'

Lu Yuan nodded in agreement: 'Then that's what we'll do.'

Zi Xi'er and Lu Yuan led their respective teams and set off for Mysterious Yellow City.

They arrived at the city center, where a towering Holy Yuan Pagoda loomed before them.

Mysterious Yellow City was surrounded by rich spiritual energy, which sparkled with multicolored light under the sunlight.

The pagoda's surface was carved with mysterious runes and totems, giving a sense of solemnity and sanctity.

'It really feels oppressive,' Su Liyan sighed.

Mo Di whispered: 'We must be careful; each layer may hold danger.'

They followed the clues provided by the Supreme Dao Ancestor and found the entrance to the first layer.

Zi Xi'er deployed her arts and solved the first layer's formation riddle.

As they stepped into the second layer, a chill swept over them.

The originally clear and bright sky turned gloomy, with dark clouds covering the entirety of Mysterious Yellow City.

Lu Yuan observed the surroundings.

'There is an anomaly here.'

Suddenly, a guard appeared before them.

'This is the second-layer guard of the Holy Yuan Pagoda—the Shadow Word Chenxun Formation,' Mo Di warned softly.

'I know how to solve it,' Zi Xi'er said confidently.

She manipulated the Ice Crystal Long Whip, etching runes onto the ground.

Pale blue frost spread around, forming a massive ice formation.

Lu Yuan swung the Heavenly Gang Thunder Fire Sword at the formation's center, releasing biting thunderfire.

The thunderfire and frost intertwined, forming dazzling light that instantly surrounded the guard.

'No formation is beyond our ability to break,' Lu Yuan chuckled.

After defeating the guard, they continued onward.

Each layer had different riddles and guards; Zi Xi'er and Lu Yuan's team worked in seamless coordination, solving one challenge after another.

When they reached the sixteenth layer, Zi Xi'er discovered a special rune wheel.

She examined it closely and attempted to solve its riddle.

'This is an ancient formation.'

The Supreme Dao Ancestor came over to help her.

After some calculations, they finally opened the door of the sixteenth layer.

Upon entering, everyone immediately felt the air rich with spiritual power and the aura emanating from treasures.

In the Treasure Seizure Hall at the base of the Holy Yuan Pagoda lay piles of precious resources, cultivation manuals, and various rare treasures.

Zi Xi'er's eyes lit up; she had long hoped to find treasures that would boost her strength and advance her alchemical arts.

Lu Yuan looked at her and couldn't help but smile.

'Zi Xi'er, you're quite the treasure enthusiast.'

Zi Xi'er blushed and laughed shyly.

'It's better than mere bitter cultivation.'

They began searching the Treasure Seizure Hall for the needed items.

Lu Yuan found a manual on immortal arts cultivation, while Zi Xi'er obtained a batch of rare alchemical ingredients.

'This is our harvest,' Lu Yuan said satisfiedly.

They stored the found items in their storage bags, preparing to leave the Treasure Seizure Hall.

Just as they were exiting the Holy Yuan Pagoda, a loud boom suddenly came from within.

They immediately halted their steps and looked toward the interior.

'The Holy Yuan Pagoda is beginning to collapse!' Mo Di exclaimed in alarm.

Everyone stared at each other, then immediately sped up to flee outward.

The whole Xuanhuang City began to tremble, debris flying everywhere.

They struggled to rush out of Xuanhuang City and returned to Heavenly Wind City.

Gazing at the Holy Origin Pagoda collapsing in the distance, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Although we successfully obtained the treasure, Xuanhuang City also suffered damage because of it."

Lu Yuan gave a wry smile and said.

Zi Xi'er took hold of Lu Yuan's hand.

"We've done our best; the most important thing is that we're all safe and sound."

In a small room of the Lei Huo Dan Ge in Heavenly Wind City, Lu Yuan sat alone before the dressing table, pondering his future cultivation path.

He knew that to stand out in the upcoming ordinary disciple examination, he must accelerate the improvement of his cultivation.

Before him lay an ancient book, a cultivation guide on the Five Elements Escape Armor Art and the Heavenly Gang Big Dipper Formation.

Lu Yuan carefully studied every detail, and a yearning welled up in his heart.

"I can't stay stagnant any longer."

He muttered to himself.

He realized that in his past cultivation he had become somewhat lax and had not fully exerted his strength.

Now is the time to change.

The decision made, Lu Yuan resolved to use the cover of night to cultivate the Five Elements Escape Armor Art and the Heavenly Gang Big Dipper Formation in a hidden valley outside the city.

Night fell, and Lu Yuan swiftly passed through the Lei Huo Dan Ge and went outside the city.

The night wind brushed his robes, giving a feeling of freshness and tranquility.

He found a secluded and quiet valley, set up a formation on an open clearing, and his figure instantly vanished within the formation.

The entire valley was suffused with a faint spiritual energy, weak light glinting off the leaves, magnificent and splendid.

Lu Yuan sat on the ground, closed his eyes, and focused his mind.

He sank his mind into his body, feeling the rhythm of the Five Elements' power flowing.

He silently recited the cultivation mantra, and several runes immediately appeared around him.

This is the basic facility of the Five Elements Escape Armor Art, through which one can absorb heavenly and earthly essence to cleanse oneself.

As time passed, Lu Yuan felt spiritual power continually gathering within his body.

He carefully operated the Five Elements Escape Armor Art, merging the Five Elements' power together.

A sheet of pure, flawless light began to shimmer around him.

Thereafter, Lu Yuan began to control the Five Elements' power, tracing a massive formation diagram in the air.

This is the core structure of the Heavenly Gang Big Dipper Formation. He placed himself within it, his body brimming with power and fearlessness.

He began to practice the immortal techniques and steps corresponding to each position in the Heavenly Gang Big Dipper Formation. (End of chapter)