Chapter 452: Fuji Secret Realm: Ancient Spirit Vein

Mount Fuji in Japan has long been known as a "Sacred Mountain," and for thousands of years, it has been a holy site for pilgrimage by Practitioners. At this moment, a special team is cautiously making their way through an area of Mount Fuji rarely trodden by human feet. The team is not large, consisting of only a dozen or so people, but every one of them is a top-tier talent in their respective field.

Xu Feng walks at the very front of the team, followed by Yamada Ichiro and elites from various cultivation systems. They shoulder a grave mission—to find the legendary ancient Spirit Vein and seek out an energy source for the Spiritual Body Reunion of Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan.

"According to our readings, the Spirit Vein should be three kilometers ahead, located about five hundred meters underground," Yamada Ichiro says, checking the detector in his hand. "However, reaching it will not be easy; we need to pass through several natural barriers."

Xu Feng nods: "No matter how difficult it is, we must try." He turns to the others in the team: "Everyone, get ready. The path ahead may be arduous."

Everyone in the team has a determined expression. They all know the importance of this mission and have all witnessed the sacrifices of Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan. Being able to contribute to the return of the two heroes is a supreme honor.

A Practitioner specializing in geological exploration steps forward and says: "Director Xu, there is a geological fault ahead that cannot be passed by ordinary methods. I suggest activating the 'Earth Vein Walker' secret technique to proceed directly along the energy veins within the mountain."

Xu Feng agrees with this suggestion. The so-called "Earth Vein Walker" is an ancient Earth Department secret technique that allows a Practitioner to perceive and move along underground energy veins; it is a method created specifically for exploring underground secret realms.

Under the guidance of several Earth Department Practitioners, the team begins to move along a route barely visible to the naked eye. As they go deeper, the surrounding environment becomes increasingly peculiar—the rocks display unnatural patterns, the air is permeated with faint energy fluctuations, and even weak light seeps out from the rock crevices.

"These are all signs of the Spirit Vein's influence," Yamada Ichiro explains. "Mount Fuji has been a place where energy gathers since ancient times; we are approaching its Core area."

After several hours of difficult trekking, the team finally arrives at a spacious underground karst cave. The cave is tall and empty, and the walls are covered with glowing, peculiar crystals, providing a soft light source for the entire space. Most eye-catching of all is a massive stone gate in the center of the cave, its surface carved with complex and ancient Runes.

"This is it!" Yamada Ichiro shouts excitedly. "The entrance to the Fuji Spirit Vein! It is recorded in our ancestral ancient books, but no one has been able to find it for hundreds of years!"

Xu Feng steps forward to examine the stone gate. The gate is about three meters high and two meters wide, made entirely of an unknown black stone material, and the Runes on its surface flicker with a faint blue light in the dim surroundings. He tentatively reaches out to touch it, only to be repelled by an invisible force.

"A barrier," Xu Feng says in a low voice, "and an extremely powerful one at that, with at least several thousand years of history."

The barrier expert in the team comes forward to test it and quickly reaches a conclusion: "This is a composite barrier that integrates techniques from multiple cultivation systems. With our current capabilities, we cannot force a breach."

Everyone looks at each other, falling into a momentary silence. Having gone through all kinds of hardships to find the entrance, only to be blocked at the door—the result is disheartening.

"There must be a way," Xu Feng says, unwilling to give up, carefully observing the Runes on the stone gate. "These Runes look like some kind of key mechanism; perhaps they require a specific item or incantation to activate."

The team begins to try various methods—using Dharma Artifacts from different systems to contact the barrier, casting various dispelling spells, and even attempting to influence the barrier through energy resonance. However, the stone gate remains completely motionless, as if silently mocking their futility.

Several hours later, everyone is exhausted and morale is low. Xu Feng rubs his temples, struggling to think of what other methods have not been tried. Just at this moment, an abnormal fluctuation comes from the special container he carries with him.

"What is happening?" Xu Feng opens the container immediately. Inside are the two Yin-Yang Dual-Colored Cores he brought specifically, hoping they would resonate with the Spirit Vein. To his surprise, the Cores are now emitting a strong light, and the exact same Runes as those on the stone gate are appearing on their surfaces!

"Look! The Cores!" Xu Feng holds the container high so everyone can see this spectacle.

Everyone is stunned. The Runes on the surface of the Cores correspond one-to-one with those on the stone gate, as if they were created specifically for this moment.

"This cannot be a coincidence," Yamada Ichiro murmurs. "There must be some kind of connection between the Cores and the barrier."

A flash of realization crosses Xu Feng's eyes: "Perhaps... the Cores are the keys."

He carefully takes out the two Cores and walks toward the stone gate. As the distance shortens, the light of the Cores becomes more dazzling, and the Runes become increasingly clear. When he stands before the stone gate, the Cores almost break free from his hands, hovering autonomously in the air and aiming directly at two special Runes on the stone gate.

In an instant, the entire cave trembles. All the Runes on the stone gate light up, forming a complex Energy Network. A strong energy resonance is established between the Cores and the stone gate, emitting a sharp humming sound. Everyone has to cover their ears and step back a few paces.

With a loud boom, the stone gate slowly opens, revealing the space behind it. A powerful and pure aura of energy rushes toward them, causing every Practitioner present to feel a sense of palpitation.

"It worked!" someone exclaims.

After the stone gate opens completely, the Cores automatically return to Xu Feng's hands, and their light gradually subsides. Xu Feng gazes at the Cores in astonishment, as if looking at a brand-new life: "Lin Xuan, Xiao Yuan, it was you who helped us find the way, wasn't it?"

The surfaces of the Cores flicker slightly, as if responding to his words.

Xu Feng leads the team cautiously into the space behind the stone gate. The sight before them makes everyone hold their breath—this is a massive underground world, dozens of times larger than the previous cave. Countless glowing crystals hang from the ceiling, as brilliant as a starry sky. The air inside is fresh, and the energy concentration is shockingly high, yet it does not make one feel uncomfortable; instead, it has a wonderful effect of soothing the body and mind.

Most eye-catching of all is a huge energy pool in the center of the cave. The pool water is pale blue, emitting a soft light, and the energy fluctuation is so intense that even an ordinary person could clearly perceive it. The surface of the pool is as calm as a mirror, yet it contains infinite changes, as if a miniature universe is operating within it.

"This is the legendary Spirit Vein Core," Yamada Ichiro says, his voice trembling. "It is even more spectacular than recorded in the ancient books! The purity and concentration of the energy here is the highest I have ever seen."

Xu Feng walks close to the energy pool, feeling the shock brought by that pure energy. He can be certain that this is exactly the energy source they need, sufficient to support the entire process of the Spiritual Body Reunion for Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan.