Chapter 185: Chapter 185: There's a Problem

The Tianji Pavilion female cultivator answered with action, arranging the finger bones Jiang Yu had released around herself.

"Jiang Yu, Sister Xia." Lin Yuan instinctively felt something was off.

Jiang Yu frowned, shifted her posture and broke away from the encirclement with Sister Xia.

But the Tianji Pavilion female cultivator immediately looked up at Jiang Yu: "You are the Array Pivot Life Gate; you may not retreat."

The group of Core Formation cultivators instantly understood and all turned to look at Jiang Yu and Xia Bing.

"Fellow cultivator, you intend to draw someone's vital Qi as a guide?" Elder Qian also wanted to enter the space to collect treasures, but did not want sect disciples to become sacrifices.

"On what grounds do you extract Jiang Yu's vital Qi to make a Life Gate?"

"Are you a demonic cultivator?" Jiang Tu swooshed a dragon pearl toward the female cultivator.

Although the Tianji Pavilion female cultivator was a Core Formation, her duel technique was slightly inferior, and she was ambushed by a seventh‑rank dragon turtle; in an instant she was slammed into the wall, coughing up blood.

Someone helped her up and looked over: "Elder Qian, everything can be discussed; please watch over your spirit beast."

"Elder Yuan also wants everyone to be able to enter the hidden space to search for treasures."

"Discuss? When Elder Yuan set the array, did he ever ask for my opinion?"

The senior immediately knew it was for the greater good, "You are the Array Pivot, please proceed." Jiang Yu saw that on the surface it was Hehuan Sect Core Formation taking the lead, but in fact most of the Core Formation cultivators present did not oppose.

And the Tianji Pavilion female cultivator surnamed Yuan should have listened to Jiang Tu at the time, to kill.

At that time she suddenly feared some high‑rank after‑hand adept at manipulating others; now it seems that others' life‑saving secret technique may not have necessarily affected her judgment in an inexplicable way.

So to the female cultivator she was blunt: "Elder Yuan, I saved your life that day, and you repay kindness with hatred— is that the tradition of Tianji Pavilion?"

"Do not launch personal attacks; I will repay the life‑saving kindness myself."

"Not only you, but all Foundation Establishment cultivators present under forty must become Array Eyes to open the space." The Tianji Pavilion female cultivator burned away her bloodstains and scanned everyone present.

In fact, two female cultivators could have served as the Array Pivot, but since the other side resisted so much, considering that she had been saved, pulling a few more people to stay would also suffice.

She blamed her for the array, saying that when she set it up she naturally enclosed people inside, without even asking.

The Core Formation cultivators couldn't help but glance at each other, and some quietly transmitted a message to the Array Master, wondering if the Tianji Pavilion people were speaking nonsense.

The Array Masters didn't mind which Foundation Establishment entered the array, as long as they could enter the space, so they all spoke ambiguously.

The main issue was they couldn't grasp the space, having no way to act except watching the Tianji Pavilion's actions.

None of the Foundation Establishment cultivators present were over forty; everyone shifted from passive observation to immediate resistance.

They all looked to their own elders, hoping to use another method instead, while the Core Formation cultivators gave no response.

Only Elder Huangfu of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, pulling his disciple Xu Wu aside, said, "I won't go in."

Elder Qian also immediately declared, "Our Grand Void Sect won't go in either, let's leave."

Among those present, many were his Grand Void disciples; two were Nascent Soul practitioners, and one was Lin Yuan's junior brother's son. If any mishap occurs at this juncture, returning to the sect will be far from easy.

Jiang Yu and a few followed him downstairs, but half of the Core Formation cultivators stepped forward to block them: "Elder Qian, Elder Huangfu, hold back."

"If you all leave and a few people can't open the space, what then?"

Clang!

Elder Huangfu, a sword cultivator, made his true nature appear; his life‑bound sword shot out of his dantian, pointing at several blocked paths.

"Everyone, let's not spoil the harmony. Elder Yuan, is this the only method to enter the space?" A Core Formation cultivator from the Profound Heaven Sect once again stepped forward as the good guy.

The Tianji Pavilion female cultivator said: "Only a tiny amount of vital Qi; those who go in will emerge within the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, with no noticeable effect."

"Of course, it's best to give it to the disciples arranging the array, along with this spirit herb that supplements vital Qi."

Xia Bing asked with a hint of sarcasm, "Damaging this vital Qi will affect the longevity essence, right?"

Jiang Yu couldn't help but laugh, "If vital Qi is lost it impacts longevity, only a Longevity Pill can replenish it, right?"

"All elders, would each of you be willing to grant one Longevity Pill?"

"Jiang junior, how many years does a cup of tea cost?" The Core Formation cultivator of the Heavenly Demon Sect was displeased; the Longevity Pill is a longevity treasure even he cannot purchase.

"Fellow cultivator, you're mistaken; a tiny amount of vital Qi won't diminish longevity." A demonic cultivator of Hehuan Sect glared at him, "Idiot, once they hear that losing longevity makes others run faster."

"Then you do it for everyone, okay? Trust that one Core Formation can support twenty Foundation Establishments."

"However, it's just a few jade slips; my Sword Sect doesn't covet them, and we certainly won't trade disciples' longevity for them." Elder Huangfu glanced at the Tianji Pavilion female cultivator, seemingly sowing discord.

Then she swung her sword, forcefully clearing the few people blocking the staircase.

"Quick, go." Elder Qian seized the chance, pushing Jiang Yu and the others forward, brandishing his sword ready to strike.

Jiang Yu casually grabbed Xu Wu and went down, the remaining Foundation Establishments also tried to run, and indeed someone took the lead to do so.

The reason, of course, is that their master was not a Core Formation cultivator present.

"Nephew Qu?"

"Xu Bao, return."

"Jiang …"

"..."

A Core Formation cultivator of the Taiyi Sect, seeing his own people also flee, hesitated a breath and then stayed with Elder Qian and the other, guarding the staircase.

In the blink of an eye, many sect Foundation Establishments fled; the ones left were those whose masters were present and hadn't let them go.

The demonic sect's Foundation Establishments wanted to leave but dared not; at that moment, that semi‑real, semi‑illusory space flickered again.

"Look, the space still contains spirit treasures!" someone shouted excitedly.

Hearing this, Jiang Yu and the others, already halfway down the stairs, ran even faster.

The demonic Core Formation cultivators acted quickly; with a wave of their hands they flung the remaining Foundation Establishments into the center of the finger bones.

Upstairs, a Core Formation cultivator from Dragon Emperor Island urged, "Elder Yuan, hurry, open quickly."

"The remaining few should be enough."

"…Fine, I'll give it a try." The Tianji Pavilion female cultivator thought it best not to say too much, as saying more could cause mistakes.

She arranged the Foundation Establishments, then performed a complex hand formula on the circle of finger bones; the Array Masters watched without blinking, but the floating, unstable space suddenly burst into brilliant light.

The people on that entire floor could not open their eyes or spiritual perception; after the light faded, all the Golden Core cultivators also disappeared.

Including Elder Qian guarding the stairwell, Huangfu Zhenren, and the Taiyi Sect's Golden Core cultivators.

"Master!" Xu Wu shouted, pushing aside the people running down; she wanted to go back and see.

Jiang Yu's spiritual perception followed, and within the circle on the seventh floor where finger bones were placed, nearly twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators lay fainted on the ground.

The space vanished, and the finger bones on the ground turned entirely to ash.

Someone felt a pang of fear: "Shall we go up?"

Jiang Yu naturally wanted to go back; her senior brothers and sisters would also leave, and they could not abandon Elder Qian who protected them and run away with money.

But when everyone came up, they could find no sign of the space anywhere, and they also dared not approach the fainted people.

Xu Wu grew impatient, brandishing her sword and shouting at Master, and even, out of control, she slashed the window open.

The mountain wind howled into the place, and the fainted Foundation Establishment cultivators slowly opened their eyes, covering their heads and saying they had headaches.

"That female cultivator's method is definitely problematic," Jiang Tu thought, grateful that Jiang Yu had not selflessly charged into the formation.

It noticed Jiang Yu staring blankly out the window, and couldn't help following her line of sight.

Then, in the eastern fish‑belly‑white sky, a phantom of a grand hall emerged; upon closer inspection, the plaque bore the ancient characters "Tai Ji Dian".

"Let's go," Jiang Tu said without hesitation, grabbing Jiang Yu and leaping out the window.

Then, with a thud.