In the desolate wilderness covering a hundred-mile radius within the Liangzhou region, dense reeds taller than a person swayed among marshes and rivers. Here, danger lurked in the form of snakes and crocodiles, even lurking long jiaos (dragon serpents). Common folks wouldn't dare approach unless absolutely necessary. Bai Qiuran tossed the disciple from the Duantian Valley onto the ground.
Clang, clang, clang… Bai Qiuran stepped forward, his True Qi still undispersed, and struck a palm towards the closed gates of the ancient city. He gazed up, contemplating for a moment before raising his hand. This place was indeed the predicted "jump" point for the next ancient city according to the Xuanfa Academy.
Bai Qiuran moved forward, and with his True Qi still intact, he struck his palm towards the city gates. The ringing of bells echoed in his ears, carrying with it a peculiar mental attack aimed at his consciousness. But Bai Qiuran remained resolute, sharpening his mental fortitude which instantly formed into an impregnable fortress. Wave after wave of mental assaults crashed against his defenses without causing the slightest ripple.
"Have they lost their wits?" he mused. Nevertheless, it seemed this terrifying infection indeed had limitations. Finding a dry spot in the tall reeds, Bai Qiuran settled down. Quietly, he focused on gathering his True Qi, attempting to twist it together to pass the time. As the sun rose and set, a day passed swiftly. His efforts had not yielded success, yet thick mist had stealthily enveloped the area.
With an unimaginable outburst of True Qi, a wild surge erupted. The black sword light that shot forth was pulled back by this storm of energy, scaring the surrounding dark creatures into shreds. In the chaos, Bai Qiuran began to charge into the ancient city.
The monstrous forms he met were likely the missing disciples from Duantian Valley, but under some mysterious influence, they unleashed techniques not belonging to Duantian Valley, nor seen in the cultivation world. He gauged the strength of these mental attacks. If one was prepared, an infant soul cultivator could resist this bell's influence, but amidst fierce battles, the sound could become an aggravating disruption. Even an advanced stage cultivator would find it difficult to avoid its influence.
If the ancient city truly appeared in this forsaken wilderness, it would provide further evidence for Bai Qiuran's conjectures: the city’s constant movement wasn’t aimed at population plundering, but to set up a formation.
Clang, clang, clang... Sensing a grave threat, the ancient city began to retaliate fiercely. The bells within rang urgently, and countless dark creatures in the Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Advanced Spirit stages surged forth from the darkness. Yet, none of it could halt Bai Qiuran's advance.
Unmatched True Qi began to gather in his palm. Sensing danger, the gates of the ancient city swung open rapidly, followed by a dense ringing of bells. The sound infiltrated his ears, laced with an intricate mental attack that aimed again at Bai Qiuran's consciousness.
Yet Bai Qiuran remained undaunted. As he fortified his mental defenses, each wave of mental attack that struck his barriers left not the slightest mark. The souls of the possessed individuals were destined to fade away, not good fortune for them, but it also meant that Bai Qiuran could act without restraint.
He had arrived early, hiding at the designated point, awaiting the ancient city’s arrival. Meanwhile, his allies stood far away, ten miles off, hoping to avoid the bell’s influence and not hinder Bai Qiuran. An invisible shockwave spread outward, lowering the reeds surrounding him while the surface of the ground churned like waves. For a split second, the darkness at the city gates parted, granting Bai Qiuran a glimpse of what lay beyond.
He moved forward, True Qi still intact as he struck a palm toward the ancient city gates. The invisible wave of energy pushed aside the dark forces, clearing a wide path for him as he ventured deeper within.
Bai Qiuran raised his hand instinctively, and as he struck, a golden palm imprint burst forth, rocketing towards the gates. From the depths of the darkness within, a group of Golden Core dark monsters, seen previously in visions, erupted forth, channeling their dark energies in defense, using their bodies as shields before the descending imprint.
Visibility obscured once more as darkness surged like a tidal wave, but Bai Qiuran had etched the symbols he observed into memory. Then, a shrill cry erupted from the dark. Numerous creatures wielding enigmatic black flying swords, with long horns atop their heads, soared from the ancient city to attack Bai Qiuran.
With each encounter, Bai Qiuran effortlessly deflected their attacks, his hands moving like phantoms, blocking all the sword lights coming from various angles. Surely, these creatures were the missing disciples from Duantian Valley, but now operated under a mysterious might beyond their understanding.
Bai Qiuran pressed on, sensing danger morphing into fury within the ancient city. The bell's ringing grew frantic, and countless dark creatures surged once more. Yet Bai Qiuran’s path remained inexorable.
As shadows swirled back to shroud the city’s scene from view, Bai Qiuran recognized something familiar, glancing briefly where he had seen certain symbols.
“Apparently, we guessed right,” he murmured to himself, determined to press forward against the shadows, navigating the mysteries of the ancient city enveloping him. An ability to eliminate the dark energies became apparent as Bai Qiuran began to detach the layers obscuring the individuals beneath.
Yet soon, he found their identities: they were indeed disciples of Duantian Valley, but their spirits had vanished. This was a predicament he now faced—a powerful mental challenge as he delved deeper into the heart of the ancient city.
And so, in the ever-changing mist, Bai Qiuran moved forth, instinctively preparing for the battles ahead. What lay in wait within the twisted shadows of the ancient city was still cloaked in uncertainty…