“What… what just happened? The rock, it turned into dust… in a blink of an eye!” Lily’s voice trembled as she tried to process what had just occurred.
“Oh my god! The power of that lightning… it was so intense that it disintegrated the rock in an instant.” Anna’s shocked expression mirrored her daughter’s astonishment.
Emma’s eyes widened as she added, “And the color of the lightning… it was purple! I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
“I can’t even begin to imagine the consequences if any of us were hit by that… we would have been completely obliterated.” Grace shivered at the thought of what could have happened if they had been struck by that lightning.
Yuan let out a heavy sigh, relief washing over him. “Thank the heavens that I sensed the danger and prevented you from taking another step forward. I couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to any of you.”
The memory of his past life flashed through Yuan’s mind, the pain and loss he had endured. The fear of losing them now gripped him tightly, and he vowed to protect them at all costs.
Xi Meili, her gaze fixed on the floor before them, noticed something amiss. Her brows furrowed, and she spoke with a serious tone. “There is an offensive formation called the ‘Raging Thunder Formation’ set up here. Alongside it, there is a detection formation. If you step within the range of the formation without an entrance pass, the purple lightning of the Raging Thunder Formation will incinerate you, reducing you to dust. Not even a single bone will remain.”
Her words drew from the knowledge she had inherited from her ancestors, and she understood the danger they had narrowly avoided.
Lily, grasping the concept, said, “So, the lightning was created by a formation, huh?”
Yuan turned his gaze towards Xi Meili, his expression earnest. “Meili, since you recognize this formation, do you have a way for us to reach the door?”
Xi Meili took a moment to gather her thoughts, recalling the information she had inherited from her ancestors. “The Raging Thunder Formation is indeed formidable, but it has a vulnerability. Every formation has a core, a source of power that sustains it. If we can locate and disable the core, the formation should lose its offensive capabilities.”
“But finding the core won’t be easy. It could be well-hidden or guarded.” Anna looked at Xi Meili with a mixture of hope and concern.
A confident smile graced Xi Meili’s lips as she reassured the group. “Leave that to me. My ancestral memories hold the key to unraveling the secrets of formations. I will do my best to find the core and guide us through.”
She continued, “Moreover, given the formation’s prolonged activation and the energy it expended earlier, it has weakened significantly. Breaking the core should be relatively easy.”
The group exchanged glances, reassured by Xi Meili’s expertise and determination. They knew they could rely on her to lead them safely through the treacherous formation.
“Thank you, Meili. Your knowledge and skills will undoubtedly be our guiding light in this dangerous path. We trust in your abilities.” Yuan said, trusting in her abilities. He was sure that nothing would go wrong, as Xi Meili had inherited various knowledge from her ancestors’ memories.
Xi Meili nodded at Yuan’s words and took a step forward, her focus solely on the task at hand. She delved into the depths of her divine sense, meticulously examining the formation to locate its core.
Time seemed to stretch as minutes turned into hours. Yuan, Anna, Grace, Lily, and Emma stood by patiently, their trust and faith unwavering as they awaited Xi Meili’s success.
Finally, Xi Meili’s eyes snapped open, a spark of triumph lighting up her features. She lifted her hand, conjuring a wisp of crimson and black flame in her palm.
“Break it,” Xi Meili muttered, her voice filled with determination. She released the flame, directing it towards the core of the formation. As the flame connected with the core, a brief reaction occurred, followed by the dissipation of the flame. In an instant, the formation began to crumble before their eyes.
Xi Meili’s face lit up with a bright smile as she announced, “The formation has been destroyed. It’s now safe to approach the door.”
Yuan couldn’t contain his admiration for his talented wife. He approached her, lifting her in his arms and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. “You are incredible, Xi Meili. I am truly blessed to have such an exceptional wife by my side.”
“I’m glad I could be of help to all of you.” Xi Meili blushed, feeling the warmth of his words. She replied softly, expressing her joy at being able to assist them.
Observing the affection between Yuan and Xi Meili, a slight tinge of jealousy flickered within Anna, Grace, Lily, and Emma. 𝙚𝙙𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙚𝙡.𝙤𝙧𝒈
“We’ve spent enough time here. Let’s not waste any more and see what’s behind that door.” Lily, unable to hide her envy, spoke up with a hint of jealousy in her tone.
Hearing Lily’s remark, Yuan released Xi Meili from his embrace and agreed. “You’re right. It’s time to discover what lies beyond that door.”
Although Xi Meili wished to linger in her husband’s arms a little longer, she knew their curiosity and excitement about the treasures that lay beyond surpassed their affectionate moments.
Anna, Grace, Lily, Emma, and Xi Meili nodded in agreement, their anticipation growing as they approached the massive door. To their surprise, as Yuan gently pushed the door, it swung open with ease, revealing a grand hall beyond.
As the group stepped inside, their eyes widened at the sight before them. Numerous humanoid puppets, crafted from gleaming metal, stood in orderly rows, creating an imposing presence within the hall.
And behind them loomed a massive metal door, adorned with an intricate golden dragon design.
“This… There are so many puppets!” Yuan couldn’t help but exclaim, his voice filled with astonishment.
Xi Meili, with her knowledge from her ancestral memories, explained, “Those are guarding puppets. They are commonly used by powerful sects and influential families as a security measure to protect their treasures and resources. Judging from the aura they emit, each of them is at the Spirit Grandmaster level… This is completely unexpected!”
“Grasp!” A collective gulp echoed through the group as they absorbed Xi Meili’s words. Anna’s voice trembled as she spoke, her fear palpable. “Spirit Grandmasters? There are 50 of them!”
“Yuan, let’s go back. We can’t fight them. Each of them is too powerful, and there are 50 of them. We’ll surely die!” Lily, her voice also trembling, pleaded with Yuan.
Before them stood 50 Grandmaster-level puppets, emanating an overwhelming aura. They couldn’t fathom how they, without a single Spirit Grandmaster among them, could possibly face such a formidable force.
Grace and Emma exchanged concerned glances, realizing the dire situation they were in. Grace spoke with a hint of fear in her voice, “Lily is right. These puppets are way beyond our league. We should retreat immediately.”
“Yes, it’s too dangerous for us to face them. We need to find a way out of here.” Emma nodded in agreement, her voice filled with worry.
Yuan let out a sigh, his eyes focused on the approaching puppets. “It’s too late to leave now. They’ve already noticed us,” he stated, pointing towards the advancing puppets.
“Huh?” Panic flashed across their faces as they turned their attention to the approaching puppets, their hearts pounding with fear and uncertainty.
How could they possibly stand against such formidable opponents, especially when none of them possessed the power of a Spirit Grandmaster?
Yuan swiftly retrieved his Empyreal Oblivion, his grip tightening around the hilt. “You guys stay back,” he commanded, his voice filled with resolve. “I will take care of them.”
Xi Meili, ever resourceful, interjected with a plan. “Those puppets have a core in their heads that provides the energy for their function,” she explained, her voice steady despite the imminent danger. “If we destroy their heads, they will become useless. I will also fight alongside you, Yuan. My Primordial Chaos Flame can easily burn through them.”
“Thank you, Meili. Your assistance will make a difference.” Yuan nodded appreciatively, acknowledging her invaluable contribution.
As the puppets charged at them with astonishing speed, Yuan and Xi Meili prepared themselves for the impending clash. Anna, her concern evident in her voice, couldn’t help but express her worry. “Be careful, both of you!”
Undeterred by the puppets’ lightning-fast approach, Yuan and Xi Meili launched themselves forward with incredible agility, closing the distance in an instant.
“One Sword, One Strike!” Yuan muttered and his sword sliced through the air, aiming directly for the nearest puppet’s head. Anticipating the attack, the puppet swiftly moved to block Yuan’s strike with its arm.
However, Yuan’s weapon was no ordinary sword; it was a Soul Weapon. The formidable blade effortlessly cleaved through the puppet’s metal arm, continuing its path and severing the puppet’s head.
Amazed by the puppets’ speed and reflexes, Yuan exclaimed, “They’re fast!”
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