Once inside, Shen Yuan activated the Spatial Camouflage Veil again to mask his presence.
The dense forest surrounding the sect’s structures was alive with traps and patrolling disciples.
Using his extreme senses and spatial abilities, he weaved through the maze of natural and artificial barriers with precision.
The sect’s layout began to unfold before him, a sprawling compound of dark stone structures with sharp, angular designs.
The faint hum of Essence-powered formations resonated in the air, their energy intertwining with the natural Essence of the forest.
Shen Yuan swiftly moved through the massive lands of the sect like a shadow, his Spatial Camouflage Veil ensuring his presence remained undetected.
The faint hum of Qi-powered formations grew stronger as he navigated deeper into the Silver Fox Sect’s base, each step bringing him closer to his target—the rumored ancient teleportation array.
[You’re making good progress, Yuan’er,]
Yue Lan remarked in his mind.
[But don’t get too carried away. It’s not just their traps you need to avoid, but also the senses of those rather… lively disciples.]
“I know, Lan’er,” Shen Yuan replied calmly, his eyes scanning his surroundings. “Although, with this being an all-female sect, I might not mind a close call or two.”
[Yuan’er, you’re incorrigible,]
Yue Lan teased, her voice dripping with mock disapproval.
[Focus. The teleportation array isn’t going to—oh, wait. What’s this?]
Shen Yuan had stopped in front of a particular building, his senses detecting a peculiar fluctuation of spatial energy within.
“This has to be it,” he muttered. Without hesitation, he activated Spatial Distortion, a faint ripple in the air spreading as he silently entered inside.
…
The moment Shen Yuan phased inside, the faint sound of running water and feminine laughter reached his ears.
His sharp gaze took in the scene before him, his mind processing the situation in stunned silence. The building wasn’t housing the teleportation array—it was an indoor bathhouse.
Steam curled lazily through the air, obscuring parts of the large bathing area but not enough to hide the elegant, naked bodies of several disciples immersed in the crystalline waters.
Their laughter echoed softly, their guards completely down as they enjoyed a moment of relaxation.
Shen Yuan’s smile returned, a playful glint in his eyes as he allowed himself a moment to appreciate the unexpected view.
His gaze swept over the scene, noting the contrast of smooth skin against the shimmering water, the way the disciples’ hair clung to their shoulders, and the soft light illuminating their relaxed features.
Xueyan herself looked at all the pretty women before looking at Shen Yuan’s face, her gaze flickering with determination.
[Enjoying yourself, Yuan’er?]
Yue Lan’s teasing voice snapped him out of his reverie, her tone laced with amusement.
[Should I call Yuxin over to remind you why you’re here?]
Shen Yuan suppressed a chuckle, his smile growing wider. “Just a fleeting distraction, Lan’er. Nothing more.”
[Fleeting, huh? I remember your main reason for learning this Spatial Distortion technique. Looks like I was correct back then.]
“Cough, coincidence coincidence. It wasn’t my intent.” Shen Yuan sighed, his gaze lingering for a fraction of a second longer before he activated Void Steps, his figure flickering out of sight just as one of the disciples turned her head toward where he’d been standing.
…
Shen Yuan reappeared in a quieter corridor, shaking his head in mild amusement. “Well, that was unexpected. Maybe I should focus more on my destination.”
[Or at least learn to distinguish between teleportation arrays and bathhouses,]
Yue Lan quipped.
[Although I must admit, that was an entertaining detour. Those bodies… hmm.]
“Glad I could amuse you,” Shen Yuan replied dryly. “Let’s hope the actual array isn’t far from here.”
[You will need to head deeper into the sect for that or pass a few more formations. But from what I have seen, this sect didn’t make plans against Spatial Cultivators. They were probably thinking along the lines of why would an esteemed Spatial Cultivator bother with their sect.]
“This just makes my work easier.” Shen Yuan’s smirk widened as he stepped forward, his Spatial Camouflage Veil keeping his presence in check.
The corridor ahead was dimly lit by faintly glowing Essence lamps embedded in the walls, casting long shadows that moved with every flicker of energy.
He reached the first formation—a shimmering web of invisible lines etched into the floor and walls.
Its power radiated outward, clearly designed to detect any intrusions. Shen Yuan crouched slightly, his fingers brushing the edge of the formation. He closed his eyes, allowing his Spatial Intent to ripple out and map the structure.
[This one’s a bit more advanced,]
Yue Lan remarked with mild interest.
[They’ve layered illusion and detection techniques here. Disturbing even one thread will alert the entire sect. And it’s invisible at that; if you didn’t have your Spatial Awareness, you would have walked straight into it.]
“Simple enough,” Shen Yuan muttered, his hand faintly glowing as he activated Spatial Distortion.
The space around the formation warped, twisting the threads of energy into a harmless spiral. With a single step, he bypassed the intricate web, leaving it untouched.
[Yuan’er, you make it look too easy,]
Yue Lan teased.
[The Silver Fox Sect should’ve invested more in anti-spatial defenses.]
“Not everyone can anticipate the unthinkable,” Shen Yuan replied with a grin. “And they definitely didn’t anticipate me.”
…
Moving deeper into the sect, Shen Yuan encountered another formation—a pulsating sphere of light hovering in the center of the corridor.
It emitted waves of Essence that scanned the surrounding space, creating an airtight detection zone. This one wasn’t as easily bypassed as the web.
[This is quite something,]
Yue Lan observed.
[An active sensor? That’s overkill for most intrusions.]
“Overkill for others, maybe,” Shen Yuan replied, his gaze calm. “But for me? Just a simple challenge.”
He extended his Spatial Intent, letting it flow into the pulsating sphere. The Essence waves collided with his Intent, revealing the sphere’s structure. It was a self-regenerating formation, designed to adapt to disruptions.
Shen Yuan activated Void Steps, slipping between the pulses of energy. His figure blurred as he moved in perfect synchronization with the sphere’s rhythm, bypassing it entirely before it could adapt.
…
The core area of the sect began to come into view. It was a vast, open courtyard surrounded by towering structures of dark stone.
At its center stood a large, circular platform inscribed with complex runes and glyphs—clearly the teleportation array.
“Finally,” Shen Yuan murmured, his eyes narrowing. “But of course, they wouldn’t leave it unguarded.”
The area around the array was heavily fortified with layers of formations that intertwined like a web of stars.
Guards patrolled the perimeter, their sharp gazes scanning every shadow. Shen Yuan could sense the power radiating from the core of the array—it was ancient, its Essence far older than the surrounding structures. Explore stories on empire
[Yuan’er, this is it,]
Yue Lan said.
[But getting through all these defenses… even for you, it’s going to be tricky.]
Shen Yuan nodded his head. “Tricky, yes. But impossible? No.”
He crouched low, letting his Spatial Camouflage Veil envelop him completely. His presence completely vanished into the environment as he moved closer to the array, weaving through the patrolling disciples and elders with precision.