The saying goes, "The stone from other mountains can polish jade," and upon arriving at the East Victory Continent, he took famous Forbidden Arrays from the continent for meticulous study to teach his disciples the Array Path Forbidden Gate. Therefore, he was not unfamiliar with this continent’s array restrictions.

East Victory Continent differs from East Splendor Continent as it is filled with immortal cities. Whether it be array paths or forbidden gates, they mostly tend towards the path of defense.

Though the prohibition here has seen many changes, the creator did not deliberately conceal its nature, allowing him to instantly recognize it as derived from one of the East Victory Nine Formation’s "Changling Supine Formation."

When it comes to breaking the array, once the roots and veins are found, it is only a matter of time.

He estimated slightly within his heart and said, "Daoist Song, please protect me."

Song Yuan Chu quickly replied, "I shall comply."

He ascended to the cloud once again, even though there was no sign of life along the path. As the matter concerned himself, he dared not be careless.

Zhang Yan sat cross-legged, took a handful of bamboo divination from his side, and threw it on the ground to perform earnest divination.

After about an hour, he discovered the entry path, smiled slightly, and cast several Daoist Techniques upon the prohibition as rumbling sounds echoed, easily breaking the restriction.

He maneuvered the spiritual mechanism to explore deeper into the cave, but soon encountered another prohibition, which was no surprise to him.

East Victory Continent values humans as the array masters, arrays as the human assist, believing that without guardians, no array is unbreakable. Therefore, except for heavily guarded immortal cities, upper grade great arrays consuming treasure materials are seldom used. Usually, dozens of small arrays are deployed, creating layered obstacles while setting up heart-blood warnings. If an outsider enters, it alerts the master before they even reach the interior. Evidently, the one who set this Forbidden Array followed such tactics.

Within several days, Zhang Yan broke through over a dozen forbidden gates, moving deeper and encountering increasingly complex structures linked with mountain and river spiritual energy. If Song Chuyuan were to consume mana here, it would take not just decades, but even a hundred years to break through. Yet he did not tire, considering it as a study of arrays.

On the ninth day, Song Chuyuan heard a thunderous noise echoing through the valley, startling countless birds flying away. Excited, he leapt down from the cliff, quickly arriving next to Zhang Yan. The scene before him was vastly different from before. A cavern gate ten feet high emerged on the mountain wall, with two stone gates wide open, but the interior was deep and dark, indistinct.

Suddenly, a roar resounded, shaking the mountains as a figure burst from the cave mansion, wearing a bronze tusk mask and jade armor, wielding double halberds. With their movements, a foul wind and filthy smoke surged forth. Initially looking up, they charged towards the two men.

Zhang Yan’s gaze flickered, and from the cloud above, a large hand formed of yellow smoke stretched out, descending with a thunderous collision, striking the figure to the ground.

Even if it were a Nascent Soul cultivator, without protective treasure light, they would be crippled or dead from such a blow. Yet as the man fell, he rose unharmed, bellowed to the sky, and charged once again.

Song Chuyuan’s expression was shocked, saying, "Great Strength Corpse Demon?"

Upon closer inspection, as if recalling something, he quickly performed a spell, pointing at the corpse demon. The once ferocious corpse demon immediately stiffened, halted.

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Song Chuyuan said to Zhang Yan, "True Master, this corpse demon was refined using a Power Dao Practitioner’s body, wielding immense strength, impervious to fire and water, with bodily resilience matching Dharma Treasures. It is fortunate it is now without a master. With the secret techniques from my sect, I can control it. If facing it directly, I would stand no chance."

Zhang Yan nodded, thinking that this refined corpse was likely used to guard the cave mansion. Had other cultivators ventured here today, they would have faced hardship. He replied, "Since this is your sect’s significant location, I shall not enter." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He swung his sleeve, sending a sphere of black light flying over.

Unconsciously, Song Chuyuan stretched his hand to catch it, discovering it was the Lifeless Treasure Coffin he held, stunned. "True Master, this..."

Zhang Yan smiled, saying, "It originally belonged to Daoist Song, and now it returns to its rightful owner."

This Dharma Treasure did not align with his Cultivation Technique, and forcing a sacrificial refinement would not ensure control or convenience. It was of little use in his possession. He had previously taken it only to prevent Song Chuyuan from causing further trouble. Now that a pledge was made, there was no need to worry.

Moreover, having a Nascent Soul cultivator contribute oneself far surpasses the value of a lifeless object.

Though Song Chuyuan understood this reasoning, the item had been a True Slaughter Device among the East Victory Continent’s few Dharma Treasures. Even if exchanged in an immortal city, it could fetch excellent goods. Who wouldn’t be tempted to keep it? After pledging allegiance to Zhang Yan, he hadn’t expected to get it back, and now, regaining it, he couldn’t help but be moved, unconsciously taking a deep breath and then solemnly bowing, saying, "True Master, please accompany me inside."

Zhang Yan raised a brow, asking, "Why, is there still a prohibition inside?"

Lowering his head, Song Chuyuan replied, "Forgive my earlier concealment. Not only does the cave mansion house sect books and seals, there is also a secret treasury hidden by my ancestor, intended for reviving the sect, containing many heavenly materials and earth treasures. If True Master needs anything, you may take it freely."

Years ago, when the Corpse Pride Sect’s mountain gate was breached by disciples of two sects, Song Chuyuan’s ancestor Liao Chuxian fled here with the sect’s seals and inheritance books. Few knew he had swept clean the treasury from the immortal city before Zhongtai and Fengxiang sects could claim it.

Zhang Yan pondered. The elixir materials he sought, being concentrated Yin Hua Essence Qi, were hard to find among the Five Major Sects. Yet such a renegade sect as the Corpse Pride Sect might have rare collections. He did not hesitate, nodding, "Very well, then let us explore inside together."

...

...(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote with recommendation tickets, monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com for reading.)