"Instead, how about this: I, Wang, help Array Master Long breach the Serpent Dwelling. After you take the legacy you need, we split the remaining spiritual materials equally. I also desire the Geomancy and Mystical Arts you possess."
As he spoke, Long Yiran's brows had already begun to furrow, yet she restrained herself and waited for Wang Yu to finish.
"The Archaic Era sect ruins I have information on belong to the Heaven Soul Sect, which specialized in soul path cultivation. You help me locate it, I complete my legacy, and any spiritual materials obtained from the ruins will still be split equally.
"Furthermore, Array Master Long can choose one legacy from the Heaven Soul Sect. I, Wang, will definitely impart it to you as payment for the Geomancy and Mystical Arts. How about it?"
After he finished speaking.
Long Yiran fell into silence. Due to her own extraordinary legacy and her concurrent cultivation of the soul path, she had some knowledge of the Archaic Era Heaven Soul Sect.
It was one of the hegemonic powers destroyed during the Archaic Era Blood Demon Cataclysm. Its mountain gate ruins would certainly contain multiple Nascent Soul-level soul path legacies, possibly even touching upon Divine Transformation, with countless methods.
Its value far surpassed that of the Serpent Dwelling. By the same token, its dangers would far exceed those of the Serpent Dwelling. Here, her confidence was high. But if she went to the Heaven Soul Sect ruins...
Yet, for a struggling wandering cultivator like herself, this was an immensely difficult offer to refuse. She had to consider whether this might be the only chance of this lifetime.
Seeing her hesitation, Wang Yu wasn't in a hurry to press her.
Bringing Long Yiran along was the result of careful consideration. The legacy of a Heaven Array Master was elusive and intangible, while an Earth Array Master was essentially the progenitor of geomancy and divination.
In this aspect, she would certainly possess many powerful techniques.
The Heaven Soul Sect ruins would not be the last time he sought out and explored such a place. It would be better to learn Geomancy and Mystical Arts early on. In the future, when searching for other ancient sites, he couldn't always find an Earth Array Master to help.
Relying on others was inferior to relying on oneself.
Furthermore, the Archaic Era Heaven Soul Sect ruins were fraught with danger. Just as venturing into the ruined mountain gate of the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect would be dangerous, having someone proficient in arrays by his side would be safer.
After pondering for a good while, Long Yiran suddenly spoke.
"How can you ensure what you say is true?"
"Simple."
Wang Yu proposed cooperation because he trusted the judgment of his mental power regarding Long Yiran. The other party did not possess the character of a Scarlet Kite demonic cultivator, instead resembling someone from the Tai Lake region.
It was strange, really. Ever since entering the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest...
Even the Ruan family elder had exhibited some characteristics of a Tai Lake cultivator. And he had clearly entered the territory of Scarlet Kite cultivators~
"The Styx River Contract?"
"Exactly."
Before setting out, to ensure everything went smoothly, he had made many preparations. This Styx River Contract was something he had obtained from Zuo Qiuming. He didn't have many—just a stack.
When traveling far from home, one was bound to encounter problems that couldn't be solved through combat.
After drafting the terms, Long Yiran examined them carefully several times, only relaxing after formally signing.
Apart from the terms of the transaction Wang Yu had just proposed, the contract also included clauses preventing either party from scheming against or harming the other, effective after leaving the Ten Thousand Demon Bone Forest.
Additionally, during the period of cooperation, neither could conceal intelligence related to the dwelling or ruins, laying a foundation of trust.
"Fellow Daoist Wang, where did you get this Styx River Contract? These things are costly to produce and rarely seen among wandering cultivators."
Long Yiran's expression held a touch of curiosity.
Wang Yu casually fabricated an answer: "Naturally, I seized them from those second-generation young masters. Let's talk about the Serpent Dwelling first, and take me to see it while we're at it."
"Alright."
The path to the Serpent Dwelling had long been cleared by Long Yiran. Wang Yu, the latecomer, followed in her footsteps into a passageway.
In less than the time it takes three incense sticks to burn, they arrived at an even more expansive underground space. This place had undergone renovation, resembling a rectangular plaza.
It was covered in bronze, forming a peculiar "丰"-shaped structure. Only the central straight line was passable. On both sides were square pools, above which green mist drifted.
Long Yiran explained.
"There are anti-flight arrays here, deeply hidden within that bronze. Divine sense cannot penetrate it, making observation and deciphering difficult. Fellow Daoist Wang, do not attempt to fly recklessly."
"Understood."
Only when they actually stepped onto the central straight path did Wang Yu discover that the pools on either side seemed to be filled with serpent eggs about one or two meters tall.
"This—"
"This is the origin of the name 'Serpent Dwelling'. This array master was also proficient in beast taming and construct arts, using them to set up arrays.
"These are all eggs of the Archaic Era demonic beast, the **[Earth Mire Great Serpent]**. Ravaged by time, they have all become dead eggs. Truly a pity, but it also caused the Mire Poison Array on this plaza to lose its efficacy."
"I see."
Long Yiran explained while leading the way forward.
They walked for some time more until they reached the end of the square plaza. A massive bronze door, hundreds of meters high, came into view.
One side was carved with mountains, rivers, grass, and trees; the other with birds, beasts, insects, and fish.
In the very center was a huge depiction of a serpent's head, its mouth open as if hissing!
"Fellow Daoist Wang, based on what I know, when this Archaic Era senior established the Serpent Dwelling, it was to select an outstanding successor. His strength undoubtedly reached the Nascent Soul stage.
"After over ten thousand years of time's passage, the arrangements inside should have lost considerable power. The danger should be around the Core Formation level. Are you truly sure you want to enter with me?"
"Of course. Since we're already here, it would be a pity not to explore."
"Very well."
Long Yiran nodded. She had asked merely out of courtesy. With the contract signed, how could Wang Yu not enter?
"When I begin to break the array later, Fellow Daoist Wang may naturally employ your own means."
"Easy enough. Let's begin."
Wang Yu only had a superficial understanding of arrays. As for why he was so confident... he had money! It could solve most problems.
As Long Yiran began her work, each hand seal she formed transformed into an array imprint, embedding into various nodes on the bronze door. She was following the original layout set by the dwelling's master.
She was using methods from the same lineage, taking the orthodox path of decryption. Therefore, her comprehension of array principles needed to meet the requirements to succeed.
This was also the reason she had stayed here for several years.
Confronting the array on the bronze door also tempered her array mastery; it was actually a beneficial trial.
The method Wang Yu intended to use, however, was the unorthodox path.
Watching as Long Yiran's speed in forming array imprints slowed, sweat beading on her forehead, the serpent head pattern in the center of the bronze door seemed to come alive.
A pair of turbid yellow eyes coldly stared at the two figures before the door.
Wang Yu had no idea what specific array this was. So, from his Sea Heart Ring, he took out several third-tier Array-Breaking Talismans.
These things were created specifically by talisman grandmasters for cultivators to break arrays and restrictions. Whether in Tai Lake or Scarlet Kite, they were outright contraband.
Although Long Yiran possessed the skills of an Earth Array Master, her methods were incomplete, hence she needed to come to the Serpent Dwelling to undergo trials and complete them.
Her friendship with the Ruan family further indicated that she was, in fact, a wandering cultivator with little worldly experience.
Therefore.
When she saw Wang Yu take out the Array-Breaking Talismans, her eyes widened slightly.
As the silver-glowing talismans shot through the air and adhered to the serpent head pattern, it took only three breaths before a layer of cyan light manifested on the bronze door.
Spiderweb-like cracks began to appear. Long Yiran's expression brightened with joy. "Almost there. Break!"
With a thunderous *boom*, the cyan light shattered.
The serpent head carving directly exploded. The entire bronze door didn't suffer too much damage; only a hole about thirty meters in diameter appeared in the center, going straight through!
Her years of effort here weren't for nothing. She had already deciphered most of the method. Wang Yu's Array-Breaking Talisman was the final push.
Otherwise, with the array intact, it would have required at least three to start with.
This level of strength also raised Wang Yu's expectations.
"Let's go. Take a look inside."
The two entered through the hole in the bronze door. Long Yiran tossed him a small, exquisite jade seal and explained.
"I haven't been inside here either, but there are certainly hidden arrays to identify a successor. This jade seal will prevent the Serpent Dwelling's protective mechanisms from targeting you."
Wang Yu nodded in thanks. The Serpent Dwelling was specifically arranged as a trial for a successor. Those who didn't meet the requirements would be killed upon entry—an unexpectedly reasonable setup.
Once inside, it was still a bronze passageway, without any branching paths.
The difference was that the walls on both sides now bore many patterns, like murals but slightly different. They consisted entirely of continuously extending arcs forming serpentine patterns, difficult to discern as complete images.
Moreover, this bronze passage was excessively large, perfectly matching the scale of that door. Wang Yu and Long Yiran standing at the entrance seemed as small as ants.
"We can fly now."
Wang Yu habitually thought of taking to the air to survey the terrain and found himself floating upwards. Clearly, no anti-flight arrays were deployed here.
Upon receiving the reminder, Long Yiran also flew over.
"Brother Wang, let's advance together."
Her form of address had subtly shifted. She also didn't ask about the Array-Breaking Talisman from earlier. Her attitude had invisibly grown closer, though the reason was unclear.
Had she seen his sincerity?
"Let's go."
Without further ado, the two flew straight along the passage. At first, they used true essence to accelerate. But after flying for most of a day without seeing an end, they slowed down.
They relied on the innate flight ability granted by the Foundation Establishment realm to move forward slowly. This state didn't consume true essence, and while 'slow,' it was still about the speed of a Qi Condensation cultivator riding a flying sword.
"What's going on? Can we get lost in a maze even with only one passage? Or is this passage incredibly long?"
Wang Yu released his divine sense to probe but found no trace of any array. Long Yiran also found it strange, yet affirmed, "There's no maze array here. Perhaps... it's some kind of Soul-Confounding Layout."
"Soul-Confounding Layout?"
"Correct."
He only had a superficial understanding of arrays, let alone "Layouts" involving Geomancy and Mystical Arts!
"Between heaven and earth, various Feng Shui Layouts can form due to celestial timing and terrestrial advantages. One of them is the Soul-Confounding Layout.
"There's no array or spiritual energy involved. It relies solely on terrain to make people circle in place. This should also be part of the trial set by the dwelling's master."
"How to break it?"
Learning about the long-desired Geomancy and Mystical Arts, Wang Yu's interest was piqued. He wanted to see Long Yiran's methods. The other party also smiled with pride.
"My array mastery is limited by my cultivation, but this Geomancy and Mystical Arts is a fundamental skill. Brother Wang, leave it to me with confidence."
Immediately after.
Long Yiran took out a small array disc engraved with the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. She stepped in precise patterns, muttering incantations under her breath. As she passed Wang Yu, she grabbed his arm.
And then they crashed directly into the bronze wall.
"It's done!"
*Rumble—*
Before either could react, the passage suddenly trembled violently. A terrifying bronze giant serpent, over a thousand meters long, came crushing towards them from behind.
"You—"
**(End of Chapter)**