Chapter 1503 Barrier Core

Once Lann’s [Spiritual Vision] was activated, he could see the forces entwined around the Qilin, depleting its stamina like a flood.

These forces extended out from various sections of Jiulin Mountain, ensnaring the Qilin that had just led the charge at the mountain gate.

The Changzai Temple Barrier was more than just that.

The Qilin was most suppressed by the Changzai Temple Barrier because it spearheaded the charge and stormed halfway up the mountain.

Yet, as the monk soldiers earlier said when Lann threw one down: They were all actually being suppressed by the barrier.

The force suppressing them was minor compared to the main target—the Qilin.

Nevertheless, a normal creature’s body is vastly inferior to that of a New Continent Ancient Dragon.

For example, Wuming and Rong Buqiu; their stamina consumption per movement now is estimated to be twenty times faster than usual, and their recovery speed also twenty times slower.

As they ascend the mountain, the suppression they face will grow stronger.

This is after the Qilin singlehandedly endured half the mountain’s suppression.

While Lann wasn’t sure whether this grand temple in Mino had constant vigilance and defensive tactics due to chaotic times, or if a recent special situation heightened their alertness,

the moment the barrier’s pressure bore down upon him, Lann immediately adapted his strategy with agility.

To be safe, he’d dismantle the barrier first.

"You... huh~", Wuming’s breath became somewhat uneven, but he quickly adjusted himself skillfully, "Don’t you feel tired?"

"Tired? Of course tired," Lann responded to Wuming while casting a profound gaze at both the Qilin and the sky. "But my physique is good, so it’s not evident."

It’s the truth.

The Changzai Temple Barrier seems to accelerate stamina depletion and slow its recovery at a certain ratio.

Thus, even the seemingly bottomless stamina of the Qilin could be drained like this.

Lann, naturally, was not exempt.

However, thanks to his extraordinary martial arts techniques, Lann promptly altered his movement strategy upon noticing abnormal stamina consumption.

Now, every move he makes is in ’energy-saving mode’.

Moreover, the [Genetic Seed] and [Holy Chant Gland] allowed Lann perfect metabolic control.

On the other hand, the [Second Heart] in his body accelerated blood pumping, with high-energy blood carrying an energy density far beyond typical humans throughout his system.

Lann, although still falling short compared to the monsters of the New Continent, let alone Ancient Dragons, already had stamina reserves akin to monsters compared to normal humans.

Stamina was indeed depleting quickly, but it hadn’t dropped to a point that would make Lann visibly fatigued, so he appeared fresh.

"But using your technique to reclaim much of the spent stamina is pretty impressive, isn’t it?" Lann sincerely praised, "The [Residual Heart] sure is practical."

"You don’t know [Residual Heart]?" Wuming stared at the Demon Hunter in surprise, "It’s basic! Anyone practicing martial arts should know it, regardless of weaponry!"

"I’m really sorry," Lann shrugged, "I practice a different system. My control over stamina and life energy follows another path."

Wuming nodded thoughtfully, "That’s quite interesting... Do you want to learn [Residual Heart]?"

"Oh? Is it possible?"

"As I said, it’s just basic skills. Basic, skills! Everyone should master it."

"Much appreciated," Lann thanked sincerely, "Let’s tackle the [Residual Filth] matter first when we descend."

Wuming nodded, "It’s only natural."

Soon after, the steady report from Mentos sounded in the Demon Hunter’s mind, "Data collection complete."

"I’ve identified four hub locations based on the analysis of force trajectories and distribution. Excluding other possible centers, each of these has a probability exceeding 96.32%, sir."

"Well done, Mentos."

"At your service, it’s my honor."

The bio-computer conversed while projecting its calculation results onto the periphery of the host’s retina.

Lann, immediately grasping them, set off without delay.

He deviated from the mountain road laid straight ahead, heading towards a rugged and densely vegetated wild pathway.

Behind him, Rong Buqiu bit his little tiger tooth, pushing the weary Qilin to keep pace.

Though unclear about Lann’s destination, Wuming followed suit.

The undeveloped and unkempt wild mountain path was challenging to traverse, coupled with the additional stamina consumption from the barrier, compelling Wuming to push the demon mask up to his brow for smoother breathing.

The Demon Hunter watched Lann, who walked as if on flat ground, along with the Qilin and Rong Buqiu, who seemed at ease despite exhaustion on the wild mountain path.

It seemed, indeed, their practice deviated significantly from his methods.

The warriors here are wary of treacherous terrains, as exerting their martial arts and precisely controlling stamina, including [Residual Heart], requires a stable environment.

Simply put, a solid stance and steady breathing are necessary.

If one boasts superlative martial skills and a composed mindset, unafraid even when the blade edges close, they might find a fleeting steadiness to execute [Residual Heart] in movement.

Yet most will unlikely reach such heights this lifetime.

Therefore, any martial practitioner resists such terrains, especially on the battlefield, rarely taking to them.

Wuming now felt a bit of anxiety from a lack of security.

"Are you also tired, meow?" Rong Buqiu was pushing the Qilin upward with its back, and the little cat’s face was squeezed together from exertion.

But after sensing the restlessness beneath Wuming’s calm expression, Rong Buqiu still found time to rummage through its little pouch.

It took out a bamboo tube, pulled out the wooden stopper, and took a sip first.

"Puh-hah!"

Then it jumped onto the back of the Qilin, pouring the remaining contents into its still drooling mouth.

Then it took out another bamboo tube from the little pouch and handed it to Wuming.

"It seems to be called [Divine Water], and it can accelerate physical recovery! Here you go, meow!"

Through the Guardian Spirit, they couldn’t understand what the other was saying, yet they could directly feel their intentions.

Wuming was not unfamiliar with Divine Water; she even knew a few small shrines that could supply it consistently.

But when Wuming took the bamboo tube from the little cat’s hand, her calm eyes looked at Rong Buqiu: "Kawaii ne."

The Demon Hunter expressed her sentiment in a very calm tone.

Rong Buqiu was a bit confused at first and gave a slight "meow," then turned its head while holding its small helmet.

"Ah, when you say it like that... you make me feel embarrassed, meow!"

The Divine Water delivered by the Priest Village Chief from Thirteen Cherry Blossom Village was effective without compromise.

It enhanced the drinker’s physical recovery speed, which was better than nothing for the Qilin, but for Wuming and Rong Buqiu, it already counteracted the effects of the Barrier.

But if they continued to advance up the mountain, the pressure of the Barrier would increase, and the Divine Water would only be effective in a small area at this height.

With Lann leading the way, they felt they had walked a great distance down the winding mountain paths, but in a straight line, it was only six or seven hundred meters from the main gate path.

Yet in that six or seven hundred meters, they couldn’t see a trace of the main gate path when they looked back.

Finally, Lann pushed aside a patch of lush weeds.

A stone pillar, about the height and width of two people, appeared in front of them.

This octahedral stone pillar had each face carved with verses from the ’Single True Dharma’ of Nichiren Sect’s ’Lotus Sutra.’

The base was shaped like a Lotus Platform.

And with the Barrier activated now, the average-looking stone pillar’s surface shimmered with faint golden glimmering.

"Hub confirmed. It seems my calculations weren’t wrong, sir."

Mentos deleted one of the four markers beside Lann’s retinas.

Lann nodded silently, slightly raising the Aron Dite in his hand.

But then, he stepped aside.

Behind him, even though it was still drooling from exhaustion, the Qilin had found a target, lowered its head, and mustered its remaining strength to charge at the Lotus Platform Stone Pillar.

Lann tilted his head to watch it.

The Qilin’s sharp horns were undeniable, but when the Qilin lowered its head to charge forward, its crystalline sharp tip was still five or six centimeters away from the stone pillar itself.

The originally slow-flowing golden light on the stone pillar surface suddenly expanded outward, blocking the Qilin’s horn.

The Qilin itself had little energy left, thinking knocking over a pillar shouldn’t take much effort?

But when the golden light in front topped it, it slipped and fell with a ’thump.’

"As expected, how could the Barrier’s core have no protection?"

Wuming came up from behind, looking at the fallen Qilin, she commented.

The Qilin muttered curses as it struggled to stand back up, expending the stamina the Divine Water had just restored.

"This pillar looks like it’s been maintained recently." Lann said as he helped prop the Qilin up. "It shows signs of being polished and cleaned, very new."

"So, you mean it requires a specific method or token to approach it," Bai Ze appeared in the void, stroking his beard, "Yes, that’s a common type of array setup."

"So, do we have to search through the bodies of those Monk Soldiers we just killed?"

Wuming’s shoulders slumped.

"And who’s to say we’ll even find it," Bai Ze added, "After all, Monk Soldiers aren’t of high status, it could be with the prior or Hall Master."

"How could we possibly find it? Those people are definitely in the mountain temple’s main hall. I don’t even know if I’ll have the strength to stand once we ascend."

"Then let’s not look for it." Lann interjected, as the Lake Lady’s Sword in his hand glided over the golden light around the stone pillar, seemingly aiming at an unseen target.

As soon as he finished speaking, the long blade in his hand pierced straight in!

’Snap,’ the sound of glass shattering; the golden light, which the Qilin hadn’t managed to pierce, was now penetrated by the sword’s tip.

"We’re storming the mountain, no need to care about any damn rules."

The golden light burst into fragments like a tangible object, followed by a ripping sound.

Withdrawing the blade, Lann swung it once more, slicing cleanly through the upper half of the stone pillar, which slid down the smooth cut, crumbling to the ground.

The scriptures inscribed on it were severed, and the oppressive feeling weighing down on them lightened considerably.