Chapter 1076 - 557: Variant Seal (Part 1)

Chapter 1076: Chapter 557: Variant Seal (Part 1)

"Hmm! Is there anything unusual in the secret realm?"

Li Mu nodded slightly, his gaze sharp as he swiftly scanned the surrounding environment, searching for any possible anomalies.

"Reporting to the Master, everything within the secret realm is normal. The grand array is operating as usual, and no unusual fluctuations have been detected." The voice of the Jade-Eyed Golden Ape was steady and powerful, revealing its dedication to its duties and familiarity with the secret realm.

Feng Wuheng furrowed his brows slightly but didn’t completely let down his guard, adding, "Elder Li, Elder Tianji’s divination skill has always been precise. How about we split up, each inspecting different nodes of the grand array, and then check the core of the array to ensure nothing goes wrong."

Li Mu fully agreed, nodding, "Sword Master Feng is right. You and I shall act separately. I’ll take care of the nodes in the east, south, and west, while you handle the nodes in the north, center, and the sky above. We’ll meet at the array core."

With these words, the two of them moved like two streaks of flowing light, dispersing in different directions, swiftly heading towards their respective destinations.

Li Mu extended his divine thought, meticulously probing the few sealed outer realms of the Extreme Gold Secret Realm. As he flew by, he also examined the vast Spirit Field he had cultivated here, planting many Gold Element Spirit Plants.

[Golden Radiance Divine Reishi]

[Grade: Tier Seven Spirit Plants]

[Attributes: Gold Essence Dao Principle, brilliant golden radiance, gold shining brightly, the Reishi spews auspiciousness, endlessly sharp, vibrant vitality.]

[Status: Filled with Gold Essence Qi, growing vigorously.]

[Golden Radiance Spirit Grass, Tier Seven Spirit Plants, Medicinal Age: 360 years, a miraculous Reishi bathed in starlight and golden radiance, its leaves like golden foil, crystal clear, stems upright, emitting the luster of Gold Essence, an aura of sharpness, continuously absorbing nutrients from the Essence of Heaven and Earth, each leaf tip contains the essence of Gold Element Spiritual Power, circulating endlessly with strong vitality and sharpness, growing perpetually.]

[Golden Spirit Vine]

[Grade: Tier Six Spirit Plants]

[Attributes: Starlight, gold vine entwining, unparalleled sharpness, vibrant vitality.]

[Status: Filled with Gold Essence Qi, growing vigorously.]

[Golden Spirit Vine, Tier Six Spirit Plants, Age: 365 years, a peculiar vine bathed in Gold Essence, its surface shimmering with a faint metallic luster, containing the Power of the Golden Essence, surrounded by Gold Essence Qi, vibrant vitality where it grows.]

...

Wherever his gaze landed, under the Innate Divine Power - Recognition of Ten Thousand Spirits, the status of various Tier Five, Tier Six, and Tier Seven Gold Element Spirit Plants in the vast Spirit Field appeared one after another in Li Mu’s eyes.

Li Mu smiled, quickly gliding over, heading directly to the core of the Sealing Array of the Extreme Gold Secret Realm.

At the array hub stood a Tier Nine [Golden Flame Sacred Crystal], not only the core cornerstone of the Sealing Array but also an extremely rare gold attribute mineral in the world, containing the purest Gold Essence Qi, with magical effects of stabilizing space and strengthening the array.

This Golden Flame Sacred Crystal, its color as pristine as the purest yellow mountain, its surface shimmering with a faint metallic luster, emitted a stable and powerful aura.

Li Mu arrived first, and shortly thereafter Feng Wuheng arrived like the wind, both appearing near the core of the array at almost the same time, their eyes involuntarily falling upon the [Golden Flame Sacred Crystal].

"Elder Li, did you find anything? I didn’t find any issues on my side!" Feng Wuheng turned to Li Mu, asking with concern.

"There’s nothing unusual about the Sealing Array here. It must be other sub-arrays with issues that we need to carefully investigate in other secret realms." Li Mu replied.

"You’re right, Elder Li. Let’s proceed immediately to the next Sealed Land to ensure everything is safe and sound." Feng Wuheng nodded knowingly.

The two exchanged a glance, needing no further words, they flew out of the array core, ready to leave the Extreme Gold Secret Realm and head to the next secret realm.

Seeing the two come out, the Jade-Eyed Golden Ape hurriedly stepped forward to pay respects.

"Xiaojin, guard this place well, ensuring the safety of the Sealing Array. You must fulfill your responsibilities. Inform me immediately at the slightest disturbance." Li Mu instructed the Jade-Eyed Golden Ape.

Before his voice fell, Li Mu’s figure had already transformed into two streaks of flowing light, alongside Feng Wuheng, cutting through the sky and speeding off into the distance.

"As you command, Master!"

The Jade-Eyed Golden Ape watched them depart until their figures vanished into the clouds, then slowly withdrew its gaze, turning back to the vicinity of the Spirit Field, beginning another round of guarding.

In the days that followed, Li Mu and Feng Wuheng traveled between various secret realms, their footprints covering the Central State Spirit Realm, South Wilderness Spirit Realm, and several important Sealed Lands.

Li Mu consecutively met Qing Yu Ginseng King, Chi Lian Fire Phoenix, Cyan Moon True Dragon, Ink Rock Flood Dragon Lizard, four beast-taming creatures, which had guarded the realm of extremes for hundreds of years, supplemented by a large number of Spirit Pills provided by Li Mu, all survived the True Spirit Thunder Tribulation, attaining the Realm of True Spirit Peak.

The Cangyuan Secret Realm, Nether Water Secret Realm, ... guarded by them, showed no abnormalities, the Sealing Array remained as firm as before, as if even the passage of time could not leave a mark on this land under guardianship.

Finally, after inspecting several Extreme Secret Realms, they arrived at the Land of Extreme Yin. Here, it was shrouded in thick yin clouds throughout the years, filled with a chilling coldness that was unsettling. Even with their high cultivation, they had to operate their cultivation techniques, concentrating True Essence to resist the piercing cold.

"It seems there is a problem in the Land of Extreme Yin, resulting in such a powerful release of Yin Sha Power!" Li Mu watched the massive emergence of Yin Sha Qi in the Extreme Yin Secret Realm, his face grave.

"How could this be? The Ice Ghost Valley, which leads to the Land of Extreme Yin, is guarded by our sect’s most elite disciples, how could it fall so easily, leading to such severe consequences?" Feng Wuheng’s brows knitted tightly, a hint of gravity in his eyes.

Li Mu pondered for a moment, saying gravely, "Perhaps, we have overlooked a powerful force operating secretly. This Land of Extreme Yin is inherently full of boundless Yin Sha Qi, and if someone with intentions utilizes it, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"No matter what, we must quickly uncover the truth and find a way to repair the seal, stopping the continued leakage of Yin Sha Qi." Feng Wuheng’s killing intent flashed briefly.

With that, they no longer hesitated, their figures stretching out like two black bolts of lightning, piercing through the dense yin clouds, heading straight toward the core area of the Extreme Yin Secret Realm.

As they delved deeper, the surrounding Yin Sha Qi grew denser, almost solidifying, making it hard to breathe.

Just then, a faint cry for help suddenly resounded, piercing through the deathly silence of the environment. Li Mu and Feng Wuheng exchanged a glance, a hint of doubt flashing in their eyes, as they quickly accelerated, following the source of the sound.

Soon after, they came upon a hidden valley where they saw a Divinity Transformation Sword Cultivator guarding the Ice Ghost Valley, lying on the ground, covered in blood, evidently severely injured. His eyes were filled with despair, but upon seeing Li Mu and Feng Wuheng arrive, it was as if he saw saviors, using the last of his strength to cry out, "Quick... stop them, Demon Cultivators have broken in..."

Before he could finish speaking, the Divinity Transformation Cultivator had already fallen unconscious.

"He’s still savable!" With a glance, Li Mu quickly took out a bottle of Spirit Pills, pouring out a healing elixir, and fed it to him.

"Elder Li, once he wakes up, you should investigate with him. I’ll go in first for a look."

Feng Wuheng said quickly to Li Mu, and his figure transformed into a gust of wind with a ’whoosh,’ disappearing from sight, penetrating the valley passage, swiftly advancing towards the depths of the Extreme Yin Secret Realm.

Watching Feng Wuheng leave, Li Mu crouched down, gently supporting the Divinity Transformation Sword Cultivator’s body, channeling a stream of spiritual power into him to help better absorb the pill’s medicinal power, stabilizing his injuries, while simultaneously spreading his strong divine thought to scout ahead.

Yet, the Extreme Yin Land, enveloped in Yin Sha, seemed like an abyss devouring information, impeding Li Mu’s divine thought.

The Yin Sha Qi was as tangible as it was viscous, not only disrupting Li Mu’s perception but also attempting to corrode his divine thought. Li Mu, with his profound cultivation and enormously strong Chaotic Divine Soul, quickly adjusted the wave of his divine thought, forming a subtle balance with the surrounding Yin Sha Qi, thereby easily penetrating the obstacle.

Soon, Li Mu had some revelations, sensing not far ahead a surge of extraordinarily strong Demon Qi intermingling with the surrounding Yin Sha Qi, forming an extremely dangerous force. A group of black-clothed cultivators conducted a sinister ritual. Their movements were bizarre yet synchronous, as if controlled by some force, chanting incantations, with each syllable uttered, the surrounding Yin Sha Qi grew denser.