Upon reaching Yu Ci, the javelin came without a hint of force, easily caught in his hand.
As soon as he grasped it, the heat from the metal spear shaft made Yu Ci's palm tremble, the sensation of searing flesh intense. He immediately understood that the talisman on this thrown spear was already in an activated state, but somehow, someone had managed to restrict it. Only the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave could accomplish such a feat.
Sure enough, the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave soon spoke, "This spear is for you to defend yourself. The power of the talisman has been sealed inside by me, it won't explode for a while."
The statement was awkward, but Yu Ci knew it to be true. He could feel the incredible power beneath the dense talismans on the surface of the thrown spear. If thrown in a moment of crisis, breaking this temporary stability, the resulting destructive force would be considerable.
However, why should he care... why was this given to him out of the blue?
Yu Ci hadn't received a shred of goodwill from the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave. Feeling the strange looks from those around him, he thought the phrase "hot potato" was most apt.
As the four lone cultivators fled and Xia Boyang escaped, only two groups of five remained. The situation seemed simple, but in reality, the danger had multiplied. On one hand, Wen Shifei was far from a model of gentleness and humility. On the other, Incense Slave wouldn't side with him—Yu Ci was very clear about this.
In this situation, the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave had pushed him into the most "unique and conspicuous" position. His intentions were condemnable!
The Master of the Sunken Sword Cave was either unaware of Yu Ci's annoyance or, if he knew, wouldn't care. He had yet to reveal himself, his voice reaching everyone's ears:
"I don't know how these people from the Heavy Weapon Sect entered this area. However, it's clear they don't understand the mysteries of the Secret Domain. They thought that by destroying the Four Directions Pavilion, they could trap us here, but they've completely missed the mark."
According to the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave, the Four Directions Pavilion was the most convenient portal within the Sword Immortal's Secret Domain. From here, one could theoretically reach any part of the Sword Immortal's Secret Domain—except the core area.
"They don't realize that the most crucial part of the Secret Domain are the three Talisman Seals. As long as those are broken, what does it matter if there are mechanisms everywhere?"
Wen Shifei questioned, "Where is the Talisman Seal?"
"Within the Secret Domain, it pervades all. If one wishes to summon it for observation, it's rather easy."
As he spoke, an explosive sound suddenly echoed in the air. Upon entering the Secret Domain, the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave released his aura for the first time. A streak of lightning darted into the void, and in the moment of dazzling brilliance, the surrounding air suddenly froze.
Yu Ci grunted softly, feeling as if he had abruptly plunged into an icy cave. The bone-chilling cold tore through his skin's defenses, pressing down layer by layer, dulling his physical sensations. However, the pressure his Divine Soul endured was skyrocketing.
When the pressure escalated to another level, Yu Ci instinctively entered the Inner Void of the Heart, where his senses became even clearer.
The Life Death Talisman rotated ceaselessly, and the various Divine Power External Appearances centered around it seemed somewhat sluggish. The cause of all this was the piercing cold aura transmitted from the boundless Depths of the Void. To him, this didn't feel like the suppression of the Talisman Seal, but rather the sword intent emanating from a powerful figure proficient in the way of the sword.
"If it is a Talisman Seal laid by a Sword Immortal, this feeling would be justified."
But judging solely by "feeling" seemed too vague. Yu Ci also remembered that the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave had asked them to decipher the Talisman Seal. If it was merely this, what was there to decipher?
With a slight shift in thought, he muttered, "Manifest!"
As the word was spoken, it was as if a divine force responded. In the night sky, which was as dark as black satin, countless lights ignited. These were not the lights of stars, but the glow of hundreds of Talisman Pattern Fractals. The Inner Void of the Heart was like a piece of paper, imprinting the Rune Patterns carved by the outer Depths of the Void, revealing every minute detail.
This was also a method of energy introduction, albeit slightly altered. That Yu Ci could achieve this indicated his growing proficiency in the Primordial Root Qi Method and his ability to apply it effectively.
However, because of the "imprint", the Talisman Seal of the Depths of the Void was branded in the Inner Void of the Heart, effectively reducing the distance between the two. The pressure Yu Ci endured also escalated dramatically. With another grunt, the Life Death Talisman rotated even faster, and all sorts of Divine Power External Appearances, except for the Fish-Dragon transformed by the Aura of the Celestial Dragon, seemed slightly distorted.
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As the throbbing headache subsided, the pressure within the Inner Void of the Heart eased. The period of the external Talisman Seal's manifestation had passed. Yu Ci exhaled, not sparing a moment to verify the Talisman Pattern Fractal imprinted on the void, and hastily withdrew.
He glanced around. Aside from the Incense Slave, whose face was hidden beneath a hood, the countenances of Wen Shifei and the others were far from pleasant. According to the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave, the potency of the Secret Domain Talisman Seal varied from person to person. The higher one's Cultivation Level, the greater the pressure endured. Once the Cultivation Level surpassed the Golden Elixir Stage, the aggressive nature of the Secret Domain Talisman Seal would manifest, leading to truly dire circumstances.
The Master of the Sunken Sword Cave was prepared for the cultivators' reactions, a hint of amusement in his voice. "This is the first layer of the Secret Domain Talisman Seal. How do you all feel?"
The cultivators didn't bother responding.
He continued, "This Talisman Seal is designed to target living beings. The Heavy Weapon Sect exerts force through inanimate objects, lacking the aura of life. No matter what, they cannot trigger the pressure of the Talisman Seal. It's a clever approach, but alas, without triggering the Talisman Seal, how can it be broken? Their attempt to bypass it comes at the cost of never gaining entry. The Talisman Seal of the Secret Domain cannot be circumvented."
His words were suggestive, but no one delved deeper, for he swiftly moved on to the plan for the coming days. "Once the Secret Domain opens, it will take about ten days to settle. We have ample time. We will stay here for a while. I will activate the Talisman Seal every four hours. You can use this opportunity to memorize and understand it in order to devise a solution. A reminder: you can use the Heavenly Calculation Bead to memorize the details of the Talisman Seal. It might be more accurate than relying on your memory."
"So that's your plan, Cave Master?"
Wen Shifei, having seemingly adapted to the role of spokesperson, immediately questioned, "According to the Cave Master's intent, before we break the Talisman Seal, we don't need to go anywhere..."
His words directly challenged the "opportunity" or Incense Bait thrown out by the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave, showing no courtesy. Matters concerning personal interests were the most likely to provoke a united front of hostility. The atmosphere tensed.
The Master of the Sunken Sword Cave responded with a touch of indifference, "The Four Directions Pavilion is already destroyed, where do you wish to go? Despite the vastness of this garden, it has long been shattered by Sword Energy, with Void Rifts everywhere. Due to a foolish act committed by the owner of this place, these rifts connect to countless peculiar places, essentially forming numerous one-way tunnels from which there is no return. Most of these places are uninhabitable death traps. However, if you're lucky, you might step directly into the Outer Realm of the Nine Heavens, and refine your true form ahead of time, who knows?"
This was a vicious curse indeed. Without the ability to tread in the void, going to the Outer Realm of the Nine Heavens might result in being instantly turned to ash by the True Solar Fire, or becoming a meal for the extraterrestrial demons. It was truly a death sentence.
Wen Shifei immediately fell silent.
The Master of the Sunken Sword Cave continued, "No one could have foreseen the issue with the Heavy Weapon Sect. Under the current circumstances, the only option is to break open the First Layer Talisman Seal, gain partial control of the Secret Domain, and lift the restrictions of the Four Directions Pavilion, allowing everyone the opportunity to seek their fortunes. Let's do this, if the First Layer Talisman Seal is opened, everything obtained before the second layer Talisman Seal is opened will be distributed among you, I won't touch any of it... Of course, if it's the object previously mentioned, I will claim it without hesitation."
As for what that object looked like, the answer from the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave was rather baffling: "Something like a coffin or a corpse."
Yu Ci and the others exchanged glances, each with their own thoughts, but they agreed on the surface.
Everyone then settled near the Ruins of the Four Directions Pavilion, cleaning up a bit before taking a short rest. In fact, the chores such as cleaning and arranging were all done by Tie Lan. Honestly, it was quite strange to see a ghost with a higher cultivation level serving them so diligently.
When everything was settled, the projection of the True Solar Fire in the Secret Domain had moved westward and turned red. Only then did people realize that the Secret Domain also had a day-night cycle, truly filled with endless mysteries.
In fact, when it comes to studying Talisman Formations, two heads are always better than one. The sparks of colliding thoughts are the most effective method. Unfortunately, such a situation was hard to come by at this moment. Everyone was quite spread out, even among the members of the Demonic Sect like Wen Shifei, and between Yu Ci and Incense Slave.
During moments of Entering Meditation, people instinctively only trust themselves.
Upon reentering the Inner Void of the Heart, the Rune Patterns in the endless night sky remain, but due to the latent Talisman Seal Power from the outside world, the pressure here has vanished. Yu Ci is able to observe carefully. As expected, this Talisman Pattern Fractal is indeed very familiar.
At the beginning of the Imprint Talisman Pattern Fractal, Yu Ci knew that the so-called first layer of the Secret Domain Talisman Seal was actually the "nonsensical" Talisman he had seen in the Sunken Sword Cave Rock Cavern.
Now, Yu Ci can no longer brazenly call it "nonsensical", solely because such a Talisman structure, while it may lack efficiency or could potentially drain a person dry, once truly activated, its power is undiminished. Just think, the one providing the magical power for the Talisman might be a peerless Sword Immortal, a reality that is disheartening.
Quickly shaking off this feeling, the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave also said that those who draw Talismans have average skills in Talisman creation, merely copying others' work. Therefore, there might be flaws to be found in the Talisman Seal.
Upon closer observation, Yu Ci becomes increasingly certain. The Master of the Sunken Sword Cave's Imprint, perhaps due to the influence of the Heavenly Calculation Bead, overly emphasizes accuracy and neglects changes in the real environment. Thus, it only captures the form, but not the spirit. Observing the Talisman Pattern Fractal in the cave for ten or eight years is not as clear as experiencing it once or twice in person.
And the best effect of personal experience... might not come until the next activation.
Yu Ci has made up his mind and no longer wastes time, exiting from the Inner Void of the Heart and opening his eyes.
Over at Wen Shifei's side, the three are still in the midst of Entering Meditation. Yu Ci doesn't know if they've made any progress, nor does he care. He turns to look at Incense Slave, but he doesn't see the female cultivator's figure anywhere.
...