Subsequently, Chen Qing used the array plate to sense the surroundings and found a circular doorway directly opposite, also shimmering with restrictive light.
After this person easily broke through the barrier, the group entered another passage. They hadn't walked far before encountering multiple forks in the path.
At the same time, they discovered stone houses and pavilions of roughly the same construction along these passages. Upon reaching this point, they discussed the situation and decided to split up temporarily to investigate these stone structures.
There were about forty to fifty stone houses, which they explored thoroughly in about half an hour, but the gains were meager, only finding some broken puppets and scattered puppet components.
Seeing these things, even the Foundation Establishment cultivators wore unsightly expressions. Not to mention Zhang Ling and the other six Golden Core cultivators, who were greatly disappointed.
Zhang Ling also shook his head inwardly, believing this to be an abandoned ancient cultivator's cave dwelling, with little of value remaining.
However, they did discover a downward-extending bluestone staircase in the main passage. Without delay, the group proceeded down the stairs, continuing downwards.
The staircase was long, extending deep underground. They walked for about fifteen minutes before reaching the ground again. Estimating the distance, they were likely thousands of feet below the surface.
Below was a karst cave filled with stalactites and glittering blue jade stones. These jade stones had been found on the surface, but they were ordinary and had no value.
This was a large karst cave about a hundred feet in size, surrounded by numerous stalactite caves, large and small, numbering over a hundred.
Chen Qing took the lead in sensing the area and discovered no restrictions. At Old Daoist Yangshan's suggestion, the group dispersed to investigate.
Zhang Ling and the other six Golden Core cultivators had powerful senses and a wider range of coverage. They quickly spread out to explore the area.
In a short while, Zhang Ling had explored thirty to forty miles in one direction, discovering that the stalactite caves here were more numerous than imagined, with small caves leading to large caves, and large caves layered upon each other, countless in number.
He also discovered an underground river with ice-cold water emitting a faint mist. Surprisingly, the water contained some first-order white-eyed fish and rare cave creatures like ice shrimp.
Zhang Ling was about to explore further when he suddenly sensed something, transforming into a遁光 and returning to the large karst cave. Passing through several caves from another direction, he arrived at an even larger space.
This was a dim underground karst cave. The ground was covered with hard yellow rocks and blue crystal chunks.
He saw Fire Dragon Master standing in front of a stalactite wall, in a daze. It was this person who had sent the message about a discovery, prompting Zhang Ling to come here.
Zhang Ling scanned the area and found a strange stalactite about twenty feet in front of Fire Dragon Master.
It was a large, round stalactite, yellow in color and about fifty to sixty feet in size, resembling a large bun placed on the ground, with glittering white specks like rice grains, very exquisite.
Such oddly shaped stalactites were common in this area and not unusual, but this stalactite had light cyan runes carved on it, forming a thin light罩 that flowed on the surface.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang has arrived. This stalactite seems to have some secrets," Fire Dragon Master said without turning his head, knowing Zhang Ling had arrived.
Zhang Ling also stood beside this person, examining the huge stalactite, especially the runes displayed on it.
After about fifteen minutes, everyone gathered at this place.
The group did not act rashly, but had Chen Qing, the array master, study it for a while. He determined that it was a restriction.
Finally, after spending fifteen minutes, he discerned some clues and used some array plates and flags to suppress the restrictive spiritual light on the stalactite. The group then discovered a huge hole at the top of the stalactite, leading straight down.
The hole was ten feet wide, dark and leading underground, like a deep well. This large hole was two hundred feet deep. At the bottom was a small space.
To the surprise of Zhang Ling and the others, when their divine sense entered the space below, it seemed to be hindered, only able to explore a range of several tens of feet.
Although their divine sense was hindered, the group did not hesitate to descend. The Foundation Establishment cultivators led the way, with Old Daoist bringing these people for cannon fodder purposes.
After three or four Foundation Establishment cultivators went down and found nothing unusual, the others also descended into the hole.
At the bottom was a square space of more than ten feet in size, black and shiny overall, with the ground and surroundings built from black stones of varying sizes. Divine sense touching the walls was bounced back.
"This seems to be Black Star Stone. No wonder it can block our divine sense," Old Man Shen, seemingly recognizing the black stones on the walls, narrowed his eyes and said.
"Black Star Stone, I see. It seems we've found the right place this time," Old Daoist Yangshan nodded and smiled.
Black Star Stone is a special spiritual mine, with a fist-sized piece weighing several hundred pounds. It is a spiritual mine, and its purpose is to hinder the intrusion of cultivators' divine sense.
This is a stubborn stone. In the cultivation world, spiritual mines that cannot be used to refine magical instruments are called stubborn stones.
Black Star Stone is quite rare, but the group only glanced at it a few times before losing interest. It is only used when someone needs Black Star Stone to build secret rooms or other special places.
This square space built of Black Star Stone has only one exit: a square passage three feet wide in front of them.
Releasing their divine sense to explore inside, they could only explore a distance of a dozen feet. It was dark inside, with a few moonstones floating inside, emitting a soft light and illuminating a section of the area.
They immediately discovered a purple light on both sides of the passage. The walls on both sides were made of purple jade stones about ten feet in size, very luxurious.
The passage was not long, only fifty to sixty feet in length. The other side seemed to be a large space, and they could see flickering ice-blue spiritual light.
Everyone standing on this side could feel a cold wind drifting over.
Zhang Ling and the other Golden Core cultivators felt it even more strongly. A strong ice-attribute spiritual power was coming from the other side, indicating the possible presence of some kind of ice-attribute treasure.
"Chen Qing, explore the passage and eliminate any array restrictions," Old Daoist Yangshan ordered Chen Qing.
Chen Qing responded and walked towards the purple jade passage. He threw out array plates and other instruments, tinkering for an incense stick's worth of time. Chen Qing then said that there were no traces of an array in the passage.
Then the group also walked inside with peace of mind.
