The moment the voice echoed through the chamber, layers of eldritch armor akin to fish scales enveloped Wu Yuan, leaving only a narrow slit for his eyes.
This hall had a unique characteristic of restricting one’s Soul Force, hence sight was important.
Whoosh~ Little Black shrank rapidly and fused with Wu Yuan, its black wings sprouting from his back.
"Who are you?" Wu Yuan's voice echoed deeply, his senses heightened with caution.
This long-sealed mysterious hall, possibly buried in the aftermath of a war 100,000 years prior, still harbored life? And it called out Jin Quan's name? What was their connection to him?
Wu Yuan’s Soul Force swept through the hall, yet it revealed nothing.
Ding~ Suddenly, the walls glowed, projecting beams of light that coalesced into the image of a child. He was 1.3 meters tall, clad in green robes with red hair and a single horn on his head.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Yinxuan, the hall spirit of Yanqing Hall," the child spoke with a grin. "I welcome your presence here."
Yanqing Hall, hall spirit, Yinxuan... Wu Yuan quickly pieced together the clues from the child’s words. This hall was no ordinary construction; it was a powerful artifact, possibly rated third-grade spirit equipment. Only third-grade spirit equipment and above were able to produce an intelligent spirit.
"You are only at the Qi Sea phase. Even with the help of your spirit beast, breaking in forcibly is impossible." The red-haired child murmured. "Furthermore, I sense the token's aura."
"The token acknowledges you as its master, so I believe you’ve already read the information Master left in the token and understand the chain of events," Yinxuan stated, his gaze fixed on Wu Yuan. "Ask your questions, and I shall answer in turn."
Wu Yuan examined the child warily before slowly asking, "Is Reverend Qing Yan your master?"
"Yes, I am one of Master’s treasures. However, I serve little purpose in battle, thus when master went forth to handle the Summerpeak World's calamity, he left me behind." The red-haired horned child explained. "This place stands as the master's inheritance site, and you are the second cultivator to arrive at Yanqing Hall in 100,000 years."
"Was the first Jin Quan?" Wu Yuan asked.
"Yes, he arrived here long ago and has grown into a sword cultivator over the years. He passed several of Master's trials and obtained numerous treasures and Daoist scriptures." The red-haired horned child recounted. "That’s why the places you've explored are all empty."
Wu Yuan nodded subtly. It was as he had surmised.
"What may I gain from this place?" Wu Yuan asked.
"Gain?" The red-haired horned child shook his head. "You won’t be gaining anything. Master departed in haste, without leaving behind any elaborate inheritance plan."
"Currently, only the Star Embryonic Array remains in the Yanqing Hall. However, the array is one with me, thus you may not take it with you." The red-haired horned child stated. "No treasures remain in the Yanqing Hall."
No treasures? Wu Yuan frowned slightly. "Senior Yinxuan, what about the Star Embryonic Body nurtured within the Star Embryonic Array? Must I forego that as well?"
Without the Star Embryonic Body, he couldn't create his qi refiner true self. Hence, securing the Star Embryonic Body was of utmost importance.
"You recognize it?" the child’s eyes narrowed. Suddenly, he laughed, "Your breadth of knowledge is truly impressive."
"Senior has overpraised me," replied Wu Yuan, his tone neither proud nor humble.
"You may take the Star Embryonic Body, but it won't reach maturity for another century. Taking it with you now will only damage it," warned the child. "Come back a hundred years later."
"A hundred years?" Wu Yuan furrowed his brow. So long? He couldn’t afford to wait.
"Master," Little Black's voice echoed in Wu Yuan's mind, “He’s lying. There was no shortage of the Star Embryonic Liquid, the Star Embryonic Body will be ready in just three more years at most."
"Mm,” Wu Yuan replied via spiritual transmission as well. “Little Black, don’t make any sound for now."
Naturally, Wu Yuan trusted Little Black over the child.
“Do I really have to wait 100 years?" Wu Yuan asked.
"Yes," confirmed the child. "I am just a spirit of an artifact. Why would I deceive you? Plus, I am bound here and cannot escape."
"Is that so?" Wu Yuan asked with a smirk.
Unable to escape? Wu Yuan did not underestimate his opponent's abilities.
"Since you, an artifact spirit, still exists, I'm guessing the entire hall artifact is still functioning well," Wu Yuan said. "Can you point me to the control center?"
Claiming ownership of smaller artifacts was easy, but larger ones had complex internal structures that made claiming ownership much harder unless one had reached a high cultivation level.
Wu Yuan didn't care about the potential treasures hidden in the hall. He believed that the hall itself was a priceless treasure.
The child quickly stated, 'My master has concealed my control center. You will not be able to locate it.'"
"I am a second-grade spirit," he continued, "Your power is insufficient. Even if you want the hall to acknowledge you as its owner, it will be futile. Return in a century when your strength has grown. Perhaps you’ll be able to obtain the Star Embryonic Body and attempt to control the Yanqing Hall then."
"If you wish to stay a bit longer, go ahead. Just don't disturb me, I’m going to sleep," the boy stated with a sleepy tone.
"I will consider it," Wu Yuan nodded.
Suddenly, the red-haired unicorn boy's expression twisted in anger. “Bastard! You found it? I offered you a chance to leave, yet you try to refine me? Fine, face the consequences!”
With a crackling noise, the walls of the hall began glowing with an intense green light, and powerful waves of soul energy rolled toward him.
"Finally dropping the act?" Wu Yuan smiled coldly.
He focused his Soul Force on the walls, studying and refining the intricate patterns.
Previously, when Wu Yuan first entered the grand hall and saw the cryptic patterns on the walls, he immediately felt that something wasn’t right. Then, there was a sudden attack on his soul, making him even more wary. On top of that, Little Black warned him about the red-haired child, deepening his suspicions.
Hence, the whole time Wu Yuan was speaking to the child, his powerful soul was scanning the cryptic patterns on the walls. From the patterns, he realized that the chamber was none other than the control center of the entire hall.
Why did the red-haired child obstruct him? Why did he attack and deceive him? Wu Yuan gave it some thought, but couldn’t figure it out. However, he knew that in order to control the Yanqing Hall, he needed to decipher the cryptic patterns.
The moment the child found out, he immediately turned hostile.
Wu Yuan effortlessly dispersed the onslaught of attacks with his Soul Force, continuing his refinement of the control center undeterred.
“Ah! Stop, stop!” The child howled, “Don’t force my hand.”
However, the child's pleas fell on deaf ears as Wu Yuan ignored him. Wu Yuan had long guessed that the child only had one offensive ability, and the range of its soul attack was limited to the chamber.
In the depths of the sprawling hall lay a secret chamber. Within its confines, eight black figures stood motionless. They were uniform in appearance, each standing at a height of one zhang. They had four pairs of arms, an unnatural feature that set them apart from humans.
Suddenly, a wave of energy rippled through the room. Then, a chilling voice spoke. “Eldritch cultivator detected, Communion phase.”
"Guardians one through eight, infuse backup ethercrystal. Eliminate the eldritch invader!"
The command echoed through the chamber, activating the eight ancient beings that had been dormant for countless ages.
Three figures instantly came to life. Their blood-red eyes opened, cold and brimming with murderous intent. Their limbs moved, and they disappeared into a narrow passage at alarming speed.
The remaining five figures remained still, their eyes closed, as though they had succumbed to the passage of time.
In the chamber lit by cryptic patterns, Wu Yuan concentrated on deciphering the patterns of the control center, determined to imprint his vital aura.
Mm? Suddenly, his expression shifted, his gaze falling on something below. He quickly moved from his position.
Boom! The metal ground exploded, revealing a cavern of immense proportions. Three black figures emerged from its depths, hovering in mid-air.
These are puppets? Wu Yuan recognized the figures at a glance. They seemed to be crafted from a type of black metal, resembling war deities. Though they lacked vital aura, their four arms gleamed like deadly curved sabers.
Cowering in a corner, the illusory red-haired child yelled, “Kill him!”
In an instant, the figures lunged towards Wu Yuan.
"Scram!" Wu Yuan shouted as a flurry of sword pellets transformed into nine flying swords.
Earthy-yellow qi currents formed a protective barrier around him. The sword array and Domain combined as one, enveloping Wu Yuan within.
Boom! The divine swords wrapped in hazy earthy-yellow light charged towards the black figures.