Mist suddenly surged up, confusing the five senses and disordering directions.
With each step, Ning Zhuo had to adjust his breath several times.
Sun Lingtong was also continuously scouting.
After the sixth step, an indistinct entrance appeared in the white mist.
Sun Lingtong said, "This is the path to life. If we follow this entrance, we should be able to exit the Array space and return to the outside world."
"Really?" Ning Zhuo turned back, ready to share this discovery with Linghu Jiu.
But when he turned around, Linghu Jiu had already disappeared!
A beat skipped in Ning Zhuo's heart.
He had thought he had been holding onto Linghu Jiu's arm the whole time, but the Array had confused his senses and led him to a misjudgment.
"Damn, Linghu Jiu has gotten lost in this formation, we need to go back and find him," Sun Lingtong said.
He acknowledged Linghu Jiu's excellence and temperament, and since Ning Zhuo had a fondness for Linghu Jiu, he felt affection by extension and also appreciated Linghu Jiu.
However, Ning Zhuo's expression at this moment was somewhat strange as he resolutely shook his head, "No! Let's first follow this exit and leave this place."
"Boss, I've gone in first."
Ning Zhuo released the Mechanical Dragon, crawled inside, and met up with Sun Lingtong.
"Can the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon shuttle through the void here?" Ning Zhuo asked.
Sun Lingtong nodded, "I just tried it, and this ability has not been sealed. It can still be used."
Ning Zhuo nodded, "That's good."
The Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon was at the Nascent Soul Level. Although it lacked significant combat power, its evasion capabilities were strong, possessing the ability of a Nascent Soul to traverse the void, which was Ning Zhuo's source of confidence in exploring this place.
Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong both entered the Dragon Head Cabin, controlled the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon, and flew towards the indistinct entrance.
As they moved forward, the entrance transformed from void to real, and soon, it turned into a dark and gloomy passage within a mountain.
The Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon concealed its form and followed the mountain path as it meandered upwards.
It was quite apparent that the trajectory of the mountain path was diagonally upward.
The mountain path was tranquil, with no traps and no Demon Beasts blocking the way. The higher they went, the more apparent the signs of human activity became.
Moments later, the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon emerged from the bottom of a dried well.
Leaving the dried well, the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon flew into the air.
Sun Ning and the other saw a range of pavilions and galleries with carved beams and painted rafters.
People were occasionally moving through courtyards and corridors.
"Isn't this Yuanlai Mountain?" Sun Lingtong recognized.
The next moment, he realized something, sharply inhaling a breath of cold air, turning his head toward Ning Zhuo, "Little Zhuo!!"
"Did you suspect this earlier and therefore deliberately brought Linghu Jiu with you to explore the Myriad Demons Cave?"
Even though Ning Zhuo was somewhat prepared, a chill still crept up his spine at this moment.
His face grew solemn as he slowly nodded.
"Yuanlai Mountain does not belong here; it was moved over."
"But within the ancient Array, there is an escape route leading straight here, which proves that someone had already discovered the Jade Drip Formation earlier."
"And the biggest suspect in this matter is Lin Bufan, the Sect Leader of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect."
"With a Cultivation Level reach Nascent Soul Level, and in control of the Ten Thousand Medicine Valley, such arrangements would not be difficult for him."
Sun Lingtong fell silent for a moment, then had an epiphany, "Many years ago, Lin Bufan advocated relocating the entire Ten Thousand Medicine Sect to Ten Thousand Medicine Valley. Could it be that he wasn't just interested in the Spiritual Spring here!"
"He has not fully grasped this opportunity yet. The best proof is you, Little Zhuo!"
"Because of the Five Elements God Master's transmission, you gained the 'Five Organs Temple Spirit Divine Skill' and received a huge promotion in the Five Elements Realm. If Lin Bufan had completely mastered this opportunity, he would not have let an outsider like you benefit so easily."
"So, the Netherworld brew is indeed a fake, and Hua Guzi was right!"
"The true reason is that there is a powerful legacy left here. That's why, Little Zhuo, when you sat under the Spirit Hidden Willow, you still received guidance from the Five Elements Divine Master. Even when you were in the underground cavern, you heard the voice of the Five Elements God Master."
"What's buried here must trace back to the Emperor Wu Era, and it's closely connected to the Five Elements God Master."
"No, it's not just him!"
"Linghu Jiu once said that he had received quite a few pointers as well. This is actually due to the opportunities buried under the Myriad Demons Cave."
"Linghu Jiu... in the know?"
Ning Zhuo's eyes shimmered with piercing light, "There's a high chance he's unaware."
"He too is being kept in the dark. Otherwise, given his consideration for the Sect's interests and his magnanimity, he wouldn't have voluntarily given me the Netherworld brew, creating such an enormous loophole for no reason."
Sun Lingtong nodded, "Indeed. If he knew, he wouldn't have agreed so readily to explore the demon cave with you."
"Disaster!"
"Lin Bufan knows about you now!!"
"Little Zhuo, you didn't conceal the fact that you obtained the Five Elements God Master's inheritance before. Linghu Jiu knows, and although he hasn't covetted the Five Organs Temple Spirit Divine Skill, he will surely inform his master."
"Because the Ning Family and Ten Thousand Medicine Sect are currently negotiating a future alliance. This kind of intelligence would greatly increase Lin Bufan's regard for us, and he probably even thinks that he has covertly assisted you."
Sun Lingtong, a shrewd individual himself, quickly inferred more of the truth.
"What are the next steps? Little Zhuo, what are your thoughts?" Sun Lingtong furrowed his brows, expressing his concern, "Lin Bufan has been coveting the opportunities here, and has spent over a hundred years setting things up, yet he still hasn't fully gained control."
"This shows that the opportunities here are extraordinary. And based on your recent gains, Little Zhuo, it further illustrates the immense value of these opportunities."
"Lin Bufan now knows that we've accessed some secrets. Currently, as we clandestinely investigate the demon cave, Lin Bufan is bound to discover us."
"Will he allow us a hand in such an immense opportunity?"
Ning Zhuo chuckled, "That is exactly the crux of the current situation!"
Sun Lingtong took a deep breath, "You should immediately inform the Golden Core Ancestor of your family. If you ask me, you should have notified him in advance!"
Ning Zhuo gave a wry smile.
Sun Lingtong started, a sudden chill running down his spine, "I get it now, we mustn't notify Ning Jiufan ahead of time."
"Because, he's already under strict surveillance by Lin Bufan!"
Ning Zhuo nodded, "Precisely."
"Back then, our Ning Family relocated as a clan, following the subterranean river out of the Myriad Demons Cave, arriving in the valley and received a warm welcome from Lin Bufan."
"He insisted on keeping our clan in the valley for several months, only allowing us to depart after hosting us."
"During this period, he must have been secretly investigating, probing to see if anyone from our Family had discovered this opportunity."
"Only after ensuring none had, did he finally let the Ning Family go."
"This time, Ning Jiufan and I came to Ten Thousand Medicine Sect one after the other, which in Lin Bufan's mind, would undoubtedly raise a lot of suspicions."
"Could it be that the Ning Family had already found out back then? Having now established ourselves in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, have we returned here to explore?"
"Lin Bufan may very well suspect: The Ning Family doesn't know that I, Lin Bufan, am aware of this opportunity, hence they wish to covertly mine it. The Ning Family first sent the most outstanding junior of the clan to scout, and then sent the Golden Core Ancestor under the guise of alliance cooperation, seeking a legitimate reason to station here long-term and secretly explore the opportunity."
"Under such speculation and doubts, if I were to contact Ning Jiufan now, Lin Bufan would likely be instantly aware. He must be closely monitoring both the ancestor and me."
"Now, all we can do is—wait."
Sun Lingtong narrowed his eyes "We've already investigated the Jade Drip Formation and mysteriously vanished, Lin Bufan must be anxious. His next move will reveal his true intentions towards us!"
"Exactly." Ning Zhuo nodded.
Just as he had finished speaking, the next moment, the sky and earth changed color!
Suddenly, the Array was activated.
Yuanlai Mountain trembled!
The Mountain Protection Array isolated the inside from the outside, forming a massive mist of light that rapidly expanded.
Within a few breaths, the white mist spread out, enveloping Ten Thousand Medicine Valley, covering Yuanlai Mountain, Little Struggle Peak, Great Struggle Peak, and Medicine Field Mountain within it.
The scene outside the window attracted Ning Jiufan's attention. He probed with his Divine Sense, asking in confusion, "Lord Lin, why have you suddenly activated the Mountain Protection Array? Has a formidable enemy attacked us?"
Lin Bufan smiled.
He first inserted one thousand eight hundred seventy fine needles into Elder Yuan's body to make him fall into a deep sleep.
Then, he turned to Ning Jiufan, his eyes flashing a fierce light, "Daoist Fellow Ning, you are quite the actor, aren't you?"
Ning Jiufan: ???