Sun Lingtong controlled the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon, tracking this group of suspicious, hooded, black-robed cultivators.
The Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon had shrunk to its limit and became invisible as it weaved silently through the mountain forest without making a sound.
Gradually, Sun Lingtong penetrated deeper into the Heavenly Pillar Giant Tree.
The rocks on the surface of the giant tree were extremely thick, giving rise to countless plants, with dense vegetation throughout.
The howling winds, unceasing, echoed as if ghosts were wailing.
Under the interwoven shadows of plants, it seemed as if ghosts fluttered about, or demon beasts lay in ambush, forcing Sun Lingtong to be exceptionally alert.
Throughout the tracking, none of the hooded, black-robed cultivators noticed the presence of the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon.
This was within Sun Lingtong's expectations.
After all, the cultivation level of these people was comparatively low; the leading figures were at the Foundation Establishment Cultivation level, whereas most of the others were merely Qi Refining Cultivators.
"Another cave... That must be the fiftieth or sixtieth by now, right?"
"The caves in this Giant Tree Mountain are extraordinarily numerous."
Sun Lingtong had just surveyed from above, but now, as he entered one of the Heavenly Pillar Giant Trees, he discovered even more details.
The Giant Tree Mountain was riddled with caves of all sizes, like dark mouths quietly observing those who passed by.
Strangely, at regular intervals, a gust of cold wind would blow out from each cave, making various noises. Some emitted a deep moaning that sent chills down the spine, and others unleashed a roar like the tide, so loud that it forced people to cover their ears.
The hooded, black-robed figures moved swiftly and lightly, like phantoms in the night, advancing without a sound.
When they reached the mountainside, they stopped for the first time.
Several leaders took out maps or tokens, compared them with each other, and then collectively chose a nearby cave to enter.
The black-robed figures filed in.
Sun Lingtong followed closely behind.
The cave entrance was pitch black; only the faint light emanating from the cultivators' magic artifacts in hand barely illuminated the path ahead.
At first, the cave walls were thick with moss, exuding a damp and decaying smell, and the air was filled with a suffocating sense of oppression.
However, as they moved deeper, the stone walls of the mountain path became smooth and barren.
A deep silence enveloped the entire path.
Suddenly, someone among the black-robed figures stepped on a scattered stone, creating a faint noise.
In an instant, all the black-robed cultivators stopped in their tracks, standing as still as statues.
They glared angrily at the cultivator who made the noise; some even showed outright murderous intent.
The black-robed cultivator who erred began to tremble slightly.
Watching this scene, Sun Lingtong grew even more curious, "What on earth are these people doing? They seem very afraid, as if they fear waking someone up."
The structure of the mountain path was exceedingly complex, branching out in all directions like a huge maze. Sun Lingtong focused his attention, silently memorizing each intersection he passed.
He imprinted a specific route map in his mind. Since childhood, his judgement and memory for directions had been trained to be exceptional.
Sun Lingtong felt a familiar sensation stir within him, reminding him of his days in Fire Persimmon Mountain.
"Compared to the tunnels in Fire Persimmon Mountain, this one is decidedly more complicated by at least a dozen times, twisting and turning."
"However, although these mountain paths intersect with each other, the terrain does not undergo significant changes. Unlike the tunnels in Fire Persimmon Mountain, which could change drastically with an eruption or a tremor of the earth's energy."
"With a terrain like this, after walking it a few more times, one will eventually have a thorough understanding."
The deeper they went, the more spacious the mountain path became, and it was free of stalagmites and stalactites.
This abnormal geographic feature also made Sun Lingtong extra cautious.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the hooded figures arrived at a huge cavernous hall.
The ceiling of the cave soared high, and the stone walls around were smooth.
Only a few leaders held magic artifacts that emitted a weak light, barely enough to see; this was clearly intentional.
At the far end of the hall was a gigantic cave entrance the likes of which they had never seen before.
The entrance was dark as ink, like the gaping maw of an ancient, wild beast waiting for prey to willingly enter, evoking a sense of hidden, imminent danger.
The robed cultivators began to arrange the array.
A huge circular array was inscribed on the ground, and then everyone stood within the large arrangement of array feet.
The figures in black quietly chanted spells, the fluctuation of spiritual power growing more and more intense, the entire cavern hall trembling slightly along with it.
Sun Lingtong tried to discern the array but was unsuccessful.
He found that the structure of this array greatly diverged from mainstream ones and was filled with many Divine Texts—winding and intricate; he simply couldn't make anything out of it.
Sun Lingtong waited patiently.
The array reached its peak, emitting a faint glow.
The glow, like smoke, drifted into the enormous cavern opening directly ahead.
But as time passed, there was no movement or change.
Some of the Qi Refining cultivators standing at the array's feet began to falter, growing anxious.
They dared not speak out loud; instead, they communicated using Divine Sense and Divine Consciousness through the array, expressing their inability to continue and the need to pause for rest.
However, the Foundation Establishment level leaders paid no attention.
Realizing something was wrong, the Qi Refining cultivators wanted to break free, but their violent struggles were constrained by the Array Eye.
Sun Lingtong saw this and immediately knew that this array possessed at least the ability to sacrifice.
Indeed, in the next moment, the Qi Refining cultivators withered away, ultimately collapsing into a heap of skin, flesh, and innards on the ground, as all their bones were extracted and turned into objects of sacrifice.
But there was still no activity at the cave's entrance.
The remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators exchanged glances, then one by one drew daggers and plunged them violently into themselves.
They committed suicide simultaneously, their cultivation levels and bones transforming into offerings that brought the array's power to its highest level.
Yet, it still proved ineffective!
The remaining cultivators were forced to slowly stop the array, communicating one by one through Divine Consciousness.
Sun Lingtong had no ability to eavesdrop, feeling an itch he couldn't scratch.
He speculated in his mind, "These demonic cultivators must be here to communicate with some powerful being."
But what could that existence be?
Sun Lingtong's eyes gleamed with excitement; his mind hesitated, but his hand had already begun to act.
He controlled the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon, quietly burrowing into the giant cavern opening.
The mountain path was quite wide, far shorter than Sun Lingtong had imagined.
And it was peaceful all along the way, with no danger at all—merely a bit darker and a bit quieter.
At the end of the mountain path lay a rock about the size of a house.
The rock was round and smooth on the surface and still held a faint hint of vitality, exuding an aura slightly above the Nascent Soul level.
Sun Lingtong's heart pounded, "Higher than Nascent Soul level, could it be that this is a Transforming Spirit level expert?"
He felt exhilarated.
Someone like Ning Zhuo would never dare to venture into the cave to investigate. But Sun Lingtong was a natured thrill-seeker, chasing excitement.
But this thrill was too intense.
Sun Lingtong's forehead broke out in cold sweat as he carefully drove the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon to retreat slowly.
The Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon was merely at the Nascent Soul level; coming under the notice of a Transforming Spirit level power was very likely.
However, as Sun Lingtong retreated halfway, he stopped of his own accord.
"Wait a minute, it seems... it appears... it's like..."
"The Transforming Spirit expert is dead?"
He observed carefully again, using the detection methods within the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon for scrutiny.
Moments later, Sun Lingtong wore a face of complexity and oddity.
He confirmed that the Transforming Spirit expert was indeed dead!