Sun Lingtong confirmed the death of the other party because he used his Innate Spiritual Eyes to inspect.
Of course, he knew he was only a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and the gap between him and a Transforming Spirit Level was as vast as the sky is from the earth.
But he had the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon's investigative methods.
This Mechanical Artifact was of the Nascent Soul Level, used for investigations on Transforming Spirit Levels, providing much surer results than Sun Lingtong could himself.
Sun Lingtong stared at the stone ball in front of him, puzzled in his heart, "A Transforming Spirit Level being has perished."
He immediately thought of the group of hooded black-robed cultivators he had been tracking and quickly pieced together the outline of the truth in his mind.
"It seems that this group was actually here to pay homage, wishing to meet or awaken this Divinity Transformation Stage being."
"Clearly, this being was no ordinary cultivator, which is why those people outside the cave had set up an array, not hesitating to sacrifice their own."
"They just never imagined that the Transforming Spirit Level being had already passed away."
Cultivators, albeit powerful, often die while in meditation.
For instance, low-level cultivators indulging in cultivation might forget to eat and starve to death. This happened frequently in ancient times, which led to the development of Fasting Pills.
Or like Ning Zhuo who previously dove into Taoist Skills, engrossed to the extent that it burnt out his mind resulting in either dementia or death on the spot.
And many high-level cultivators hit a bottleneck in their cultivation; having tried all other methods with no result, they could only perform a deathly meditation - which implies either breaking through their cultivation level or dying, often this happens as their lifespan nears its end.
"Could it be that this Transforming Spirit Level being was also near the end of its life?"
Sun Lingtong speculated quietly.
His heartbeat quickened, muttering under his breath, "Exciting, this is truly thrilling."
Outside the large cave, the remaining four black-robed cultivators were communicating through Divine Sense.
After a brief argument, one of them took charge.
He took out a red token from his chest, infused it with Mana,
then he pulled out a Talisman Paper, wrote on it on the spot, and created a Flying Message.
At the end of the Flying Message, he held up the token, shooting out a talisman that marked the Flying Message, signifying his identity.
Taking a risk to his life, the cultivator released the Flying Message into the giant cave.
After completing this step, he immediately knelt on both knees, his forehead tightly pressed to the ground, performing a grand gesture of worship.
Simultaneously, the other three black-robed cultivators did the same, extremely anxious.
The Flying Message flew quickly to the bottom of the cave, then hovered around the stone ball, continuously circling.
Sun Lingtong took a deep breath, immediately maneuvered the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon, and swallowed the Flying Message.
The black-robed cultivator maintaining the Flying Message felt a violent shock in his heart at that very moment; he felt disconnected from the Flying Message, realizing it hadn't been destroyed but had just vanished.
This, rather than the message being destroyed, terrified him more, like a stone thrown into an abyss that never echoes back the sound of hitting the bottom.
Sun Lingtong began to grow anxious.
"These black-robed cultivators are making sacrifices to meet the Transforming Spirit Level being here."
"They obviously have another powerful person backing them!"
"This time it's a Flying Message; next time, someone might come in."
"I don't have much time; I need to find the heritage of the Transforming Spirit quickly."
However, Sun Lingtong maneuvered the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon in circles around the bottom of the cave and found nothing.
The bottom of the cave was empty. There were no treasures, just stones everywhere!
The Mechanical Dragon continued to monitor outside the cave.
The four black-robed cultivators, already gathered at the cave entrance, wanted to step in but were extremely nervous and hesitant.
Sun Lingtong sighed.
He did not wish to kill these people; not to mention there were four of them, all Foundation Establishment Level, numerous in number, and their methods unclear.
There was definitely a significant figure behind them. Killing them would provoke this significant figure!
Anyone who would visit a Transforming Spirit Level being was at least of the Nascent Soul Level in terms of cultivation.
"Little Zhuo and I just arrived at the Thousand Peak Forest, and provoking Nascent Soul or even Transforming Spirit Level cultivators really isn't appropriate!"
If Sun Lingtong had found the heritage, it would have been another matter.
The key was that he found nothing.
To offend a significant figure over no gains at all would be completely irrational.
"Ah, how frustrating." Sun Lingtong scratched his head, extremely reluctant.
It was a tremendous opportunity, but it seemed he had to leave empty-handed.
"Maybe taking a risk wouldn't be so bad," Sun Lingtong thought, heart firm, and then he maneuvered the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon closer to the only huge stone ball at the bottom of the cave.
On the surface, the stone ball looked quite ordinary. But with the detection of Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon, Sun Lingtong could discern that the stone ball contained many elements of Taoist skill.
Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon opened its tiny mouth and shot out a Magic Artifact.
It was released by Sun Lingtong.
The Magic Artifact struck the stone ball and immediately produced large cracks.
"Ah?!" The defense on the surface of the stone ball was weaker than Sun Lingtong had imagined.
The next moment, the stone skin fell off, revealing dazzling treasure light inside, illuminating everything around.
Sun Lingtong unconsciously gaped.
Even while inside the Mechanical Dragon, his face and his entire body were illuminated by brilliant colors.
"I've struck it rich, struck it rich indeed!"
Sun Lingtong couldn't help but cheer inwardly.
From just this small cracked spot, he saw a piece of Xuanhuang Mother Stone, a handful of Earth Spirit Soil, a piece of Heavenly Fallen Star Marrow, and a chunk of Purple Crystal Mysterious Rock!
The Xuanhuang Mother Stone with its earth patterns emitted a heavy earthy aura. Being a fragment of the Earth's root, it inherently possessed strong defense and was very stable.
Earth Spirit Soil contained the essence of earth veins and could only be found deep underground or at the confluence of earth veins. It was excellent for cultivation soil, significantly enhancing the growth speed and medicinal effects of Spirit Grass planted in it.
Heavenly Fallen Star Marrow and Purple Crystal Mysterious Rock were similarly extremely precious, details to be explained later.
"These four treasures are all of Nascent Soul Level!"
Sun Lingtong was so excited that he was almost drooling.
He hurriedly released more Magic Artifacts and began to excavate.
Treasure materials were unearthed one by one, drawn into the body of Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon.
Rainbow Strange Jade, Blood Fiend Demon Stone, Rock Essence, Netherworld Black Soil...
These treasures all had two things in common. First, they all related to Earth Element, either being stones, jade, or soil. Second, their grades were all very high, all of Nascent Soul Level!
"This Incarnation Cultivator might specialize in Earth Element techniques, and his true form might well be an Earth Element spirit."
"If the outer layer of the stone ball contains Nascent Soul Level treasures, then the inner layers should possess Transforming Spirit Level materials, right?"
Sun Lingtong licked his lips and continued the operation.
The sensation was truly marvelous for him.
Of course, he didn't get carried away and kept an eye on the group of black-robed Cultivators outside the cave.
With the treasure right in front of him, if these people were to barge in, they shouldn't blame Sun Lingtong for taking harsh measures!
However, contrary to Sun Lingtong's speculations, the four hooded black robes ultimately did not step in. After wrestling with their decision, they each gave a salute and turned to leave the area.
While excavating, Sun Lingtong naturally used methods to mask sound and light, making the true situation in the cave unknown to them.
Sun Lingtong stripped off the outer layers of the stone ball, gaining a large amount of treasure, soaring to incredible heights, and achieving overnight riches!
But as he continued to dig towards the inner layers, he encountered a tremendous obstacle.
Regardless of the method he employed, he couldn't budge the shrunken stone ball.
Furthermore, the stone ball was slightly trembling and started drawing in a large amount of Earth Element Spiritual Energy. This energy adhered to its surface, constantly solidifying into new stone skin.
The stone skin gradually covered the treasure light and visibly thickened at a rapid pace.
Sun Lingtong's eyes sparkled with bright lights: "Could it be that these stone skins will gradually transform into Nascent Soul Level treasures?"
He immediately resumed excavating.
The new stone skin was very fragile and when removed, it was just ordinary stone, much to Sun Lingtong's disappointment.
"It looks like the transformation of stone into various treasures takes a long time; it can't be achieved overnight."
Sun Lingtong dug towards the inner layers but still couldn't find a way.
"Hehehe."
"Call out Little Zhuo and let him think of a solution."
"His brain always works wonders!"
"I'm very curious if this stone ball could be harder than the Big Snake Scythe."
Just as he thought this, the Mechanical Dragon suddenly emitted a piercing alarm sound.
Sun Lingtong's expression drastically changed. He quickly raised a hand and saw that his palms were covered with a layer of lime, gradually petrifying!
"What, what's happening?!"
Sun Lingtong quickly circulated his Mana, infusing it into his hands to resist the petrification.
Although the petrification rate significantly slowed, it remained tough, continuously eroding.
Sun Lingtong hurriedly took out Elixir Pills, tried various spells, but all to little avail.
"Is this place actually a giant trap?!"