Towering stone pillars supported a mottled dome, and ancient murals that had long since faded were faintly visible on the walls.
And some blurry figures, though they were now difficult to recognize, having been eroded by time.
The air was filled with an even denser Aura of shattered Dao laws, mixed with a burnt and dusty smell.
Gu Luoli led twenty Disciples of the Jade Pool Immortal Palace, forming a defensive Formation, and moved silently through the darkness.
Her heavy pupils flickered with golden light in the darkness, allowing her to clearly "see" energy flows and spatial structures that were difficult for ordinary people to perceive.
The palace's Formations and Restrictions had long since been left in ruins under the impact of the long years and that terrifying Heavenly Tribulation of the past.
But some remaining nodes and traps still emitted a dangerous Aura.
"Don't touch the wall on the left; it's very dangerous!"
"There are faint spatial fluctuations behind the stone pillar on the right; it's extremely unstable, don't go near it."
Gu Luoli's voice was cold and clear, guiding her fellow Disciples along a safe path in the silent darkness.
The group followed her instructions, not daring to overstep in the slightest, having profound faith in their Third Senior Sister's judgment.
They hadn't been without gains along the way.
In some collapsed side halls and broken corridors, they found several buried Magic Treasures of decent rank, though their spirituality had largely been lost.
In some well-sealed jade bottles, there were actually two ninth-grade Medicinal Pills; although most of their medicinal properties had dissipated, their research value was extremely high.
Gu Luoli planned to take them back and give them to Elder Yun Miaoyi, hoping they would be helpful in improving her Alchemy.
There were also several scattered Jade Slips; although they only recorded a few Earth Rank Cultivation Techniques, they were undoubtedly treasures to the Disciples.
Gu Luoli naturally did not compete with them, as she cultivated the Spirit Void Heavenly Eye, which surpassed the Heaven Rank, and thus looked down on ordinary Cultivation Techniques.
Although they had gained much on this journey, the trace of unease in Gu Luoli's heart grew heavier and heavier.
The palace was too quiet, abnormally so.
It was as if all the dangers were lurking in the deeper, darker places, waiting for their prey to walk into the trap.
"Senior Sister, I think I hear voices..."
A Disciple at the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment lowered their voice and pointed behind them.
Hearing this, the golden light in Gu Luoli's heavy pupils swirled, and she clearly "saw" the flickering crowds of people in the distance behind them.
These people clearly lacked her ability, and as they moved, they occasionally triggered Formation nodes.
Screams, cries of alarm, and angry curses could be heard faintly, breaking the dead silence of the palace's depths.
"It's those Cultivators who followed us in... they've triggered the hidden Restrictions."
Gu Luoli said in a low voice, her eyes showing little surprise.
Greed always comes with a price, especially in such an unknown and dangerous place.
She did not stop her pace, nor did she slow down.
She continued to lead her fellow Disciples deeper, following the safest path perceived by her heavy pupils.
The internal structure of this palace was extremely complex, like a labyrinth.
There were many forks in the road, and many passages had long been blocked by collapsed boulders or residual tribulation power.
The Aura of shattered Dao laws permeating the air not only interfered with spiritual sense detection.
But also faintly suppressed the flow of a Cultivator's spiritual power, making one feel quite oppressed.
With her heavy pupils, Gu Luoli could always precisely avoid those fatal traps.
She found paths that were safe to traverse.
She led her fellow Disciples, like agile fish in the dark, quickly passing through corridors and bypassing side halls.
The chaotic sounds coming from far behind were gradually left behind.
After walking for about another incense stick's time, the area ahead suddenly opened up.
A main hall, far grander than any they had seen before and relatively well-preserved, appeared before them.
The hall was dozens of zhang high, and on the dome, some blurry star patterns could still be vaguely seen.
Although most were dim and lightless, one could still imagine the magnificent atmosphere of those years.
On both sides of the hall stood dozens of stone statues in various poses.
These stone statues included human forms, beast forms, and even some indescribable, strange shapes.
Though they had endured for ages, they still emitted a heart-palpitating pressure.
And in the deepest part of the hall, upon a high platform.
A figure was sitting quietly in a primitive stone chair.
It was a middle-aged man with an elegant face, dressed in a light green robe.
His eyes were slightly closed, and his hands rested naturally on the armrests of the stone chair.
There was not the slightest trace of erosion by time, and not even a speck of dust had touched him!
It was as if he were merely taking a nap here and could open his eyes at any moment.
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