Entering The Enemy’s Trap

The wind howled like a wounded beast, whipping icy rain against Ming Ren's face as he ascended the treacherous slopes of Mount Ironclaw. Beside him, Ye Huian marched on, her gaze fixed on the gaping maw torn into the mountain's side – a wound inflicted by the claws of some long-forgotten titan. A shimmering barrier, woven from ancient runes and pulsating with dwindling light, held the chasm open. Ming Ren, conserving his energy, matched her pace, his eyes flickering between the path and the woman who moved with the unwavering determination of a mountain stream.

They arrived at the chasm's edge, where cultivators bearing various clan emblems awaited the return of their kin. Worry etched their faces, and their gazes upon Ming Ren and his companions were sharp and suspicious.

A cultivator adorned with the Brave Clan emblem, his cultivation at the Sixth Layer of the Spirit Sea, stepped forward, the wind tugging at his dark robes. "Turn back," he commanded, his voice gruff, "This is the Brave Clan's business."

Ye Huian scoffed, her voice cutting through the wind like a whipcrack. "This mountain belongs to no clan. Why didn't you stop those who entered before us?"

The guard's lip curled in a sneer. "A mere loose cultivator dares question the Brave Clan?" A dozen of his brethren brandished their weapons, their eyes gleaming with hostility.

Ignoring them, Ming Ren focused his Spiritual Sense on the shimmering barrier, probing its depths like an inquisitive tendril. The formation was ancient, fueled by external energy and reinforced with runes – likely the work of the clans who had already entered, ensuring the passage remained open. Yet, as his senses delved deeper, they met an invisible wall, a barrier within the barrier.

"Can you even stop me?" Ye Huian's hand twitched towards her blade, her spiritual energy flaring.

Just as the tension reached a breaking point, a youthful voice, laced with authority, cut through the air. "Since when does the Brave Clan claim dominion over unclaimed lands? Mount Ironclaw is no one's playground." 

A handsome young lord, accompanied by attendants and cultivators bearing the Earth Sect emblem of the Mountain Province, emerged from the swirling mist.

The Brave Clan cultivators visibly deflated, their aggression replaced with a forced deference. "Young Lord," one stammered, "This is the Cloud Province, not the Mountain Province."

The young lord's lips curved into a smile that held a hint of steel. "I am well aware. Were it the Mountain Province, you would already be relieved of your head. Now, will you step aside, or must I demonstrate the Earth Sect's displeasure?"

Cowed, the cultivators retreated, their earlier bravado evaporated. The Earth Sect, though not the rulers of the Mountain Province, were strong contenders for the position of Overlord, their power nothing to be trifled with.

Ming Ren clasped his hands, "We thank the young lord for the help."

The young lord dismissed the thanks with a wave of his hand. "Think nothing of it. Though I must ask, are you certain you wish to proceed? You are but at the Body Tempering Realm. Those who entered before haven't come out even to deliver a message. Although there's probably some good fortune inside, there's also tremendous danger."

Ye Huian raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with sarcasm. "We didn't need your help. Now you're giving us advice?" 

Old Lai, ever the cautious voice, attempted to intervene. "Young Lady..."

The young lord chuckled, his gaze lingering on Ye Huian. "Truth be told, I knew they posed little threat to you. However, the Brave Clan Brave Clan seeks revenge for the smallest grievances. They're extremely petty. Isn't it better to save yourself the headache?" His voice rose, ensuring the retreating Brave Clan cultivators caught every word.

Ming Ren found his choice of words interesting. Was he aware that Ye Huian is stronger than she looks, or merely flattering her?

"Regardless," the young lord continued, "we should tarry no longer. The formation holding this entrance weakens with each passing moment." He nodded to Ming Ren, his smile lingering on Ye Huian, before stepping into the shimmering barrier.

Ming Ren and his companions followed, leaving the fuming Brave Clan cultivators behind. As they crossed the threshold, a wave of disorientation washed over them, the world twisting and blurring until they emerged into a vast cavern deep within the mountain.

"A secret space," the young lord murmured, his voice filled with awe.

"We remain within the mountain," Ming Ren explained, "The formation merely transported us deep beneath the surface."

Astonishment flickered across the young lord's face. "I couldn't even sense the transportation formation. It must be of Heavenly Palace grade or higher. The Ancient Ironclaw Sect was indeed powerful, to possess such a treasure hidden for countless years."

Ming Ren, his eyes already scanning the cavern, nodded curtly. "There are others ahead."

Impressed by the young cultivator's perceptiveness, the young lord followed his gaze. They ventured deeper into the cavern, the air thick with anticipation and the promise of discovery.

The cavern echoed with the frustrated shouts and the clash of metal against stone as a group of cultivators attempted to breach a shimmering barrier that pulsed with an ominous red light. Each strike, fueled by desperation and dwindling hope, barely caused a ripple in the impenetrable wall.

Disappointment and resignation clouded the faces of those gathered. Some slumped against the cavern walls, their exhaustion evident. Others paced like caged animals, their frustration boiling over into muttered curses and bitter arguments.

The arrival of the newcomers didn't cause too much of a scene. The few that saw them had pitiful looks and shook their heads.

"Look, more lambs to the slaughter," a voice dripping with sarcasm echoed from the crowd as Ming Ren, Ye Huian, Old Lai, and the Earth Sect delegation approached.

The young lord Tu He narrowed his eyes, his voice laced with displeasure. "Explain yourself."

A cultivator, his robes bearing the emblem of a minor clan, stepped forward, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "No disrespect intended, Young Lord. But we are trapped. This formation bars our exit, and the only path forward lies through that formation."

Tu He, his curiosity piqued, strode towards the pulsating wall. Among the throng of cultivators, one stood at the forefront, his cultivation base at the half-step into the Spirit Gate Realm.

"I am Tu He of the Earth Sect," the young lord announced, his voice carrying the weight of his lineage, "How may we assist in breaking this formation?"

A sneer twisted the lips of a sturdy young man adorned with the Brave Clan emblem who stood beside the half-step Spirit Gate cultivator. "Tu He? Never heard of you. With Senior Luo here, do you think you can contribute to anything? Pathetic. Perhaps you should find a fan and cool our backsides instead."

Indignation flared within the Earth Sect delegation. Tu He clenched his fists, his face flushed with anger. "How dare you!"

The Brave Clan cultivators, emboldened by their superior numbers, met their anger with a wall of defiance, their spiritual energy crackling in the air like a gathering storm.

Tu He, momentarily taken aback by their blatant disrespect, quickly regained his composure. His lips curled into a sardonic smile. "The Brave Clan barks loudly, as always. If only your skill was half as good as your mouth, wouldn't you have become the Royal family already?"

Ye Huian, unable to contain her amusement, let out a silvery laugh.

Now it was time for the members of the Brave Clan to be taken aback. Not only did he insult their Clan, but he also indirectly slandered them with their true "hidden" ambition: becoming the Royal Family. One must know that merely stating that fact was enough to get on the Royal Family's bad side.

The Brave Clan young lord's face contorted with rage. "You dare mock the Brave Clan? We shall see if your abilities match your insolence!"

Despite what he said, Tu He knew the young lord from the Brave Clan was far from a pushover. He was also at the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Sea, while Tu He was only at the Eight Layer. 

Before the situation could escalate further, a calm voice intervened. "Cease this pointless squabbling. "Save your energy to break this formation. What point is there in killing yourselves before finding out what is behind this formation?"

The speaker, a wizened old man with eyes that held the wisdom of ages, was Senior Luo – the formation master and guest of the Brave Clan.

The young lord from the Brave Clan bowed his head respectfully. "Senior Luo, have you found a way to break this formation?"

Senior Luo shook his head, his expression grim. "This is an ancient formation, its complexities beyond anything I have encountered before. It will take months, perhaps even years, to unravel its secrets and discover its weakness."

A ripple of despair washed over the crowd. One cultivator, his voice laced with desperation, spoke up. "Can we not break it with brute force?"

Senior Luo scoffed. "Brute force against an ancient formation of this caliber? This is a peak Spirit Gate Defensive Formation, drawing power from the very mountain itself. Even if every Clan Lord in the province combined their strength, it would be akin to ants trying to topple a mountain."

'He is right about the power of the formation, but wrong about its origin. This is not an Ancient Formation. It's different from the one outside. This one was set here not too long ago. It must be a part of their plans,' Ming Ren thought to himself, 'They must be aiming to trap as many people here as possible. Since I came, they must think I fell for their trap. Time to break their plans.'

Ming Ren quickly studied the formation, and then sent a sound transmission to Tu He, 'Young Lord. Please don't react too much and do as I say, and I promise you this formation will be gone.'

How could Tu He not react?

Tu He's eyes widened in surprise as Ming Ren's voice echoed in his mind. He glanced at the young cultivator, his brow furrowed in thought. Could he trust this stranger, a mere Body Tempering Realm cultivator, with such a bold claim? Yet, there was a spark of confidence in Ming Ren's eyes, an unwavering conviction that resonated with Tu He's own adventurous spirit.

Taking a deep breath, Tu He stepped forward, clasping hands, "Senior Luo, would you mind if I tried?"

Now, if this was an expert at the Spirit Gate Realm, Senior Luo wouldn't have minded. Below the Spirit Gate Realm, there were not many in the Soaring Country that could boast his knowledge in formations. But it so happened that he was stuck, and this young man belonged to the Earth Sect. Unlike the Brave Clan, this crafty old man did not go around butting heads with people at the slightest offense.

"You? Talk about overarching yourself," The Brave Clan Young Lord snorted, "Senior Luo is a guest of our Brave Clan and one of the greatest experts in formations. If he needs time to do it, how could a frog like you do anything? How pathetic!"

Tu He grit his teeth but ignored him.

Senior Luo sighed, but stood up and pointed to the formation, "Go ahead."

Ignoring the mockery, Tu He focused on the task at hand. He channeled his earth-attributed Qi, forming a fist of compacted soil that pulsed with power. With a surge of energy, he slammed the earthen fist into the barrier.

[Earth Clan Spirit Sea Art - Earthen Fist]

The formation barely trembled. Laughter erupted from the Brave Clan cultivators, their taunts echoing through the cavern.

"A true frog in the bottom of a well!" the young lord from the Brave Clan mocked, "A frog who thinks he's an immortal! Perhaps he believes himself a Formation Grandmaster!"

Senior Luo shook his head in disappointment. He had expected more from the young lord, even if his attempt was futile. Not even in a million years would he think the Young Lord was going to try to break it open with force after everything he said, but use an artifact of his clan.

"Young Lord…" even his followers didn't know what their lord was thinking.

Tu He, his face burning with shame, glanced at Ming Ren, who simply nodded and transmitted, 'Again.'

Steeling his resolve, Tu He gathered his Qi once more, forming another earthen fist. The Brave Clan cultivators continued their jeering, but their voices held a hint of uncertainty. There was something about Tu He's unwavering determination that gave them pause.

"Again? He truly doesn't learn!" The Young Lord from the Brave Clan mocked, followed by the other cultivators.

As the earthen fist collided with the barrier, Ming Ren's spiritual sense surged forward, intertwining with the formation's intricate pathways. He identified the weak points, the flaws in the construction, and with a surge of his own power, exploited them.

The formation shuddered violently, its red glow flickering erratically. Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface, and with a resounding boom, it shattered into a million shimmering fragments.

"Uh?" The Young Lord couldn't believe his eyes.

"Uh?" Even Tu He was shocked.

A stunned silence descended upon the cavern. The Brave Clan cultivators stared with disbelief, their mouths agape. Senior Luo's eyes widened, his expression a mixture of shock and humiliation.

Ye Huian, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips, turned to the Brave Clan young lord. "It seems even a frog can achieve what a so-called expert cannot. If even a frog can open this formation, what does that make the people who couldn't?"

Ye Huian jabbed at the young lord from the Brave Clan, but it was Senior Luo who wanted to hide himself in the bottom of a well!