Extreme Danger With Every Step

Extreme Danger With Every Step...

Qin Wentian inscribed at a frenetic pace, culminating in the dazzling illumination of the colossal Eight Trigram's runic contours. The glow enveloped him and the White Deer Institute members, becoming a shield against the quakes and weakening the destructive surges of energy. Amidst the roaring winds and relentless tremors, the vicinity still seethed with activity, alternating between breakage and reformation.

After a span of time, the tumult subsided, offering participants an opportunity to survey the altered terrain.

They remained in their original spots, the Ascendant statue unchanged in the sky. Yet, their surroundings had shifted. What was once an ancient city now stood as a mere facade, concealing the true Dao Cultivation Grounds of the Celestial Phenomenon Ascendant.

"What a formidable formation," Qin Wentian murmured, his heart unsettled. The prior formation possessed the might to reshape landscapes; the ancient city had been a mere illusion. Their current location held their true objective.

Expansive and boundless, the Dao Cultivation Grounds stretched ahead. A transparent portal loomed in the distance, framed by evergreen pine trees and ancient peaks, casting an atmosphere of serenity. Amid this tranquility, a grand hall emerged, housing a seated sculpture holding an aged tome.

"An Ascendant!" Enthusiasm gleamed in their eyes. They were at the genuine training grounds of that remarkable being. If one life sufficed to unveil this site, then it was a sacrifice worth making.

Camps exchanged glances, a blend of eagerness, caution, and suspicion. The inheritances of the Ascendant beckoned, but who would emerge as the heir?

"Bzzz bzzz!" Eager silhouettes surged forward, driven by greed, dashing toward the transparent door. Yet, as they took a few steps, the entire area illuminated from an unknown source.

"Careful, there are traps here!" the warning came, yet it was already too late. The individuals who had rushed ahead were ensnared by currents of runic energy, their movements frozen as the traps around them sprang to life.

One person found himself impaled by swords he hadn't seen coming, while another had demonic dragons swooping down upon him. Swiftly reacting, he unleashed his Astral Souls to fortify his assault, obliterating one of the dragons with a palm strike. Nevertheless, his efforts were futile; immobilized by the restraining forces, his fate was sealed, succumbing to the other dragons' voracious maws.

In a matter of seconds, those who had recklessly charged forward were no more. Even with their peak Yuanfu cultivations and Mandates' formidable might bolstering them, survival remained elusive.

"Extreme danger with every step!"

Their hearts raced with terror. Witnessing the fall of their companions firsthand, none dared to venture from their positions. Fearful of inadvertently triggering further traps, they remained immobile. The desire to save their fallen allies was outweighed by the dread of unknown threats.

"The trials of the past pale in comparison to this," an elder from the Pill Emperor Hall declared. "During my previous visit, while the ancient city held traps aplenty, not every snare boasted the potency of a peak-tier third-ranked Divine Inscription. The current trials are distinct—each step conceals a multitude of traps dripping with lethal intent. This must be the authentic Dao Cultivation Grounds of the Ascendant."

Nods of agreement rippled through the crowd, confirming that this trial was indeed markedly more hazardous than its predecessors.

"With peril lurking beneath each step and the incapacity to float, the inheritance lies before us but feels distant as distant can be. Safely traversing this space is harder than scaling the heavens."

"Is there no alternative?" bellowed Zhao Lie from the Skyember Sect. His earlier recklessness had nearly sealed his fate alongside those who perished. Acknowledging that even his prowess couldn't shield him from the formation's destructive snares, he sought an alternative solution.

"Two choices present themselves. First, we could forcefully charge through, relying on sheer strength. Alternatively, we could employ the Divine Inscriptionists to meticulously assess every step, neutralizing traps and certifying safety before proceeding. No other options remain; the level of difficulty has soared at least a hundredfold compared to previous trials."

The old Pill Emperor Palace member's response prompted grave expressions all around. With such dire circumstances, who among them would dare opt for the first choice?

"Esteemed Grandmasters, it's time to put your skills to work," an elder from the Skyember Sect declared. His words ushered forth a noticeable shift in the expressions of the present Divine Inscriptionists. This was precisely the scenario they had hoped to avoid.

"We'll require some time for perception and contemplation of the formation," replied one of the Inscriptionists.

"Very well."

Delegates from the transcendent powers huddled with their appointed Divine Inscriptionists. In the Star-Seizing Manor's encampment, Qin Wentian and his companions remained shielded by the Eight Trigram seal. During the earlier landscape transformation, their group had borne the least impact. Yang Fan's gaze now landed on Qin Wentian and the other Inscriptionists, his voice carrying an air of urgency. "The White Deer Institute emerged victorious in the exchange. We must rely on your expertise now."

"I shall exert myself," Qin Wentian assured. Yang Fan nodded, addressing all the attending Divine Inscriptionists. "Your assistance won't be forgotten. My Star-Seizing Manor will generously reward whoever can provide us with the most aid in today's trial."

The Divine Inscriptionists nodded in acknowledgment, though they understood the undercurrents well. Such courtesy from the representatives of the transcendent powers was reserved solely for moments of need.

Qin Wentian shut his eyes, delving into contemplation of the surroundings. Within the space, intricate runic outlines of Inscriptions remained hidden in plain view, their profundity requiring one to 'sense' them rather than relying on naked-eye observation. The trial's first test, set by Grandmaster Fenrir, had served as practice for this very challenge. Nevertheless, the number of Divine Inscriptions Fenrir concealed within his enigmatic painting paled in comparison to the labyrinthine network before Qin Wentian.

As he extended his heart sense, Qin Wentian involuntarily shuddered. A formidable panorama unfolded in his mind's eye.

Each step concealed peak-tier third-ranked attack-type Divine Inscriptions. However, it wasn't the complexity of these that troubled Qin Wentian. What truly vexed him was the seamless interconnectivity between each Divine Inscription. Should an Inscription be deactivated, the neighboring runic outlines would instantly converge, retaliating against the threat.

The Divine Inscriptions weren't discrete entities, but rather integral parts of a larger whole. The slightest alteration would set off a chain reaction, akin to a butterfly effect.

Exiting required a gradual, methodical neutralization of the Divine Inscriptions. However, any such effort triggered the instant activation of the neighboring peak-tier third-ranked traps. The prospect of moving forward seemed impenetrable.

While the perception of other Inscriptionists paled in comparison to Qin Wentian's, they too sensed the intricate linkages binding the Divine Inscriptions. One of them shook his head. "This formation is impenetrable."

"Im-pen-e-tra-ble?" The gathering's countenances fell. Did that mean their sole option was to use force? Yet the price of such a choice was etched fresh in their minds—a comrade's demise.

Zhu Sha turned his gaze to Qin Wentian. "With your heightened perception, how long to neutralize this?"

"It's extremely challenging; I can't guarantee success," Qin Wentian admitted. Zhu Sha frowned, dismissing Qin Wentian's response. "You have seven days."

He then closed his eyes in meditation. To him, seven days constituted an extended timeframe. Should Qin Wentian fail, the first approach would be their only recourse.

Cold determination flickered in Qin Wentian's eyes. He remained silent, shutting his eyes to engage with the runic outlines.

He needed to break the formation, not solely for the Star-Seizing Manor's sake, but also for his own advancement.

As time passed, no one dared make rash moves. Qin Wentian didn't study the singular Inscriptions; he sought the entire pattern, engraving it in his mind.

He recognized that tackling individual Inscriptions one by one wouldn't succeed. Instead, he needed to fathom the formation as a unified entity.

Through his perception, the comprehensive image grew clearer.

However, when the final image materialized, Qin Wentian trembled involuntarily in fear.

He beheld a majestic Divine Condor, its eyes gleaming with hostility, its head raised in regal defiance. Striving to soar, it remained earthbound. Above loomed a colossal statue, its foot imprisoning the condor—suppression incarnate. The bird yearned for skies it couldn't traverse. Its resentment birthed an aura of malevolence, warning that anyone treading on it would meet their doom.

This vision sent his heart into a frenzied rhythm. Opening his eyes, he gazed at the vague silhouette of the Ascendant statue overhead.

It was subduing the Divine Condor. How could he resolve this?

Not only was the Divine Condor under suppression, but the cultivators themselves were also grounded, leaving them no choice but to step on the condor to cross the transparent door.

In a blink, seven days elapsed. The Divine Inscriptionists remained immobile, locked in contemplation over the formation's breach.

"Grandmasters, any progress?" Zhao Lie's impatience grew apparent, as he'd repeatedly asked the same question in recent days.

"I'm powerless, unable to crack it," confessed a senior from his group, shaking his head in defeat.

"Does this mean we have to resort to brute force?" Zhao Lie inquired, frustration lining his tone.

"Yes," muttered the aged Inscriptionist.

"Very well, go on then," Zhao Lie snapped with a venomous edge. His words visibly ruffled the senior, who responded, "My abilities aren't up to the task; I fear I cannot succeed."

"In that case, why should I keep you alive?" Zhao Lie's form ignited, conjuring a flaming saber that engulfed the surroundings with searing heat. The blade cleaved through the senior, turning his remains to ashes.

This gruesome spectacle stunned the remaining Divine Inscriptionists.

Zhao Lie's gaze shifted to them, and he queried, "What about the rest of you? Can you manage it?"

Unease painted the countenances of his compatriots. "We… we will try."

"Excellent," Zhao Lie grinned. He then shifted his attention to the other transcendent powers. "Shouldn't the Divine Inscriptionists in your factions step up too?"

The Pill Emperor Palace, Hua Clan, and Star-Seizing Manor redirected their scrutiny toward their respective Inscriptionists.

Zhu Sha's eyes locked onto Qin Wentian. "The seven-day window is closing."

Qin Wentian met his gaze. "I require more time."

"No time remains. I stated I'd grant seven days only. If you fail to nullify it, we must opt for the first approach." Zhu Sha's words hung ominously in the air, resonating with a collective understanding. The fate of the old Skyember Sect Inscriptionist served as a stark reminder of what was at stake.