Chapter 144: Safe Zone

This time, although the formation restrictions around the Lava Palace had shifted, there were still discernible patterns to follow. 

With the groundwork from his previous expedition, Li Ye was able to guide a puppet team with ease back to the architectural islet he had explored before almost without incident.

Apart from dealing with a few altered formations along the way, even the fire beasts that had previously roamed the area did not reappear in those zones he'd already visited. 

Given that the array restrictions still bore traces of occasional fire beast activity, Li Ye had reason to believe that these creatures, much like spirit beasts, possessed a certain territorial instinct. 

Unless the scent or presence of a former fire beast within a region had completely vanished, others were unlikely to intrude. 

If that were true, it would save him a considerable amount of effort.

"At least I don't have to clear out mobs every time I come back how considerate of this dungeon!" 

Li Ye chuckled to himself as his puppet squad continued advancing in the chosen direction. 

He had two main objectives on this trip. 

First, to explore as many architectural islets as possible in hopes of discovering valuable relics or clues about the palace's secrets.

Second, to test the puppet squad specifically, how fire beasts would react to puppets powered by fire beast cores. Would they mistake them for their kind? Would they be deceived? 

And also, whether the puppet battle formation could allow the squad to move through the array restrictions without damaging them.

If the latter worked, Li Ye could reap greater rewards at a lower cost something worth pursuing. 

As he delved deeper into uncharted areas, he soon encountered a few formation barriers that were impossible to bypass. The restrictions varied in strength and complexity; using conventional means to crack them would take considerable time and study. 

Observing from a distance, Li Ye didn't hesitate. He immediately activated the puppet battle formation. 

Array runes etched on the puppets began to glow, linking them together into a unified formation. A burning aura surrounded them, creating a mobile miniature formation bathed in flame. 

In a world dominated by lava and heat, they now appeared entirely in harmony almost indistinguishable from actual fire beasts. 

Once the formation was deployed, the massive formation restrictions encircling the Lava zone reacted faintly half resonance, half rejection. 

The complex formation in their path showed signs of loosening. 

With a calm expression, Li Ye subtly shifted the puppets' positions. The brightness and pattern of their rune arrays flickered, rapidly adjusting to better align with the surrounding formation energies. 

When they neared the complex barrier, the arrays on the puppets synced with the larger restriction as if drawn from the same source. With minor adjustments, they were able to gently unravel part of the restriction and pass through smoothly. 

"Yes! Excellent!" 

Watching the puppet team cross the barrier and approach another architectural islet, Li Ye's eyes lit up. 

Now that he'd succeeded once, as long as the formations ahead were within the level of his current understanding, he could use the same method to bypass them. 

This approach would not only lower his resource consumption but also minimize the chances of triggering unwanted side effects.

"All this brain-wracking just to achieve environmentally friendly exploration… Let's hope there's something truly worth the effort up ahead!" 

Li Ye's gaze held a flicker of anticipation. 

But as the puppets pushed forward, they inevitably encroached on fire beast territory and soon enough, the creatures began to appear. 

Though the beasts briefly hesitated when they spotted the puppets, their aggression returned without delay. 

Whether this was due to instinctive territorial rejection, or simply because the puppet disguises powered by beast cores and wrapped in battle formation flames weren't enough to fool them, was unclear.

Either way, it was evident that Li Ye's puppet camouflage plan wasn't going to work. 

Still, compared to the breakthrough with formation compatibility, this was a minor setback.

After all, the current combat strength of the puppet squad far outclassed those made by that so-called Master Hou. 

These Tier-1 fire beasts posed no threat whatsoever and were swiftly wiped out. 

The puppet squad continued working steadily under Li Ye's control, gradually clearing paths and architectural islets throughout the area before him. 

After roughly four or five days, the entire section near the entrance to the Lava Palace had finally been fully cleared. 

Not only had all the fire beasts been eliminated netting him a considerable haul of Tier-1 and Tier-2 fire beast cores but most of the chaotic and dangerous formations had also been untangled and neutralized. 

The threat level had dropped significantly, and the area was now far more manageable. 

"After all this effort, I can finally move on to the next step…" 

Li Ye let out a long breath. 

With a tap on his storage pouch, several bird-shaped puppets shot into the air, each carrying a formation artifact. They scattered across the newly cleared area, placing the artifacts in designated locations as part of a larger setup. 

Gradually, these formation tools began to interweave, syncing with the existing local array restrictions. 

Then, with a flick of his hand, Li Ye summoned a formation artifact that was entirely emerald green, etched faintly with silver lines, and cast it into the formation triggering a transformation.

This formation flag, crafted from the branches of the Void Realm Tree, was especially well-suited for formation use, its unique properties greatly enhancing the array's power. 

Even a fragment of the Void Realm Tree's mystical essence was enough to massively amplify the formation's effectiveness. 

As the formation evolved, faint traces of void domain power surfaced, allowing the entire setup to easily interface with the existing array restrictions. 

It was like a giant hand smoothing out a wrinkled cloth as the unstable restrictions were absorbed into the grand formation's control. 

In an instant, the chaotic array restrictions across the region were completely neutralized. The crimson seals scattered everywhere retreated to the edges of the new formation, becoming part of it no longer posing any threat.

Within the formation's radius, the scorching environment also began to cool noticeably, transforming the space into a safe and stable zone. 

Li Ye's expression remained solemn as he meticulously inspected and adjusted the formation several times. 

Only after confirming that this area was fully under control without causing any unintended disturbances, and even strengthening the surrounding restrictions did a smile finally appear on his face. 

"A safe zone embedded within chaotic formations… A strong foothold for pushing deeper." 

The creation of such a zone wouldn't just provide convenience and safety for future exploration. 

Even if Li Ye stopped here and went no further, he could still use it as a trap to lure in Tier-2 fire beasts for hunting enabling him to steadily build his foundation. 

"Even if I can only handle Tier-1 and some Tier-2 formations for now, with time and steady cultivation, I'll be able to expand establishing a second, even a third safe zone…" 

"With the lowest risk, I'll gradually uncover the secrets of this Lava dungeon!" 

"Roooaar!" 

Just as Li Ye was about to step into the formation and inspect the now-stabilized islets, a thunderous roar laced with fury and resentment shook the air, immediately disturbing his mental state and stirring up a wave of irritation. 

But with a quick cycle of the Thousand Thoughts Divine Refinement Technique, he suppressed the effect, and clarity returned to his eyes. 

Sweeping his divine sense in the direction of the sound, Li Ye's gaze narrowed. 

A humanoid fire beast, its body shrouded in dark crimson flames, with a face twisted in anger, hatred, and murderous intent, was charging straight at him completely ignoring the array restrictions in its path.

Its aura was near the mid-Foundation Establishment stage powerful and deadly. 

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