NOVPUBMo Rubing, who had previously fled hastily, hadn’t moved for quite some time in his perception.
"What is this location?"
Li Ping pondered for a moment and didn’t directly pursue. Instead, he summoned the Craftsman.
"This place... it’s said to be where the heart of that giant beast transformed after death, and it’s the convergence point of the earth’s energy in Jiushan Province. I’ve been there once but didn’t find anything noteworthy." The Craftsman, sensing the image sent by the Emperor, shook his head slightly.
The location mentioned by the Emperor was a marsh in Jiushan Province, the stronghold of the Elemental Spirit Sect.
"It just has denser Spiritual Energy than other places, nothing else really," the Craftsman asserted.
"How much do you know about that Tian Beast?" asked Li Ping again.
The Craftsman shrugged, "If it weren’t for some local cultivators from Jiushan Province in my sect, I wouldn’t even know the legend that Jiushan was transformed from the carcass of a giant beast. It turns out that thing is called a Tian Beast; I’ve learned something new."
"However, if you’re interested in that place, there’s a Nascent Soul Monk in my sect named Shen Yurou. You could summon him to learn more."
The Craftsman explained the reason to Li Ping.
It turned out that Shen Yurou’s family had been excavating underground objects in Jiushan for generations. The chaotic land of Jiushan had buried countless cultivators since ancient times, tracing back to the era ruled by the Immortal Dao Ten Clans. 𝒏𝒐𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝒄𝙤𝙢
Shen Family accumulated considerable wealth with this craft. However, it ultimately wasn’t a trade to be proud of, and Shen Yurou abandoned this ancestral skill after joining the Elemental Spirit Sect.
"I recall he once mentioned that near that marsh, his ancestors once unearthed a peculiar structure. But inside, it was empty except for some strange statues. After leaving dejectedly, his ancestor fell severely ill and nearly lost his life."
Li Ping’s thoughts stirred, and he flipped through the Tablet of Creation.
Sure enough, he found information about Shen’s ancestor, but there was no record of discovering relics in the marshlands of Jiushan Province.
Li Ping then left Da Qi and arrived inside the Elemental Spirit Sect.
Still disguised as the Sect Hierarch, he summoned Shen Yurou to inquire about the details.
Shen Yurou was somewhat astonished by the summoning from the long-unseen Sect Hierarch. He spoke cautiously, "This matter is indeed peculiar. Ever since that accidental entry, my ancestor contracted some strange diseases."
"Like repeatedly seeing that underground structure in dreams, and also..."
"Since then, all the clan members of our Shen Family have had their Yin and Yang reversed; males appear feminine, and females masculine," Shen Yurou said, seemingly having accepted reality.
Li Ping’s Divine Sense swept over Shen Yurou’s body but did not detect any influence from alien forces. It seemed natural.
"Is the specific location of that structure still preserved?" Li Ping asked.
Shen Yurou looked troubled, "To prevent clan members from accidentally entering again, the exact location was not disclosed. However, there are paintings and drawings of the specific scenes of the structure."
Saying this, Shen Yurou flicked his fingers, and a painting appeared.
In each corner, a Stone Statue was placed.
They represented a headless person, each in a different pose, as if in prayer.
In the center of the four Stone Statues stood a bare column.
The column’s surface was very smooth, devoid of any engravings. However, the strange part was that the shadow cast by the column on the ground resembled a ferocious beast, baring its fangs and claws, as if it might come to life with the light and shadow.
"According to the family patriarch, there would constantly be loud thumping of a heartbeat in one’s ears within this structure. Moreover, if one looked along this column, it felt like plunging into the Abyss, surrounded by endless darkness..." Shen Yurou added.
Li Ping stared at the four headless figures in the painting.
Even without heads, they vaguely resembled the style of the Statue of Faceless True Immortal he encountered under Taixu Mountain.
It must undoubtedly be a product of the Mystic Sky Sect.
"Borrow its form, but behead it."
"This column..."
The smooth column was undoubtedly the core of this eerie structure.
But just from the painting, it was impossible to discern any clues.
After letting Shen Yurou leave, Li Ping quietly went to the Nine Mountains State Marshlands.
The expanse of Jiushan was contiguous, yet there was such a large-scale marshland. Theoretically, this was highly illogical. Many cultivators had explored this area, hoping to uncover some secrets, but all came back empty-handed.
Standing in the center of the marshlands, Li Ping only felt a foul and rotting smell. He perceived nothing unusual.
Had he not distinctly sensed Mo Rubing hiding here.
Mo Rubing likely hadn’t noticed Li Ping’s approach, although moving within a small range deep in the marshlands, he had never left the area.
Setting up an Array Technique around, Li Ping stealthily entered the marshland’s underground, slowly approaching the sensed location.
"Gurgle..."
Suddenly, his figure abruptly halted.
Just then, Li Ping faintly heard a squirming sound.
With his current Cultivation Base, he could nearly rule out any illusions. So...
Li Ping looked around.
The thick, foul-smelling marsh mud seemed to squeeze rhythmically, as if alive.
Suddenly, Li Ping felt as though the entire marshland had come to life.
"Trap?"
The thought flashed through Li Ping’s Spirit Consciousness, but he quickly dismissed it.
The marshland’s focus wasn’t on him.
