Chapter 133: The Ancient Teleportation Array

Two months passed quietly amidst the timeless rhythm of cultivation.

Ghost-Cry Mountain. Inside the cavern dwelling, Jiang Min sat cross-legged, ending her meditation on the sword arts, and slowly opened her eyes. She raised a hand with effortless grace.

*Whoosh!*

At the tips of her joined fingers, a sharp, piercing edge suddenly erupted, imbued with an intensely fierce thunder-fire energy. It was so potent and scorching that it caused the air around her fingertips to twist and warp as if being sliced and incinerated.

The fifth level of the Thunder-Fire Ten Thousand Sword Art—the Intent of Thunder-Fire that Incinerates All Laws—was finally, if barely, mastered. This provided her with a bit more confidence for the upcoming journey into the ancient secret realm.

"True Monarch Thunder-Flame must have possessed a thunder-fire spiritual root, which is why he created this Thunder-Fire Ten Thousand Sword Art. This sword intent is his path, not mine," Jiang Min mused, gazing at her fingertips, her eyes shifting with thought. "Still, as the saying goes, 'Read ten thousand books, and your writing will flow like the work of gods.' I must witness more sword techniques to eventually create my own. Well, creating a sword art sounds like a fantasy, but if so many predecessors could do it, why can't I?"

Just then, the jade transmission slip in her robes stirred. Jiang Min retracted her sword aura, pulled out the slip, and scanned its contents with her divine sense. It was a message from True Monarch Guan Qi.

"During this time, I have inquired about this ancient secret realm. Information is tightly sealed, and it involves Soul Formation cultivators, so its origins remain unclear, but I have roughly determined the location of the teleportation. This is a rare opportunity. Proceed as planned, and send me a message the moment you emerge; I will come to provide support. Be careful in all things."

Jiang Min felt a deep sense of gratitude that True Monarch Guan Qi would take the trouble to inquire about the realm and offer to meet her. After all, this was her own choice, and she did not wish to expose her identity or burden him unless absolutely necessary.

She tucked the jade slip away. Soon after, True Monarch Baolin arrived.

"Master has sent word that it is time to depart. Let us go."

Jiang Min followed True Monarch Baolin away from Ghost-Cry Mountain, retracing their path back to the City of Villains and into the inner city. Today, the high pavilion’s doors were tightly shut. Two Foundation Establishment cultivators dressed in black stood guard at the entrance. Jiang Min glanced at them—both were at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage—and they, in turn, looked back at her.

True Monarch Baolin stood before the pavilion gate and bowed toward the interior. "Reporting to Master, Ming Ruoshui has been brought here."

A moment later, with a creaking sound, the doors slowly opened. The Elder of Ghost Mountain strode out and said to True Monarch Baolin, who remained in a bowing posture, "You may withdraw."

***

After True Monarch Baolin departed, the Elder of Ghost Mountain looked at Jiang Min and the two other Foundation Establishment cultivators. He introduced them to Jiang Min first: "These two are disciples of Ghost-Cry Mountain, Dong Kaiyuan and Yao Sheng. Like you, they are to enter the ancient secret realm."

He then turned to the two men. "She is the current top-ranked cultivator on the Villain Battle Board, Ming Ruoshui."

Hearing this, Jiang Min looked at them again. Dong Kaiyuan was a middle-aged man with a tall, imposing build, regular features, and eyes that burned with vitality. Yao Sheng appeared young, with a gentle smile and a scholarly, refined demeanor that made him seem quite approachable.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Dong, Fellow Daoist Yao," Jiang Min said, offering a polite bow of peers. They returned the gesture with equal courtesy.

Once the introductions were complete, the Elder of Ghost Mountain instructed Jiang Min: "Ming Ruoshui, I have already briefed Dong Kaiyuan and Yao Sheng on the matters of the realm. They will explain the details to you later. Your only task is to act and assist them in obtaining what I require."

His gaze swept over the three of them. "As for the opportunities found within the realm, each of you must rely on your own abilities. Your spiritual roots and cultivation paths are entirely different, so there is no need for competition. Regardless of anything else, there is only one goal: retrieve that object and bring it out. If there are no questions, let us go."

The Elder of Ghost Mountain flicked his sleeve.

*Whoosh!*

A gust of wind swept past. Jiang Min felt herself caught up, her body spiraling out of control as she flew at high speed. The surrounding scenery blurred into unrecognizable streaks—she caught glimpses of blue sky and white clouds—and before she could process the duration, she felt her feet touch the ground, leaving her dizzy and lightheaded.

As she landed, her legs buckled, and she nearly fell. The other two cultivators were in no better state, their faces pale and their footing unsteady.

*Traveling miles in an instant—such terrifying speed. With my current means, I would be powerless before a Soul Formation cultivator, let alone hope to escape,* Jiang Min thought, a fresh wave of shock washing over her regarding the power of Soul Formation masters. She scanned their surroundings: they were in a desolate wilderness at the foot of a mountain, surrounded by towering ancient trees.

The Elder of Ghost Mountain called out toward the empty space in front of them: "Baoyi."

There was nothing but the base of a high mountain before them, utterly deserted. Yet, the moment the Elder spoke, the air began to ripple with a dull thrum. A faint, concealed barrier of spiritual energy gradually parted before the Elder, revealing an entrance.

"Go."

The Elder of Ghost Mountain stepped through the barrier first, followed closely by Jiang Min and the others. Once inside, the mountain base remained the same, but three Golden Core cultivators now stood there, guarding a newly excavated cave that led deep into the mountain.

Seeing the Elder of Ghost Mountain, the three Golden Core cultivators bowed. "Master," two of them said, while the third, a young-looking woman in green robes, called him "Master" while the others addressed him as "True Monarch" with a respectful, distant air.

The Elder of Ghost Mountain turned to the woman—his third disciple, Baoyi—and said indifferently, "You remain here to guard this place. I am taking them inside."

"As you command, Master," True Monarch Baoyi replied respectfully before returning to her post with the other two cultivators.

Jiang Min followed the Elder into the tunnel, casting a side-long glance at the three Golden Core cultivators. *Three Golden Core cultivators guarding this place personally... the realm must be of great importance. It seems I will only learn the true origin of this place once I enter the ancient cavern heaven.*

The tunnel was new, smelling of fresh earth, and illuminated by night-pearls embedded in the walls. They descended for about the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense before the path suddenly opened up.

A massive cavern had been excavated, spanning several dozen yards. In the center lay a ruin buried in the soil, featuring a wide stone platform carved with incredibly intricate array patterns. Nine carved stone pillars stood at the edges of the platform.

Several people were already waiting inside. Two leaders were chatting, and upon seeing the Elder of Ghost Mountain arrive with his party, they smiled. "Ghost Mountain, you’ve arrived. We’ve been waiting quite a while for you."

The Elder of Ghost Mountain’s gaze swept over the six Foundation Establishment cultivators behind them, his sharp, piercing intent causing them to shudder. He withdrew his gaze and replied with a cool, indifferent smile, "You arrived quite early. There are still three days left before the calculated time."

One of the Soul Formation cultivators chuckled. "For a matter of such importance, one naturally must oversee it personally to feel at ease..."

As the three exchanged pleasantries, Jiang Min deduced from their titles that the other two were also Soul Formation cultivators: one was named Yan Shuangqing, and the other held the title of Daoist Poxie.

*Three Soul Formation cultivators personally present—they clearly all covet what is inside this ancient realm.*

Jiang Min looked curiously at the stone platform in the center of the cavern. It was clearly long-buried, dilapidated, and filled with cracks and dirt. The teleportation array markings on its surface were mottled and damaged, showing many new patches, yet strangely, there were also fresh signs of sabotage that made the original design even harder to discern. Both the platform and the surrounding pillars were ancient, exuding a sense of desolate, weathered history.

As Jiang Min studied the platform and the array upon it, the more she looked, the more familiar it seemed.

*Where have I seen this before?*

She searched her memory, and suddenly, her heart jolted. She realized exactly where she had seen this platform and array.

*This platform—isn't this the exact same ancient teleportation array from the ancient battlefield of the Ten Thousand Sword Sect!*