Only Zi Linling, this freak, could cultivate chaotic purple energy within her body and brazenly declare, "I will break through to the Small God realm as soon as possible!"
As Zi Linling made her silent resolve, Ye Lingyuan took a step forward.
At the same time, he extended his hand to Zi Linling and said, "Lin'er, this should be the core of the Ghost Altar. Be careful."
Zi Linling understood his meaning and did not object, placing her delicate hand into Ye Lingyuan's palm. "These patterns around the stone tablet are not simple. I feel like I've seen them somewhere before."
Ye Lingyuan's attention had been solely on the stone tablet, and he hadn't noticed their footing.
Now, reminded by Zi Linling, he observed them closely.
Qian, Kun, Li, Kan, Gen, Dui, Zhen, Xun...
"This is the Bagua Nine Palaces formation!"
Ye Lingyuan was greatly surprised. The stone tablet was located precisely at the Gate of Life.
Upon hearing his words, Zi Linling began to observe them carefully.
"Good heavens! It truly is the Innate Bagua Nine Palaces formation! No wonder I felt so familiar; it's remarkably similar to the Roaming Dragon Movement Technique!"
Ye Lingyuan was clearly taken aback. While he had recognized it as a Bagua Nine Palaces formation, he hadn't discerned it as the *Innate* Bagua Nine Palaces formation.
The difference of just two words was monumental.
Fortunately, he hadn't rashly taken a second step, or it would have been difficult to retreat unscathed.
Since Zi Linling had deciphered the secret of the patterns underfoot, she naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to run around on them.
If it had been the Postnatal Bagua Nine Palaces formation, she might have needed to deduce it. But for the Innate Bagua Nine Palaces formation, she could navigate it even with her eyes closed.
This was a matter of familiarity and practice, like drawing a gourd from a pattern. It had little to do with whether she was a formation master.
Of course, if it had been the Postnatal Bagua Nine Palaces formation, it wouldn't have been her place to deduce it, as Du Lao, the spirit of the Nine Spirits Ring, was a powerful formation master.
"Ye Lingyuan, follow me!"
Zi Linling said, about to move in front of Ye Lingyuan. But Ye Lingyuan pulled her into his embrace, pressing her back against his chest.
"Let's go together!"
Ye Lingyuan had not forgotten Zi Linling's unusual reaction earlier, so he would not allow her to take risks.
Zi Linling was startled for a moment, then understood Ye Lingyuan's intention.
However, this posture was quite awkward!
Feeling the beating heart against her back, Zi Linling couldn't help but blush.
The moment Zi Linling entered his embrace, Ye Lingyuan felt something was amiss.
His body stiffened, and a certain part of him reacted.
Thus, he quickly released a spiritual energy shield, suffusing it with the power of laws, before letting go of Zi Linling. "Do not step outside the range of this spiritual energy shield."
Zi Linling let out a deep sigh and turned to look at Ye Lingyuan, only to see a fleeting blush on his face.
So, it wasn't just her who had a reaction; Ye Lingyuan did too.
However, this was not the time to discuss such matters, as their time was limited.
"Do not step outside the range of this spiritual energy shield!"
Ye Lingyuan repeated.
Although he didn't state the reason, Zi Linling understood.
Ye Lingyuan was likely afraid that the desolate law on the stone tablet would control her again, so he used his own power of laws to shield her from it.
Zi Linling nodded, a smile curving her lips. "Stay close to me, and don't take a single wrong step!"
Then, without hesitation, she took her second step.
Ye Lingyuan followed closely, their distance no more than a fist's length, making them almost touching.
Zi Linling's breathing grew shallow again, but this was not a time for distracting thoughts.
Therefore, she suppressed her surging emotions and took her third step.
Step by step, it was a trial for both of them.
Fortunately, they soon reached the stone tablet.
An ancient aura permeated the air, and a hoarse voice echoed, "We have been waiting for you for a long time!"
Zi Linling's expression shifted slightly. The voice that had sounded in her mind earlier was the same one.
Seeing Zi Linling's reaction, Ye Lingyuan had already guessed.
He frowned, looking at the stone tablet before him, and said coldly, "Who are you?"
"Who am I... Who am I..."
The voice, tinged with confusion, replied, "I no longer remember my name."
Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan were stunned.
The stone tablet had forgotten its own name, indicating how long it had been there.
"Are you the spirit of the stone tablet?"
Zi Linling asked tentatively.
The voice seemed to ponder for a moment and said, "Spirit of the tablet? No!"
Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan exchanged glances, shock dawning in their eyes.
If this voice was not the spirit of the stone tablet, why was it emanating from the tablet?
"Then who exactly are you?" Zi Linling probed gently again.
"Who am I? Who am I..."
The stone tablet's voice was once again filled with confusion.
"How did you appear here?"
"Vengeful spirits... soul suppression... path transformation..."
The stone tablet stammered out these words.
Vengeful spirits? Soul suppression? Path transformation?
What did it mean?
Zi Linling felt her mind struggling to comprehend.
At this moment, Ye Lingyuan suddenly spoke, "Are you suppressing this altar?"
The stone tablet's voice held a hint of amusement. "Vengeful spirits emerge... the world... descends into chaos... suppress... three souls... protect..."
Zi Linling didn't quite grasp it yet.
She understood each word the stone tablet spoke, but piecing them together required some time for her to study.
Ye Lingyuan, however, was greatly surprised. He said to the stone tablet, "You are the legendary Soul Suppressing Tablet, aren't you?"
"Suppress... soul... tablet, Soul Suppressing Tablet! Soul Suppressing Tablet! That's right, I remember now. I am indeed called the Soul Suppressing Tablet."
Perhaps because the mystery of its name had been solved, the stone tablet's voice seemed to gain a touch of excitement.
Soul Suppressing Tablet? What was that?
Zi Linling was bewildered.
"Little girl, the Soul Suppressing Tablet is a divine artifact. Legend has it that a certain Divine Lord transformed himself into this tablet."
Divine Lord? What was that?
Du Lao rolled his eyes. "Little girl, your words are truly astonishing!"
"Divine Lord, that is a legendary existence. It is said that if one can break through the Divine King realm, they can reach the realm of Divine Lord."
"Truly, how can such a powerful being be referred to as a 'thing' by you?"
Zi Linling realized then that she was once again ignorant.
She sheepishly scratched her ear. "You can't blame me for that. Who would have thought such a powerful being would transform into a stone tablet? Once it became a stone tablet, it naturally became a thing!" Su Dan Novel Network
Du Lao was speechless.
To argue so outrageously and yet so righteously!
His understanding of Zi Linling had once again reached a new level.