Chapter 1015: Chapter 1012: Encountering Outer Realm Cultivators
The two of them were practicing dual cultivation in the cave.
The spiritual energy in the cave was already quite dense, but thinking of the high realm of the Outer Realm Cultivators, they decided it was crucial to enhance their strength, so they took out the spirit stones they had excavated along the way to aid their cultivation.
In this way, with the support of dual cultivation and the continuous supply of spiritual energy from the spirit stones, the two could clearly feel the increasingly high efficiency of True Qi transformation within their bodies.
Originally, after entering the Foundation Establishment Stage, the total amount of True Qi stored within their bodies reached a considerable level, and now, with continued cultivation, the True Qi was becoming more and more abundant.
It was clearly felt that the True Qi stored in the Dantian was increasing, and at this rate of cultivation, it might take only a year or so to fill the Dantian with True Qi.
By then, the power they could exert with a wave of the hand would likely be terrifying.
While practicing cultivation, they were also nourishing the soul.
Without the sun and moon inside the cave, they didn’t know how much time had passed. In a state of abundant True Qi, they didn’t feel hunger or thirst, and even their injured Divine Soul was slowly recovering.
Like this, they immersed themselves in cultivation, disregarding whether they were in danger now.
When hunger swept over them, they paused their cultivation.
Qin Yanyang took out compressed biscuits and pure water from the backpack. After eating, the satisfaction from fullness greatly gratified them.
Qin Yanyang couldn’t help but say, "I feel that this round of cultivation went on for a long time. If it weren’t for the hunger pangs in my stomach, I would have lost track of time."
Yang Fei nodded and said, "Yes, this state of complete immersion in cultivation is really wonderful. And have you noticed, we must have been cultivating for a long time, yet the hunger only appeared much later, which means our realm has reached a certain height, allowing us to fast for a short period."
Qin Yanyang nodded silently: "The True Qi within our bodies is transformed from the Power Elements between heaven and earth, and we have already entered the Foundation Establishment Realm, so our desire for food has greatly diminished."
Yang Fei said, "You continue to cultivate while I try to figure out what kind of formation this is."
Qin Yanyang realized that not cultivating might disturb Yang Fei in comprehending this strange Illusionary Array, and she now had an inexplicable obsession with cultivation, feeling the need to race against time, to use every second to cultivate and enhance her strength, in order to find peace of mind.
Thus, Qin Yanyang continued her cultivation, aided by the abundant spiritual energy and the effects of the spirit stones.
Yang Fei was also observing the entire cave, mentally revisiting all the famous illusion arrays known in Taoism, but he always felt that the formation inside this cave was different from those he knew.
Yin Yang Five Elements, Three Talents and Six Harmonies, Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, and the Mysteries of Divination, he had all dabbled in these through the remnants of Rune Tao and formations passed down by his master Huang Chengcheng. He was confident that, as long as these related formations were concerned, he could gradually familiarize himself with them and understand them one by one through his own talents. Though he might not be able to break such formations, he could at least find the Life Gate to escape.
But the formation before him was completely different from those he understood.
This left him at a loss.
Unless he tried one by one.
But probing each with Divine Thought was not feasible.
Directly walking in to try had too low a probability.
Damn it.
Yang Fei frustratingly grabbed his head.
Slowly, he calmed down and focused on perceiving the charm talisman of each cave entrance.
Since it’s a formation, it must be built on the foundation of rune poetry. Without rune poetry, it’s impossible to create a formation. So he felt that as long as he could understand the rune aura contained in each entrance, he could choose the correct exit based on the aura of life and death represented by the charm talisman.
Time flew by, and Yang Fei completely quieted his mind, focusing on sensing the rune spirit hidden in each cave entrance. Although there was no initial gain, gradually, his perception of the charm talisman of these entrances became clearer and stronger.
He understood that such a situation implied either that he was getting closer to understanding the truth behind these Gates of Life and Death, or that his comprehension of Rune Tao was continuously improving.
No matter which outcome it was, it was good news for him.
Yang Fei didn’t know how long they had been trapped there, but in the meantime, Qin Yanyang had awakened from her solo cultivation three times.
Each time, it was hunger that woke her up.
To know how long they had been trapped, they would have to calculate each hunger interval after escaping.
Even though they only ate a small piece of compressed biscuit each time, since their last resupply, it had taken a long time, so the food and pure water in their backpacks kept depleting.
Given the rate of consumption, at most after two more times, they would be out of supplies.
A strong sense of crisis followed.
However, Qin Yanyang did not urge Yang Fei. She continued her cultivation without disturbing him.
Yang Fei focused intently on comprehending the rune power contained within the formation.
When Qin Yanyang opened her eyes again, Yang Fei couldn’t help but shake his head and said, "It’s not right."
Seeing him shaking his head while murmuring that something was amiss, Qin Yanyang felt a bit distressed and couldn’t help but say, "If you can’t figure it out, just rest a bit, and we’ll randomly choose a path to break through."
Yang Fei shook his head and said, "It shouldn’t be like this. Something’s wrong with this formation. Based on the charm talisman information, this formation doesn’t seem complete. But an incomplete formation can’t have such power; something’s not right."
Qin Yanyang didn’t know what he had figured out, but seeing him like this, she consoled, "Yang Fei, darling, there’s no rush. You take your time. With your intelligence, I’m sure you’ll understand soon."
Yang Fei looked up at her, shook his head, and said, "This can’t be understood. It’s missing something."
Qin Yanyang quickly said, "Okay, okay, maybe this formation has been here too long and is already incomplete."
Yang Fei’s eyes lit up, "Right, could that be it?"
Qin Yanyang handed him some compressed biscuits and water, saying, "Eat something first, then think slowly."
A bit mechanically, Yang Fei took the food from her and started eating together with Qin Yanyang.
After eating, they both felt full and their spirits lifted.
But Yang Fei still frowned, pondering over the issue he couldn’t understand.
Concerned about his mental state, Qin Yanyang didn’t dare to enter into cultivation again and silently stayed by his side.
After a while, Qin Yanyang suddenly narrowed her pupils, noisily drawing her Soft Sword and holding it in her hand.
Yang Fei was also alert, suddenly standing up, holding the Fine Steel Treasure Saber he had specially forged before coming.
"Boom!"
A loud noise came from the cave wall opposite them.
Immediately, dust and stones flew, debris scattered everywhere.
The two were shocked, and they saw a new cave entrance appear. Subsequently, a dirt-covered face and haggard-looking man in ancient garb appeared in their sight.
Seeing the suddenly appearing man in ancient attire, Yang Fei and Qin Yanyang were on high alert, regarding him as a formidable enemy.
This should be one of the Outer Realm Cultivators from that Ghost Ship.