Lin Yang, leading several sword cultivators and disciples of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, stood before the massive stone gate inscribed with runes. Their gazes were fixed on the shimmering runes on the gate, attempting to find clues to open it. These runes were intricate, interwoven, and emanated a mysterious and powerful spiritual energy.

A disciple of the Wanbao Pavilion took out a detection jade slip he carried with him and brought it close to the stone gate. The jade slip flashed, providing some preliminary information about the runes. "These runes seem to be related to an ancient system of spiritual energy circulation; there is a subtle connection between them," the disciple said, frowning.

Lin Yang nodded slightly, his gaze still focused on the runes. He recalled the fragments of cultivation techniques on the passage walls; the way spiritual energy circulated within those fragments seemed to have some subtle connection to the runes before him. "Let's try to decipher these runes by following the way spiritual energy circulated in the fragments of cultivation techniques in the passage," Lin Yang said.

Upon hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought, recalling the details of the fragments of the cultivation technique. Then, they began to try to correlate the flow of spiritual energy within the technique with the runes. One sword cultivator, following their deduction, first channeled a wisp of spiritual energy along a specific trajectory into one of the runes. The rune flashed, and then the surrounding runes began to light up in turn; however, the stone door remained closed.

"It seems the order or the intensity of the spiritual energy is still incorrect," Lin Yang said. Undeterred, they continued to adjust the order and intensity of the spiritual energy input. After several attempts, finally, when a Wanbaoge disciple injected spiritual energy into the runes with just the right intensity and precise order, the stone gate emitted a muffled rumble.

As the stone door slowly opened, an ancient and mysterious aura wafted out. Inside was a small, secret chamber. In the center of the chamber stood a stone platform, upon which rested an ancient book emitting a soft glow. The book's cover was inscribed with ancient characters, but none of the experts from the Linghe Merchant Guild who were proficient in ancient scripts were present, so the group was unable to decipher them at first.

Lin Yang stepped forward and carefully picked up the ancient book. The moment he touched it, a surge of information flooded his mind. Lin Yang closed his eyes, carefully processing the information. After a moment, he opened his eyes, a look of surprise on his face. "This ancient book records a powerful sword formation cultivation method called the 'Starry Sky-Splitting Sword Formation.' If one can successfully cultivate it, the sword formation's power will increase several times over. Moreover, it also mentions some crucial information about breaking through spiritual energy barriers."

Meanwhile, those remaining in the plaza were also working diligently to find a way to break through the spiritual energy barrier. The experts from the Spirit Harmony Merchant Guild continuously cast various detection spells, attempting to analyze the structure of the barrier. They discovered that the runic combination of the barrier was related to an ancient arrangement of stars.

"Perhaps we can break through this barrier by simulating the trajectory of stars," an expert said. The disciples of Wanbaoge quickly took out some magical artifacts that could simulate the trajectory of spiritual energy and began to try to guide spiritual energy to simulate the movement of stars, according to the expert's prediction.

However, accurately simulating the trajectory of stars is no easy task. Even a slight deviation in the control of spiritual energy can cause abnormal reactions in the runes. After numerous failures, they gradually mastered the subtle changes in spiritual energy. Finally, through everyone's tireless efforts, the spiritual energy began to circulate along the correct stellar trajectory, resonating with the runes on the spiritual energy barrier.

The spiritual energy barrier flickered and gradually dissipated. The box radiating golden light on the stone platform was now fully revealed to everyone. Just then, Lin Yang and the others returned to the plaza through the passage with the ancient book.

The crowd gathered around the stone platform, their eyes fixed on the golden box. The Pavilion Master of Wanbao Pavilion said, "This box has been heavily guarded; what it contains must be extraordinary." The President of Linghe Chamber of Commerce nodded in agreement, "But we must also be cautious; there might be hidden traps."

Lin Yang cautiously approached the box, carefully examining its appearance. The box's surface was smooth, with no obvious opening buttons or gaps. He tried to sense the box with his spiritual power, and suddenly, some tiny runes appeared on its surface. These runes were different from those he had encountered before; they shimmered with an eerie light, as if waiting for something.

Lin Yang combined the information from ancient texts about solving similar mechanisms with the runes before him. After some thought, he channeled his spiritual power into the runes in a specific order. The runes shone brightly, and then the box slowly opened.

Inside the box, a spirit crystal radiating multicolored light lay quietly, surrounded by jade slips emanating powerful spiritual energy. Lin Yang picked up a jade slip and infused it with spiritual energy; the information within instantly flooded into his mind.

"These jade slips record several long-lost high-level cultivation techniques, as well as some precious methods for improving the quality of magic weapons," Lin Yang said excitedly. Everyone present showed expressions of delight upon hearing this.

However, just as they were basking in the joy of their harvest, a violent tremor suddenly erupted within the ruins. As if some powerful force was awakening, the entire ruins shook.

"This is bad. We may have triggered some kind of mechanism by opening the box, which has brought about a new crisis," the president of the Linghe Chamber of Commerce said, his expression changing.

The group quickly put away their magical artifacts and secret manuals, cautiously scanning their surroundings. Cracks began to appear in the cave walls, and loose rocks continued to fall. Then, a gigantic tentacle emerged from a crack in the cave ceiling. The tentacle was covered in sharp barbs and emitted a nauseating stench.

"Prepare for battle!" Lin Yang shouted. Everyone immediately went into battle mode. The sword cultivators of the Spirit Sword Sect quickly formed a sword formation, the disciples of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion manipulated their magical artifacts, and the experts of the Spirit Harmony Chamber of Commerce cast spells. A new crisis awaited them. Could they once again turn the tide and safely leave the ruins?