The corner of the golden toad's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, revealing a sinister smile.
Its bumpy back gleamed with an eerie bluish-purple light under the moonlight, and its three eyes gleamed with a cunning glint. If this reckless female cultivator were to step into the cave it indicated, those ancient, dormant killing formations would tear her to shreds!
However, at this critical moment, Bai Ying suddenly stopped and looked back.
Are you sure this is the place?
The girl's cool voice echoed in the dark cave, a faint smile playing on her lips.
That smile, though seemingly faint, made the golden toad's scales stand on end instantly, as if it were being stared at by the most venomous snake.
"Of course!" The golden toad forced a calm expression, its eardrums trembling uncontrollably, its claws shaking erratically. "How could I dare deceive the fairy? This entrance leads directly to the core of the ruins, where ancient magical treasures and elixirs are hidden..."
Its voice abruptly stopped. Bai Ying gently raised her slender jade finger, and a point of shimmering white light bloomed from her fingertip, illuminating the almost invisible silver thread at the cave entrance.
Those threads, as fine as spider silk, refracted seven colors under the illumination of the spiritual light, which was the trigger restriction of the most dangerous "Seven Deadly Souls Annihilation Array" in ancient times.
"Then I'll trouble you to lead the way for me," Bai Ying said softly, her voice so gentle it sent chills down one's spine.
With a flick of her wrist, the golden toad in her storage bag transformed into a beam of golden light and was tossed toward the cave entrance.
The golden toad struggled wildly in the air, its eyes bulging almost out of their sockets. Its original plan was to lure the female cultivator to her death and then use her corpse to obtain the treasures in the ruins, but it never expected that she would strike first.
"Fairy, spare me! I know I was wrong! The true entrance is..."
Before the golden toad could finish pleading, its body had already crossed the boundary of the restriction.
In an instant, it let out a piercing scream: "No! You wretched woman!"
A burst of golden light erupted, and the toad, originally the size of a palm, instantly transformed into a colossal creature three zhang tall. All the venom glands on its back opened, spewing out dark green poisonous mist, and its three eyes shot out scarlet blood light as it pounced towards Bai Ying.
But it was all too late.
Suddenly, a blinding silver light shone inside the cave, and countless rays of light, as thin as hair, swirled in from all directions.
The moment the golden toad's scream rang out, its massive body was as if it had been sliced by countless sharp blades, instantly turning into a cloud of blood mist, which was then completely absorbed by the formation, leaving not a trace behind.
Bai Ying stood at a safe distance, her slender fingers unconsciously clenching.
The array's patterns were seven-tenths similar to the "Heavenly Net Array" she had seen in ancient books, which was why she was able to detect the anomaly in time. But she never expected the array's power to be so terrifying; a late-stage Nascent Soul demon beast was annihilated without even a chance to resist.
This formation is clearly not something that the Heavenly Net Formation can achieve; it is the far more powerful Seven Deadly Souls Annihilation Formation.
This formation not only annihilates the physical body, but also the soul, leaving no chance for reincarnation.
A night breeze swept through the cave, carrying a faint scent of blood. Bai Ying's pupils contracted slightly, a wave of fear washing over her.
If she had believed the demon's slander just now, she would be the one reduced to ashes right now.
Bai Ying stared at the invisible killing formation, a hint of inquiry flashing in her eyes.
Seven Deadly Soul-Destroying Formation.
This ancient killing formation had long been lost, yet it has now reappeared here. If she could decipher its mysteries, it would undoubtedly greatly benefit her mastery of formations.
However, she soon discovered that the array was set up as a trap, and it would not show even a trace of the array unless a living thing stepped into it and triggered it.
She gathered spiritual power at her fingertips and tentatively launched a fierce attack into the formation.
However, the spiritual energy vanished without a trace, leaving not even a ripple. The formation remained as still as stagnant water, as if mocking her futile efforts.
"As expected, it didn't work..." Bai Ying sighed softly, a hint of regret appearing in her eyes.
This level of formation is impossible to decipher without witnessing its operation firsthand; relying solely on guesswork is utterly futile.
She shook her head, no longer clinging to the idea, and turned to the other side, to the true entrance that the golden toad hadn't had time to reveal before it died.
This was a deep, dark cave, its entrance as black as ink, resembling a gaping maw ready to devour its inhabitants. Bai Ying ignited a wisp of spiritual fire at her fingertips and slowly stepped inside.
However, the moment she took a step, an indescribable and terrifying pressure suddenly descended!
"boom!"
The oppressive force was like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing over her entire body in an instant.
Bai Ying's pupils constricted sharply, and her bones creaked under the immense pressure. The power of this oppressive aura far exceeded her expectations, as if an ancient ferocious beast had awakened in the darkness, its mere unconscious aura enough to cause a cultivator with weaker cultivation to explode and die instantly!
"This...this is simply not a pressure that a Nascent Soul cultivator can withstand! Even though I've already reached the half-step Deity Transformation stage, it's still not enough. At least a Deity Transformation stage cultivator is needed to come here."
Bai Ying gritted her teeth, cold sweat beading on her forehead. She hadn't even reached the Nascent Soul stage yet; just standing was her limit. If she went any deeper, her very soul would probably be crushed!
She forced herself to take several steps back until the oppressive force subsided slightly, finally catching her breath.
"It seems that now is not the time..." Bai Ying's eyes flickered, her heart filled with both shock and resentment.
This ancient ruin is more dangerous than she expected. With her current cultivation level, she doesn't even have the qualifications to step into it!
She took a deep breath, turned around decisively, and left.
We'll investigate further once she reaches the Nascent Soul stage!
Bai Ying did not go far.
She stood not far from the entrance of the ruins, looking up at the deep cave, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
"Since we can't get in, let's break through first."
With a flick of her wrist, a crystal-clear Dao Source Fruit appeared in her palm. The surface of the fruit emanated a faint Daoist aura, as if it contained the ultimate principles of heaven and earth.
Without hesitation, Bai Ying opened her mouth and swallowed the Dao Source Fruit directly.
In an instant.
A vast, boundless spiritual energy exploded within her body! Her meridians felt as if they were being scorched by flames, yet they continued to expand and strengthen amidst the extreme pain. The nascent soul within her dantian suddenly opened its eyes, the spiritual energy surrounding it surging wildly, as if welcoming a transformation.
Even more mysteriously, the Daoist essence contained within the Dao Source Fruit transformed into specks of golden light, flowing like fireflies in Bai Ying's sea of consciousness, creating a wondrous resonance with her divine sense.
Bai Ying sat cross-legged, her hands forming a mudra, and a faint spiritual light gradually appeared around her. Her aura began to rise steadily, and the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth swirled towards her like a vortex.
The realm of divine transformation is within reach!
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