C167 Sunset Valley(2)

As they spoke, the two of them arrived at the base of the canyon's sheer cliff. A massive crack had appeared in the cliff face, and deep within it, a square portal about thirty feet across flickered intermittently.

The vice principal of the Martial Academy and the elder of the Sunset Sect, among others, stood not far from the crack, their faces expressionless. As Loong Zhiwu and Woo Zhengyang approached leisurely, the group scrutinized Woo Zhengyang, their brows furrowing slightly.

"Principal Hua, is this student of yours really up to the task? I don't sense any energy from him. Is he a novice? If you ask me, we should call on the Grand Elder instead," said Lo Mingzhi, the elder of the Sunset Sect.

"Exactly. If the sister couldn't do it and now the brother's here, I don't see much hope. We might as well try breaking it open together again," added Shao Jingyu, the master of the Starfall Sect.

Vice Principal Hua Lixing glanced at Loong Zhiwu, his expression complicated, but Loong Zhiwu remained timid and gave no indication. With no other choice, Hua Lixing explained, "This student of mine is a Body Tempering cultivator, and his skills with formations aren't related to his cultivation level. No one knows if forcing our way through the ancient site's protective formation will have negative consequences. Let's let them try first."

Hua Lixing's words went unchallenged by the others, signaling their silent agreement. Loong Zhiwu, still looking timid and hesitant, led Woo Zhengyang to the crack.

"This crack looks ordinary, but it hides a secret. There's a strong force pushing back, and the deeper you go, the stronger it gets. I barely took a step before I was thrown back," Loong Zhiwu whispered to Woo Zhengyang.

Woo Zhengyang approached slowly, and as he neared the edge of the crack, a force stopped him in his tracks. He didn't dare push through, knowing he'd be tossed around like a rag doll.

Closing his eyes, Woo Zhengyang tried to sense what was happening. The energy of the world around him felt normal, leaving him at a loss.

"Any insights?" someone asked.

Woo Zhengyang shook his head. "The formation is incredibly complex. It must be an ancient one, and it's high level."

"No kidding. I've studied formations too. If it wasn't ancient, why would I have called you?" Loong Zhiwu replied, a bit annoyed. Then, leaning closer, she added mysteriously, "Don't mention the ancient formation to anyone else, or those old folks will get restless. Wait until sunset."

"Sunset?" Woo Zhengyang asked, puzzled.

"You'll see then."

Loong Zhiwu offered no further explanation, and Woo Zhengyang continued to inch closer to the canyon's edge, trying to feel any changes. The energy remained steady, suggesting that the force was powered by something else entirely.

Woo Zhengyang wanted to take out the Array Origin Bead but was worried others might covet it, leading to trouble. Even Loong Zhiwu might be interested. She probably wouldn't steal it, but her persistence could be a headache for Woo Zhengyang.

Time passed, and Woo Zhengyang still found nothing. Before he knew it, the sun had set in the west.

Sunset Canyon, after the sun goes down, takes on a mysterious aura. It's an eerie feeling, as if the entire canyon has slipped into another world with the sunset.

The evening breeze swept through the canyon, sounding like a mournful wail, making many people feel a chill.

But Woo Zhengyang felt a spark of insight!

After sunset, he finally noticed some clues. However, the ancient formation was of such a high level that even with his mastery, he could only discern a few hints. Breaking it would be extremely difficult. Maybe with ten days or so of study, there might be hope, but the major sects would never give Woo Zhengyang that much time.

With no other choice, Woo Zhengyang took out the Array Origin Bead. The cover of night should prevent those behind him from noticing, and he only needed to watch out for Loong Zhiwu.

"What’s that?" As expected, the moment the Array Origin Bead appeared, Loong Zhiwu came over.

"A treasure to help break the formation! Interested?" Woo Zhengyang asked directly.

"Ha... I've got plenty of treasures!" Loong Zhiwu scoffed, though her eyes were fixed on the Array Origin Bead, full of curiosity.

Woo Zhengyang ignored her and continued his study. Holding the Array Origin Bead, he closed his eyes to sense it again, revealing a different world.

The array wasn't deeply hidden; it was just brilliantly designed! The entire gorge, with its ridges and troughs, was subtly interconnected. The profoundness of the whole array converged within a mere thirty feet of this crevice. Woo Zhengyang and his companions had been within the array all along, completely unaware!

The array's vastness was unparalleled, even beyond the Mystic Trace Realm's most intricate formations.

The night was almost over. Woo Zhengyang meticulously unraveled the array's workings, finally understanding most of it. Although he couldn't break the array, reaching the Light Door seemed feasible.

He wanted to delve deeper into his research, but time was running out. He realized the array could only be dismantled after sunset; any effort during the day would be in vain.