That "door" outlined by soft white light quietly hovered on the endlessly circulating seven-colored light film. Inside the door, the scene was blurry, but there was no longer the previous repulsion and dangerous aura. This sudden change made the Qingxu Temple disciples both surprised and delighted, their gazes uniformly focusing on Xiao Qi, whose face was pale and breath slightly withered.
"Xiao Qi, how... how did you do this?" a disciple couldn't help but ask, his face filled with disbelief. Even Eldest Senior Brother and Third Senior Sister were helpless against this powerful restriction, yet Xiao Qi had "communicated" open a portal in such a seemingly peaceful manner?
Xiao Qi slowly opened his eyes, letting out a long breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead. His voice carried exhaustion: "I'm not entirely sure either... I just felt that the aura emitted by several nodes on this restriction was somewhat similar to my... to the power of this jade pendant, both very pure, leaning toward vitality and balance. I tried using the 'Yimu Ningxin Art' to adjust my aura to approach it, not forcefully assaulting, and then... it seemed to recognize it and opened this door."
His description was simple, but everyone understood that this contained extreme risk and extremely high requirements for perception and control. One misstep, triggering the restriction's backlash, would have unthinkable consequences.
Mu Qingfeng walked to that light door, carefully sensing for a moment, his face showing understanding mixed with gravity. He turned back to look at everyone, explaining gravely: "I understand now. This isn't forcibly breaking but... a kind of 'authentication'." He pointed to the soft white light still flickering on the light door and the tame seven-colored light film inside: "This variant of the 'Zhou Tian Star Restriction' has a core not purely about defense and attack but contains a screening mechanism. It requires specific 'keys' or... specific attributes, sufficiently pure spiritual power to gain recognition and open the passage."
He pointed at the light door: "Xiao Qi's spiritual power, or rather that power he emits through the jade pendant, its purity and peaceful nature happens to meet this restriction's authentication requirements. This isn't coincidence. The ancient sect that set this restriction likely had a heritage philosophy leaning toward the upright, peaceful way containing vitality."
Liu Yun nodded thoughtfully: "In other words, this restriction repels all spiritual power carrying hostility, impurities, or conflicting attributes. No wonder we felt unable to advance an inch before. Our sword intent, though righteous, ultimately leans toward sharpness and slaughter, not the 'purity' this restriction recognizes."
Everyone then understood, also feeling fortunate. If not for Xiao Qi, this anomaly in the team, they would likely have sighed before this treasure mountain, perhaps even suffering heavy injuries like other ignorant cultivators attempting to forcefully break the formation.
"Junior Brother Xiao Qi, thanks to you again!" another disciple praised sincerely, his gaze toward Xiao Qi even more admiring. Being able to open this core hall's entrance was an even greater merit than repelling the Shadow Snake Pavilion.
Xiao Qi hurriedly waved his hands, wanting to say something, but Mu Qingfeng raised his hand to stop him, looking gravely at that light door: "Though the door has opened, the situation may not be optimistic."
He paused, continuing to analyze: "First, this light door seems connected to Xiao Qi's aura. His current condition is not good, so the light door's stability may also be affected. Second, we don't know if there are other tests behind the door, whether this door is the only entrance, or if others with similar conditions can open passages in other locations."
"Eldest Senior Brother means... other teams might also find ways to enter?" Liu Yun immediately grasped the key.
"Correct." Mu Qingfeng nodded. "This restriction certifies 'attributes,' not specific people. If other sects have disciples cultivating pure techniques of similar attributes or possessing similar treasures, they might also be able to open the entrance. We must seize the time!"
His gaze swept over everyone as he quickly made a decision: "Xiao Qi, immediately regulate your breath, recover your condition as soon as possible, and maintain the light door's stability. Junior Sister Lin, stand guard with me at the door's side in case of emergency. Others, take turns keeping watch around while also recovering. Once Xiao Qi's condition improves slightly, we'll immediately enter!"
"Yes!" everyone responded in unison, immediately taking action. Two disciples proactively dispersed to the periphery, vigilantly observing the stone forest direction and other possible approaches. The rest took the opportunity to consume pills and meditate.
Xiao Qi also knew this was not the time for modesty. He immediately sat cross-legged, gripping two mid-grade spirit stones, fully circulating the "Yimu Ningxin Art" to recover spiritual power while guiding the jade pendant at his chest to nourish his nearly depleted mind with its weak cool breath. He could sense a subtle connection between himself and that light door—the better his condition, the more solid the light door seemed.
Time passed bit by bit in the tense atmosphere. After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, some color returned to Xiao Qi's pale face, and his consumed spiritual power was replenished by thirty to forty percent. He opened his eyes, looking at Mu Qingfeng: "Eldest Senior Brother, I'm ready. The light door should be relatively stable now."
Mu Qingfeng had been closely monitoring Xiao Qi and the light door's condition. He nodded upon hearing this: "Good! No time to delay, let's go in! Maintain formation. I'll take the lead, Junior Sister Lin will guard the rear, Xiao Qi in the middle, others protect both flanks. Stay alert!"
Everyone quickly assembled, forming a tight defensive formation. Mu Qingfeng took a deep breath, taking the lead, stepping into the light door rippling with water-like luster. His figure was like merging into water, instantly vanishing.
Xiao Qi followed closely. In the instant he crossed the light door, he felt a gentle yet vast power sweep over his entire body, as if conducting final confirmation, then quietly retreated. The scene before him changed, no longer the white jade square outside but an unusually wide corridor permeated with ancient, vicissitudinous aura. On both walls of the corridor were carved countless abstruse murals and runes. Above was a simulated starry sky dome with twinkling stars containing profound law significance.
Liu Yun and others also successively and quickly passed through the light door.
Just as the last disciple stepped into the light door, the portal outlined by white light began to flicker slightly, showing a tendency to shrink—
"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"
Several sounds of breaking air rapidly came from the stone forest direction! Immediately after, three cultivator teams in different attire almost simultaneously rushed out of the stone forest, appearing on the white jade square before the core hall! They had clearly been attracted by the earlier commotion or following other clues.
These three teams—one dressed in moon-white daoist robes with cold, detached temperaments, were disciples of the northern Mysterious Mechanism Holy Land; one wearing crimson martial attire with scorching, violent breaths, came from the western Flaming Sun Sect; and one with mixed clothing but each with refined, sharp temperaments and eyes, was from the rather famous rogue cultivator alliance "Qingyun Society."
They immediately saw the fading light door and the backs of the Qingxu Temple disciples who had just completely entered!
"The entrance! The core hall's entrance!" The Flaming Sun Sect's leader, a burly youth with an arrogant face named Yan Feng, instantly blazed with fiery greed in his eyes, shouting: "Quick! Stop it! Don't let the entrance close!"
An elder-like figure beside him reacted extremely fast, raising his hand to send out a crimson stream of light, trying to stabilize the flickering light door. However, the moment that crimson stream touched the light door, the originally soft white light on the door suddenly became piercing. A powerful repulsive force erupted, directly dispersing that stream of light! The light door also flickered violently, shrinking even faster!
"Fool! This entrance requires spiritual power of specific pure attributes to open and maintain! Your violent fire spiritual power will only accelerate its collapse!" In the Mysterious Mechanism Holy Land team, a clear-featured young woman in a light blue dress with an icy temperament named Mu Xue coldly shouted, her tone carrying a barely detectable anxiety. Her beautiful eyes swept over the vanishing light door and then at the Flaming Sun Sect members, her feet moving slightly as if also seeking opportunity.
The Qingyun Society's leader, a middle-aged man with an ordinary face but eyes sharp as a hawk's, was even more decisive. He growled: "Force through! While it hasn't completely vanished!" Before his voice fell, he took the lead, transforming into a green shadow like a hunting eagle, shooting straight for the light door that had shrunk to barely allow one person through!
However, just as he was about to touch the light door—
"Weng!"
The light door flickered one last time, like a candle in the wind, completely vanishing, returning to part of the endlessly circulating, indestructible seven-colored light film.
"Bang!" The Qingyun Society leader, unable to stop his momentum, slammed head-first into the light film, immediately rebounded by a vast force, staggering back several steps with churning qi and blood, his expression extremely ugly.
On the square, the three teams looked at each other, looking at the restored ancient restriction emitting despair-inducing aura, their faces dark enough to drip water. They had been a step too late! The only entrance had closed!
Yan Feng unwillingly roared, punching the air, stirring ripples: "Qingxu Temple! It's Mu Qingfeng's group! How did they know the opening method?!"
Mu Xue paid no attention to his impotent rage. She gazed at the spot where the Qingxu Temple disciples had vanished, her cold eyes showing thought and gravity. She remembered that team had a youth who had advanced alongside her on the Ascending Heavenly Ladder, seemed to be called... Tang Xiao Qi? Could it be related to him?
At this moment, the Qingxu Temple disciples who had already entered the core hall corridor were unaware of everything happening outside. They were simply proceeding as planned, cautiously exploring along this corridor that seemed to lead to ancient times, toward the hall's depths. Opportunity lay ahead, but unknown danger also lurked in the shadows.