Chapter 59 Rank and Status

"It's normal for someone to get there first. Although the Black Dragon Swamp is fraught with danger, there are quite a few cultivators inside."

Xu Yuanlang tried to comfort Ouyang Yue, but she impatiently grabbed his hand.

"Walk!"

Ouyang Yue is a Foundation Establishment cultivator, so her speed is extremely fast.

They soon arrived at a high point. Xu Yuanlang looked ahead and saw a depression with a dark entrance in the middle.

The entrance must have been covered with huge bluestones in the past, evidenced by the bluestones scattered everywhere. What surprised him even more was how dry the depression was.

The water flows downwards, and since this area is deep in a swamp, the water should naturally gather.

"There used to be a formation here that not only concealed the entrance to the cave, but also kept the surrounding water and miasma away."

Ouyang Yue pointed to the piles of rubble and the damaged tower around them.

The traces left behind also show that these things were quite orderly before.

"It's a pity that this formation has been destroyed. Doesn't that just expose it for nothing?"

Ouyang Yue was truly furious. She angrily jumped into the depression and, upon reaching the cave entrance, did not immediately enter. Instead, she released a burst of spiritual energy and circled the cave once to confirm its safety before stepping inside.

"There is another formation inside that envelops the real cave, and it is this formation that suppresses cultivation."

Since someone has already gotten there first, we must be extremely careful once we're inside.

Xu Yuanlang nodded. To be honest, this was his first time entering the so-called cave dwelling of the predecessors.

"Ouyang, as far as I know, aren't cultivators supposed to leave behind relics after they die? How come there are also cave dwellings where they sit in meditation to pass away?"

"There are differences between cultivators; some are willing to return to the earth and leave behind a legacy for all living beings."

Some are Pixiu, who refuse to give any benefits to others, preferring to send their legacy deep into the earth's core to turn into magma rather than let anyone touch it.

The cave dwellings of the predecessors were somewhere in between; they were neither as selfless as the former nor as stingy as the latter.

When they are about to die, they will choose a secluded and safe place, set up a formation, and often prepare various traps there, waiting for the destined person to arrive.

It's called a test. If your cultivation is insufficient, it's only natural that you would die in it. If you can pass it smoothly, then all the spiritual objects in the cave will be yours, and you will also owe the other party a favor.

This also ensures that the lineage of the cave's owner doesn't die out, so that even in reincarnation, there will be a continuation of the family line, though most of these are independent cultivators.

Xu Yuanlang nodded. Generally speaking, when a family cultivator dies, he or she will distribute his or her various spiritual items to the family members, and his or her remains will only be buried in the family mausoleum.

"In addition, there is another possibility: the cave is a cultivator's place of practice, where they store their spiritual objects and magical artifacts on a daily basis."

Later, due to accidents, or the cultivators perished unexpectedly, or simply abandoned the area, because it was protected by an array that prevented others from entering, it eventually turned into this state over the years.

Of course, if a sect or family suffers an accident, what is left behind is called a ruin, and such cases are extremely rare.

Besides these, there are also traps deliberately set by unscrupulous cultivators like demonic cultivators.

Upon hearing the last part, Xu Yuanlang's heart tightened suddenly, and his eyes scanned the surroundings intently, hoping to find some clue.

"Don't worry, I've checked this place; it's not a trap set by demonic cultivators."

Ouyang Yue seemed to have a confidence that came from nowhere, while he could only be extremely careful. As he followed the winding passage to its end, a golden light emerged from ahead.

"This golden light represents the edge of the formation. Once I step into it, my cultivation will be suppressed to the Qi Refining Realm."

That means my strength is only slightly greater than yours, so you'd better be careful.

Xu Yuanlang exhaled and prepared himself, then nodded firmly. Seeing his expression, Ouyang Yue didn't say anything and stepped into the golden light first.

The moment the two entered, the golden light suddenly surged, and at that moment, several whooshing sounds came from all around.

"Aoki Ryu!"

"Bluestone - Amidst a Thousand Peaks!"

Xu Yuanlang instinctively released his magical artifact, and the attack landed on it. He felt a terrifying force suddenly come over him, and before he could react, his body was sent flying backward.

"Damn it!"

He was terrified. His body was suspended in mid-air with nowhere to brace itself. If he were to take flight, the situation would likely be dire.

"Be careful!"

Ouyang Yue placed her palm on her back and used her spiritual energy to catch him.

Only then did Xu Yuanlang's eyes adjust to the light and he could see the people in front of him clearly.

"Who are you?!"

The speaker was a cultivator dressed in a green spiritual robe, with white hair and beard, sharp eyes that seemed to carry sword energy, and a loud voice.

"A Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Azure Nether Sect!"

Xu Yuanlang was startled when he saw the other person. He recognized the other person, or more precisely, he recognized the spirit robe the other person was wearing.

It was the spirit robe of the Qingming Sect, and the blue color represented the Foundation Establishment Realm. He subconsciously recalled the scene when he was almost cut in half at the waist by Li Luojing, but he quickly realized that the other party's cultivation was now suppressed to the Qi Refining Realm.

"Just like you, I'm just a cultivator who came to search for treasure."

Ouyang Yue spoke indifferently, seemingly not taking the Qingming Sect seriously at all.

The old man's name was Dong Tao. His original cultivation level was the sixth level of Foundation Establishment, which meant that his potential had been exhausted and his future was over. He had already resigned himself to his fate.

However, to his surprise, he discovered a cave dwelling that had been inhabited by someone before. He immediately brought his junior brother to explore it, only to find that they were not the only ones who had discovered it.

"Dong Tao and Wang Miao, our cultivation levels are currently suppressed to the peak of the Qi Refining Realm. Even if I am a rogue cultivator, the outcome of a fight is still uncertain."

The speaker was a young man in black, who held a forked magical artifact in his hand. He was facing off against a Qingming Sect cultivator with a long beard that reached his chest and a face covered in withered tree bark.

This person was Wang Miao. After hearing the young man's arrogant words, he snorted coldly, his cheeks twitched, and he revealed a disdainful smile.

"Don't make us laugh. It seems the oppression here has given you different ideas, to the point that you can't distinguish between superiors and inferiors anymore."

The young man picked at his ear and looked at Wang Miao with an arrogant expression.

"I, Cheng Lin, am not easily intimidated. Come and have a go if you dare!"

Before he could finish speaking, Wang Miao suddenly attacked. He hurriedly swung his water-splitting fork to block, but when they collided, a look of astonishment appeared on his face. It was as if the water-splitting fork had no power at all, and it was directly deflected by Wang Miao.

It was too late for him to defend himself; he was sent flying like a rolling gourd.

"How could this be? My spiritual power? What did your Qingming Sect do?"

Cheng Lin stared at his hands in disbelief, while Wang Miao wore a look of disdain.

"Everything you own belongs to our sect, yet you dare to attack our disciples. You truly don't know the difference between superiors and inferiors."