165, Stone Carvings

  Although Fang Zhengdao's sanity has been restored, the difficult problem still hasn't been solved.

  They were just at the entrance of this stone path, and under the calm symbol, Fang Zhengdao still lit up the way. If he went deeper, Mo Tian Ge was not sure if he could pass through. Thus, they fell into a stalemate, and the two discussed several methods, but none worked.

  So many Moonlight Illusion Stones, with their current strength, they simply can't get through.

  "What should we do?" Fang Zhengdao asked, turning his head. He had been reminded by Mo Tian Ge time and again, and he was now accustomed to seeking advice from this younger generation.

  The stranger's song couldn't think of a way at the time, but thinking back, he wasn't willing to give up. In the previous level, six out of nine people died, one was half dead and only two were left unscathed. Having paid such a price, how could they be willing to turn back after passing through?

  It's not enough to have the ability, but it's not enough. Perhaps the master of this place laid down this road to block the cultivators below the Cong Dan stage. If they force their way through, won't they be risking their lives?

  After some deliberation, Mo Tian Ge gritted his teeth and said: "This road can't be taken anymore, Fang Zheng Daoist friend, let's find another way."

  "This..." Fang Zhengdao's expression was clearly reluctant, with a look of unwillingness on his face, and he glanced at the Moonlight Illusory Stone Passage several times.

  "This road, with our current abilities, is absolutely impassable. I don't want to lose my life here."

  When he heard this, Fang Zhengdao also hesitated. He naturally understood that Mo Tian Ge was different from him, and seeing the many treasures on her body, she should be a disciple of a large sect. At such a young age, she already had such cultivation, it wasn't worth taking risks. If his companion were like him, perhaps they would grit their teeth and charge forward together, just like the cultivators who died here. But since he was alone, he couldn't muster up the courage.

  This thing with hallucinatory effect affects one's own mind, not that no one will fight each other if there is no one else around. After losing one's mind, one will go mad and at that time even without others, one will still harm oneself.

  "Alright, since Ye Daoyou has said so." Fang Zhengdao finally made up his mind. Although he didn't have much time left, it wasn't completely hopeless either. If he fell here, it would be unbearable to think about. After some thought, he added: "However, shouldn't we try searching other places?"

  Not to mention Fang Zhengdao, Mo Tian Ge is also unwilling to give up. When leaving the mountain valley, he almost lost his life. In the illusion array, he saw others die or be severely injured, and in the end, he couldn't proceed further, how could he be willing to give up?

  "Alright. However, Fang Zhengdao, if we can't find it, it's better for us to leave as soon as possible."

  "This is natural." Fang Zhengdao hastily replied. Everywhere here is dangerous, and he didn't want to stay any longer either.

  Watching Fang Zhengdao walking back and forth on this not-so-long corridor, carefully examining, Mo Tian Ge stood still. She was thinking, what's wrong with this matter.

  Firstly, the spiritual energy emanating from this valley is indeed refined but not vast. If a cultivator above the Dan-forming stage were to pass through, they might not even notice it. However, when descending into the valley, with their cultivation level, they could only barely make it through, which would keep Qi-refining cultivators out of the valley. But if it were a Dan-forming cultivator, they would find it very easy. Then there's the Illusory Array; if a Dan-forming cultivator were to pass through after overcoming the Heart Demon of Dan-formation, even if they couldn't break the array, they would be shocked but unharmed, and absolutely wouldn't suffer such severe consequences as six deaths and one injury.

  Summing up the characteristics of this valley, one can conclude that although it is unknown who created it, everything in it seems to be targeted at the Foundation Establishment cultivators. However, this path is precisely where the Foundation Establishment cultivators dare not tread, which doesn't make sense no matter how you think about it.

  In that case... either this road is fake and there's another way to the next step, or else the master of this place has a really bad sense of humor and intentionally set up this trap.

  Thinking of this, Mo Tian Ge thought again, what kind of existence is this valley after all? Looking at the illusion array of the valley, the arrangement of this moonlight fantasy stone path, it's clear that the master here has a strong cultivation base. According to her estimation, it must be above the Yuanying stage. A Yuanying cultivator's leftover Dongfu, logically speaking, other Yuanying cultivators should also be interested in it. But this way, it seems like they're intentionally trying to lure in Jiguan cultivators instead.

  At this point, the stranger's song suddenly startled him. Afterwards, he thought that since this Dòng Fǔ had been abandoned for a long time, it shouldn't have any sinister purpose. But how could he explain the master's actions? What about the cultivators who died under the moonlight on the stone steps? Was it intentional to lure the foundation-building cultivators here and let them die, what benefit would the master of this Dòng Fǔ get from that? Or was it simply a bad taste?

  It's too cruel to pay with human lives for a joke.

  "Yao You!" Suddenly heard Fang Zhengdao's surprised cry.

  Mo Tian Ge turned his head and saw Fang Zheng Dao pointing at a stone wall: "Look, there's a door here."

  The stranger approached and took a closer look, and indeed, there were fine cracks on the stone wall, resembling a door.

  "I'll give it a try," Fang Zhengdao said, taking a step back and shaking out his dusting cloth. With a burst of spiritual energy, he forcefully swept the cloth towards the door.

  The stone gate emitted a loud creak and was easily pushed open.

  The sky song is dazed, this... seems a bit too easy.

  The two of them carefully looked inside, and it seemed to be a stone chamber, smaller than the great hall, but larger than an ordinary cave's stone chamber. It was like a small hall. Inside, it was empty and desolate. There were only several stone carvings, and at the top, several large round stones hung down, illuminating the entire room brightly.

  "Sunstone!" Fang Zhengdao exclaimed.

  "Sunstone?" Mo Tian Ge wondered.

  "Not bad," Fang Zheng said with a smile on his face. "Ye Dao, with this Daylight Stone, even if we return now, it won't be a wasted trip."

  "Oh?"

  Fang Zhengdao explained: "We cultivators, the moonlight stone only illuminates like ordinary lamps in the mortal world, but this sunlight stone can actually produce a sun-like effect and even be used to produce true solar fire!"

  The effect of sunshine is like real fire!

  The stranger's song made him realize the preciousness of this thing. The true fire of the sun is not to be mentioned, it is one of the three best true fires for alchemy and equipment refinement. In the immortal world, the furnace fire used for alchemy and equipment refinement is also extremely particular. Cultivators can use the true fire of the dantian to refine alchemy and equipment, but using the true fire of the dantian requires too high a demand on the spiritual energy. Even if it's a Yuan Ying cultivator, long-term use of the true fire of the dantian will be very exhausting. Therefore, any cultivator who has the conditions uses external fire.

  The so-called external fire has heavenly fire and earthly fire. The so-called heavenly fire is the fire of the sun, but referring to the fire of the sun involves a fairly complex array of methods and instruments; while the earthly fire, the original Heavenly Fire Mountain of Dan Ding Men, is a typical example of earthly fire. The extreme of heavenly fire is the true fire of the sun, and the extreme of earthly fire is the true fire of the earth's extremity. In addition, there is also the Samadhi True Fire, which transcends both and is the first fire. These three fires are called the Three Great True Fires.

  That Samadhi True Fire only exists in legend and has not been seen by anyone for many years, even the method of cultivating this fire has been lost. Therefore, the best external fire for alchemy and equipment refinement in the world today is the Sun True Fire and the Earth Extreme True Fire.

  This Daylight Stone, if it can produce true solar fire, its value is absolutely no less than a small vein of earthly fire. If sold, the price will probably reach tens of thousands of Spirit Stones!

  It's really like this, with this Sunstone, they're not just not in vain, but have a huge harvest!

  However, Mo Tian Ge didn't think they could get the Daylight Stone that easily. Looking at the previous few levels, it didn't make sense for them to obtain benefits so effortlessly this time.

  Fang Zhengdao also thought so, so the two of them were extremely careful and first let that bird explore the way, making sure there was no problem before stepping into this stone chamber.

  But when they reached the stone slab at the entrance of the stone chamber, there was a sudden "rumble" and the stone gate behind them dropped instantly. The two had no time to react and were trapped inside the stone chamber.

  After a shock, Mo Tian Ge calmed down. If there was no reaction at all, it would be even more unusual. This road is fraught with danger, if the treasure is ahead and they are allowed to take it away, then there will probably be an even more sinister mechanism behind.

  The two stopped in their tracks, and Mo Tian Ge asked: "Fang Zheng Daoist friend, what do you think is here?"

  The straight path ahead was fraught with peril: miasma, gale-force winds, illusions, and the Moonlight Mirage Stone Road, all of which could be fatal. However, upon closer consideration, the miasma and gale-force winds tested one's defensive measures, the illusions tested one's heart and willpower, while the Moonlight Mirage Stone Road examined whether one could withstand the temptation of treasures scattered all over the ground, as well as whether one could maintain their composure without losing their wits. But none of these trials had tested their martial prowess; in his opinion, it was highly likely...

  Before he could finish speaking, a loud rumbling sound was heard, as if something had heavily struck the stone wall.

  Turning her head, Mo Tian Ge had already discovered the source of the sound and furrowed her brow.

  But it was the first stone carving in the stone room against the wall that suddenly took a step forward and walked heavily towards them.

  Fang Zhengdao also saw it and held his breath.

  They didn't think much of the stone carving, they just thought it was a decoration in this place, like the murals on the wall. But in the blink of an eye, it actually came to life!

  "Yè Dàoyǒu, zhè......"

  Translation: "Ye Daoyou, this..."

  Mo Tian Ge has activated his defensive aura, and taken out a white silk handkerchief and a flying dart.

  What is this pass, the answer has already appeared, and it was indeed guessed by Fang Zhengdao, testing their fighting skills!

  This stone carving is over a zhang high, equivalent to the height of two people. The eyebrows and eyes are clearly carved, and it is a warrior shape. The iron armor on his body is also distinct, and the stone sword in his hand is also carved with visible texture. Just now there was no spiritual energy at all, but now it is full of spiritual energy, like a cultivator at the peak of the foundation-building period.

  Moy Tian Ge quickly calculated in her mind, she and Fang Zheng Dao Ren were both in the middle of the foundation building period. Although this stone statue was equivalent to a peak master of the foundation building period, it was after all an inanimate object, and its body was clumsy and heavy. It shouldn't be too difficult to defeat it. However, the sound of the stone statue's footsteps on the ground seemed to shake the earth, and its strength was probably not small. Be careful, don't try to take it head-on.

  Just as they were thinking about it, Shi Yao had already stepped in front of them, raised his arm, and swung the stone sword down heavily.

  Thanks to huā kāi 01 and zuǒ píng yáng classmates for the pink votes, as well as seage and zuǒ píng yáng classmates for the rewards. Sniffing nose, nothing else to say.