In Qi Guan Mountain’s words, there was a sense of threat, and the Yin Ghost behind him also sneered, forcing Yue Yinrong, Yun Ni, Meng Chao, and others to gradually become uneasy. Instinctively, they retreated a few steps back, their fingers involuntarily touching the storage bags on their chests, ready to take out their Magical Artifacts to counter Qi Guan Mountain’s ghost techniques at any moment. However, seeing that Qi Guan Mountain had no intention of making a move, they breathed a sigh of relief, but still cautiously moved closer to Feng Jue and the others.

Qi Guan Mountain, an old, late-stage Foundation Establishment Ghost Cultivator, had three ghosts under him: Evil Curse, Black Shadow, and Blood Hand. Together with Qi Guan Mountain, the three ghosts were rarely matched among the late-stage Foundation Establishment ranks, surpassing even the Foundation Establishment cultivators of major sects, let alone these people.

At this moment, Feng Jue transmitted his thoughts to Wen Jiu, asking for Wen Jiu’s opinion. If Wen Jiu planned to make a move, Feng Jue would go first. But in Wen Jiu’s view, Qi Guan Mountain had no intention of making a move, and his earlier words were mostly just threats.

In response, Wen Jiu advised Feng Jue not to act rashly and let Qi Guan Mountain say whatever he wanted to say. If it could scare off some early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, it would save them some trouble when seeking opportunities in the Ancient Evil Cultivator’s Cave Mansion.

"Fellow Daoist Han makes a good point," Feng Jue restrained the killing intent rising in his heart, his gaze falling on the Stone Peak where the Ancient Evil Cultivator’s Cave Mansion was located.

At this moment, an early-stage Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator beside Feng Jue hesitated for a long time before stepping out from behind Yue Yinrong and saluting Qi Guan Mountain, "Junior has no intention of competing with Elder. I wish Elder Qi success in achieving his goals."

As his words fell.

That person decisively transformed into a Startled Swan and fled far away.

Qi Guan Mountain smiled satisfactorily, not pursuing him, as his Yin gaze fell on Yue Yinrong, Yun Ni, and the others. "How have you considered your options?"

"If Elder intends to make a move, we can only retreat," Yun Ni saluted with a cold face, her words taking another turn, "But Junior has some ties with Vice City Lord Lin of Wind and Cloud Immortal City. If Elder insists on forcing us, don’t blame Junior for informing Vice City Lord Lin about these matters."

Qi Guan Mountain was neither angry nor pleased, "Interesting, a mere Spirit Array Master actually threatens me by bringing someone into the matter. But I am aware of the meaning behind bullying the young. I am simply kindly reminding you not to mislead yourselves. If you dare to touch opportunities within the Ancient Evil Cultivator’s Cave Mansion, don’t blame me for being heartless with my ghost techniques."

After a word of reminder, Qi Guan Mountain glanced at the crowd, his Divine Sense paused on the East Spring Undying Bone for two breaths before, like Feng Jue, it fell on Stone Peak. "I am not adept at Arrays. If I forcibly attack, it might backfire. If you can break the Spirit Array in Stone Peak, I can allow you to take one item out; but if you cannot, and I forcibly break the Array, don’t blame me for not letting you all in."

This statement caused Yun Ni to fall into contemplation, instinctively glancing back at "Han Li," but upon recalling the existence of the Silencing Spell, Yun Ni’s gaze quickly moved away, settling on Feng Jue and another mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Feng Jue opened his mouth, "Break it."

Since Han Li did not want to fight outside, nor did he currently wish to conflict with Qi Guan Mountain, Feng Jue naturally did not presume to decide.

Upon receiving Feng Jue’s nod, Yun Ni finally agreed to Qi Guan Mountain, "I’ve been studying the Trapping Array and Killing Array outside Stone Peak for more than half a year, and I have a general understanding, but breaking both arrays is no work of a single day."

"How long do you need?"

Qi Guan Mountain asked coldly.

"Half a month," Yun Ni gave a rough time estimate.

Qi Guan Mountain coldly provided a number, "Don’t play tricks, I am only giving you three days."

As his words fell.

Qi Guan Mountain took out a Flying Spiritual Artifact from his storage bag, hanging it a thousand feet away from Stone Peak to serve as a temporary cultivation place, giving Yun Ni no chance for explanation, and after instructing Shangguan Yingxian, he entered it for cultivation.

"Ying Xian, keep an eye on them. If there is any movement, act immediately."

"Yes, foster father."

Shangguan Yingxian’s complacent expression was now difficult to conceal, his shout of "foster father" was more reverberant and powerful, causing Yun Ni and others’ expressions to change again. Helplessly, Yun Ni could only take out a set of Array Flags and hand them to Yue Yinrong, Meng Lang, and the others but hesitated in front of Han Li and Feng Jue, holding back words.

"Three days isn’t enough?"

Feng Jue asked hastily.

Yun Ni nodded, "Not enough to break the array, only to open a hole."

"Then just open a hole first," Feng Jue responded after a few silent breaths, then instinctively transmitted his thoughts to Wen Jiu.

...

Three days later.

The Stealth Technique outside Stone Peak was broken, but the Tier Two Middle Grade Killing Array and Trapping Array protecting the Ancient Evil Cultivator’s Cave Mansion opened only a narrow gap, barely allowing two people to enter together, somewhat too small.

Of course.

For Foundation Establishment cultivators, this was no major obstacle either.

Only when a temporary opening was created in the two arrays, the entirety of the arrays became visible to everyone’s Divine Sense. Within the Trapping Array, Yin Evil Qi transformed into a dense atmosphere filling the space. Even the Divine Sense of Foundation Establishment could not extend far. The most unsettling thing for everyone was the eerie stone statue within the array; the statue had six raised arms wielding a Yin Fork, sitting thirty feet from the entrance, blocking the path to the Ancient Evil Cultivator’s Cave Mansion.

When everyone’s Divine Sense explored the area, they discovered nothing, as if it was just an ordinary stone statue. But this Ancient Evil Cultivator’s Cave Mansion had existed for at least a thousand years, with even the Ancient Cultivation Yin Array having fallen to Tier Two Middle Grade; how could an ordinary stone statue have been preserved so long within the Mansion Protection Array?

"Previously, when the Void Shadow Spirit Insect entered the array, it didn’t sense its presence at all," Yun Ni said, immediately transmitting his voice to those behind him while looking at the eerie stone statue.

Upon hearing these words, Wen Jiu’s gaze fell on Shangguan Yingxian. Like Yun Ni, they all looked at the eerie stone statue with great apprehension. Perhaps their previous exploration also failed to detect its presence, or they knew something about this strange statue. Wen Jiu tried to meticulously probe with the East Spring Undying Bone but also found no clues, yet the longer Wen Jiu’s Divine Sense explored, the more uneasy he became.