Mu Lin carefully recalled the recent events, never expecting to suffer such a setback during this expedition. Reflecting on that life-or-death moment, he still felt a chill of fear. If he hadn’t decisively severed the connection with his true spiritual energy at the last second, the protective barrier of that formation would have drained all his energy. Without his spiritual power, surviving in the deep sea would have been impossible—he would have faced certain death.
Mu Lin sat silently beside Xiao Laipi, neither speaking. Mu Lin felt embarrassed because Xiao Laipi had witnessed his humiliating defeat, while Xiao Laipi, seeing Mu Lin’s state, didn’t know how to ask about what had happened. It feared that asking the wrong question might make Mu Lin think it was just a greedy creature obsessed with treasures.
“Master! What exactly did you encounter down there? How did you end up in such a mess? Could there really be some terrifying monster down there?” Finally, unable to suppress its curiosity any longer, Xiao Laipi asked. In its mind, only an extremely powerful monster could have caused Mu Lin such a defeat.
After a long pause, Mu Lin decided to tell Xiao Laipi the truth. Perhaps with its greater experience, it might understand what had happened. In the end, he said bitterly, “Well, this time I really lost big—not only did I fail to obtain the treasure, but I also lost all my spiritual energy!”
“Master! Have you checked your cultivation level? What stage are you at now?” Xiao Laipi asked, clearly worried.
“Just the first layer of Foundation Core Formation. Basically, I’ve been reduced to my original state,” Mu Lin replied with self-mockery.
“Master! But you still have so many pills, right? Besides, you’ve already reached the middle stage of Foundation Core. Your spiritual consciousness is still at that level. With a little effort and the help of medicinal pills, you should be able to regain your former strength quickly!” Xiao Laipi tried to comfort him, but curiosity eventually overpowered its concern: “But Master, what exactly did you see at the end?”
“This…” Mu Lin hesitated for a moment. “What I saw might have been a grand formation with six stone pillars. But each pillar seemed to be made of some kind of energy crystal—I’ve never imagined such massive energy crystals existing in this world!
In the center of those six energy pillars, there were smaller energy crystals arranged in a formation. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to observe carefully before being expelled by the energy protecting the artifact. It was definitely a formation I’ve never seen before.”
Xiao Laipi was stunned. If Mu Lin hadn’t told it this and if Mu Lin hadn’t always been honest with it, it would never have believed that such a grand formation was merely protecting another formation. Then it too fell into deep thought.
Silence once again enveloped the yacht. After a while, Xiao Laipi suddenly looked up. “Master, I remember a legend my previous master once told me. It might be helpful. He said that in this world, the ultimate goal of cultivators is to ascend to the heavens while still alive—becoming immortals.
Once they become immortals, they can leave this world and, through the opportunity of their ascension, take their loved ones and treasures with them. This is commonly known as ‘when one attains Dao, even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.’
However, many immortals in this world lacked sufficient power to bring their loved ones along. Therefore, celestial immortals set up several teleportation formations across the world, making it easier for them to ascend with their cherished companions.
I think what you encountered might be one of these teleportation formations set up by celestial immortals. Otherwise, how could a cultivator at the middle stage of Foundation Core have no power to resist at all?”
Mu Lin’s mouth opened wider and wider as Xiao Laipi spoke. He had always cultivated alone, without much guidance from his sect, and what Xiao Laipi described was almost identical to what he had read in ancient texts—accounts he had always dismissed as mere fantasy. Yet now, coming from Xiao Laipi, it felt disturbingly plausible. If it truly was a teleportation formation, then he had stumbled upon a treasure!
Yet just as quickly, Mu Lin lowered his head again. To enter such a formation would require immense cultivation power, and with his current state, he couldn’t even dream of accessing it. It was like a beggar staring at a house filled with gold and food, knowing he could never enter no matter how hard he tried. This feeling of longing without the ability to reach was maddening.
Seeing the changing expressions on Mu Lin’s face, Xiao Laipi felt puzzled. Suddenly, it jumped up excitedly, grabbing Mu Lin’s clothes and shaking him. “Master! As long as your cultivation power is sufficient, you can take us all to the heavens! We can become immortals too! I never imagined that I, Xiao Laipi, could ever become a celestial beast!” Xiao Laipi danced around excitedly, spraying Mu Lin with spittle as he wiped his face in resignation.
Xiao Laipi continued enthusiastically, “Master, if that day really comes, you can take our whole family through this teleportation formation, and we’ll all ascend together! We’ll still be a family in the immortal realm! Master, you rest for a bit while I go inform everyone at home to come here too. Let’s take another look. If this is really a teleportation formation, we’re rich! Yohoo!” Unable to contain its excitement, Xiao Laipi began doing cartwheels around the room.
Watching Xiao Laipi’s excitement, Mu Lin smiled bitterly. “It sounds easy, but who knows when I’ll reach that level of cultivation? And even if I do, whether humans can truly ascend to immortality is still a question. Plus, whether you’ll even live long enough to see that day is uncertain. Moreover, since I came down the mountain, I haven’t seen a single true cultivator. Oh, Xiao Laipi, since you’re older and more experienced, tell me—did anyone from your time ever ascend to immortality? And you’re already getting this excited without even knowing what kind of formation this really is. What if, in the end, it’s not a teleportation formation at all? Won’t you have been excited for nothing?
Besides, even talking about exploring the formation—considering that with my former strength I barely escaped with my life, let alone now, when my cultivation is reduced to the early stage of Foundation Core. I’m not even sure if I could safely descend to such depths again, let alone explore the formation. Can you do it?
If even I can’t, why are you planning to bring everyone here?”
Mu Lin said dejectedly, his expression even more haggard.
“Ah, so there’s really no other way?” Xiao Laipi asked somewhat dispiritedly, not even bothering to react to Mu Lin’s remark about its age this time.
On the ocean surface, the yacht sailed silently, following its programmed autopilot course.
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