CHAPTER 429: CHAPTER 0426: I’M DONE FOR

Yi Chong had some thoughts. The more people followed him, the more benefits he could gain. Though he appeared calm, he was actually highly vigilant toward the arrays within the Ancient Mountain. With more people, they could pave the way for him. When encountering incomprehensible arrays, he could use the tactic of sheer numbers to force through. This would allow him to clearly discern the operational principles of the arrays and open up a path to heaven.

"Brother Lin, should we go in with him? The name of the Immortal Array King is legendary, and this guy is the grandson of the Immortal Array King. He definitely has some skills. The odds are promising," Qin Yang said in a hushed voice. Meeting someone skilled in array techniques was rare, and it was undoubtedly better than fumbling about blindly.

Lin Fan shook his head, his voice low and serious.

"No. I took a close look at his face and found that his luck isn’t good, and his grandfather’s reputation isn’t spotless either."

"Immortal Array King, first to perish—the name suggests he was the first to die. Let’s wait and see."

At present, those Immortal Kings were still stationary. Just relying on the grandson of the Immortal Array King didn’t guarantee success. He might merely end up as cannon fodder.

If he insisted on charging inside now,

it was likely just to make a name for himself.

Soon after,

many people began following Yi Chong. These individuals were quite talented even outside, with their cultivation levels at least Golden Immortal, and even one of them was a Daluo Golden Immortal.

But now, trailing behind Yi Chong, they all seemed rather docile.

In order to enter the Ancient Mountain, they lowered their postures and displayed forbearance. Those who could endure and bow were undoubtedly the most dominant.

"Everyone, please be cautious. Once inside the Ancient Mountain, do not touch anything frivolously," Yi Chong warned the group, fearing that someone with itchy hands might fiddle with something randomly, thus activating a certain array. If trapped, it would terrify even him.

"Immortal Array Yi, rest assured. We will follow the arrangements of the Array Immortal."

"Among us, the Array Immortal has the deepest mastery over arrays. How could we not listen? If anyone dares to act recklessly, do not blame me for being harsh."

"Of course, of course."

Yi Chong was almost floating from their praise as he led the group inside the Ancient Mountain.

Outside.

"They’ve gone in. Should we go in as well?"

"No rush, let’s wait for now. The Ancient Mountain isn’t that simple."

"You make a valid point."

They were all waiting, not daring to act rashly. While fearing the Ancient Mountain, their desire for the treasures and heritage within made their hearts burn with longing.

At the entrance to the Ancient Mountain.

When Yi Chong stepped inside, his previously calm heart turned into utter turmoil. He felt an enormous pressure.

A stone stairway appeared before them.

Each step exuded an ancient aura, weathered through the ages, carrying an air of antiquity and age.

"Immortal Array Yi..."

Someone asked Yi Chong how they should proceed. Yet, they noticed Yi Chong frozen in place, his expression dazed. At the same time, they saw his pupils turn golden.

"This is the divine skill ’Golden Pupil Immortal Eye’ created by the Immortal Array King. I didn’t expect the Array Immortal to have perfected it."

Yi Chong saw many hidden lines crisscrossing his surroundings, forming an immensely intricate structure that was the most complex array he had ever encountered.

"Follow me."

His heart was overwhelmed by shock. If even the entrance contained such terrifying arrays, what horrors must lie deeper inside? Still, he didn’t let his unease show.

When the moment came to prove himself, he had to perform impressively.

The group followed Yi Chong’s every step, treading the stairway without a single misstep.

"Haha, the Array Immortal truly lives up to his title. His mastery of array techniques is unparalleled."

"It’s our great fortune to follow the Array Immortal into the Ancient Mountain."

They praised him enthusiastically.

Their earlier tension eased into calmness as they followed the Array Immortal deeper into the Ancient Mountain. For them, nothing could be more satisfying.

But gradually,

everyone’s pace began to slow.

Yi Chong’s forehead was drenched in cold sweat. He realized things weren’t turning out as he had expected—each successive array was becoming more terrifying and unfathomable.

"Array Immortal, what’s wrong?" someone asked.

Yi Chong replied, "It’s nothing. The arrays are simply becoming more complex, but for me, this presents no problem. Please wait for me here briefly."

He took out a cone-shaped artifact, gleaming with an ancient bronze hue—a remarkable treasure.

"A Breaking Formation Cone! Who could have guessed that the Immortal Array King would pass down such a precious tool? It seems you’ve truly inherited the essence of your grandfather’s teachings," someone exclaimed.

This artifact was extraordinary.

It could shatter great arrays throughout the world.

Yi Chong formed an Immortal Technique with his fingers, activating the Breaking Formation Cone, and fiercely plunged it into the ground. With a hum, waves of ripples spread outward, resembling stones cast into a still lake. Though appearing simple, it sent shockwaves that completely altered the landscape.

It was ruined.

The arrays grew increasingly intricate.

They had only reached halfway up the stairs. What would they do about the remaining steps?

Yi Chong’s heart was in turmoil.

Still, the flattery from those behind him made him hesitate to retreat. His pride wouldn’t allow him to back down.

He could only grit his teeth and push forward.

"Wait a moment."

Yi Chong raised his hand, stopping the group. His path was blocked by yet another array. With the Golden Pupil Immortal Eye, he saw the array’s patterns had reached the peak of complexity—dense and indecipherable.

He even felt that perhaps only his grandfather could tackle this array.

"Break for me!"

He raised the Breaking Formation Cone high, condensed a drop of Essence Blood, and smeared it onto the cone before plunging it down forcefully. Light burst forth, and a crisp sound echoed.

"How could this be..."

Yi Chong’s pupils dilated as the Breaking Formation Cone, previously known to break any array, shattered into fragments that scattered across the ground.

The surrounding crowd was aghast.

Something foreboding seemed to loom.

"My Breaking Formation Cone!" Yi Chong screamed.

"Array Immortal, what’s the situation now? Can this array still be broken?" someone asked. The group sensed impending doom, as if a great disaster was brewing.

Would they truly be unable to move forward?

After a long while,

Yi Chong tried using his expertise to dismantle the array before him, but he lacked the qualifications to achieve it.

"Everyone, as expected of the Ancient Mountain, its arrays are excessively profound. I suspect this was crafted by an Immortal Venerable. I am unable to break this array. We must retreat," he declared.

There was no choice.

He had initially hoped to make his way inside.

But the arrays here were far too terrifying.

The crowd exchanged uneasy glances. Having come this far, leaving empty-handed seemed overly regrettable.

"Immortal Yi, is there truly no other way?"

Yi Chong shook his head and said, "There’s no way. The arrays here grow more terrifying the deeper we go. That we’ve reached this point without casualties is already a testament to my deep expertise in arrays. Frankly, even if my grandfather, the Immortal Array King, were here, I fear it wouldn’t be straightforward."

Eager to save face, he invoked his grandfather’s name to justify himself.

"Let’s retreat. There’s no shame in this. That we’ve come this far without injuries is a great achievement already," Yi Chong said.

The crowd acknowledged the truth in Yi Chong’s words. They weren’t skilled in arrays, but even they could perceive the terrifying nature of the arrays here.

As Yi Chong prepared to withdraw,

his complexion transformed with shock as a terrifying event unfolded. Arrays he had just broken moments ago reappeared, forming entirely new arrays of even greater horror.

"Wait..."

He attempted to stop a fellow companion, but the person moved too swiftly. As their foot fell upon the steps, the array was instantly activated.

"Run! The stairs we just cleared have formed new arrays!"

His words had barely ended before.

From all sides came an overwhelming power.

*Splatter!*

The man who had stepped into the array was caught completely off guard. Before he could react, his body was instantaneously shredded by razor-sharp forces invisible to the naked eye.

Blood painted the stairs red, spraying over the horrified crowd.

"Ah!"

Cry after cry of panic echoed.

The previously orderly party descended into complete chaos as the crisis struck.

Outside.

Lin Fan was intrigued—these Immortal Kings hadn’t moved an inch and quietly waited. What exactly were they waiting for?

Wasn’t their purpose for coming here to enter the Ancient Mountain?

"What do you think they’re doing?" Lin Fan asked Xiang Fei in a whisper.

Xiang Fei pondered for a moment before answering, "If I’m not mistaken, these Immortal Kings are sensing the mountain’s energy. The older the mountain, the more its structure demands careful observation and feeling."

"In my opinion, their efforts appear a bit superfluous. They likely won’t uncover anything significant."

At that moment,

a ghastly scream pierced the air.

"Help!"

"Help me!"

A disheveled figure emerged from the Ancient Mountain in utter distress, drenched in blood.

Taking a closer look, it was Yi Chong.

One of his arms had been severed cleanly, the wound bearing traces of a sharp, invisible force that sliced through with smooth precision.

"It’s Yi Chong. He’s come out."

"Why is he the only one? Where are the others who went in with him?"

"Young friend, what happened inside? What became of the companions who entered with you?"

Yi Chong appeared deeply shaken, breathing heavily. No one could fathom how much he had gone through, nor the sacrifices he had made to escape—a strategy that involved pulling others down in his stead.

Otherwise, he would have perished inside.

"Everyone, I advise you not to enter. The arrays within are far too numerous. Anyone who enters will die," Yi Chong shouted, desperately trying to disassociate himself from the place. He once believed his knowledge, though not unrivaled, was sufficient to navigate any peril. Yet the ordeal here shattered his confidence.

He didn’t want to stay.

Perhaps he feared others would learn that he had betrayed numerous allies to secure his own survival.

Yi Chong’s words sent shockwaves through the crowd.

As the grandson of the Immortal Array King and someone who had inherited his teachings, even Yi Chong barely escaped. What chance did the others have?

At that moment, an Immortal King asked, "What did you see inside?"

"I saw staircase arrays inside. Each step housed a large array, with every step becoming harder than the last. There’s no way out. Even if you break an array, the cleared array reappears moments later."

"This Ancient Mountain harbors ancient powers that refuse to be disturbed. This place is a deathtrap," Yi Chong confessed.

He had never encountered anything like this.

His Dao Heart was already shattered.

He was utterly unhinged.

The experience left him mentally broken. Even in the future, a Heart Demon would undoubtedly form, haunting him with memories of this place’s arrays whenever the subject arose. His path ended here.

The Immortal King disregarded Yi Chong’s subsequent warnings.

He still wanted to step inside and see for himself.