Qin Yun flew into the deep passageway, which looked booby-trapped with array formations at a glance. However, none of them were activated.
"I entered by powering the Dao talisman, after all. The Grotto-heaven's array formations are ignoring me." Qin Yun looked at everything with a look of excitement. "If that mysterious Old Master Chu were to enter, he will likely fall prey to the Grotto-heaven's repeated assaults."
It was a Grotto-heaven left behind by an expert.
If one followed the rules of the Grotto-heaven's owner, it would naturally be smooth-sailing the entire way.
If one forced their way in, they would naturally suffer the wrath of the owner's traps.
Hum!
With a thought, Qin Yun released his Dao domain!
"Boom!"
The Grotto-heaven's array formation was extremely suppressive, but Qin Yun's Dao domain far exceeded what it was fifteen years ago. In terms of realm, he was in no way inferior to a peaked third Firmament Essence Soul realm existence. He could match the Grotto-heaven's owner, Immortal Cloudgrace! With Immortal Cloudgrace dead, the Grotto-heaven he left behind naturally failed to suppress Qin Yun's Dao domain.
"Whoosh!" The Dao domain withstood the suppressive effect in every way as it instantly probed a small region of the cave abode. However, this was rather draining on Qin Yun.
"I see the treasures." Qin Yun revealed a look of glee. "I have to grab the treasures as quickly as possible. In a while, I'll have to deal with that Old Master Chu."
Sou!
He instantly transformed into a stream of light as he rapidly proceeded forward.
As his Dao domain had already probed a small portion of the cave abode, he naturally where to go to get the treasures!
"Boom!" Qin Yun quickly traversed a good distance to reach a palace hall door that had long been shut. From afar, he struck out with his palm, sending Quintessential Essence Dharmic powers flying out. The strike transformed into an extremely oppressive sword flash that inundated the door like a tidal wave. Accompanied by a loud boom, the array formation that sealed the door instantly shattered, causing the door to open forcibly.
Text manifested inside the hall in midair.
"I am Cloudgrace, and I have cultivated for thirty-six thousand years. I enjoy visiting the Other Realms and have killed numerous Other Realm experts, obtaining quite a sizable amount of treasures. However, as the saying goes, touch pitch and you shall be defiled. My Essence Soul suffered severe injuries in the Other Realms, and as a result, I lack the strength to withstand the next tribulation. With my days numbered, I have left my cave abode here. Three trials have been left to any successor. The more trials you complete, the more you will receive from me. If the trial-taker passes the final trial, they will gain ownership of the entire cave abode."
"The beneficiary of my treasures will be bound to me by karma. If you are able to probe the six realms of Samsara, I wish for you to guide my reincarnated self. I still wish to proceed further on this path of cultivation!"
Qin Yun sighed inwardly when he read the text.
He long knew that Immortal Cloudgrace enjoyed visiting the Other Realms from the books he read. Who knew that it eventually caused him to lose his life?
"Guide his reincarnated self? This Immortal Cloudgrace must be mentioning it in passing only. After all, Skyimmortals and Skygods have no right to interfere with Samsara," thought Qin Yun.
The acquiring of treasures created binding karma! However, Qin Yun did not mind. If he ever became strong enough to influence the six realms of Samsara, it would definitely mean that his strength was far superior to that of his present self. Perhaps he would be at the level of a mighty figure such as a Golden Immortal, Buddha, or an Ancestral Dragon realm dragon. It would then be trivial to guide a reincarnated person. However, could he reach the level of a Golden Immortal or Buddha? Qin Yun did not dare indulge in such thoughts. It was better to focus on each cultivation step as they came.
"Phew…"
After the text dissipated in midair, another string of text appeared.
"Entering this hall implies passing the first trial. You are allowed to take the treasures within. The two halls after this will be the next two trials."
Qin Yun instantly noticed the items placed in the hall.
There were scrolls, Dharma treasures, Cosmic Bags, books…
Qin Yun could not be bothered to take a second glance.
He directly raised the Two World Picture and, with a whoosh, all the items in the hall flew into his Two World Picture.
"I'll take them all away first. When I have settled down, I can check them one by one." After Qin Yun stored away all the treasures in the hall, he continued releasing his Dao domain, producing a boom. Again, he could only probe a small region of the cave abode; however, it was also the core area of the entire cave abode. It included the halls of the three trials.
"Three halls and three trials?"
"So it's this kind of test?"
Qin Yun understood immediately when he probed.
Sou!
He immediately charged in the direction of the hall's backdoor.
The door to the second hall was already open. Qin Yun rushed straight in as the array formations within activated. Instantly, the powers of wind and lightning were activated as they unleashed a relentless assault.
"Begone!" Qin Yun waved his hand, sending sword flashes to sweep through the area, destroying the array formation within the hall instantly.
With the Two World Picture, he stored away all the treasures in the second hall. He then proceeded straight to the third hall.
Immortal Cloudgrace…
He was probably afraid that the first junior to come across his cave abode would be too weak. It seemed inappropriate to not leave any treasures for the junior. But as for giving everything? Immortal Cloudgrace wasn't willing to do that! Therefore, three trials were designed! A weak person could only maybe pass the first trial and obtain a portion of the treasures. Those that were sufficiently powerful could obtain the most important treasures at the end.
"The third hall is a fusion of ten massive arrays. It is rather powerful. Perhaps only a peak second Firmament Essence Soul realm existence can withstand it."
Qin Yun similarly charged into the third hall.
Boom!
Black sand, flames, blade mountain, arrows, lightning, frost beams… Ten massive arrays activated at the same time, producing extremely terrifying might. If it were an ordinary cultivator, they would have had to release a Dharma treasure first to probe the area! However, Qin Yun had long understood the underlying powers of the trial. There was naturally no need for him to do any probing.
"Only a peak second Firmament Essence Soul realm can withstand this. A third Firmament Essence Soul is needed to destroy the array formation. According to the array formation's mechanism, one has to last for a while before the array formation will cease activity. That would signify that one passes the trial. However, I do not have the time to slowly endure the trial of the ten array formations. Forcibly cracking the arrays is also a way of passing." After Qin Yun charged in, his Intrinsic Flying Sword flashed, quickly and directly destroying many of the array formations! Even if Immortal Cloudgrace was there in person, he might not be Qin Yun's match, much less an array formation he had left behind as a trial.
The Intrinsic Flying Sword floated beside him.
Qin Yun's sights quickly landed on one of the many treasures that were laid out in the hall. It was a golden bell that had very faint patterns on its surface. It looked unfathomable and mysterious.
"Immortal Cloudgrace's Numinous treasure, Heart Stirring Bell." Qin Yun revealed a look of delight as he extended his hand to grab it, infusing his Dharmic powers into it.
"Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Dang! Dang!"
He could hear a faint pleasant sound.
Through the Heart Stirring Bell's Numinous treasure runic patterns, Qin Yun could vaguely see the bell gently shaking in the void. It exuded a pleasant sound that spread throughout the area.
"It can stir the hearts of people," thought Qin Yun. "Nice treasure. This is my second Numinous treasure. Immortal Cloudgrace enjoyed exploring the Other Realms. I wonder if there are any other Numinous treasures."
"Retrieve."
With the Two World Picture in hand, he stored away all the treasures in the third hall.
Standing in the third hall, Qin Yun released his Dao domain and probed the innermost region of the cave abode.
Now, with the previous two probes, Qin Yun had examined the entire cave abode.
"Apart from the three inheritance halls that place trials on the juniors, there are still other treasures in the cave abode." Qin Yun smiled. "According to Immortal Cloudgrace, those who pass the third trial would own the entire cave abode."
Sou!
Qin Yun left the third hall and continued flying rapidly.
"Boom!"
A tumultuous boom sounded faintly from the entrance of the cave abode.
Qin Yun turned to take a glance. "That Old Master Chu is here, is he? Unfortunately, he didn't activate the Dao talisman to gain entry. He's going to suffer the full wrath of the cave abode's array formations."
Following that, Qin Yun continued his flight.
Soon, he arrived above a huge, empty land. It spanned more than five kilometers and was rather expansive. However, corpses peppered the land.
The corpses were of varying sizes and shapes!
For example, there were two-headed giants, horses covered in golden scales, translucent beasts that bore a striking resemblance to flood dragons… From their auras, the weakest was at the third Firmament Essence Soul realm. Some of the auras emitted by the larger corpses were in no way inferior to the Other Realm Skyfiend that Qin Yun had encountered in the Ancient Skydragon Palace.
"So many corpses of Other Realm experts? How did Immortal Cloudgrace get these?" Qin Yun felt somewhat astounded when he saw the corpses.