Chapter 539: Chapter 251: Secret Realm Emerges, Cao Xiang’er Promoted, Negotiations

After searching around.

Ouyang Fei found nothing.

He promptly returned to Yunshan County, hurriedly went to the Soul Hall, scanned the room, and found Brother Rong’s Soul Lamp still there, feeling slightly relieved.

Brother Fan received the news.

Hurriedly rushed to the Soul Hall.

The Soul Hall housed the Life Soul Lamps of cultivators with Spiritual Roots from the Fu Family. Ouyang Fei suddenly returned to Yunshan County and rushed into the Soul Hall without a word, giving Brother Fan quite a fright, thinking something had happened to his mother and the others who went to Jingzhou.

He glanced at the Life Soul Lamps.

No anomalies were found.

Only then did he let out a sigh of relief:

"Grandpa Fei, what happened?"

Ouyang Fei’s expression was solemn; after casting a Sound Insulation Technique, he finally spoke of Brother Rong’s mysterious disappearance.

Upon hearing the news, Brother Fan’s face changed:

"This... Grandpa Fei, if it’s like you said, this matter must be discussed thoroughly. If someone intentionally set a trap to lure my second brother to Hanlin River, I’m afraid...."

I’m afraid he might already be in someone else’s hands.

On the other side.

Yaoyao also came upon hearing the news. After learning the cause, she immediately said: "Grandpa Fei, lead the way, we’ll visit Hanlin River."

If someone set an array to trap.

As an Array Master, I will surely notice it.

As they were about to leave.

Brother Fan cautiously reminded:

"Grandpa Fei, if anything happens, send me a message immediately. If it’s urgent, let father leave seclusion, don’t take risks."

To avoid unnecessary commotion.

The two performed the Invisibility Technique and discreetly exited Demon-Defying City, only withdrawing the technique when they reached the depths of Hanlin River.

Ouyang Fei said:

"I searched from Pingshan County to here, where Brother Rong’s trace suddenly vanished."

Yaoyao nodded slightly.

First, she searched around, then patted her storage bag, a flash of Dawn Light appeared, and a Detection Array Plate appeared in her hand. As she infused Techniques, the plate lit up with a dark Spirit Light.

After a short while.

Buzz!

The Detection Array Plate vibrated violently.

The dark light imprinted itself onto a stone wall.

Yaoyao withdrew the Technique.

Her complexion turned slightly pale, yet her eyes held a glimmer of hope: "Grandpa Fei, try using mana to activate the stone wall."

Ouyang Fei formed a technique with his right hand.

A Spirit Light transformed into an axe, swinging down in the air.

Clang!

Sparks flew off the stone wall.

The axe shattered upon impact, dissolving into scattered starlight: 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Eh, what is this?"

Ouyang Fei’s mind moved, a flash of dark light, and the Lifebound Gourd surged from within his body, about to activate when Yaoyao stopped him:

"Grandpa Fei, this is a barrier, laid by an Ancient Cultivator, beyond mere brute force."

"An Ancient Barrier?"

Ouyang Fei paused.

Half worried, half delighted:

"Yaoyao, do you mean my second brother accidentally stumbled into this barrier?"

Meaning.

He wasn’t kidnapped.

Yaoyao nodded slightly, as Ouyang Fei’s mana attacked dissipated, the originally faint runes on the stone wall scattered instantly.

Yaoyao didn’t say a word.

She patted her storage bag.

In an instant, several Array Flags and Array Plates landed in various positions under the Hanlin Riverbed, as incantations sounded from her mouth.

Buzz!

Spirit Light emerged from the Array Flags.

Connecting in a line, flowing into the Array Plate.

A light shield flipped down.

Boom!

As Yaoyao altered the Technique.

The light shield vanished.

She then revealed a look of excitement: "Grandpa Fei, perhaps my second brother found an ancient site."

Containing an Ancient Barrier.

Beyond the barrier.

It might be the ruins of an Ancient Cultivator’s Cave Mansion, or perhaps an Ancient Sect ruins, whatever it is, for their Fu Family, it’s a great fortune, which is why she immediately set up the array.

Previously, Ouyang Fei was too anxious to think clearly.

Now he understood, though his eyes still held doubt:

"But how did Brother Rong suddenly know there was an Ancient Barrier here?"

Suddenly.

Ouyang Fei thought of a possibility.

Perhaps Brother Rong’s Companion Spirit Beast within him awoke its bloodline memory, leading him here; otherwise, how could Brother Rong enter the barrier smoothly:

"Yaoyao, are you able to break the barrier?"

Ouyang Fei was still a bit worried.

Yaoyao had learned from Grandmaster Yu for over twenty years; her array mastery, while not on par with the Grandmaster, was well-founded; she didn’t immediately agree, only saying:

"Hard to say, let me research first, by the way, Grandpa Fei, please return to Demon-Defying City, inform my eldest brother of the situation, furthermore, for the upcoming period, I’ll be here studying the barrier, if you don’t have anything urgent, there’s no need to come by, just send a message if needed."

If this truly is an ancient cave mansion, or an Ancient Sect’s relic, once it leaks out, not just South Huai, but the Eastern Wilderness Tribe, as well as the Noble Families from North Huai Prefecture might get involved.

A great chaos would be inevitable.

Thus.

The fewer people know about this place, the better.

Especially when their family’s main fighting power is absent.

After Ouyang Fei left.

Yaoyao set up another array, specifically for concealing Spiritual Qi leakage and Divine Sense spying.

"Hoo~"

Letting out a deep breath.

Yaoyao sat cross-legged beneath the barrier stone wall.

She continuously awakened rune symbols on the stone barrier, subsequently simulating them in the sand table.

In a blink, seven years passed.

At this time.

With each Technique Yaoyao infused into the barrier stone wall.

Buzz.

The rune symbols on the stone wall surged.

An Eight Trigrams pattern condensed and emerged.

This pattern divided the barrier into eight areas: Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui, each area interrelated yet mutually restrictive, the energy flow within the array following the life-giving and overcoming relationships of the Eight Trigrams.