Return to the City: The Strongest King-Chapter 1763 - 1700: Dual Cultivation to Break the Formation (Part 3)

Elder Su Lie and Elder Lin Feng didn't have many thoughts about the internal disturbance of the Dragon Gate Great Array. Having witnessed the battles on the Dragon Gate Formation twenty years ago, they were deeply impressed by its power and were therefore not overly curious about the current changes within the formation. However, Chu Xianling and Sun Yiyi showed great interest in the changes of the array and walked towards Song Xiaodong's group, with Su Lie and Lin Feng naturally following.

Within the mist, the wind stirred and thunders rolled. Moments later, the mist in front of Song Xiaodong's group suddenly began to disperse. However, the mist didn't gradually thin out but rather formed sharp edges, revealing a square opening in front of them, with edges so clear it seemed as if freshly cut like clay.

Song Xiaodong and the others looked into the opening and discovered a stone door slowly opening.

This stone door was exceedingly heavy, and the opening process was extremely slow. The ground of the entire island seemed to shake as Song Xiaodong and the others watched the door open, feeling a mix of excitement and fear.

The stone door slowly rose, and when the group got closer, they realized it couldn't be called a stone door but a stone pillar, as the door when lifted was over ten meters thick. The entire passageway was the gap revealed after the stone door was raised.

"Young Master, this, is the entrance to the Dragon Gate Holy Land. Inside, lies the ultimate secret of Dragon Gate." Lin Feng said solemnly, looking inside the passage.

"Let's go." Song Xiaodong turned around, sweeping his gaze across the faces of the four princesses, Sun Yiyi, and Chu Xianling, finally resting on Qingluan for a moment.

The group began walking towards the entrance's interior.

After the last person entered, the mist started to gradually close, and the stone door above began to descend slowly.

The passageway was extremely long and deep, with the sound of "teng teng teng" echoing from the walls, followed by the ignition of flames extending to unseen depths underground, revealing rows of Everlasting Lamps.

The Everlasting Lamps lit up the passage brightly. The passage seemed to be cut into the mountain with a knife; its walls were made of whole rock blocks, extremely smooth. With the activation of the rows of Everlasting Lamps, the previously dead air inside seemed to flow, bringing humid, warm wind from deep underground upwards.

Logically, this Dragon Gate formation, covered by this layer of mist, should be completely sealed off from the outside, rendering the interior airtight, and the Everlasting Lamps incapable of burning. Once inside, within moments, the group should suffocate.

Yet, clearly, there was some connection between the interior and the outside of the Dragon Gate Formation, because Song Xiaodong could detect a distinct sea scent in the wind blowing from underground.

Song Xiaodong couldn't help but secretly marvel at the intricate design of this Dragon Gate Great Array, wondering who the mastermind behind such a genius creation was.

The group watched out for each other, descending the stairs, walking for an unknown length of time.

"To think Dragon Gate buried the ancestral treasure so deep." Feng Kexin, tired, hung her entire body on Sun Yiyi, joking.

"We must be underwater now, right?" Qiao Yunxi echoed.

"The forefathers of Dragon Gate possess boundless divine skills, having operated here for many years. The entire underground of the island has been excavated." Su Lie said proudly.

"Then we... won't get flooded, right?" Qi Lanqin worried.

"Hahaha, madam need not worry, Elder Su and I have lived here for years, and never have there been any flooding incidents. Moreover, this Dragon Gate Great Array not only protects the island's surface but includes the underground as well. Unless we dig beyond the formation, no issues will arise.." Lin Feng laughed and reassured Qi Lanqin.

Finally, the downward passageway reached its end, arriving at an open area.

The ground was still made of giant stone slabs, with no signs of any seam. But when Song Xiaodong previously inspected the island, he noticed that the stones there were deeply weathered, making it impossible for them to be so large.

Which means, these stones must have been transported from the mainland.

"Incredible how prosperous Dragon Gate must have been to afford to ship stones by sea. And such large stones, how on earth did they transport them here?" Song Xiaodong thought to himself without saying a word.

"Elder Lin, which way should we go next?" Song Xiaodong surveyed the surroundings, noticing the open area was circular, with Eight Trigram Gates evenly distributed around its perimeter. In a blink, Song Xiaodong forgot which gate he had entered through.

Everyone looked around, seeing so many doors, unable to devise a solution for a while.

"Eh? Where's Qingluan?" Feng Kexin suddenly asked.

Everyone looked around and indeed found Qingluan had disappeared.

"Ha, why did she leave us behind and go off alone, honestly." Feng Kexin frowned.

"Yes, she must have returned to the Dark Night Sect herself." Qi Lanqin said with some concern in her tone.

"She helped us open the Dragon Gate Array; the Dark Night Sect won't treat her poorly, right?" Chu Xianling asked.

The group fell silent for a while, all focusing on Song Xiaodong who hadn't spoken.

"Let's go, and find her." Song Xiaodong immediately decided.

"Young Master, absolutely not!" Lin Feng hurriedly blocked Song Xiaodong's path.

"Young Master, gaining control of the Dragon Gate Formation is crucial. Please think of the life and death stakes for Dragon Gate!"

"Yes, Young Master, it's of utmost importance!" Su Lie also urged.

"You all saw earlier that without Qingluan, the Dragon Gate Array couldn't open. Now that the array is open, we can't just disregard her fate. Such a thing, I, Song Xiaodong, cannot do!" Song Xiaodong insisted on turning back.

"Young Master, for today I endured countless schemes. Dragon Gate Young Disciples spilled endless blood protecting the formation. Your parents died here guarding it. Reclaiming control of the Dragon Gate Holy Land is crucial for Dragon Gate's future. Young Master, now is not the time for personal loyalties!" Lin Feng, solemn, spread his arms to stop Song Xiaodong.

"Young Master, entering the Dragon Gate Formation requires controlling the array to open an exit. Otherwise, one can't get out. Even if you turn back, it would be useless!" Su Lie said.

Song Xiaodong's body shook, then he took a deep breath, saying: "Fine, let's proceed inward. If the Dark Night Sect dares harm Qingluan, then one day, I will eradicate the entire sect to avenge her!"