Golden Dawn Fairy's words seemed to display no intention of defending Yuan Ming, yet they effectively handed him an opportunity to step down gracefully.

"After being swept into this place by the red light, this junior has been trying to find a way out. However, there's nothing else in this grand hall, the entrance is sealed shut, and the path deeper into the hall is covered by formidable restrictions. With no way up to heaven and no path down to earth, all I could do was sit here and pray that someone would come to the rescue," Yuan Ming spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.

Golden Dawn Fairy and the others found Yuan Ming's account to be coherent and without any noticeable discrepancies.

The several individuals exchanged glances and dispersed to conduct a thorough search of the grand hall.

The grand hall was indeed just as Yuan Ming described, completely empty, with no place to hide anything.

As for the murals on the walls, when the cultivators swept over them with their Divine Sense and detected no fluctuations of Spiritual Power, they didn't pay much attention.

Upon seeing the restriction in the corridor directly facing the entrance, Su Zimo immediately commanded seven refining corpses to attack. Despite a siege that dimmed the restriction, it remained unbroken.

Seeing this, Golden Dawn Fairy stepped forward to investigate and soon shook her head towards the other four Nascent Soul cultivators, saying, "This restriction is also crafted from Ancient Runes. Even for me, breaking it without leaving traces would require considerable effort."

With her vouching for him, Yuan Ming breathed a silent sigh of relief. However, at that moment, several serpent-like purple thunders shot out from beneath his feet, rapidly entwining his body.

Yuan Ming was both angry and frightened as he struggled fiercely. Yet a searingly hot Power of thunder and lightning penetrated him, easily shattering the Mana he had gathered.

Thunderbolt Ancestor's figure flickered and appeared beside Yuan Ming like a specter, his hand glowing with purple light as he reached for his head.

Yuan Ming's eyes twitched toward the Incense Burner Mark on his arm.

"Old Monster Yu, what are you doing?" A furious shout erupted, and Golden Dawn Fairy deployed the Golden Scroll, from which shot more than a dozen streaks of Golden Light, formed by many golden letters, aimed at Thunderbolt Ancestor like arrows from their bows.

Thunderbolt Ancestor seemed quite wary of those golden lights, dodging them with a swift motion.

The dozen or so golden lights changed direction and struck Yuan Ming, merging into his body.

Brilliant Golden Light suddenly burst from Yuan Ming's skin, and the grand hall echoed with a loud chant as if many people were nodding and reading aloud therein.

The Purple Thunder entwining Yuan Ming's body was pierced by the Golden Light and dissipated quickly, restoring his mobility as the Golden Light also faded rapidly.

He exhaled in relief and withdrew the Mana he had channeled into the Stealing Heaven Tripod.

"Fellow Daoist Jin Xi, what is your relationship with this youngster that you defend him thus?" Thunderbolt Ancestor grunted.

"Yuan Ming is a cultivator of Spirit Wind City and hence associated with the Spirit Talisman Sect. As I am here, it is only natural that I ensure his safety. Old Monster Yu, on the other hand, why harm someone for no reason?" Golden Dawn Fairy said, after flickering into a position beside Yuan Ming.

Su Zimo and Dugu Feng noticed the commotion and looked over.

Wan Qi Hong stood with folded arms in front of a mural, ignoring the exchange between Golden Dawn Fairy and Thunderbolt Ancestor.

"I never trust words spoken by others. This youngster's argument may be self-consistent, but who's to say he is not hiding something? If you want me to believe him, he must submit to my Thunder Sound Soul-shaking Technique," Thunderbolt Ancestor grumbled.

The Thunder Sound Soul-shaking Technique was a unique skill of Thunderbolt Ancestor, allowing him to implant a special Thunder Seal into someone's Divine Soul, shaking their mind and temporarily rendering them unconscious, turning them into a puppet who must answer any question asked.

"Your Thunder Sound Soul-shaking Technique is extremely overbearing. Yuan Ming is only at the Early-stage Core Formation, he can't bear it. A great harm to his Divine Soul is a trivial matter, but he could even suffer damage to his spiritual intelligence and become a fool. Do you intend to destroy him?" Golden Dawn Fairy said with steely anger in her voice as she slowly spoke.

Yuan Ming's complexion turned pale, and he clenched his fists tightly.

"I think Fellow Daoist Yu has a point. This Immortal Mansion is no trifling matter. Since Yuan Ming entered before all of us, what he saw and obtained, we must thoroughly investigate. Fellow Daoist Yu's method might harm him, but that's his misfortune for being the first to enter," Su Zimo said with a cold laugh.

Golden Dawn Fairy's expression darkened, before she said, "No matter what, Yuan Ming is a person of Spirit Wind City; with me present, I cannot let others harm him at will. Where then would the dignity of the Spirit Talisman Sect stand?"

Thunderbolt Ancestor and Su Zimo's eyes darkened at her words.

"All this talk boils down to concerns that he might have taken something and hidden it, right? If so, let Yuan Ming take out all his storage magic tools for you to inspect thoroughly," Golden Dawn Fairy suggested.

Upon hearing this, Thunderbolt Ancestor and Su Zimo hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"Please feel free to examine these, seniors," Yuan Ming said, relieved as he produced three storage magic tools and handed them to Thunderbolt Ancestor.

Thunderbolt Ancestor's Divine Sense delved into them, his brow furrowing as he lifted his hand with a flick.

The sound of clutter filled the ground, and three piles of items appeared, all mundane. Although there were quite a few spiritual materials and elixirs, none were impressive for Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, and there were no heavy treasures among them.

Su Zimo's Divine Sense swept over the three piles, and his expression also sank. He then glanced at the three storage magic tools in Thunderbolt Ancestor's hands.

Thunderbolt Ancestor snorted and tossed three magic artifacts over to Su Zimo. Su Zimo activated his Divine Sense to inspect them and indeed found nothing concealed inside.

Thunderbolt Ancestor turned to look at Yuan Ming, covering Yuan Ming's body with his Divine Sense without any attempt to conceal it, searching every inch.

This act was nothing short of humiliation; however, Yuan Ming's face twitched, yet he did not say a word throughout.

Seeing this, Golden Dawn Fairy could not help but say, "Fellow Daoist Yu, after all, he's just a junior who strayed into this place. Now that the search is over, isn't it needless to treat him so harshly?"

"Hehe, Fairy is so protective of him. Could it be that this person has a significant connection with your Spirit Talisman Sect? Or is it that, regarding the affairs of the Immortal Mansion, your sect had foreseen everything, holding much information, and thus you could determine he didn't get any serious opportunity?" Thunderbolt Ancestor chuckled sinisterly, his words piercing like daggers, his probing Divine Sense unretracted.

"Why resort to baseless accusations, Fellow Daoist Yu? Although this person is from the underground city governed by my Spirit Talisman Sect, him getting trapped in the Immortal Mansion was purely accidental. If I had known in advance, why wouldn't I have let him leave this place before we entered?" Golden Dawn Fairy said in a calm and steady manner.

Thunderbolt Ancestor ignored Golden Dawn Fairy and thoroughly searched Yuan Ming from head to toe three times. Finding no hidden storage magic tools, he grudgingly withdrew his Divine Sense.

Just then, Dugu Feng, who had been silent until now, suddenly raised his hand and sent out a black light, rolling up an entirely black twig from the three piles of items.

"Boy, where did you obtain this thing?"

Yuan Ming looked up at the twig in his hand, recalled it carefully for a moment, remembering it was found in Sha Hao's Cave Mansion, and immediately answered, "This item was incidentally obtained from an abandoned Cave Mansion."

Dugu Feng nodded, "This item is of use to me, name your price."

"This item came to me by chance, without any cost. If senior requires it, please feel free to take it," Yuan Ming promptly said.

However, Dugu Feng suddenly laughed, "Boy, I, Dugu Feng, am not one to bully the weak, and I also dislike taking advantage of others. Since you refuse to name a price, let's trade it for a promise instead. Within my power, I can do one thing for you, whether it's to help you escape a bind, assist you in breaking through a bottleneck, or even kill someone for you, I can accomplish it."

As he spoke, Dugu Feng suddenly glanced at Thunderbolt Ancestor and Su Zimo, the meaning behind his words self-evident.

Seeing the implied threat in his eyes, Thunderbolt Ancestor instantly snorted coldly, while the smile on Su Zimo's face faded significantly.

"How could I dare to ask the senior to do something for me? If senior insists on it, I would only ask for some guidance after getting out," Yuan Ming said with a humble tone.

Dugu Feng nodded, accepting Yuan Ming's request and pocketed the black twig.

Seeing that Dugu Feng seemed to intend to protect Yuan Ming as well, the expressions of Thunderbolt Ancestor and Su Zimo flickered as they pondered their next moves.

"Fellow Daoists have seen and searched. Are you both satisfied now?" Golden Dawn Fairy asked.

Thunderbolt Ancestor snorted and turned away.

Su Zimo shrugged his shoulders and threw the three storage magic tools back to Yuan Ming.

Yuan Ming's heart, which had been held in suspense, finally settled. He picked up the items from the ground, once again thanking Golden Dawn Fairy.

Golden Dawn Fairy spoke up, "Yuan Ming, there are still many Core Formation Cultivators waiting outside to enter the Immortal Mansion to seek opportunities. Going out now, you might become the target of many. It would be better to continue exploring this place with me."

"Indeed, you've been trapped here for half a month; to leave empty-handed would be to suffer in vain. But following a great sect like Spirit Talisman Sect, you might only get what's left over. It might be better to come with me, our Black Desert Alliance takes care of Loose Cultivators the most," Dugu Feng added, simultaneously showing his intention to recruit Yuan Ming.

"Thank you for the kindness, seniors, but I do not expect much gain; I only wish to return safely to Spirit Wind City," Yuan Ming politely declined Dugu Feng's offer, standing behind Golden Dawn Fairy.

Dugu Feng was not annoyed, his gaze shifting away as if nothing had happened, no longer paying attention to Yuan Ming.

Just then, Wan Qi Hong's voice rang out, "Enough, settle any personal grudges or old resentments after we get out. The opportunity is ahead, why dawdle here?"

Upon hearing this, the cultivators present redirected their attention to the restriction leading to the interior of the Immortal Mansion.

This restriction was slightly weaker than the Spirit Light Restriction outside the Immortal Mansion. Wan Qi Hong and the other four joined hands again, quickly breaking through the restriction.

Everyone passed through the deep and narrow corridor and then came to a small square room. In the center of the room was a Transmission Array, and beside the Formation, a gray stele lit up, revealing a row of tiny characters.

"I have wasted hundreds of years in this place and finally found a way out. Before leaving, I left my inheritance within the mansion. Those of destiny who come here may enter the array to brave the dangers. Whoever passes through shall receive my inheritance."

The Transmission Array was not large, accommodating at most three people at a time. The Nascent Soul cultivators looked at each other and fell into a tacit silence, seemingly contemplating how to ensure their own people would be the first to enter the array.

However, Wan Qi Hong was disdainful of the others' scheming. He stepped forward without a word to activate the array, and in the next instant, his figure vanished.

Seeing this, Thunderbolt Ancestor and the others naturally had no more disputes. After instructing their subordinates, they stepped into the Transmission Array one by one.

Soon, only a group of Core Formation Cultivators remained in the room, yet the atmosphere between them was even tenser than when the Nascent Soul cultivators were present.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.