As Qin Fenxing announced that the formation had been opened, excitement immediately spread throughout the gathered cultivators.
Many could no longer suppress the greed in their hearts.
An ancient sect.
Its medicinal gardens.
Its scripture halls.
Its inheritance.
Every second wasted here meant someone else might obtain an opportunity first.
Several Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately prepared to rush through the newly opened passages.
Just as the first few stepped forward—
"Wait."
A deep voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone turned.
The speaker was naturally the Iron Vajra.
The burly body refiner stepped forward before clasping his fists respectfully toward Qin Fenxing.
"Young Master Qin."
"I have a question."
Qin Fenxing looked at him with the same gentle smile.
"Please ask."
The Iron Vajra scratched his head awkwardly.
"I'm not questioning Young Master Qin's attainments in formations."
"I simply wish to understand something."
He pointed toward the enormous guardian formation.
"This formation was originally Rank Four."
"Although countless years have weakened it..."
"What if it hasn't been completely deactivated?"
"What if some hidden portion suddenly erupts while we're passing through?"
"I'm merely trying to make sure everyone remains safe."
The surrounding cultivators immediately became quiet.
Several people who had been ready to rush inside suddenly stopped.
His words...
Made sense.
After all...
This wasn't an ordinary defensive array.
It had once protected an entire ancient sect.
No one present truly understood how much power still remained.
One careless step could cost their lives.
Gradually—
More and more gazes landed upon Qin Fenxing.
The question was indeed worth asking.
...
For the briefest instant—
Qin Fenxing's expression stiffened.
It lasted less than half a breath.
Ordinary cultivators failed to notice anything.
Only the truly perceptive individuals caught the slight change.
Lin Yan noticed.
Wu Yuanhua noticed.
Several Peak Foundation Establishment cultivators also narrowed their eyes slightly.
Meanwhile—
Lin Sheng remained expressionless.
Within his mind, however, he couldn't help nodding slightly.
As expected.
The seed had been planted.
Naturally...
The Iron Vajra hadn't suddenly become suspicious on his own.
Moments earlier—
Lin Sheng had quietly transmitted a single sentence directly into his mind using his mental perception.
He hadn't revealed any secrets.
Nor had he accused Qin Fenxing.
He merely suggested...
"Ask him how he knows the formation is truly safe."
Nothing more.
Lin Sheng never expected the Iron Vajra to expose Qin Fenxing.
That would have been impossible.
Instead...
He only wanted someone else to voice the doubt.
Once spoken aloud...
Perceptive people would naturally begin thinking for themselves.
That alone was enough.
...
Qin Fenxing quickly regained his composure.
A helpless smile appeared on his face.
"So Fellow Daoist was worried about this."
"A reasonable concern."
He slowly nodded.
"Very well."
"If words cannot reassure everyone..."
"I shall demonstrate personally."
Without another word—
Qin Fenxing calmly walked toward one of the passages he had opened.
The surrounding cultivators unconsciously held their breath.
He stepped forward.
One step.
Two steps.
Three.
The guardian formation remained completely silent.
No fluctuations.
No attacks.
No warning signs whatsoever.
Moments later—
Qin Fenxing successfully crossed to the opposite side.
Perfectly unharmed.
He turned back and smiled warmly.
"As everyone can see."
"The passage is safe."
The atmosphere immediately relaxed.
Many cultivators secretly laughed at themselves.
Perhaps they truly had become overly cautious.
The Iron Vajra rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"It seems I worried unnecessarily."
He clasped his fists once more.
"My apologies, Young Master Qin."
Then—
He strode directly through the same passage.
Nothing happened.
No attack.
No formation activation.
Within moments, he too stood safely on the opposite side.
Seeing two people cross without incident, the crowd's confidence rapidly returned.
However...
Not everyone immediately rushed forward.
Because of the Iron Vajra's earlier question—
Several truly cautious geniuses decided to proceed differently.
Wu Yuanhua calmly stepped forward.
"I'll enter."
His figure flashed across the passage.
Nothing happened.
Next came Lin Yan.
She carefully observed the surrounding runes before crossing.
Again...
No attack.
Several Peak Foundation Establishment cultivators followed.
Each entered individually.
Each emerged safely.
After arriving on the opposite side, they all respectfully cupped their fists.
"Many thanks, Young Master Qin."
"Your assistance has saved everyone considerable effort."
"We owe you one."
Qin Fenxing smiled modestly.
"It was merely a small matter."
"I simply happened to possess the required knowledge."
Outwardly...
He remained humble.
Polite.
Refined.
Yet beneath that calm expression—
His heart had already become filled with killing intent.
His eyes briefly swept across the Iron Vajra.
A cold light flashed deep within them.
Idiot.
If not for that single question...
The strongest cultivators would have rushed together with everyone else.
When the formation erupted—
The surviving elites would have been reduced by at least half.
Instead...
Now every genius had crossed safely.
Every Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator remained alive.
His original plan...
Had already failed.
Although ordinary cultivators would still die...
The truly troublesome opponents had escaped disaster.
The Iron Vajra had unknowingly ruined months of careful calculations.
'You'll pay for this eventually,' Qin Fenxing thought inwardly.
His smile, however, never changed.
...
Meanwhile—
The remaining cultivators became increasingly impatient.
"If even the geniuses crossed safely..."
"What are we waiting for?"
"Quick!"
"The inheritances won't wait!"
Someone immediately shot forward.
Then another.
Then ten.
Within moments—
Hundreds of figures surged toward the opened passages.
Their greed completely overwhelmed their caution.
Like streaks of light—
The remaining cultivators flooded into the ancient sect.
Lin Sheng remained where he was.
His eyes calmly observed the remaining formation nodes.
The Chip silently counted.
Three...
Two...
One...
The instant nearly everyone entered—
The guardian formation suddenly trembled violently.
Buzz—
The ten remaining active nodes simultaneously erupted with dazzling light.
The Spiritual Qi of the surrounding heavens and earth instantly became chaotic.
Someone shouted in terror.
"The formation!"
Before anyone could react—
Boom!!
The remaining energy, compressed for countless years, exploded outward.
Dozens of terrifying beams of condensed spiritual light shot through the passages.
They were too fast.
Far too fast.
Several Foundation Establishment cultivators didn't even have time to activate defensive artifacts.
The beams pierced directly through them.
Blood exploded.
Bodies disintegrated.
Some were vaporized instantly.
Others were cut into dozens of pieces.
Screams echoed throughout the ruined sect entrance.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Wave after wave of destruction erupted.
More than half the cultivators rushing through were struck.
The guardian formation's final burst showed no mercy.
In merely a few breaths—
The ground became covered with corpses.
Blood flowed through the ancient stone pathways.
Storage pouches.
Magical artifacts.
Broken weapons.
Scattered everywhere.
Silence followed.
An eerie silence.
The surviving cultivators stared blankly behind them.
Over fifty percent...
Had died instantly.
Some survivors had only escaped because those ahead of them became unwilling shields.
Others survived purely through luck.
The smell of blood rapidly filled the air.
Many people's faces turned pale.
Then—
Someone suddenly shouted.
"Where's Qin Fenxing?"
Everyone immediately looked toward the place where he had been standing.
Empty.
No one.
The gentle young formation master had already disappeared.
Not even a trace of his aura remained.
Only then did everyone's expressions change completely.
"He ran away?"
"Impossible..."
"He knew!"
"He knew the formation would activate!"
Rage.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Every surviving cultivator immediately realized the horrifying truth.
This hadn't been an accident.
Whether intentional or not...
Qin Fenxing had abandoned them the moment the final massacre began.
Even Lin Yan's usually calm expression became slightly colder.
Wu Yuanhua slowly clenched his fists.
The Iron Vajra stared blankly toward the blood-covered entrance.
His back became soaked with cold sweat.
If he hadn't asked that single question...
He...
Lin Yan...
Wu Yuanhua...
And many of the strongest cultivators present...
Would likely be lying among those corpses.
Far away—
Hidden behind several ruined halls—
Qin Fenxing moved rapidly through the ancient sect with a calm expression.
Although his perfect plan had been disrupted...
The outcome remained acceptable.
The weaker cultivators had still been eliminated.
Most importantly—
He had already gained several minutes' head start.
For an array master...
Several minutes inside an ancient sect...
Could determine who obtained the greatest inheritance.