Although the surroundings were enveloped by anomalous substances, the barrier could hold for some time.
Through the light barrier, one could see several peculiar buildings inside, shaped like triangles and constructed entirely of spirit stones. They resembled towering spires, emanating astonishing energy fluctuations while maintaining an invisible connection between each other.
It was like a huge array formation.
Teams could be seen coming and going, intermittently, consisting of cultivators like Xu Qing and the captain who had accepted exploration missions.
Apart from that, the items inside the palaces within 500 kilometers had been moved out, and their appearances have been modified to become part of the formation.
And the most astonishing thing was that there are nine colossal white crystals floating in the sky, each with a size of a hundred thousand feet, resembling mountains.
These nine crystals were brought by General Blood Nightmare. Originally, they weren't that big, but in the past three days, they had become increasingly large.
They floated in the air like nine black holes, absorbing anomalous substances.
To be precise, it wasn't absorbing but filtering.
The anomalous substances were drawn into them, assimilated, and then dissipated.
In this cyclic process, faint golden threads were formed within the white crystals.
"Absorbing the divine essence that is drifting in the anomalous substances?"
Xu Qing fell into deep thought.
He didn't know the final usage of these nine mountain-like crystals, but according to the understanding his master had expanded for him, they might be prepared for the battle at the front line.
"Stop looking at that. It has nothing to do with us. Little Qing, I have an idea!" The captain suddenly sat up and pulled Xu Qing as he spoke in a low voice.
Xu Qing retracted his gaze from the distant world and turned to look at the captain.
"You're still thinking about that palace?"
"Of course! The palaces we've seen in the past few days without any guardians are just trash. The ones guarded by one statue are okay, but it is the only one guarded by four statues!"
"Although it's nothing compared to the sleeping god, since we're here, we have to get something good ourselves."
The captain licked his lips and madness appeared in his eyes.
The image of the special palace that the captain had been eyeing came to mind for Xu Qing. It had four corners, each with a statue infested with flesh and blood. Though they had partially dissipated, most of their bodies were still intact.
The fluctuations emitted by them were astonishing.
As for the palace guarded by those statues, its design was also different, not resembling a typical palace, but rather a square shape.
Xu Qing remembered that there were numerous ventilation holes on the roof, about the thickness of fingers.
Those holes were peculiar as they were not covered by flesh and blood, clearly avoided by it.
As for what was inside that square palace, Xu Qing had no idea. Xu Qing had tried using the shadow, but the shadow couldn't approach that area. That palace seemed to block any attempts at probing.
"Actually, after the Red Moon wakes up and the sleeping god here is devoured, it will be much easier to enter there. Must we do it now?" Xu Qing looked at the captain.
"At that time, there will be even more people searching. Even if we get it, we won't be able to protect it. Moreover, most of the palaces here have begun to break down. I'm afraid we won't be able to wait anymore. Also, Little Qing, according to my intuition, the treasures there are extraordinary!"
The captain licked his lips.
"My plan is very simple. We'll make another trip later. Just like last time, you can absorb the anomalous substances in the surroundings there and attract the attention of the statues. After the four statues leave, I'll go in and get the things!"
"Weren't you unable to open the door last time?"
Xu Qing asked. They had already tried this method before. Xu Qing took a huge risk here but the captain couldn't even open the door.
"It's different this time. I have a solution. At most, I'll risk it!"
The captain's eyes were red as he gritted his teeth and spoke.
Xu Qing fell silent. Seeing that the captain was so persistent, he nodded.
"Thirty breaths at most."
"No problem!" The captain was excited and pulled Xu Qing over hurriedly. Xu Qing took a deep breath and decided not to rest anymore. He was also very curious about the items in the special palace.
Just like that, the two of them quickly left the roof and sped into the distance.
They went all out in concealment. After about fifteen minutes, a black square-shaped palace appeared in their eyes.
Looking at the flesh and blood-infested statues standing at the four corners of the palace and sensing the terrifying energy fluctuations coming from them, Xu Qing and the captain's breathing became much lighter. The two of them looked at each other and split up.
Xu Qing rushed out rapidly. A portion of the suppressed absorption power in his body spread out. Immediately, the anomalous substances in the surroundings headed straight for him and gushed into his body through the pores on his body.
That feeling of extreme comfort was infatuating, as though his soul was about to float up. The continuous strengthening of his body made him instinctively not want to reject this comfort.
Those with weak wills would easily be immersed in it in an instant and ignore everything.
Even Xu Qing had to use a lot of willpower to maintain his calm.
As he absorbed them, the golden threads in his body quivered, emitting an intense desire. They continued extending and expanding. In fact, Xu Qing felt that his body seemed to have grown a little larger.
At the same time, the statues outside the black square palace lifted their heads one after another. On their distorted faces that were covered in flesh, their eyes lit up with red light.
At the next instant, they moved at the same time.
Xu Qing sensed it and his heart trembled. He took out the mask his master had given him and held it in his hand. As he rapidly absorbed, he silently calculated the time. In just over ten breaths of time, a sense of calamity descended from the sky.
