A male and a female Holy Ancestor of the demon race immediately stepped forward in response.
The remaining Mahayana cultivators and their sect disciples were led by Bao and began advancing toward the center of the Primordial Seal Ground.
Clearly, formidable sky-sealing restrictions were in place throughout this place. Even cultivators of Mahayana caliber could only fly at low altitudes at a sluggish pace with their followers in tow.
Of course, this was sluggish only relative to their normal movement speeds. For ordinary mortals, the group's velocity was still astonishingly fast.
In little more than half an hour, they had already covered over ten thousand li.
Ahead, an enormously long canyon suddenly appeared in the landscape. Thin wisps of purple mist rose from within it, rolling upward in billows toward the heavens.
What was even more unsettling was that these mist trails carried a faintly putrid odor. One whiff of it, and a cultivator would feel a wave of dizziness and nausea, their spiritual sense becoming sluggish and unresponsive.
"This is…" The faces of several Mahayana elders shifted subtly after letting their spiritual sense sweep through the purple mist.
"Fellow Daoists, be on your guard. Don't let these things get too close to you. This mist contains some of the sinister energy that the Moth Mother has leaked. It is precisely this energy that has transformed all the spirit insects of our Holy World into moths," Bao warned in a calm voice.
The Mahayana elders tensed at her words. Some intensified their protective spiritual light, making it several times denser than before, while others promptly released one or two defensive treasures.
But the majority, confident in their own abilities, maintained their composure and showed no outward reaction.
When the group finally arrived above the canyon and peered downward, all the foreign-realm elders involuntarily drew a sharp breath.
Beneath the churning purple mist, the canyon floor appeared unfathomably deep. Gusts of vicious wind periodically surged upward from below, and anyone who came into contact with it felt an immediate chill creep across their skin — a bone-piercing, extraordinary cold.
"So this is where the ancient seal is located?" Han Li narrowed his eyes slightly and murmured.
Not far away, Bao heard his words and turned her head with a light laugh.
"Fellow Daoist Han, the ancient seal is indeed deep underground. In ancient times, our Holy Race excavated the earth for ten thousand li around this seal and constructed an enormous underground palace within, layer upon layer of profound restrictions set in place on top of that. The Moth Mother lies at the very center of this palace. Because the ancient seal's power is partially controlled by the Moth Mother, we normally cannot easily enter the palace. However, these few days happen to fall during the great eruption of heaven and earth spiritual energy — a periodic cycle — which is precisely when the ancient seal's power becomes unstable. That is the only opportunity we have to slip inside. Were it any other time, even if we could force our way in through sheer power, we would certainly awaken the Moth Mother."
"That Moth Mother is truly that perceptive? From what I know, when powerful insect-type spirit beasts have fallen into dormancy due to a loss of vital energy and are attempting to recover their strength, they are extremely difficult to wake. Unless one were to approach extremely close with the clear intent of threatening its life, there should be no exception," said a white-haired elder with triangular eyes, dressed in a silver-threaded Daoist robe, furrowing his brows.
"So it's Daoist Gu — no wonder you're so well-versed in the nature of insect-type beasts. But do be reminded, Fellow Daoist, that the Moth Mother is no ordinary venomous insect. Some of your assumptions may not apply to her." Bao glanced at the triangular-eyed Mahayana cultivator and replied coolly.
"Hmph. I certainly hope you're right." Daoist Gu gave a cold snort, clearly unconvinced by Bao's words.
"If you don't believe me, you're welcome to go down there and test it for yourself." Bao appeared to have little patience for Daoist Gu either. Her expression darkened as she delivered the retort, and she turned away without another word, gazing into the depths of the canyon as though silently awaiting something.
Daoist Gu's face shifted at this, a vicious gleam flickering through his triangular eyes, but he said nothing more in his gloomy tone and certainly did not rashly plunge into the canyon depths.
Han Li, observing this exchange, studied Daoist Gu with a measure of interest.
The fact that this man dared speak to Bao in such a tone — even knowing that Bao was no ordinary Mahayana cultivator — suggested he was someone of considerable background.
"Fellow Daoist Han, Daoist Gu is an exceptionally caustic individual. But his Gu arts and techniques are formidable — even I find them a headache to deal with. My advice would be not to entangle yourself with him in any way." Bao transmitted her voice directly to Han Li.
Han Li's expression remained unchanged. He gave only the faintest nod and showed no intention of speaking.
The other Mahayana cultivators also hovered above the canyon, quietly waiting.
Whether it was the influence of the purple mist or the power of the underground seal, the moment anyone extended their spiritual sense more than a hundred zhang into the canyon, it would scatter on its own, making it impossible to detect anything below.
Staring into the pitch-black depths of the canyon, even some of the Mahayana elders felt a chill of apprehension take root in their hearts.
At that moment, Bao had at some point produced a shimmering silver array disk. With a series of hand seals, she began pouring magical incantations into it one after another.
The silver disk pulsed with alternating light and darkness in her palm, as though it had taken on a life of its own.
After the time it takes to finish a meal, a buzzing hum suddenly resonated from the silver array disk. Silver light blazed forth in a torrent, and countless silver runes surged from within, swirling and dancing through the air.
"Now! Fellow Daoists, go!" Bao's face brightened with a flash of joy. She called out a sharp command, lifted the silver disk with one hand, and transformed into a streak of rosy light that shot straight into the depths of the canyon.
The other Mahayana cultivators, not daring to delay, ignited their own lights of movement and followed closely behind.
A faint golden glow shimmered across Han Li's body, easily pushing the purple mist to a distance of over a zhang. He joined the others and descended into the canyon.