Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1294: 841: Ancient Array Activated, the Beishi Family

Chapter 841: Activation of the Ancient Array and the Beishi Family

Perched upon the hillside, Elder Ming Shuzi of the Nether Prison Sect fixed a piercing gaze upon the enigmatic Ancient Relic Array.

Clad in a deep purple robe adorned with cloud motifs, he wore cuffs trimmed with silver chain patterns. A belt of black mystical iron, cinched at his waist, featured nine bronze locks shaped like jade pendants.

Within eyes that swirled with grayish-white mist, faint ghostly silhouettes flickered. A mere glance from him was enough to rattle the very soul of an average cultivator.

As a seasoned cultivator at the late-stage Foundation Establishment, Ming Shuzi stood as a pillar of strength within the Nether Prison Sect.

The sect’s decision to dispatch a figure of his caliber signaled just how vital they considered the conquest of the Ancient Relic Array.

In truth, the Nether Prison Sect had long harbored desires for the location. The vast wealth of resources and arcane cultivation techniques hidden within were temptations far too powerful for them to ignore.

“Elder, they are preparing to initiate the breach,” remarked a tall man who stood by his side.

This was Liu Changfeng, a Martial God from the Nether Prison Sect. Though a senior expert in his own right, his status was dwarfed by that of Ming Shuzi.

While the Nether Prison Sect functioned primarily as an organization for martial artists, they placed a higher premium on immortal cultivators than the Lingxiu Three Sects ever did. The Lingxiu Three Sects lacked sufficient investment in immortal cultivation despite their aspirations of producing Golden Core masters—a fact clearly illustrated by the struggles of Master Jing Shui from the Illusion Moon Sect.

Had the Illusion Moon Sect supported Master Jing Shui with greater resources, she might have possessed a fighting chance to reach the late-stage Foundation Establishment, even if the Golden Core Realm remained elusive.

Conversely, the Nether Prison Sect poured massive resources into immortal cultivation, ensuring those practitioners held elevated positions. Consequently, Ming Shuzi’s rank within the sect was surpassed only by a handful of Martial God figures.

Acknowledging the prompt from Liu Changfeng, Ming Shuzi directed his focus toward the delegation of the Lingxiu Three Sects.

Spearheading the effort to penetrate the barrier were Duan Qingyun of the Wuxiang Sect, the esteemed monk Shan Yuan, and Yue Su of the Illusion Moon Sect.

They were joined by Master Yuqian of the Beishi family, Sun Bugu of the Sun family, Nong Yutian of the Nong family, and Lu Fusheng, the latter being the youngest among this group of Martial God experts.

Duan Qingyun offered a brief glance toward the members of the Nether Prison Sect before exchanging silent nods with Shan Yuan and Yue Su. Together, the trio moved forward to open the entrance to the Ancient Relic Array.

From a short distance, Ming Shuzi observed the proceedings in silence.

Moments later, the three masters simultaneously channeled a burst of True Yuan Jin Qi, forcing it directly into the array’s structure.

“So that is how they identify the node. But the exact placement of that trigger point...”

A grayish-white light shimmered in Ming Shuzi’s eyes as he scrutinized the breach, deeply lost in thought.

Opening a passage through this Ancient Relic Array was no simple task. Even with its power diminished from its original state, it was far beyond the capability of an ordinary Array Master.

Ming Shuzi himself held the title of a Second Order Array Master, yet he found himself utterly stumped when faced with the complexity of this ancient barrier.

While he managed to pick up some minor insights by watching Duan Qingyun, the broader design of the Ancient Relic Array remained a complete mystery to him.

Quietly and with an eerie lack of commotion, the party filed into the array. Both factions appeared to be exercising extreme restraint to avoid any unnecessary skirmishes.

The composition of the team entering today differed from previous attempts. Where once the Three Sects and Twelve Families sent elders whose lifespans were nearing their limit, this time they favored elite warriors.

This shift was a tactical response to the Nether Prison Sect’s show of force. The Lingxiu Three Sects were determined to fend off any potential massacres the Nether Prison Sect might attempt while deep within the ruins.

As the last of the group slipped through, the aperture into the array began to seal shut.

Across the valley, perched on a distant rise, Yang Zhenshan stood beneath the boughs of a tree, silently monitoring the event.

Positioned less than ten miles away, he held a vantage point that provided a clear view into the mountain hollow.

As the gateway vanished and the group disappeared inside, Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard and mused, “It appears there will be no turmoil in this sector for the time being.”

With the passage resealed, it would remain inaccessible for another month. Should any catastrophe unfold within, it would be another thirty days before anyone on the outside could discover it.

Deep down, Yang Zhenshan longed to step inside and investigate, yet he lacked the ability to enter. Both Golden Body Realm Martial Artists and Foundation Establishment cultivators were barred; his intrusion would trigger an immediate retaliation from the internal Guardian Array.

As he scanned the valley once more, preparing to retreat, he suddenly detected a sharp ripple of spiritual sense sweeping in his direction.

Yang Zhenshan’s eyes narrowed, and he pivoted to stare back at the mountain hollow.

Down below, Ming Shuzi had turned his gaze toward the hillside. The spiritual senses of the two cultivators collided in mid-air.

“What an immense spiritual sense!”

The thought occurred to both men simultaneously.

In terms of his Divine Soul, Yang Zhenshan’s power was comparable to a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, putting him on an equal footing with Ming Shuzi.

As he studied the figure of Ming Shuzi, Yang Zhenshan’s own presence, draped in a black robe, abruptly flickered and vanished completely from sight.

Ming Shuzi’s pupils constricted in surprise. “Who is that? That technique is truly bizarre!”

The method Yang Zhenshan used to disappear appeared otherworldly to Ming Shuzi. He attempted to track him with his spiritual sense, but as the man vanished, that connection was severed instantaneoulsy. When his sweep returned to the hill, it was completely empty.