Dashing Student Chapter 1365 1365: The Nation's Foundations

Within the expansive ruins, Zhong Ling and her cohort were diligently working to dismantle the formidable array.

Their initial intent wasn't to breach the colossal magic array entirely, nor did they possess the capability. Their objective was merely to carve a small aperture, akin to industrious mice, to facilitate their passage.

After a substantial depletion of mana, the magic array's barrier finally yielded, creating a passage just large enough for a single individual.

The immense portal loomed tantalizingly close.

"We've managed it!" the array master exclaimed with elation, "Quickly now, we only have half an hour before this collapses, or we'll all be stranded within."

Zhong Ling felt a profound exhaustion, yet the jubilant expressions on her companions' faces made the arduous effort feel undeniably rewarding.

The group swiftly traversed the sizable opening, finally finding themselves within the majestic edifice. Together, they then nudged open the colossal entrance just a sliver.

Beyond the threshold lay a corridor, its flanking walls adorned with intricate, peculiar patterns. Below, a grand Beidou Seven Stars emblem was inscribed upon the stone flagstones.

The mere act of traversing this corridor instilled an inexplicable sense of profound reverence.

At the corridor's terminus, a magnificent hall unfolded, its grandeur surpassing all comprehension. The sheer vastness was overwhelming, and emblazoned upon the high dome overhead was a strikingly lifelike carving of a True Dragon.

However, a closer examination revealed it to be an artifact meticulously sculpted from some unknown material.

Flanking the hall stood imposing stone effigies, each exceeding three meters in height. They bore the likeness of soldiers, their hands gripping long bronze spears.

This sanctuary strongly resembled what Qing Qing and her companions had surmised: the legendary Library Pavilion of this enigmatic realm. Within the hall, rows upon rows of towering bookshelves stood sentinel, each shelf overflowing with countless jade scrolls.

Despite the passage of innumerable ages, these jade scrolls remained remarkably preserved, their surfaces even bearing a layer of protective seals, clearly necessitating specialized methods for access.

"Could all of these be Heart Sutra Techniques? Won't we be impossibly wealthy then?" inquired one cultivator, stepping forward, his eyes alight with avarice.

Qing Qing shared in the palpable excitement, declaring, "This is the veritable bedrock upon which a powerful nation is built!"

Meanwhile, another cultivator, his attention captivated, proceeded directly towards one of the stone sentinels, his gaze intensely fixed upon the bronze long spear clutched in its hand.

Upon reaching it, he summoned forth his spiritual artifact and struck the spear with considerable force. A layer of aged rust flaked away, exposing the spear as if it were freshly forged.

Though the spear measured over five meters in length, evidently not crafted for typical cultivators, a wave of excitement surged through the assembly.

"It's a spiritual artifact, and a high-grade one at that – at least Sixth Grade!"

This pronouncement amplified the collective thrill, and immediate instructions were issued: "Old Xu, go secure those two bronze long spears. Everyone else, proceed with the plan we previously devised!"

Zhong Ling found herself momentarily disoriented. What plan had they discussed? Had it transpired without her knowledge or inclusion?

As her mind grappled with these questions, a subtle disquiet began to surface.

She observed that Qing Qing and her associates were subtly maneuvering to surround her.

"Sister Qing, what is it you intend to do?" Zhong Ling inquired, still hesitantly clinging to the hope that her burgeoning suspicions were unfounded.

The array master let out a derisive sneer, "Qing Qing, it seems she genuinely considers you a sister. Truly, a naive little rabbit."

Qing Qing's countenance shifted, her former gentle smile dissolving into an expression of cold indifference. "Zhong Ling, cease your fanciful notions. In a place like this, do you truly believe true friendship can be found?"

"In your next existence, endeavor not to be so gullible!"

As her words concluded, several cultivators launched their assault simultaneously, a barrage of spells hurtling towards Zhong Ling.

In that critical instant, Zhong Ling felt as though the very heavens were crumbling around her. She had steadfastly believed she had found companions, convinced that the world beyond her master's warnings held less treachery.

Yet, the stark reality now slammed into her. The external world was a brutal arena of survival; strength dictated alliances, while weakness rendered one vulnerable prey.

From the very outset, Qing Qing and her contingent had their sights set squarely on her!

"Ah!"

Zhong Ling's cry of anguish reverberated through the hall, tears streaming down her face. In that moment of profound despair, she experienced an abrupt, transformative maturation.

Her mana surged uncontrollably, and a volley of spiritual artifacts erupted from her person, each demonstrably of no lesser quality than Seventh Grade.

Although Chen Nan could not bequeath his most critical trump cards to Zhong Ling, he had never been parsimonious with his disciple, consistently bestowing upon her every cultivation resource, spell, and spiritual artifact at his disposal.

Consequently, despite her comparatively nascent cultivation, Zhong Ling possessed the attributes of a genuinely affluent cultivator.

"Indeed, a most substantial prize!"

The array master, witnessing Zhong Ling's considerable wealth, bellowed with renewed fervor and launched a desperate assault. However, after the duration of a full incense stick, they had still failed to subdue her.

"How does she still possess mana? Didn't the prior array completely deplete her energy reserves?" a frustrated voice cried out.

It was revealed that the array they had collaboratively erected during the process of breaching the barrier was specifically engineered to drain Zhong Ling's considerable mana.

The calculated intention was to leave her with minimal capacity for resistance when they initiated their attack.

However, their current situation was far beyond what they had anticipated. Not only had they failed to subdue Zhong Ling, but she was actually growing more powerful, her mana appearing to be boundless.

"Damn it, time is running out!" the formation master exclaimed in frustration. "Qing Qing, hurry and gather as many of these jade scrolls as you can. We will handle this girl."

Qing Qing nodded in agreement and began to withdraw.

Zhong Ling was fighting with all her might. She knew that she was truly nearing her limit, and no matter how abundant her mana was, there would come a point when it would eventually be depleted.

"You all deserve to perish!"

She gritted her teeth and lightly tapped her storage bag at her waist. Instantly, hundreds of lights erupted. As the lights dissipated, the formation master and the others were left dumbfounded.

Because within those bursts of light were talismans!

Judging by the mana fluctuations emanating from them, most of these talismans were Seventh Grade.

"This is bad, we need to retreat!"

The formation master's face contorted with alarm as he scrambled to retreat. But at that very moment, Zhong Ling had already activated all the talismans, simultaneously activating the Jiao Long Armor she wore.

Although her Jiao Long Armor was only a Seventh Grade artifact, it possessed the capability to withstand the majority of attacks from Golden Core Realm experts.

Boom!

Hundreds of talismans detonated in unison, and the resultant power was staggering. The formation master and his companions were violently flung backward, each sustaining injuries.

Not far away, Qing Qing, who had been diligently collecting jade scrolls, was suddenly startled, causing the scrolls in her hands to tumble to the ground.

The dropped jade scrolls were still covered in a layer of seals, rendering the text illegible. However, Qing Qing suddenly perceived a peculiar aura.

After this aura washed over her, the entire Library Pavilion underwent a transformation.

The Library Pavilion, which had previously resembled an ancient, quiet, and accommodating elder, now seemed to awaken. Everyone could distinctly sense a palpable feeling of "hostility"!

The interior of the Library Pavilion suddenly blazed with red light, and a crimson beam of energy shot directly through the dome, a spectacle visible for a hundred miles.

"Damn it, we've been discovered!"