"Is the restriction here really that difficult to break? To tell you the truth, Brother Zhao, I, Chang, recently acquired a top-tier magic artifact specifically designed to counter various restrictions and formations. Perhaps we won't need to go through so much trouble. Just by offering this treasure, we can directly shatter this formation and restriction!" Chang Pingqian looked at the restriction runes on the surrounding walls, hesitated for a moment, and then said, to everyone's surprise.
"Eh! Brother Chang, if you have such a miraculous treasure, of course you can try. Our combined efforts to break this restriction by brute force are, after all, only a last resort. If there's a better way, it would naturally be most ideal," Zhao LeiYun's eyes flashed with joy, and he replied without hesitation.
"The top-grade magic artifact Senior Brother obtained earlier is indeed extraordinary in power, capable of splitting mountains and breaking rocks. With a full-force strike, it might truly be possible to break through this formation and restriction," Wu Tao, as his fellow disciple, naturally stood by Chang Pingqian's side and supported his senior brother.
The others, seeing Chang Pingqian volunteering to resolve this major troublesome issue, would naturally not object as it saved them effort.
"Heh heh, since no one has any objections, I won't be polite. However, if I am fortunate enough to break the formation and restriction with this treasure, can I have the privilege of selecting some of the treasures in the great hall first?" Chang Pingqian chuckled. A glint flashed in his otherwise ordinary eyes, and his true intention was revealed in this one sentence.
Upon hearing this, the ice maiden cultivator and Xue Yan's expressions changed slightly, but they then looked at Zhao Lei Yun and the Yun brothers, waiting to see how the three would respond.
Zhao Lei Yun's face clearly showed a hint of surprise, but after exchanging glances with the Yun brothers, he suddenly addressed everyone in the hall, "Whether it's Fellow Daoist Chang or any other fellow Daoist, anyone who can break the formation and restriction here alone will be allowed to choose one treasure from our haul first. What do you esteemed friends think?"
After saying this, Zhao Lei Yun specifically observed the expressions of Wu Tao, Xue Yan, and the ice maiden cultivator.
As a result, Wu Tao appeared indifferent. Although Xue Yan and the ice maiden cultivator showed displeasure, they did not voice any opposition to the matter, tacitly agreeing.
Seeing this, Zhao Lei Yun smiled and immediately decisively clasped his hands towards Chang Pingqian, saying, "Since the other fellow Daoists have no objections, then Fellow Daoist Chang, you may proceed."
"Since that is the case, I shall give it a try," Chang Pingqian thought joyfully. He was quite confident in his treasure. As long as it wasn't an intangible formation or restriction like an illusionary formation or a curse, he felt he had a good chance. Otherwise, he wouldn't have risked angering others by rashly proposing this condition.
Chang Pingqian recalled that he had spent a thousand two hundred and fifty spirit stones at the auction to acquire this top-grade earth-element magic artifact, and his heart still ached immensely at the memory. After all, his entire savings accumulated over twenty-eight years, just over one thousand eight hundred spirit stones, had been spent in one go.
The next moment, Chang Pingqian reached into his storage bag and took out an item no more than a few inches in size. It was square and thick, entirely earth-yellow, resembling a large seal.
Without paying attention to the others, Chang Pingqian formed hand seals and chanted incantations. A dense surge of spiritual energy shot onto the great seal. Instantly, the item flashed with yellow light, and a not-weak spiritual pressure emanated from the magic artifact, spreading throughout the entire hall. This startled cultivators like Zhao Lei Yun and the Yun brothers, who had seen much. Upon seeing this, they immediately knew the power of this top-grade magic artifact was truly extraordinary, and they couldn't help but retreat a few steps, casting more glances at Chang Pingqian.
A blurry yellow light flashed, and a faint "crackling" sound came from the great seal. Zhao Lei Yun and the others were momentarily stunned and peered intently. They then noticed that within the blurry yellow light, there were still faint wisps of extremely condensed earth-element spiritual energy, flickering intermittently. Engraved beneath the seal were the three characters "Zhang Di Yin" (掌地印 - Earth Palm Seal). This treasure was a top-grade earth-element magic artifact with exceptionally powerful offensive capabilities and considerable might. Immediately, several probing gazes of varying expressions fell upon Chang Pingqian. Chang Pingqian himself smiled slightly, unconcerned. He cast a deep look at the wall of restriction runes before him, flicked his wrist, and tossed the great seal in his hand.
The blurry yellow light blazed, and as the Zhang Di Yin flew out, it abruptly magnified a hundredfold, instantly becoming several Zhang in size, accompanied by a low booming sound. The power of the Zhang Di Yin was indeed extraordinary, but the spiritual energy and time required to activate it were quite long, which caused everyone in the hall who was observing closely to secretly breathe a sigh of relief. Wu Tao also shook his head subtly. In terms of offensive power alone, this Zhang Di Yin could be considered among the top tier of all kinds of top-grade magic artifacts. It was a pity that its activation took too long and was too slow, making it somewhat of a chicken rib overall. Unless one could fix the target in place beforehand, any cultivator would essentially have time to react and dodge.
Chang Pingqian pointed at the house-sized great seal in the air and solemnly uttered, "Attack!!!" Immediately, dense earth-element spiritual energy converged upon the great seal. The great seal, carrying fearsome power, struck the wall inscribed with restriction runes without hesitation.
With a muffled "bang," the earth-element spiritual energy contained within the great seal instantly exploded, engulfing the surface of the wall, making it impossible to discern the situation within for a moment.
...
Seeing this, Wu Tao couldn't help but shake his head slightly. "Although this seal has decent power, facing the ancient restriction that even Zhao Lei Yun and the Yun brothers could do nothing about, this kind of divine ability alone is probably not enough..."
Before Wu Tao could finish his thoughts, the power of the earth-element spiritual energy on the wall dissipated. The Zhen Di Yin (震地印 - Earth Shaking Seal) floated gently a few inches in front of the wall, but the wall's surface remained intact, not even a crack appearing.
"Alas, it truly lives up to its name as an ancient restriction. I, Chang, have no way to break it. However, perhaps other esteemed Daoists with great divine abilities have other methods to break this ancient restriction!" Chang Pingqian sighed, turned around, and said to everyone with a wry smile. After saying this, Chang Pingqian retreated a few steps, returning to Wu Tao's side, signifying his surrender.
Zhao Lei Yun's face showed a hint of disappointment, but he wasn't too surprised. Nevertheless, as the initiator, he still said with a smile, "Although this treasure has considerable power, it is still somewhat lacking in breaking the ancient restriction here. I trouble Fellow Daoist Chang!"
...
Zhao Lei Yun's tone shifted, and he said to Wu Tao, "However, I once heard that Fellow Daoist Wu possesses a Three-Colored Restriction-Breaking Talisman. I wonder if such a rare and precious talisman is true?"
"Hmph! The Three-Colored Restriction-Breaking Talisman was something I bid on at an auction for one thousand nine hundred spirit stones. It's a single-use consumable, how could I use it so easily?" Wu Tao's expression darkened, and he raised an eyebrow, snorting in response.
Zhao Lei Yun heard this, exchanged glances with the Yun brothers, and then consulted with Xue Yan, the ice maiden cultivator, and others for a while...
Finally, after paying an additional ten percent of the treasures in the great hall, Wu Tao pondered for a moment and finally relented. Without being polite, after the terms were agreed upon, Wu Tao stepped forward and walked to the crystalline wall restriction that Chang Pingqian had failed to break.
Seeing this, the two Yun brothers standing behind Zhao Lei Yun had a hint of coldness and mockery in their eyes. They suddenly moved their lips and transmitted a few words to Xue Yan beside them.
Upon hearing these words, Xue Yan's face suddenly showed a strange smile, and his eyes, filled with murderous intent, looked at Wu Tao. As for Zhao Lei Yun, although his expression was normal, he also harbored ulterior motives in his heart. The ice maiden cultivator's eyes flickered, and it was unclear what she was thinking. Only Chang Pingqian stood behind, looking at Wu Tao with some concern.
Wu Tao stood before the wall filled with restriction runes. He raised his hand and extended a finger. He slightly mobilized the spiritual energy within his body and took out an ancient jade box from his storage bag. With a flash of light and a golden glow, the ancient jade box was instantly opened. Inside, the Three-Colored Restriction-Breaking Talisman was still filled with abundant spiritual energy and was perfectly preserved by Wu Tao.
The next second, Wu Tao acted with extreme caution. His entire palm was wrapped in gold-element spiritual energy. Then, with his fingers spread, he placed his palm on the Three-Colored Restriction-Breaking Talisman. Afterward, Wu Tao remained still, murmuring something continuously, seemingly chanting some ancient and special secret method incantation. Under the sound of the incantation, the Three-Colored Restriction-Breaking Talisman flashed, flew from Wu Tao's hand, and with a mental command, it directly aimed at the surface of the restriction wall, hovering in mid-air.
...
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