Trapped in a barrier

Su Zimo searched through all the houses but couldn't find any trace of Muyun Xuan and his son.

She looked up at the dark, heavy clouds pressing against the sky, concealing the previous golden brilliance. The atmosphere was heavy, as if the entire world had fallen into silence.

A faint breeze meandered through, and the sounds of insects and birds in the night sent shivers down Su Zimo's spine. She shook her head, leaving behind the noises of birds and insects.

"Weird, they disappeared in the blink of an eye. Where could they have gone?" Su Zimo muttered to herself.

There were no signs of damage to the doors and windows, nor any signs of a struggle inside the house.

Su Zimo had no choice but to turn her attention to the courtyard.

In the flower beds on both sides of the courtyard, several blooming roses swayed in the night breeze. The small flowers and grass in the courtyard had already trembled and wilted, as if a storm was about to come.

It was the plants on the ground that caught Su Zimo's attention. How could the small grass on the ground be in such disarray when the wind was so light? Could there be a barrier set up here?

"Yulong, sense if there's a barrier nearby."

Su Zimo couldn't sense it herself, but Yulong Pearl could.

"Master, this is the Dark Sha Barrier, very difficult to break."

There was a hint of concern in Yulong's voice.

"The Dark Sha Barrier? What does that mean? It's different from what I encountered before. I can only sense it subtly." Su Zimo was very puzzled. She encountered all sorts of strange experts as soon as she came out.

"No, we must find a way to rescue Yun Xuan and Li'er."

"Master, let's enter the Dark Sha Barrier first and then figure out a solution."

Su Zimo didn't hesitate and walked straight toward the faintly glowing barrier.

"She's gone in." In the room, Jun Lintian, concealed by the barrier, tightly clenched his fists. Was Su Zimo really willing to give up her life for Muyun Xuan?

A trace of restraint flickered in Jun Lintian's eyes, along with other unresolved emotions.

"Isn't that even better? It's a perfect opportunity to kill them all."

Muran Ze Yu's face revealed a hint of malice. He wouldn't let his children's personal affairs hinder him; otherwise, everything he had done would be in vain.

"Shut up." Jun Lintian's face darkened as he roared. If he were to kill Su Zimo as well, what would be the point of his current state? He was well aware of his intentions and the purpose behind everything he had done.

Jun Lintian started to set up the barrier again. He wouldn't let them meet unless they could break his barrier.

Muyun Xuan's cultivation was high, and he had already been inside the Dark Sha Barrier for almost an incense stick's worth of time, but he still hadn't come out. Jun Lintian was confident that he could trap them forever.

As soon as Su Zimo entered, she found herself in a dense ancient forest. She continued to shuttle through the trees, with her beloved man and her son as her targets.

"Roar!" A distant roar of a demonic beast echoed. The deafening sound caused the surrounding trees to tremble violently. Su Zimo quickly halted her steps and summoned the Fire Phoenix.

Just as she mounted the Fire Phoenix, a gigantic white-legged demonic beast charged toward Su Zimo.

"Momo, it's the Dark Frost Panther. It has strong killing power and attacks incredibly fast. Be extremely careful."

"This is the Dark Sha Barrier. We must first find Li'er and the others. Fire Phoenix, get rid of it."

The Dark Frost Panther was fast, but the Fire Phoenix was faster. When the Dark Frost Panther was still six or seven zhang away, Su Zimo swiftly swung her ice and snow whip.

A piercing whistling sound echoed as a lengthening white cloth shot straight toward the Dark Frost Panther. The ice and snow whip pierced through the back of the Dark Frost Panther's neck, bringing it down to the ground. Su Zimo utilized all her cultivation, dragging the Dark Frost Panther across the ground. The trees on both sides continuously fell to the sides, demonstrating the boundless power of the ice and snow whip. The Dark Frost Panther struggled and roared, but it couldn't break free from the entanglement of the ice and snow whip. Until the Dark Frost Panther's aura weakened, the Fire Phoenix finally slowed down. The body of the ice leopard gradually became transparent. Su Zimo twitched her lips. If it weren't for the barrier, killing such a demonic beast would contribute to her demonic beast's advancement.

"Oh! So tired." Su Zimo wiped the sweat off her forehead. Her body was in even more pain than before. She had brought this upon herself!

"Momo, where should we go?" the Fire Phoenix asked.

"To find Li'er and the others."

"But I looked around, and it seems like we're flying around in the same place. Take a look below."

The Fire Phoenix looked around and said, seemingly only able to fly around in place.

"Why? Could there be more than one barrier?" Su Zimo's eyes widened in surprise. She looked around and realized that they were indeed going in circles. She hadn't noticed it earlier when she was dragging the Dark Frost Panther. Now she saw that they had circled back to the same spot. "No, we need to break through the barrier first to find Yun Xuan and Li'er."

"Fire Phoenix, slow down. Let's look around and find a breakthrough point to get out," Su Zimo instructed.

"Okay!" The Fire Phoenix slowed its speed.

On Muyun Xuan's side, the three of them entered a dim space—a desolate and lifeless ancient forest where all the trees were withered and dead.

"Father, we're trapped in a barrier. It's dangerous for mother to be alone outside. We need to find a way back quickly," Su Li said, a trace of worry flickering in her eyes. They had entered the barrier in an instant, and it seemed even more difficult to break than Muyun Xuan had imagined.

"Don't worry, Li'er. This is the pinnacle of the Dark Sha Barrier. After reaching this realm, the practitioner can set up ten major formations with the barrier. However, formations require more cultivation and most people dare not attempt them easily," Muyun Xuan explained, realizing that he had never encountered such a powerful barrier before. But it wouldn't be able to defeat him. Just like the barrier, formations were inseparable from Yin and Yang and the laws of nature. If he continued to advance in cultivation, he would be able to cultivate the ten major formations.

"Father, Li'er has heard from Master about the ten major formations. But those are not something ordinary people can cultivate. One must have at least the cultivation of Tier Five in the Profound Sky Realm to cultivate formations. They are based on the laws of nature, with Yin and Yang as support, and the Five Elements as the main foundation. The person who sets up the formations can freely manipulate them. Among the ten major formations, the Five Elements Formation is the most powerful," Su Li explained.

"Wow! Young master is truly knowledgeable and talented. I have heard of these things as well, but in my thirty-plus years of life, I haven't met a five-year-old child with such deep insights. I am truly ashamed," Li Qiao said, feeling embarrassed as he looked at Su Li. If his own children had half the talent of Su Li, he would consider himself fortunate. His children, on the other hand, only knew how to play and had no interest in cultivation. His five-year-old son was only at the Mid-Xuan Realm, Second Stage. When others asked about it, he felt too embarrassed to answer.

"Don't embarrass me, Lord Li. Li'er wouldn't boast without reason. Li'er's master is a reclusive expert, and it is thanks to Li'er's good fortune that he learned these things," Su Li replied calmly, giving off a cold but genuine aura. His actions and words didn't need to be repeated, yet they left a lasting impression.

"Young master, you choose to follow the good and will surely achieve greatness in the future. As for my disobedient and ungrateful son, I have already lost all hope," Li Qiao shook his head, wondering why there was such a vast difference between children of the same age.

"We've found it," Muyun Xuan said with a hint of excitement. While his son and Li Qiao were chatting, he had been diligently searching for a breakthrough point.

"Father, be careful."

Just as Muyun Xuan was about to break the barrier, sharp swords suddenly appeared from the withered branches, attacking from all directions. In an instant, the space they were in turned pitch black.

Li Qiao couldn't help but gasp as he saw the countless withered branches coming at them from all directions. He wondered if his life would end here today.

Muyun Xuan's eyes turned sharp, and his tall figure acted as a protective shield, shielding Su Li behind him. He gathered all his power, absorbing all the withered branches in front of him. However, this consumed a tremendous amount of his profound energy. "Bang!" Muyun Xuan roared, and several explosions occurred around them, tearing the entire space into pieces.

Muyun Xuan leaped up abruptly and struck a withered tree with a huge golden light in his hands. In the moment the tree shattered, "Pu!" Jun Lintian suddenly spat out blood.

After setting up the final barrier in the courtyard, Jun Lintian said, "Let's go." He pulled Murong Zeyu and the two of them quickly disappeared inside the house.

The space shifted again, and Muyun Xuan and the others found themselves standing in the courtyard.

"Mother," Su Li exclaimed in surprise, realizing that her mother was standing not far away.

Su Li's eyes filled with excitement, and she hurriedly walked toward Su Zimo.

Muyun Xuan's sharp eyes softened as he saw Su Zimo's back. However, after Su Li had walked a certain distance, she stopped and looked at what was in front of her.

No, this wasn't her mother. Her mother wouldn't ignore her calls.

"Father, don't go any further," Su Li quickly blocked Muyun Xuan.

"Li'er..." Muyun Xuan frowned. "Something's not right! We've entered another barrier."

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