Chapter 945 - Four Seasons Mirage

Perhaps Liu Wuxie had once read about such a phenomenon in a book long ago, but the memory had long been buried deep within him. Now, standing before it, that distant memory stirred from the depths of his mind.

"What an exquisite Four Seasons Mirage Array! Only someone at the Heaven Profound Realm could have set this up," Liu Wuxie admired.

The so-called four seasons referred to four cores, each stationed at one corner to form a protective shield. Creating such an array required channeling the essence of all four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

He turned to look at the towering tree, tall and majestic, representing spring. When he looked at the tree, he suddenly felt a resonance with the ancestral tree.

This is a heavenly tree, brimming with powerful essence. Anyone can refine it, and it's an exceedingly rare treasure

. Liu Wuxie searched his memory for the name of this tree.

Heavenly trees were rare and were virtually extinct. Only a few still existed, even in the Fleeting Cloud Immortal Realm. He was surprised to find one here, one so large.

The heavenly tree would wither and die once it lost its essence, and the essence took ten thousand years to form. This meant the heavenly tree had lived for at least ten thousand years.

Others didn't recognize it, but Liu Wuxie had read about it at the Liu Clan's Book Collection Pavilion.

When he shifted his gaze to the next barrier, he could sense the intense heat radiating even through it.

"Molten Flame Stone!" Liu Wuxie exclaimed, drawing attention from the surroundings.

He quickly composed himself. The Molten Flame Stones were rare and contained fierce heat. Born deep within flame veins, each one required ten thousand years to form.

Many people referred to it as the flame seed. Plants could sprout when seeds were buried in the ground, and that was the same for fire. If the Molten Flame Stone was buried underground, it could swiftly develop into a fire vein.

Liu Wuxie turned to look at the golden and withered tree with five fruits hanging from its branches.

"The Autumn Blossom Fruit!" This time, the voice didn't come from Liu Wuxie but from a youth dozens of meters away, who had recognized the fruits on the tree.

Each fruit could allow someone in the Spirit Profound Realm to make a breakthrough unconditionally. If someone at the Earth Profound Realm consumed it, there was a seventy percent chance of making a breakthrough.

If someone at the pinnacle of the Spirit Profound Realm obtained them, they would have a good chance of reaching the third-level Earth Profound Realm directly, saving hundreds of years of cultivation. Such a priceless treasure had appeared here.

If Communication Talismans had still been usable, everyone would have already summoned their companions.

Liu Wuxie silently nodded, agreeing with the youth's words. The fruits were indeed the Autumn Blossom Fruit.

A thousand years ago, one such fruit had appeared in the True Martial Continent, sparking a ferocious competition. As a result, the tree was destroyed, and only one fruit had remained. However, it was swiftly taken and was never seen again.

Liu Wuxie's eyes instantly blazed with desire. All three were priceless treasures, and it wasn't hard to tell by the looks of others that they were prepared to fight for them.

If not for the spiritual array, everyone would have charged in and ransacked everything.

Finally, Liu Wuxie turned toward the winter region, where snowflakes descended from the sky. The marvel wasn't on the ground but in the air.

A strange leaf floating in the air emanated a bone-chilling aura. Although the leaf was small, its energy was terrifying.

"That's the Winter Crystal Leaf!" Liu Wuxie looked shocked and excited.

He had only mingled with the crowd to evade the Black Plume Pavilion's and the divinekins' pursuit. He had only arrived at this place by pure accident.

Not only had he stumbled upon the rare Four Seasons Mirage Array, but each season contained a priceless treasure.

They were priceless enough to spark a bloodbath in the True Martial Continent, even among cultivators at the pinnacle of the Earth Profound Realm. After all, even cultivators at the Earth Profound Realm could benefit from these treasures.

After reaching the Heaven Profound Realm, they would begin to comprehend heaven and earth, making cultivation progress increasingly difficult without external aid. This was why they needed precious treasures to aid them in their breakthrough.

More cultivators began to arrive.

The other regions had already been stripped of value throughout the years, and they had no choice but to venture into the uncharted zones.

A man leaped into the air and struck the barrier with the sword, only to be sent flying away by a powerful backlash.

The Four Seasons Mirage Array's greatest effect was the ability to draw upon the forces of all four seasons. This meant anyone who wanted to get close would have to face the overwhelming force of the four seasons.

Only someone at the pinnacle of the Earth Profound Realm would have a sliver of hope of breaking it. And even so, only a sliver.

After all, there was no way in unless they could find the spiritual array's core.

Liu Wuxie began to scour through his memories to recall anything about this spiritual array.

With my ability and the Heavenly Dao Book, I can break the Four Seasons Mirage Array in a day.

There was no way he would give up after running into such invaluable treasures.

If he could obtain all the treasures, he could leap four levels in one go, instantly reaching the ninth-level True Profound Realm.

"But everyone will rush in when I break the spiritual array, and it'll be no different from handing them the treasures." Liu Wuxie hesitated. He had to enter the spiritual array without destroying it and retrieve the treasures.

"Look, the Liao Clan is here! They're famed for their achievements in spiritual arrays!" someone yelled.

Among the Four Great Clans, the Liu Clan specialized in alchemy, the Wang Clan in spiritual talismans, the Liao Clan in spiritual arrays, and the Yuan Clan in blacksmithing. The Four Great Clans had their unique strengths.

The Liao Clan had developed the best and became the strongest among the four clans, followed by the Wang Clan, Yuan Clan, and the Liu Clan at last.

The Liao Clan's arrival sparked hope in everyone. If the spiritual array could be broken, everyone could compete fairly for the treasures.

Three people had arrived from the Liao Clan. They were a group of two men and a woman, all young with high cultivation.

Liu Wuxie recognized one of them, and he was likely a disciple of the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy.

"Look, that's Liao Changhong! I've heard he's the most talented in the Liao Clan's younger generation in terms of spiritual arrays. He joined the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy a few years ago, and he's now a holy son!" someone exclaimed after recognizing Liao Changhong, who was the oldest and strongest among the trio with his cultivation at the pinnacle of the Spirit Profound Realm.

The crowd parted, allowing the trio to approach the spiritual array.

A youth who was also at the pinnacle of the Spirit Profound Realm walked over. "Brother Liao, can you decipher anything?" Judging from his tone, he seemed to be familiar with Liao Changhong.

"What an exquisite spiritual array. It's not impossible to break it, but there's a condition," Liao Changhong replied after examining the spiritual array.

"Brother Liao, just name your condition. What do you need?" All the eyes turned to Liao Changhong.

"After breaking the spiritual array, the Liao Clan will take two treasures. As for the others, you people can fight for it," Liao Changhong stated his condition. It would consume energy and resources to break through the spiritual array, and he couldn't possibly allow others to benefit when he did all the work.

If everyone flocked in after breaking the array, the Liao Clan wouldn't obtain anything.

"That's too greedy! There are only four treasures, and your Liao Clan wants two?" someone protested. They would have agreed if Liao Changhong had only asked for one, but asking for two was unreasonable, considering there were over a thousand people.

"You're right—I am being greedy. But who else present can break the spiritual array aside from our Liao Clan? If you can break it, I will also agree to let you have two treasures," Liao Changhong retorted.

The crowd fell silent. Though his words were harsh, they were true.

Many experts in spiritual arrays had already tried to break the formation, but even after an entire day, they had made no progress.

It was pure torture to have the treasures so close, yet utterly beyond reach.

Everyone began to grow anxious, especially those at the high levels of the Spirit Profound Realm. The strongest among them was at the pinnacle of the Spirit Profound Realm, but they had already exhausted their potential. Making a breakthrough to the Earth Profound Realm was nearly impossible for them.

However, if they could seize even a single treasure, they would have a chance to step into the Earth Profound Realm. With their bodies reshaped by the treasures, they might even have a chance to reach the Heaven Profound Realm in the future—rising to stand at the very pinnacle of the True Martial Continent.

As for those at the True Profound Realm, they would likely be cannon fodder as their chances of seizing anything were slim.

Liu Wuxie heard their conversation and knew he had to speed up. He had to enter the spiritual array before the Liao Clan without destroying it.

"Since there are no objections, I assume everyone agrees to my terms. If anyone dares renege, you'll have to face the retaliation of my Liao Clan," Liao Changhong declared. With the Liao Clan's standing in the Central Plains, his words were far from empty.

The Liao Clan was the strongest among the Four Great Clans; even the major sects dared not offend them.

Rumor had it they had even invented a mobile spiritual array — one that could be deployed anywhere, sealing escape once it was activated.

Silence fell again as everyone had their agendas. Once the array was down, it would be a free-for-all, and whoever grabbed the treasures would keep them.

Liao Changhong naturally took note of everyone's expression, and he merely sneered.

"Third sister, you two rush in and grab two treasures after I destroy the spiritual array. I'll hold the entrance for three breaths," Liao Changhong said, his voice reaching his companions.

His goal was to create a small opening in the spiritual barrier to allow his companions in, and he had no intention of sacrificing his gain for the benefit of others.