Ming Qi wasn't naive enough to assume that the other mercenary groups in Killing Star City were unaware of the secrets of Mount Osho. Furthermore, Ming Qi remembered another faction that had likely long been interested in the secrets of Mount Osho: the Biyou Sect.
It was precisely because Mo Qingchen had heard Blood Sword's secrets about Mount Osho that Blood Sword pursued him at all costs, even paying a large sum to hire other mercenary groups to intervene. This clearly shows that what Mo Qingchen had heard must be crucial information regarding the secrets of Mount Osho.
Now that Mo Qingchen has returned to the Biyou Sect, it's likely that the Biyou Sect has already begun planning for this matter.
The Biyou Sect is likely extremely interested in any treasure these days. It was precisely because of the Wonderful Sword Arsenal that they not only reaped immense benefits but also completely defeated their long-time rival, the Lihuo Sect, in the process of obtaining the treasure. Even the powerful Yaoshan Qingfu failed to gain any benefit from the Wonderful Sword Arsenal.
Such a massive harvest naturally made the Biyou Sect's members particularly eager for treasure. Ming Qi was even 100% certain that the Biyou Sect would intervene to uncover the secrets of Mount Osho!
Although numerous mercenary groups were already approaching the Imperial Mountains, the situation on Mount Osho remained unclear. It was possible that many were already hiding in the shadows, observing the movements there.
Although Ming Qi's forces were not particularly strong, he could see that the situation on Mount Osho was slowly descending into chaos. Once more mercenary groups arrived, the situation on Mount Osho would likely be utterly chaotic. Even taking advantage of the situation wouldn't be impossible.
However, his only concern at the moment was the Origin Formation mentioned by the Dikui Demon Fox.
The Origin Formation steals the natural gifts of heaven and earth, stealing the vitality of any living being within it, completely unnoticeable. He had once asked the Di Kui Demon Fox, and the only noticeable symptom of being affected by the Origin Formation was a rapid aging process, accelerated ten or even a hundred times faster than normal.
The only way to avoid being affected by the Origin Formation was to stay away from it. In other words, if possible, one could isolate their own vitality from the outside world, preventing contact with the Origin Formation's aura. This would also prevent its influence.
Although Ming Qi and his companions could see Mount Osho, the main peak of the Imperial Mountain Range, in the distance, the distance was still immense. Even at full speed, it would likely take more than a day, not to mention that they were not simply on the move.
The group moved cautiously, with Da Bai still maintaining vigilance and the Di Kui Demon Fox accompanying Ming Qi.
After walking for about three or four hours, they suddenly noticed a significant change in their surroundings.
Before he could figure out the reason for the change, Ming Qi suddenly spotted a massive, majestic palace quietly standing not far ahead.
"Huh?"
Ming Qi was stunned. What was going on?
How could a palace appear in these desolate mountains?
But he clearly saw a palace of a completely different and imposing style standing before him, completely real.
At the same time, several people also saw the palace that seemed to have suddenly appeared.
"What is that!"
"Am I seeing things? How could such a luxurious building exist here?"
"What a beautiful palace!"
Several people were stunned for a moment.
This was something completely out of the ordinary, yet it was actually happening right now.
Ming Qi shifted his gaze and was surprised to find that there was more than one palace like this. Four identical palaces stood in all four directions, front, back, left, and right.
"Something's strange! Be careful everyone!"
Ming Qi whispered a warning, then took a cautious step forward.
Not changing direction was the only thing Ming Qi could do, and he believed it was the right thing to do. They had been heading straight for Mount Osho, and now, with several mysterious palaces suddenly appearing around them, they absolutely could not change direction. Any change would likely lead to them getting lost.
As they walked, Ming Qi attempted to contact Dabai through his spiritual sense and aura, but unfortunately, Dabai's presence had completely vanished.
There must be something strange going on. Ming Qi had already determined that Dabai was not far away from them, and under normal circumstances, he would have been able to sense Dabai's presence. But now, he could not sense it at all. Clearly, his aura and spiritual sense were being disrupted, perhaps even blocked.
The space surrounded by these four mysterious palaces was most likely a completely enclosed space, cut off from any contact with the outside world.
But Ming Qi didn't believe it was simply a closed space; something terrifying must be hidden within it.
After walking for a while, Ming Qi and the others arrived in front of the mysterious palace ahead. The towering, majestic palace towered before them, a sight of golden splendor, its layers of carved beams and painted buildings a dazzling spectacle.
But by this point, no one had the heart to admire it. The building's abrupt appearance made it clear that this was anything but normal.
Anything unusual must be a sinister omen, and this wasn't simply unusual; the scene before them was simply bizarre.
Suddenly, the Di Kui Fox sniffed the air and exclaimed in astonishment, "Such a strong primordial force!"
"What!"
Hearing this, even the usually calm Ming Qi was startled.
The primordial force, the primordial array, the primordial array relied on the primordial force to draw vitality from those within it, providing life force for those about to be reborn against the will of heaven, thereby reshaping their primordial force.
Could it be that I had unknowingly reached the core of the Origin Formation?
"Yes, that's right. The air here is filled with the scent of Origin Power. We are aging at an accelerated rate."
The Di Kui Demon Fox's response was like a bludgeon, nearly knocking everyone unconscious.
Accelerated aging, something I had just heard of as a legend, was now inexplicably happening to me. How dramatic it must have been.
But no one considered how irrational, how beyond imagination, it was all beginning to happen. After all, everything had truly begun.
No one moved forward. Everyone could already feel the uncontrollable changes in their bodies.
"How could this be? My Yuan Power seems to have completely vanished!"
Su Yuan suddenly cried out in surprise.
She still held her rapier, but it now looked gray and dull, devoid of any luster, and the spiritual energy within it was completely undetectable.
Hearing Su Yuan's words, the others hurriedly tried to circulate their Yuan Energy, only to see their faces pale the next moment.
Really, their Yuan Energy had completely vanished!
Everyone felt the same way, including Ming Qi. He couldn't feel the Yuan Energy flowing through his body at this moment, as if he were just an ordinary mortal.
"Don't panic!"
Watching the girls' faces grow increasingly pale, Ming Qi shouted, his eyes quickly scanning the surroundings, trying to find any trace of the four identical giant palaces.
Now that their Yuan Energy was depleted, they had to find a way to escape. Otherwise, if their vitality was completely drained by the Origin Formation, they would be doomed.
"Di Kui, is there any way to resist the Origin Force?"
Ming Qi pondered as he asked the Di Kui Fox Demon beside him.
The Di Kui Fox Demon was, after all, an old demon beast who had cultivated for countless years and knew more than Ming Qi.
"I know about the Origin Formation's Origin Power, but I've only heard about it. As for resisting the erosion of that Origin Power, I truly don't know."
The Dikui Fox Demon's response disappointed everyone.
Among these people, the strongest was the Dikui Fox Demon. However, at this point, strength seemed meaningless, as its Yuan Power had inexplicably vanished. Without its support, its strength was completely nonexistent.
It wasn't long before Ming Qi fully felt the terror of the Origin Power.
At first, he felt a wave of discomfort all over his body. Then, he felt a dense, short beard growing on his chin. He could even feel it slowly growing outward.
"The Origin Power is eroding very rapidly. At the current rate, we'll be completely aging and reduced to a pile of bones in just one day."
The Dikui Fox Demon stared ahead, speaking word by word.
One day, only one day!
Ming Qi was shocked. He hadn't expected to find himself in such a desperate situation so quietly. He had no idea how to resist the Origin Power and was essentially sitting there waiting for death.
"No!"
Ming Qi gritted his teeth and said, "Let's split up and search in different directions. We'll definitely find a way out!"
At this point, there was no way to lose faith. Even if the chances of escape seemed slim, there was no giving up. At least that's what Ming Qi believed.
"We still have one day left. Don't give up. We'll definitely get out!"
Encouraged by Ming Qi, the others dispersed and searched in different directions.
The space surrounded by the four enormous palaces was not large. It was bathed in a faint, bright silver hue. Even the ground beneath his feet, the dead grass and trees, were tinged with a faint silver hue. Looking around, one felt as if they were in a beautiful, silvery fantasy.
Not only the ground, but the sky as well was a faint, bright silver hue. Without the sun, moon, or stars, it was impossible to distinguish between day and night.
Ming Qi held an ordinary long sword and searched carefully ahead. He did not miss any details he passed by, including trees, boulders, dead grass, and caves. He explored them one by one.