The incomplete jade slip was impossible to identify, but its presence here suggested it was no ordinary object.

Shen Xian stowed it away for the moment, intending to ask Ye Qingxian about it later.

He then continued to explore the other areas of the stele forest. He found several decent items, though most were related to the art of beast taming.

While this cave abode suppressed one’s cultivation realm, it imposed few restrictions on spiritual sense.

Meanwhile, Shen Tianhao and the others had also made some gains.

Since the cave abode had not yet been fully opened, treasures seemed to litter the ground. Coupled with the information left by previous explorers, their harvest was quite substantial.

Just then, everyone sensed a ripple of spiritual energy approaching from the distance.

“Be careful,” Shen Tianhao warned immediately, suspecting more evil cultivators.

After a moment’s wait, a squad clad in Shen Family attire came into view, heading their way.

Leading them was a middle-aged cultivator with a steady demeanor. He was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm, and at his waist hung a token identifying him as a guard of the Shen Family’s direct line.

Behind him followed seven other Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their auras were restrained, clearly marking them as elites.

This cave abode was currently under Shen Family management. Besides their group, other exploration squads were indeed present within.

Seeing the newcomers, Shen Tianhao did not lower his guard.

He stepped forward first, intending to inquire about their identities.

The leading middle-aged cultivator clasped his hands in greeting from a distance, his voice booming. “I am Shen Yunhe, dispatched by the family to investigate the cave abode. You must be the Third Young Master?”

Shen Xian’s entry into the cave abode wasn’t a secret; many in the clan were aware of it.

Hearing the name, Shen Tianhao relaxed slightly.

The name Shen Yunhe rang a bell. He was a relatively outstanding member of a branch family. They belonged to the same generation and had crossed paths a few times.

Realizing these weren’t evil cultivators in disguise, he sent a voice transmission to Shen Xian. “Third Young Master, their identities check out.”

Shen Xian’s gaze remained calm, but his vigilance did not waver.

They were indeed from the Shen Family, but who could guarantee they weren’t enemies?

His second brother had already torn away all pretense.

So, he transmitted back, “Better safe than sorry. Stay alert.”

Shen Tianhao understood. He took another step forward, a familiar smile on his face as he clasped his hands. “Brother Yunhe, it’s been years. I never expected our reunion would be here.”

Shen Yunhe laughed heartily and returned the salute with a fist-palm gesture. “You’re too kind, Brother Tianhao. Clan affairs keep one busy; such opportunities to gather are rare.”

His gaze shifted to Shen Xian. He gave a slight bow, his tone respectful yet neither subservient nor arrogant. “Third Young Master.”

Shen Xian gave a faint nod, but his eyes subtly swept over the seven men behind Shen Yunhe.

According to intelligence from Shen Lingyue, family squads typically operated in groups of twenty. This squad was short on numbers.

Shen Tianhao’s smile didn’t fade as he asked casually, “Brother Yunhe, which elder ordered your squad here? With so many clan matters lately, I hadn’t heard of any additional personnel being assigned.”

He was probing. After all, clan regulations governed cave abode exploration; one couldn’t just enter at will.

“It was the Family Head’s order,” Shen Yunhe replied truthfully, producing proof. “We were exploring according to clan regulations when we unexpectedly encountered evil cultivators and suffered some losses.”

“Remembering that the Third Young Master was also in the cave abode, and after sending word to the elders guarding the entrance, we specifically came to offer support.”

“It’s truly fortunate that you are unharmed, Third Young Master.”

A look of relief spread across his face.

Shen Xian gave a slight nod. “With your addition, our exploration will be safer.”

That was what he said aloud, but internally, he remained on guard.

“Are we still continuing the exploration?” one of the squad members muttered under his breath at that moment.

With evil cultivators appearing in the cave abode now, continuing would likely invite another attack.

“Silence! How dare you question the Third Young Master?” Shen Yunhe rebuked his subordinate sharply before turning back to Shen Xian with an apologetic smile. “Third Young Master, if you wish to continue exploring, we will certainly lend our strength.”

A flicker passed through Shen Xian’s eyes.

Since when did he hold such status within the clan?

“Good,” he chuckled lightly.

Boom—

Just as Shen Xian was conversing with Shen Yunhe and his men, the massive purple-gold stele at the center of the forest suddenly erupted with blinding golden light!

The entire stele forest trembled. Countless beast patterns writhed like living things, transforming into a golden torrent that converged toward Ye Qingxian.

Her figure was enveloped in dazzling radiance, her robes fluttering as if an immortal had descended to the mortal realm.

“Is this… inheritance resonance?!” Shen Tianhao’s pupils contracted sharply as he exclaimed in shock.

Such an extraordinary phenomenon undoubtedly meant she had obtained this stele forest’s core secret art.

A strange glint flashed in Shen Yunhe’s eyes but was quickly suppressed as he praised admiringly, “The Young Madam possesses peerless talent to actually trigger resonance with the Purple-Gold Stele. Truly admirable.”

The others were also filled with awe and wonder.

“Perhaps… perhaps Young Madam can use this to recover her strength,” Shen Tianhao couldn’t help but say.

Before the Purple-Gold Stele.

Golden light surged like tidal waves. The beast patterns on the massive stele actually detached from its surface, transforming into streams of golden light that swirled around Ye Qingxian’s body.

The runes coalesced into cranes spreading their wings or galloping qilins. Each phantom image contained an ancient and powerful aura…

Roar—

Suddenly, a dragon’s roar that shook the soul emanated from within the stele. The golden light abruptly contracted, coalescing into a profound mark between Ye Qingxian’s brows.

“Is this… the True Seal of Ten Thousand Beasts?!” Shen Yunhe cried out in shock again, an almost imperceptible shadow flickering deep within his eyes.

Shen Xian’s gaze sharpened.

The True Seal of Ten Thousand Beasts was a legacy secret art of beast taming. Legend said only those recognized by ancient beast spirits could condense it.

Once formed, this seal could command myriad beasts and even draw upon their spiritual power to nourish oneself.

However, just as everyone was stunned by this sight—a sudden change occurred!

From the shadows, a wisp of sinister black energy shot out like a venomous snake, silently merging into the golden light!

The black energy twisted like a living thing and actually attempted to burrow into Ye Qingxian’s consciousness through the mark on her brow!

“Hmm?” Ye Qingxian frowned slightly. The golden light around her flared violently, temporarily blocking out the black energy outside her body.

But that black energy was extremely tenacious! Even scorched by the golden light, it didn’t dissipate; instead, it split into countless fine threads, clinging stubbornly like maggots in bone!

Even more bizarrely—several gray steles at the edge of the forest simultaneously lit up with a bloody glow, faintly resonating with the black energy!

“Something’s wrong!” Shen Tianhao whirled around to glare at Shen Yunhe. “When you entered, did you disturb any other steles?”

Shen Yunhe looked bewildered. “We followed spiritual energy fluctuations all the way here. We didn’t—”

Before he could finish speaking, one guard behind him suddenly grunted, black blood seeping from all seven orifices!

“Aaaaah…”

That guard screamed, kneeling over as his skin bulged with countless squirming black lines! In the blink of an eye, the entire person transformed into a desiccated corpse!

And a dense stream of black energy shot out from the crown of his head, plunging lightning-fast into the nearest gray stele!

“It’s the Soul-Devouring Gu!” Shen Tianhao roared. “Everyone scatter! Don’t touch those gray steles!”

Almost simultaneously, rustling sounds came from the shadows surrounding the stele forest!

The previously escaped red-robed evil cultivator stepped out slowly, holding a white-bone lantern, its wick burning with eerie green ghost-fire!

Beside him, over thirty more evil cultivators charged out from within the stele forest, each exuding a sinister aura!