Elyon, who had remained quiet until now, frowned slightly. "But if the arrays are so strong, how are we to breach them once inside? Even without offensive strength, something that can endure the void will surely resist anything we throw at it."

His question was sharp, and it cut to the heart of their dilemma.

Lin Mu shared the concern. They were inside, yes, but that did not mean the path would be simple. Whatever awaited them beyond the inner layers of this sphere would be guarded not by walls of stone, but by the will of formation lines that had endured centuries.

Daoist Chu placed a hand behind his back and let out a slow breath. "That is why Lin Mu must lead. His connection to space, and his insight into formations, are our sharpest blades. Where brute force cannot succeed, precision may open a path."

The younger cultivators straightened as they heard this, while Lin Mu merely inclined his head in acknowledgment.

He knew the truth of those words. His own comprehension of space had advanced to a level that few others could match. If anyone could unravel the secrets of this sphere, it was him.

Yet as he looked deeper into the shimmering patterns that stretched endlessly, he could not help but marvel at the one who had created them.

It was like staring into the thoughts of a giant, each line a reflection of philosophy, each curve a testament to patience. The more he studied, the more certain he became that this was not simply the work of a craftsman, but of an artist who had given his life to space itself.

And somewhere beyond these walls, the Hidden Cave Sect was waiting.

The tunnels stretched long and winding, each one carved with unnatural precision. The walls glowed faintly, illuminated by strands of energy lines embedded into their surfaces. These threads of light pulsed softly, like veins carrying lifeblood, giving the entire passage an eerie vitality.

Lin Mu and the others moved with practiced caution.

Every step was measured, every breath held for a fraction of a second longer than usual, their senses fully extended. They had expected to be halted by walls of sealing energy, triggered barriers, or even defensive puppets that would challenge their intrusion. Yet nothing came.

The tunnels remained silent. Too silent.

High Elder Yang Dao frowned, one hand hovering over the hilt of his sword. "Shouldn’t we have encountered something by now?"

Cattaleya glanced at him, her eyes narrowing as her gaze swept over the glowing walls. "That was my thought as well. This feels... unnatural."

"I would try to read the darkness here, but the lighting makes it difficult." Elyon spoke.

Daoist Chu’s brow furrowed as his immortal sense spread outward again.

He had done this countless times since they entered the sphere, but the result never changed. He sensed the immense strength of the overarching formation, but no alarms, no selective filters, no guardians placed along their route.

Lin Mu slowed his steps, pausing long enough for the others to notice. His eyes were distant, as if he were staring at something none of them could see.

Finally, he spoke, his tone calm yet edged with surprise. "I do not believe these arrays restrict entry at all."

The group halted, and several pairs of eyes turned to him in confusion.

"What do you mean?" Elyon asked. His voice was a touch incredulous, as if unwilling to believe what he had just heard.

Lin Mu’s gaze sharpened. "Look closely. We have passed through layer after layer of the formation. Yet never once have we encountered an identification filter, nor even a strand of energy designed to read our presence.

The simplest sect, no matter how small, always places markers to identify members and to bar outsiders. But here, there is nothing. No alarms. No restrictions. No countermeasures. These arrays are only for reinforcement. They serve one purpose alone: to endure."

The words lingered in the air, heavy with implication.

A junior elder frowned, his tone uncertain. "Could this be a trap then? Perhaps the arrays are designed to allow us to pass until we reach the center, and only then will they close upon us."

Daoist Chu shook his head. His voice was steady, dismissive of the idea. "No. I would have sensed such triggers. Even the subtlest of alarm formations leave behind traces of killing intent or restrictive pressure. I feel none. This tunnel is exactly what it appears to be. An open path leading inward."

Elyon’s brows rose in disbelief. "So they simply left it open? Could it be... that the Hidden Cave Sect was so confident no one would ever find them, they did not even bother with security?"

Lin Mu thought for a moment, then slowly nodded. "It is possible. Concealment has always been their greatest weapon. If no one could find this sphere in the void, then perhaps they believed additional defenses unnecessary. They put everything into hiding rather than protection against intruders."

Cattaleya’s lips curved into a small, amused smile.

She chuckled, the sound oddly cheerful against the oppressive silence of the tunnels. "Well, if that is the case, then fortune smiles upon us. The harder they worked to hide, the easier it is for us to strike. This simply makes our ambush all the more effective."

One of the younger elders still looked unconvinced. His tone was half skeptical, half hopeful. "It cannot be that easy... right?"

But their doubts were answered soon enough.

As they reached the inner barrier, they braced themselves for resistance. Lin Mu spread his perception forward, ready to counter the surge of energy that would surely attempt to repel them. Yet when the barrier rippled before them, it merely flickered like a curtain of light, then parted.

They passed through with no resistance.

Lin Mu glanced back at the group, his expression unreadable. "It is exactly as I said. This barrier is only to preserve energy and air within. Nothing more."