On The Path Of Cultivation To Become God-Chapter 366 Sealed Lotus Sanctuary (2)

The moment Chen Tian's eyes landed on the other side of the hallway, his expression shifted from disbelief to shock.

Before him, a stream of information materialized, visible only to him.

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{☆ Name: Buddha Statue Sentinels}

{☆ Cultivation: 3rd-5th Stage Body Refinement Realm}

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{☆ Description: These statues can come to life if disturbed. When a person approaches too closely or tries to damage them, the statues animate and become powerful guardians. They use spiritual energy to defend the Sealed Lotus Sanctuary.

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Trap Activation: A soft hum of chanting can be heard before the statues awaken, warning those who are perceptive enough to retreat.}

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"Well, that's bad..." Chen Tian muttered inwardly, his face darkening as he absorbed the information. He had expected dangers in the ruin, but animate statues acting as guardians?

Sealed Lotus Sanctuary, he thought, noting the name mentioned in the description. Was that the true name of this ruin?

"Is something wrong, Tian?" Aria asked, her sharp eyes catching his sudden hesitation.

The dim corridor offered little visibility, with only faint glows from the moss-covered walls casting eerie shadows. Most of the group, save for Chen Tian and Wu Ye, remained oblivious to the danger ahead.

"Everyone, be careful," Chen Tian warned, his voice low but firm. "There are guardians ahead—Buddha Statue Sentinels. They activate if we provoke them or touch them."

He paused before adding, "From what I can sense, there are at least a hundred statues in this hall."

"A hundred?!" Ming Ming exclaimed, her voice trembling. "Is such a thing really possible?"

Chen Tian turned to face her, his expression serious. "After what we've been through—teleportation gates—does this sound impossible?"

Ming Ming hesitated. He had a point. The gate they had entered had seamlessly warped them into this place, something she would have thought impossible until she experienced it herself.

"Teleportation… and now living statues. I guess I shouldn't be surprised anymore," she muttered, her lips curling into a nervous smile.

"Still, a hundred of them? That's overwhelming."

Chen Tian nodded grimly. "Overwhelming, yes, but not impossible. We just need to tread carefully and avoid activating them."

Everyone looked at Chen Tian and nodded in agreement, but not everyone in the group was convinced.

Ming Lei, who had been trailing behind with his arms crossed, scoffed softly. "Moving statues, huh? Sure, next he'll tell us they breathe fire or have laser eyes. What is this, Legends of the Mystic Dungeon?"

His voice dripped with sarcasm as he glanced at Chen Tian, clearly unimpressed. "And we're just supposed to believe you because... what? You're our leader?"

Aria shot him a glare. "If you have time to be snarky, use it to stay alert."

"Relax," Ming Lei replied, waving her off. "Even if they're statues there, they're just statues. What's the worst they can do? Fall on us?"

As the group proceeded, the atmosphere thickened. The oppressive silence was broken only by the faint hum of chanting in the distance—a sound that seemed to seep into their very bones.

The Buddha statues came into view at last, lined up on either side of the hallway like silent guardians.

Each was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, with broad shoulders, serene faces, and hands clasped in prayer. Despite their stillness, an undeniable pressure emanated from them, making it clear they were no ordinary statues.

Chen Tian's gaze flickered across them, his mind racing. He extended his spiritual sense cautiously, probing for any fluctuations. So far, none of the sentinels showed signs of activation.

"How do we get through them?" Aria asked, her voice a hushed whisper.

"Carefully," Chen Tian replied. "They respond to intent. As long as we don't show hostility or disturb them, they should remain dormant."

"Should?" Aria raised an eyebrow.

"It's a theory," he admitted with a faint smile. "But it's the best one we've got."

The group advanced slowly, each step measured and deliberate. The silence was suffocating, broken only by the occasional shuffle of their feet.

They were halfway through the hallway when it happened.

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A faint fluctuation rippled through the air, like the first drop of rain before a storm.

Chen Tian froze, his senses snapping to attention. His eyes darted toward the source of the disturbance.

Not just him, but everyone in the group sensed the sudden changes and looked toward the direction the sound had come from.

Behind them, Ming Lei stood frozen in place, his hand resting on the shoulder of one of the statues.

"Don't touch—" Chen Tian began, but it was too late.

The chanting grew louder, reverberating through the hallway like the toll of a death knell.

"Shit!" Ming Lei cursed, jerking his hand back as if burned. His face was a mix of shock and panic. "What the hell—"

The statue's eyes flared to life, glowing with an otherworldly light. The grinding of stone echoed ominously as it shifted, its hands unclasping from their prayer position.

One by one, the other statues began to stir, their movements slow but deliberate. The oppressive aura in the hallway spiked, suffocating in its intensity.

Chen Tian's voice cut through the growing chaos. "Everyone, get ready! They're activating!"

The first sentinel lunged forward, its massive stone fist crashing down toward Ming Lei. He yelped, diving out of the way just in time.

[BAMM]

"Fucker!!"

Ming Lei retaliated, channeling his strength, which was comparable to the 5th Stage Body Refinement Realm. His fist shot forward, aiming to shatter the animated stone sentinel's arm. However, the statue, though slow, was not without defenses. Its stone body absorbed the blow with only minor cracks forming along its surface.

"Tch, damn thing's tougher than it looks," Ming Lei muttered under his breath, jumping back to avoid a sweeping strike from the sentinel's massive stone arm.

Behind him, Chen Tian barked orders. "Ming Lei, fall back! These things are coordinated—don't engage alone!"

"I don't need your advice!" Ming Lei shot back, his voice tight with frustration. He was quick to dodge another swing, but his defiance was short-lived. More statues began to animate, their glowing eyes turning toward the group.

"Fucking bastard!!"

Chen Tian was extremely annoyed at the moment. He really wanted to beat the shit out of Ming Lei for his reckless behavior. But there was no time for personal vendettas now.

Suddenly, a statue woke up beside Aria, its glowing eyes locking onto her as its massive arms began to shift.

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"Aria!" Chen Tian's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Focus on its joints—don't let it complete its movement!"

Without hesitation, Aria sprang into action. Her spear in her hands with a faint shimmer of energy, its sharp tip gleaming in the dim corridor. She pivoted on her heel, driving the spear in a swift, calculated arc toward the sentinel's shoulder.

[Clang~~~!!!!]

The spear hit with a loud clang; unlike Ming Lei's attack, Aria's was strong enough to break the statue's joint, making it stop moving.

Aria didn't pause. She spun the spear in her hand and smashed the statue's head with a powerful strike.

It wasn't surprising that she could do this, because the strongest Buddha statue was only at the 5th stage of the Body Refinement Realm. Aria, on the other hand, was already at the Qi Refinement Realm and had excellent control over her Spiritual energy.

With Chen Tian's help, her skills had improved a lot.

After destroying the first statue, she quickly moved on to the next one, staying focused and taking them down swiftly.