Divine Ice Disc

Knowing only the name Langhuan, he still had no idea where the scripture repository was actually located, but at least he now had a clear goal. Qin Sang committed the inscriptions on the steles and their distribution to memory. He wondered if the layout of the teleportation arrays corresponded to the locations of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect's various halls. If there were a connection between the two, finding Langhuan would be far simpler. Qin Sang did not linger on the mountain peak for long. He quietly descended and entered the stony shoal. Though he did everything he could to conceal his aura, it was still impossible to evade the flying sword slaughter array's detection; the instant he set foot onto the shoal, his traces were exposed, and he was besieged by puppets. Qin Sang did not summon his external incarnation again. Surrounded by puppets, his true body had the Jinchen Sword hovering tip-down above his head. Sword qi slashed out in rapid succession, aimed not at the puppets, but at the flying swords stabbing down from above. Under Qin Sang's precise control, the Jinchen Sword's sword qi was focused mainly on defense, melting away in mutual annihilation upon clashing with the flying swords to avoid creating eye-catching phenomena as much as possible. At the same time, Qin Sang was also maneuvering the fire lotus. Wherever the Nine Nether Demonic Fire passed, it cleaved a fiery path through the puppet horde. Once puppets caught the demonic flame, they could hardly shake it off, burning until they were reduced to ashes. Handling them was not particularly strenuous. With plenty of room to spare, Qin Sang moved faster and faster, smoothly traversing the stony shoal. Although he had not yet found Daoist Zilei and Yue Lingtian, Qin Sang knew that the distance between them was not great. Qin Sang ascended another summit and gazed toward the northeast. That direction was the most conspicuous; both the scripture repository and the Wuxiang Immortal Sect's Five Phase Halls were very likely situated there. Yet to Qin Sang's surprise, along the path leading there, he saw no distinct, unusual phenomena. Instead, directly north, amidst the sea of clouds stood the silhouette of a sheer precipice, and flashes of strange light repeatedly flickered at the foot of the mountain—in all probability, someone was attacking restrictions there. Qin Sang surveyed the sights in both directions and, without hesitating long, darted toward the north. There had to be a reason why the remnants of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect headed to that precipice first. The Immortal Palace was undoubtedly the most valuable secret in the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. Qin Sang surmised that the passage into the Immortal Palace was likely located upon that very precipice! By the time he arrived, the outcome at the precipice should be imminent. The emergence of the Immortal Palace was not to be missed. Reviewing the major opportunities he had encountered along his path of cultivation, virtually all of them were inextricably linked to the Ziwei Palace and the Hall of Seven Kills, and his foundational cultivation technique had originated from an Immortal Palace! He considered having his true body enter the Immortal Palace to search, while leaving his avatar behind in the Wuxiang Immortal Sect to search for Langhuan. Even now, with grand cultivators gathered in abundance, his avatar was fully capable of holding its own! *** The ones assaulting the restrictions were indeed Zhu Wudao and his companions. The mountain was steep and perilous, rising straight up and down. Upon the precipice were protruding stone steps leading in different directions, eventually converging at the mountain summit. At the junctions of these stone steps stood stone pavilions and pavilions built for sightseeing. Naturally, they were now completely deserted. Pity that the Wuxiang Immortal Sect was shrouded in dense clouds and mist, making it impossible to appreciate its majestic grandeur from back then. Beside Zhu Wudao remained only Cave Master Qiling, Mo Xingdao, and the sword-bearer. Because the Quyang Mountain lineage had failed to enter in time, Zhu Wudao lacked helpers by his side. Yet he seemed not the least bit worried that Cave Master Qiling and the others might turn hostile after entering Tiantong Hall. He did not ask about the sword-bearer's true identity, nor did he inquire where the scar-faced man, the white-robed man, or Su Zinan had gone, focusing entirely on unraveling the restrictions in the mountain. Cave Master Qiling and the others assisted in silence. For a time, the atmosphere was somewhat strange, but everyone worked in unspoken harmony, and their ascent was not slow in the least. Below the precipice, the void subtly warped. Daoist Zilei and Yue Lingtian followed in their tracks. Unlike Daoist Zilei, Yue Lingtian wore a hesitant expression, casting glances toward the east from time to time. He had agreed to use the lives of his disciples to help Daoist Zilei accomplish his scheme. A quota for the Sword Tomb was one reason. The second was his coveting of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect's Earth Phase Hall legacy. The Taiyue Sect had been founded upon the Thick Earth Record, whose legacy possessed flaws. Even after generations of patriarchs had deduced and refined it, Yue Lingtian still felt deficiencies remained. If he could obtain the legacy of the Earth Phase Hall to corroborate and cross-verify with it, it could potentially allow the Taiyue Sect to undergo a complete rebirth. Both were of equal importance to him and the Taiyue Sect. He and Hua Chenzi had a clear division of duties: one would follow Daoist Zilei into Tiantong Hall, while the other would lead a party to plunder the Earth Phase Hall. Unexpectedly, Hua Chenzi had been held back outside by the cloud dragon, with no sign of him even now. *** The white-robed man flew out of the stony shoal, shaking off the pursuit of the puppet army. Beyond the shoal, a mountain range barred the way forward. Within the mountains, there were no birdsong or insect chirps—only a deathly silence, punctuated occasionally by flickering anomalous light from heavily layered restrictions. Looking from below, there were no magnificent halls or pavilions on this mountain, and being so close to the sect entrance, it was unlikely to be an important place; no sect would place supreme treasures in a location like this. Treasures in this world capable of catching the eye of a grand cultivator were few and far between. Rather than searching here and wasting time, it was better to bypass this mountain and advance deeper into the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. Reaching the foot of the mountain, the white-robed man paused briefly, yet instead of choosing to take a detour, he passed through the archway before the mountain path and charged straight into the mountain. Crack! Just as he passed beneath the archway, a sudden thunderbolt erupted overhead. The stone archway transformed dramatically, enveloped entirely in lightning. Heavenly thunder was stirred awake, tearing through the cloud vapor as silvery-white electrical radiance formed a silver curtain, unleashing a surge of thunder that threatened to swallow the white-robed man on the spot. As though he had anticipated this long ago, a blast of chilling qi rose from the crown of his head, conjuring a horizontal wall of ice upon which profound light glistened. In the next instant, the thunder struck the ice wall. The profound light flashed brilliantly, miraculously reflecting all the thunder back! The archway shook, nearly collapsing then and there. Unharmed, the white-robed man vanished into the mountain. The restrictions on the mountain were not limited to the archway, yet shortly after passing through it, the white-robed man abruptly lost his trail; no further anomalous phenomena appeared in the mountain, everything falling completely quiet. At this moment, the white-robed man was wandering seemingly aimlessly among the peaks. His movements inevitably triggered restrictions, but relying on his sharp spiritual sense and diverse divine abilities, he managed to neutralize the phenomena before the restrictions could erupt, concealing his tracks. While creeping through the mountain range, the white-robed man continually and vigilantly observed his rear and surroundings. His objective was actually very clear, and not on the same path as Zhu Wudao's; rather, he was heading straight for the core restricted grounds of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. The place Zhu Wudao was heading to was certainly a treasured site—the legendary Immortal Palace, holding heaven-defying opportunities. However, the white-robed man knew his own strength fell short of those people, and having come here alone, isolated and without support, he preferred to renounce the Immortal Palace to avoid fighting others. If he could obtain the legacy treasures of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, it would make the trip worthwhile, enough for him to digest for a long time. The reason he had deliberately taken a circuitous route here was out of caution, guarding against being followed without his knowledge. In the end, having confirmed that no one was watching him and that everyone had been drawn away by Zhu Wudao, the white-robed man set his mind at ease and removed the mask concealing his appearance and aura. He had an aged countenance deeply etched with wrinkles, yet his eyes shone brightly with spirit, devoid of the slightest trace of decrepitude. If Qin Sang had been here and seen him, he would have been utterly shocked—this was none other than Old Man Yanshan! After the battle on the snow plains, Old Man Yanshan had vanished without a trace. Many years later, he had reappeared in the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, his cultivation having advanced by leaps and bounds, breaking through to the late Nascent Soul stage in one fell swoop! Old Man Yanshan gazed toward the core grounds of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. With a flash of light in his hand, a Water Phase Token remarkably appeared. After fiddling with it for a moment, he stowed it away again. Outside the mountain gate, when the counterfeit Water Phase Token was destroyed, his furious dismay had naturally been a facade put on in front of others. "Both the Divine Ice Disc and the Boiling Snow Pill were carried out by the Water Element Master and fell into that person's hands. The remaining treasures in the Water Phase Hall are probably few, so I might as well head first to Mount Dishou, the shared sovereign seat of the Five Phases. The Five Phase Tokens are symbols of the Five Phase Masters' status, so entering Mount Dishou should be far easier... Hmm, it would be best to also make a trip to the Fire Phase Hall. If I can obtain the Fire Rhinoceros Pendant, I can return and strike a deal with that person. He hasn't shown up in Nanzhou, so presumably he still doesn't know the true purpose of the Divine Ice Disc... It's just that the Fire Phase descendant hasn't shown himself to this day, so who knows if that treasure is still inside the legacy abode. And whether Old Demon Zhu knows about it." Old Man Yanshan pondered for a moment, set his sights on a direction, and flew down the mountain. He increased his speed, weaving through the mountains. Catching sight of anomalous signs appearing from the direction of the precipice in the distance, he paused slightly, then retracted his gaze, putting all thoughts of the opportunities in the Immortal Palace out of his mind. Traversing one peak after another, he drew closer and closer to the core grounds of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect. Speeding along, he bypassed another steep mountain and passed through a valley. The valley bottom was overgrown with wild weeds. The spiritual energy within the Wuxiang Immortal Sect was abundant, and the vegetation was much taller than elsewhere. The grass was a full zhang tall, rivaling small trees; once a person stepped into it, they would instantly disappear from sight. Reaching the edge of the valley, just as Old Man Yanshan was about to tread across the grass, he suddenly sensed an unusual aura. His expression hardened, and his figure darted backward immediately. "Fellow Daoist travels so quickly that Su almost couldn't keep up." The stalks swayed, and a person walked out—it was none other than Su Zinan! Su Zinan looked at Old Man Yanshan with a beaming smile, his gaze like one inspecting a choice piece of prey. "Back on the snow plains of the Northern Barrens, you and I missed our chance to meet, which was truly regrettable! Fortunately, to renew our connection today is not too late." "It's you!" Old Man Yanshan had hidden away the Water Phase Token precisely to guard against this person. Yet he had never anticipated that Su Zinan had targeted him from the very start! "Zhu Wudao and the others treasure the Five Phase Tokens like sacred relics, so presumably these treasures still hold great utility in the sect's legacy abode. Would Fellow Daoist enlighten Su on this? Also, how about gifting the Water Phase Token in your hands to Su?" Su Zinan bore an air of victory already secured, speaking insolently as he stepped forward atop the tips of the grass with hands behind his back, seemingly strolling leisurely while actually moving with startling speed. Old Man Yanshan's expression darkened. Even if Su Zinan suspected him, he shouldn't be so certain the Water Phase Token was in his hands! "When did this old man give away his identity?" Old Man Yanshan did not deny it, for denial was pointless. Recalling the battle on the snow plains, he had escaped by faking his death and had never come face-to-face with Old Wu. Although his scheme had ultimately been seen through by Daoist Qingfeng, Su Zinan had claimed he was seeking revenge on Daoist Qingfeng's companion, proving that the two sides had not joined forces. His identity should not have been exposed, so how could Su Zinan be so certain? "When Su discovered the secret of the snow plains, I noticed that a mysterious expert had visited before, and that must have been Fellow Daoist. I anchored Luye near the snow plains, waiting long for Fellow Daoist to show, yet ended up waiting upon a fellow adept at wielding fire. Old Wu was actually no match for him and was defeated and driven back. "If Fellow Daoist possessed the strength of this Fire Demon, you would have succeeded long ago without needing to scheme for so long, so you two are clearly not the same person. "That Fire Demon was either your accomplice or your rival! "In my view, it's far more likely you turned against each other in the end. "Although the Fire Demon's strength is formidable, he may not necessarily rival your years of scheming on the snow plains. "Moreover, if the Fire Demon had obtained the relics of the Water Element Master and learned the secrets of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect, why wouldn't he come to the Southern Frontier himself, missing out on such a grand event? "Since the Fire Demon has failed to show himself all this time, I wager the relics of the Water Element Master fell into your hands, didn't they? With Fellow Daoist obtaining such a grand opportunity, your cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds is only natural." Qin Sang had become the "Fire Demon" in Su Zinan's mouth. Su Zinan didn't mind dispelling Old Man Yanshan's confusion; this deduction was his proud masterpiece. Upon seeing the white-robed man, Su Zinan had grown suspicious, and after pondering for a long time, he had deduced this relatively plausible explanation. Even if he guessed wrong, no harm was done; a single test would reveal the truth! As it turned out, Su Zinan had gambled correctly! Wearing an amused smirk, he sized up the visibly unsettled Old Man Yanshan, the corner of his mouth curling slightly. "Is Fellow Daoist afraid of revealing the Water Phase Token because you fear Su?" "Arrogant fool!" Old Man Yanshan flared with fury. Though it had not been long since he broke through to the late Nascent Soul stage, and his strength might not match a veteran grand cultivator like Su Zinan, he was no soft persimmon to be casually squeezed. Earlier, using the conversation as an opportunity, he had scouted the surroundings and confirmed that Mo Xingdao was not present. For Su Zinan to come intercept and kill him all alone—was he not underestimating him far too much? Su Zinan's smile turned cold, his expression flipping in an instant as he spoke in a sinister tone, "A newly advanced grand cultivator—just right to serve as the divine banner's second main soul!" Beyond the Water Phase Token, he wanted Old Man Yanshan's Nascent Soul! Before his words had faded, Su Zinan's speed skyrocketed, his killing intent surging sky-high! Old Man Yanshan had already made his plan. Knowing he was no match for Su Zinan, he would not be foolish enough to fight him to the death. On his way here, Old Man Yanshan had continually observed the environment and committed several specific locations to memory, precisely to guard against such an eventuality. If he encountered danger, he could use the terrain and restrictions of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect to escape; shaking off Su Zinan would not be difficult. Su Zinan closed in with lightning speed. Old Man Yanshan stomped hard beneath his feet. Crash! The roar of water swelled, and moisture suffused the mountain rocks. Upon the originally dry ground, a deluge suddenly surged. The flood had no source, born out of thin air, great waves rushing forth with momentum no lesser than a surging river! As Old Man Yanshan stood atop the crest of a wave, a sky-soaring surge suddenly swelled, and his figure was instantly dispersed by the crashing wave, vanishing into thin air. Thereupon, the watery billows split into dozens of phantoms. Each phantom was translucent, composed entirely of water, with facial features bearing an uncanny resemblance to Old Man Yanshan. Yet there was no sign of Old Man Yanshan's true body! The moment the phantoms appeared, they rushed frantically toward the rear. Su Zinan sneered. With a whoosh, the Dragon Sinew Net shot forth, expanding to its limit in midair into a sky-shrouding colossal web, intending to ensnare all the phantoms within. Bang! Bang! Bang! Strangled by the Dragon Sinew Net, the phantoms shattered one after another, dissipating into bursts of water spray, yet it was not enough to force out Old Man Yanshan's true body. Boom! The floodwaters reversed their flow. The raging billows surged back toward the heavens, layered waves splashing up white crests like clouds in the sky, violently battering the giant net. Hidden among the phantoms, Old Man Yanshan bolted outward without looking back. Right at that moment— The ground ahead trembled, and the earth split open. A demonic banner slowly rose from the fissure, barring Old Man Yanshan's retreat. Old Man Yanshan's heart tightened as a foreboding premonition welled within him. Immediately afterward, he saw three evil shadows manifest before the demonic banner. Among them was an emaciated, aged humanoid evil shadow—none other than Old Wu! Old Wu's eyes were tightly shut, his body somewhat ethereal and devoid of any vitality, clearly unlike a living person. Yet holding a talisman disc in one hand, with the Blood-Drinking Demonic Halberd hovering at his side, he remarkably possessed the divine abilities of his living days! Suddenly, Old Wu snapped his eyes open. The demonic halberd hummed and vibrated. His dead, silent gaze seemed to bore straight into the depths of Old Man Yanshan's heart, sending a chill down his spine!