Upon stepping inside the treasure ship, Qin Sang was assigned to a narrow cabin. Solid wooden walls enclosed him above, below, left, and right, leaving just enough room for a single person to sit in meditation. It was hard to imagine into how many compartments the treasure ship had been divided to accommodate so many people.
Shangyuan Qingjing Palace lay to the north of Shaohua Mountain, and the distance between the two great sects was not very far.
To the northeast of Shangyuan Qingjing Palace, near Tianduan Mountain, was where the mountain gate of the Chunyang Sect stood. Formidably powerful, after annihilating the Blood God Sect, a major demonic sect, the Chunyang Sect had firmly blocked Tianduan Mountain, deterring the demonic sects from venturing south and wrenching the southern reaches of Tianduan Mountain right out of demonic jaws.
After acquiring the topographical map of the entire Lesser Cold Domain, Qin Sang had discovered that the Great Sui was located to the northwest of the Chunyang Sect's mountain gate, within the Chunyang Sect's sphere of influence. The family of that Immortal Master Han was likely a cultivation clan affiliated with the Chunyang Sect, controlling the Great Sui and other surrounding nations on the sect's behalf.
The Chunyang Sect had its own ancient teleportation array. While it could not transport one directly into the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, it could deliver them near the ice plain. Furthermore, the Chunyang Sect garrisoned Chungang City, taking a different route from Shangyuan Qingjing Palace, so they would not be coming here.
Additionally, the Taiyi Dan Sect lay at the far northwest of the righteous path's territory, bordering Heavenly Demon Mound to the west and leaning against the Extreme Northern Ice Plain to the north; they could head directly to the Ancient Immortal Battlefield.
The flying speed of a Golden Core Master could well be imagined.
Qin Sang stayed inside the room, unable to see outside. After what felt like merely a few hours, the treasure ship beneath him gave a slight tremor. Then his body lightened, and he was expelled from the treasure ship.
Immediately afterward, Qin Sang heard waves of gasps and exclamations.
As his vision cleared, Qin Sang looked around. This was no longer Shaohua Mountain with its sprawling marshlands and towering peaks, but a heavenly palace above the clouds.
At this moment, they were standing atop a great mountain. The peak had been artificially leveled into an enormous platform, surrounded by endless mountain ranges and towering ancient trees, with the roars of beasts and the calls of birds echoing in continuous succession.
On the distant horizon lay a boundless sea of clouds.
Peaks rising into the clouds sprouted from this sea of clouds like isolated islands adrift in mist. Shrouded in swirling fog, each island was adorned with countless palaces, carved balustrades, and jade masonry.
Cultivators flew on their tools, cruising through the clouds.
A heavenly palace above the clouds, resembling a realm of immortals.
This was Shangyuan Qingjing Palace, one of the Eight Righteous Sects.
Qin Sang gazed at the magnificent spectacle before him in admiration. Stirred by a thought, he lowered his gaze, glanced around, walked to the edge of the platform, and stepped outside it.
Looking up again, he saw an azure sky and a blazing sun, without a cloud in sight for ten thousand miles.
Not knowing Martial Uncle Che's reason for leaving everyone here, Qin Sang quietly took in his surroundings. He saw no ancient teleportation array anywhere, nor any cultivators of Shangyuan Qingjing Palace coming out to receive them.
Just as Qin Sang was secretly puzzled, Che Yutao, standing at the very front, suddenly raised his head toward the sky, his eyes gleaming like lightning.
Then, deep within the sea of clouds, the faint figure of an old Daoist in a cyan robe appeared, drifting unhurriedly over. Before the man arrived, hearty laughter carried across first.
"Old Ghost Che, I never expected an old devil like you to lead the party in person! To think this old Daoist has to garrison Xuanlu Pass together with such a dull fellow like you—these next few decades are going to be miserable!"
Che Yutao was evidently very familiar with him. Chuckling, he retorted tit for tat, "From what I see, you old ox-nose, your lifespan is near its end. You probably won't last twenty years! Once you pass away into feathering, this old man will certainly escort your remains back in one piece without a scratch. No need to fret, no need to fret..."
Everyone only felt their vision blur before the old Daoist stepped onto the platform. Hearing Che Yutao's banter, he shook his head helplessly and pointed at him with a laughing curse.
Che Yutao turned to face the crowd and said solemnly, "This is Daoist Xuan Yu of Shangyuan Qingjing Palace. You may address him as Martial Uncle."
This was mainly addressed to Qin Sang and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Shangyuan Qingjing Palace and Shaohua Mountain were closely allied, and the disciples of the two sects were on very familiar terms. Many forms of address were used interchangeably. Daoist Xuan Yu was also a Golden Core Master, so calling him Martial Uncle was only proper.
The crowd hurriedly paid their respects.
Daoist Xuan Yu nodded with a smile and said, "Senior Brother Du has already gone to prepare the ancient teleportation array. This old Daoist will first go receive the rogue cultivators and clan disciples down below. Brother Che, you may take them straight over."
"All right!"
...
Using their respective methods, the group followed behind Che Yutao and flew toward the sea of clouds. Just as they reached its edge, Qin Sang felt an invisible restriction silently open, realizing it was likely Shangyuan Qingjing Palace's sect-protecting grand formation.
Che Yutao seemed extremely familiar with Shangyuan Qingjing Palace, traveling without hindrance along the way. They met some Shangyuan Qingjing Palace disciples, who looked at them with curious eyes.
Passing through one isolated island in the clouds after another, they finally arrived in the depths of Shangyuan Qingjing Palace before a fairly large "isolated island."
The entire "isolated island" was covered by a massive hall. A Foundation Establishment cultivator waited at the entrance of the hall, and as everyone arrived, he came forward and said respectfully, "Martial Uncle Che, Senior Martial Uncle Du is currently opening the ancient teleportation array. Please follow this junior."
Following inside, Qin Sang saw that the hall was exceptionally spacious. In the rear of the hall stood four teleportation arrays side by side, one large and three small, positioned far apart from one another.
At last, he was seeing the legendary teleportation arrays.
Qin Sang observed them curiously.
The largest teleportation array was presumably the ancient teleportation array that led directly to the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, while the other three were smaller teleportation arrays built by Shangyuan Qingjing Palace itself.
There was indeed a vast difference between the two.
In size alone, the ancient teleportation array was more than ten times as large as the smaller ones. Its octagonal array plate was exceedingly archaic, its vertices pointing to the eight trigram positions, densely packed with ancient runes and restrictions that dazzled the eyes.
Looking at just a small portion of the restrictions, Qin Sang actually felt a sense of dizziness. He could not help being awed—just how had such a spirit array been constructed?
As for the three smaller teleportation arrays, whether in the base structure, the runes, or the restrictions, they were far simpler and cruder than the ancient teleportation array.
Such teleportation arrays not only had a short teleportation range, but would also fail if an enemy possessed methods to seal space. That Shangyuan Qingjing Palace had built three was likely for specialized purposes.
Behind the ancient teleportation array stood a stern-faced, middle-aged man, who was presumably the cultivator surnamed Du. He had his palm pressed against the core restriction of the teleportation array, channeling spiritual power to activate its restrictions.
Activating the teleportation array did not require much spiritual power. After waiting quietly for a moment, everyone saw the ancient restrictions on the teleportation array suddenly begin to whirl vigorously.
This spirit array, having existed for untold years, emitted a buzzing hum, making the entire hall seem to vibrate.
Next, the cultivator surnamed Du opened his other palm, revealing eight middle-grade spirit stones.
With a wave of his hand, the eight spirit stones flew and slotted into the eight corners of the teleportation array.
*Boom!*
Suddenly, a massive, blinding ray of light shot out from the array plate, but was immediately bound by the ancient teleportation array's own inherent restrictions. Divine light circulated, resembling an ancient gate of light, wondrous and mysterious.
That initiating the teleportation required so many middle-grade spirit stones left Qin Sang thoroughly astonished.
The cultivator surnamed Du withdrew his palm and looked toward the group.
"Senior Brother Du!"
Without the casual familiarity he had shown toward Daoist Xuan Yu, Che Yutao cupped his hands in greeting.
Chapter 196