Master

Aside from this, there was nothing else unusual about the courtyard. There were no lingering traces of spirit formations, nor any of the dangerous ancient restrictions that were ubiquitous elsewhere, nor even a shadow of an ancient beast. It was just like an ordinary mortal courtyard, yet it somehow existed within the mysterious Ziwei Palace. Qin Sang and the others were filled with doubts, but seeing Chenyan's aloof demeanor, none dared rashly speak up to ask, leaving them with no choice but to keep their questions to themselves. Just then, a streak of flowing light flew into the courtyard. Chenyan captured it in her palm and examined it, her lips moving slightly before she flipped her hand and sent it flying back. After waiting for a full quarter of an hour, a white rainbow arrived. It turned out to be Dongyang Bo. Martial Uncle Fengming, Tie Guanzi, and the others were nowhere to be seen, likely having struck out on their own to hunt for treasures. After Qin Sang and the rest stepped forward to greet him, Dongyang Bo waved his hand, dismissing them to wait at a distance. "Lady Chenyan truly cares for the younger generation." Watching Qin Sang and the others walk away, Dongyang Bo smiled warmly. "Thanks to Lady Chenyan staying with them through thick and thin this time, all five were brought in completely unharmed." Chenyan gave a cold snort. "Fellow Daoist, you stated before that to enter Heavenly Mountain and breach the formation, we will need them to wield the Five Elements Beast Seals before we have a chance of breaking through. Naturally, I would exert every effort to protect them. What do you mean by those words, Fellow Daoist Dongyang?" Dongyang Bo waved his hands repeatedly. "Do not overthink it, Lady Chenyan. I was merely remarking offhandedly... By the way, when the Nascent Soul experts of both domains gathered to confer earlier, our fellow Daoists learned that Shaohua Mountain had gained another Nascent Soul master, and all of them were eager to meet you. I took the liberty of making an excuse on your behalf, but that is not a permanent solution. It cannot be put off forever." Chenyan pondered for a moment. "Future matters can wait until after we leave Ziwei Palace. Still, with the Sin Abyss's sudden sneak attack, will our entry into Heavenly Mountain be affected?" "It will not!" Dongyang Bo shook his head with utter certainty. "An opportunity like this comes only once every few centuries. Now that we are inside, how could we be content to leave without giving it a try? Once we depart Ziwei Palace, the two domains will certainly have to set aside past grudges and join hands against the enemy. As for the specifics, it will not be too late to discuss them once we are out. However..." Dongyang Bo's tone shifted, and he chuckled. "The Sin Abyss's sneak attack might actually be a good thing for you and me. The old ox-nose self-detonated his life magic treasure, and the other Heaven-Traversing Alliance cultivators are either dead or wounded. They probably have no heart to compete anymore and are nothing to worry about. With more than half our formidable rivals gone, our chances are even greater. When the time comes, I will be relying entirely on you, young lady." Chenyan said in a heavy voice, "As long as you keep your promise and help me rescue my master, I will certainly uphold our agreement. I have already sworn an oath, so you need not worry." "I trust that you are a person of utmost integrity, Lady Chenyan!" Dongyang Bo clapped his hands and laughed. He looked up at the vast sea of clouds and said, "We have been delayed for so long, and we still have to pass through several checkpoints in the Outer Hall before reaching the Inner Hall. Although the two of us are joining forces, we must still be cautious while bringing the five of them along. Otherwise, if an accident happens, we will not find any Foundation Establishment cultivators in Ziwei Palace to replace them." Qin Sang and the others stood at the edge of the courtyard, not daring to eavesdrop on the conversation between the two Patriarchs. After waiting a short while, they saw Dongyang Bo wave them over and hurriedly stepped forward. "To save time, Lady Chenyan and I will take you directly toward the Inner Hall. If danger arises on the road, all you need to do is use the Five Elements Beast Seals to protect yourselves and follow our commands..." Qin Sang and the others naturally had no objections. Committing Dongyang Bo's instructions carefully to memory, they set out. Dongyang Bo took the lead, Qin Sang and the other four maintained their formation in the center, and Chenyan brought up the rear. The seven of them flew into the air, heading straight toward the depths of Ziwei Palace. To accommodate the five of them, their speed was not particularly fast. Above, cloud layers blanketed the sky, and chaotic spiritual turbulence coursed through the air. The altitude at which they flew was only slightly higher than the ancient trees below, but their view finally opened up. Looking as far as the eye could see, there were hundreds, even thousands of similar palatial courtyards ahead, neatly arranged and scattered like stars in the sky. The vast majority of them had collapsed and decayed, abandoned just like the one they had entered through. Yet there were also intact palaces, some even glittering with the radiance of ancient restrictions. Within their line of sight, beams of light in various colors shot straight into the heavens; one glance was enough to tell that extraordinary things lay beneath them. Surrounding this vast palace complex were soaring mountains that completely blocked further view, leaving one to wonder what scenery lay beyond them. At this point, Qin Sang noticed something odd. So many people had entered, yet those who dared to fly in the sky were few and far between; Qin Sang could spot only a few scattered figures. He glanced quietly at the protective barrier around them. The turbulent currents battering the barrier from outside were all easily repelled. It seemed these spiritual currents were far more dangerous than they appeared. Dongyang Bo's goal was crystal clear: he headed straight for the tallest peak deep within the palace complex. This mountain was different from the others. It was utterly barren, without a blade of grass. Jagged rocks littered the slopes—in truth, it was a mountain made entirely of piled stone. Sheer precipices were everywhere, dropping straight down as though cleaved by a blade. Perched upon the jagged rocks were clusters of dark shadows, though they were too far off to see clearly. The shadows seemed to be living creatures; Qin Sang could not resist taking a closer look. The tiers of jagged boulders resembled the steps of a pyramid. Near the summit, a rustic stone hall constructed from massive boulders stood out conspicuously. This stone hall was the only trace of human craftsmanship among all the surrounding peaks; on the neighboring mountains, only lush, ancient trees could be seen. 'Are we going to enter the ancient hall?' Qin Sang speculated inwardly, then withdrew his gaze to look below. Along the way, he saw many figures darting between the ancient halls. Though they did not dare take to the air, their speed was by no means slow. Some rushed toward intact palaces, but most shared the same goal as them: the stone hall atop the rocky mountain! Passing without hindrance the entire way, they finally arrived at the foot of the rocky mountain. By now, Qin Sang could finally see clearly: those dark shadows were actually demonic beasts that resembled vultures. The strength of these beasts did not seem particularly high, but their numbers were staggering! From the foot of the mountain to the summit, one was perched upon virtually every boulder. There were likely tens of thousands of them; the densely packed shadows made one's scalp tingle. Qin Sang could not help thinking of the hive of Blood-Winged Ghosthead Bees he had seen in Boundless Valley. This mountain was nothing short of a beast nest, and these vulture-like beasts were far more formidable than the Blood-Winged Ghosthead Bees. Because they had been delayed for quite some time earlier, they were not the first to arrive here. At this moment, people were already ascending the mountain. They each displayed their own methods, most using various techniques to conceal their figures and auras to evade the beasts' senses. One Core Formation cultivator held a black gourd that spewed foul-smelling black smoke; upon catching the scent, the beasts regarded him as one of their own. Just as Qin Sang was privately wondering what method Dongyang Bo would employ, a voice suddenly rang in his ear: "Up the mountain!" Immediately afterward, Dongyang Bo casually swung his sword. A rainbow of sword qi surged forward, instantly shredding all the beasts along the path and carving out a smooth, open way!