The Inner Hall

Only upon drawing close to the altar did they realize just how colossal it was. The condensed, lingering blood-scented murderous aura was as vivid red as dripping liquid, resembling genuine fresh blood and striking terror into the heart. Even without those ancient restrictions, likely no one would dare barge into that bloody, murderous aura. After the Immortal Tomb, they passed through several more perilous grounds, though none were as terrifying as the ghost king within the Immortal Tomb. The Immortal Tomb was likely the most dangerous trial; having crossed it, Golden Core cultivators could easily navigate the subsequent hazards so long as they remained cautious. Among them, they had also encountered a peculiar ancient formation where each person was forced to act alone and separated. However, Dongyang Bo had long since prepared spirit talismans and magic tools to counter it, assisting Qin Sang and the others so they came through shaken but unscathed. Dongyang Bo and Chenyan's goal was crystal clear: the Inner Hall! Beyond that, nothing else could pique their interest. They did not spare even a glance at the strange lights or secret realms encountered along the way, speeding directly toward the Inner Hall as fast as possible. Seeing this, Qin Sang was naturally overjoyed. The faster Dongyang Bo moved, the better. The earlier he entered the Inner Hall, the fewer rivals he would face when picking the Crimson Cloud Purple Fruit. Those Golden Core cultivators certainly couldn't match Dongyang Bo's speed in traveling and clearing trials. The downside, however, was that Yunyouzi would also be left far behind. Hopefully, the wooden bracelet's effect would last long enough to hold out until Yunyouzi arrived. "The jade wall ahead is the entrance to the Inner Hall. Once inside, stay obediently where you land and do not wander about, especially near ancient halls protected by restrictions. Miss Chenyan and I will naturally seek you out." Dongyang Bo raised a hand toward what lay ahead, giving his final instructions. Before them stood a semicircular mountain cradling a colossal pit in its center, measuring hundreds of zhang across. Demonic energy swirled ominously within the bottomless cavern, radiating a bone-chilling cold as though connecting directly to the netherworld. It was said that a mighty Nascent Soul figure had once risked life and limb by leaping into this demonic hole, yet right until Ziwei Palace closed, they had still failed to discern what lay at its bottom. On the opposite side of the demonic cavern was a sheer precipice. Embedded in the sheer cliff was an enormous Bagua jade wall, striking as a bright moon in the dark night. The pristine jade wall set above the demonic cavern formed an incongruous contrast. What Dongyang Bo pointed to was this very jade wall. "The ancient restriction within the jade wall was originally formidable enough that even Nascent Soul cultivators had to tread carefully. Fortunately, it was once damaged, reducing its might to a minimum. The remnant restriction merely exerts a slight influence on one's state of mind. With these Heart-Calming Jade Pendants, the five of you will easily pass through. Those among you who consider yourselves firm of will may also treat this as a heart-tempering path. While it no longer does much for Golden Core cultivators, you should still be able to reap no small benefit from it." Qin Sang reached out and took the Heart-Calming Jade Pendant. Feeling a refreshing coolness seep into his palm that served to steady the mind, he stowed it away with an impassive expression. With the jade Buddha, he had no need for such an item at all. "Time is of the essence. Let us enter!" With that, Dongyang Bo led them as they leapt into the air, flying straight toward the jade wall. They soared across the demonic pit. The instant he touched the azure light of the jade wall, Qin Sang suddenly felt his body lighten. Looking up, he saw that Dongyang Bo, the others, and the vajra ring had all vanished without a trace. It appeared the jade wall, like the formation they had encountered earlier, forcibly separated everyone. In his field of vision appeared a passage that seemed unreal, alternating with kaleidoscopic, multicolored lights, as if he had jumped into a kaleidoscope. Qin Sang secretly stimulated the jade Buddha to shield his origin soul, and no so-called heart-tempering tribulation manifested. Though the passage felt illusory, his feet still sensed solid ground. After a brief hesitation, Qin Sang activated his movement technique and dashed toward the end of the passage at top speed. Inside Che Yutao's Red Dust Gourd, Qin Sang had already experienced so-called heart-tempering. As facts had proven, so long as the jade Buddha was present, such heart-tempering methods had not the slightest effect on him. He perpetually maintained the detached composure of an onlooker; unable to immerse himself, he could not achieve any tempering effect. It would only be a waste of time. Qin Sang's several transformations in mindset had all come from the myriad trials and tribulations he had personally lived through along his path. Within the passage, Qin Sang unleashed his divine ability, Sword Qi Thunderclap, transforming into a streak of sword light that sped onward. This passage was exceedingly peculiar; there was no telling where the end lay. Suddenly, Qin Sang felt as though he had struck a barrier, and in the next moment, he broke through. "I'm out!" Stirred, Qin Sang swiftly grabbed the wooden bracelet he had prepared long ago and slipped it onto his arm. Immediately, the chaos before his eyes vanished, replaced by brilliant brightness. A faint scent of lush grass drifted into his nostrils—a stark contrast to the gloom and bloody stench of the Outer Hall. Qin Sang felt that beneath him was not earth, but empty void, and his body was rapidly plummeting. Looking down, he found it was indeed so. He was currently in midair, and beneath his feet was a verdant meadow dotted with little yellow and white blossoms, brimming with vibrant life. 'I must not run into Dongyang Bo and Chenyan! I heard everyone enters the Inner Hall in a different location, so it shouldn't be that coincidental.' Qin Sang prayed silently in his heart and lifted his arm to inspect it. He discovered that the moment the wooden bracelet was slipped onto his arm, it transformed into a dragon-shaped bangle. A petite yellow dragon, barely the size of a fist, sprang to life. Aiming at the blood-red thread on Qin Sang's arm, it opened its mouth and took a deep breath. Then the thread wriggled slightly and was swallowed whole into the yellow dragon's belly. Yet it was not severed; instead, it bound the yellow dragon as well. However, the fluctuations of the mark had now been isolated by the yellow dragon. The yellow dragon yawned with humanlike expression, coiled around Qin Sang's arm, and reverted to a wooden bracelet. Qin Sang grasped the wooden bracelet and felt its sturdiness, feeling reassured, then began surveying his surroundings. Stepping onto the soft meadow, he stood before a lush green mountain where springs gurgled and ancient trees reached toward the sky. Yet there were neither birds nor beasts, and not even the chirp of an insect could be heard. Lacking these, this seemingly vibrant place carried an indelible aura of dead silence that could not be concealed. Halfway up the mountain, Qin Sang spotted the upturned corner of eaves protruding from the woods, indicating an ancient hall was hidden within. However, a layer of azure light manifested from a restriction above the ancient hall showed that this place was not as safe as it appeared. By now, Qin Sang had concealed his presence and darted beneath the cover of a tree. When he shifted his gaze from the mountain to its foot and looked toward the other end of the meadow, he discovered that the grass came to an abrupt end just ahead! He looked further into the distance. Clouds and mist drifted, immortal qi wafting about, truly resembling an immortal realm. Yet amidst the sea of clouds, two landmass fragments could be seen floating in midair. Each was entirely independent, like floating islands suspended high in the heavens. These two land fragments differed in size: one resembled the piece Qin Sang was on, possessing a complete mountain peak. The other was quite small, yet upon it flowed a mighty river. On such a tiny piece of land, the river's waters were inexplicably boundless, still coursing abundantly to this day, plunging down from the sky toward places unknown. Further in the distance, there seemed to be even more fragments!