The brilliance in the sky slowly faded, and the tingling numbness on their faces finally vanished. Only then did the few inside the hall dare open their eyes, tears streaming from their bloodshot eyes.
As the Silent Bell departed this realm, a good dozen-odd breaths passed before its effects slowly dissipated. Only then could they finally open their mouths to speak. Nian Yi's voice was slightly hoarse: "For True Monarch Taiyuan to intervene personally... that is truly a sight not seen in a hundred years."
This "sight not seen in a hundred years" was no empty exaggeration; if anything, it was an understatement. Recorded instances of Golden Core cultivators taking action were few and far between, and tracing back just a few of them reached as far as a thousand years ago.
Zhang Yun paid no heed to the others. Having already dropped to the ground in full prostration earlier, he slowly straightened, smoothed his robes, and bowed three times toward the west. Seeming to have gained some insight, he cupped his hands to the three of them and walked out on his own.
The others wore shaken expressions, each showing a different demeanor. Yu Muxian wiped the tears from his eyes and nurtured them with magic power; only then could he vaguely make out the objects before him. Feeling the ornate pouch at his waist, he found that the gold essence and white silver foils used to protect his storage bag had already melted into liquid.
In that single brief breath earlier, the gold essence and white silver had distinctly separated into two parts, precipitating as glittering gold essence and chillingly glinting spirit silver beside his feet.
Having cultivated immortality for many years, he had always maintained an impeccable temperament and composure, yet for the first time in decades his expression warped, and he cursed inwardly: 'Yuanwu... Yuanwu has completely lost his mind! To actually have me fight for something like this! Even if you came here in person, Yuanwu, you would have to kneel obediently by the side! Is this the sort of thing a Purple Palace can covet?'
Yu Muxian's expression was somewhat somber. Beside him, Tang Shedu, gripping his long halberd, seemed to understand his plight and offered a wry smile; with the occasion being what it was, he could hardly speak up to console him.
As Zhang Yun stepped out, the remaining six turned their eyes to the five jade boxes at the dais above. Setting aside Mount Changhuai, the Qingchi Sect, and the Xiuyue Sect, there were two others who had fought their way through all the way here—individuals bearing karmic mandates, neither of whom looked easy to cross.
Qing Zhuo looked them over, calculated the count, and saw that it was indeed an exact match. He thought to himself: 'The Jinyu Sect took the Silent Bell. Mount Changhuai, Xiuyue, and Qingchi will each claim one treasure, and the remaining two will likely be left for the Purple Palace masters to divide among themselves...'
So he chuckled softly and said, "There are five parties among us. Let each choose one item!"
Tu Longjian curled the corner of his lips, showing no hint of surprise. In contrast, the female cultivator frowned slightly, seemingly suspicious of why Qing Zhuo was being so agreeable.
Qing Zhuo paid her no mind at all. With a casual wave of his hand, he drew one of the jade boxes toward him with magic power. The others had all been strung tight, and at his motion, everyone moved at once. The five jade boxes fell into their hands one by one.
Yu Muxian brushed his hand over the jade box, yet it failed to open. Looking closer, its overall aura was rounded and whole, sealed by an incantation that prevented it from being easily opened. He raised his hand and formed an incantation seal: "Xuantan Array-Unraveling Technique!"
Flecks of golden light immediately surfaced at his fingertips. He channeled his spell and magic power down onto the jade box, yet the light merely slid away smoothly without having the slightest effect. Yu Muxian frowned: 'It seems only a Purple Palace cultivator can open it. They certainly kept it secure.'
On the other side, Qing Zhuo gave his box a gentle push, and it sprang open with surprising ease. But the delighted smile that had just begun to spread across his face froze instantly.
The jade box was completely empty.
Someone had long since emptied the box, leaving behind only a vacant groove. It looked as though it had once held an elongated object about two fingers wide.
The intricate carvings at the bottom of the groove had originally been tailored to fit that elongated object seamlessly. Qing Zhuo looked furious, while the others glanced at him with guarded eyes, each tucking their own jade box away tightly.
He let out a long breath, then narrowed his eyes to decipher the remaining patterns, thinking to himself: 'Tai... Wheel...'
He had only vaguely made out that much when fragments of cold snow drifted before his eyes, accompanied by the faint scent of sweet osmanthus. A moon-white glow poured out from the jade box, so freezing that his hands went numb.
Shivering violently, he snapped back to his senses, only to find the bottom of the groove completely smooth and bare.
Snap!
He slammed the jade box shut, his expression foul as he stowed it into his storage bag. Thoroughly displeased, he clasped his hands behind his back and strode out of the hall.
Nian Yi had been suppressing his laughter for a long time, and finally let out a snicker. Cupping his hands to the remaining cultivators, he too drifted away. The others exchanged glances and went their separate ways.
***
Outside the hall.
Li Xuanfeng pushed himself off the ground and slowly stood upright. Reaching blindly for the storage bag at his waist, he brought out a bottle of spirit water and splashed it over his face and eyes, finally feeling a soothing coolness wash over them.
He exhaled gently and opened his eyes. Everything before him was still somewhat blurry, but at least he had saved his sight. Silver-white light still flashed endlessly in his mind, leaving him somewhat dazed: "Was that... a True Monarch?"
The memory grew hazier and hazier. Li Xuanfeng gathered his focus, a refreshing coolness rising within his Shengyang Mansion. As recollections began to trickle back, he did not dare dwell on them, quickly shifting his attention to Xiao Yongling beside him.
Xiao Yongling looked just as disheveled. Swallowing several medicinal pills, he meditated in silence for a few moments before saying in a low voice, "Some array in the main hall must have been triggered earlier... We were too close and got caught in the crossfire."
Li Xuanfeng nodded. Only now did he have a chance to examine their surroundings. He found that a stand of spirit pines had withered completely, lying strewn across the ground in disarray. Touching his waist, he felt crystalline white droplets of dew clinging to his spirit armor.
His expression changed slightly. He hurriedly closed his eyes and inspected it closely with his spiritual sense. The dark-gold spirit armor seemed to have undergone a change, feeling much heavier than before.
Checking repeatedly, he discovered that the Tianchen silver quicksilver originally gilded onto the armor's surface to assist its concealment runes had completely precipitated out, dripping onto the ground and rolling about with clear metallic clinks.
"The spirit armor's concealment ability has been rendered useless..."
Using his magic power, he gathered up the precious substance, feeling a faint sense of relief: 'At least it only lost its concealment effect... That nearly cost me dearly.'
Li Xuanfeng closed his eyes in contemplation. Bathed in that golden radiance earlier, his aura had shifted, bringing him a faint enlightenment toward a breakthrough. If his estimation was correct, once he left this grotto-heaven, he could find a secluded spot to enter seclusion and break through.
Beside him, Xiao Yongling straightened up and let out a long breath. Seeing several streaks of magical light descending from the main hall, he said softly, "Xuanfeng... are you feeling better? We had best leave quickly. The treasures in this hall have likely been divided up and cleaned out. We would do better to head for the other peaks, or at worst search the sea of clouds."
Li Xuanfeng nodded slightly. Suddenly recalling the hunch he had formed when first entering the grotto-heaven, he rode the wind with Xiao Yongling and flew off toward the horizon.
Chapter 462