A continuous drizzle fell within Anhuai Heaven. Dark gray-green and pale cyan palaces were nestled within it, with small bridges spanning flowing streams that wound between the many halls. The entire palace complex was arranged in picturesque tiers, displaying the exquisite aesthetics of Jiangbei.
"Quite beautiful indeed."
Lu Jiangxian’s gaze followed the watery landscapes of Anhuai Heaven upward. His divine sense penetrated within, perceiving every detail of the scenery with perfect clarity. After surveying the expanse, he pressed inward until he reached the very core.
There he saw an immortal palace of pristine brilliance, bright with blue-green lamps. Crystalline luminescence poured like a waterfall from the palace gates, flowing in all directions. A flight of crystalline steps mounted upward toward a solitary immortal throne, positioned directly facing the starry night above the grotto-heaven.
Lu Jiangxian took only a single look before catching his breath slightly. His pupils slowly dilated as he muttered, "What is that...?"
The highest immortal throne was carved with dragons and phoenixes, its armrests adorned with two flood dragons, spacious enough for two grown men to lie upon. The seat was empty, yet upon it rested a speck of crystalline matter.
This object was only the size of a fingernail, appearing utterly inconspicuous atop the vast immortal throne, yet it possessed a singular magnetism that made it impossible to look away. It had a crystalline sheen, as though having emerged from a tiny aperture, its ends joining together to condense into a jade-like form no larger than a finger. All manner of phantasms gushed forth from within it.
These visions depicted Daoists concocting elixirs and swallowing them to ascend, white cranes bearing fruit in their beaks, apes knocking at gates, crystals shattering, and brine condensing—an extravaganza of dazzling spectacles. From time to time, white cranes and Daoists flew out from the visions, alighting upon the palace. The Daoists attended to refining their elixirs, while the white cranes arrived bearing fruit, dropping them heavily into the furnaces to stir up bursts of white flames.
In the blink of an eye, the spiritual dynamism stirred, and all those illusions shattered and vanished, only to transform once more into apes knocking at gates and immortals patting heads.
High above, the sky of the Great Void was a gaping black expanse, within which the Mahas and Lianmins sat in state, rippling with layer upon layer of colored light. On the other side, the Real Persons of the gold nature bore varied expressions—some held magical artifacts, while others sat amidst clouds, silently gazing down.
The water below looked like a tabletop. The pavilions and towers were merely palm-sized, where cultivators brandished their magical artifacts and scrambled in contest, occasionally sparking tiny needle-thin gleams of light that quickly dissipated.
The eyes of the figures of the gold nature differed; some were cold, others impassive, all looking down toward the tabletop of water. Their spiritual senses roamed, lingering now and then upon one another.
As the situation in the waters below unfolded, gazes gradually gathered upon two figures. One was the stern-faced Yuan Xiu, while the other was naturally King Bolie, Di Fu, who possessed both striking bearing and appearance.
The burly man shrouded in true fire stroked his beard, a faint smile surfacing on his face. His Gao family was not particularly dominant among the northern powers and would not ordinarily receive so much attention, but Gao Fangjing was the greatest genius of their clan in a century. He had gone on a killing spree in these waters and reaped abundant spoils, so it was no wonder he was beaming with satisfaction.
Real Person Qiushui watched quietly, her gaze lingering upon Zhong Qian. True Person Changyun lowered his brow, his expression unreadable, leaving his thoughts impossible to guess.
Real Person Qiushui said softly, "Fellow Daoist Yuan Xiu, this is the first time I have seen this Si Yuanli. He truly is an outstanding talent; no wonder you kept him hidden so deeply."
"Fellow Daoist Qiushui speaks too highly of him. The talents of my Si family have withered; after so many years, only this one has emerged. He does possess some ability, but to call him an outstanding talent is flattering him too much," Real Person Yuan Xiu replied, casually returning the praise. "That is also thanks in no small part to Real Person Qiushui."
Real Person Qiushui merely smiled.
Real Person Yuan Xiu remained expressionless, but the hand resting on his sleeve was completely relaxed, showing an ease and contentment that revealed he was secretly pleased. He had spoken modestly, but in his heart he was immensely pleased. Not only was the Si family sparsely populated, but the few capable descendants constantly opposed him, giving Yuan Xiu a perpetual headache. Now that a junior had finally brought honor to the family, he felt greatly relieved.
Si Boxiu's stiff face showed a faint trace of a smile as he murmured, "This... this..."
The Real Persons were all in good spirits. Faint movements stirred within the Great Void as the remaining figures of the gold nature hidden there cast their glances over one after another.
Real Person Yuan Xiu kept a stiff face and murmured in a low voice, "Unwilling to put forth effort when effort was needed, yet now they come to claim a share of the feast."
Changyun gave a reply, "You all had your speculations, yet you pin it on me out of nowhere."
"You all calculated truly accurately! Xiaoning Palace indeed contains the entrance to Anhuai Heaven!"
"Even if they send more men now, they will still be a step behind us."
Yuan Xiu secretly felt uneasy, fearing that further disturbances would arise once they entered the grotto-heaven. He hurriedly circulated his divine ability in secret, transmitting a message down to have Li Xuanfeng take hold of the Huaijiang Map.
No sooner had Qiushui's voice fallen than the words merely caused the air to stall for a moment. How could the barrier of Xiaoning Palace withstand the combined might of so many figures of the gold nature and Mahas? It melted cleanly away in an instant like winter snow meeting fire. A multitude of divine ability hands surged out together, forcefully anchoring the immortal palace within the Great Void.
Before them, it was as if pots of red, orange, and green had been overturned; dazzling brilliance spread out in an instant, and the Great Void shook violently. Over a dozen divine abilities acted at once, flooding into Xiaoning Palace and detonating into a riot of colored light.
A crystalline pillar of light connecting heaven and earth had already emerged within Xiaoning Palace. Several figures of the gold nature exchanged glances, all looking pleased.
He was in the middle of sending his message when he noticed that everyone around him had gone silent. His relaxed brows gradually stiffened, and as he sensed the aura emanating from that crystalline pillar of light, his aged face froze in utter disbelief, his eyes filling with shock.
The crystalline pillar of light radiated dazzling hues, releasing an aura that rendered the Great Void frighteningly silent. Three-headed, six-armed Mahas and Lianmins calculated upon their fingers in disbelief, while cultivators of the gold nature exchanged glances, their eyes filled with equal parts delight and obsession.
A Grand Elixir... It was a Golden Elixir!
King Bolie, Di Fu, stroked his long beard, shaking his white cloak. Rings of crimson halo expanded behind him, and blazing true fire burned from his robes all the way into the surrounding void. The Hu king muttered, "A Grand Elixir!"
"There is a Grand Elixir left behind in Anhuai Heaven!"
His shout was like a silver vase shattering, sending tremors through the entire Great Void. Instantly, Mahas opened their eyes, Lianmins rose, and the gathered Golden Cores jumped to their feet in shock, crying out in thunderous voices:
"A Golden Elixir?!"
*Rumble!*
A roar echoed through the air as a three-headed, six-armed Maha manifested his true form. His colossal body filled the entire Great Void, his golden chest broad as a mountain range, his eyes hanging in the void like two blazing suns. As he moved, golden powder fell like rain across the sky, and the magical artifacts in his hands shook violently, vibrating the mountains and plains of the mortal realm and shaking Chengshui Mausoleum.
The Maha descended toward Xiaoning Palace, bearing down until the entire immortal palace creaked under the unbearable weight. A startled and furious shout rang out:
"Jinlian! How dare you!"
Real Person Yuan Xiu snapped his eyes open, his expression changing drastically. Stripped completely of his usual poise and composure, a ferocious look surfaced on his aged face as he shouted, "Qiushui! It is a legacy left by the State of Ning in those years! It was still inside Xiaoning Palace all along!"
Real Person Qiushui was equally stunned. Staring transfixed at the multi-colored light within the ruins, her heart pounded and her pupils dilated. She abruptly looked up into the Great Void, where the figures of Golden Core Real Persons manifested one after another, practically squeezing the void into fragments.
In an instant, every scheme and every pawn was swept entirely away. Where a Golden Elixir was concerned, it was worth risking one's life to seize; who had any thought of retreat or caution? The gathered Golden Core cultivators and Mahas showed a reaction diametrically opposed to their usual far-sighted calculations—vicious and decisive, they plunged straight into the grotto-heaven without a second thought.
*Rumble!*
Inside the mirror, Lu Jiangxian felt a jolt of shock. *Disaster has struck...*
He had seen the Mingyang Grand Elixir with his own eyes. Watching the scenery of this grotto-heaven manifest bit by bit within the Great Void, he realized in disbelief what was happening and immediately understood that the opposing powers were acting together to stabilize this realm! If Xiaoning Palace collapsed, no one would be able to enter it!
*A Grand Elixir left behind! The situation in Anhuai Heaven has completely surpassed everyone's expectations! Those scheming Golden Cores never imagined that casting a line for a single fish would bring down an entire fishpond! Even those few of the gold nature cannot keep a lid on this!*
*The Great Void is filled with Mahas, and the cultivators have already begun entering Anhuai Heaven! It will take less than half an incense stick of time before the Golden Cores and Mahas find a way to view the scenery within... Matters will rapidly spiral out of control. We cannot let Li Xuanfeng go in any further!*
Chapter 593