“Clang…”
Intense multicolored light rippled through the air. The man in golden robes grew slightly solemn as he sped forward. Beside him, a middle-aged man with broad shoulders and thick brows, clad in flame-patterned Daoist robes, looked on with deep eyes.
“The Three Phases Heart Pot should be beneath the Combined Fire Pagoda!”
“Indeed.”
Though Real Person Tianhuo nodded thoughtfully, there was little greed in his eyes. Watching the curtain of light descend, his thoughts weighed heavily:
‘The Dharma treasure is the Lingyang Buyi Palace… Where then is the Dayan Tiansu Book…’
The two transformed into silhouettes of light and streaked forward. Yet despite speaking of the Three Phases Heart Pot, they did not head toward the four Dao pagodas; instead, they drifted gracefully down toward the palaces beside them.
The Jinyu Sect had reaped considerable rewards in the grotto-heaven, and their strength extended far beyond just Tianhuo and Tianque on the surface. Wanling Heaven had drawn profound attention from the True Monarch. His father, Zhang Yige, who had presided over the grotto-heaven for so many years, had moved from his post and come in person for the very first time!
True Monarch Taiyuan was no Taiqing. Within the grotto-heaven was a world of its own; the two Dao tracks of Jin’yi and Shangqing had always maintained orderly lineages. The Jinyu Sect funneled talent into the grotto-heaven, while direct descendants of the grotto-heaven entered the sect for worldly experience. Once a chance at attaining the Golden seat arose, they would return to the grotto-heaven for advanced cultivation, and should they perish, they perished within the grotto-heaven, rarely ever venturing outside…
Now that he had personally taken the field, Tianhuo naturally felt at ease venturing off to the side, listening as Tianque said with a grave tone:
“The Chonghuo Liangming Instrument is inside the grotto-heaven, very likely placed by Lu Fang somewhere in these mountains… Among all the items, only this one aligns rather well with our lineage… The rest are all Combined Fire objects, most having soul-damaging properties, requiring one to cultivate an extra Douxuan incantation for protection, which is extremely inconvenient.”
Tianque swept his sleeve, opening the grand doors of this palace, and scanned the interior, murmuring in a low voice:
“Though he enjoyed temporary renown, he left behind no lasting lineage after all. This mountain is not small, and the suppression from the Dharma treasure is even greater. It is hard to say where in the palaces it might be, but judging from the surroundings, it is nine times out of ten near the Dao pagodas.”
He raised his head, cast his gaze toward the palace entrance, and said in a heavy voice:
“The Jin’yi lineage is here. This palace belongs to our Dao; Fellow Daoist may go elsewhere!”
A faint gust of wind swept past, and then all movement ceased. Tianque looked back and said:
“It was a Real Person of the Lin clan.”
These two Real Persons were of noble birth and superb methods. In mere moments, they had deciphered the palace’s layout, swept clean everything within, and moved to retrieve a bowl-shaped spiritual tool enshrined on a pedestal.
The spiritual tool was shielded by a white barrier of light, clearly requiring a specific heritage to unlock. Tianque immediately produced a talisman and quietly activated it. Tianhuo stood guard for him, asking under his breath:
“The one at the foot of the mountain—was that Lin Hengjiang?”
His pupils dilated slightly, revealing a complex hint of horror. Hearing those three words, Tianque also felt a surge of emotion and answered:
“Plucked-down crane cloak, clad in scriptures—it should be him… The Huaijiang Sword Immortal of the Wanling Supreme Sect… Only he could have done something so ruthless and cruel!”
“No wonder!”
Tianhuo’s expression darkened. Seeing the formation shatter and the item safely retrieved into their own hands, they moved out without a moment’s pause. Showing no joy, he replied:
“I was wondering why not a single person dropped down to claim his sword… After all, with what happened to Real Person Donghua beforehand, Hongjiang is likely not a whit inferior to Bili…”
“Lin Hengjiang’s hatred ran as deep as the Yellow Springs and as vast as the Eastern Sea. Furthermore, it was suicide; before he fell, he must have poured all his divine abilities, magical power, and sword intent entirely into the sword… Who knows how terrifying it is!”
He withdrew his gaze and looked up at the sky. A fierce glare was rising from the west—pallid white intermingled with speckles of hazy pale yellow, intricately interwoven. A colossal eye of divine ability materialized amidst the clouds, casting down thousands of beams of light!
Tianque frowned. “It is the Shengbai Dao Master.”
Tianhuo nodded, his eyes reflecting the myriad lights in the sky. Across the entire mountain range, a chilly roar that shook heaven and earth had already erupted:
“Zhang Yige?! How dare you!”
……
‘Zhang Yige? Likely someone from Jinyu…’
The thunderous roar echoed through the heavens, but Li Zhouwei had no time to ponder it. The Huayang Royal Battleaxe in his hand shone with dazzling brilliance as he slammed it once more against the Lihuo light before him!
*Rumble!*
The intense hues of Lihuo shattered with a boom. The radiance shrouding the surface of the palace instantly faded, and a profound crimson palace was finally revealed. In the sky, streaks of colored light flitting back and forth suddenly brightened, like flies catching the scent of blood, hurriedly veering to descend upon this place.
Li Zhouwei let out a cold sneer, though light had already been brewing between his brows. The Shangyao Subduing Light shot forth, crashing with a roar into the turning multicolored light and erupting into a flare of brilliance, while his figure descended at breakneck speed!
Four archways indeed stood before the palace—vermilion lacquer over dark patterns, zigzagging watchtowers, kaleidoscopic brilliance interweaving. The gushing Lihuo could not impede him in the least; in the blink of an eye, he had landed before the hall.
Before the grand hall stood vermilion balustrades and painted railings; statues of fire-treading birds stood at the entrance, while both sides blazed fiercely with flames. Twelve Lihuo lampstands were lined in a row, headed by Changxing Primordial Fire and ending with Chixing Lihuo, their various colors intermingling and flickering brightly—truly an imposing and magnificent sight!
The instant the golden-eyed man stepped into the grand hall, an immense heavenly gate rose from the sky amidst iridescent clouds and celestial radiance, descending heavily. With a boom, it slammed down upon the central archway. As the celestial light shone down, it repelled each of the restless colored lights and suppressed the cultivator charging at the forefront!
*Rumble!*
Cultivation often hinged on seizing the initiative. A step ahead meant every step ahead. Without hesitation, Li Zhouwei suppressed that person, giving no one the chance to coordinate a siege against his divine ability, and Audience at the Heavenly Gate dispersed immediately!
Li Zhouwei transformed into light and stepped inside, greeted by blazing reds and dazzling brilliance. The dark crimson structures were carved with golden profound patterns. He immediately crossed the arched bridge over the great pool of Lihuo, passed through the main hall, and indeed saw a dark crimson celestial throne.
A wave of scorching Lihuo Qi washed over him. The screen behind the celestial throne was colossal, depicting surging Lihuo and circling birds, with a complex array diagram centered on a toppled profound pillar right in the middle.
Sounds were already echoing from the surrounding side halls. Li Zhouwei swept his golden gaze as if casually looking around, without a moment’s hesitation. He raised a hand, unhooking the Huayang Royal Battleaxe from his waist. The spiritual tool twirled once in his grip before his fingers clamped tight and cleaved downward!
At the same time, the dark bracelet on his wrist vanished, casting beams of golden light into empty air. It dragged a beam of white light from the rolling Lihuo, right beneath the Huayang Royal Battleaxe!
*Rumble!*
Intense celestial light burst forth. The Lihuo throughout the grand hall swayed together, while the Lihuo pool in the center issued a muffled boom. The white light rippled slightly, seeking to flee, but was locked in place and unable to budge, as if ready to dissolve into formlessness at any moment.
*Rumble!*
His face was instantly covered in golden patterns as Jun Daowei was pushed to its limits. The Huayang Royal Battleaxe leaped up, issuing an excited cry, and slammed down heavily once more!
All the palace formations on this mountain originated from the surrounding grand array. Now that the True Monarchs had intervened to seize the Dharma treasure, even the grand array had shattered and dissolved. The grotto-heaven’s profound mantle had clearly run into problems; as time flowed on, all protection and formations would inevitably vanish… Yet with only this remnant power, the white light still swayed within the Lihuo, merely flickering between brightness and dimness.
Li Zhouwei raised the battleaxe for a third time, his eyes gleaming golden and his divine ability blazing furiously as he exerted his full strength. The moment he swung the spiritual tool, an earth-shattering roar resounded, and the hall groaned in agony. Radiant golden light flooded the surroundings, and the white brilliance finally shattered into pieces!
‘The array here has decayed even faster than I thought!’
The dark bracelet reappeared on his wrist, as if everything just now had been an illusion. The young man exhaled softly, swiftly regulating his breath, and stepped into the fire, catching sight of an object:
The object was merely the size of a palm, perfectly round like a Golden Core, yet ringed by golden threads in five bands of colored halos. Around it circled countless sesame-sized birds of spirit fire—phoenixes, luan, yuanchu, and osprey, kun, peng, hawks, and warblers, wheeling together in flight. Yet looking closely, there was only swirling fire, appearing merely like a jade ornament.
Just as the item caught his eye, Li Zhouwei reached out his hand, though not in haste. Cha You had already sensed something—there was still divine ability and magical power upon this spirit treasure!
*Buzz!*
Sure enough, his reaching hand caught only empty air. Surging divine ability was already churning, scorching and ethereal; the object had vanished from its spot, seemingly executing some wondrous art to make its escape!
‘Either the original master of this spirit treasure stored divine abilities within it, or the spirit treasure itself possesses the wondrous trait of storing and absorbing magical power!’
Li Zhouwei was not hurried, but rather delighted:
‘As long as the grand array can be broken, this object is practically in the bag!’
Sweeping his gaze around, his golden eyes caught sight of the object amidst the blazing Lihuo. Stepping forward, he did not rush to lunge for it; instead, golden light erupted from his glabella, striking down a black stream of light in an apparently empty space!
The stream of light resolved into a man clad in mixed white-and-purple robes with drooping sleeve-bags, a crimson lower skirt, and jade boots. A horizontal jade bar was pinned through his bound hair, swaying slightly as he glared with cold eyes. Li Zhouwei swept his gaze over him, everything clear in his mind:
‘Arrived from the side hall… Two divine abilities…’
Li Zhouwei understood what lay in the side halls. The cultivation methods and spiritual items inside were likewise shielded by formations; even if someone rushed straight for this palace, there was no way they could have broken through the formations and arrived here so quickly. Thus, nine times out of ten, this person had abandoned the treasures in the side halls to enter!
Meanwhile, on the other side, Lihuo surged as the round, Golden Core-like spirit treasure surfaced once more. A person had already pursued it from behind, reaching out a hand, only to see the spirit treasure erupt with a bang, flaring brilliantly!
That Violet Palace cultivator did not understand the situation; thinking great fortune had blessed him, seeing the spirit treasure just happen to flash right in front of him upon entering the hall, he was overjoyed—how could he be on guard? Having triggered the divine ability within the spirit treasure, a near-solid pillar of crimson-gold Lihuo erupted from it, and only then did he belatedly activate his divine ability.
*Bang!*
Lihuo detonated all over the man’s body, sending him bouncing back, nearly flying out of the hall. Yet his divine abilities flickered over him; though only at the Early Violet Palace stage, he possessed some skill, managing to stand firm amidst the radiance of the spirit treasure while spitting up a mouthful of blood.
Li Zhouwei glanced sideways, his golden eyes flashing as he inspected closely, grasping the situation:
‘Complete Dan… This man’s divine ability is somewhat similar to Wan’er’s; he is most likely not adept at combat!’
His form dissipated at once.
“Careful!”
The man in white and crimson robes with drooping sleeves transmitted a shout through his magical power, startling the Violet Palace cultivator caught in the pillar of light out of his wits. Only then did the latter faintly perceive a luminous halberd within the crimson glare, practically already at his face!
*Dong!*
A round jade shield materialized, and the crescent blade of the great halberd struck it, sending sparks flying everywhere. The impact rattled his divine ability, sapping his nerve before the fight even began. Yet unwilling to part with the spirit treasure, he could only plead in a hushed voice to buy time:
“I am Xiangli Zhuyun… My clan brother meant no offense… But this spirit treasure is of critical importance; we are willing to compensate you with other items…”
What answered him was only his jade shield being forced back step by step, as intense Mingyang brilliance scattered streamers of light in all directions, accompanied by a faint, cold sneer:
“In league after all.”
Before the words had even faded, the radiant gleam of the halberd leaped from before the shield. The crescent blade twisted simultaneously, clamping down on the round shield. Terror gripped his heart; squeezing his eyes shut, he spat out a mouthful of cinnabar!
The cinnabar scattered, instantly pushing back the golden light and allowing him to escape from danger. Anger flared in his eyes. Seeing Li Zhouwei charge straight toward him, he hastily circulated and urged his divine ability, barking:
“I will hold him off! Seize the item at once!”
Yet the spirit treasure, round as a Golden Core in the air, seemed provoked; it flared with light once more, casting down layers of wondrous mist resembling Lihuo. In an instant, the entire grand hall was enveloped, and a potent Baleful Fire rushed toward them. Delight surged in his heart:
‘Heaven helps me!’
His discernment was by no means poor; he could see that divine ability still lingered on the spirit treasure and that it possessed the ability to shift and shuttle. But a spirit treasure was no cultivator—once it began unleashing large-scale techniques, it could not simultaneously use its spatial shuttling wonder, meaning it could no longer evade capture!
And the Lihuo mist it unleashed would happen to obstruct Li Zhouwei as well!
‘Fortune truly smiles upon me!’
Yet before his thoughts could settle, just as he eased his divine ability, the red mist before him was torn open, revealing a glittering halberd tip!
Right before his eyes, unavoidable!
“Ah?!”
*Rumble!*
A violent crash echoed within the Lihuo mist. Spiritual sense was inherently suppressed here; on the other side, the man in white and crimson robes with drooping sleeves could not even see his surroundings clearly, yet he knew this was the opportune moment!
Ignoring the commotion, he bit open his fingertip and pressed the blood to his glabella, finally clearing his vision. Spotting the round spirit treasure, he forcefully soared into the air!
Yet a large hand had already thrust out from the Lihuo mist, clamping down viciously upon the spirit treasure while it was busy unleashing its wondrous arts and had no leisure to flee!
*Dong!*
The suppressing power of Audience at the Heavenly Gate and the divine strength of Jun Daowei operated in unison, finally freezing the Lihuo spirit treasure in place. After all, it was not an ownerless item; still unwilling to submit, it struggled violently.
Undissipated divine abilities leaped endlessly across the spirit treasure, drifting out from between his fingers and casting flame-like Lihuo radiance as it trembled incessantly, yet it no longer had any chance of escape!
Scalding magical power battered his palm, scorching his fingers pale, but Li Zhouwei did not flinch in the least from the pain. Joy finally swelled in his heart:
‘A Lihuo spirit treasure! Acquired!’
“You!”
As Li Zhouwei’s grip tightened, the Lihuo mist in the hall dispersed in an instant. The man’s pupils dilated in shock as he saw his younger kinsman clutching a hole in his chest and vomiting blood, streams of golden light gushing from the wound. Spitting blood, the kinsman gritted his teeth:
“Go!”
Now that the item had fallen into Li Zhouwei’s hands, the two had no hope of taking it back. Regardless of whether they could match him in battle, there was no point in fighting. They sensibly abandoned this place and headed elsewhere.
Li Zhouwei did not spare another glance for these two Beidi cultivators. His golden eyes shifted, landing like light upon the side hall.
Rolling Lihuo churned within this hall. No matter how lofty the celestial palace was, without the protection of formations, having endured such high-intensity clashes between Violet Palace cultivators on both sides, it could no longer hold out. Rolling Lihuo poured forth from the golden engravings, coursing across the floor.
In the middle of thick shelves stood a jade pedestal. Upon it lay a magnificent, deep-red jade slip, flanked on either side by a jade box, each radiating billowing Lihuo light.
Within the hall, two Violet Palace cultivators were locked in fierce combat, Heshui and celestial light interweaving. One wore fluttering blue robes and appeared rather young, while the other was advanced in years, dressed in yellow robes with a jade pendant hanging at his waist, fighting tooth and nail.
Seeing him, both clearly recognized him at first glance, and their expressions changed simultaneously!
A flicker of surprise finally arose in Li Zhouwei’s eyes.
This yellow-robed Violet Palace cultivator also cultivated Mingyang! The fluctuations of divine ability emanating from him were even rather familiar… sharing several similarities with the aura of Jun Daowei…
‘It seems to be the Cui family’s path… likely the heritage of Chongzhou Island!’
Only a handful of factions under the heavens cultivated Mingyang, so the identity of the man before him was immediately apparent. Li Zhouwei gazed at him, the patterns on his face shining brighter and brighter. Pointing his halberd forward, he strode across the rolling Lihuo, a cryptic smile playing on his lips:
‘So it is Real Person Yangya!’
Chapter 975