Chapter 1015: Xuan Qingzi

Volume 4: Winds from OverseasVolume 6: Spirit Treasures of Heaven

Deep underground, over twenty miles to the north, hundreds of cultivators still crowded around the entrance. The self-destruction of the illusion formation had revealed a crack several yards wide to the cultivators, but it also made the passage far more dangerous. Silver light flickered incessantly at the entrance, sweeping out like an eerie silver tide, appearing extremely strange.

At the entrance, rogue cultivators and those from minor factions, who deemed themselves incapable of joining the contention, kept a safe distance. Apart from them, three other groups of cultivators were gathered there, seemingly in a stalemate.

One group consisted entirely of female cultivators dressed in verdant green robes, each young, beautiful, and graceful. From their attire, they appeared to be local cultivators from Southern Xinjiang. Only two led them: a middle-stage Nascent Soul woman of ordinary appearance, and a beautiful, captivating young woman in the early Nascent Soul stage.

Facing these female cultivators was a group of over thirty cultivators. Strangely, this group was subtly divided into two factions: one dressed in black robes, the other in snow-white gowns. Five Nascent Soul cultivators stood in front of them. Ge Tianhao and the Tianlan Saintess Lin Yinping were prominently among them. However, the most noticeable figure was a refined young man standing beside the Tianlan Saintess. Judging by his spiritual energy fluctuations, he was a grand cultivator at the late Nascent Soul stage, indeed, the Great Immortal Master Xu from the Tianlan Grasslands.

The last group was the smallest, consisting of only three Daoist priests in green robes. Leading them was a white-haired, red-faced old Daoist priest, exuding an air of otherworldly grace, who was also a grand cultivator at the late stage.

“Madam Mu, your sect insists on getting involved in this mess. It’s not that I look down on you, Madam, but this journey is exceptionally perilous; one slip-up could severely damage the Hua Xian Sect's vitality. It’s out of consideration for our past acquaintance that I’m trying so hard to dissuade you,” the white-haired old Daoist said sternly to the woman. From his tone, it seemed he was quite familiar with the woman.

These female cultivators were from the Hua Xian Sect, another major sect in Southern Xinjiang, located closest to the seal. Indeed, this sect's reputation in the cultivation world was even more resounding than that of the Sacred Gate. Due to their cultivation techniques, most of their disciples were female cultivators, and their high-ranking elders were also women. However, the sect's dominance in Southern Xinjiang was attributed to its unpredictable and insidious curse arts. It was said they could cast spells from thousands of miles away, invisibly killing people. Therefore, rumors often circulated in the cultivation world about cultivators who had offended the sect inexplicably dying in faraway, unrelated places. This made cultivators from other sects extremely wary of these female cultivators and unwilling to provoke them easily.

This 'Madam Mu' of the Hua Xian Sect even had a terrifying legend about simultaneously cursing and killing three cultivators of the same rank in different locations in a single day. The old Daoist, in his younger years, had an unexplainable entanglement with this woman. Hence, even as an elder of one of the Great Jin's top sects, the old Daoist remained polite and courteous.

“Daoist Brother Xuanqing, Ge will not interfere with the affairs of other sects. However, our Yin Luo Sect must enter,” Ge Tianhao spoke from the other side. He had accompanied a group of Tianlan cultivators, traveling day and night, and upon entering Southern Xinjiang, he met two other Yin Luo Sect elders who informed him about the underground seal. He immediately brought everyone to this location. Feeling that his side now possessed superior manpower to the Taiyi Gate, he naturally would not retreat easily.

“If Daoist Friend Ge truly wishes to enter, I will not necessarily stop you. To be frank, I received a secret report that this seal was deliberately unsealed by someone. Although I don't know what's down there, I can't imagine it's anything good. Furthermore, even if I don't interfere with this matter, how do you plan to pass through this crack, now that it has become like this? Even I would not dare to rashly venture into this crack now.” Old Xuanqing Zi listened, not angered, but turned his head to glance at the silver light within the entrance, speaking noncommittally.

Upon hearing the old Daoist's words, the green-robed woman and Ge Tianhao's group all fell silent. This was indeed a difficult problem to resolve! With the chaotic fluctuations of the restrictions within the crack, entering it was indeed an exceptionally dangerous undertaking.

“Our Hua Xian Sect recently acquired a Sun and Moon Shuttle, one of the few integrated attack and defense treasures in the world. If my junior sister and I cooperate, we are willing to give it a try,” the woman said slowly, brushing the green strands from her forehead.

“The Sun and Moon Shuttle? One of the Three Spirit Shuttles. Madam actually possesses this treasure!” The old Daoist looked surprised.

“It’s nothing, our sect only recently obtained it. We intend to make it the Hua Xian Sect’s heritage treasure!” Madam Mu said calmly, without any reservations.

“Since Madam has this treasure, I will say no more. Daoist Friend Mu, proceed as you deem fit. I will also enter this seal in two days,” the old Daoist nodded, indeed saying nothing further.

“In two days? Didn't you just say you couldn't pass through yourself, Daoist Friend? What do you mean by that now?” Ge Tianhao sensed something amiss.

“Did I not say? In two days, True Man Seven Marvels of the Heavenly Demon Sect will arrive. With Daoist Friend Seven Marvels’ Spirit Tortoise Flying Chariot, passing through this crack will be no problem,” the old Daoist said, stroking his beard.

“True Man Seven Marvels is coming here too?” Ge Tianhao and others were startled.

“Indeed. The secret report I received originally involved matters concerning both the righteous and demonic paths, and Daoist Friend Seven Marvels and I are responsible for it. We had only recently parted ways near Southern Xinjiang to act separately. Now that the clue has been found, it's natural to invite Brother Seven Marvels to lend me a hand. It's not that I am cowardly, but if the secret report is true, I believe I alone won't be able to achieve much. It would be much safer to wait for Daoist Friend Seven Marvels and enter the seal together,” the old Daoist said calmly.

Upon hearing that even True Man Seven Marvels of the Heavenly Demon Sect had been dispatched, Ge Tianhao's expression turned grim. After a moment of brooding, he subtly moved his lips, transmitting a message to the Tianlan Saintess and the young man surnamed Xu. The young man surnamed Xu's expression remained unchanged, but Lin Yinping's brows furrowed as she listened. Seeing this, Ge Tianhao hastily said a few more words. After a moment of silence, the young man surnamed Xu finally nodded slowly. Though Lin Yinping hesitated slightly, she did not voice any objections.

Only then did Ge Tianhao's face relax, and he resolutely declared to Xuanqing Zi: “From Daoist Friend Xuanqing’s tone, it seems there are indeed significant problems beneath the seal. However, since our sect’s Grand Elder has already descended, Ge cannot simply stand by. Although we don't possess treasures like the Sun and Moon Shuttle or the Spirit Tortoise Flying Chariot, we still intend to try.”

“Heh heh! The old Daoist has made it so clear, yet Brother Ge believes he has something to rely on. I won't be the bad guy here. Feel free to use whatever divine abilities you have to pass through the crack.” Xuanqing Zi showed no surprise, glancing sideways at the Great Immortal Master Xu of Tianlan, his face calm. It seemed the old Daoist knew quite a lot about the Tianlan cultivators' journey.

“In that case, we won't dwell on it. Daoist Friend Xu, we will need your assistance,” Ge Tianhao said, chuckling and turning his face.

“Hm, since Brother Ge insists. I, Xu, will give it a try.” The young man slapped a spirit beast pouch at his waist with one hand, and immediately, a burst of colorful light swept out from the pouch's opening. Then, with a flash of spiritual light, a five-colored peacock materialized in the air, its several-foot-long colorful feathers radiating luminous halos, truly dazzling.

“That’s a Spirit Rhinoceros Peacock!” Xuanqing Zi's eyes narrowed slightly, and his expression subtly changed.

“Indeed. The five-colored spiritual light released by this Spirit Rhinoceros Peacock can naturally isolate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. If it clears the way, we can also enter. Brother Xuanqing, we shall go first.”

Upon seeing the young man surnamed Xu release the spirit beast, Ge Tianhao and his group no longer delayed. After a clear cry from the peacock, it plunged into the silver light. The Nascent Soul cultivators then quickly released their protective artifacts and swiftly followed, disappearing into the crack.

In the blink of an eye, only the low-level disciples of Tianlan and the Yin Luo Sect remained outside. These individuals seemed to have received prior orders; seeing that Ge Tianhao and his group had safely entered and there appeared to be no issues, they immediately departed, transforming into streaks of light and heading towards the surface.

In a moment, only Xuanqing Zi's group and the female cultivators of the Hua Xian Sect remained at the entrance. Upon seeing this, the woman surnamed Mu pondered for a moment, then also turned and gave a few instructions. Immediately, her disciples scattered and left the area. Once she saw her disciples had moved away, the woman nodded to the beautiful young woman, signaling: “Junior sister, release the spirit shuttle!”

“Understood!” the beautiful young woman replied, then touched her slender waist with her jade hand. Immediately, a silver, pointed treasure appeared in her grasp, which she tossed into the air. Almost simultaneously, the woman flicked her fragrant sleeve, and an identical golden treasure was also cast out. Instantly, the two beams of light, one silver and one gold, met in the air. Instead of exploding or scattering, they intertwined and flashed, then instantly merged into one, forming a colossal shuttle of gold and silver, about ten feet long and radiating an astonishing aura.

“Go!” the woman cried out, and she and the beautiful young woman transformed into two streaks of light, vanishing instantly as they merged into the giant shuttle. Golden and silver lights simultaneously flickered on the giant shuttle's surface. After a rapid spin, it shot forward, flying into the crack.

“I wasted so much breath, yet you still insisted on entering. If anything goes wrong, don't blame me for not warning you!” Xuanqing Zi muttered with a hint of an unusual expression after the giant shuttle had also completely vanished. He then waved a hand at the two Foundation Establishment stage Daoist priests behind him, and the three immediately sat down cross-legged at the entrance, closing their eyes to meditate and recover their energy.

With such a grand cultivator guarding the entrance, the other cultivators in the distance could only look at each other in dismay.

Inside the seal, at the top of Kunwu Mountain, within a dark, obscure, enclosed space, an incredibly massive entity floated motionless in mid-air. Countless restriction talismans were affixed to its surface, and it was entangled by dense, numerous chains. Each of these talismans flickered with spiritual light, indicating they were of extremely high rank. The chains, in contrast, were dull black, yet subtly permeated with faint traces of blood.