Chapter 2391: Blood Shadow and Scarlet Thunder

After the silver runes completely dispersed into specks of spiritual light, the surrounding scenery, along with the dense puppets, vanished without a trace.

The void ahead blurred and twisted, and then a continuous stretch of buildings immediately appeared.

"It's broken, wonderful! Brother Xiao truly has excellent methods." Madam Wanhua was overjoyed at this sight.

"The restriction here is quite profound; perhaps no one has truly been here before. If we weren't in a hurry, we might have searched thoroughly," Xiao Ming said with a sigh.

"Haha, Brother Xiao, there's no need to feel regret. Even if these peripheral branch palaces contain some treasures, they aren't essential for us. Once we reach the center and control the core of the restrictions, the treasures of this palace will be ours for the taking," Daoist Qingping said with a smile.

"I understand that, but seeing treasures so close yet being unable to take them still fills me with a little regret," Xiao Ming replied with a slight smile.

Following this, the three of them flew along a small path beside the buildings, heading directly towards a light barrier on the other side of the area.

In another branch palace's restriction on the outskirts of the Heavenly Cauldron, a burly man in brocade robes coldly stared at a hundred-zhang-tall twin-headed giant ape before him. His hundreds of disciples had formed a profound magic array, trapping the monster within.

As the disciples accelerated the activation of their magical artifacts, the power of the entire array was pushed to its limit, tightening ever more. Waves of invisible, immense force pressed relentlessly upon the twin-headed giant ape's massive body, occasionally emitting loud cracking sounds.

When the giant ape's body stiffened, finally unable to move under the surrounding immense pressure, the burly man in brocade robes flicked his sleeve. A silver arc of light shot out, circled the ape's massive body once, and then cut it into two halves down the middle.

The seemingly grayish void around them immediately shattered and collapsed inch by inch.

In a swamp-like area, a gigantic centipede wreathed in blue electrical light, a massive scorpion engulfed in rolling black mist, and an exceptionally flat-headed giant python were rampaging through a sea of beasts.

On the heads of the three giant insects, an ugly-faced, emaciated old man sat cross-legged on each.

The sea of beasts contained not only tigers, wolves, jackals, and leopards, but also various bizarre mutated fierce beasts, each possessing strength no less than that of a mid-to-low-level cultivator. They relentlessly attacked the three giant insects, one after another, tearing at them.

The three old men, however, sat motionless on the giant insects, completely oblivious to their surroundings.

Outside the five-colored seal, five young men, identical in appearance and attire, sat cross-legged in mid-air, their faces devoid of expression, seemingly waiting quietly for something.

Suddenly, a ripple appeared in the sky above. A gigantic dark hole materialized out of thin air.

With a whoosh, a mass of crimson light shot out from it. After circling once, it transformed into a faint humanoid blood shadow, its blurred face revealing gleaming green eyes. An unspeakable sinister aura permeated its form.

Seeing this, the five young men who had been sitting immediately stood up. A shimmer of radiant light enveloped their bodies, and twelve bone flying swords appeared before each of them, their surfaces faintly flickering with green phosphorescent flames.

"The Five Blood Harmonizers, do you intend to fight me?" the blurred blood shadow said, seemingly surprised to find the five young men there.

"We arrived in a hurry and don't possess the key to break the seal. We can only obtain one from a fellow Daoist who comes after us. No matter who you are, hand over the key, and we will let you go," said the youth in the middle, expressionless.

"Haha, what arrogance! Very well, I, Blood Shadow, also need essence blood to nourish this body. You may as well offer up your flesh and blood!" The blood shadow burst into maniacal laughter at these words. Its form blurred, transforming into five extraordinarily long crimson streaks that coiled directly towards the Five Blood Harmonizers.

"Although Blood Shadow Art is tyrannical, it is not without a way to break it," the middle youth sneered. A faint white light suddenly flashed on his body. The treasure he conjured instantly transformed into surging brilliant light, meeting the attack head-on.

The other four youths, however, blurred and simultaneously vanished into the void.

The next moment, the void immediately erupted with roaring crimson light, as a nearly evenly matched battle broke out.

Outside the colossal gate, nearly a thousand high-level beings had gathered, mostly those in the Body Integration and Void Refinement stages. Over thirty individuals were jointly unleashing treasures, combined with countless forces of thunder and fire, ferociously attacking the giant gate.

However, the gate only flickered with golden and silver runes, remaining completely unmoving.

The others stood by coldly at a distance, seemingly having no intention of disturbing their efforts.

"A bunch of useless trash! With such meager abilities, you dare to dream of entering the Heavenly Cauldron Palace? Get out, all of you!"

Just then, a thunderous boom, like a bolt from the clear sky, suddenly erupted from above. It shook everyone present, causing their ears to buzz. Some cultivators with slightly lower cultivation levels even felt their entire bodies go limp, plummeting directly from high in the air.

With a "boom."

A mass of crimson lightning, about an acre in size, tore through the void and materialized, then shot down from above, directly slamming into the giant gate.

Instantly, arcs of crimson lightning, as thick as a bowl, coiled around the giant gate, and an astonishing wave of heat swept outwards in all directions.

Dozens of cultivators nearby immediately changed expressions and rapidly shot backward to avoid it.

A few who were too slow to evade were caught in the heatwave, instantly letting out piercing screams that abruptly ceased, seemingly perishing within.

Under the impact, the giant gate slowly opened a crack.

The crimson lightning arcs immediately retracted swiftly, recoiled into a ball, and with a flash, vanished behind the gate.

After a rumble, the giant gate slowly closed again.

"Ancestor Scarlet Thunder! That person just now was definitely Ancestor Scarlet Thunder!"

Someone exclaimed in surprise.

Upon hearing this, the high-level cultivators who had been observing couldn't help but exchange glances.

Compared to the previous opening of the Heavenly Cauldron Palace, where mostly Body Integration stage cultivators entered, this time there were significantly more Grand Ascension stage ancestors.

It seemed the dissemination of the Heavenly Cauldron Palace keys had finally attracted all these old monsters.

Three days later, within the Heavenly Cauldron Palace, Han Li found himself in a long corridor. Before him, two Vajra-like puppets, one golden and one silver, blocked his path.

These two puppets were seven to eight zhang tall, each wielding two giant hammers of the same color. Their bodies were covered in scars, as if they had engaged in fierce battles countless years ago.

Han Li merely glanced at the two puppets before shifting his gaze to the light vermilion wooden door behind them. With a step, he slowly walked closer.

With two resounding "booms," the moment Han Li approached, the golden and silver puppets instantly moved their arms, and their four giant hammers swung down with a buzzing sound.

A flash of green light, and countless green threads coiled out from Han Li. The two puppets, along with their four giant hammers, instantly collapsed into fragments.

Han Li flashed past, then lightly flicked his sleeve towards the vermilion wooden door. A surge of unseen power flowed out, pushing it open.

Inside the great hall were rows upon rows of rectangular stone platforms, covered with all sorts of magical artifacts. Some shone dazzlingly, while others were dim and unlustrous, numbering over a thousand pieces in total.

Han Li smiled faintly and strode inside.

At the same time, above an boundless expanse of azure sea, Madam Wanhua and Daoist Qingping hovered in mid-air, their expressions exceedingly grim.

Not far in front of them, Xiao Ming sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. One hand held a formation plate, while the fingers of his other hand trembled slightly, as if he were casting a spell or calculating something.

"I never expected merely the second location would possess such a powerful illusion. We've been trapped here for two full days now, haven't we?" Madam Wanhua suddenly said to Daoist Qingping.

"Indeed, even I didn't anticipate this area having such potent illusionary restrictions, so much so that even Brother Xiao can't break them quickly. But it's not surprising; although it's only the second branch palace for us, due to our chosen route, this place should be considered deep within the Heavenly Cauldron Palace. Once we break through this area, we should be close to the central region," Daoist Qingping said, frowning.

"Let's hope so," Madam Wanhua replied, her expression still fluctuating between worry and hope.

At this moment, Xiao Ming remained motionless, sitting cross-legged in front, as if completely unaware of his surroundings.

Seven days later.

At the entrance of a certain hall within the Heavenly Cauldron Palace, the woman Xue Po slowly emerged, her face deep in thought, as if she hadn't gained much inside.

Just then, a mass of crimson lightning suddenly shot towards her. With a flash, it transformed into a tall old man wearing a scarlet robe, his face marked with golden lightning patterns.

Xue Po was instantly startled. Almost without thinking, she flicked her sleeve, and two masses of green light flew out. After circling once, they transformed into two armored puppets that blocked her path.

One puppet wore green armor and held a man-sized giant bow. The other wore black armor and wielded a light blue spear horizontally with both hands.

"Oh, Body Integration puppets? These are quite rare. Little girl, state your name. Who did you come in with?" The tall old man's gaze swept over the two puppets, a hint of surprise appearing on his face before he sternly demanded.

"This junior is Xue Po. I did indeed come in with Senior Han. Senior, are you...?" Xue Po instantly recognized the opponent's Grand Ascension stage cultivation, and her heart trembled. She couldn't help but stammer.

"Surname Han? I haven't heard of a Grand Ascension cultivator with that surname. Could it be a newly advanced fellow Daoist? Never mind, it doesn't matter who you came in with. Hand over your key and all your gains from inside. Don't try to deceive this old man with lies, or I will know once I use Soul Search on you." A malevolent expression appeared on the tall old man's face as he spoke to Xue Po without a hint of politeness.

"This junior found nothing inside. As for the key, it's with the senior who brought me in. Senior, isn't what you're doing a bit too much?" Xue Po was naturally shocked and enraged upon hearing that the other party genuinely intended to resort to force. She forced a smile and replied.

"If you won't give it, then this old man will have to take it himself." The tall old man heard this, let out a sinister chuckle, and immediately stepped forward.