Chapter 836: Scroll Painting

As Han Li and his companion, guided by the flying mouse, pursued Elder Zhong's group, the Ghost Spirit Sect Master, Wei Wuya, and their company had already crossed the immense mountain and descended into a basin.

The basin was dark and humid, its ground riddled with puddles of various sizes, which greatly frustrated the group, as they were forced to proceed on foot. While minor spells could keep the mud and murky water at bay, their pace inevitably slowed considerably.

This time, however, neither Wang Tiangu nor Wei Wuya uttered a single complaint. As they had crested the mountain's summit earlier, they had caught a distant, elevated view of a colossal structure resembling an altar, situated precisely at the basin's center.

This sight immediately invigorated everyone who had followed the Ghost Spirit Sect Master, causing them to cast aside their earlier suspicions. It was the first time since entering the valley that they had encountered such a complete structure. Without a doubt, it was no ordinary place. It likely had a real connection to the Spirit Illusion Garden, as the Ghost Spirit Sect Master had described.

Consequently, the group's progress became even slower, yet surprisingly, no one seemed impatient. Some did attempt to traverse the basin using levitation spells, hovering a few feet above the ground. However, their only reward was a sudden crimson lightning bolt that struck from the sky moments later, nearly shattering a cultivator's protective artifact. It became clear that the closer they approached the basin's center, the more stringent the anti-flight restrictions became.

Consequently, no one dared to attempt such shortcuts again; they could only advance slowly in single file. A Ghost Spirit Sect disciple led the way, easily clearing paths through thickets with a few well-placed fireballs.

After walking for the better part of a day, the group finally neared the altar, its colossal silhouette visible from a distance. The altar was constructed entirely from white mountain stone, forming a colossal trapezoid with stairs on all four sides. It soared hundreds of zhang into the clouds, an incredibly magnificent sight. However, its distance and immense height made it impossible to discern any details on its summit.

"We're almost there. It seems we'll reach it in an hour or two at most. Sect Master Wang, I'm even more curious now about how you know of the Spirit Illusion Garden." Though Wei Wuya also traveled on foot, his body emitted a faint green luminescence. With each light step, he would silently glide several zhang forward, appearing utterly effortless.

"Rest assured, Brother Wei, I will certainly explain everything to you once we're done," the Ghost Spirit Sect Master replied with a faint smile, seemingly unconcerned.

Wei Wuya nodded. Just as he was about to inquire further, the Ghost Spirit Sect disciple at the forefront suddenly flickered with spiritual light and stumbled. In the next instant, he was silently, diagonally severed from shoulder to waist, his body falling soundlessly to the ground.

"A spatial rift!" The Ghost Spirit Sect Master's expression drastically changed at the sight. Wei Wuya and Wang Tiangu, who was behind him, likewise grew solemn.

While they were unaware of the Ghost Spirit Sect Master's true intentions, they had followed his guided route into the valley thus far without encountering any invisible spatial rifts. Their previously anxious hearts had significantly relaxed. However, the sudden appearance of a spatial rift now sent a chill through both of them. The three remaining Ghost Spirit Sect disciples also paled.

The entire group halted their advance. The Ghost Spirit Sect Master's expression was unreadable as he gazed at the corpse severed by the rift. Wei Wuya closed his eyes, seemingly using his divine sense to perceive something, but reopened them moments later.

"No, this spatial rift cannot be detected by divine sense alone," Wei Wuya stated, shaking his head impassively. "I cannot sense its presence."

Upon hearing this, Wang Tiangu raised his hand and flicked his fingers, sending five fireballs scattering forward. With a few soft "poofs," three of the fireballs vanished instantly in mid-air, while the other two veered off to the sides, flying several zhang before striking the ground and exploding, leaving two large craters.

"The rift is very small," Wang Tiangu noted, his voice softening. "We can bypass it by just shifting slightly."

"Even if this rift is small, who knows how many more will appear along the rest of this path? We don't have lives to throw away like that. And to my knowledge, our route shouldn't have any spatial rifts blocking it. Is that person hiding something from us?" The Ghost Spirit Sect Master showed no sign of pleasure. Instead, a trace of gloom crossed his face as he murmured.

Wei Wuya's expression flickered at these words, but he remained silent. Wang Tiangu, however, looked from the distant altar to the corpse on the ground, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"What do you mean, Sect Master?"

The Ghost Spirit Sect Master's brow furrowed deeply. He didn't answer immediately, instead gazing up at the sky. After a long moment, he sighed.

"I had intended to reveal certain details only once we reached the altar, but it seems I can no longer keep them hidden. I will give you some background here," he said, a strange look on his face.

Wei Wuya and the others were taken aback by his words and exchanged bewildered glances.

Ignoring everyone, the Ghost Spirit Sect Master flicked his sleeve, and with a flash of silver light, a scroll suddenly appeared in his hand. The scroll, several feet long, gleamed with silver light and possessed an exceptionally ancient appearance.

"This is..." Wang Tiangu gasped in astonishment upon seeing the scroll.

"Hehe! It seems you recognize this item," the Ghost Spirit Sect Master said with a faint glance at Wang Tiangu. "You personally handed this to me. Everything I know about the Spirit Illusion Garden came from this scroll."

Wang Tiangu was utterly stunned by these words. This was indeed the same scroll, suspected to be a portrait of Venerable Cang Kun, that he had acquired from the treasure cache in the Mulan Grassland that day.

The Ghost Spirit Sect Master then tossed the scroll; a ball of spiritual energy enveloped it, suspending it in the air. With a solemn expression, he performed a hand seal and lightly pointed a finger at the scroll.

With a crisp rustle, the scroll rapidly unfurled, revealing the image within. The back of a scholar, bearing a long sword and gazing heavenward, was vividly depicted on the scroll.

Wang Tiangu and the others all widened their eyes, intently scrutinizing the figure in the painting for a long time, hoping to discern something, but ultimately found nothing. Wei Wuya also gazed deeply at the image, but as his divine sense swept across the entire scroll, his expression subtly shifted, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

"Daoist Wei truly lives up to his reputation as a grand cultivator of the late Nascent Soul stage, to have discerned its mysteries so quickly," the Ghost Spirit Sect Master remarked, his expression shifting as he praised Wei Wuya. "I, myself, only discovered the peculiarity of this scroll by sheer chance, relying on a secret technique I cultivate."

"It's nothing," Wei Wuya replied with a peculiar expression. "I haven't seen an artifact with spatial properties like this in many years. Had you not given me a hint beforehand, I wouldn't have discovered it so easily."

The Ghost Spirit Sect Master smiled, letting the matter drop. Then, with a raised hand, he released a black incantation that struck the open scroll. At the same time, he let out a cold hmph and suddenly spoke to the scroll: "Are you not going to come out? Must I use demonic flames to compel you?"

At his words, everyone else was startled and felt a peculiar sense of bewilderment. Wei Wuya, too, raised an eyebrow in surprise, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

Then, an astonishing scene unfolded.

"Didn't we already agree not to summon me again until we reached the designated location? Now you've awakened me in front of all these people. Do you no longer wish to proceed with our agreement?!" A clear male voice emanated directly from the scroll.

Immediately, the image erupted in silver light. The scholar, who had been facing away, suddenly turned to face them, revealing a refined, middle-aged man with a three-strand beard. His expression was cold, filled with clear displeasure.

This sight left not only the remaining Ghost Spirit Sect disciples speechless, but even Wang Tiangu, who had personally handled the scroll, stood with his mouth agape, his face a mask of horror. Only Wei Wuya, after an initial jolt of surprise, quickly regained his composure. His eyes, however, remained fixed on the scholar's portrait within the scroll, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Hmph! You dare question me?" the Ghost Spirit Sect Master demanded, glaring at the portrait without civility. "Did you not repeatedly assure me that the route you provided was absolutely safe? What is the meaning of this spatial rift that cost my sect a disciple's life in vain?"

"The route I chose back then was absolutely safe. How could there be a problem?" the scholar's image in the scroll retorted, his lips moving ever so slightly.

"Then see for yourself what's over there," the Ghost Spirit Sect Master said coldly, his face grim, as he cast a sidelong glance towards the spatial rift.

The scholar in the portrait paused for a moment, but after a brief contemplation, the image faded. The scroll's surface then shimmered with spiritual light, turning a deep green, and a light curtain appeared upon it.

A flash of light followed. A green orb shot from the light curtain, coalescing into a blurred humanoid figure—the very scholar depicted in the scroll. The scholar's physical form now seemed ethereal, composed entirely of murky grayish-white light and shadow, emanating a faint spiritual glow as if it could be extinguished with a single breath.

"How should I address you?" Wang Tiangu asked, his voice feeling dry, a tremor of shock evident in his words. "Are you Venerable Cang Kun from long ago? How could your primordial spirit remain intact, allowing you to live until today?"

"My time outside the scroll is limited," the scholar stated, ignoring Wang Tiangu's astonishment. "For any questions, ask your Sect Master later. I need to examine the rift first." He then frowned slightly, opened his mouth, and a burst of gray light shot forth.

With a muffled "thump," the orb of light was silently consumed by the spatial rift. The scholar's expression immediately turned peculiar.

"Strange!" the scholar mused, initially surprised, then contemplative, before finally becoming remarkably calm. "There was definitely no such invisible rift here back then. It must be one of the rare, newly formed rifts. Fellow Daoists, there's no need to worry too much; it's merely a coincidence. I shall return now."

With a soft "whoosh," his figure instantly faded, transforming back into a green orb of light that swiftly flew back into the scroll, as if unwilling to linger outside for even a moment.