Chapter 1615: Leaving the Scene

After mastering the "Carved Gold and Controlled Jade Art," wielding magical artifacts made of gold and jade became effortless, and their power increased dramatically. If an opponent used a jade artifact, this daoist technique could interfere with it, significantly reducing its effectiveness.

With the balance shifting, Yu Zhi gained a decisive advantage, proving to be Reverend Yang's nemesis.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Reverend Yang abandoned his aggressive stance, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

Everyone held their breath, eager to see how Reverend Yang would break the stalemate.

"I originally didn't approve of Seventh Sister choosing the 'Carved Gold and Controlled Jade Art,' but sometimes it does yield remarkable results..."

Jin Wudai paused in his speech, then noticed a monk entering the arena and shifted his gaze.

The monk walked up behind Master Xingji, whispered something to him via spiritual transmission, and then handed him a jade talisman.

Master Xingji's expression remained unchanged, but he immediately rose as if to leave.

"Master, where are you going?" Jin Wudai called out to stop Master Xingji.

"Amitabha, it's a small matter. This humble monk will be back shortly. Please forgive my abrupt departure, Sect Master Jin," Master Xingji replied vaguely. Jin Wudai found it difficult to press him further, his gaze filled with suspicion.

Master Xingji's position was highly visible, and his actions immediately drew everyone's attention. Countless eyes followed him as he left the dharma assembly hall, wondering what had transpired.

For a moment, the combat on the stage received less attention.

Master Xingji exited the hall and headed directly back to the temple where he was staying.

Saint Huiguang was discussing the hunt for fiends with Saint King Qinghu when he sensed Master Xingji's aura. He turned his head towards the door and asked, "Something happened at the dharma assembly?"

Saint Huiguang's tone was calm, yet it concealed a murderous intent.

Luring the snake out of its hole had indeed proven effective!

Master Xingji presented the jade talisman with both hands and said solemnly, "Wan Du Mountain sent word: the Hidden Abode of the Formless Immortal Sect has appeared in Nanzhou!"

"The Formless Immortal Sect?" Saint Huiguang took the talisman and examined it, looking quite surprised. "The Hidden Abode is in Taiyue Mountain?"

Immediately, Saint Huiguang realized what was amiss. "For the remnants of the Formless Immortal Sect to infiltrate Taiyue Mountain and open the Hidden Abode is no small feat achievable overnight. They must have been active for a long time. Were you completely unaware?"

Master Xingji replied with shame, "The Zen monastery has not relaxed its vigilance, but we received no intelligence whatsoever."

"Unless someone helped them conceal their activities!" Saint Huiguang snorted coldly, but did not blame Master Xingji.

Master Xingji had been chosen as abbot, and his capabilities were beyond doubt. His meticulous mind made him highly suitable for the position, and he had the full approval of Saint Huiguang.

"Where is Zilei?" Saint Huiguang immediately grasped the crux of the problem.

When remnants of the Formless Immortal Sect were active, there would always be traces. While they could use other methods to disguise themselves and mislead the judgments of the Ganlu Zen Monastery, it was impossible for them to appear suddenly without any prior intelligence.

This was simply too strange!

As the Daoist and Buddhist sects were cooperating to hunt down the remnants of the Formless Immortal Sect, the Eightfold Pavilion possessed the most knowledge of Ganlu Zen Monastery's arrangements. Only the Eightfold Pavilion could have helped them deceive the monastery right under its nose.

Furthermore, the relationship between the Taiyue Sect and the Eightfold Pavilion was common knowledge. With the Hidden Abode located in Taiyue Mountain, it would be even more convenient for the Eightfold Pavilion to operate.

The moment he received the news, Master Xingji had already considered this possibility. Without showing any change in expression at the assembly, he asked Saint Huiguang for his decision. "Reverend Zilei is currently at the dharma assembly. I have already instructed two junior brothers to keep a close watch on him."

"No need to watch him; that person must be an impostor!" With Saint Huiguang's wisdom, he immediately surmised the reason for the Eightfold Pavilion's actions: they must have mistakenly believed that True Monarch Danyou had perished and were now suspicious of him.

"That Zilei is inherently suspicious and incredibly audacious. How dare he condone the remnants of the Formless Immortal Sect passing through the Hall of Heavenly Unity to enter the Hall of Celestial Aspects? Is he not afraid of releasing the ancient demons sealed within the Hall of Heavenly Unity, unleashing another catastrophe? If those ancient demons hadn't already ascended with the immortal palace, the consequences would have been unthinkable."

After a pause, Saint Huiguang instructed Master Xingji, "Gather your people quickly and head to Nanzhou. This is a perfect opportunity to capture all the remnants of the Formless Immortal Sect in one fell swoop!"

Master Xingji accepted the command and departed. Saint Huiguang then turned to Saint King Qinghu. "Friend Daoist, you heard. The Hidden Abode of the Formless Immortal Sect has appeared, saving us the trouble of searching. When the Formless Immortal Sect's Hidden Abode was sealed in haste back then, many texts should have been preserved intact within. The Formless Immortal Sect controlled the Immortal Palace for longer than the Boundless Hall, and they were also the first to discover the Sword Tomb Secret Realm. Their understanding of the Immortal Palace is unparalleled."

Saint King Qinghu waved her jade hand, and the geomantic map dissolved into countless specks of light, vanishing into thin air. "This king isn't fixated on a single path of hunting fiends," she said languidly. "Even if we capture a fiend, with demonic sounds disturbing us and other fiends circling on the way, whether you and I can reach the Ruins alive is still unknown. Since the Hidden Abode of the Formless Immortal Sect has appeared, it's natural we should make a trip to Nanzhou. Perhaps we might truly find a clue."

The two Soul Transformation cultivators no longer hesitated and set off for the south!

On the arena stage.

The two combatants on the stage were unaffected by Master Xingji's departure, and a victor had already been determined.

Just as Reverend Qishen had predicted, Reverend Yang's magical artifact was suppressed, and he, unable to defeat Yu Zhi, cupped his hands and conceded defeat.

The elder from the Jin Yu Sect presiding over the assembly flashed onto the stage, declared Yu Zhi the victor, and was about to invite the participants for the next match.

"I now invite Chan Master Xiaoxing from Ganlu Zen Monastery and... and..." The Jin Yu Sect elder suddenly stammered mid-sentence.

This was because Master Xingji had returned and, with a single command, a large number of cultivators from the Ganlu Zen Monastery's section rustled to their feet and left the hall without looking back.

"What's going on?" Jin Wudai was filled with uncertainty and suspicion.

Just as he was about to stop Master Xingji to ask for an explanation, he suddenly saw experts from the Eightfold Pavilion also leaving in succession.

This quinquennial dharma assembly, yet two major sects had only left a few individuals to observe—such a strange occurrence had never happened before.

Before long, whispers and rumors began to spread throughout the assembly, quickly causing a huge stir.

"Something has happened in Nanzhou!""An immortal abode has appeared!""They say it's Taiyue Sect's doing, no wonder Yue Lingtian isn't here!""Ganlu Zen Monastery and Eightfold Pavilion are definitely heading for the immortal abode!""An ancient immortal abode! What an immense opportunity! I wonder if it's too late to go now! We should have known better than to attend this useless dharma assembly!" Everyone was filled with regret.

Soon, the high-ranking members of various sects confirmed through their own channels that an immortal abode had indeed appeared in Nanzhou, and it was not just a groundless rumor.

Moreover, the information they received was more precise.

The immortal abode was most likely the Hidden Abode of the Formless Immortal Sect!

The forces in the Central Plains had some understanding of the Formless Immortal Sect, knowing that it was the sole overlord of Zhongzhou before the rise of Daoism and Buddhism. Its Hidden Abode was sure to contain countless secret treasures and a great inheritance!

Did they not see that even the Eightfold Pavilion and Ganlu Zen Monastery couldn't sit still?

For a time, high-ranking cultivators from various sects disregarded Jin Wudai's attempts to persuade them to stay and left the assembly en masse.

The journey to Nanzhou was long. Although their cultivation was high, even flying at full speed, they couldn't hope to arrive within a day or two. They would likely miss the first wave of treasure hunting, hoping only that there would be some complications during the Hidden Abode's emergence.

The meticulously prepared dharma assembly of the Jin Yu Sect was on the verge of turning into a farce.

Jin Wudai's face was ashen, but he was helpless.

In the end, Jin Wudai summoned his sect elders, gave a few instructions, and then, taking several masters with him, also rushed to Nanzhou.