Chapter 1620: Ice Instrument Divine Plate

Qin Sang only knew about the Langhuan treasure trove, but not the exact location of the scripture repository. At least, he now had a clear objective.

Qin Sang memorized the inscriptions on the stone tablets and their arrangement.

He wondered if there was a connection between the layout of the teleportation arrays and the locations of the various halls within the Boundless Immortal Sect.

If so, finding Langhuan would be much simpler.

Qin Sang didn't linger on the mountaintop. He quietly descended and entered the rocky beach.

Despite his best efforts to conceal his aura, he was inevitably detected by the magic sword killing array. The moment he stepped onto the rocky beach, his presence was exposed, and he was immediately surrounded by puppets.

Qin Sang did not resummon his external incarnation.

With his main body surrounded by puppets, the Goldenfall Sword hovered above his head, its sword qi slashing continuously. However, his target was not the puppets, but the magic swords descending from above.

Under Qin Sang's precise control, the Goldenfall Sword's qi was primarily defensive. Upon collision with the magic swords, both would dissolve, minimizing any conspicuous phenomena.

Simultaneously, Qin Sang also manipulated the Fire Lotus.

Wherever the Nine Nether Demonic Flames passed, they carved a path of fire through the puppet horde. Once a puppet was engulfed by the demonic flames, it was difficult to escape, burning until it turned to ash.

Dealing with them was not strenuous.

Qin Sang moved with ease, his speed increasing steadily as he successfully passed through the rocky beach.

Although he hadn't yet found True Man Zilei and Yue Lingtian, Qin Sang knew they weren't far.

Qin Sang ascended another mountaintop and gazed towards the northeast. That area was the most striking, and it was highly probable that both the scripture repository and the Five Aspects Hall of the Boundless Immortal Sect were located there.

To Qin Sang's surprise, however, he didn't see any obviously unusual phenomena on the path leading there.

Instead, directly to the north, a sheer cliff face loomed within the sea of clouds. Strange lights frequently flashed at its base, indicating that someone was likely attacking a restriction.

Qin Sang observed the sights in both directions, then, without much hesitation, he swept towards the north.

There must have been a reason why the Boundless Immortal Sect remnants headed to the cliff first.

The Immortal Palace was undoubtedly the most valuable secret of the Boundless Immortal Sect. Qin Sang speculated that the entrance to the Immortal Palace might be located on that very cliff.

By the time he arrived, the situation at the cliff should be clearer.

The appearance of the Immortal Palace was not to be missed.

Qin Sang recalled the major fortuitous encounters he had experienced on his cultivation path; most were intricately linked to the Ziwei Palace and the Seven Kills Hall. Moreover, his fundamental cultivation method originated from the Immortal Palace!

He considered having his main body enter the Immortal Palace for exploration, while leaving his clone behind in the Boundless Immortal Sect to search for Langhuan.

Even with numerous Grand Cultivators gathered, his clone was capable of holding its own!

It was none other than Zhu Wudao and his group who were attacking the restriction.

The mountain terrain was perilous, rising vertically.

On the sheer cliff face, there were protruding stone steps leading in different directions, eventually converging at the summit. At the junctions of these steps were stone pavilions and multi-storied buildings, originally meant for sightseeing.

Naturally, they were now deserted.

Unfortunately, with the Boundless Immortal Sect shrouded in mist, it was impossible to appreciate its former magnificent scenery.

Zhu Wudao was still accompanied by the Crying Spirit Cave Master, Mo Xingdao, and the Sword-Bearer.

The Qu Yang Mountain lineage had not managed to enter in time, leaving Zhu Wudao short of allies. However, he seemed entirely unconcerned that the Crying Spirit Cave Master and others might turn against him after entering the Heavenly Unity Hall.

He didn't inquire about the Sword-Bearer's true identity, nor did he ask where the Strange-Faced Man, the White-Robed Man, and Su Zinan had gone. His sole focus was on breaking the mountain's restrictions.

The Crying Spirit Cave Master and the others assisted in silence.

For a time, the atmosphere was somewhat peculiar, yet everyone cooperated tacitly, and their ascent speed was by no means slow.

Below the sheer cliff, the void subtly warped.

True Man Zilei and Yue Lingtian had tracked them there.

Unlike True Man Zilei, Yue Lingtian's expression was somewhat hesitant, occasionally glancing to the east.

He had agreed to use his disciples' lives to help True Man Zilei achieve his plan.

Eligibility for the Sword Tomb was one part of it.

The second was his covetousness for the Earth Aspect Hall's legacy within the Boundless Immortal Sect.

The Taiyue Sect was founded on the "Record of Thick Earth," but its legacy had flaws. Despite generations of ancestral masters' deductions, Yue Lingtian still believed it was insufficient. If he could obtain the Earth Aspect Hall's legacy and use them for mutual verification, it might fundamentally transform the Taiyue Sect.

Both were equally important to him and the Taiyue Sect.

He and Hua Chenzi had a clear division of labor: one would follow True Man Zilei into the Heavenly Unity Hall, while the other would lead people to plunder the Earth Aspect Hall. Unexpectedly, Hua Chenzi was held back by Yun Long outside and hadn't appeared.

The White-Robed Man flew out of the rocky beach, shaking off the pursuit of the puppet army.

Beyond the rocky beach, a mountain range blocked his path.

There were no bird calls or insect chirps in the mountains; a deathly silence prevailed, occasionally broken by flickering strange lights, indicating numerous restrictions.

From below, this mountain didn't appear to have magnificent halls, and its proximity to the sect entrance suggested it wasn't a particularly important location. No sect would place their most precious treasures in such a place.

Very few treasures in the world could capture the attention of a Grand Cultivator.

Rather than wasting time searching here, it would be better to bypass this mountain and head deeper into the Boundless Immortal Sect.

The White-Robed Man swept to the foot of the mountain, paused briefly, but instead of choosing a detour, he passed through the archway before the mountain path and directly entered the mountain.

*Crack!*

The moment he passed under the archway, a thunderbolt abruptly materialized above his head.

The stone archway transformed, enveloped in lightning. Heavenly thunder was unleashed, splitting the clouds. Silvery-white electrical light formed a silver curtain, and thunder surged down, threatening to instantly engulf the White-Robed Man.

As if long expecting it, a stream of cold air rose from the top of the White-Robed Man's head, manifesting into a horizontally placed ice wall, upon which mystic light shone.

The next moment, the lightning struck the ice wall, and the mystic light flared brightly, actually reflecting all the lightning back.

The archway shook, nearly collapsing.

The White-Robed Man, unharmed, vanished into the mountain.

The mountain's restrictions were not limited to the archway, but shortly after the White-Robed Man passed through it, he suddenly disappeared. No further unusual phenomena appeared in the mountain; everything fell silent.

At this moment, the White-Robed Man was aimlessly wandering through the mountains.

His movements inevitably triggered restrictions, but with his acute spiritual perception and various divine abilities, the White-Robed Man could dispel any phenomena before the restrictions fully activated, concealing his traces.

While stealthily moving through the mountain range, the White-Robed Man constantly and carefully observed his surroundings and behind him.

His objective was actually very clear: he was not heading with Zhu Wudao, but rather directly for the core important area of the Boundless Immortal Sect.

The place Zhu Wudao was heading to was indeed a treasure trove, the legendary Immortal Palace, holding heaven-defying opportunities.

However, the White-Robed Man knew his strength was inferior to those individuals, and being alone, he was at a disadvantage. He preferred to forgo the Immortal Palace to avoid conflict.

If he could obtain the Boundless Immortal Sect's remaining treasures, his journey would not be in vain, and it would be enough for him to cultivate for a long time.

The reason he deliberately took a detour here for a while was out of caution, to prevent being tracked unknowingly.

Finally, the White-Robed Man confirmed that no one was tracking him and that everyone had been led away by Zhu Wudao. He then relaxed and removed the mask concealing his appearance and aura.

The man's face was aged, deeply wrinkled, yet his eyes were bright and piercing, showing no trace of decrepitude.

If Qin Sang had been there and seen this person, he would have been greatly astonished, as it was none other than Elder Yanshan!

After the Battle of the Snowfield, Elder Yanshan had vanished without a trace.

Many years later, he reappeared at the Boundless Immortal Sect, and his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, breaking through to the late Nascent Soul stage in one fell swoop!

Elder Yanshan gazed towards the core important area of the Boundless Immortal Sect. A light flashed in his hand, revealing a Water Aspect Token. He fiddled with it for a moment before putting it away.

Outside the sect gate, when the replica Water Aspect Token was damaged and he appeared furious, it was naturally a pretense for others.

"The Glacial Instrument Divine Disk and the Boiling Snow Pills were taken out by the Water Aspect Master and fell into that person's hands. There shouldn't be many treasures left in the Water Aspect Hall. It might be better to go to Mount Dishou, the shared domain of the Five Aspects Masters, first. The Five Aspects Token is a symbol of the Five Aspects Master's identity, so entering Mount Dishou should be much easier... Hmm, it would also be best to visit the Fire Aspect Hall. If I can obtain the Fire Rhinoceros Pendant, I could negotiate a deal with that person. Since that person hasn't appeared in Nanzhou, they probably don't know the true function of the Glacial Instrument Divine Disk yet... However, the Fire Aspect successor still hasn't appeared, so I wonder if this treasure is still in the ancient dwelling. Also, does Old Demon Zhu know about this item?"

Elder Yanshan pondered for a moment, then, having determined his direction, he flew down the mountain.

He accelerated, traversing through the mountains. When he saw unusual phenomena appearing in the direction of the sheer cliff from afar, he paused slightly before averting his gaze, not considering the opportunities within the Immortal Palace.

Scaling one mountain after another, he drew closer to the core important area of the Boundless Immortal Sect.

As he sped along, he bypassed another perilous mountain and passed through a valley.

The valley floor was overgrown with wild grass.

The Boundless Immortal Sect was rich in spiritual energy, and the vegetation here was taller than elsewhere. The grass was a full ten feet high, comparable to small trees, and anyone entering it would immediately vanish from sight.

As he reached the edge of the valley, just as Elder Yanshan was about to step into the grass, he suddenly sensed an unusual aura. His expression hardened, and he immediately retreated.

"Fellow Daoist moves quite fast; Su almost couldn't keep up."

The grass stems swayed, and a figure emerged: it was Su Zinan!

Su Zinan smiled at Elder Yanshan, his eyes like those of a hunter eyeing fresh prey. "In the Northern Barren Snowfield, we unfortunately didn't meet face-to-face. It was quite a pity! Fortunately, our paths cross again today; it's not too late."

"It's you!"

Elder Yanshan had hidden the Water Aspect Token precisely to guard against this person.

He hadn't expected that Su Zinan had been watching him all along!

"Zhu Wudao and the others cherish the Five Aspects Tokens, so I assume this treasure will be of great use in the Immortal Sect's ancient dwelling. Could Fellow Daoist enlighten me? Also, how about you give me the Water Aspect Token in your possession?" Su Zinan seemed certain of victory, speaking impudently. With his hands behind his back, he strode through the tall grass, appearing to move slowly but actually advancing rapidly.

Elder Yanshan's expression darkened.

Even if Su Zinan suspected him, he shouldn't be so certain that the Water Aspect Token was in his hands!

"When did this old man expose his identity?"

Elder Yanshan didn't deny it, as there was no point.

Recalling the Battle of the Snowfield, he had feigned death to escape and had never directly encountered Elder Wu.

Although Daoist Qingfeng had ultimately seen through his scheme, Su Zinan's claim to seek revenge on Daoist Qingfeng's companions indicated that the two parties had not colluded.

His identity should not have been exposed, so why was Su Zinan so confident?

"When I discovered the secret of the Snowfield, I discerned that a mysterious expert had visited. That must have been you, Fellow Daoist. I kept the Luye anchored near the Snowfield, waiting for you, but instead, a fellow skilled in fire arrived. Elder Wu was actually no match for him and was forced to retreat.

"If you, Fellow Daoist, possessed the strength of this Fire Demon, you would have succeeded long ago and wouldn't have needed to scheme for so long. Presumably, you two are not the same person.

"The Fire Demon is either your helper or your adversary!

"In my opinion, it's more likely that you two eventually turned against each other.

"Although the Fire Demon is formidable, he may not have surpassed the extent of your years of planning in the Snowfield.

"Furthermore, if the Fire Demon obtained the Water Aspect Master's relics and learned the Boundless Immortal Sect's secrets, why wouldn't he come to Nanzhou himself, missing out on this grand event?

"Since the Fire Demon has been slow to appear, I surmise the Water Aspect Master's relics have fallen into your hands, right? It's only logical that you, Fellow Daoist, would have experienced rapid cultivation advancement after obtaining this great opportunity."

In Su Zinan's words, Qin Sang had become the 'Fire Demon'.

Su Zinan didn't mind clarifying for Elder Yanshan; this was his proud achievement.

Upon seeing the White-Robed Man, Su Zinan had suspicions. After much thought, he deduced a relatively plausible explanation.

It wouldn't matter if he guessed wrong; one test would reveal the truth!

As it turned out, Su Zinan had gambled correctly!

With a playful expression, he eyed the unpredictable Elder Yanshan, a slight smirk on his lips. "Fellow Daoist dares not reveal the Water Aspect Token, are you afraid of me, Su?"

"Arrogant!"

Elder Yanshan was furious.

He hadn't been in the late Nascent Soul stage for long, and his strength might not match seasoned Grand Cultivators like Su Zinan, but he was no pushover to be easily manipulated.

Just now, he had used the opportunity of their exchange to scout his surroundings, confirming Mo Xingdao was absent. For Su Zinan to come alone to ambush him was simply underestimating him too much!

Su Zinan's smile turned cold; his expression changed instantly, and his tone became grim. "A newly advanced Grand Cultivator, perfect to be the second main soul for my divine banner!"

Besides the Water Aspect Token, he also wanted Elder Yanshan's Nascent Soul!

Before his words had fully faded, Su Zinan's speed abruptly soared, his killing intent shocking the heavens!

Elder Yanshan already had a plan.

Knowing he was no match for Su Zinan, he wouldn't be foolish enough to fight to the death.

On his way here, Elder Yanshan had continuously observed his surroundings, noting down specific locations precisely to guard against such an event.

In danger, he could escape by utilizing the Boundless Immortal Sect's terrain and restrictions; shaking off Su Zinan wouldn't be difficult.

Su Zinan rapidly closed in.

Elder Yanshan stamped his foot down heavily.

*Whoosh!* The sound of rushing water surged, and mist permeated the rocks.

The previously dry ground was suddenly inundated by floods.

The flood had no visible source, appearing out of thin air, with massive waves surging forward, their momentum no less than a mighty river!

Elder Yanshan stood atop a wave. Then, a towering giant wave surged skyward, and his figure was instantly dispersed by it, vanishing into thin air. Subsequently, the water waves split into dozens of illusory figures.

Each illusion was transparent, composed of water, and bore a striking resemblance to Elder Yanshan in facial features.

Yet, Elder Yanshan's true body was nowhere to be seen!

As soon as the illusions appeared, they rushed wildly backward.

Su Zinan sneered. With a *whoosh*, the Dragon Tendon Silk Net shot out, expanding to its limit in mid-air, transforming into a colossal net that seemed to cover the sky, intending to ensnare all the illusions.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

As the Dragon Tendon Silk Net constricted, the illusions shattered one after another, dissipating into sprays of water, but this was still not enough to force out Elder Yanshan's true body.

*Boom!*

The floodwaters reversed course.

The raging torrent surged back towards the sky, layer upon layer of water ripples splashing up white caps, like clouds in the heavens, fiercely striking the colossal net.

Elder Yanshan, concealed among the illusions, rushed outward without looking back.

Just then.

The ground ahead trembled, and the earth cracked open.

A demonic banner slowly rose from the fissure, blocking Elder Yanshan's escape route.

Elder Yanshan's heart tightened, and an ominous premonition arose within him. Immediately after, three sinister shadows appeared before the demonic banner. One of them, a withered and aged humanoid shadow, was shockingly Elder Wu!

Elder Wu's eyes were tightly shut, his body somewhat ethereal and completely lifeless, clearly not that of a living person.

Yet, he held a talisman disk in one hand, and the Blood-Drinking Demonic Halberd circled at his side; he actually possessed his divine abilities from when he was alive!

Suddenly, Elder Wu opened his eyes.

The demonic halberd hummed and vibrated.

His deathly gaze seemed to penetrate Elder Yanshan's very soul, sending a chill down his spine!