Chapter 1628: Opportunity

Boom!

The Jade Mist Stream collided with the golden armor, sending ripples and waves, stirring up countless layers of spray. With this impact, the golden armor shook violently, then suddenly shot out a golden beam. It was as swift as an arrow, incredibly sharp, and pierced directly into the Jade Mist Stream.

Zhu Wudao, clad in battle armor, advanced step by step, his imposing aura like a rainbow. The vast expanse of mist and waves momentarily stagnated, as the golden light visibly carved a path through its center, pointing directly at True Lord Hegao. Zhu Wudao was completely unharmed, a clear testament to the power of his battle armor. True Lord Hegao's eyes narrowed slightly, but he showed no panic. Facing Zhu Wudao directly, he had already anticipated various possibilities. The Jade Mist Stream, which appeared to be easily defeated, was in fact intentionally so.

Swish!

Behind True Lord Hegao's head, the shadow of a crane appeared. The immortal crane stretched its neck and let out a long cry, its posture graceful. As the crane shadow emerged, True Lord Hegao instantly rose several zhang, almost touching the ceiling of the ancient hall, thereby evading the golden light's attack.

His incantation changed. The Jade Mist Stream's momentum suddenly dropped, as if transitioning from a raging river to a tranquil autumn lake. Wreaths of light smoke rose, its previously unyielding power transforming into extreme gentleness. The misty air filled the sky, turning into thousands of silk ribbons that wrapped around Zhu Wudao layer by layer. At the same time, purple lightning illuminated the space around the teleportation array, brightening Zhu Wudao's eyes and causing him to squint.

Five bolts of purple lightning struck simultaneously. Watching the purple lightning, Qin Sang felt a slight stinging sensation in his eyes, even though the lightning pythons were not aimed at him. At that critical moment, a white light suddenly appeared.

Mo Xingdao's profound energy, cultivated within him for many years, was extraordinary. It arrived piercing through the air, appearing precisely above the path of the five attacking lightning pythons. Struck by the profound energy, the purple lightning showed a tendency to solidify. Unexpectedly, True Lord Zilei made no remedial actions. Instead, the lightning pythons violently swayed their bodies, using their immense lightning power to forcefully break through the profound energy blockade.

Mo Xingdao no longer hesitated. Forming his hand into a blade, he slashed through the air, and his profound energy swiftly descended!

Swish!

The heads of all five lightning pythons were simultaneously severed. The rear halves of the lightning pythons stiffened and disintegrated on impact, but the front sections of the lightning still moved rapidly, and Mo Xingdao was powerless to stop them.

At this moment, Mo Xingdao finally realized that True Lord Zilei's goal was not to destroy the teleportation array, but to directly target Zhu Wudao, purely to stop him. This did not align with their expectations. Mo Xingdao couldn't help but feel surprised.

On the other side. True Lord Zilei swiftly approached the teleportation array, but was blocked by the Spirit Weeper Cavern Master's red flowers.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The flower shadows fluttered like butterflies, exquisitely beautiful. In an instant, a field of flowers formed in the void. Hidden within the beautiful scenery was a deadly intent.

True Lord Zilei's evasion technique did not falter. A brilliant lightning glow erupted from his brow, where a thunder seal conspicuously appeared. The thunder seal was forged entirely from lightning power, emitting a hazy lightning aura. Within it, lightning runes flowed, coalescing and dispersing, causing the lightning to flicker. Upon seeing the thunder seal, the Spirit Weeper Cavern Master's expression changed, as if the thunder seal was an extraordinary divine ability. The Spirit Weeper Cavern Master rapidly changed his incantations, but it was already too late to respond.

Thunder roared through the heavens. The thunder seal transformed into a cocoon of lightning, and a bolt of electricity, even more terrifying than the previous lightning pythons, tore through the air, devastatingly shredding the flower shadows. The Spirit Weeper Cavern Master roared in anger, a flash of blood-red light in his eyes. Within the crumbling flower shadows, the light at the center of the petals twisted, revealing contorted human faces filled with pain. These were clearly flowers of malevolent spirits. Malevolent spirits roared, and the flower shadows stabilized. For a moment, a hundred ghosts ran rampant, clawing and biting as they counterattacked True Lord Zilei.

Qin Sang and Yue Lingtian had also exchanged blows multiple times. The three-legged round cauldron possessed a very peculiar ability. When the sword threads from the sword array were illuminated by the cauldron's mouth, they felt a sense of stagnation, then were directly absorbed into the cauldron. Qin Sang found that his connection with that segment of sword thread was severed.

He thought, "Let's see how much you can absorb!"

Qin Sang snorted coldly to himself, pushing his sword array to its limit. Meanwhile, a fiery lotus rotated in his palm. Despite battling Yue Lingtian, Qin Sang's focus wasn't entirely on him. Noticing that the Spirit Weeper Cavern Master couldn't hold off True Lord Zilei, he considered lending a hand.

At this moment, both Zhu Wudao and True Lord Zilei were acting unusually, clearly intending to use powerful divine abilities to contend for the teleportation array. Then, the spiritual light of the teleportation array extinguished right before their eyes. Everyone's movements abruptly ceased the moment the teleportation light died out. The space, like their gazes, froze.

By this point, all changes in the teleportation array had been observed by them. Under everyone's watchful eyes, even True Lord Zilei and Zhu Wudao, who were closest to the array, had no opportunity to tamper with it, yet its light inexplicably went out. The spatial fluctuations also vanished. What did this mean? A dead silence fell over the hall.

Qin Sang clenched his fist, withdrew the fiery lotus that was about to erupt, and stamped his foot silently, gazing at the teleportation array with a peculiar expression. True Lord Zilei and Zhu Wudao stared at each other across the teleportation array. Zhu Wudao's expression was frozen on his face, and True Lord Zilei looked no better. The others watched the two men with confusion, urgently awaiting an explanation.

Swish!

True Lord Zilei produced a new spirit stone. Zhu Wudao's expression shifted slightly, but he did not intervene. The others also stopped their actions and watched, all feeling a sense of absurdity.

After a chaotic battle, some had already prepared to use their trump cards. Were they fighting over a mere broken spiritual array? The old spirit stone was pried out of the teleportation array's aperture. Its internal luster had not faded, indicating that its spiritual power was not yet exhausted. A new spirit stone was inserted, reactivating the teleportation array. The ancient hall vibrated, and more and more cracks appeared.

Spatial fluctuations reappeared, but this good fortune was short-lived. After a violent flicker, the result remained the same! The teleportation light, along with everyone's hopes, extinguished, and their hearts sank to rock bottom! Yet, the spiritual array operated smoothly, showing no signs of damage. Everyone present was a rare top-tier expert in the world; they could not be mistaken.

"Fellow Daoists, what is going on?"

The Spirit Weeper Cavern Master's face was grim. He had agreed to get involved in this mess, partly because of the Immortal Palace. For this, he had traveled extensively and was even implicated, injured by the Poison King. Was all his effort going to be in vain, like drawing water with a bamboo basket?

Mo Xingdao's reaction was less pronounced. He didn't know what treasures the Immortal Palace held; entering it was merely a gamble, so his hopes weren't high, nor was his disappointment great. Zhu Wudao's expression fluctuated, clearly not in line with his expectations. The divine statue in his sleeve was scalding hot, searing his mind. Zhu Wudao's mouth was bitter, and he mocked himself inwardly. He had calculated every detail, but hadn't foreseen this outcome.

Whose benefit was all this hard work for?

"We can only ask the esteemed Daoist cultivators," Zhu Wudao said, seemingly realizing something. He suddenly looked up and questioned True Lord Zilei, "What exactly did you do in the Heavenly Harmony Palace to destroy the teleportation array?"

The Heavenly Harmony Palace.

Qin Sang's heart stirred. The Southern Sea Immortal Palace was indeed the target he sought! True Lord Zilei remained silent. His greatest fear had become reality. Given the situation, True Lord Zilei couldn't help but realize he had suspected the wrong party. It wasn't the Buddhist sect that harmed True Monarch Danyun, but rather an unknown anomaly that had occurred within the Immortal Palace.

The situation was even worse than he had anticipated; the path to the Immortal Palace was severed! True Monarch Danyun and Sagely Master Huiguang had met with accidents in the Immortal Palace, but the truth remained unfathomable. "Only Daoists are present, no Buddhist disciples. You intended to conceal this from the Buddhist sect and enter the Immortal Palace alone!" Recalling True Lord Zilei's previous actions, Zhu Wudao gradually grasped the truth, his words quickening. "Have Daoists and Buddhists turned against each other? Or do you have an urgent reason to enter the Immortal Palace? Is the disappearance of the Soul Transformation cultivators related to the Immortal Palace?"

True Lord Zilei could not answer any of these questions. True Lord Hegao's eyes showed concern. The teleportation array was inactive, and the path to the Sword Tomb was cut off. Yue Lingtian, without courtesy, stared directly at True Lord Zilei. Had True Lord Zilei anticipated this outcome beforehand?

Could it be that the Immortal Palace had already undergone an anomaly, and he indulged the remnants of the Boundless Immortal Sect because the normal path was no longer viable? If they couldn't even enter the Immortal Palace, what did True Lord Zilei's previous promises and the recent sacrifices made by the Grand Peak Sect amount to? Yue Lingtian secretly clenched his fist.

True Lord Zilei, with his youthful appearance and hair like a crane's plumage, maintained a serene demeanor befitting a grandmaster even in this moment. He bellowed, "The Heavenly Harmony Palace is a demon-sealing ground. The terror of the Demon Lord, as recorded in ancient texts, permeated even then. Both sects have ancestral teachings: one may only explore the Heavenly Manifestation Palace, and must not tamper with the Immortal Restrictions of the Heavenly Harmony Palace, which remain as they were when the Boundless Immortal Sect sealed the mountain. Of everyone present, only Sect Master Zhu possesses the ability to secretly tamper with things. Could it be that you intended to shake us off and enter the Immortal Palace alone, and now you dare to accuse us instead!"

There was some truth to his words. Zhu Wudao had deep connections with the Boundless Immortal Sect and possessed extensive knowledge of it. He had personally activated both the ancient hall and the teleportation array, making him the only one capable of such deception. In this situation, even the most cunning and experienced individuals in the ancient hall could not discern the true nature of events. Even though Yue Lingtian suspected the Eight Scenery Temple had ill intentions, he lacked evidence and thus did not voice his suspicions, maintaining a stance of acting in concert with True Lord Zilei. Zhu Wudao's lips moved slightly. Although no one knew what he conveyed through spiritual transmission, both the Spirit Weeper Cavern Master and Mo Xingdao showed hesitation.

Just then.

A sword hum resonated through the ancient hall, startling everyone. It was Qin Sang suddenly withdrawing his sword array. The sword light drew everyone's gaze, shooting into Qin Sang's sleeve and disappearing from sight. Then, without a word, Qin Sang ignored all spiritual transmissions, withdrew from the battle, and swiftly dashed out of the hall, sweeping down the mountain without a backward glance. The people in the ancient hall had various expressions. They were all deep in thought, searching their memories for the mysterious expert. Both sides suspected the other had drawn him there, and when they saw the other also looking contemplative, they became even more perplexed. Qin Sang had originally been on the periphery, holding no deep enmity with either side, so no one obstructed him.

He had arrived gracefully and departed just as swiftly, without asking for the outcome. His quick actions and decisive manner were beyond everyone's expectations; they didn't even know Qin Sang's name.

On the stone path. Qin Sang sped down the mountain.

"Judging by True Lord Zilei's tone, the Heavenly Harmony Palace and the Heavenly Manifestation Palace were once controlled by the Boundless Immortal Sect, both located in the Central Plains, and were originally a single entity, while the Ziwei Palace and Seven Killings Hall were separate..." Qin Sang mused to himself. The fact that these Immortal Palaces all contained fragments of the Killing Sword was enough to suggest a connection between them. Before descending into this realm, they were very likely part of the same Immortal Palace.

The Heavenly Manifestation Palace and Heavenly Harmony Palace were clear proof of this! Earlier, Qin Sang had secretly activated his Celestial Eye, analyzing the teleportation array. He confirmed that the array's restrictions were undamaged, making it difficult for Zhu Wudao to tamper with it under the Celestial Eye's scrutiny. The problem must have originated from the other side. Both Zhu Wudao's and True Lord Zilei's expressions and reactions indicated that an unknown anomaly had occurred within the Immortal Palace! They were unaware of the truth, but only Qin Sang knew the reason. He had personally witnessed the Immortal Palace ascend!

When he learned of the Heavenly Manifestation Palace and Heavenly Harmony Palace, Qin Sang had wondered if other Immortal Palaces might also have been drawn and ascended along with the Ziwei Palace when it ascended. His suspicion had proven correct. This also provided an explanation for the disappearance of the Soul Transformation cultivators. Liuli's master, trapped in the Ziwei Palace, was able to ascend with it. If those Soul Transformation cultivators were drawn by the anomaly of the Immortal Palace's ascension and entered it, failing to react in time, they were likely carried off to another realm by the Immortal Palace.

He still remembered that the Nascent Soul cultivators who failed to evacuate the Ziwei Palace in time were crushed into pulp. Soul Transformation cultivators, with their vast divine abilities, possessed far greater life-saving capabilities.

The Immortal Palace had ascended. The cultivators now had no choice but to compete for the opportunities within the Boundless Immortal Sect. No fewer than ten Grand Cultivators had entered the fray. If not for Yunlong's obstruction, even more Nascent Soul cultivators would have entered the Boundless Immortal Sect. The treasures here were limited, likely not enough to be distributed, so it was all about who could seize the first opportunity. The same applied to Qin Sang. His only hope now lay in the Boundless Immortal Sect's scripture repository, hoping they had stored the incomplete cultivation techniques there. Seeing that a conflict was about to erupt, Qin Sang knew it was pointless to stay longer and made a decisive move!

Boom!

The stone path vibrated, and the restrictions became unstable, causing loose rocks to tumble down the cliff. Qin Sang turned his head for a backward glance, only to see strange lights flickering atop the cliff, where several Grand Cultivators were fiercely battling. The ancient hall had finally succumbed and completely collapsed. He could also guess that True Lord Zilei's insistence on capturing Zhu Wudao was only partly to interrogate him about the teleportation array's anomaly. If they truly couldn't enter the Immortal Palace, Zhu Wudao would be the person who understood the Boundless Immortal Sect best, possessing a wealth of information.

The Eight Scenery Temple had numerical superiority and possessed this capability. If Zhu Wudao couldn't persuade the Spirit Weeper Cavern Master and Mo Xingdao to help him, his fate would likely be grim. Qin Sang contemplated the situation, his escape speed rapid. He rushed out of the cliff area and flew into the mountains, speeding in the direction his clone had departed, unsure of the final outcome of this great battle.

His destination was clear: the core stronghold of the Boundless Immortal Sect. His clone had pioneered the path, leaving secret marks along the way. Qin Sang's main body effortlessly bypassed numerous restrictions, traversed forests, and crossed mountains.

In the distance, he could see.

The core stronghold of the Boundless Immortal Sect featured spectacular peaks rising abruptly. Though dormant for many years, they still exuded spiritual grace and presented a myriad of majestic sights. On every mountain, there were pavilions and temples, imbued with an ethereal immortal aura. Particularly the most magnificent mountain in the deepest part, while not as towering as the sheer cliffs, and whose details were still unclear from a distance, was clearly a critically important peak within the Boundless Immortal Sect at first glance. Both his main body and his clone were heading in this direction.

Unbeknownst to them, this mountain was the shared master of the five phases, named Imperial Conferment Mountain!

He had traveled for an unknown distance. Qin Sang's expression subtly changed. He suddenly veered his escape light, altering his direction towards the west side of Imperial Conferment Mountain. Before long, he saw a figure flying towards him—it was his external clone. His external clone had gone ahead, its primary mission to locate the scripture repository.

"I found it!" The external clone's face was alight with joy. He turned and pointed to a distant peak, "There's a Langhuan Jade Pavilion on the mountain!" He had just glimpsed the characters on the plaque atop the Jade Pavilion from afar and was hurrying towards it when he sensed his main body's arrival. Their minds were connected. The main body and clone understood each other's experiences and decided to first explore the Langhuan Jade Pavilion together.

After flying not far, Qin Sang suddenly let out a soft "Eh?" and stopped, looking towards the northwest of the Langhuan Jade Pavilion. Separated by several mountains and plains. There stood an immortal mountain, with shimmering auroras on its peak, illuminating all directions with breathtaking beauty. It was clearly a treasure trove. Deep within the cold light, a corner of an ice palace was faintly visible, astonishingly identical to the ice palace manifested by the mysterious ice disk!