Chapter 1645: Gathering

A black thread moved agilely within the pool, continuously absorbing the fiery poison.

Master Huaiyin sensed the black thread's aura, his gaze drawn to it. His expression grew increasingly solemn as he sternly asked, "Five Transformations?"

The Poison King shook his head. "It's merely a corpse refined into a蛊. It's all superficial."

Noting his reluctance to elaborate, Master Huaiyin didn't press the matter. He took a deep look at the black thread before surveying the underground palace's environment.

At that moment, both he and the Poison King noticed that the Fire Spirit nurtured by the Flowing Fire Illusory Pool was surprisingly weak, seemingly unfit for the pool itself. This was clearly abnormal.

"Someone was here!"

They both spoke almost simultaneously, having spotted the anomaly. The true Fire Spirit had already been taken by someone else, and not long ago. It seemed their breakthrough had startled it away.

The Fire Spirit was secondary; the essence lay in the flowing fire within the Flowing Fire Illusory Pool. However, since entering the遗府, they had been running around aimlessly, unfamiliar with the Wuxiang Immortal Sect's layout. They desperately needed someone who understood the sect to explain things, but all the previous entrants were nowhere to be found. Now that they had finally encountered someone, they naturally wanted to inquire.

Master Huaiyin scanned the surroundings, fixed his gaze on a stone door, and his figure vanished into the stone passage.

The Poison King needed to control the black thread and couldn't leave immediately. He sat cross-legged by the edge of the Flowing Fire Illusory Pool, fully urging the black thread to absorb the fiery poison. As the black thread moved, the dazzling golden light gradually diminished.

Just then, vibrating sounds continuously echoed from the well shaft. The Poison King sensed them, realizing it wasn't Master Huaiyin fighting someone, but rather the sound of forcibly breaking through a restriction.

Not long after, Master Huaiyin returned empty-handed, shaking his head. The other party had retreated in time and seemed quite familiar with the island's restrictions; by the time he gave chase, they were long gone.

"We'll find them eventually once we reach the mountain," the Poison King said, unconcerned. He continued to manipulate the black thread, accelerating the absorption of the fiery poison.

From the moment they landed on Fire Rhinoceros Island until now, in a short span of time, the spiritual energy on Fire Rhinoceros Island was visibly devolving into chaos. The magma waterfall churned with rising layers of fire waves. Far from showing any signs of weakening, each wave surged higher than the last. Blazing flames rolled back onto the floating island, turning the area into a sea of scarlet fire.

The chaos intensified. Roaring sounds and tremors even reached the underground palace. The Poison King clearly sensed that the floating island was being affected by their presence and its destruction was only a matter of time. He quickly focused on absorbing the fiery poison.

Taking advantage of this time, Master Huaiyin emerged from the underground palace. He walked casually through the raging flames, his feet treading on magma, searching aimlessly. While he occasionally found items, none truly impressed him.

Soon after, the Poison King finished collecting the fiery poison and immediately rushed to meet him. By then, Fire Rhinoceros Island was on the verge of collapse. The island held no further value, so the two had no intention of lingering. They simply chose a path to leave.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

No sooner had they left Fire Rhinoceros Island and before they had even escaped the range of the fiery vein, they heard a deafening roar from behind them, followed by an astonishing burst of energy.

*Boom!*

The chaotic energy accumulated to a certain point and then completely erupted. Scarlet flames surged to the sky, painting it crimson. Fire Rhinoceros Island began to collapse from its central palace, sending giant boulders crashing down. The explosion formed a dazzling scarlet fire ring that expanded rapidly in all directions, reaching them instantly and threatening to engulf them.

The Poison King conjured a toxic cloud, forming a protective toxic ring around them. Master Huaiyin's body resonated with subtle thunderous sounds, his vital energy vibrating, which prevented the flames from coming close.

Both remained unharmed as they burst out of the fiery vein and ascended a distant mountaintop. They looked back at the scene of destruction they had caused; the scale of it was only slightly less than the previous azure light pillar.

Unexpectedly, as the anomaly reached its peak and then began to wane, a portion of Fire Rhinoceros Island did not collapse. A fire dragon supporting the floating island in the northern part of Fire Rhinoceros Island had survived the impact. Though only a fraction of Fire Rhinoceros Island remained, a part of it had indeed been preserved. This was due to the island's unique spirit formation. However, that fire dragon was swaying precariously, and it was uncertain how long it could last.

The two did not linger long and hurried to Emperor's Grant Mountain to rendezvous with Old Demon Fan.

In the distance, Qin Sang's avatar emerged from a hidden spot in the mountains. Looking back towards Fire Rhinoceros Island and seeing the floating island collapse, he couldn't help but sigh with regret. With the central palace where the underground palace was located collapsing, the Flowing Fire Illusory Pool surely couldn't have been preserved. He looked at his palm, where the Fire Jade Centipede was sound asleep, its chubby belly expanding and contracting.

The avatar then looked towards Emperor's Grant Mountain and immediately set off to rejoin his main body.

In the mountain forest, in front of a crude cave dwelling, Mo Xingdao sat motionless, like a statue. After he informed Su Zinan about the Spirit Transformation opportunity at Emperor's Grant Mountain, Su Zinan immediately went into seclusion there. He had been refining some treasure and had yet to emerge. However, Mo Xingdao's temperament had been tempered through countless trials, so he didn't grow impatient. He simply adjusted his own state while waiting for Su Zinan.

*Swish!*

Su Zinan finally finished refining his treasure and pushed open the door. Mo Xingdao rose. Seeing Su Zinan's expression, he inexplicably felt a hint of gloom and wondered if the refining had failed.

Little did he know, Su Zinan was deeply frustrated, facing a dilemma. He had successfully refined Elder Yanshan into a main soul, thereby gaining much information about the Wuxiang Immortal Sect from Elder Yanshan. One piece of information in particular had greatly piqued his interest, even as a Spirit Transformation inheritor: the Wuxiang Immortal Sect actually possessed a Tribulation-Crossing Formation!

The Tribulation-Crossing Formation was a true secret of the Water Phase Hall and Fire Phase Hall lineages, requiring the cooperation of two treasures: the Ice Ceremony God Plate and the Fire Rhinoceros Pendant. Besides these, there was also the formation's sacrificial altar and the Ice-Fire Token, which complemented the treasures. Elder Yanshan had obtained the formation method and the Ice-Fire Token refining method from the Water Phase Lord's tomb, but he didn't possess either the Ice Ceremony God Plate or the Fire Rhinoceros Pendant.

One cannot make bricks without straw. These two treasures were the core of the Tribulation-Crossing Formation and were irreplaceable. As expected, the Ice Ceremony God Plate should have been taken by the Fire Demon, and there were at least clues about it. However, the Fire Rhinoceros Pendant's whereabouts remained unknown; even the Water Phase Lord didn't know where it had ended up.

The Ice Ceremony God Plate was normally nurtured in the Ice Ceremony Palace. Correspondingly, the Fire Rhinoceros Pendant was usually enshrined on Fire Rhinoceros Island. Only when someone from the Wuxiang Immortal Sect was about to break through to Spirit Transformation would both treasures be brought out to set up the Tribulation-Crossing Formation. If the Fire Rhinoceros Pendant hadn't been taken out, its most likely location was the Fire Phase Hall.

Only then did Su Zinan realize why Elder Yanshan had fled toward Fire Rhinoceros Island after leaving the stone beach – he was going to find the Fire Rhinoceros Pendant. Unfortunately, Su Zinan was unaware of this. After defeating Elder Yanshan, his heart was set on the Immortal Palace's opportunity, and he didn't choose to refine the main soul on the spot. Now, it was too late; he had passed Fire Rhinoceros Island. If he were to turn back to the Fire Phase Hall now, Mo Xingdao would certainly be unwilling, and Zhu Wudao couldn't wait for them indefinitely.

Which was more important: the Spirit Transformation opportunity or the Tribulation-Crossing Formation? That was the question. Moreover, Emperor's Grant Mountain was about to face a contention for Dao, which would inevitably lead to chaotic battles – something he had long anticipated. With one soul still missing, his Demonic Banner was nearing completion. Grand cultivators were all deeply cunning and unfathomable. Catching a newly promoted grand cultivator like Elder Yanshan isolated was sheer luck, not easily replicated. Chaotic battles offered opportunities to fish in troubled waters. Su Zinan only regretted that his Three Corpses Slaying God Banner didn't create avatars, preventing him from straying too far from the banner, and there were no Underworld Moon Guards here for him to command.

Mo Xingdao was unaware of Su Zinan's thoughts. He conjured his escape light and flew towards Emperor's Grant Mountain. Su Zinan followed behind, occasionally glancing towards Fire Rhinoceros Island. His expression remained neutral, but inwardly, he was weighing the pros and cons, hesitant.

Just as they were flying, a red light suddenly blazed in the sky from the direction of Fire Rhinoceros Island. Su Zinan was startled. Mo Xingdao also noticed the distant phenomenon and asked in surprise, "Where is that?"

"By the direction, it should be the Fire Phase Hall!" Su Zinan's voice was grim.

"First the Water Phase Hall, now the Fire Phase Hall," Mo Xingdao clicked his tongue. "Do these guys always have to use such violent methods when searching for treasure?" The Wuxiang Immortal Sect had been sealed for ten thousand years, remaining unchanged. The Fire Phase Hall couldn't have collapsed on its own.

"First the Water Phase Hall, now the Fire Phase Hall, this route..." Su Zinan repeated Mo Xingdao's words, and a sudden flash of inspiration struck him. At the top of the precipice, the Fire Demon had seemingly appeared. And the Fire Demon possessed the Ice Ceremony God Plate, possibly an inheritor of the Fire Phase. If he knew about the existence of the Tribulation-Crossing Formation...

All these pieces of information converged, and a figure was almost screaming for recognition. It seemed new and old scores would be settled together! A killing intent flashed in Su Zinan's eyes, then instantly subsided. He glanced at Fire Rhinoceros Island, then looked away. There was no need to hesitate anymore; he headed straight for Emperor's Grant Mountain!

The sacred mountain was majestic, with a myriad of natural wonders. The Wuxiang Immortal Sect possessed countless remarkable peaks, but none could remotely compare to Emperor's Grant Mountain. On the northern slope of Emperor's Grant Mountain, a stone path wound its way upwards. The path twisted and turned, leading into a secluded forest, eventually arriving at a cluster of ancient halls halfway up the mountain. Beyond that, dazzling light shrouded the area, and layers of restrictions made it impossible to see clearly.

A voice echoed from the entrance of the stone path. The voice was somewhat ethereal, seeming almost formless. "Legend has it that the words 'Emperor's Grant' were named by the Wuxiang Immortal Sect's founding patriarch. The patriarch claimed his divine abilities were granted by an emperor, but it's impossible to verify which 'Emperor' he referred to. Some suspect the owner of the Immortal Palace is a Heavenly Emperor from the upper realm..."

The voice didn't finish, interrupted by a cold laugh. "Heavenly Emperor? I'd say 'Earthly Emperor.' Righteous cultivators are hypocrites; they're best at self-glorification."

The ethereal voice didn't get angry, chuckling softly. "Indeed, countless cultivators throughout generations have explored the Immortal Palace, yet none could confirm which mighty figure owned it. A Heavenly Emperor from the upper realm is probably just a legend. Senior Brother Fan is as sharp as ever, always hitting the nail on the head. I remember when we were young and sent out on missions by the sect, none of my actions could escape Senior Brother Fan's discerning eye. I was always outdone by Senior Brother Fan, only receiving second-tier rewards. I didn't expect it to still be the case now."

As the voice grew clearer, light and shadow flickered on the first stone step of the path. A figure materialized from illusion, it was Zhu Wudao. He had been pursued by three Daoist masters but had escaped, showing no obvious injuries.

Zhu Wudao stood on the stone steps, looking at the forest beside them. The woods were dark and dense, with no one in sight. However, after Zhu Wudao appeared, the shadow of an ancient tree gradually deepened, revealing the outline of a person: Old Demon Fan, who had come alone.

He laughed heartily, "It's your fault for not being secretive in your schemes. I, your brother, inadvertently discovered Junior Brother Lu's strange behavior and tracked him, which is how I caught your fox's tail. However, I never expected Junior Brother to hide so deeply, and to possess such great ambition! The sect owes you a grand ceremony of enlightenment!" His tone contained both sarcasm and mockery, along with a hint of surprise.

The internal relations of the Sky-Heavenly Pagoda weren't exactly harmonious, but they weren't completely estranged either. Zhu Wudao was not only an inheritor of the Wuxiang Immortal Sect but also at the late Nascent Soul stage. He had concealed his cultivation from them, and no one in the entire sect had noticed.

Zhu Wudao seemed not to have heard the sarcasm, simply saying, "I was forced to do so. If I had exposed my cultivation, the Qu Yang Mountain lineage would have come into the open and faced scrutiny."

"Then why did you proactively contact me?" Old Demon Fan countered. He had initially been blocked by a cloud wall, losing track of Zhu Wudao. Unexpectedly, just as he reached the foot of the mountain, before he could begin searching, Zhu Wudao actively invited him to meet.

"Fellow sect brothers, we know each other inside out. That's better than trusting Daoist cultivators or those unknown individuals," Zhu Wudao stated frankly.

"Trust?" Old Demon Fan scoffed, but didn't refute him. There might not be any trust between them, but it was undeniable that they were indeed the most suitable partners for cooperation. However, he wouldn't be so easily fooled. Old Demon Fan put on the demeanor of a grand elder, his eyes gleaming with intimidating light. "I won't settle the score with your Qu Yang Mountain lineage for lurking in our sect for now. If you don't want your entire Qu Yang Mountain annihilated, tell me everything you know about the Wuxiang Immortal Sect!"

Old Demon Fan's nature was vicious, and he was fully capable of carrying out such a threat. At present, the Sky-Heavenly Pagoda's sect leader was in seclusion, and Old Demon Ku Rong's status was inferior to Old Demon Fan's. He indeed had the ability to mobilize the sect's power to annihilate Qu Yang Mountain. However, Zhu Wudao showed no fear. He calculated with his fingers and slowly said, "Senior Brother Fan, please calm down. The agreed time is almost here. Once those Daoist friends arrive, I will clearly explain the Spirit Transformation opportunity to you. If Senior Brother doesn't believe me, you can also go up the mountain first, as long as you possess any one of the Five Phase Tokens."

In truth, Zhu Wudao was also very puzzled. The agreed time was quite flexible, enough for the Weeping Spirit Cave Master and Mo Xingdao to arrive and meet up, but they were still nowhere to be seen. Had something unexpected happened? Old Demon Fan consistently maintained his distance from Zhu Wudao, hiding in the shadows, lost in thought.

Just as the agreed time was approaching, the sound of tearing air finally echoed from a distance. Then, two streaks of light appeared in the forest, moving incredibly fast, arriving in the blink of an eye.

"Fellow Daoist Mo! Fellow Daoist Su!" Zhu Wudao's eyes narrowed slightly as he took a deep look at Mo Xingdao, not surprised that Mo Xingdao would invite helpers. "You two have finally arrived. Without further delay! The Weeping Spirit Cave Master and another fellow Daoist are inseparable friends and possess the Wood Phase Token. They probably intend to shake us off and have already ascended the mountain by themselves," Zhu Wudao said loudly, believing this to be the only possibility.

"Oh? When did Elder Fan arrive?" Su Zinan noticed Old Demon Fan in the shadows and asked in surprise.

"I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Su to get involved in this mess either," Old Demon Fan said with a forced smile.

There was no time for pleasantries among them, so they immediately set off. Unexpectedly, Old Demon Fan deliberately lagged behind, keeping a distance from them, and constantly making some kind of mark without trying to hide it from the others. The marks were for the Poison King and Master Huaiyin; Old Demon Fan's cooperation with them was forced by circumstances. Since Zhu Wudao's side was strong, Old Demon Fan naturally needed to invite a few helpers to counter them.

Upon learning the whereabouts of the Poison King and Master Huaiyin, Su Zinan exclaimed in surprise, "Fire Rhinoceros Island?"