Chapter 1657: Star Pavilion

The grand hall had no windows on any side. The energy shield of the Ruyi Treasure Pearl was the sole light source, dispelling the darkness and casting shifting shadows within the hall.

Qin Sang was secretly on guard. He looked around and found he was alone, muttering to himself, "Strange." He recalled the sudden change of events. He was certain that he hadn't caused the anomaly; something must have gone wrong elsewhere. However, he didn't understand why he had been transported here, and why he was the only one. "What did Zhu Wudao do?" Qin Sang subconsciously thought of Zhu Wudao. This person knew the Immeasurable Immortal Sect best. By now, he wouldn't have waited for the Crying Spirit Cave Master and should already be on the mountain.

His gaze shifted. The hall was very spacious, with no extra furnishings. Only a two-tiered jade platform, resembling some sort of ritual altar, stood in the center. However, there was no sign of spiritual light on the altar; it appeared to have been abandoned. He was about to approach the altar to investigate its purpose, but he paused, thinking better of it. The situation was unclear, and acting rashly was ill-advised. He needed to first figure out where he was and find an exit.

"No doors..." Qin Sang was surprised; the entire hall had no doors at all. Restrictive enchantments shimmered on the walls, and he knew without trying that they couldn't be easily broken. He looked up at the dome; there was no skylight either. A slight tremor came from the ground, suggesting that things outside the hall were not peaceful. This confused him even more. The exit might still depend on the altar.

Qin Sang darted forward, approaching the altar. Just as he was about to inspect it closely, a brilliant light suddenly flared before his eyes, not from the altar itself, but from its other side. The bright light illuminated the entire hall and vanished in an instant. But the hall didn't plunge into darkness, as new light clusters immediately began to shine.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

In the blink of an eye, four light clusters illuminated one after another. As the light faded, four figures appeared out of thin air, each with a powerful aura, no weaker than Qin Sang's. Seeing the faces of the four, Qin Sang's expression suddenly froze, and he inwardly groaned. Su Zinan, Mo Xingdao, and Zhu Wudao teaming up was still within expectations. But when did Old Devil Fan enter and join them? The newcomers were indeed Zhu Wudao and the other three. Qin Sang had actually had disputes with two of them, forming a considerable enmity. At another time, it wouldn't have been enough for a life-or-death struggle, but now the opponents had the numerical advantage, and they were all trapped in the hall with no escape. How could they not harbor malicious intentions? Even if Qin Sang wasn't self-deprecating, he wouldn't dare face four grand cultivators alone.

"Where is True Master Zilei?" Qin Sang's mind raced, and his gaze swept around quickly. But after the four appeared, there were no other flashes of light. Were the three grand cultivators of the Daoist sect not on Mount Emperor's End? At the same time, eight gazes simultaneously fell upon Qin Sang, and the four individuals wore varied expressions.

"Fire Fiend!" Su Zinan blurted out, then was overjoyed, exclaiming that he had found what he was looking for without effort, receiving a great gift just as he ascended the mountain. If the Fire Fiend was cornered and killed here, not only could they seize the tribulation-transcending treasure, but the third primary soul for the Demonic Banner would also be secured! Su Zinan, seeing no doors anywhere in the hall, laughed uproariously, "Did you ever imagine this day would come?" Qin Sang found it quite strange. Back then, he and Old Wu had fought to a draw, so why did Su Zinan look as if he hated him to the core? Either he was blamed for Yue Fei's death, or Su Zinan knew something about what was in the Water Lord's tomb!

Old Devil Fan had been observing Qin Sang with a smirk. Hearing Su Zinan's laughter, he asked in surprise, "Fellow Daoist Su also has a grudge against this scoundrel? Heaven truly has eyes; evil deeds will inevitably lead to self-destruction. The gates of hell open for those who seek it!" Murderous intent was evident in his eyes. Dark light permeated his palm, subtly clasping nine Yin Demon Nails. In the battle outside the immortal gate, Old Devil Fan suffered a hidden loss, with three Yin Demon Nails instantly destroyed, a memory still fresh in his mind. So this time, he used all nine.

Su Zinan had been secretly transmitting messages, inciting the others to act. He and Mo Xingdao already had an alliance, but Zhu Wudao's and Old Devil Fan's intentions were unfathomable. Qin Sang's Ice Instrument Divine Plate, unrecognized by others, surely couldn't escape Zhu Wudao's discerning eyes. Su Zinan didn't want two demonic cultivators to reap the benefits after a major battle. Seeing that he had persuaded Old Devil Fan with little effort, Su Zinan was overjoyed. Then he suddenly noticed Qin Sang's lips curve slightly, not only showing no fear, but instead a cold smirk.

The next moment, Qin Sang's palm, resting on the altar's edge, turned black, and the Nine Nether Demonic Flames surged forth without reservation, fiercely striking the altar! "Kill him!" Su Zinan's expression drastically changed. Dark light flared in his palm, suddenly transforming into a black ruler. The ruler's shadow was devoid of any embellishment, tearing through space and smashing towards Qin Sang's glabella. Old Devil Fan's face darkened, and the nine Yin Demon Nails shot out of his hand.

But Qin Sang was too close to the altar. Although their movements were fast, the demonic flames were even faster. The moment the four appeared, Qin Sang had already swept the altar with his spiritual sense. Since the Immeasurable Immortal Sect built this hall, it was impossible for them not to leave an exit; it must be related to the altar. With a sweep, he indeed discovered the mystery: the altar was the crucial point of the hall's restrictive enchantments. Moreover, powerful forces were continuously impacting the hall from outside, causing vibrations, and making the altar unstable.

*Boom!*

The demonic flames poured into the altar all at once. Runes on the altar flashed explosively. Under the impact of the demonic flames, the restrictions immediately fell into chaos. This was undoubtedly adding insult to injury. Under the combined attack from inside and out, the entire hall vibrated with a humming sound. The five people inside felt their feet tremble violently, and then saw the altar shatter into pieces, leaving behind a dazzling white light.

Qin Sang had anticipated this. He quickly retreated, and then heard a loud crash behind him: a section of a stone wall had actually smashed against the Ruyi Treasure Pearl's protective energy shield. Unbeknownst to him, the grand hall had already collapsed. The dome was torn away first, followed by a continuous influx of clouds and mist, and then the four walls. Finally, the hall's foundation was also torn apart by immense force, transforming into a torrent of rubble that was swept into the depths of the clouds and mist.

*Swish! Swish! Swish...*

The five people inside reacted swiftly. Before the hall collapsed, they all flew into the air, unharmed. The only things affected were the attacks launched by Su Zinan and Old Devil Fan; they were both disrupted by the fluctuations from the altar, allowing Qin Sang to evade them effortlessly.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Fierce winds howled, and clouds churned and mist surged. The five stood atop the clouds, their bodies shimmering with various colored treasures, clearly having activated their respective protective artifacts to resist the turbulent currents within the mist. Qin Sang was still in a one-versus-four situation. During the standoff, they all silently observed their surroundings. Above and below, clouds and mist were ubiquitous, limiting visibility. Faintly above, they could discern the shadow of a divine mountain, towering majestically, its grandeur surpassing the previous mountain views. Upon seeing this, everyone realized that this was the true Mount Emperor's End! They had entered, but were still within the range of a grand formation, and the turbulent clouds and mist were caused by the formation's chaos. Though it sounds complicated, given their cultivation levels, discerning the situation took only an instant.

Su Zinan and the others were not in a hurry to ascend the mountain, still eyeing Qin Sang menacingly. Zhu Wudao and Qin Sang had no previous enmity. After entering the hall, he had been wary of the Daoist masters, gathering allies to come with him partly to prevent being cornered by the Daoist sect here. The Daoist sect had entered Mount Emperor's End earlier than them. Surprisingly, True Master Zilei had not appeared even now.

Zhu Wudao felt a slight relief. He glanced left and right, then looked at Qin Sang in surprise, also curious about this mysterious individual. "May I ask your esteemed name, Fellow Daoist? Are you a descendant of the Fire Phase? It's a pity that in the teleportation hall, you weren't willing to forge a good connection. Otherwise, I might have been able to mediate and resolve the animosity between you all. As long as it's not a deep-seated hatred, I believe Fellow Daoist Su and Senior Brother Fan would grant me some consideration..."

"Why bother talking nonsense with him! Even if there's no enmity, it doesn't prevent us from eliminating this person and having one less competitor for treasures!" Old Devil Fan had just gratuitously lost nine Yin Demon Nails and was suffering from the pain, intending to pin all the blame on Qin Sang.

Su Zinan remained silent, suspending the black ruler before him. A fine net slid from his sleeve into his hand. He silently chanted a spell, and the Dragon Tendon Silk Net tore through space, expanding greatly. The Dragon Tendon Silk Net could be large or small; when small, it was almost imperceptible, but when large, it could seal off heaven and earth! Capturing Elder Yanshan's nascent soul alive was partly thanks to this net. The net might not stop Qin Sang, but holding him up for a moment would be enough. Even if Zhu Wudao didn't take a stance, they still had three people. Su Zinan didn't believe they couldn't take down Qin Sang!

*Whoosh!*

The Dragon Tendon Silk Net vanished into thin air, and grid-like lines of light appeared in the void. The lines of light, crisscrossing, were about to close in. At some point, a pair of magnificent phoenix wings had manifested behind Qin Sang. Aiming at the depths of the clouds and mist, he merged with his sword, transforming into lightning, and sped away! A clap of thunder out of nowhere.

"What incredible speed!" Su Zinan and the others were all startled, watching as the bolt of lightning passed through a gap in the net. The lightning passed through the net, and only then did a black lotus blossom at the gap, its core brimming with demonic energy, forming a cage. But it trapped nothing, only a wisp of cloud. Old Devil Fan's expression stiffened, then he flew into a rage. He flipped his left palm, and the black lotus rapidly ascended into the air. The lotus inverted, shooting out endless black light. Wherever the black light reached, black lotuses bloomed one after another. In an instant, countless black lotuses appeared in the sea of mist, undulating within the clouds, truly forming a lotus pond.

Qin Sang's escaping light plunged into the lotus pond. An unusually cold aura permeated his surroundings. He was surrounded by black lotuses on all sides, and no matter how he maneuvered, he couldn't escape.

*Swish swish swish!*

The black lotuses surged forward frantically, sharp as blades. If he were caught and entangled, Qin Sang would instantly be minced into a pulp. At this moment, Qin Sang had an energy shield protecting him and demonic flames accompanying him. His momentum was like a rainbow, obliterating countless black lotuses. But Old Devil Fan's purpose was merely to delay Qin Sang and force him to divert his attention. Su Zinan and Mo Xingdao both moved, encircling him from left and right.

Just then, a sharp shout suddenly echoed from the depths of the cloud sea, "Myriad Illusion Nether Lotus!" The voice itself carried a chilling intent. Hearing it, Zhu Wudao and the others' expressions changed. Immediately after, a more startling thunderclap than the lightning escape sounded from the depths of the cloud sea. Five lightning serpents burst into view, charging into the lotus pond, and, combining with Qin Sang's demonic flames, swept away all obstacles in their path. Behind the lightning serpents, two figures arrived, treading on clouds: the two True Masters of the Eight Sceneries Temple.

"The two True Masters are finally here!" Qin Sang nodded from afar. After escaping the hall, he no longer worried about his situation. His Heavenly Eye Divine Ability saw through the clouds and mist, revealing the traces of True Master Zilei and True Master Hegao. They must have entered early, having already breached the Jade Pavilion space and entered the mountain before the anomaly, which is why they weren't transported to the hall. As for why only the two True Masters from Eight Sceneries Temple were present, and Yue Lingtian was absent, Qin Sang didn't know. But with these two here, Zhu Wudao's side would certainly not be able to target him further. In the teleportation hall, Qin Sang had even attacked them. Now, he had to rely on them to escape. How true it was that times change and circumstances shift.

"It's you." Seeing Qin Sang, True Master Hegao was displeased. Qin Sang had just attacked them, so he didn't have a good impression of Qin Sang.

"The incident in the teleportation hall was a misunderstanding. I apologize to both Fellow Daoists now. These villains from the Immeasurable Immortal Sect deliberately damaged the grand formation; their schemes are not small and must be investigated!" Qin Sang pointed the finger at Zhu Wudao. His figure flickered repeatedly, landing not far from the two True Masters. Behind him, Su Zinan and Mo Xingdao were hot on his heels. Seeing this, they had no choice but to stop, hesitating.

True Master Zilei's gaze shifted to Old Devil Fan. "Fellow Daoist Fan, are you also colluding with the remnants of the Immeasurable Immortal Sect?" Old Devil Fan chuckled, retracted his Myriad Illusion Nether Lotus, and instead retorted with an accusation, "Old Ox-nose, I heard they were able to open the Immeasurable Immortal Sect because you deliberately condoned it?" The anger on his face had long disappeared, and Qin Sang was no longer in his eyes.

"After we get out, this humble Daoist will give you an explanation," True Master Zilei said indifferently.

"No, no, no..." Old Devil Fan shook his head repeatedly, "I don't need any explanation. You just need to tell me what happened to the Immortal Palace!"

True Master Zilei frowned, knowing he couldn't keep it hidden. He sighed inwardly and said, "If I knew the details, I wouldn't have gone to such great lengths. After this matter is resolved, this humble Daoist will join hands with the Sweet Dew Zen Temple to open the Immortal Palace. At that time, I will invite your sect and the various sects of the Central Plains to bear witness."

Seeing them about to reach an agreement in a few words, Zhu Wudao felt a great sense of unease, and his gaze grew increasingly gloomy. He glanced at Su Zinan and Mo Xingdao. Ever since the Daoist sect appeared, these two had remained aloof, appearing to be uninvolved. Earlier, Mo Xingdao had forced him to reveal the Wordless Jade Tablet, and now they had entered with the help of his Golden Phase Token. He had lost his usefulness, and their intentions were plainly obvious. The only good news was that Yue Lingtian was not present.

Seeing True Master Zilei's frankness, Old Devil Fan found it difficult to be aggressive. He subconsciously glanced at Zhu Wudao, a little hesitant. At this moment, Zhu Wudao's voice reached his ears like a whisper. A look of shock and suspicion flashed in Old Devil Fan's eyes. He then righteously declared, "Junior Brother Zhu has openly violated the sect's regulations, presumptuously colluding with the remnants of the Immeasurable Immortal Sect. This is treasonous! This elder will personally bring him back to the sect to enforce clan law..."

Before he finished speaking, True Master Zilei's figure suddenly blurred. Old Devil Fan inwardly cursed, realizing something was wrong. Then he heard thunderous roars beside him. Lightning surged skyward where Zhu Wudao stood, his figure becoming indistinct. Immediately after, a clear, resonant crane cry echoed, and an immortal crane soared into the nine heavens! The two True Masters of Eight Sceneries Temple, sharing a mutual understanding, immediately struck upon seeing that Old Devil Fan could not be persuaded!

At the same time, Qin Sang bowed to them from afar, fanned his phoenix wings rapidly, and flew towards the mountain without looking back. Su Zinan and Mo Xingdao exchanged a glance. Disregarding Zhu Wudao behind them, they gave chase. "Where do you think you're going!" Only Old Devil Fan was left, cursing incessantly.

Below the sea of clouds, two figures lurked in a corner, sensing the chaotic battle of grand cultivators above, not daring to make any rash movements. "So many grand cultivators." The female Daoist sensed the vital energy in the clouds, stuck out her tongue, and was grateful for her senior brother's decision. The white-robed Daoist stared intently upwards, sensing three auras fleeing into the distance, while the others became a tangled mess. "Let's go!" The two suppressed their aura and cautiously passed through the area.