Chapter 1819: Allies

The Human World

In the tranquil void, clusters of green light drifted.

The green light was faint, merely the reflection from the smooth surfaces of palm-sized green leaves, tightly stacked and eventually forming spherical clusters.

Throughout the entire void, these green leaves were the only things present, drifting like rootless duckweed.

Inside, the green leaves were actually hollow, with branches as sturdy as steel interwoven to create spaces large enough to accommodate several people, resembling individual cages.

Currently, all the cages were empty of prisoners.

These "cages" provided wood spirit power, nourishing the spiritual wood bodies.

Qin Sang returned here with the kingfisher, flying to a "cage" in the center. He stopped, surveyed his surroundings, and formed a hand seal.

Immediately, an unusual glow emanated from some of the green light clusters—they were array flags Qin Sang had set up in advance.

He had already laid a net here, waiting for Hong Yuzi to fall into his trap.

He glanced at the kingfisher, which remained motionless, as if lifeless.

Qin Sang sat cross-legged above the "cage," closed his eyes, entered meditation, and quietly awaited the opportune moment.

Meanwhile, Hong Yuzi and Mo Xingdao were traversing various illusory landscapes, heading towards the place they had last reached—the same illusion that had injured Hong Yuzi.

At the same time, Xia Hou and Qing Fei both entered the Jushan Zhitan, passing through the Nine-Bend Star River.

Only Qing Fei knew the location of the acquired spiritual treasure; she led the way, with Xia Hou following closely.

The two demons quickly traversed the numerous illusions. If Hong Yuzi and Mo Xingdao were to see their trajectory, they would be greatly alarmed, as the demons' path was identical to their own.

Moreover, their speed was greater than Hong Yuzi and Mo Xingdao's; it seemed as though they were pursuing them.

Although Qing Fei's cultivation was not as high as Xia Hou's, she was still a great demon in the Mid-Spirit Transformation Stage, stronger than Mo Xingdao.

In places where Mo Xingdao felt danger and deliberately went around, Qing Fei and Xia Hou could charge straight through.

Qing Fei was clearly very familiar with this place, able to avoid any dangers promptly and warn Xia Hou.

Xia Hou was the most relaxed, occasionally lending a hand, following leisurely behind while admiring Qing Fei's alluring figure.

"We've arrived."

After passing through a rubble belt, Mo Xingdao stopped and turned to Hong Yuzi, his voice filled with weariness.

Before them, golden light shimmered brightly.

On top of a massive boulder, larger than any mountain, stood eight solitary golden pillars, devoid of vegetation.

Golden dragons were carved into the surface of the pillars, lifelike, as if they could spring to life and leap from the pillars at any moment.

Each golden pillar was identical in height, forty-nine zhang tall, with flat tops forming circular platforms.

In fact, the golden dragons truly could come to life.

This was where the two had suffered a setback last time.

The deeper one ventured into the Zhitan, the more dangerous it became. However, there were also tranquil and peaceful areas that had become very stable over years of evolution, suitable as resting spots.

This was one such spot. Last time, the two had each chosen a golden pillar to meditate. When golden light erupted, the golden dragons were suddenly awakened and lunged out, baring their fangs and claws.

Instantly, a monstrous ferocity surged.

Amidst the golden dragons' roars, the golden pillars themselves erupted with astonishing sword qi, as if they were not eight pillars but eight peerless divine swords.

The sudden anomaly caught them off guard. If not for Hong Yuzi's protection, Mo Xingdao would have been instantly dismembered by the chaotic swords. Hong Yuzi, in turn, was gravely wounded.

Now, the golden pillars and dragons had returned to their original state, and the area was once again peaceful and serene.

Only they knew what lurked beneath the tranquility.

The two gazed at the golden pillars, confirming the dragons had not reanimated. Mo Xingdao let out a long sigh of relief and sat cross-legged at the edge of the boulder to meditate.

Even though there was nothing unusual about the place, he dared not approach the golden pillars again.

Mo Xingdao was greatly exhausted; he had only managed to pass through the last few illusions with Hong Yuzi's assistance. On his own, it would have been a much more difficult ordeal.

Hong Yuzi stood beside Mo Xingdao with his hands clasped behind his back, patiently waiting for him to recover. He kept observing the golden pillars, seemingly wanting to uncover their secrets.

However, their journey was not for the golden pillars, so Hong Yuzi did not act rashly.

Before long, Mo Xingdao gradually recovered.

He was not injured, merely exhausted.

"Fellow Daoist Mo, have you made any new discoveries?"

Seeing Mo Xingdao awaken, Hong Yuzi asked.

Mo Xingdao stood up, his gaze sweeping past the eight golden pillars to the rear.

Behind them, there were black and white auras, resembling large masses of dark and white clouds converging, with clear boundaries.

Clearly, there were two illusions ahead, precisely at their convergence point.

Mo Xingdao gazed for a moment, then shook his head slightly. Pointing at the white clouds, he said, "Let's proceed according to the last plan, I'll trouble you, fellow Daoist."

Continuing deeper without understanding the illusions, given his cultivation level, he wouldn't get far.

Hong Yuzi had to personally take action, with him providing support from the side.

Hong Yuzi uttered "Good," his mind stirring. A divine talisman formed spontaneously and transformed into a streak of light, flying towards Mo Xingdao.

Mo Xingdao remained still, accepting it calmly. A moment later, he was clad in silver armor.

His puppet body was already formidable, and with the added talisman armor, it would be sufficient to handle most dangers.

Hong Yuzi himself did not don armor; he simply took out a whisk and waved it gently forward.

Star-like dust floated up, forming a faint path of light before the two, disappearing into the depths of the white clouds.

The two proceeded along the path of light, one behind the other.

Within these illusions, even Hong Yuzi couldn't charge recklessly. He occasionally used various treasures and divine talismans to probe, and at times he would stop to ponder.

Proceeding in this stop-and-go manner, the two successfully navigated three illusions, encountering dangers but escaping harm.

From beginning to end, Mo Xingdao remained silent, his dark eyes occasionally sweeping over Hong Yuzi. He offered no deliberate guidance, seemingly having forgotten his agreement with Qin Sang.

At this moment, Qing Fei and Xia Hou also arrived close behind, spotting the massive boulder and the eight golden pillars.

"Good. If things go awry later, we can return here to rest."

Xia Hou confirmed there was no danger here, feeling a bit surprised, and immediately flew to the top of one of the golden pillars.

Qing Fei, however, remained below. She seemed to have noticed something unusual, her delicate brows furrowed. She paced back and forth around the golden pillars, finally walking to the edge of the white clouds and standing there for a long time.

Xia Hou was drawn by Qing Fei's strange behavior and asked, puzzled, "Fellow Daoist, have you discovered something? Did we come to the wrong place?"

Qing Fei shook her head, said nothing, and with a flash of her figure, directly rushed into the white cloud illusion.

Xia Hou frowned tightly and had no choice but to follow.

Meanwhile, Qin Sang remained utterly unaware of everything, still waiting for the fish to bite.

Deep within the Zhitan.

A magnificent palace stood silently amidst the illusions. The palace was empty, silent as death.

The palace was likely also conjured by divine power, as it was too perfectly preserved—with carved beams and painted pillars, upturned eaves, and not even the slightest damage to its outer walls, as if newly built.

"Boom!"

The rear wall of the palace suddenly trembled violently, several cracks running through the structure, before that section collapsed with a crash.

Hong Yuzi and Mo Xingdao emerged from the dust.

"Oh, I didn't expect such an open area deep within the Zhitan—rare indeed! Rare! Fellow Daoist Mo, look quickly, does it feel familiar?" Hong Yuzi raised his whisk, pointing forward.

The illusory spaces deep within the Zhitan were disordered, not lying on a single plane but interweaving and even stacking.

Behind the wall was a vast expanse of auspicious clouds. The view from here was excellent, revealing colorful lights shimmering ahead—anomalies manifested by various illusions.

Mo Xingdao's eyes flashed; this was the moment he had been waiting for. He stepped forward, gazing ahead, pretending to carefully discern the illusions. At times, he would lower his head in thought, comparing them with his fragmented memories.

"Let's first... explore that place!"

Mo Xingdao raised his hand, pointing to the illusion on the right, which emanated a crimson glow, his tone feigning hesitation.

This way, Hong Yuzi would not become suspicious.

As expected, Hong Yuzi harbored no doubts and immediately flew towards the illusion Mo Xingdao had pointed to.

Soon after the two left, the breach in the palace's rear wall repaired itself, but then quickly trembled again, cracking once more.

Qing Fei and Xia Hou emerged from the opening.

Qing Fei's expression was exceedingly serious, her eyes filled with solemnity. Far from losing any color, she exuded an unusual charm.

Xia Hou also realized something was amiss and had been waiting for Qing Fei's explanation.

Qing Fei swept her gaze around, then sighed, "Indeed! We're too late."

Xia Hou's frown deepened. "Fellow Daoist, shouldn't you give this Marquis an explanation? You once said only you knew the location of that acquired spiritual treasure. Are you deceiving this Marquis!"

Hearing Qing Fei's tone, it seemed the treasure had been claimed by someone else first.

Xia Hou's eyes instantly revealed killing intent.

The demoness beside him was truly a peerless beauty, a rare enchantress in the world. Xia Hou had long harbored thoughts of taking her as his own.

But if the demoness dared to deceive him, he would mercilessly destroy this flower without hesitation!

Qing Fei's expression changed several times. She said in a low voice, "Did you forget? I told you before. The ancient treasures in the Zhitan that have survived to this day are all deeply hidden and difficult to find. I only knew the location of that treasure back then because I was tracking a human cultivator; otherwise, I wouldn't have come so far without reason."

"Was it him?" Xia Hou stared intently at Qing Fei, his killing intent slightly diminished but still with suspicion. "You said this person died in the Zhitan."

"This person was only in the early stage of the Cavern Profound Realm. He was severely wounded and fled back then. Logically, it should have been impossible for him to leave the Zhitan alive. I also didn't expect him to survive," Qing Fei sighed softly. "Man proposes, God disposes. Not only is he still alive, but he has also brought helpers and is clearly after this treasure. I am skilled in tracking, and I sensed the aura of two individuals in the golden pillar space. They stayed there for a long time. One of them is very familiar—it should be him—and the other... is very strong!"

"How strong?" Xia Hou sneered.

"What if they are in the late stage of the Cavern Profound Realm? Moreover, there might not be only two of them here," Qing Fei said seriously.

True Immortals in the late stage of the Cavern Profound Realm mostly originate from Daoist sects, either as sect masters or high-ranking officials in the Daoist Court.

Such figures command numerous followers.

Xia Hou's sneer vanished. It knew its own shortcomings well. It did not fear True Immortals in the late Cavern Profound Realm, but if the opponent brought all their subordinates and openly challenged them, it would have no choice but to retreat.

However, if the opponent had brought so many people, they would have already taken the treasure. Why wait until now?

Qing Fei explained, "That treasure is stored in a peculiar grand hall. When I and that person ventured into the hall, we began to fight. Although I severely wounded and repelled him, I also suffered a backlash, leaving me unable to retrieve the treasure. But in the end, I used the surrounding illusions to hide the grand hall. That person only knows its general vicinity and has likely not yet found the hall's exact location, so he's been searching nearby."

Xia Hou let out an "Oh," then realized, "In that case, we don't need to bother with them. We'll simply take the treasure, and let them continue their search."

"No!"

Qing Fei exclaimed urgently, "The grand hall is peculiar and difficult to enter. Forcing our way in will definitely cause a huge commotion. Even if the dense illusions block their senses, they will still perceive it through the hall's key and track us down."

"A key?" Xia Hou snorted coldly. "Fellow Daoist, you never mentioned before that a key is required to enter the hall!"

Qing Fei explained, "Because the key is in that person's hands. I had thought it would have been lost with him in some illusion, impossible to find. Without the key, one can still break the ancient restriction and enter the hall, but danger is inevitable. My greatest fear is that before we've even opened the hall, they will track us down and seize the opportunity to ambush us, leaving us to do all the work for their benefit."

Xia Hou caught the implied meaning and scrutinized Qing Fei. "You mean to say..."

Qing Fei nodded. "Before finding the treasure, they definitely won't leave. Regardless, we must find a way to obstruct them."

As she spoke, Qing Fei scanned her surroundings, then replied, "Indeed, there are only two individuals' auras here."

Judging by the auras they detected, that strong practitioner in the late Cavern Profound Realm had not brought any helpers.

Seeing that Qing Fei was not faking, Xia Hou began to ponder seriously. "The enemy is in the open, we are hidden. If you and I join forces, killing that person wouldn't be difficult. My only fear is that the key is no longer in his hands."

Qing Fei seconded, "Fellow Daoist, you can entangle the strong practitioner in the late Cavern Profound Realm, and I will deal with the other person. We can definitely capture him this time. If we cannot obtain the key, we will have to find a way to trap that strong practitioner and break the restriction to get the treasure before he escapes. However, if Fellow Daoist has a way to slay that strong practitioner..."

She paused, then looked at Xia Hou.

Xia Hou remained silent.

The opponent's identity was still unclear.

If that human strong practitioner cultivated the Golden Seal Altar, it naturally wouldn't fear him.

If he were a Daoist Court Immortal Official, it was highly likely he cultivated the Troops and Horses Altar. Once he deployed his formation, it would also have to retreat.

Of course, with him and Qing Fei operating in the shadows, they could catch the opponent by surprise, not giving them a chance to deploy their formation.

However, regardless of the opponent's identity, there was considerable risk.

Slaying a human strong practitioner in the late Cavern Profound Realm would certainly be a great achievement, but it preferred to acquire the acquired spiritual treasure smoothly.

After much deliberation, Xia Hou was unwilling to fight a life-and-death battle with a peer here. It was best to trap the opponent.

"Let's first ascertain that person's identity before making a decision."

Xia Hou said blandly.

Seeing Xia Hou's composure, Qing Fei found it inconvenient to say more and could only lower her head and assent.

In the distance.

Qin Sang remained still, sitting cross-legged, his breathing subtly rising and falling. He had been waiting for an unknown duration, and the kingfisher still showed no signs of waking.

Suddenly, the kingfisher's wings fluttered, and it shot into the air, relaying Mo Xingdao's urgent, even frantic cry: "Someone's attacking!"

Qin Sang abruptly awoke, first stunned, then realizing, and suddenly stood up. "You've encountered danger?"

"Someone is ambushing us!"

"People?" Qin Sang's heart jolted. "There are others here?"

"Azure Fox Saint King! It's her, and another demon strong practitioner! Save me..." The kingfisher flew frantically, Mo Xingdao's voice growing increasingly panicked and faint, clearly using some secret technique to forcefully transmit the message.

Azure Fox Saint King!

Qin Sang's expression changed drastically. He was about to flash after the kingfisher but suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on it. "Why did she attack you?"

By all accounts, having fallen into this realm together and both seeking the path to ascension, they should be natural allies!