Chapter 197: Up Yuan Qingjing Palace

After entering the treasure ship, Qin Sang was assigned a narrow room with solid wooden walls on all sides. It was just large enough for one person to meditate and cultivate. It was hard to imagine how many spaces the treasure ship had been divided into to accommodate so many people.

The Shangyuan Pure Palace was located north of Shaohua Mountain, and the two major sects were not far from each other.

To the northeast of the Shangyuan Pure Palace, near Tianduan Mountain, lay the Pure Yang Sect's main gate. The Pure Yang Sect was immensely powerful; after annihilating the Blood God Sect, a major demonic sect, they forcefully blocked Tianduan Mountain, preventing demonic forces from moving south. They had essentially wrested the southern part of Tianduan Mountain from the demonic sects' control.

After Qin Sang obtained a detailed map of the entire Xiaohan Region, he discovered that the Great Sui was located northwest of the Pure Yang Sect's main gate, also within the Pure Yang Sect's sphere of influence. The family of Immortal Han, he speculated, was likely a cultivation family allied with the Pure Yang Sect, responsible for controlling the Great Sui and other surrounding nations on behalf of the sect.

The Pure Yang Sect had its own ancient teleportation array. Although it couldn't directly access the Ancient Immortal Battlefield, it could transport them near the ice plains. Furthermore, the Pure Yang Sect was guarding Chungang City, a different route from the Shangyuan Pure Palace's, so they wouldn't be coming this way.

Additionally, the Taiyi Pill Sect was located in the furthest northwest of the righteous forces' territory, bordered by the Celestial Demon Mound to the west and the Extreme North Ice Plains to the north. They could directly access the Ancient Immortal Battlefield from there.

The speed of a Golden Core cultivator's flight was naturally incredible.

Qin Sang stayed in his room, unable to see outside. He felt only a few hours had passed when the treasure ship beneath him vibrated slightly, and then he felt his body lighten, as if he had been ejected from the ship.

Immediately after, Qin Sang heard a series of gasps of astonishment.

As his vision cleared, Qin Sang opened his eyes and saw that this was no longer Shaohua Mountain, with its endless swamps and towering peaks, but a celestial palace amidst the clouds.

They were currently standing on the summit of a large mountain. The mountain top had been artificially cut into a massive platform. Surrounding them were continuous mountain ranges with ancient trees reaching the sky, and the roars of beasts and the calls of birds echoed continuously.

On the horizon, there was a vast sea of clouds.

Peaks rose into the clouds, emerging from the cloud sea, resembling isolated islands in the sky. Mist swirled around these islands, which were adorned with countless palaces, their railings intricately carved and inlaid with jade.

Cultivators flew on their artifacts, soaring through the clouds as if navigating a celestial realm.

The celestial palace in the clouds was like a land of immortals.

This was the Shangyuan Pure Palace, one of the Eight Righteous Sects.

Qin Sang gazed at the magnificent scene before him with admiration. A thought struck him; he lowered his head, scanning the area. He then walked to the edge of the platform and stepped off.

When he looked up again, there was a brilliant blue sky, a blazing sun, and not a single cloud in sight for thousands of miles.

Qin Sang wondered why Uncle-Master Che had left them here. He subtly scanned his surroundings, but saw no sign of an ancient teleportation array, nor any cultivators from the Shangyuan Pure Palace coming to greet them.

Just as Qin Sang was secretly wondering, Che Yutao, standing at the front, suddenly raised his head and looked upwards, his eyes gleaming like lightning.

Then, from deep within the sea of clouds, an old Daoist priest in a green robe could vaguely be seen approaching leisurely. Before he even arrived, a hearty laugh rang out.

"Old Ghost Che, I didn't expect you, old ghost, to lead the team personally. This old Daoist must now guard Xuanguan Pass with a dull person like you. These next few decades are going to be tough!"

Che Yutao was clearly very familiar with this person, and he chuckled, retorting sharply: "I think you, old ox-nose, are reaching the end of your lifespan, and might not last another twenty years. After you ascend, I, this old man, will certainly escort your remains back completely intact, don't worry, don't worry..."

Everyone felt their vision blur for a moment. The old Daoist priest had already stepped onto the platform. Hearing Che Yutao's teasing, he shook his head helplessly and laughingly cursed at him while pointing.

Che Yutao turned to face the group and said earnestly, "This is Daoist Master Xuanyu of the Shangyuan Pure Palace. You may address him as Uncle-Master."

This instruction was mainly directed at Qin Sang and the other Foundation Establishment stage cultivators.

The Shangyuan Pure Palace and Shaohua Mountain were kindred sects, and their disciples were very close. Some titles were interchangeable. Since Daoist Master Xuanyu was also a Golden Core cultivator, addressing him as Uncle-Master was appropriate.

Everyone quickly offered their greetings.

Daoist Master Xuanyu nodded with a smile and said, "Senior Brother Du has already gone to prepare the ancient teleportation array. I will first go and guide those rogue cultivators and family disciples up. Little brother, you can take them directly there."

"Alright!"

Everyone used their respective techniques and followed behind Che Yutao, flying towards the sea of clouds. As soon as they reached the edge of the cloud sea, Qin Sang felt an invisible restriction quietly open. He realized it was likely the Shangyuan Pure Palace's protective formation.

Che Yutao seemed very familiar with the Shangyuan Pure Palace, and they proceeded unimpeded. Along the way, they encountered some Shangyuan Pure Palace disciples who curiously observed them.

They passed through several isolated islands in the clouds, finally arriving deep within the Shangyuan Pure Palace, before a "floating island" of considerable size.

The entire "floating island" was covered by a grand hall. A Foundation Establishment stage cultivator was waiting at the hall's entrance. As the group arrived, he stepped forward and respectfully said, "Uncle-Master Che, Senior Uncle Du is currently activating the ancient teleportation array. Please follow me."

Qin Sang followed them into the hall. He saw that the hall was unusually spacious. At the back of the hall, four teleportation arrays were arranged side-by-side: one large and three small ones, separated by considerable distances.

Finally, he was seeing the legendary teleportation arrays.

Qin Sang observed them curiously.

The largest array was likely the ancient teleportation array leading directly to the Ancient Immortal Battlefield. The other three were smaller teleportation arrays built by the Shangyuan Pure Palace itself.

There was indeed a significant difference between the two types.

In terms of size alone, the ancient teleportation array was more than a dozen times larger than the small ones. Its octagonal array disk was incredibly ancient, pointing towards the Eight Trigrams. Ancient runes and restrictions covered it densely, making it dizzying to look at.

Just looking at a small section of its restrictions, Qin Sang felt a sense of dizziness. He was inwardly astonished, wondering how such a spirit array could possibly have been constructed.

As for the three small teleportation arrays, their main bodies, runes, and restrictions were far simpler and cruder than those of the ancient array.

Such teleportation arrays not only had a short transmission range, but they would also fail if enemies possessed means to seal space. The Shangyuan Pure Palace building three of them likely indicated a special purpose.

Behind the ancient teleportation array stood a stern-faced middle-aged man, presumably the cultivator named Du. He had his palm pressed against the array's core restriction, infusing spiritual power to activate the ancient teleportation array's restrictions.

Not much spiritual power was required to activate the teleportation array. Everyone waited quietly for a moment, when the ancient restrictions on the array suddenly began to rotate violently.

This spirit array, whose age was unknown, emitted a 'humming' sound, and the entire hall seemed to be vibrating.

Next, the cultivator named Du opened his other palm, revealing eight mid-grade spirit stones within.

With a flick of his wrist, the eight spirit stones fell into the eight corner positions of the teleportation array.

Boom!

Suddenly, a massive and dazzling beam of light shot out from the array disk, but it was immediately constrained by the ancient teleportation array's inherent restrictions. Divine light flowed, resembling an ancient, exceptionally mysterious gate of light.

Qin Sang was astonished that activating the teleportation required so many mid-grade spirit stones.

The cultivator named Du withdrew his hand and looked at the group.

"Senior Brother Du!"

Che Yutao, unlike his casualness with Daoist Master Xuanyu, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting.