Chapter 596: Gathering Hall

He had observed how to activate ancient teleportation arrays at Shangyuan Pure Palace, remembering that they always used mid-grade spirit stones. This one should be no exception.

The array before him appeared smaller and more intricate than the one at Shangyuan Pure Palace, but the activation method should be similar.

“Whoosh! Whoosh!”

Eight spirit stones fell into their corresponding grooves.

Qin Sang hadn't held much hope when he attempted to activate the runes on the ancient teleportation array.

Unexpectedly, the moment the last spirit stone dropped, the altar suddenly trembled. The runes on the ancient teleportation array rapidly lit up, and the entire ancient hall began to hum.

The ancient teleportation array grew brighter and brighter, subtly radiating a powerful spiritual wave that seemed poised to erupt.

“Hiss…”

Qin Sang’s expression changed. He immediately stopped activating the array and forcibly removed the eight mid-grade spirit stones.

He had only intended to test it, never expecting the ancient teleportation array to be fully functional. Senior Azure Bamboo must not have destroyed the array on the other side after passing through.

He could have stepped onto the formation disc and teleported, but Qin Sang abandoned the idea without hesitation.

The choice was simple: Qin Sang absolutely would not leave the Minor Cold Domain. He hadn't yet obtained the Three Lights Jade Liquid, the Nine Illusory Heavenly Orchid was still in the Cloud Cang Great Marsh, and he hadn't fulfilled his promise to Cloud Wanderer. These were his hopes for successfully reaching the Nascent Soul stage in the future.

Moreover, after their warning, they had helped the two domains repel the sneak attack from the Abyss of Sin. The Nascent Soul cultivators had publicly promised him a natal magic weapon. His future was bright. Only a fool would abandon such a promising situation to go to an unfamiliar place.

Although a major war would follow, he could immediately form his Core once he left the Ziwei Palace, shedding his cannon fodder status and no longer being as precarious as a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Furthermore, his sect had two Nascent Soul experts guarding it. As the saying goes, wealth and honor are found in danger. The war might even be an opportunity.

Qin Sang’s expression flickered with uncertainty. He now suspected that the other side was not a safe place, and Senior Azure Bamboo was either in danger or trapped by something. Senior Azure Bamboo had been tempered by the Sword Path, making it easy for him to perfect killer talismans. With his talent, the possibility of him reaching the Nascent Soul stage was very high.

It had been just over two hundred years since the last opening of Ziwei Palace. Leng Yuntian was still alive and well, and Grandma Jing clearly had a close relationship with Senior Azure Bamboo. Yet, Senior Azure Bamboo, who had not yet avenged his great grudge and had relatives and friends waiting, had gone and never returned. Given his usual style of action, this was clearly abnormal.

Qin Sang’s current cultivation was too weak, far inferior to Senior Azure Bamboo's back then. Moreover, time was pressing. Even if there were indeed treasures hidden on the other side, he couldn't go.

With this thought, Qin Sang decisively gave up, put away the spirit stones, and vanished towards the exit of the ancient hall.

***

By the lakeside, Cloud Wanderer waited. Seeing Qin Sang return unharmed, his expression relaxed. He flashed forward to greet him, and after exchanging a few words, they flew side by side towards the Divine Gathering Hall.

“The vegetation here is too lush; there must be a reason!” Qin Sang declared, standing on a mountaintop and pointing to a river valley ahead.

The river valley was wide and, like other areas, was covered with wild grass and ancient trees. However, upon closer inspection, one would notice that the ancient trees here were exceptionally tall. The entire forest nearly reached the level of the surrounding mountains, and the oldest trees even towered above the highest peaks, their enormous canopies resembling small mountains. Even the wild grasses were unusually thick, almost like small trees themselves, and the wildflowers were as large as washbasins.

The Ziwei Palace was rarely visited, and though vegetation in other areas was also lush, it was rare to find so many towering ancient trees like these.

Cloud Wanderer nodded in agreement, stating, “Exactly. The vitality here is too strong, very likely due to the Three Lights Jade Liquid! The Three Lights Jade Liquid gathers the essence of heaven and earth, possessing extreme vitality, which is why it's called a sacred healing medicine. Even if the Divine Gathering Hall landed here and the Three Lights Jade Liquid was perfectly sealed, after all these years, it's inevitable that living beings within dozens of miles would be affected.”

“Yi Tiannie said that the Divine Gathering Hall is hidden in the void. Many experts in the past noticed the abnormal vegetation here and searched the river valley thoroughly but couldn't find the source.”

Qin Sang looked up at the sky.

In Ziwei Palace, there was no distinction between day and night. The cloud sea stretched endlessly, obscuring the sun, yet the light in the sky was still very dazzling. Qin Sang squinted, gazing at the edge of the cloud sea. There, wisps of cloud drifted, forming waves, similar to the turbulent currents around the fragmented landmasses on the periphery. The turbulent currents within the cloud sea were even more terrifying, their power no less than the astral winds high above the nine heavens, and even Nascent Soul cultivators dared not enter them.

Fortunately, the Divine Gathering Hall was located at the lowest level of these currents, allowing them to withstand them with their current strength. However, deciphering the incomplete formation in such a place would be more difficult, and it would rely entirely on Cloud Wanderer.

***

“So it's here, no wonder…”

Cloud Wanderer took a couple of glances, then confidently flew towards the sky, signaling Qin Sang to follow.

“The Divine Gathering Hall is just an incomplete formation, so there must be many fissures. The difficulty of breaking through it isn't high. Brother Qin, I need you to lead the way with your sword, following my guidance.”

Qin Sang nodded. He unsealed the Corpse Core, transformed into a streak of sword light, and shot forward.

Upon reaching high altitude, the view became much clearer. The highest peak was most prominent, piercing into the cloud sea, and faint shimmering lights, like tiny specks, could be seen on the mountain. It was unclear whether someone had intruded or if it was naturally so.

Within his sight, there were also several towering pillars of light. Just as Qin Sang flew up, he happened to see one pillar extinguish, realizing that the restriction there might have been broken by someone.

“Brother Qin, ten zhang to the right, thrust your sword towards the position of the Western Palace!”

Receiving Cloud Wanderer's guidance, Qin Sang immediately complied. From Cloud Wanderer's tone, the incomplete formation of the Divine Gathering Hall seemed to correspond to stellar constellations, but to Qin Sang, it was all a chaotic mess. If they relied on Yi Tiannie's memory, they would have to use a clumsy method, forcefully breaking into the incomplete formation and then trying to find its flaws, which would involve many uncertainties. Cloud Wanderer, however, was confident and provided clear guidance.

“Whoosh!”

Qin Sang’s figure shifted ten zhang sideways, and he thrust his sword towards the sky. What appeared to be empty void suddenly revealed a starlight-like fissure the instant the Ebony Sword struck, flashing and vanishing. The next moment, both sword and person disappeared into thin air.

Ziwei Palace vanished from their sight.

Surrounding them was endless darkness. Faint, dim points of light could be vaguely seen in the distance. With no footing above, below, or to the sides, a sense of panic arose, and they felt an urge to move closer to those points of light. Qin Sang activated his sword energy, protecting both of them, and looked around in confusion. He knew he had entered the formation and that there were many flaws, but finding a way to break the formation instantly was beyond his capability.

Cloud Wanderer performed a quick calculation with his fingers, his gaze, sharp as a hawk's, fixed on the clusters of light in the distance. Pointing at the lights, he said in a deep voice, “That should be the position of the Kui Constellation. The formation eye has just rotated to this spot, which is key to breaking the formation. It's currently in a dilapidated state, making it easier to break. Let's go.”