Chapter 2405: Ambush

Qingyun Gate stands on a steep, ten-thousand-zhang-high peak. A flight of cyan stone steps winds from the mountain's foot to its summit. At the top, a cyan palace, over ten zhang tall, is situated, its plaque boldly inscribed with the powerful characters "Qingyun Hall."

Inside, the hall was spacious and brightly lit. Chen Qingyang sat on a cyan jade chair, his expression serious.

Beside him sat a charming young woman in a white dress and a tall, slender old man in a green robe. The young woman possessed striking features, her captivating, watery "peach blossom" eyes drawing one's soul.

The young woman in white was Chen Yaoyao, an early-stage Void Refinement cultivator.

The old man in the green robe was Liu Hongji, also an early-stage Void Refinement cultivator, who had ascended from a lower realm.

Qingyun Gate currently had three Void Refinement cultivators. Over two hundred years ago, one Void Refinement cultivator perished during a grand heavenly tribulation, and another died in a racial war; otherwise, Qingyun Gate would boast five such cultivators.

"Junior Martial Brother Liu, I'm entrusting the sect's affairs to you," Chen Qingyang said. "I must go out to face a grand heavenly tribulation, and Junior Martial Sister Chen will be my protector."

Chen Qingyang's voice was heavy. This was his second grand heavenly tribulation, and its power far surpassed the first, leaving him feeling uncertain.

In recent years, he had dispatched many individuals to seek information about Wang Mengbin, hoping to locate the half-page of the Heavenly Void Jade Book. Unfortunately, he had been unable to ascertain Wang Mengbin's whereabouts, speculating that he might have ascended in a different region or changed his name.

After arriving on Xuanling Continent, Wang Mengbin had remained active overseas, living a reclusive life. The outside world was largely unaware of his circumstances, making it even more impossible for Qingyun Gate, located tens of trillions of miles away, to know his whereabouts.

If he could have obtained the half-page of the Heavenly Void Jade Book, Chen Qingyang could have exchanged it with major powers for tribulation-crossing treasures, greatly increasing his chances of surviving the second grand heavenly tribulation. Regrettably, his wish remained unfulfilled.

"Yes, Senior Martial Brother Chen," Liu Hongji affirmed.

Chen Qingyang seemed to sense something and looked towards the entrance.

A respectful male voice drifted in from outside: "Master, your disciple has made a significant discovery."

"Come in and speak!" Chen Qingyang instructed.

The man acknowledged the order, and two figures entered. One of them was Lin Ziqiao.

Strictly speaking, it was Lin Ziqiao, under the control of Wang Changsheng.

"What have you discovered?" Chen Qingyang asked casually; after years of cultivation, he had weathered countless storms and challenges.

Lin Ziqiao glanced at Chen Yaoyao and Liu Hongji, hesitating as if reluctant to speak freely.

"They are all our own people; speak freely," Chen Qingyang said, waving his hand.

"Your disciple discovered a shapeshifting spiritual medicine in the Myriad Spider Mountain Range, but regrettably, we failed to capture it. While pursuing it, we stumbled upon an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling. We attacked it for seven days and nights, yet couldn't budge it an inch; it's protected by Buddhist restrictions." Lin Ziqiao recounted the entire story, and his companion quickly corroborated his words.

"A shapeshifting spiritual medicine? An ancient cultivator's cave dwelling? Buddhist restrictions?" Chen Qingyang's brow furrowed, his face etched with suspicion.

If any other disciple had reported this, he would have been suspicious much sooner. However, Lin Ziqiao had grown up under his tutelage, so he presumed there was no issue.

"Senior Martial Brother Chen, our great opportunity has arrived," Chen Yaoyao said with a hint of excitement.

"The two of you go down first, return to your residences and wait. This matter must not be spread externally," Chen Qingyang instructed.

Lin Ziqiao and his companion acknowledged the order and departed.

Chen Qingyang retrieved a gleaming dharma plate, imbued it with several incantations, and asked, "Junior Martial Nephew Li, is there anything unusual with Ziqiao's soul lamp?"

Faced with such a significant temptation, his primary reaction wasn't to claim the treasure, but to suspect a conspiracy. Caution was his guiding principle; Chen Qingyang dared not be careless.

"To Senior Martial Uncle Chen," a bell-like female voice responded from the dharma plate, "Senior Martial Brother Li's soul lamp shows no issues."

Chen Qingyang nodded, then proceeded to contact other sect members to inquire about Lin Ziqiao's circumstances. Finding no abnormalities, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Senior Martial Brother Chen, you are overly cautious," Chen Yaoyao said, somewhat disapprovingly. "Ziqiao grew up under your watchful eye; how could he possibly commit treachery?"

Liu Hongji also felt Chen Qingyang's reaction was excessive. If they could obtain the ancient cultivator's legacy, Chen Qingyang's chances of passing the grand heavenly tribulation would greatly improve.

"Caution ensures safety for ten thousand years," Chen Qingyang said, his tone serious. "Junior Martial Sister Chen, Junior Martial Brother Liu, let us three go together. We should bring the sect's guardian treasure to be more secure." His tone was heavy, as Qingyun Gate had made many enemies over the years, making caution prudent. This way, even if they encountered an ambush, as long as there were no Integration cultivators, they should be able to fight their way out.

Chen Yaoyao and Liu Hongji did not object. After giving a few instructions, the three of them, accompanied by Lin Ziqiao and his companion, departed from Qingyun Gate.

They swiftly arrived at the Myriad Spider Mountain Range. Chen Qingyang did not proceed rashly; instead, he conjured a gleaming cyan sphere with a cloud pattern on its surface, exuding astonishing spiritual energy. This was the Azure Cloud Pearl, a Mid-Grade Heaven-Piercing Spiritual Treasure and an auxiliary artifact capable of seeing through stealth techniques and restrictions. After all, Qingyun Gate had once produced Integration cultivators; though it had declined, it still possessed numerous inherited treasures, far surpassing what smaller sects and families could compare to.

He activated the Azure Cloud Pearl to scan the surroundings, yet detected no abnormalities.

With their divine senses fully expanded, Chen Qingyang and the two others repeatedly confirmed there was no ambush before finally approaching the ancient cultivator's cave dwelling. In addition to Chen Qingyang and his companions, Lin Ziqiao and his two associates were also present.

"Attack, break the restriction," Chen Qingyang commanded, activating his dharma idol to break the restriction. A gigantic humanoid phantom, 40% solidified, appeared in the void above his head.

Just then, a deafening male roar erupted. Upon hearing it, Lin Ziqiao and his two associates simultaneously shrieked miserably, spat out a large mouthful of vital blood, and collapsed into unconsciousness, utterly losing their ability to resist. Liu Hongji and Chen Yaoyao simultaneously let out a miserable shriek, and Chen Qingyang, no exception, had his features twist as his face paled.

Enduring the severe pain, Chen Qingyang conjured a small, gleaming cyan cauldron. A pattern of a cyan scorching sun was carved on its body, emitting astonishing spiritual energy fluctuations. This was the Azure Sun Cauldron, a Mid-Grade Heaven-Piercing Spiritual Treasure, capable of both offense and defense. He imbued it with an incantation, and the Azure Sun Cauldron emitted a stream of cyan mystic light, enveloping the three of them.

Countless blue water vapor surged into the void. The ground was submerged by a wave of blue seawater that rapidly spread. The blue water vapor in the void then suddenly condensed, transforming into a massive, hundred-thousand-zhang-large blue hand that clapped down towards the three of them.

With a muffled thud, the blue hand was halted by the cyan mystic light. A surge of blue seawater rolled in, transforming into a towering, thousand-zhang-high colossal wave that struck the cyan mystic light, producing a series of muffled thuds. Thirty-six rays of golden light shot out from within the colossal wave, instantly merging into a shimmering golden heaven-cleaving blade. It slashed onto the cyan mystic light, tearing open a long, thick crack.

Chen Qingyang was greatly startled. He swiftly activated his dharma idol, which spewed out a stream of shimmering cyan flames. These struck the colossal wave, causing large amounts of white mist to dissipate.

A robust young man in a blue shirt flew out from the mist. It was Wang Changsheng, cleverly disguised and holding the Soul Suppressing Horn in his left hand. Even now, Wang Changsheng dared not be careless. By using a treasure to alter his appearance, he ensured he wouldn't have to worry about exposure even if he failed.

The moment Wang Changsheng appeared, Chen Qingyang and his companions were about to conjure their treasures to attack him. Wang Changsheng's reaction was swifter; he had already blown the Soul Suppressing Horn.