Chapter 64: Yin and Yang Duality

The Underground Palace Ruins.

Situ Hong, Liu Jinxian, and Gu Zhengshun were inside the Condensing Moon Palace, the core of this ancient sect's ruins, which indeed held many mysteries.

A year ago.

Liu Jinxian, who entered first, bypassed the palace's outer restrictions using a barrier-breaking talisman and gained many benefits, including spiritual materials, elixirs, spell manuals, and more. Among these, the most useful at the time was a top-grade, second-tier magic artifact, which was challenging for her to control even with her cultivation level.

Just as she was about to break through into the palace's interior, an unforeseen event occurred. Suddenly and inexplicably, a Foundation Establishment level corpse demon rushed in and fiercely attacked her. After a short struggle, she started to lose ground. Just as she was forced to use her trump card to break through the second layer of restrictions, Gu Zhengshun and Situ Hong suddenly entered. They were being chased by a three-meter-tall giant venomous bee king, followed by a swarm of venomous bees the size of water vats. Stinging needles and venom continuously sprayed. As soon as they entered, the two called out to Liu Jinxian, clearly knowing she was there. Their intention was to divert the trouble, but the venomous bee king and the Foundation Establishment corpse demon ended up together.

The three of them screamed in agony from the attacks. Left with no choice, they united and used a second-tier barrier-breaking talisman to force their way into the inner layer of the Condensing Moon Palace. However, it turned out that the venom of the bee king seemed to have mutated; it also had an corrosive effect on the restrictions. The large hole created by the second-tier barrier-breaking talisman had not yet healed when its healing speed was delayed by the venom, allowing both the corpse demon and the bee king to breach the second layer of restrictions.

Inside the Condensing Moon Palace, a formation based on the Two Principles (Yin-Yang) and mechanical floor tiles divided it into two sections: one representing Yang, and the other Yin. The three humans were on the Yin side, while the bee king and corpse demon were on the Yang side. Observation showed that both sides needed to cooperate sincerely, standing simultaneously on the Yin and Yang eyes (core points of the formation) and activating the formation cores with spiritual energy to open the third palace gate.

The Yin section was covered in ice. As soon as the three entered, ice immediately formed on them. Although they could break free, they would freeze again after a few steps. The closer they got to the Yin eye, the lower the temperature became. The Yang section was unbearably hot. Burning iron chains emerged from the floor tiles, tightly binding the corpse demon and bee king, causing them constant torment from the scorching flames.

Thus, the two sides remained in a standoff.

Throughout this year, Liu Jinxian and the others had made attempts. However, whenever they actively approached, the fiery chains binding the corpse demon would loosen significantly. From being completely immobile, it would become able to move freely within ten meters. The Yang eye was precisely in the middle of the two Foundation Establishment level demonic entities—it was pure torment! They even suspected the Condensing Moon Palace had a spirit; otherwise, such an arrangement would be too sickening. This stalemate thus dragged on for a year.

At the edge of the Yin section, Gu Zhengshun shivered and spoke: “It’s been a year, and your subordinates still haven’t arrived. I can’t hold on much longer.”

Upon hearing this, Situ Hong shook off the ice chips covering his body. Around him hovered a malevolent spirit wearing an ice mask, shielding him from the encroaching cold.

“Brother Gu, I provided the barrier-breaking talisman to enter this second layer. And Senior Sister Liu has penetrated the Yang section more than once during this time. Of the three of us, only you keep complaining but refuse to leave. Don't you think it's your turn to make a move?”

Gu Zhengshun immediately fell silent. On the other side, Liu Jinxian, also covered in frost, appeared calm and unhurried. She sat in meditation with her eyes closed, regulating her breath and using her spiritual energy to resist the cold. A blood-red mosquito rested on her shoulder, staring intently at the venomous bee king. She said: “Soon. Within half a month at the latest. I'm not sure about the people from Five Yin Peak, but the disciples from Gu Poison Peak will definitely arrive.”

The implied meaning was clear to both of them. After all, nobody would openly challenge someone for covertly using Gu against fellow sect members, as long as it wasn't spoken of publicly.

Situ Hong grew more anxious. He glanced at Liu Jinxian and said urgently, “Gu Zhengshun, if you don’t act now, once the Gu Poison Peak disciples come down, neither you nor I will have a chance.”

Gu Zhengshun shrugged his neck, as if to warm himself, and looked at Situ Hong as if to say, ‘Am I a fool? Me make a move?’

“You…”

The three were at an impasse, none willing to concede to the others.

Suddenly, disordered sounds came from outside—footsteps and conversations, quite a commotion. This sudden development instantly broke the stalemate.

Liu Jinxian immediately stood up, channeling spiritual energy into her throat, and loudly called out: “Where are the disciples of Gu Poison Peak?!”

“Senior Sister.”

“Senior Sister Liu!”

A large group of Gu Poison disciples appeared outside the second-tier barrier. At first glance, there were at least a hundred of them. The leader, upon spotting the three inside, quickly approached the barrier.

“Senior Sister Liu, we’re here. How do we bypass this barrier?”

Liu Jinxian was about to speak, but Situ Hong interrupted her. He said, “Everyone, take a look over there. Two Foundation Establishment level demonic entities. Do you really want to come in?”

Everyone’s expressions immediately changed. They had paid a heavy price to get here. The Profound Essence Flower was one thing, but the large swarms of corrosive venomous bees they encountered after entering the underground were even more troublesome. The bee gu, which had matured early, could only repel ordinary venomous bees; it had no effect whatsoever on the offspring of the second-tier venomous bee king. Of the nearly three hundred people who had set out, only about one hundred and seventy or eighty remained by the time they reached the Condensing Moon Palace. They had already given their all.

Moreover, only a few newcomers who had just reached the late Qi Condensation stage needed Liu Jinxian's spiritual energy to soothe the Gu worms within them. Upon seeing the scale of the underground palace ruins, the unmanipulated mid-Qi Condensation stage disciples immediately had second thoughts. They exchanged glances and reached an unspoken agreement.

Liu Jinxian was about to speak, but saw the crowd at the entrance disperse in a rush. In the blink of an eye, only five remained: three newly promoted to Qi Condensation Layer Seven, and two at Qi Condensation Layer Six.

Seeing this, Situ Hong burst out laughing! “Only the wise adapt to circumstances. Senior Sister Liu indeed has a strong following.”

Indeed, taking one risk was already pushing their limits, and taking a second seemed unwise. But these scattered disciples didn’t know that the Five Yin Peak cultivators had blocked their exit again, so they couldn't leave.

“Shut up!”

Liu Jinxian glared angrily at Situ Hong, barely managing to silence him before turning to her subordinates and asking, “When I first came down, I had eighteen skilled individuals with me. Did you see any of them when you arrived?” The Gu Poison Peak disciples shook their heads: “No, but we saw many tattered clothes on the way. The bodies were gone.” This revelation made Liu Jinxian glare at Situ Hong again.

The latter, however, repeatedly waved his hands. “It wasn’t me. Brother Gu and I aren't capable of that. However… four were killed by the venomous bee king, and two died by my hand. As for where the other twelve went, I truly don't know.”

The atmosphere immediately fell silent. They didn't know that ten of them had died at Wang Yu's hands alone, killing half. However, how Liu Jinxian would interpret this was unknown.

“Step back a few paces. Once you’re inside, help me activate the Yang section’s formation core.”

“Understood.”

Next, she took out the top-grade, second-tier magic artifact she had previously obtained, which was a seal. She pressed it onto the restriction and channeled spiritual energy into it. Soon, a small hole opened. The five disciples crawled in one by one. Noticed by the bee king and corpse demon, they all shivered.

A fierce battle was brewing!