Chapter 460: Large Hall Six Platforms

Li Yuanjiao was witnessing the Taiyin Moonlight from the outside world for the very first time. It was housed in an antique silver-gilt jade bottle, adorned with ancient runes, and respectfully placed on a jade stand. An additional ancient artifact enveloped it, demonstrating the immense reverence with which it was regarded, even within this grotto-heaven.

The jade stand was intricately carved with various arrays, which appeared to have once served to aid cultivation or harvest lesser forms of spiritual energy. However, these arrays had long since become inert, now functioning merely as decorative patterns.

In his own private chamber, moonlight constantly flowed, and he had grown accustomed to its pale glow. Ordinarily, he found it unremarkable, no longer perceiving it as anything out of the ordinary.

Now, contrasted against such an elaborate display, the moonlight suddenly appeared immensely valuable. Its brilliant silver-white light was dazzling. While Li Yuanjiao remained relatively calm, those near the jade stand began to recognize the item one by one, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Jiangnan had once been the sacred ground of the Moon Essence Yuanfu, and several immortal sects and schools had inherited ancient techniques, artifact-refining methods, and divine abilities for generations. There was no question of whether anyone *needed* such an item, as all of them possessed similar legacies. Even merely acquiring it and presenting it to a Purple Mansion True Immortal would constitute a tremendous feat.

The cultivators' eyes were already bloodshot, consumed by avarice. Only a rare few managed to retain their composure, and even for them, it seemed less like rationality and more like a complete failure to recognize the item's true nature.

Xun Yizi, a tall, slender figure in a dark Daoist robe, was the first to identify the item. He held a whisk in one hand, while the other tightly gripped the hem of his robe, his eyes wide and fixed, as if on the verge of falling from their sockets.

He swept his gaze across the gathering before speaking:

“There are six of us here, and four belong to the Three Sects and Seven Gates of my Yue Kingdom. If this item is to be distributed, it must remain within our Yue Kingdom's possession. You cultivators from overseas should depart immediately!”

His intention was unmistakable. Both Zhong Qian and the red-robed man's expressions shifted. The red-robed man, unwilling to let Xun Yizi succeed, sneered in response:

“Xun Yizi, you're attempting to be evasive, trying to coax some people away first. Are you really so brazen as to reveal such a transparent ploy? I, on the other hand, will gladly upturn this entire situation!”

He let out a hearty laugh, then cupped his hands to the five individuals nearby and declared loudly:

“Let it be known to all of you: this item is none other than the long-lost Taiyin Moonlight! The 'Taiyin Void Turbid Qi,' the 'Great Moon Essence Instrument,' and the 'Yin Extreme Substances' mentioned in various ancient texts all refer to this very artifact!”

His voice resounded through the sky, causing the aura of several nearby clouds to visibly shift. As if fearing that others wouldn't recognize it, he let out another chilling cry, then burst into boisterous laughter, observing the stunned and paling faces of the cultivators.

“Guo Hong'er!”

Xun Yizi's face turned utterly grim. He muttered a low imprecation, yet the red-robed man remained completely unfazed. He patted his red robe, slid the token from his hand into his sleeve, hummed casually, and then turned to depart:

“You all may contend for it to your heart's content. My Crimson Reef Island will extend this courtesy to everyone and will not participate in the struggle!”

The moment these words were uttered, Xun Yizi was utterly furious, having been thoroughly outmaneuvered. Observing the glances of those around him, it became clear that the situation was unlikely to resolve amicably.

The atmosphere remained frozen for several breaths. Then, another black-clad youth cupped his hands and withdrew:

“We are not blessed enough to benefit from such heavenly treasures, so we shall not contend with any of you.”

It was Zhong Qian. The youth had always maintained a low profile. Realizing that acquiring this item would only bring endless trouble, he magnanimously relinquished his claim, turned, and rode away on the wind.

Xun Yizi observed the four remaining individuals, as well as several faint auras subtly lingering in the air, and stated grimly:

“If you are willing to withdraw, consider it a personal debt owed by Xun Yizi of the Changxiao Sect...”

His words evoked no reaction, with barely anyone paying him attention. All eyes were grimly fixed on the jade stand. Suddenly, Xun Yizi lunged forward, reaching for the jade stand.

“Boom!”

Almost simultaneously, five or six magical artifacts materialized before him, aiming for him. Xun Yizi, clearly having anticipated this, executed a feint. With his other hand, he raised his whisk and redirected his strike towards the person next to him instead.

“You!”

Instantly, a myriad of magical lights surged through the air. Many cultivators directly activated their immortal foundations, and several artifacts collided mid-air, producing a series of violent roars.

Li Yuanjiao and Tulong Jian remained motionless in the air, quietly observing. Tulong Jian narrowed his eyes, his spiritual sense stirring, constantly interacting with the token at his waist as he silently awaited the opportune moment.

Li Yuanjiao's quick glance revealed Kong Tingyun at the edge of the battlefield, silently using a jade bead to fend off the incoming magical lights. Her other hand cradled a small golden mountain, as if pondering whose head to drop it on.

He had witnessed Kong Tingyun's golden mountain before; it was truly peculiar. It had instantly crushed Mo Tuo, and its power was exceptionally formidable when used by surprise, proving particularly effective against those adept at magical arts.

Tulong Jian, shouldering his long golden hammer, appeared ready to make a move. Li Yuanjiao spoke softly:

“Fellow Daoist Tulong, the cultivator from Xuanyue Sect is an old acquaintance of mine. We might consider joining forces.”

Tulong Jian nodded in sudden realization and replied:

“Let's make our move then... I've been watching for a while, and there are no particularly formidable opponents here.”

No sooner had he spoken than he raised his golden hammer and descended rapidly on the wind.

It was unclear what kind of artifact his golden hammer was. It was exceptionally slender; the hammerhead was roughly half the size of an ordinary person's head, while the shaft resembled a spear, making it appear more like a long lance as he swung it down.

The golden-robed cultivator beneath him, whose sect and origins were unknown, raised an eyebrow, glimpsed the golden hammer, and immediately turned pale with alarm:

‘Tulong Jian!’

He immediately abandoned his spell, disregarding his current opponent. Slapping the jade pendant at his waist, he caused a stream of light to erupt from his body, forming a large shield.

A brittle, glass-like sound then pierced the air as the large shield shattered into countless fragments, dissolving into dust and vanishing. Tulong Jian nonchalantly continued his assault, pursuing the man. In little more than ten strikes, the man sustained a hammer blow to the chest, spitting blood, and fled into the cloud sea without a backward glance.

Remembering Tulong Jian's earlier remarks, Li Yuanjiao did not move to assist him. Instead, he activated his profound mist, gradually approaching the edge of the battlefield.

As he advanced a few steps, the woman in the Xiang-colored feather robe cautiously turned and exclaimed:

“Who's there?!”

Li Yuanjiao subtly revealed the outline of his profound mist. Kong Tingyun was startled, then spoke with a hint of uncertainty:

“Brother Jiao?”

“It is I.”

Hearing this, Kong Tingyun's anxiety subsided. Both delighted and astonished, she quickly exclaimed:

“You came in too! At least I have a helper... but you must be careful... this place is riddled with perils...”

Li Yuanjiao paused mid-air and quietly stated:

“A friend and I were gathering energy on the island when we unexpectedly found ourselves here.”

“I see...”

Kong Tingyun simply withdrew a step, distancing herself and Li Yuanjiao slightly from the conflict, and they observed together from the clouds. After a brief explanation, she added:

“The item at the center is the Taiyin Moonlight, which is incredibly difficult to acquire. I'm merely here to observe, at least to see who ultimately obtains it.”

She smiled, her eyes narrowing with a hint of slyness, and whispered softly:

“There's no opportunity at the moment... but later, one can never tell.”

Li Yuanjiao understood her implication and nodded gently. The two instead engaged in a brief conversation amidst the clouds, while the battle situation below gradually became clearer.

Xun Yizi, who possessed the most profound cultivation and highest magical skill among the combatants, was initially being overwhelmed by the coordinated assault. However, Tulong Jian unexpectedly emerged mid-battle, fighting his way through and inadvertently helping Xun Yizi escape his encirclement.

Currently, these two were locked in a standoff around the jade stand, while the remaining reluctant cultivators still hovered in the surrounding sea of clouds.

Xun Yizi's expression was far from pleasant. He recognized Tulong Jian, and more importantly, the Six Dings Blazing Fire Token at his waist. This artifact was an ancient spirit tool, renowned for centuries for its power over demonic beasts, and it would be equally formidable against cultivators.

Witnessing Tulong Jian grasp the token and unleash vast, surging gray flames, a searing heat instantly assaulted them. All the cultivators in the clouds simultaneously recoiled a step, with Xun Yizi, being directly in the path, breaking out in profuse sweat.

Xun Yizi and Tulong Jian had been able to easily force others back precisely because no one wished to sustain severe injuries within the grotto-heaven. However, with Tulong Jian now brandishing an ancient spirit artifact, it was suddenly Xun Yizi's turn to show caution.

‘It's better to avoid his sharp edge for now... until the very end... he'll certainly face the consequences!...'

He retreated several steps, gritted his teeth, and ultimately backed away slowly, vanishing into the sea of clouds, just as Tulong Jian had predicted. Tulong Jian shook his head, then channeled his magical power into the silver-white spiritual barrier.

As the osmanthus rabbits in each corner of the silver-white spiritual barrier illuminated one by one, Tulong Jian performed an incantation. The barrier rapidly contracted, settling into his palm. After storing the jade bottle, he swept his gaze across the sea of clouds, and the remaining cultivators quickly dispersed.

Kong Tingyun glanced at him, instantly grasping the situation, and inquired:

“Is this Tulong Jian a friend of yours?”

“We have some acquaintance.”

Li Yuanjiao nodded affirmatively. Kong Tingyun seemed somewhat concerned and subtly interjected:

“This person is very powerful, likely among the foremost Foundation Establishment cultivators within this grotto-heaven. You should exercise your own judgment... just be cautious.”

As the two watched him put away the treasure, a flash of spiritual light in Tulong Jian's eyes located them in the cloud sea. He swiftly rode the wind towards them, and upon seeing Kong Tingyun, merely offered a casual greeting:

“Greetings, fellow Daoist.”

Kong Tingyun returned the courtesy. Tulong Jian then turned to Li Yuanjiao, his tone becoming considerably more amicable:

“Senior, let's proceed to the mountain range without delay... If we tarry, we might miss out on valuable discoveries.”

Li Xuanfeng and his two companions exited the courtyard and ascended the mountain using their movement techniques. All the grotto-mansions they encountered were empty, suggesting that the cultivators had already explored their own lodging courtyards and were now heading towards the mountain peak.

The trio continued onward until they encountered over a dozen individuals standing before the grand hall at the mountain peak. Each was intently examining the arrays upon the hall, and not a single person uttered a sound.

Li Xuanfeng slightly narrowed his eyes and swiftly located a golden-robed figure within the group. The individual, with a handsome face, stood with hands clasped behind his back, two long sabers sheathed behind him, and dark, swirling flames enveloping his body.

Having followed Situ Chen this far, it was no surprise to find them together. To avoid drawing attention, he did not let his gaze linger on the figure, instead directing his attention towards the grand hall.

The grand hall, constructed primarily with blue and white hues, was remarkably magnificent. Its floor was paved with pristine, white-jade-like stone bricks adorned with simple patterns. Flanking both sides were colossal jade pillars, and at the very head of the hall stood an immortal throne, bordered by six jade stands.

Each of these six jade stands held a jade box. Five of them lay undisturbed on their respective stands, faintly glowing, yet the final jade stand presented a rather unusual sight.

Beside this particular jade stand lay two figures. One sat cross-legged, his face faintly flushed, with one hand resting on his knee and the other pressed against his chest. A gleaming long sword ran through his chest, its tip protruding from his back.

The other figure knelt before the jade stand, their left hand extended in a grasping gesture, their right hand braced against the floor. The jade box from that very stand had fallen to the ground, a small corner chipped, and lay quietly open.

The faces of these two figures appeared strikingly lifelike, even faintly flushed, as though they had just recovered from a fierce struggle. Time within the grand hall seemed to be suspended at that precise moment, poised to resume its flow at any instant.

From Li Xuanfeng's vantage point, he could clearly see the jade box, now empty save for a circular indentation. This recess, approximately the thickness of a small finger, suggested that it had once contained a ring-shaped magical artifact.

At the very center of the grand hall hung a large, copper-colored bell, its surface etched with two peculiar, grotesque patterns. It remained suspended in silent stillness.

Beneath this grand bell, six meditation cushions were neatly arranged. Many items rested upon these cushions, mostly ancient texts that had been half-read, along with several small personal magical artifacts.

These items, whether placed on or beside the cushions, though considerable in number, appeared remarkably orderly.

The arrays within the grand hall flickered erratically. Everyone stood before the entrance, yet no one dared to step inside. They all stood there, their eyes full of anticipation, exchanging glances, each waiting for someone else to make a move.

Lin Chensheng cast a glance, then transmitted quietly through spiritual power:

“Those two in the grand hall... do you recognize them, fellow Daoist?”

Li Xuanfeng squinted, examining them closely. He found the attire of the person with the sword in their chest quite familiar. Upon further reflection, it bore a resemblance to Qingchi's clothing, yet was not entirely identical.

Bi Yuzhuang, standing nearby, whispered softly:

“Is that... Yu Xiuxian? He appears to be the former Senior Disciple of Yuanwu Peak?”

“It should... be...”

Lin Chensheng meticulously identified the figure for a moment, then whispered:

“Back then, Yu Xiuxian was slain by Guo E, which prompted Yuanwu to cause a furious commotion in the East Sea, forcing Guo Shentong to offer profuse apologies for a considerable period... I never imagined he truly died in the sea, let alone within this very grotto-heaven!”

The two conversed for a while, then glanced at the other cultivator's body. Unable to identify him immediately, they ceased their efforts. However, in the distance, a golden stream of light ascended, following the jade-green path directly to the hall, landing before its entrance.

The golden light slowly settled, revealing two figures. One, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, wore a black and gold Daoist robe, held a long halberd, and possessed a somber expression. He stared blankly at the figures within the grand hall, his own Daoist robe bearing a remarkable seventy percent similarity to the skeletal remains inside.

The other individual was also a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, dressed in flowing white robes, exuding an ethereal aura. He clutched a magical sword, a translucent jade buckle fastened at his waist. His black hair cascaded freely, his eyes held a detached gaze, and he was meticulously surveying the grand array.

Lin Chensheng and his companion exchanged a glance at the figure in the black and gold Daoist robe, feeling a surge of certainty, and whispered:

“This is Tang Shedou of Yuanwu Peak! Given his attire, the person inside must undoubtedly be Yu Xiuxian... As for the white-robed man... I've never seen him before.”

Li Xuanfeng remained silent, his gaze seemingly inadvertently drifting over the jade buckle at the white-robed man's waist. In his mind, he quietly uttered:

‘Yu Muxian...!’