Chapter 596: Shock and Awe

The original domain name has been compromised; please remember the new one.

The white steps in front of the circular grand hall gleamed brightly. The three characters "Wen Dao Palace" on the hall shimmered, and the hall's formation flickered, humming with energy.

Buzz...

Both Yuan Xiu and Bu Zi were in the late stage of the Purple Mansion realm. Dealing with this formation, which had already become damaged and incomplete due to changes in the world, was naturally an easy task for them. In less than half an incense stick's time, after rotating a few of its foundation arrays, the grand formation quickly opened.

A rich surge of spiritual energy washed over them. Chi Buzi squinted slightly, gazing at the seemingly endless jade slips before him. The countless intricate array patterns beneath his feet glowed faintly, as if breathing, winding like rivers and accentuating the magnificent grandeur of the entire hall.

As the spiritual energy surged through, the jade talismans on the shelves, each inscribed with the name of a cultivation technique, clinked together. He couldn't help but be surprised, exclaiming:

"The Immortal Treasury of Ning Kingdom is truly boundless! Such is the power of a whole nation, descendants of Golden Core experts... this treasury far exceeds that of my Qingchi..."

He stamped his foot, attempting to use his divine ability, but only managed to float a foot off the ground before immediately falling back. He frowned, saying:

"What a powerful formation."

Although the formation outside the grand hall had been breached, every level inside the hall was still reinforced by interconnected formations. These formations not only firmly locked down the area's energies, protecting the jade slips, but also seemed to contain elements of a 'Fu Shui' path, preventing even a true Purple Mansion cultivator from flying.

He quickly stepped forward, swiftly passing the jade slips on the first level and ascending several tiers. His gaze swept over numerous jade slips, and after examining them carefully for a moment, a look of joy emerged on his face.

"The 'Xilu Yuan Jue'... Could this be it...?"

This jade slip appeared light green, emitting an enticing glow. Unfortunately, spiritual perception was suppressed within the grotto-heaven, dissipating quickly if extended beyond the body. Chi Buzi formed a hand seal and cast a spell, gently touching the jade slip. His spiritual perception attempted to enter, but was isolated by the formation, so he had to resort to divination.

'Although this grand formation is formidable, fortunately, it already has vulnerabilities... I should be able to deduce it given some time.'

He immersed himself in his task, his entire focus fixed on the jade slip, completely unaware that the old man stood quietly nearby, like a ghost. His figure was concealed within the faint glow of the jade slips, and dense patterns flickered in his eyes.

As Si Boxiu entered, his gaze did not linger for even an instant on the vast immortal treasury. Instead, he continuously fixed his eyes on Chi Buzi's every move, hiding like a shadow not far away and watching coldly.

His feet floated lightly above the ground, making no sound. Spiritual perception was suppressed within this grotto-heaven, making it difficult to detect nearby objects. Si Boxiu used this opportunity to slowly draw closer, his old face etched with suspicion and grimness.

He quietly hid in the shadows. His eyes, from the full exertion of his divine ability, revealed countless tiny golden runes. His aged lips trembled slightly as his divine ability gathered at the tip of his tongue, held in check.

As Chi Buzi became increasingly engrossed in the jade slip before him, a look of joy emerging with each bit of progress, his guard against the outside world dropped to its lowest. Si Boxiu suddenly stepped forward, a shocking golden light erupting from his lips, accompanied by a muffled sound like a spring thunderclap.

"Chi Wei!!"

This voice, unleashed by a divine ability, was terrifyingly suppressive. Had it struck an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, they would have been instantly reduced to dust. Golden ripples emanated from his lips, yet when they impacted Chi Buzi, it felt as gentle as a passing breeze.

The green-robed man's robes gently fluttered. He tilted his head and replied:

"Uncle, you've mistaken me for someone else."

The golden runes in Si Boxiu's eyes seemed on the verge of floating out, concentrating within his pupils. The old man wasn't listening to him at all; instead, he was using his divine ability to verify something.

Divine light flowed between Si Boxiu and Chi Buzi as the two stood silently in confrontation. The grand hall was filled with radiance, and Si Boxiu merely murmured softly, as if chanting a spell:

"Li Jiangqun."

"Kan Xuyu."

"Ning Tiaoxiao."

"Xiao Xianyou."

He recited these names one by one, his eyes fixed on Chi Buzi, observing the subtle changes in his gaze. Only after finishing the list did he flick his sleeve, his expression natural, and said:

"I was only thinking of your safety, Buzi. Don't blame me."

"Thank you, Uncle."

Chi Buzi maintained a gentle smile. Si Boxiu nodded slightly, then finally turned and left, going to search for techniques that interested him within the grand hall.

Chi Buzi watched him depart, then redirected his gaze to the jade slip in his hand. As he formed hand seals, the formation's glow on the jade slip gradually faded away.

Everything that had just transpired seemed to have completely escaped his mind. He showed a joyful expression as he read the jade slip carefully, then frowned, gently placing it back on the table, and murmured:

"Only Foundation Establishment again... Could it be that this divine ability has been deemed taboo by some sect...? What a nuisance..."

He let out a deep breath. The formation before him seemed to have shifted, flickering between bright and dim, causing a slight dizziness.

"Uncle..."

He had just ascended this high platform when he saw Si Boxiu carefully reading a jade slip. He stepped forward and called out to him twice, but then his expression suddenly froze.

Si Boxiu stood before him like a statue. Spiritual energy shimmered brightly in the divine light, resembling smoke and mist, yet Si Boxiu remained utterly motionless, stiffly frozen in place.

"Uncle..."

The calm smile on Chi Buzi's face finally vanished as terror rose in his heart. He stiffly twisted his neck, his gaze sweeping over the array patterns on the high platform beneath his feet.

These array patterns, which had previously glowed faintly like a beautiful river, following the traces of spiritual energy, now had their light halted on a specific pattern. The entire grand hall seemed to hold its breath in terror; the clinking of jade talismans had ceased, and everything stood perfectly still and silent.

A profound terror enveloped his mind, and all divine abilities within him ceased to function. Chi Buzi stood rooted to the spot like a mortal. He slowly shifted his gaze, finally seeing a person quietly seated on the hall's beam above, sparkling like stars.

He was neither too far nor too close, yet all the light from the grand hall seemed to converge upon him, trembling as if in fear. Chi Buzi's gaze could only trace upwards along the hem of the snow-white robe, adorned with sun and moon patterns.

"This..."

The ancient-style clothing was simple yet noble, its intricate patterns almost painful to behold. Various colored lights encircled his body, swiftly transforming into white clouds that depicted the myriad forms of living beings—joyful, content, sorrowful, and weeping.

The entire grand formation above trembled, as if it were about to depart this realm with the immortal and ascend to some White Jade Immortal Capital.

Chi Buzi's gaze remained fixed on the hem of the robe, daring not to look higher. The profound terror in his heart threatened to overwhelm him, and he was struck with dread:

"Who is it? The one from Luoxia? Or a Golden Core from Ning Kingdom... Is that True Monarch not dead?"

He struggled to suppress his fear, slowly kneeling down, his voice still somewhat hoarse:

"This humble cultivator is fortunate to behold an immortal's countenance. May I ask which immortal is before me...?"

He heard the immortal's voice, light and cold, drifting gently down, causing his limbs to tremble:

"Have you not always wished to meet me?"

The original domain name has been compromised; please remember the new one.