Chapter 980: Leaving the Palace

"Chi Buzi..."

How could Tai Xi not recognize him? This person's movements had been strange over the years, yet his divine abilities grew increasingly refined, and his cultivation deepened. Given that Lüshui was a prominent path in the current era, how could he not be afraid?

Back then, relying on the momentum of the North-South conflict, he still didn't dare to defy Zi Pei. Now, although his divine abilities had improved, Chi Buzi was not Zi Pei. More importantly, there was no connection to Shitu within the grotto-heaven, so falling here meant a true demise!

A chill ran through Tai Xi:"He's finally here... Of course... he's after the Golden Seat, how could he miss such a good opportunity? But... why would he come to save Si Yuanli...?"

Tai Xi had always been confident, even daring to use Chi Buzi to taunt Si Yuanli for a reason. Both the Si family and Si Yuanli himself had their blades stained with the blood and resentment of the Chi family, having killed countless Chi family members.

Even if Chi Buzi was utterly ruthless and detached from worldly affairs, and his entire clan had been annihilated, not seeking revenge was one thing, but how could he possibly come forward to protect an enemy?

Tai Xi saw clearly that Si Yuanli himself was extremely uneasy.

"So it's... the Great True Man..."He responded stiffly, only to see the person before him smile. The terrifying divine power of Chou Guizang instantly spread. This divine ability, deeply connected to one's cultivation, had reached a dreadful level. Chi Buzi seemed to make no move, yet his hand was already raised, striking Tai Xi's face!"Boom!"

The light of Lüshui extended, and Tai Xi's entire face was covered in countless cracks, like shattered glazed tiles. His golden body collapsed like a falling mountain, plummeting from the clouds and stirring up countless storms. Only then did the person's cold words echo through the air:"You knew, yet you just stood there!"

Although the palm strike wasn't particularly powerful, the opponent deliberately displayed his cultivation in the path of Lüshui. Tai Xi's heart stirred, and he finally understood:"This person doesn't want to get involved in any karma at all; he only cares about his immortal path!"

From his sleeve, the Mahā abruptly shook out several beams of white light, tossing them towards Chi Buzi. At the same time, he fully activated his Dharma Wind, transforming into a golden streak and fleeing wildly.

Chi Buzi, unconcerned, lightly lifted his sleeve, collected the items, and leisurely began examining them.

Ming Guan and Hua Guang in the sky had already fled. Si Yuanli stood rooted to the spot, feeling somewhat suffocated.

When the two Mahās had previously attacked him, he had felt uneasy but mostly indignant. His mood had shifted considerably when Li Zhouwei appeared, but now he was once again plunged into a chasm of unease, his heart filled with dread and icy coldness.

If Chi Buzi was here for revenge... he wouldn't even need to specifically seek it. Just passing through with a certain intention would be enough! This was a grotto-heaven, without even the Great Void! While Si Yuanli had indeed gained an advantage through his heritage, knowing the entry and exit points... could he truly last until then?

He wasn't like Li Zhouwei and the other two, who could leisurely depart from a considerable distance. Chi Buzi was right in front of him! Being so close to a Great True Man of Lüshui, who knew if Chou Guizang had already prepared a spirit sword, ready to stab him in the back at any moment!

For a moment, neither thanking nor turning to leave seemed appropriate. Si Yuanli could only silently put away his spirit treasures, hiding them in his sleeve, seemingly bowing in wait but actually preparing to strike. It was then that Chi Buzi turned around.

Surprisingly, there was not a trace of hatred or any negative emotion in the eyes of the Chi family's genius. His gaze was remarkably clear, and he looked at Si Yuanli with a warm smile:"Yuanli... I didn't expect you to also achieve divine abilities!"

Si Yuanli secretly sighed in relief, wisely choosing not to mention anything about the sect. He, too, forced a smile and replied:"It's merely that the old True Man's methods are profound, allowing even a mediocre person like me to achieve divine abilities one day."

"Very good, very good..."Chi Buzi seemed very polite, as if the Chi family truly had nothing to do with him. He smiled and said:"You haven't disappointed... It's a great blessing for the sect to have you!"

Si Yuanli's heart pounded. He couldn't tell if Chi Buzi was being polite or sarcastic. He responded awkwardly, but Chi Buzi took a step forward, stared at him with a smile, and asked:"Yuanli, you haven't forgotten me, have you?"

Si Yuanli froze for a moment, a chill running down his spine. Hearing words not much different from what had been asked of Tai Xi, he still found it hard to believe. He met the Great True Man's gaze, and the hand clutching his sleeve trembled; he couldn't take anything out. Hoping the person in front of him was joking, he replied uneasily:"Of course..."

Chi Buzi's smile widened. He said:"You knew, yet you just stood there!"

Si Yuanli suddenly raised his eyebrows, realizing then that the surging Lüshui had already surrounded the area. Despite his extreme reluctance and suppressed anger, he could only shake the white light from his sleeve, a bitter thought in his heart:"...So it was a disaster!"

Chi Buzi casually took the item, glanced at it, and shook his head, saying:"You're quite greedy, refusing to share even a bit with those two eminent monks. No wonder they were reluctant to let you go, delaying you here all this time..."

"I recall... the Sima family also has someone in Wanling Heaven, don't they? I wonder which peak they cultivate on, and how capable they are."

He looked composed and asked him very casually:"What good things were left behind that were worth all this trouble for you?"

Si Yuanli felt humiliated but had no choice but to bow his head. Within this grotto-heaven, where the Great Void was cut off and magic treasures were suppressed, the pressure from a Great True Man could reach an entirely different level. He respectfully replied:"My ancestor... Sima Duan sought the Dao in Wanling Heaven, studying under Buqu Peak. He received the lineage and once wrote a book... In this Mingkong Hall, there is a spirit treasure of the Hornwood path called 'Several Spring Branches'... It is right here."

"Oh?"Chi Buzi's gaze swept over Si Yuanli's face, yet he didn't open the glowing object in his hand. Instead, he stepped onto the Lüshui, ascended into the air, and departed, leaving Si Yuanli to straighten up, utterly mortified.

"Daoist Minghuang!"Li Zhouwei floated over on a beam of light. Xiang Chun was flying up from the mountainside, leading him closer, and whispered:"The time is almost nigh."

Li Zhouwei was still pondering Chi Buzi's matter:"He's completely forgotten what happened back then, but could he have forgotten the Eastern Sea affair? There must be many Golden Cores outside, so he also needs to be cautious."

The Li family naturally harbored deep suspicions about Chi Buzi. His earlier attempt to spy on the immortal object was already outrageous, and later, he returned to the Eastern Sea, speaking incredibly frightening words. Whether it was his own arrogance or a genuine matter, it was something that could never be mentioned again... But whether he was truly the original Chi Buzi... perhaps even Chi Buzi himself didn't know!

He could only suppress everything within his heart. He returned a bow to Xiang Chun and replied:"I see True Man Buzi has also arrived. There might be something significant happening here."

"Chi Buzi..."Xiang Chun frowned and replied:"He's now colluding with the Guanxie faction. He's quite audacious, I wonder what the venerable seniors think!"

Li Zhouwei nodded thoughtfully, not letting the woman's words fall flat. As he approached the location with her, they reached the grand formation. He silently invoked his thoughts, and the ability of Cha You began to operate prominently.

Indeed, even the grand formation within the grotto-heaven, which connected to Xuantao and guarded the most crucial secrets, could not hide from Cha You.

However, the moment he passed through the formation, infinite golden light appeared in his eyes. There was nothing else but this overlapping radiance, dazzling and blinding. The dense colors intertwined, like staring directly into the blazing sun, nearly causing his physical body to falter!

"This is..."The intense radiance instantly contracted. Through the hazy mist, he could discern ninety-nine segments of wavering golden light, circling in the air. Even without directly facing it, he felt an immense sense of suffocation:"A Golden Core magic treasure!"

He squinted slightly, quickly averting his gaze from the object and from the highest treasure hall. His eyes then fell upon the numerous splendid immortal palaces along the mountainside. Past the two Wanling flower trees planted at the foot of the mountain, four Dao towers prominently appeared, and the four spirit treasures they suppressed each manifested in his mind.

"As expected, there are spirit treasures!"This was not surprising; there had been traces of spirit treasures outside the formation, and there were bound to be more within it. He carefully examined the four spirit treasures: the fire element was a pot, the wood element a ruler, the water element a bead, and the earth element a seal. They were clearly a set of well-formed spirit treasures.

"Leaving aside the rest, Wei Xuan'yin and Chi Buzi are both here... Perhaps even more Great True Men, or even Mahās of the Seventh or Eighth Generations, are all eyeing this place. It won't be easy to acquire anything."

However, a thought stirred in his heart. He didn't linger on these four Dao towers at all. On the surface, he pretended to close his eyes and concentrate, while the power of Cha You operated prominently, searching through each chamber one by one.

Some of these palaces were disordered, others empty. Clearly, some palace owners were still within the grotto-heaven, while others had already departed before the grotto-heaven was sealed. There were even two with traces of spiritual demise, with Purple Mansion spiritual resources scattered on the ground.

"Nearly forty percent are empty. When these grandmaster-level figures leave, they often take a large number of disciples and grand-disciples with them... This means that Wanling Heaven, currently being plundered by cultivators, is only at sixty percent of its peak state..."

Yet, even with forty percent empty, the abundance of spiritual objects and resources still left him astonished. He secretly began to count on his fingers:"Two, four, six..."

Six more spirit treasures were scattered within these surrounding immortal palaces!

"Adding the four in the very center... that makes a total of ten spirit treasures... a full ten spirit treasures! There were even two spirit artifacts that clearly fell due to changes in their karmic positions, appearing incomplete..."

"Even the Sun Dao lineage... wouldn't have more than this!"

The Sun Dao lineage had been the overlord of Jiangnan for a long time. The Six Veins of Chongming must possess more than ten spirit treasures. Yet Wanling Heaven, at only sixty percent of its capacity, and not even counting the spirit treasures outside the formation...

Li Zhouwei had no time for reflection; his gaze quickly scanned the immortal palaces:"The moment everyone swarms in, the Great True Men will surely rush to seize the most obvious spirit treasures beneath the Dao towers. This is the best time to snatch the other scattered spirit treasures..."

Although he believed he had some confidence in charging with his divine ability, in such a chaotic situation, it was crucial to act swiftly... So he meticulously scrutinized the area, finally stopping at the second palace, located on the far southern edge.

This palace was entirely crimson. Four arched gates stood before it, all adorned with mysterious patterns and red lacquer, featuring curved eaves and elaborate pavilions, vermilion railings, and vibrant balustrades. At its entrance stood a majestic fire-treading bird—it was clearly a Palace of Li Fire!

"Wanling Heaven has many Bing Fire elements... a Li Fire Palace is incredibly rare!"

Under his careful scrutiny, this palace clearly housed a spirit treasure. The left side hall even contained a spirit artifact, while the right side hall held Li Fire spiritual objects and cultivation techniques... It could be said to be extremely comprehensive. Perhaps Li Fire was not highly valued within this grotto-heaven, and only the owner of this particular palace had profound cultivation, acquiring all the good items... Apart from the spirit treasure, in terms of the value of its treasures, it was undoubtedly one of the best among all the palaces on the mountainside, even comparable to those surrounding the Dao towers!

He silently memorized the location and began to scrutinize it again.

It wasn't that there were no Mingyang Palaces in the mountains, but they only contained spirit artifacts. Although the quality of these artifacts was not low, they were still a step below spirit treasures. Furthermore, the Li family already possessed enough Mingyang artifacts; taking more would not merely be a repetition of function:

"Should I fall one day... the clan will certainly no longer rely on Mingyang as its cornerstone. Preparations must be made early..."

He observed as he descended from the mountains, pausing for a moment before the 'Dao Wu Si Tiangang' plaque, only then seeing the endless bones at the foot of the mountain.

The headless corpse, adorned with a velvet crane cloak and scriptures, stood eerily. In its hand was a spirit treasure! Yet the spirit treasure didn't seem particularly striking on it; what compelled one to look away even more was the incredibly terrifying sword intent emanating from the corpse!

"What formidable swordsmanship..."His heart trembled. He cautiously severed the connection with Cha You immediately, yet still felt his eyes lose focus. He silently glanced at True Man Xiang Chun, who was quietly calculating nearby, and then calmly exhaled:"This mystic power of containment and absorption is growing ever stronger. I wonder what kind of marvel it is."

His words were indeed accurate. The closer they got to the magic treasure, the stronger this power of containment and absorption became. While his own divine ability was powerful enough that it didn't greatly affect him, Purple Mansions who hadn't cultivated such a profound ability would likely experience some headaches.

"If that's the case, once we're inside the grand formation, who knows how terrifying it will be."

He stated his concerns clearly, prompting True Man Xiang Chun to retract her divine ability and reply:"Wanling Heaven possesses a magic treasure, left by True Lord Chongyuan back then, called the Lingyang Imperishable Palace. It has the power of containment and absorption. What you're feeling is merely the mystic power of this treasure leaking out."

"As for your concerns, Daoist friend... in truth, the power of containment and absorption here has already weakened considerably. If one were to come here immediately upon entering the grotto-heaven, they would likely be unable to move... Several True Lords are currently lifting the magic treasure into the Great Void. Otherwise, how could this grand formation be opened? We may appear to be opening the formation, but in reality, we are just waiting for good news from outside."

"So that's how it is."Li Zhouwei murmured:"I wonder what kind of magic treasure it is, requiring several venerable seniors to work together."

This question touched upon Xiang Chun's own doubts. She nodded empathetically and replied:"There must be some concerns..."

As she pondered, her expression suddenly shifted slightly. She whispered:"There's movement!"

Li Zhouwei looked up slightly and indeed saw the white light barrier, spanning heaven and earth, gradually fading. The surroundings became agitated, divine abilities appeared repeatedly, and the immense roaring grew louder and more intense.

"Boom!"In the blink of an eye, the white light in the sky dispersed and shattered, scattering like a swirling white wind. Instantly, various brilliant lights emerged. True fire and spirit water surged in the sky as everyone acted in unison!

"The grand formation is broken!"Dazzling multicolored lights, like falling stars, trailed long fiery tails as they flew deeper in. Some observed the situation, changing direction, or conveniently unleashed water and fire to interfere with others. However, major powers like Jinyu and Guanxie had clear targets and indeed flew towards the mountaintop!

Jun Daowei!Li Zhouwei was already poised for action, his divine ability operating at its peak. Golden patterns shimmered on his face, and he was like a streaking comet, smashing through all the obstructing water, fire, and golden light, also heading towards the mountains.