Chapter 1586: Fire Rite (I)
Chapter 1586: Fire Rite (I)
Clang...
Brilliant multicolored light rippled through the sky as the man in golden robes sped forward with a slightly darkened expression. A broad-shouldered, thick-browed middle-aged man clad in a flame-patterned Daoist robe flew beside him, his gaze deep and solemn.
"The [Three-Aspect Heart Vessel] should be beneath the Merging Fire Tower!"
"That's right."
Daoist Master Tianhuo nodded thoughtfully, yet there was little greed in his eyes. As he watched the curtain of light descend, his thoughts grew heavy, The dharma relic is the [Exalted Yang Immutable Palace]... but where is the [Great Expansion Heavenly Plain Scripture]?
The two transformed into streaks of light and sped away. Though they spoke of the [Three-Aspect Heart Vessel], they did not head toward the four Dao towers. Instead, they drifted toward the palace complex standing beside them.
The Golden Feather Sect had reaped considerable rewards within the grotto heaven, and its strength extended far beyond simply Tianhuo and Tiangui. Wanlin Heaven had long been under the close attention of a True Monarch. After overseeing the grotto heaven for many years, Zhang Yige, Tianhuo's father, had left his post for the first time to personally come!
True Monarch Taiyuan was not like Taiqing. The grotto heaven possessed its own self-contained world, and the Golden One and Upper Azure Daos had always maintained orderly lines of inheritance. The Golden Feather Sect continuously sent talented disciples into the grotto heaven, while the direct descendants raised within it entered the sect for training. Once they showed the potential to reach the Golden Core Realm, they would return to the grotto heaven for further cultivation. Even when they fell, they usually fell within the grotto heaven itself. It was exceedingly rare for them to venture outside.
Now that Zhang Yige had personally taken action, Tianhuo naturally felt free to pursue other matters. As they moved along, he listened to Tiangui speak in a grave tone, "The [Two Bright Rites of Layered Fire] is somewhere within the grotto heaven. Lu Xian most likely hid it in the mountains... Of all the treasures here, only this one truly suits our Dao lineage. The others are Merging Fire artifacts, most of which damage the spirit and mind. Using them would require cultivating an additional Douxuan protective spell for defense, which is far too troublesome."
Tiangui opened the palace doors with a sweep of his sleeve and examined the interior before saying quietly, "Though he enjoyed great fame for a time, he ultimately left behind no Dao lineage. The mountain is vast, and the Dharma relic's suppression grows stronger the farther one ventures. It's difficult to determine which palace might contain it. However, judging from the surrounding area alone, there's a ninety percent chance it's somewhere near the Dao towers."
He raised his head and fixed his gaze beyond the palace entrance. "The Golden One Dao lineage is present here. This hall belongs to our Dao. Fellow Daoist, seek elsewhere!"
A faint gust of wind swept by, and then all movement ceased. Tiangui turned back and said, "It was a Daoist Master of the Lìn Family[1]."
Both Daoist Masters came from illustrious backgrounds and possessed formidable techniques. It only took a short time for them to completely decipher the layout of the hall and sweep away everything of value. Then, they turned their attention to the bowl-shaped spirit artifact enshrined upon a pedestal.
The spirit artifact was enclosed within a white curtain of light, and clearly required a specific inheritance to unlock. Tiangui immediately produced a talisman and activated it in silence.
While standing guard for him, Tianhuo lowered his voice and asked, "The one below the mountain is Lin Hengjiang?"
His pupils widened slightly, revealing a complicated mixture of shock and apprehension. Tiangui also seemed somewhat moved at that name as he replied, "Clad in a crane-feather cloak and draped in scripture-inscribed robes, it should be him... the Huaijiang Sword Immortal of the Wanlin Upper Sect. Only someone like him could carry out something so ruthless!"
Tianhuo's expression darkened. "No wonder!"
As he watched the formation crumble apart and the treasures fall into the hands of his own people, he hurried onward without pause. There was no trace of joy on his face as he said, "I was wondering why no one dared go down and claim his sword... After all, with what happened to Daoist Master Donghua as a precedent, [Hongjiang] is probably no less terrifying than [Xueli]."
"Lin Hengjiang's hatred was as deep as the Yellow Springs and as vast as the Eastern Sea. And since he took his own life, he likely poured all of his divine abilities, mana, and Sword Intent into that sword before his death. There's no telling how terrifying it has become!"
Tianhuo withdrew his gaze and looked toward the sky. An intense, but pale white light interwoven with hazy flecks of yellow was rising from the west. The colors overlapped and mingled as a colossal eye of divine ability emerged among the clouds, casting down hundreds upon hundreds of pillars of light.
Tiangui frowned. "It's the Lord of the Pure Victory Dao."
Tianhuo nodded as countless colors from the sky reflected in his eyes. At that moment, a cold, sinister roar exploded across the entire mountain range, echoing through heaven and earth.
"Zhang Yige?! How dare you!"
————
Zhang Yige? He must be one of the Golden Feather Sect's people...
A thunderous voice echoed through the sky like a peal of thunder, but Li Zhouwei had no time to dwell on it. The [Brilliant Yang King's Axe] in his hand had already reached the peak of its brilliance as he smashed it once more onto the Radiant Fire barrier before him.
Boom!
The dense Radiant Fire light exploded apart. The glow shrouding the palace instantly faded, revealing at last the profound crimson palace beneath. The streaks of colored light darting through the sky immediately reacted like flies catching the scent of blood, rapidly changing direction and rushing toward him.
Li Zhouwei sneered. Brilliant light had long since gathered between his brows, and [Heavenly Radiance, Hidden Light] shot forth in an instant. It slammed into one of the incoming streaks of light with a thunderous crash, detonating in a burst of Radiant Light. Yet his own speed did not diminish in the slightest as he plunged downward!
Sure enough, four archways stood before the palace, adorned with crimson lacquer and profound patterns. Ornate pavilions rose above them as shifting colors intertwined in dazzling displays. The surging Radiant Fire posed no obstacle whatsoever, and in the blink of an eye, he landed before the hall.
Vermilion railings and ornate balustrades lined the front of the grand hall. Fire-treading birds stood guard at the entrance, while blazing flames burned on both sides. Twelve Radiant Fire lampstands were arranged in a straight line, beginning with Long Marching Fire Essence and ending with Apricot Radiant Fire. Their many colors intertwined and flickered brilliantly, creating a truly majestic spectacle!
The instant the golden-eyed man stepped into the hall, a colossal heavenly gate rose amid multicolored clouds and heavenly light before descending with overwhelming force. It crashed down upon the central archway, and the heavenly light it emitted forced back every restless streak of colored light while suppressing the cultivators charging at the forefront.
Boom!
In cultivation, seizing the initiative was everything. Having gained the upper hand, Li Zhouwei pressed his advantage without hesitation. He instantly suppressed the opponent in front, denying anyone the chance to gang up on his divine ability.
[Heaven-Venerating Gate] then dissipated at once!
Transforming into light, Li Zhouwei entered the palace. Everywhere he looked blazed with crimson brilliance. The dark-red structures were covered in golden profound patterns. He crossed an arched bridge spanning a vast pool of Radiant Fire, passed through the main hall, and finally came upon a dark-red immortal throne.
There, a scorching wave of Radiant Fire washed over him. Behind the throne, an enormous screen painted with scenes of rising Radiant Fire and birds circling through the air stood tall. At its center was a complex formation diagram depicting a profound pillar that had snapped and collapsed.
Sounds were already coming from the surrounding side halls. Li Zhouwei swept his golden gaze across the area as if searching, but he did not hesitate for even a moment. Raising a hand, he unfastened the [Brilliant Yang King's Axe] from his waist. The spirit artifact spun once in his grasp before his fingers tightened around it, and he brought it crashing down in a powerful strike!
At the same time, the dark bracelet on his wrist vanished. Strands of golden light suddenly appeared from thin air, reaching into the surging Radiant Fire and dragging out a streak of white light directly beneath the [Brilliant Yang King's Axe]!
Boom!
A burst of heavenly light exploded outward. Every flame of Radiant Fire within the hall swayed violently, while the pool of Radiant Fire at the center emitted a deep rumble. The white light quivered and struggled to break free, yet remained firmly restrained, as though it might dissolve back into formlessness at any moment.
Boom!
Golden patterns instantly spread across his face as he pushed [Sovereign In Peril] to its limit. The Brilliant Yang King's Axe leaped into the air, letting out an excited cry before crashing down once more!
All of the formations protecting the palaces on this mountain drew their power from the grand formation surrounding the area. Now that a True Monarch had personally intervened to collect the dharma relics, the grand formation itself had shattered and dispersed. The grotto heaven's Profound Foundation was clearly failing.
Given enough time, every protective barrier and formation would inevitably disappear... Yet despite being sustained by only the remnants of that power, the white light still flickered within the Radiant Fire, wavering but refusing to fade.
Li Zhouwei raised the axe for a third strike. His eyes had turned completely golden as divine ability blazed within him. He was holding nothing back. The moment he swung the spirit artifact, a world-shattering roar erupted. The entire hall seemed to cry out in agony as brilliant golden light flooded every corner. At last, the white radiance shattered into countless fragments!
The formations here have deteriorated far more than I expected!
The dark bracelet reappeared on his wrist as though everything that had just happened had been an illusion. Letting out a slight sigh of relief, the young man quickly regulated his breathing and stepped into the flames, where he finally caught sight of the treasure within.
The object was no larger than a palm and perfectly round, resembling a Golden Core. Five rings of golden threads circled its surface, forming bands of multicolored light. Countless bird-shaped spiritual flames no larger than sesame seeds flew excitedly around it. They resembled phoenixes, luan birds, celestial birds, ospreys, kunpeng[2], eagles, and orioles, all intertwined in flight. Yet upon closer inspection, there were no birds at all, only swirling flames. At a glance, it looked little more than an ornate jade ornament.
The moment the treasure entered his sight, Li Zhouwei merely raised a hand without rushing forward. His ability to search the unseen had already sensed the truth long ago. Divine ability mana still lingered within the spirit treasure!
1. This is a different Lin from Lin (林) of characters like Lin Wuning, Lin Feng, etc. ☜
2. A legendary giant bird of Chinese mythology. ☜