Chapter 404: Impasse
"Truth be told, I've already communicated with them earlier, and they're also very unhappy with what the Northern Glacial Immortal Palace has done here, so they'll definitely be receptive to the idea of forming a temporary alliance with us. The restriction set up by the Immortal Palace is very resilient, but if we can get 10 Golden Immortals attacking the same spot on it at once, we'll surely be able to break through it," Chen Pi said.
Xu Yangzi's brows furrowed slightly upon hearing this, and he turned to Daoist Hu Yan for a verdict.
A hint of surprise flashed through Chen Pi's eyes upon seeing this, and he was forced to reassess the status of Daoist Hu Yan and Yun Ni in the group.
"The Vast Flow Palace cultivators are also here, why haven't you joined forces with them to break this restriction?" Daoist Hu Yan asked.
"They're a major sect that has no eyes for other sects and races beneath them, so they're naturally unwilling to work with us," Chen Pi replied with a resigned expression.
Daoist Hu Yan was silent for a moment upon hearing this, then swept a sleeve through the air, releasing a burst of gentle light that instantly formed a light barrier, encompassing the surrounding area within a radius of over 100 feet.
After setting up the light barrier, Daoist Hu Yan said, "Sect Master Chen, in my opinion, it's best for us not to break this restriction for now."
Chen Pi's brows furrowed slightly upon hearing this. "Oh? Why do you say that, Fellow Daoist Gu?"
"The Northern Glacial Immortal Palace's actions have already incurred widespread outrage from all of the powers that have gathered in the Black Wind Sea in search for the immortal manor. If our three factions join forces to break the restriction now, that'll be sure to pit us in a direct conflict against the Northern Glacial Immortal Palace, and even if we can keep them at bay, we'll only be benefiting others," Daoist Hu Yan explained.
A contemplative look appeared on Chen Pi's face upon hearing this.
"I think that we should take a more patient approach. There's still some time until the opening of the immortal manor, and the Northern Glacial Immortal Palace cultivators won't be able to simultaneously enter the immortal manor while also defending the restriction here.
“The location of the immortal manor's entrance was leaked quite some time ago, so it's only a matter of time before all of the powers assemble. Once that happens, surely the Immortal Palace wouldn't dare to continue to oppose everyone," Daoist Hu Yan continued.
"Fellow Daoist Gu is right. This is not the right time to be breaking the restriction, and the Vast Flow Palace cultivators are most likely hanging back precisely for this reason. They would be ecstatic to see us engage in a direct battle against the Northern Glacial Immortal Palace cultivators while they look on from the sidelines. Luo Qinghai is a sly old fox, and this is what he likes to do best," Xu Yangzi chimed in with a nod.
Chen Pi's eyes immediately lit up upon hearing this. "That's a good plan, Fellow Daoist Gu. It seems I was too eager to strike. I was so infuriated by the Northern Glacial Immortal Palace's actions that I was determined to foil their plans, even if it meant that I lost the chance to enter the immortal manor myself, but it appears there's no reason to make such a sacrifice."
"You're far too kind, Fellow Daoist Chen," Daoist Hu Yan replied in a modest manner.
Chen Pi and Daoist Hu Yan chatted for a while longer before the former departed and flew back to the group of Southern Dawn beings, where he began communicating with the four Golden Immortals.
The pair of imposing men displayed no reaction to what they were being told, but the elderly man and the elderly woman's expressions changed slightly upon hearing what Chen Pi had to say.
The two of them then nodded in agreement with Daoist Hu Yan's proposed course of action, and they refrained from continuing in their assault on the black light barrier.
All of a sudden, it had become very peaceful in the cave.
Luo Qinghai took a glance at Daoist Hu Yan as a peculiar look flashed through his eyes.
"It looks like someone with an ounce of intelligence has finally arrived, Palace Master," the fair-skinned scholar remarked as he approached Luo Qinghai.
Even though Daoist Hu Yan had just set up a restriction to prevent others from eavesdropping on their conversation, it was very apparent what had just transpired.
"This is not a bad development. It may not necessarily benefit us for them to recklessly break the restriction, so let's just continue waiting and observing," Luo Qinghai said in a contemplative manner.
"Indeed, Palace Master. It would be best to wait for everyone to arrive and force Xiao Jinhan to remove the restriction," the fair-skinned scholar said.
Luo Qinghai merely smiled in response.
……
Behind the black light barrier was a cave, which led into a spacious area, one in which all of the Northern Glacial Immortal Palace cultivators were situated.
At this point, the cultivators on the stone pillars had already stopped what they were doing and flown down from the pillars.
However, the array was still functioning to encompass the gate of light.
Aside from them, there were also some cultivators dressed in Black Wind Island attire, including Lu Jun, Lu Yuqing, and several of the Black Wind Island elders.
At this moment, everyone was standing with their heads lowered, not daring to make even the slightest sound. Meanwhile, Xiao Jinhan was glowering at everyone with a furious expression, and there was a cloud of black mist swirling around his body, giving off a fearsome aura of malice.
"Who can explain to me what's happened here? How was the location of the immortal manor suddenly leaked without any explanation?" Xiao Jinhan asked in a cold voice.
None of the Northern Glacial Immortal Palace cultivators could offer a response.
Xiao Jinhan turned his gaze to Deputy Palace Master Xue Ying.
Xue Ying hesitated momentarily, then said, "All of the people who are aware of the entrance's location are gathered here right now, and the restriction set up cuts off all communication with the outside world, so there shouldn't be any way for the information to have been leaked."
"Then why don't you explain to me how those people have shown up outside?" Xiao Jinhan demanded as he turned to Xue Ying with a sharp gaze.
Xue Ying's complexion instantly paled slightly, and she was at a loss for how to respond.
"This is the one task that I assigned to all of you, yet you've still managed to make a complete mess of things!" Xiao Jinhan spat in a cold voice.
After a tense silence, Lu Yue said in a feeble voice, "I believe that there are only two possible explanations, Palace Master."
"Go ahead," Xiao Jinhan prompted.
"The first possibility is that one of us leaked this information," Lu Yue said.
A cold gleam flashed through Xiao Jinhan's eyes upon hearing this.
"That's impossible! All of the cultivators of our Northern Glacial Immortal Palace that were sent here are absolutely loyal and trustworthy. On top of that, even Golden Immortals like you and I are unable to send any information to the outside world through the restrictions here," Xue Ying immediately objected with furrowed brows.
"I'm also certain that everyone here is reliable and trustworthy, so there's only a very slim chance of this being the case," Lu Yue said.
"What's the other possibility?" Xiao Jinhan asked.
"The second possible explanation is that the Reincarnation Palace already discovered the entrance of the immortal manor well in advance, and they were the ones who leaked this information," Lu Yue replied.
Everyone's expressions changed slightly upon hearing this, while Xiao Jinhan's brows furrowed slightly in contemplation.
The black mist swirling around his body slowly dissipated, and the menacing aura in the air also faded, much to the relief of everyone else.
"We've been able to lead the Reincarnation Palace on one wild goose chase after another, pursuing a series of false entrances, but now that I think about it, things may have gone a little smoothly. The Reincarnation Palace has been able to contend with our Immortal Palace for many years, so they shouldn't be this incapable.
“I think they must've already seen through our intentions, and they've only been pretending to fall for our ploys in order to lure us into a false sense of security," Lu Yue continued.
Everyone immediately began to discuss this theory.
"Be quiet!" Xiao Jinhan yelled, and everyone instantly fell silent again.
"Regardless of exactly what happened, there's no use in speculating now. Keep doing what you need to do, and I'll deal with the rest," Xiao Jinhan said in an indifferent voice, having calmed down again.
With that, everyone returned to their original posts, including Ouyang Kuishan and the dao lords, who returned to the tops of their respective stone pillars.
A few people also made their way over to the black restriction at the entrance of the cave before sitting down with their legs crossed.
Meanwhile, Xiao Jinhan cast his gaze outward with a cold look in his eyes, and it was unclear what he was contemplating.
……
Meanwhile, the cave outside was completely silent.
Han Li was observing everyone as he stood behind Daoist Hu Yan and Yun Ni.
Wyrm 3's objective was also the Infernal Frost Immortal Manor, so perhaps they had already arrived here. However, it was impossible to tell as all of the Reincarnation Palace cultivators also had Transient Guild masks that could conceal their appearances and auras.
He was inspecting everyone in the cave closely, trying to spot some telltale signs, but his efforts proved to be futile.
Right at this moment, Han Li's expression suddenly changed slightly as he cast his gaze outside, and a hint of foreboding suddenly welled up in his heart.
Daoist Hu Yan noticed the change in Han Li's expression, and he asked through voice transmission, "What is it?"
"I think someone else is coming," Han Li replied.
Daoist Hu Yan cast his gaze toward the entrance of the cave upon hearing this, just in time to see a silver-robed woman appear amid a flash of silver light.
The woman took an expressionless glance at everyone else in the cave, then slowly made his way inside.
Her arrival created a small stir among everyone in the cave, and even Luo Qinghai's eyes narrowed ever so slightly at the sight of her arrival.
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