Chapter 97: Chapter 67: Grappling Clash Shakes Heaven and Earth, The 5 Tokens Gather to Open the Palace Door
The clash of capture arts shook heaven and earth; the roiling storm clouds surged across the sky.
The moment the Innate Tai Su Qi Grand Capture and the Mixed Element Qi Refining Great Capture collided, a sudden, earth-shattering, deafening explosion erupted!
A boundless Gang Wind blasted from the central pillar in all directions. It gusted for an unknown distance with no sign of stopping, hurtling toward the edge of the Grotto Heaven. The wind scattered innumerable layers of clouds, creating a gaping void in the sky. This revealed the continuous mountain ranges hidden beneath, and the boundless golden light of the sun instantly illuminated thousands of ravines and peaks.
Atop the central pillar, the two great hands of Divine Techniques crumbled almost simultaneously. They dissolved into flowing clouds, spreading out with the shockwave and causing the Magical Robes and Daoist Robes of everyone present to flutter loudly in the wind.
Among those present were Loose Cultivators like Yan Renhe and scions of prestigious families like Zhe Junyang. All of them had long since refined their Golden Cores and were by no means inexperienced. The rest were true inheritors of major sects, all having achieved a Top-grade Golden Core. Across the entire Divine Continent, they were seen by countless cultivators as the lofty, chosen prodigies of the Taoist Sects.
But this clash of Divine Techniques still stirred a tempest in everyone’s heart.
With the exception of Zhong Shenxiu and Xuzhuang, shock filled everyone’s eyes. Sun Suzhen, whose free-spirited nature meant he never hid his feelings, was completely dumbfounded. After a moment, he turned to meet Zhe Junyang’s gaze and whispered, "Was that really Junior Brother Xu’s Innate Tai Su Qi Grand Capture?"
Zhe Junyang could only offer a bitter smile.
The members of the Tai Su Sect were intimately familiar with the Innate Tai Su Qi Grand Capture. There were plenty of disciples in the sect who had mastered this Divine Technique. As a scion of a great family, Zhe Junyang had even seen a Venerable from his own clan demonstrate the technique, and its might had been no less than what Xuzhuang had just displayed.
But to see such earth-shattering power wielded by a mere Golden Core Cultivator left him utterly astounded. A rumor that had spread across the Divine Continent inexplicably came to his mind. ’Could the stories about Junior Brother Xu resisting Venerable Moonlight and forcefully killing Celestial Fire Yang Lian... actually be true?’
If the members of the Tai Su Sect were this shocked, then Tan Chong and Yu Jing of the Upper Profound Sect were in utter disbelief.
Zhong Shenxiu’s name had been known throughout the Divine Continent for over a century. While some believed the legends about him wholeheartedly, others dismissed them with contempt. But within the Upper Profound Sect, was there anyone who had truly interacted with Zhong Shenxiu and didn’t feel genuine admiration?
The Mixed Element Qi Refining Great Capture wasn’t derived from a True Inheritance Dao Skill of the Upper Profound Sect. Instead, it was acclaimed as a Superior Dao Skill, ranking near the top of the sect’s ten greatest Divine Techniques. As far as Tan Chong and Yu Jing knew, Zhong Shenxiu had already cultivated this technique to the Sixth Realm, a level comparable to a Nascent Soul Dao Skill.
The more profound a Dao skill, the greater the disparity between its realms. Moreover, with Zhong Shenxiu’s Supreme Foundation and his cultivation level where he had already refined golden mercury, he could easily crush mountains, part seas, and split the earth. In the past, which of his peers could ever hope to contend with him?
Tan Chong suppressed his shock and looked toward Xuzhuang. He saw the young man standing calmly on the plaza, hands clasped behind his back. His long hair and wide robes were whipped up by the wind, fluttering loudly. He looked to be barely a young man, so his years in cultivation couldn’t have been long. Yet, the way he stood there instantly gave one the impression of a deep, still abyss or a towering mountain, majestic and awe-inspiring.
’This man...’ Tan Chong took a deep breath, a profound sense of apprehension rising in his heart. ’His core’s qi hasn’t even reached perfection, and he has yet to refine golden mercury...’
Xuzhuang, unaware of the others’ thoughts, stood in the White Jade Plaza and met Zhong Shenxiu’s gaze from afar. An irrepressible excitement surged within him. ’What incredible cultivation! What a Divine Technique! Zhong Shenxiu... you truly live up to my expectations!’
He didn’t know what level of technique the Mixed Element Qi Refining Great Capture was for Zhong Shenxiu, but his own Innate Tai Su Qi Grand Capture was one of his few true killing moves. Yet against Zhong Shenxiu, it had only resulted in a draw.
This outcome didn’t make Xuzhuang want to retreat. Instead, it ignited a soaring heroic passion within him. He wished he could strike out right then and there to truly cross swords with Zhong Shenxiu and measure the full extent of his own Divine Techniques.
Xuzhuang stared intently at Zhong Shenxiu. Seeing the brilliant light in the other man’s eyes, he instantly understood. His technique hadn’t disappointed him; Zhong Shenxiu’s interest was piqued as well!
Xuzhuang’s Magical Power began to surge. His robes, which had settled after the Gang Wind dissipated, began to float upward once more. Zhong Shenxiu’s figure stirred as if to rise, but then, the expressions of both men shifted in unison. Zhong Shenxiu settled back into his seat, and the hem of Xuzhuang’s robes fell back down.
The tense, hair-trigger situation dissolved in an instant. Xuzhuang turned and walked back to the group from the Tai Su Sect. Sun Suzhen let out a visible sigh of relief and chuckled. "Those fiends and Loose Cultivators arrived just in time. Any later and you would have really started fighting with that Zhong Shenxiu. It was making me quite nervous."
It turned out that Zhong Shenxiu and Xuzhuang had suddenly stopped because they sensed that the other groups had also arrived at the peak.
Zhe Junyang said, "Junior Brother, the display of Divine Techniques between you and Zhong Shenxiu... was truly an eye-opener for me. I have cultivated for over four hundred years, and only now do I understand what true, unparalleled prowess looks like."
"You flatter me, Senior Brother." Xuzhuang let out a soft breath and shook his head. "Right now, opening the main hall is what’s important. But sooner or later, I will definitely test my strength against Zhong Shenxiu."
"As it should be," Sun Suzhen said with a nod of approval. Zhe Junyang added, "The Commanders are about to gather. Why hasn’t my cousin shown up yet? I wonder where he’s gone."
Sun Suzhen said, "Don’t worry. Your cousin must have his reasons."
As they were talking, a commotion came from the steps of the White Jade Plaza. Everyone looked toward the sound and saw the group from the Yinji Sect, along with Si Xuan and his companions, ascending to the summit together.
Xuzhuang’s gaze sharpened. He saw a group of five. Their leader was a young Daoist with proper bearing and an elegant, handsome demeanor. Two people followed him: one was a grim-looking Daoist with sunken eyes, an aquiline nose, and no eyebrows; the other was the effeminately beautiful Tantai Jing, dressed in a wide robe that trailed on the ground!
’Shouldn’t that man be dead? Or is my Tracing Technique still too unrefined? Did he manage to break it from a distance?’
Behind the three from the Yinji Sect were Si Xuan and the Black Banner Taoist. With Jiri Lie having fallen at Xuzhuang’s hands, it was clear these five were now in league with each other.
"Wei Lingyun," Sun Suzhen said. "So he’s the one leading the Yinji Sect’s group. It really is him."
"Wei Lingyun?" Xuzhuang looked toward the leader. The man seemed to stand aloof, as if outside the mortal world, his cultivation hazy and unfathomable. As if sensing Xuzhuang’s gaze, Wei Lingyun turned his head, met his eyes, and gave a faint smile.
Xuzhuang’s eyes narrowed slightly. In that brief instant, he thought he felt a fatal threat. Although it vanished immediately, Xuzhuang knew better than to dismiss it as a mere illusion. ’This man... cannot be underestimated.’
Sun Suzhen nodded. "For the past two hundred years, Wei Lingyun is the only fiend from the Demon Sect to have roamed the Divine Continent so openly. He has crossed hands with many true inheritors and masters from the great orthodox sects. About a century ago, his fame was unrivaled for a time."
Xuzhuang mused, "Now that you mention it, I seem to recall his name still being around when I first started cultivating."
Just then, Tan Chong spoke up. "I was wondering who was leading the Yinji Sect this time. So it’s you, Fellow Daoist Wei. What’s this? Instead of focusing on reaching the Nascent Soul realm, you still dare to wander about?"
Wei Lingyun gave a scholarly smile and replied, "Ah, it’s Fellow Daoist Tan. I heard you only just managed to refine your golden mercury? Could it be that the injury I left on your Golden Core back then has hindered your cultivation? Aiya, learning of this truly puts Wei Mou ill at ease."
Tan Chong snorted. "Save your sharp tongue. Call out your Commander."
Wei Lingyun didn’t get angry. He called over Tantai Jing and said something to him.
Tantai Jing respectfully acknowledged the order. He left the group, walked toward the main hall to investigate, then returned to Wei Lingyun’s side and reported the situation in a low voice.
Wei Lingyun listened intently, nodding slightly. He raised his eyes to study the main hall, then suddenly pointed a finger. A speck of dark, shimmering spiritual light flew out and drifted down before the hall’s doors. It triggered a flash of golden light in the air, then vanished like a drop of water into a lake, causing nothing more than a faint ripple.
Seeing this, Zhong Shenxiu’s brow furrowed slightly. Tan Chong, noticing his expression, asked, "Junior Brother Zhong, is something wrong?"
Zhong Shenxiu pondered for a moment before saying, "Let me observe a little longer. But Senior Brother, you must be extra careful of Wei Lingyun."
Tan Chong’s expression turned serious. He nodded and replied, "I understand."
Wei Lingyun’s attempt to probe the great Array failed, but he didn’t seem to mind. He shook his head with a smile, turned around, and announced in a clear voice, "Fellow Daoists, you have all hurried here to open this main hall on the central pillar. Now that the five Decrees have been gathered, what are we waiting for?"
"Heh, it seems Wei Lingyun is quite confident." Sun Suzhen sneered but didn’t refuse. He stood up and replied, "Fellow Daoist speaks the truth. Since everyone has arrived, why don’t we open the Array first? After we enter the hall, it won’t be too late to negotiate any disagreements."
Si Xuan and Yan Renhe respectively followed the leads of Wei Lingyun and Sun Suzhen, so naturally, they had no objections.
Seeing this, Tan Chong let out a low snort, leaped down from the jade pillar, and said unhurriedly, "I have no objections."
Seeing the two agree, Wei Lingyun smiled faintly and shot a look at Tantai Jing. Tantai Jing gave a sinister smile and strode to the front of the hall.
The entire foundation of this great hall was also paved with white jade, and it stood about thirty feet higher than the plaza outside. A set of stairs resembling an Imperial Dao led up to it.
The center of the Imperial Dao was a single, massive slab of jade with relief carvings of the Black Tortoise and the Vermilion Bird, flanked by stairs on both sides. Just as Tantai Jing reached the foot of the steps, a faint golden light appeared in the air. The Array’s restriction materialized, but it didn’t possess any startling killing power; it merely prevented anyone from entering.
Tantai Jing was in no hurry. He formed a hand seal and flicked a ray of azure spiritual light into the barrier. The golden light rippled. Suddenly, the jade slab in the center of the Imperial Dao trembled, and the carvings upon it seemed to come alive. The Black Tortoise stood up, its turtle and snake heads opening their mouths. The Vermilion Bird spread its wings, opened its beak, and extended its claws. Their expressions and postures were so lifelike that if not for their white jade bodies, one would have thought they were resurrected Divine Beasts.
Tantai Jing narrowed his eyes, studying them carefully. After a moment of thought, he took out a Blue Jade Decree and placed it into the mouth of the Black Tortoise’s snake head. It fit perfectly. Tantai Jing smiled in satisfaction and took two steps back.
Sun Suzhen had actually seen this scene more than once while investigating the hall, so he wasn’t surprised. He took out his Decree, stepped forward, and placed it in the mouth of the Black Tortoise’s turtle head. Naturally, it fit perfectly. Tan Chong did the same. After Sun Suzhen, he casually took out a Red Jade Decree and placed it in the Vermilion Bird’s beak.
As for the remaining two, Si Xuan and Yan Renhe, although they hadn’t anticipated this, they understood what to do after seeing the others. They each placed their Decrees in the Vermilion Bird’s claws.
As the five Decrees settled into place, the Black Tortoise and Vermilion Bird both let out low cries before instantly sinking back into the jade slab and returning to their relief-carving forms. At the same moment, the restriction in the air suddenly dispersed. The golden light vanished, gone without a trace. The two great vermilion-wood doors of the main hall let out a loud CREAK as they slowly swung open.
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