After passing through the mountain foot covered in Origin Demonic Qi, Mo Tiange wiped the sweat from her brow.
If not for Fuyaozi's reminder, the two of them would have truly spent considerable effort to successfully emerge. Having cultivated to this level, a cultivator's vigilance was deeply ingrained in their bones; at the slightest sign of abnormality, they would immediately take action. Yet here, this instinctive reaction would precisely trigger severe consequences.
"This Origin Demonic Qi is somewhat weaker than in the past," came Fuyaozi's voice from the Fusheng Sword, thoughtful. "Could it be that this demonic qi slowly dissipates over time?"
Mo Tiange didn't know what the situation was like a hundred thousand years ago and didn't reply.
Past the chaotic rocks beneath the cliff, a narrow canyon appeared before their eyes. This canyon was extremely deep and narrow, as if a giant had cleaved it with a single sword stroke, leaving behind a fissure. Looking over from here, the canyon was pitch black inside, obscuring the scenery. Probing with divine sense into it, they found it difficult to advance even an inch.
Both Mo Tiange and Qin Xi found it strange. Drawing closer for a look, they discovered the canyon was barren, not a blade of grass growing, with earth fire burning within, scorching the rocks inside to a charred black.
"This is... Ultimate Yang True Fire!" Gazing at the scene before him, Qin Xi suddenly drew a sharp breath.
"What?" Mo Tiange was puzzled.
Qin Xi frowned and said, "Among the so-called three great True Fires of external fire—Sun True Fire, Earth-Pole True Fire, and Samadhi True Fire—Ultimate Yang True Fire is the highest grade within Earth-Pole True Fire." He looked at Mo Tiange, his expression grave. "As far as I know, even the Tianhuo Mountain of the Danding Sect possesses only a single wisp of earth fire that reaches such quality. This kind of supremely pure Earth-Pole True Fire is even more formidable than a Nascent Soul cultivator's Infant Fire when refining artifacts."
"Is that so..." If that was the case, wouldn't passing through this canyon be equivalent to placing oneself on a Nascent Soul cultivator's Infant Fire to roast? Mo Tiange admitted she didn't yet possess such capability.
"Master?" Her divine thought inquired of Fuyaozi. "Must we pass through here? Can we find another route?"
"Hmm?" Fuyaozi said. "Above this canyon, the Origin Demonic Qi is even denser. Didn't you notice?"
Mo Tiange looked up, only seeing a heavy blackness above. The canyon was filled with Ultimate Yang True Fire, hence everything was black. Her divine sense couldn't reach that far, so she had overlooked it earlier.
"Then how do we get across? This canyon is so long. Your disciple's protective treasure likely won't hold out."
"Whether it holds out or not, won't we know by trying?" Fuyaozi said lightly.
"...Master!"
"Heh..." Fuyaozi chuckled, then said, "Would your master knowingly send you if it were impossible? Rest assured." After saying this, he fell silent.
Mo Tiange had no choice. She said to Qin Xi, "Do you have any protective methods?"
Qin Xi hesitated briefly, released his protective sword array, then probed his Qiankun Bag and took out two golden, shimmering spirit talismans, handing one to her. "These talismans were obtained during my past exploration of Tianmo Mountain. Their nature is water, perfectly countering the True Fire here. We can give them a try."
Mo Tiange held the talisman, feeling the surging, turbulent spiritual qi bound within it. She knew this item was rare; even a top-grade boat treasure probably couldn't exchange for one. She asked, "Using it just like this... isn't it a pity?"
Qin Xi simply said, "Pity what? No matter how precious something is, it's meant to preserve life." With that, he slapped the talisman onto himself. A spiritual light emerged from his body, forming a thin, mist-like water protective shield.
"Oh? This kid actually has such a good thing!" came Fuyaozi's voice from within the Fusheng Sword.
Mo Tiange imitated him, slapping the talisman onto herself, casually asking, "What? Master, you recognize it?"
Fuyaozi was silent for a moment before speaking. "If your master isn't mistaken, this spirit talisman is an ancient artifact. It seems your Senior Brother here has also encountered considerable opportunities." Otherwise, who would be willing to casually use such a talisman? If used in a battle against a cultivator of the same rank, one could seize the initiative completely.
Tianmo Mountain was itself an ancient relic. Qin Xi had gone twice and returned unscathed both times, so obtaining such a treasure from there wasn't strange. Mo Tiange simply smiled, put away the Lotus Umbrella, released the Primordial Chaos Qi Art, and then released the White Silk Handkerchief. Together with Qin Xi, she stepped into the canyon.
A sizzling sound. The protective qi shield met the Ultimate Yang True Fire within the canyon, emitting a faint noise. The shield wavered slightly but remained stable. A light mist rose from it, enveloping the Ultimate Yang True Fire before extinguishing it.
Water countered fire. This talisman was indeed extraordinary; even the purest Earth-Pole True Fire couldn't withstand it.
"Let's go," Qin Xi said. With a flick of his arm, his sword turned formless, circling around the two of them.
The two transformed into a streak of escaping light, darting deep into the canyon.
"Huh? How can this be?" After flying a distance, Mo Tiange was astonished. The White Silk Handkerchief was a gift from a Deity Transformation cultivator. The stronger her power, the stronger its defense. With her current Core Formation stage cultivation, facing Infant Fire-level Ultimate Yang True Fire, it showed absolutely no damage. This was far too strange.
A thought flashed in her mind. She asked, "Master, is it you?"
A light snort came from the Fusheng Sword. "If I weren't confident, would your master have you take this path?"
Mo Tiange smiled sheepishly and asked, "Master, what exactly did you do?"
Fuyaozi replied, "The items your master previously had you procure naturally have their uses. Achieving this effect is also due to the efficacy of the talisman your Senior Brother produced. Otherwise, crossing this canyon would have cost you considerable effort."
Mo Tiange pondered briefly and understood. Previously, she had purchased many materials according to Fuyaozi's requirements, either to refine treasures or craft items. The White Silk Handkerchief had been refined using a type of spiritual water. So it was for this trial.
The two flew swiftly underfoot. In mere moments, they reached the bottom of the canyon. Looking up at the sky now, they could only see a grayish-white line. The surroundings were unusually dim, illuminated only by the red glow of the burning Earth-Pole True Fire.
A soft *pop*. Mo Tiange looked down. The water-mist shield around her wavered slightly, seeming somewhat unable to hold.
Qin Xi frowned, placed his hand on her waist, and their two water-mist shields merged into one. His spiritual qi steadily transmitted over. "Hold on a little longer."
"Mm." Mo Tiange remained calm. With a point of her spiritual qi, the White Silk Handkerchief transformed into mist, firmly protecting the two of them. Outside the White Silk Handkerchief, Qin Xi's Three Yang True Fire Sword Array further blocked the Ultimate Yang True Fire.
As time passed, the qi shields around them gradually became unstable. The water mist touching the True Fire emitted a *pop* sound. At first, it was only occasional, but gradually, it became more and more frequent.
Qin Xi glanced ahead, waved his sleeve, and the sword array around him suddenly erupted with fierce sword energy, slashing towards the surrounding Ultimate Yang True Fire.
*Puff! Puff!* Sounds continuously rang out. The True Fire touched by his sword energy was suppressed.
Mo Tiange raised her hand. The Heaven and Earth Fan flew out numerous immortal flowers and spiritual grasses. Upon touching the White Silk Handkerchief, they transformed into streams of spiritual qi, attaching to it. The mist formed by the White Silk Handkerchief flashed with a white light, instantly becoming much more solid.
The two each employed their methods while swiftly flying forward.
"Haven't they arrived yet?" True Person Yuan Mu asked with a somber expression, addressing the person beside him.
The one who answered was Ling Shiyu: "No movement." In truth, with True Person Yuan Mu's divine sense, he already knew the answer. Asking like this was merely expressing his displeasure.
True Person Yuan Mu fell silent, looking up at the Immortal Palace so close at hand, saying nothing.
Ling Yunhe hesitated, then stepped forward. "Uncle-Master Yuan Mu, that Fellow Daoist Mo has Senior Fuyaozi's divine sense accompanying her. Can this matter truly be kept from them?"
True Person Yuan Mu's gaze remained fixed on the Immortal Palace. The towering Immortal Palace was constructed from many massive pieces of jade and stone, with winding corridors, soaring eaves, carved as if by axe and knife, imposing and magnificent. These jades and stones exuded threads of pure spiritual qi—they were actually high-grade spirit stones rarely seen in the outside world! Moreover, their color was snow-white, a rare ice attribute.
"What of Fuyaozi's divine sense?" True Person Yuan Mu said slowly. "This is an immortal opportunity specially left for our sect by our founder, Perfected One Guizhen. Back then, they acted separately. Presumably, even Fuyaozi doesn't know."
"But..." Ling Yunhe still said, "This disciple believes that since Senior Fuyaozi is called the number one in Yunzhong, he must have unique methods..."
"Yunhe," True Person Yuan Mu glanced at him and said, "Your caution is your strength, but excessive caution becomes a weakness. No matter how formidable Fuyaozi is, this isn't his true body. Over a hundred thousand years, has there truly been no one who could compare to Fuyaozi? I don't think so. It's just that they never had the chance to compete with him."
"Furthermore," True Person Yuan Mu smiled at the corner of his mouth, revealing a confident, ambitious expression as he gazed at the towering Immortal Palace. "We tread the immortal path to constantly take risks. Only those with great daring can walk to the end. The immortal opportunity left by our founder is absolutely worth us taking such a risk!"
Ling Yunhe fell silent.
"Yunhe, you needn't overthink it," Ling Shiyu said calmly, looking at his junior. "Your Uncle-Master Yuan Mu has already made complete preparations. Even if all of us perish here, the Jiuyan Sect will not fall. The high-level cultivators we left within the sect are sufficient to establish the Jiuyan Sect firmly in Yunzhong. Moreover, there are the heaven-and-earth treasures those several uncles and granduncles brought back. And if we succeed... in the future, the Jiuyan Sect will not merely be the number one sect in Yunzhong, but the number one sect under heaven!"
Ling Yunhe's lips moved slightly. Finally, he said, "Yes, this disciple understands."
True Person Yuan Mu looked up again. "Three days. They still haven't come. It seems they're fighting over those spirit treasures."
"That's a good thing," said a cultivator beside True Person Yuan Mu. He was tall, with graying hair, wearing a dark iron mask on his face. He was also at the Nascent Soul late-stage, but had always stood silently within the ranks. Now he spoke, his voice low and dark. "This indicates they still value the heaven-and-earth treasures outside the Immortal Palace and don't know what kind of immortal opportunity lies within the palace itself."
True Person Yuan Mu smiled and nodded. "Senior Brother Iron Face speaks correctly. The later they come, the more it shows their ignorance. Good. Let's use this time to make further preparations. Even if we don't succeed, we absolutely must not let anyone else leave!"
As he spoke the last sentence, his smile vanished, his eyes revealing a deep, murderous intent!