Within two days, the various Late-Nascent Soul cultivators arrived one after another, and the area beside the Immortal Palace gradually grew lively.
Apart from this, almost none of the other Mid- and Early-Nascent Soul cultivators who had entered the space appeared.
This phenomenon was quite normal. For one, although True Person Yuan Mu and the others had invited them into this space, reaching the Immortal Palace depended on their own abilities. The Spirit Mountain was not lacking in dangerous places, so it was possible that those with lesser strength simply couldn't make it in time. For another, outside this Immortal Palace, spirit treasures were everywhere. Many cultivators, recognizing their own inferior strength, chose not to get involved—which was also perfectly normal. The difference between an Early-Nascent Soul cultivator and a Late-Nascent Soul cultivator was almost as vast as heaven and earth. Don't be fooled by True Person Yuan Mu's usual amiability; an ordinary Early-Nascent Soul cultivator, or even a Mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, wouldn't even catch his eye even if over a dozen of them attacked him together.
The group didn't have to wait long. On the sixth day, Scholar Yu and the other cultivators from Yueshan Academy were the last to arrive. After some discussion, they decided to enter the Immortal Palace. At this point, apart from the various Late-Nascent Soul cultivators and their fellow disciples, only a few Mid- and Early-Nascent Soul cultivators had reached the location.
"Little Friend Mo, you should tell us now exactly how this Immortal Palace is to be opened, shouldn't you?"
In her transaction with Yuan Mu and the others, Mo Tiange's bargaining chips were the method to obtain the Immortal Fate and the specific path. The other four of the Five Sages had left behind Sacred Relics, but due to the decline of their power, they had not passed down all the information. This was also one of the reasons why Yuan Mu and the others had no choice but to agree to her terms.
Mo Tiange smiled and nodded. "Naturally."
Then, she looked up at Ling Yunhe and the others and said, "Fellow Daoists, please come over."
The four of them each glanced at their elders, receiving instructions before walking over.
Mo Tiange took out a jade slip from her Qiankun Bag. "The ancient restrictions on this Immortal Palace are extremely powerful. Back then, the Five Sages predecessors joined forces and only managed to devise a method to temporarily open a passageway. This passageway can exist for three days. If that time passes, wanting to open the passageway again won't be so easy. This jade slip records the method. Please memorize it thoroughly first."
The first to take the jade slip was Ling Yunhe. He accepted it without hesitation, probed it with his divine sense, and after a moment, passed it to the next person.
Then it was Juewu, Han Shizhi, and Yang Chengji. After all four had finished reading, Mo Tiange asked, "Do the four of you need some time to familiarize yourselves with it?"
Before the others could answer, Juewu chuckled and said, "Benefactor Mo, this humble monk is dull-witted. I fear I cannot grasp it immediately and might ruin the great undertaking of the seniors. Please grant me half an hour to familiarize myself with the technique."
Mo Tiange smiled and nodded. "Then we will begin in half an hour."
Since Juewu had said so, the others couldn't very well say anything else. They each found a place to sit in meditation, silently reciting the incantation as they began to regulate their breathing.
"Tian Ge," Qin Xi said with some concern upon seeing Mo Tiange return. "This method..."
"Don't worry, it'll be fine." Mo Tiange knew what he wanted to say. The power of the Immortal Palace's restrictions was evident to all. To break such restrictions would likely require immense power. The five of them were merely Core Formation cultivators. If they suffered a backlash at that time, they would undoubtedly perish instantly, unable to withstand such force.
"However, entering might be a bit troublesome." After a moment of contemplation, she continued, "I originally planned to rely on their power to protect myself, but now that you're here..."
"What? Is there some difficulty?"
Mo Tiange glanced at the few Early- and Mid-Nascent Soul cultivators around who had no Late-Nascent Soul companions and said to him, "I don't know if your sword formation can withstand the dangers inside the passageway."
"You needn't worry too much about that." Fuyaozi's voice suddenly rang in her mind. He said, "Your Senior Brother's lifebound treasure should be a spirit treasure inherited from ancient times. Nourished by his essence blood over a long period, its power is extraordinary. Moreover, he has practiced body refinement techniques. Passing through the passageway shouldn't be a problem for him."
"But Master, what about me?"
"Heh..." Fuyaozi chuckled lightly. "Have you forgotten the items I had you acquire earlier? Your meridians are strong and resilient. Coupled with the body-protecting spirit talismans I had you prepare, you shouldn't fail."
"Tian Ge?" Qin Xi called out again when she didn't answer for a while.
"It's fine. Master Fuyaozi was just speaking to me."
"Oh?" Qin Xi was actually very curious. He knew there was a powerful wisp of divine sense on the Fusheng Sword but had never communicated with it. Sometimes, hearing Mo Tiange relay its words made him yearn to know what kind of astonishingly talented cultivator that divine sense belonged to.
Half an hour passed. Ling Yunhe and the others had already stopped regulating their breath. The group frequently glanced at Juewu; only he remained seated in meditation, concentrating on silently reciting.
After waiting a while longer, he finally let out a sigh, opened his eyes, clasped his hands in an apologetic bow to the group, and said to Mo Tiange, "Benefactor Mo, this humble monk is ready."
Mo Tiange nodded, stood up, walked to the center, and took out several array disks from her robes, arranging them outside the Immortal Palace gate.
The Nascent Soul cultivators watched her movements intently. They were all very curious. The restrictions on this Immortal Palace were so profound that even with their cultivation, they couldn't fathom their depths. How could a Core Formation cultivator, even with Fuyaozi's guidance, possibly break them?
"Clang!" As the final array flag was placed, the array disks instantly lit up with white light, emitting a clear chime. A star chart appeared on the ground.
Seeing this, Scholar Yu narrowed his eyes. He was erudite and well-versed, with some knowledge of the Dao of Formations, yet he couldn't discern the mysteries of the formation she had laid down... The Five Sages were indeed the Five Sages. Although he was now a Late-Nascent Soul cultivator, slightly stronger than the Five Sages of that era, he still couldn't see through the formations they had left behind.
"Seniors," Mo Tiange called out loudly to Yuan Mu and the others, "Our cultivation is insufficient. We still need you to help watch over us. If any among us runs short of spiritual qi, please lend assistance."
"That is only natural," True Person Yuan Mu said. "Little Friend Mo need not worry about this point."
Mo Tiange smiled. Matters concerning the opening of the Immortal Palace—she reckoned they would all do their utmost.
She turned back to Ling Yunhe and the others. "Fellow Daoists, let us begin then."
The four each nodded, taking positions at the five points of the formation, and summoned their Sacred Relics.
Just like the method to open the space, the five of them chanted the incantation. With a "hum," a white light rose from each of the five Sacred Relics. This time, however, it was a powerful surge of spiritual qi that erupted from the five Sacred Relics, using the five individuals as conduits to pour into the formation beneath their feet!
Mo Tiange furrowed her brows, enduring the pain of this powerful spiritual qi using her own meridians as a channel. Having undergone Five Spirit Body Refinement, her meridians were strong and resilient; this pain wasn't hard to bear. But the other four weren't so fortunate. Expressions of varying degrees of pain appeared on their faces, especially Yang Chengji and Juewu. Their cultivation was the lowest, so they bore the brunt of the impact.
The Nascent Soul cultivators all watched the five of them intently. Demon Lord Guifang and Venerable Wuming showed particular concern on their faces.
Seeing the aura from the Sacred Relics grow weaker and weaker and the five of them growing paler and paler, True Person Yuan Mu was the first to step forward, placing a palm on Ling Yunhe's back. As soon as he moved, Venerable Wuming and the others immediately stepped forward as well.
Perfected One Iron-Face of the Jiuyan Sect looked at Qin Xi and asked, "Fellow Daoist Qin, does this old man need to assist on your behalf?" The other four all had Late-Nascent Soul elders. Only Mo Tiange's companion, Qin Xi, was a Mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, and one who had just advanced to the mid-stage at that.
Qin Xi shook his head and cupped his hands towards him. "I appreciate your kind intention, Fellow Daoist." With that, he stepped forward and likewise placed a palm on Mo Tiange's back.
The cultivation techniques the two of them practiced were one yin and one yang, circulating endlessly. During the process of transmitting spiritual qi, there was little loss; in fact, they benefited greatly. Perfected One Iron-Face was unaware of this, thinking Qin Xi was simply being cautious, so he didn't insist.
With a Nascent Soul cultivator continuously inputting spiritual qi, the complexions of the five finally improved considerably.
Time passed bit by bit. The formation beneath their feet grew brighter and brighter. Finally, the light from the Sacred Relics slowly faded, while the formation, as if satiated with spiritual qi, emitted a dazzling, lustrous glow. Within the glow, a dark opening about the size of a person appeared.
Seeing this opening appear, every cultivator present showed joy on their faces.
Mo Tiange let out a sigh of relief. It was finally completed.
"Seniors," she called out loudly, "This junior must remind you first: this passageway is extremely dangerous. If you lack formidable defensive treasures, please exercise caution before entering."
"Little Friend Mo, rest assured," True Person Yuan Mu said calmly. "All those who have become Great Nascent Soul cultivators understand this principle. Matters of opportunity depend on fate. Even if one dies here, one cannot blame others."
"Exactly. The principles understood by a little fellow daoist, how could we not understand them?" Venerable Wuming said with a smile. "Little Fellow Daoist, you mentioned before... will we be traveling together on this path?"
Mo Tiange smiled. Her previous condition for the transaction was to tell them how to find the Immortal Fate. Opening the Immortal Palace was merely the first step. Given the level of trust between them, these people wouldn't believe her words alone. They would certainly require her to accompany them to avoid being tricked by her.
"That is natural. However..." She glanced at the surrounding cultivators. There were so many people here. Apart from the three parties involved in the initial negotiation, there were many other Late-Nascent Soul cultivators she couldn't afford to offend.
In the end, it was still True Person Yuan Mu who spoke loudly, "Fellow Daoists, this old man previously invited you all to explore this secret place together with Scholar Yu and Fellow Daoist Wuming. Now, we have fulfilled our promise. Upon entering this passageway, everyone will rely on their own abilities to seek the Immortal Fate. How about it?"
"Yuan Mu, you old fool, why waste so many words? We old folks have lived a long life. Could it be we don't understand such principles? Enough, enough. You've already done your utmost. Whether one can enter, whether one can find it—that's all fate. Who would blame you?" Venerable Xuxiang waved his hand impatiently.
He seemed like a rough man, but having lived so long and cultivated to the Late-Nascent Soul stage, how could he not see? They held the Sacred Relics; there must be some secrets involved. Those, of course, wouldn't be shared with others.
Perfected One Miaoying said with a gentle smile, "Fellow Daoist Xuxiang speaks rightly. Fellow Daoist Yuan Mu, time is short. Let's not waste it."
True Person Yuan Mu nodded. "Since that's the case, this old man won't stand on ceremony. My Jiuyan Sect will go first. Does anyone have any objections?"
The Jiuyan Sect possessed a Sacred Relic and was also the most powerful. Of course, no one else would object. They watched as the five Nascent Soul cultivators of the Jiuyan Sect each employed their methods, releasing their treasures to protect Ling Yunhe as they took the lead in entering the passageway.
Next were the three Nascent Soul cultivators of Yueshan Academy and Han Shizhi, followed by Demon Lord Guifang bringing Yang Chengji.
Before entering the passageway, Venerable Wuming turned and clasped his hands towards Mo Tiange and Qin Xi. "Fellow Daoist Qin, do you two need to travel with us?"
When entering this space, the Huayan Temple also had several Early-Nascent Soul cultivators. At this point, none of those Early-Nascent Soul cultivators had come, leaving only Venerable Wuming alone with Juewu.
Qin Xi glanced at Mo Tiange. Seeing her nod, he smiled and said, "Since the Master sincerely invites us, we would be honored to accept."