Amber asked sternly, "How do you know the art of tearing space?" Before Mo Tiange could answer, he continued, "No, that's not right. This is just a superficial understanding. But even a superficial understanding shouldn't be something you could have learned."
Mo Tiange felt it would be troublesome to explain, so she answered vaguely, "In the past, I was fortunate enough to visit an ancient Immortal Palace and obtained this technique from it."
"Impossible!" Amber was unexpectedly serious. "Even a crude space-tearing technique is still tearing space. Where did you truly obtain it from?"
Mo Tiange had no choice but to send a voice transmission, briefly informing him about the matters of the Guixu Sea. As for the origin of the Xuanxu Cloud-Connecting Formation, she attributed it all to Fu Yaozi. After all, Fu Yaozi had disappeared, leaving Amber with no one to question.
After listening, Amber was half-convinced, half-doubting. "Such a thing actually happened?"
Mo Tiange said, "My master Fu Yaozi only said this formation was created by a genius cultivator from ancient times. As for its exact origins, I do not know."
Using his mind-reading ability, Amber discovered she truly wasn't hiding anything, so he nodded. "If you possess this technique, breaking the Immortal Palace might be possible. You may proceed."
Mo Tiange raised her hand slightly toward him in acknowledgment, then turned to address the assembled demon cultivators. "This formation contains one Star Map and five Star Positions. It simulates the movement of stars to tear space. The five Star Positions require immense power. A mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator might still find it somewhat strenuous; late-stage Nascent Soul would be best."
Xuari and Xuanyue exchanged glances with their respective factions but said nothing. Mo Tiange then said, "Very well. For the five Star Positions, we will take one. The other four will be decided by you."
Four Star Positions made things simpler. Jing Tao said, "In that case, we happen to have exactly four Tenth-Rank cultivators among us."
Jing Hu frowned. "Is that appropriate? We only have three in total."
Jing Tao mocked, "Now you choose to show weakness?"
Just as Jing Hu was about to retort, Demon Lord Xuanyue spoke up. "Enough. An even split is fine. At a time like this, why argue with them?"
"Second Prince..." Jing Hu sighed and said no more.
Seeing they had reached an agreement, Mo Tiange said, "Here is a secret method incantation. Please prepare yourselves."
The four Tenth-Rank demon cultivators took the secret method and prepared for a long while until Mo Tiange called out, "Are you all ready?"
The four demon cultivators nodded one after another.
"Then let us begin." With that, Qin Xi was the first to step onto a chosen Star Position.
Seeing this, the four demon cultivators also stepped onto their positions.
"Begin!" As soon as her words fell, the one human and four demons began chanting the incantation. The Star Map lit up with radiance, and the dense Spiritual Qi generated by the high-grade spirit stones surged wildly toward the five positions.
The patterns of the Star Map, line by line, absorbed the Spiritual Qi until saturated, emitting a faint, shimmering glow. Once the spirit stones' Spiritual Qi was exhausted, it began drawing upon their own Spiritual Qi. In an instant, the Spiritual Qi of the one human and four demons was being pulled by the Star Map beneath their feet, nearly spiraling out of control.
This process lasted for over half an hour before the Star Map seemed satiated. A white light spread across the entire Star Map. Then, at the center of the Star Map, a pitch-black hole appeared.
"Success!" Mo Tiange clapped her hands once.
Hearing this, the four demon cultivators on the Star Map felt their legs go weak, nearly collapsing to the ground. They each hurriedly took out treasures and stuffed them into their mouths—some were water plants, some were pearls, and others were even live, tiny fish.
Regardless of what they were, the effect was the same. The complexions of the four demons immediately improved, clearly having consumed items that restored Spiritual Qi.
Qin Xi was less affected. The Yang Spirit Pearl on his person had already been activated by the Vermilion Bird's Breath. If his Spiritual Qi ran low, it would automatically replenish. From this perspective, he held a significant advantage in combat.
Sure enough, the other demon cultivators, seeing his composed expression, cast wary glances his way.
Mo Tiange paid no mind and addressed Amber on the horizontal plaque. "Senior, the Immortal Palace has been breached. Please dismantle these restrictions."
Amber said, "I am locked here and cannot enter the Immortal Palace. Inside the palace, there is a switch for the restrictions. Enter the palace, retrieve it, and bring it out. Then I will dismantle them."
Mo Tiange looked at him suspiciously. "Senior, are you speaking the truth?"
Amber was displeased. "Why would I deceive you?"
Mo Tiange said, "Senior previously only spoke of breaking the Immortal Palace. You did not mention us entering it. Now that the palace is breached, you say we must enter to retrieve something. Senior, if there is anything else you haven't said, please say it all now, to avoid wasting more words later."
Upon hearing this, Amber flicked his sleeve. "If I wished you harm, I could simply order these juniors to oppose you. Why go through such convolutions? If you are unwilling, then so be it. You may remain trapped here."
Qin Xi gently tugged her sleeve. "Say no more." Angering this senior would not be wise.
Mo Tiange also knew this. She could only turn back to the demon cultivators. "Everyone, let us enter."
None of the demons responded. Mo Tiange sneered inwardly. They were afraid she would play tricks!
"Since you are not entering, we will go first."
She beckoned to Xiaofeng and, together with Qin Xi, stepped through the black hole.
As soon as they entered, Fairy Fengqing's figure flashed, and she also slipped inside.
The demon cultivators looked at each other. Xuanyue was the first to speak. "Let us enter as well." He flicked his sleeve and ducked inside.
"Second Prince..." Before the words were finished, Xuanyue's figure had already vanished. Jing Hu sighed and, along with Die Yi, followed closely behind.
After them, Demon Lord Xuanyue's group filed in one after another.
The passage created by this modified Xuanxu Cloud-Connecting Formation was much more stable. Mo Tiange and her two companions expended little effort before seeing the white light at the end of the passage.
Stepping out of the passage, what lay before their eyes was indeed the Immortal Palace.
An empty hall, devoid of any objects, yet filled with an incredibly dense Immortal Qi that swirled within the chamber.
Qin Xi, quick-eyed and swift-handed, flicked his sleeve. A sword aura shot from his sleeve, transforming into thousands of sword lights above their heads, shielding the three of them tightly.
Immortal Qi! It was actually Immortal Qi!
The next moment, Fairy Fengqing, who had emerged behind them, let out a startled cry and hurriedly summoned her Red Lotus, barely managing to hold her ground.
The Immortal Qi within this Immortal Palace was the true Immortal Qi of Immortals, not the commonly used term describing an ethereal, transcendent atmosphere. This Immortal Qi contained immense power beyond their capacity to contain. Once it entered their bodies, it would cause them to explode and perish.
Gazing at the surrounding Immortal Qi, Mo Tiange said slowly, "What is the origin of this Immortal Palace, to actually contain Immortal Qi?"
"I fear the one who imprisoned that senior was an Immortal."
"An Immortal!" Fairy Fengqing exclaimed softly.
Mo Tiange thought of Amber's words and murmured, "How could he have offended an Immortal? And why would an Immortal bother with him?"
No matter how powerful Amber seemed in their eyes, he had not yet ascended. How could he have incurred the enmity of an Immortal? And judging by Amber's demeanor, he held no resentment toward the one who sealed him, as if it were not a personal grudge.
She had a premonition that this matter must hold an unspeakable secret.
After Fairy Fengqing, Demon Lord Xuanyue emerged, followed by Jing Hu, Die Yi, with Jing Tao and Jin Jing close behind. Before long, all the demon cultivators had entered.
The several Tenth-Rank demon cultivators also reacted swiftly. The demons each summoned protective spiritual light to shield themselves.
Jing Hu and Jing Tao each looked around and spoke simultaneously: "Fellow Daoists..." They glared at each other and stopped.
Mo Tiange sighed. "What did you two wish to say?"
Jing Hu seized the initiative. "There are six paths here. Shall we split up?"
On both sides of the great hall were three doors each. Within the Immortal Qi, they dared not recklessly extend their spiritual sense and could only explore in person.
After Jing Hu spoke, Jing Tao snorted but did not voice opposition. Presumably, he had wanted to suggest the same.
Mo Tiange glanced at Qin Xi. Neither had objections. "Agreed."
Jing Hu smiled. "Then shall we choose at random?"
Both sides indicated no objection. However, during the selection process, Jing Hu and Jing Tao inevitably quarreled a bit. In the end, they had to draw lots. For mighty Tenth-Rank great demons to solve a problem by drawing lots was truly absurd.
Regardless of how they divided, Mo Tiange and Qin Xi chose the two doors at the very front. Just as they were about to enter, Fairy Fengqing approached them, seeming hesitant.
"Fellow Daoist Fengqing, is something the matter?" Mo Tiange's tone was indifferent.
Fairy Fengqing struggled for a moment before saying, "Fellow Daoists, might I travel with you?"
Her words were surprisingly polite. Mo Tiange showed surprise on her face and said, "Fellow Daoist Fengqing, we are merely juniors who have just formed our Cores. How could we presume to travel alongside a senior?"
The sarcasm in her words caused Fairy Fengqing's expression to change several times. But she knew even more clearly that staying alone here was more dangerous. She had resolved that even if she had to endure the humiliation, she would travel with them. She took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and suppressed the impulse to turn hostile. "Fellow Daoists, there are so many demon cultivators. Even with the two of you and your spirit beast, you would be no match. Why not cooperate?"
Mo Tiange looked directly at her. "Are you sincere, Fellow Daoist?"
Fairy Fengqing gave a bitter smile. "What else can I do besides cooperate with you two? Are these demon cultivators trustworthy? At the very least, I wish to live." She had finally seen clearly. Without cooperating with them, what could she accomplish alone? She was only at the early stage of Nascent Soul, her life-bound treasure was damaged, and she was injured. Besides seeking their cooperation, what else could she do? Amber had promised to protect her life, but once she entered the Immortal Palace, it was beyond his control.
Mo Tiange exchanged a glance with Qin Xi. Seeing he had no objection, she said, "Cooperation is not impossible. However, I hope Fellow Daoist Fengqing harbors no hostility. Otherwise, mutual distrust between us would only create more trouble."
Fairy Fengqing lowered her head in silence for a moment before raising it again. "Naturally. No matter how many grievances I hold against you two, they are not as important as my life." She was someone who could bend and stretch. To preserve her life, even if she had to submit to them, she would endure it.
"Very well, let's go!" Mo Tiange sent a puppet ahead to scout the path and, together with Qin Xi, stepped through the door. Simultaneously, she sent a voice transmission to Xiaofeng, who remained behind: "Keep an eye on her. If anything seems amiss, strike to kill without hesitation."
A flash of phoenix feather appeared in Xiaofeng's hand as she responded, "Understood."
By now, Xuari's group had already entered one of the doors. Xuanyue stood in place for a long while until Jing Hu urged him before he seemed to come back to himself. He looked at the door Xuari had entered, then at the door Mo Tiange had entered, sighed softly, and followed behind Jing Hu into the door they had chosen.
Outside the Immortal Palace, on the horizontal plaque, Amber's eyes suddenly flashed. He sat down cross-legged. "Compared to you all, this Divine Monarch trusts himself more. This restriction, I shall break it myself."