Free Web NovelChapter 82: Chapter 55: Purple Qi Forms an Auspicious Cloud
Above Zhong Shenxiu’s celestial gate, a torrent of purple qi billowed, surging skyward. It coalesced in the air into a celebratory purple cloud that covered an area a hundred miles wide. Within it, dragons soared and tigers leaped, a Black Tortoise lay coiled, and a phoenix sang as it spread its wings. The world between heaven and earth was cast in a brilliant violet glow!
Xuzhuang squinted, peering through the churning purple qi. He could faintly make out a towering gateway...
"What is that?" Just as Xuzhuang was about to take a closer look, Zhong Shenxiu suddenly turned his head. His gaze seemed to pass through Sun Suzhen’s palace and meet Xuzhuang’s.
Xuzhuang knew Zhong Shenxiu had detected his spying. After a moment’s hesitation, he closed his mystic eye and withdrew his gaze.
’Creation’s wonders are gathered in his spirit; he is a born Dao Zhen.’ Xuzhuang fell into deep thought. ’What kind of phenomenon was that? Ever since I began cultivating this mystic eye art, I’ve never seen anything like it. Is it because Zhong Shenxiu himself is special, or is this nameless mystic eye technique not as simple as it seems?’
Zhong Shenxiu’s arrival certainly caused a stir. Even the Sword Step Master rarely spoke, but now she did. In contrast to her haggard appearance, her voice was like the tinkling of a spring. "The one in the lead, that is Zhong Shenxiu?"
Sun Suzhen said gravely, "According to legend, even before Zhong Shenxiu began his cultivation, a pixiu came to him unbidden and became his follower. That must be him."
"The people on his left and right are also true disciples of the Upper Profound Sect’s current generation. The cold-faced Daoist on the left should be Yu Jing, and the one on the right is Tan Chong." As she said this, a hint of apprehension appeared on Sun Suzhen’s face. "I crossed swords with him over a decade ago when I visited the Upper Profound Sect."
Just from her expression, it was clear she hadn’t gained the upper hand.
The three from the Upper Profound Sect did not rush to land on the peak. Tan Chong, riding a celestial crane, moved forward slightly. He smoothed his wide sleeves, clasped his hands in a slight bow to all directions, and his clear voice echoed across the five peaks. "Everyone, you’ve been waiting for some time..."
Before he could even finish his sentence, a cold sneer came from the Black Mountain nearby, cutting Tan Chong off. "Upper Profound brat, cut the crap! Since everyone is here, let’s just hurry up and open the Daoist Treasury!"
"Heh." Tan Chong showed no sign of anger. He simply smiled and replied, "Very well." He then stepped back, exchanged a few words with Zhong Shenxiu and Yu Jing, and the three of them descended together toward one of the peaks.
Yan Renhe said in surprise, "These fiends from the Yinji Sect are truly arrogant. They don’t even show any respect for the Upper Profound Sect."
Yue Junyang said, "Are the true disciples of the Upper Profound Sect so easy to deal with? Once we’re inside the Daoist Treasury, we might get to see a good show."
As they were speaking, Sun Suzhen suddenly sensed something. She took the Decree from her sleeve, glanced at it, and smiled. "It seems everyone is getting impatient. In that case, there’s no need to wait for the Celestial Time. Let’s open the Daoist Treasury immediately."
Yan Renhe nodded and stood up. "Then I will head to the last peak. I wonder which two fellow Daoists will accompany me?"
It didn’t really matter who went with him, but to everyone’s surprise, the Sword Step Master was the first to rise. She nodded at Yan Renhe and walked to his side.
Of the remaining three, Yue Junlan was cool and distant, so she likely didn’t care either way and didn’t volunteer. Yue Junyang and Sun Suzhen were good friends. Xuzhuang pondered for a moment before taking the initiative to stand up. "Fellow Daoist Yan, I will go with you."
Yan Renhe said with delight, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Xu."
Sun Suzhen clapped her hands. "Excellent. Then I’ll ask Junior Brother Xu and Senior Sister Bu to go. After the Daoist Treasury is opened, we’ll find a chance to meet up again."
Xuzhuang nodded. Yan Renhe wasted no more time and led the way out of the palace, flying toward the last peak.
After landing on the final peak, Yan Renhe turned and said, "Fellow Daoists, please wait a moment." He took out his Decree, held it in his hand, and waited. A moment later, he suddenly formed a Spell. A stone platform abruptly rose from the ground. Yan Renhe took two steps forward, placed the Decree on the platform, and continued to form Spells with his hands.
As if all the Commanders were acting in unison, the five peaks began to tremble slightly.
Following a series of tremors, the five pillar-like peaks, along with their underwater mountain bases, began to rise and converge. It was as if a giant hand were closing its five fingers.
Xuzhuang and the others quickly steadied themselves. Before long, the five peaks had gathered close together, pointing toward a central spot before gradually coming to a halt.
Just as the peaks stabilized, the Five Peaks Commanders simultaneously changed their Magic Formulas and pointed at their Decrees. The stone platforms on each peak flashed with spiritual light, each producing a beam of rainbow light. The beams shot toward the central point indicated by the peaks, converging into a turbulent, five-colored curtain of light.
"Go!" The moment the curtain of light formed, Si Xuan shouted, leaping onto the beam of rainbow light. He was instantly swept up and plunged into the five-colored screen. Jiri Lie and the Black Robe Taoist followed close behind. As they jumped into the beam, the rainbow light from their peak retracted, merging back into the curtain.
Seeing Si Xuan’s group make their move, the others were naturally unwilling to be left behind. Yan Renhe cried out, "Fellow Daoists!" He then took two steps forward and leaped, with the Sword Step Master and Xuzhuang following close behind into the rainbow light.
At first, being swept up by the rainbow light felt no different from riding an escape glint. But after plunging into the five-colored curtain, Xuzhuang suddenly found himself in a five-colored tunnel. Enveloped by the rainbow light, he seemed to become a tiny part of the five-colored radiance. He was then carried forward by an immense force. In just an instant, a white dot appeared in the endless, illusory five-colored splendor, and then a brilliant light erupted.
In a daze, Xuzhuang found himself standing on a floating stone platform. Above him, a thin layer of clouds failed to obscure the azure sky, where a great sun blazed, freely radiating light and heat.
Yan Renhe and the Sword Step Master were beside him. The three of them exchanged a glance, and Yan Renhe seemed to let out a sigh of relief. "It seems the Five Peaks Commanders were indeed separated. It’s just the three of us here."
Xuzhuang nodded and scanned his surroundings. The area was completely empty except for a stone staircase at the edge of the platform, which snaked down deep into the clouds, its end out of sight.
After a moment of thought, Xuzhuang suddenly raised his hand and flicked a finger. A strand of Sword Qi shot out, flying past the edge of the platform and vanishing into the clouds without a sound. "It seems there are restrictions in the air. This is the only path."
The Sword Step Master glanced in the direction where Xuzhuang’s Sword Qi had disappeared, then suddenly stepped onto the staircase. She looked back over her shoulder and said coolly, "Let’s go."
She took the lead and started down. In the blink of an eye, she had descended seven or eight steps without anything unusual happening. Xuzhuang nodded to Yan Renhe. "After you, Fellow Daoist."
Yan Renhe said modestly, "Fellow Daoist Xu, you first, please."
Xuzhuang didn’t stand on ceremony. He stepped onto the stairs and began his descent. He felt a gentle breeze on his face and saw the sea of clouds unfurling below, a rather refreshing sight. But when he looked down, he saw that the Sword Step Master was moving faster and faster, and in a flash, she was nothing more than a faint silhouette.
Xuzhuang called out, "Senior Sister Bu! Senior Sister Bu!" But she didn’t look back. In just a few more steps, the Sword Step Master had vanished completely into the clouds.
Xuzhuang glanced back and saw that, sure enough, though he had only taken a few steps, the stone staircase behind him now stretched back for an unknown distance. The platform was gone, to say nothing of Yan Renhe.
