Chapter 360 - 336: Entering the Outer Hall

Chapter 360: Chapter 336: Entering the Outer Hall

Seeing the way everyone was looking at him, Huangg Ling knew exactly what they were thinking. He felt a wave of helpless frustration.

’It’s true that Nie Yun’s strength is unfathomable, and I’d failed to see it all along. But back then, Nie Tong was surrounded by a few Celestial List Powerhouses and a single Elder Bi and was nearly killed. He was certainly no stronger than Elder Bi. Now, though? I doubt even a hundred Elder Bis combined would be a match for him!’

’He’s like a completely different person. I couldn’t have predicted such rapid progress even if I were an Immortal!’

"We were delayed by the Marsh Wasps for more than two days, and with our other travel time, we’ve spent a total of over six days in the Mist Swamp. If we don’t hurry, the Purple Splendor Jade Seals will disappear and we won’t be able to get in. Let’s go!"

Knowing explanations were useless at this point, Huangg Ling had no choice but to change the subject. Being stared at like that was simply too uncomfortable.

"He’s right, we have to hurry! Let’s go!" Nie Yun also knew the situation was serious. Powerful as his methods were in his past life, he was a far cry from that now. If they wasted too much time and failed to enter the Inner Hall of the Cave Mansion, it would be too late for regrets.

"I’ll continue to lead the way!"

Moh Wudao’s eyes lit up as he activated his Celestial Eye Talent, leading the group forward with great strides.

The Celestial Eye Talent was indeed the best talent for navigating this place. What was normally the most terrifying threat for any powerhouse entering—the Hell Cold Stream—had become the least of their worries. Whenever Moh Wudao spotted it, he would guide the group safely around it.

Even the countless massive Arrays, which would attack at the slightest touch, were riddled with flaws in the eyes of a Celestial Eye Master. The group forged ahead and soon arrived before a towering palace.

The palace was thousands of feet tall and so wide that it seemed to stretch on forever. It lay before them, boundless, radiating a powerful aura. The entire structure appeared to be a massive receptacle for Spiritual Qi, absorbing it from the endless void to sustain its Arrays.

At the front of the palace was a massive gateway, before which stood exactly three stone platforms. Each platform had a palm-sized indentation on its surface, and within each recess were carved unique patterns.

"These three indentations are for the Purple Splendor Jade Seals. Once we place three Jade Seals inside, the gate will open, and we can enter the Outer Hall of the Cave Mansion! I’ll go first!"

Huangg Ling stepped forward, reached into his robes, retrieved a Jade Seal, and placed it into one of the indentations.

"I’ll go, too!" Nie Yun, knowing time was of the essence, wasted no words. He produced two more Jade Seals and placed them in the remaining indentations.

RUMBLE!

The moment the three Jade Seals settled into the indentations, the stone platforms began to HUM, emitting a Radiant light. Then, with a great CREAK, the massive Stone Gate slowly swung open.

Before they even stepped inside, a dense wave of Spiritual Qi gushed out from the opening. It was incredibly potent and invigorating to the Spirit.

’Zihua Cave Mansion... I’ve returned...’

Sensing the familiar quality of the Spiritual Qi, Nie Yun thought of the people who had accompanied him here in his past life. He let out a silent, emotional sigh and strode inside, falling in line behind Moh Wudao at the head of the group.

’In my past life, I came here completely unprepared, and my strength was mediocre. The path was fraught with peril and constant crises; it was a true brush with death. This time, however, not only have I gathered all nine Jade Seals, but we also have the Celestial Eye Talent to foresee any threat. We haven’t run into a single crisis. The difference is staggering.’

"Let’s go in!"

The group filed inside. The moment they entered, they felt a dense wave of Spiritual Qi wash over them, causing their skin to tingle with an indescribably pleasant sensation.

Opening their eyes, they saw a wide hall stretching out before them. In the very center of the hall stood a circular stone platform. Other than that, the hall was completely empty.

"Just a single stone platform? Logically, even for the Outer Hall of the Zihua Cave Mansion, shouldn’t there be at least a few treasures?"

Everyone stared at the scene in confusion.

"Let’s check out the stone platform!"

Everyone leaped onto the platform simultaneously.

Two Treasure Swords were embedded in the stone platform, one on each side, both glinting with a cold light. A single glance was enough to tell they were no Mortal items.

"There’s a Stone Stele here?"

Between the two swords was a small Stone Stele, its surface densely covered in writing. Everyone hurried over to take a closer look.

The Stone Stele read: *To have entered my Zihua Cave Mansion means your luck is quite good. There are two passages here. Pull out a longsword, and you may enter. One path leads to life, the other to death. I have left different treasures within them. Pass the trial, and you shall obtain them!*

The language was simple and easy to understand, and the inscription held no trace of energy fluctuations. However, the calligraphy itself was wild and untamed. Each character seemed to be slanted, soaring toward the sky, stirring the blood of any who looked upon it and eliciting involuntary praise.

"Two passages? Which one should we take?" Huangg Ling stood before the Stone Stele, glancing from side to side with his brows knitted into a knot.

The longsword to the left looked light and sharp, and was inscribed with the character for "Yin." The one on the right looked steady and heavy, and bore the character for "Yang."

One Yin, one Yang. Though they didn’t know the specific significance, both swords overflowed with Sword Qi. They could feel a fierce wind beating against them before they even got close, as if each blade contained an invisible style of Swordsmanship. This alone proved how extraordinary they were.

"It doesn’t matter which. We’ll take the path corresponding to whichever sword we can pull out!"

His Majesty Ling Tian of the Divine Cloud Empire spoke up first.

"Hm, that is a good idea. In that case, Your Majesty Ling Tian, why don’t you go give it a try?"

Huangg Ling said with a laugh.

"Me?" Ling Tian was startled. "Heh, my strength isn’t up to par. I’d only get in everyone’s way. Your Majesty Huangg Ling should go!"

When it came to taking treasure, he was all for it. But when it came to rushing forward to test for danger, he would be the first to flee.

"Enough of this nonsense," Qii Tao snorted coldly. "If you don’t go, I’ll kill you right now!"

Someone had to test the swords. If they all kept making excuses, they would only waste more time. Qii Tao was a ruthless man, and seeing His Majesty Ling Tian’s attitude, his brow furrowed.

"You... Fine, I’ll go!" A man has to know when to yield. His Majesty Ling Tian knew the man wasn’t bluffing. Gritting his teeth, he walked over, gripped the sword’s hilt with both hands, and gave it a mighty pull.

RUMBLE!

Amidst an earth-shaking rumble, a passage suddenly appeared on the smooth stone platform.

The passage was pitch-black, its depths impossible to gauge.

"It opened?"

Having pulled the sword free so easily and without any apparent danger, His Majesty Ling Tian felt as though he’d just escaped from the jaws of death. Cold sweat streamed down his back.

SHING!

Seeing that Ling Tian was unharmed, Tuxin went over and pulled out the other longsword. Just as before, another passage appeared on the stone platform, identical in appearance to the first.

"Moh Wudao, how does it look? Can you tell which of these two passages is safer?" Huangg Ling asked, turning to the Celestial Eye Master.

Moh Wudao shook his head. "The passages seem to have been sealed with a powerful Spiritual Power. Even with my Celestial Eye, I can’t see the specific conditions inside."

"If his tricks were that easy to see through, he wouldn’t be worthy of the name Zihua Daoist!" Nie Yun suddenly spoke up. "I suggest we split up. Five of us will take one passage, and five will take the other."