Chapter 517 - 341: Holy Sanctuary Gate

Ling Xiao had killed a Tier Five Sword Emperor from the Lie Family, making them enemies. If it were exposed that Lie Que had become Ling Xiao's sworn brother under these circumstances, one could only imagine his fate.

So, no one even considered the possibility.

Lie Que shook his head. "We could be considered friends. But whether Ling Xiao would risk his own life to save a friend... that remains to be seen."

Lie Que's words were a mix of truth and falsehood, making them impossible to decipher. Lie Yang couldn't say anything in response, only feeling that his younger brother was vastly different from before.

Lie Suitian shook his head. "No. If we can't grab Ling Xiao by his weak spot right away, it will be incredibly difficult to catch him once he's on alert. I just can't believe that old bastard had to show up today! Otherwise, we would've already captured Ling Xiao!"

The members of the Lie Family all sighed. 'A Tier Six Sword Venerable... basically an invincible existence.'

Just then, they heard a commotion outside, with people shouting, "A miracle! It's a miracle!"

"A Celestial God must be descending!"

"Divine Spirits, please bless me with great fortune this year!"

"..."

Lie Suitian and the others exchanged a glance, then stood up and walked outside. If something truly significant wasn't happening, people wouldn't be shouting about miracles all over the place.

When they stepped outside, they saw the once-bustling street was now filled with countless people kneeling in worship, all facing west.

Lie Suitian squinted toward the west. In the vast darkness, a brilliant light flared in the distant west, illuminating half the sky! Simultaneously, a massive pillar of light shot up from the ground, piercing the clouds!

The expressions of Lie Suitian and the others changed instantly. Lie Suixue roared in a low voice, "Top-Grade Treasures have been unearthed!" Without a shred of hesitation, they all shot into the sky, their bodies streaking west like meteors.

Lie Yang, a Tier Six Sword Sect, was left behind in an instant. Lie Que showed no intention of waiting for him either; his body flickered a few times and vanished into the night.

Lie Yang stared venomously in the direction Lie Que had disappeared, cursing inwardly. 'Lie Que, just you wait! When I become the Clan Leader, I'll banish you to the Mortal World to establish your own family branch! Hmph, I'll give you a chance to be a Patriarch, alright! You'll never set foot in the Lie Family Manor again!'

...

Ling Xiao felt the fluctuation growing larger and more intense. Even Shangguan Yutong, Song Qi, and the others beside him sensed it. Staring unblinkingly toward the east, in the direction of the moon, they all perceived that something was wrong.

Suddenly, a colossal palace appeared upon the moon in the sky! It flashed into existence abruptly from behind a half-concealing cloud!

Waves of celestial music drifted down from the palace, a sound so profound and mysterious it cleansed the soul.

Everyone on the mountain peak listened, utterly entranced.

Ling Xiao was curious. 'This method of entering the Holy Sanctuary is certainly unusual,' he thought. 'Compared to the terrifying ordeal of Crossing the Celestial Tribulation back in the Cultivation Realm, this is like heaven versus hell!'

He looked over at Gongsun Huang. With his back to the crowd, an boundless aura suddenly erupted from him. The sheer power of it was so immense that it seemed to make the very heavens and earth change color.

Ling Xiao and the others were completely unable to withstand the pressure of that aura. He grabbed Shangguan Yutong's wrist and barked, "Fall back! Now!"

The others reacted and quickly retreated. This was the highest peak in the area. More than five thousand meters away was another, slightly shorter peak. The group had no choice but to fly there, but even at that distance, they could still feel the oppressive aura involuntarily radiating from Gongsun Huang.

Gongsun Sword's face was pale, his fear even overshadowing some of his sorrow. With a tremor in his voice, he said, "It's incredible. Grandfather has unleashed his full power as a Tier Six Sword Venerable before, but compared to this... the difference is just too vast!"

No one else spoke. Ling Xiao also watched with a solemn expression.

The palace in the sky seemed to be using the smallish cloud to conceal its presence. This meant that, aside from their vantage point on the mountain peak, anyone else would only see the cloud, not the palace itself.

The cloud seemed to drift slowly, but in reality, it moved with great speed. Within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, it had floated directly over Gongsun Huang's head. As if responding to the power he had unleashed, the palace suddenly burst with a magnificent light, illuminating the entire area as if it were broad daylight—brighter, even. The intense radiance was so blinding one could hardly keep their eyes open, yet so clear that every single strand of hair was visible.

Ling Xiao closed his eyes and activated his Celestial Eye. A mystical energy converged between his brows, and at the same time, deep within his Purple Mansion, the Nascent Soul that sat as still as a mountain suddenly opened its eyes.

Ling Xiao "saw" people moving about inside the palace. There weren't many of them, and they all seemed to be in a great hurry.

Immediately after, a pillar of light descended from above, bathing Gongsun Huang in its glow. In that instant, his aura finally reached its absolute peak.

BANG!

After the massive explosion, a ripple, invisible to the naked eye, radiated outward from Gongsun Huang's body. In its wake, trees toppled, boulders tumbled down the slopes, and the very mountain seemed to crack and crumble.

The wave of energy was still incredibly powerful when it reached Ling Xiao and the others, felling ancient trees that would take several people to encircle. However, the weakest among them was a Sword Emperor; they all managed to brace themselves and avoid being swept away by the force.

Everyone couldn't help but open their eyes to witness this miraculous scene.

Gongsun Huang's figure began to slowly ascend along the pillar of light. Tears streamed down Gongsun Sword's face, but he bit his lip hard, his eyes filled with a mixture of fortitude and pride.

Gongsun Huang ascended high into the sky. Just as he was about to enter the palace, his voice boomed out, "Young friend, I'm entrusting my grandson to your care! Please, look after him!"

"Rest assured, Senior! Ling Xiao will not forget!"

Ling Xiao replied in a clear, strong voice. With his Celestial Eye, he saw a relieved smile spread across Gongsun Huang's face. His body followed the light into the palace. An instant later, the palace erupted in a flash of light as brilliant as lightning and vanished without a trace.

"Grandfather!"

Gongsun Sword let out a grief-stricken cry, falling to his knees with a thud and beginning to sob silently. The Sword Emperors from the Gongsun Clan behind him also knelt, tears in their eyes. They were at once joyous and sorrowful, their hearts a tangle of conflicting emotions.

Ling Xiao, however, had felt something else in that final instant: the power of space itself being torn asunder.

'So the Holy Sanctuary... really is another dimension,' Ling Xiao thought. 'It might not even be on this planet at all!' At the same time, a sliver of doubt crept into his mind regarding the legend of the Saint Domain Emperor transforming his own body into the Holy Sanctuary.

Since Shangguan Yutong's ancestor had been the Saint Domain Emperor's rival for a lifetime, his strength must have been formidable. Yet in Ling Xiao's eyes, the feats attributed to the Shangguan Family's ancestor were things any expert at the Divinity Transformation Stage could accomplish—and probably do better. 'In that case,' Ling Xiao mused, 'even if the Saint Domain Emperor reached the level of a Sword God, he shouldn't have had the power to create an entire dimension!'

Ling Xiao once again compared his own strength to that of the Martial Artists of the Canglan Continent. At his current Early Nascent Soul Stage, and with his powerful treasures, he was certain he could defeat a Tier Four Sword Venerable without any issue. If he reached the Late Nascent Soul Stage, then with the help of all his treasures, Ling Xiao was confident he could even defeat a Tier Six Sword Venerable. Besides, he had already used his Sword Intent to intimidate Gongsun Huang a few years ago, and the old man had been at the Tier Six Peak back then.

After the Nascent Soul Stage came Soul Ejection, Divinity Transformation, Body Integration, Tribulation Crossing... and finally, the Mahayana Stage.