Chapter 675 - 622: Coercion
Jiang Yuebai and Lu Nanzhi walked through the corridor and arrived at the main hall of the Divine Hall, where they immediately saw two Nascent Soul cultivators from the Xiong Family and two from the Heavenly Star Sect in a tense standoff.
Shen Mingjing stood behind the two Nascent Soul cultivators from the Heavenly Star Sect, being protected by them.
Jiang Yuebai quickly scanned the main hall with her peripheral vision. The entire hall was spacious and circular, with a floor of black stone tiles so polished they reflected light, and without any patterns on them.
Above their heads was a white circular ring, black within, corresponding to the Taiyin Tenuous Light and Sun Candlelight.
Around the hall’s walls were nine oval-shaped large doors, resembling ripples in a lake, undulating with waves, each containing something that fluctuated and flickered with the waves.
Jiang Yuebai glanced over quickly and roughly saw a dragon, a phoenix, a qilin, the rest she couldn’t discern clearly, when she heard Shen Mingjing’s voice.
"As expected of Fellow Daoist Wangshu, you caught up so quickly."
Jiang Yuebai retracted her gaze, splitting a Divine Thought to continue observing the surroundings, and remained fully alert with Lu Nanzhi.
When Shen Mingjing spoke, the two Xiong Family cultivators in black and blue outfits abruptly turned around and stared at Jiang Yuebai.
Among them, Xiong Wanjun, who had thick eyebrows and a square face, a large and burly figure with Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivation, asked in a rough voice, "Where is our True Venerable?"
Next to him, the young and refined-looking Early-Stage Nascent Soul Xiong Tianlai secretly held onto a Magic Treasure, ready to attack.
Lu Nanzhi prepared to draw her sword, but Jiang Yuebai held her arm and raised her voice, saying, "The culprit who ambushed and heavily injured your True Venerable is right there. What’s the point of yelling at me? Rest assured, your True Venerable is still breathing."
As her words fell, both members of the Xiong Family looked surprised, and Shen Mingjing also showed a slight shock, frowning as he pondered whether Jiang Yuebai was speaking the truth or not.
Such a great opportunity, yet she didn’t kill Xiong Yanhong?
Xiong Wanjun and Xiong Tianlai exchanged a glance, both already having the intention to retreat. Earlier on the Heaven-Reaching Stairs, they each gained something.
Now their True Venerable’s life or death was uncertain, and here was full of mysteries, making them feel very uneasy. Even if there was a Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasure, they needed to be alive to take it.
Without the guidance of a True Venerable, they had no confidence in retreating safely.
Thinking of this, they shot a fierce glare at the two Heavenly Star Sect cultivators and Shen Mingjing. The Heavenly Star Sect and the Xiong Family had cooperated for years, but now they were being incited against each other by just a few words from Shen Mingjing.
This matter must also be quickly reported to the Clan Leader to reassess the cooperation between the Xiong Family and the Heavenly Star Sect.
The two Xiong Family members turned to leave, making Jiang Yuebai nervous as she was about to find a way to stop them from disrupting the alchemy process.
Just then, Shen Mingjing’s gaze suddenly skipped over Jiang Yuebai and looked at the dark corridor behind her.
Jiang Yuebai also felt a chill down her spine, and she and Lu Nanzhi simultaneously sensed an overwhelming oppressive force, causing them to quickly dodge to one side of the hall.
"Today, none of you shall leave!"
A sharp shout, followed by a gust of wind.
The two Xiong Family members were shocked and panicked as they tried to block it, but they were still hit squarely in the chest by the gust, flying backward like cannonballs, crashing heavily to the ground and rolling several times before getting up and spitting out blood.
A female cultivator at the peak of Divinity Transformation, wearing a long green dress and a pink short blouse, walked in gracefully, her expression stern, her aura fully unleashed, enveloping every corner of the hall and putting immense pressure on everyone present.
Jiang Yuebai and Lu Nanzhi retreated to a distant spot, their backs against a waterwave door with a phantom of a Mystic Turtle shimmering on it. Faced with the peak Divinity Transformation’s pressure, Jiang Yuebai, having a strong Divine Soul and a Chaos Body, felt little pressure.
However, she mimicked Lu Nanzhi, frowning and baring her teeth as if struggling to resist, secretly squeezing Lu Nanzhi’s arm to help alleviate her pressure.
Wen Su’s sudden arrival surprised Jiang Yuebai, yet it didn’t. Seeing Shen Mingjing’s expression, it’s either that he had a relationship with Wen Su or he had anticipated the current situation.
Wen Su stood at the entrance, her cold gaze sweeping over everyone present.
"I didn’t expect so many people would enter this time."
Jiang Yuebai’s heart skipped a beat; this sentence revealed too much information.
This time implies there had been previous times, and Wen Su had been here many times before.
This means that before when the Kunxi Secret Realm opened, it wasn’t that no one entered, but those who did never exited.
Jiang Yuebai’s mind went numb, instinctively taking half a step back, considering whether to take Lu Nanzhi and escape now.
Wen Su suddenly turned, looking at Jiang Yuebai, making her instantly feel exposed, as if her thoughts were transparent.
"Rest assured, I merely wish you to help retrieve something. Once it’s obtained, I will reward you handsomely."
Jiang Yuebai cursed inwardly, thinking the reward was probably sending them to the Underworld.
The two Xiong Family cultivators helped each other up, and the two from the Heavenly Star Sect exchanged glances, then looked at Shen Mingjing.
Shen Mingjing squinted and nodded, signaling them to remain calm.
Lu Nanzhi also exchanged a glance with Jiang Yuebai; faced with one at the peak of Divinity Transformation, they dared not secretly communicate via Divine Thought.
However, Jiang Yuebai suddenly saw Lu Nanzhi make a hand gesture at her, one designed back in the Nine Dragon Ruins when she feared being overheard by the Nine-Headed Flood Dragon—an encrypted gesture only she and Lu Nanzhi understood.
Lu Nanzhi signaled, "Don’t be afraid."
Jiang Yuebai stiffened her neck, "Who’s afraid!"
"Do you know what the Immortal Monarch took from here back then? Which allowed him to break into the Mahayana Realm and grasp the Water Dao Fruit?"
Wen Su answered her own question, "It was a Kunpeng Eye, and within this Divine Palace, there is another Kunpeng Eye. You just need to pass through these doors around you to reach the Inner Hall and see the altar offering the Kunpeng Eye."
Wen Su’s gaze was profound; once she obtained the other Kunpeng Eye, she would immediately flee. Once her strength was sufficient, why fear Immortal Monarch Chongmin? Even taking his Dao Fruit wouldn’t be impossible!
"Rest assured, your gains earlier on the Heaven-Reaching Stairs were merely minor gifts from the Kunxi Divine Palace. The real treasures lie beyond these doors, available only once in a lifetime, and what you can get depends on your choices."
"As for the Kunpeng Eye, it’s not restricted by the Divine Palace’s Law. Even if you obtain treasures inside, you can still attempt to seize the Kunpeng Eye. Anyone who obtains the Kunpeng Eye will get an Acquired Spiritual Treasure in exchange from me."
Acquired Spiritual Treasure!
The four cultivators from the Xiong Family and Heavenly Star Sect widened their eyes. An Acquired Spiritual Treasure is extremely rare; with proper nurturing, it could accompany a cultivator to the Mahayana Realm.
But their eyes quickly dimmed, for Wen Su had an absolute suppression over them. Even if they could obtain it, leaving alive was uncertain.
In other words, if they had the ability to obtain the Kunpeng Eye, why would they exchange it with Wen Su?
However, disobeying Wen Su’s command would likely lead to immediate death.
The situation allowed them no other choice, so they began examining the surrounding doors, contemplating which one to enter.
Perhaps inside, they might find another exit to leave.
Lu Nanzhi gestured to Jiang Yuebai, who looked around the doors. The doors didn’t align with any array, nor followed any pattern. The phantoms within the water waves possibly represented various inheritances and corresponding trials.
"Only one person can pass through each door. Once the trial is completed, return here; I’ll be waiting for you."
In the distance, as Jiang Yuebai had anticipated, Shen Mingjing walked to the door with the Qilin phantom, next to the Green Dragon Gate Jiang Yuebai wanted to choose.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t a Grass Door, otherwise, given her deep connection to Spirit Grass, she’d feel more assured.
After pondering for a moment, Lu Nanzhi chose the Black Tortoise Gate representing water.
Since she was here, she might as well see it through, grabbing what she could. If she got it and couldn’t beat them, she’d just run!