Chapter 677 - 624: Kunpeng Eye
As soon as Jiang Yuebai rushed into the inner hall, she saw Lu Nanzhi maintaining a sword-wielding posture, standing at the edge of the ritual platform in the center of the inner hall.
It was just now that she struck the altar with her sword, causing a violent commotion.
The inner hall wasn’t large, resembling the layout of the outer hall, but the Yin Yang had reversed, with white circular patterns appearing on the floor and a pitch-black circular dome above.
Carved on the surrounding transparent walls, akin to glass, was a scene of demon clans worshiping, with various spiritual beasts bowing to the Kunpeng half-hidden in the mist.
This was Jiang Yuebai’s first time seeing the full appearance of the Kunpeng; its form was similar to a whale, yet it had wings, its massive tail submerged in the sea as it soared skyward.
Jiang Yuebai glanced briefly and then looked away. At this moment, only she and Lu Nanzhi were in the inner hall; the others hadn’t come out yet.
Lu Nanzhi wielded her sword because at the center of the white circular pattern representing Taiyin Tenuous Light on the ground stood an ancient stone platform. Above the stone platform, a fist-sized orb floated, with a blue base and white patterns resembling the sky, occasionally rippling like ocean waves.
Kunpeng Eye!
Jiang Yuebai widened her eyes in surprise, her heart inexplicably racing, beating in the same rhythm as the waves in the Kunpeng Eye, feeling as if something in it was attracting her, making her pulse with excitement.
This was the first time Jiang Yuebai intensely felt a kind of ’push’ from heaven and earth, urging her to approach that Kunpeng Eye.
But Jiang Yuebai forcibly suppressed this feeling, maintaining enough vigilance.
Lu Nanzhi had wielded a sword, but neither the stone platform nor the Kunpeng Eye had any damage; instead, terrifying cracks covered with frost appeared on the wall behind the stone platform.
The wall was cast by water, and the cracks, like water, would repair themselves.
Jiang Yuebai quickly walked to Lu Nanzhi’s side, "Why did you come out so quickly? Did you not gain anything?"
Lu Nanzhi glanced around, whispered, "I couldn’t obtain the Demon Clan’s Black Tortoise inheritance, so I didn’t waste time."
Jiang Yuebai nodded, she had guessed as much.
"What’s going on with the ritual platform?"
Just as Lu Nanzhi was about to speak, ripples suddenly appeared on the wall, and a Late-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator from the Heavenly Star Sect walked out, brows furrowed, seemingly without much gain either.
Then, others also came out one after another, except for Shen Mingjing.
Jiang Yuebai speculated that if Shen Mingjing was indeed a demon and the Fire Qilin of the Heavenly Spear Realm was related to him, he probably came here for the Qilin lineage inheritance.
Then he must have a way to obtain the things behind the Qilin Gate, which naturally would cause a delay.
Jiang Yuebai and Lu Nanzhi feigned weakness, deliberately retreating to avoid competing with the four from Xiong Family and Heavenly Star Sect.
Among the Heavenly Star Sect pair, one was Late-Stage Nascent Soul, the other Mid-Stage Nascent Soul; Xiong Family had one Mid-Stage, one Early-Stage. In terms of strength, they were not as good as the Heavenly Star Sect pair, hence dared not act rashly, only observing from the side.
The two from Heavenly Star Sect exchanged a glance and walked to the ritual platform to observe closely.
Just sweeping with Divine Sense alone, even Jiang Yuebai couldn’t discern anything unusual, feeling that there was nothing around the altar, with the Kunpeng Eye seemingly placed there, waiting to be taken.
However...
The two Nascent Soul cultivators from Heavenly Star Sect took out a magic artifact one after another, shooting it towards the Kunpeng Eye on the altar after activation.
The rainbow light shot out but vanished in an instant as it approached the altar.
The two were shocked and exchanged a glance; neither knew what happened. The two from Xiong Family were the same, unable to see how the two magic artifacts disappeared.
At the side, Jiang Yuebai squinted her eyes, not detecting any space fluctuations, so the disappearance of things wasn’t due to Space Power transfer.
Lu Nanzhi transmitted to Jiang Yuebai, "It was the same when I wielded my sword just now; the sword aura aimed directly at the altar all vanished; only sword aura beyond the altar’s range slashed into the back wall."
The two from Heavenly Star Sect tried various methods, all with the same result; anything approaching the altar would vanish directly, very strange.
Seeing this situation, the two looked at the pair from Xiong Family, among them, the youthful Early-Stage Nascent Soul Xiong Tianlai pondered, releasing a Golden-Eyed Eagle from his waist’s Spiritual Beast Bag and ordered it to fly towards the altar.
A cry of an eagle echoed through the inner hall, the Golden-Eyed Eagle spread its wings and flew straight; however, as it reached the altar’s range, a sudden change occurred.
At an extremely fast speed, the feathers of the Golden-Eyed Eagle fell off, its flesh rotted, bones weathered into ash, the entire process taking less than two moments.
"This... what is this..." Xiong Family’s Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator, burly Xiong Wanjun, was shocked beyond words.
The ashes of the Golden-Eyed Eagle drifted onto the Kunpeng Eye. Jiang Yuebai’s eyes glimmered slightly, seeing something on the Kunpeng Eye, resembling a tiny insect with wings.
If not for those ashes outlining the shape, it wouldn’t have been noticed at all.
"Don’t bother, the altar is shrouded by the Time Law. Anything or any creature approaching will be worn down to ashes by the Time Power."
Shen Mingjing stepped out from the wall, smiling confidently, evidently having gained something quite remarkable.
"The Great Dao Law also has divisions of Innate Great Dao and Acquired Great Dao. For example, among the Five Elements, the paths of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth are merely Acquired Great Dao. By combining the Five Elements and mastering Chaos, one can be promoted to Innate Great Dao."
"In this world, the five supreme and hardest-to-control Innate Great Dao are Reincarnation, Merit, Time, Space, and Chaos."
"The Time Law around the altar was left by Demon Saint Mayfly from the Ancient Era, who mastered Time Power. Unless there is power of the same grade, no one can obtain that Kunpeng Eye."
Shen Mingjing’s words sent a chill through everyone’s hearts. Unable to obtain the Kunpeng Eye, they faced True Venerable Wenn Su outside, with no clear path forward. Were they truly going to perish here?
"Then how did Immortal Monarch Chongmin obtain a Kunpeng Eye back then?" Jiang Yuebai asked curiously.
Shen Mingjing walked to the altar’s perimeter, bent down for a careful look, and replied casually, "I’m not the Knowledgeable Person; such confidential matters were surely not disclosed by Immortal Monarch Chongmin. Otherwise, wouldn’t Wenn Su have gotten hold of the Kunpeng Eye long ago?"
"Obtaining the Kunpeng Eye, even weaker ones like Immortal Monarch Chongmin could comprehend a Water Dao Fruit. The stronger ones could wield the Taiyin and Sun Power, merging into a Chaos Dao Fruit, which is one of the five Innate Dao Fruits."
He straightened up, smiling with eyes fixed on Jiang Yuebai.
"Fellow Daoist Wangshu, are you not tempted? You have the best chance of acquiring the Kunpeng Eye."
As soon as he finished speaking, all eyes in the Inner Hall were directed at Jiang Yuebai.
Shen Mingjing, having seen Jiang Yuebai use the Michen Seal, surely knew she could wield Space Power.
Jiang Yuebai’s face remained unchanged as Lu Nanzhi’s eyes revealed murderous intent, clutching the Ice Soul Sword tightly.
When Shen Mingjing mentioned Innate Dao Fruit, Jiang Yuebai already guessed that perhaps Space Power was the only way to counter Time Power, and indeed she harbored Chaos Qi, giving her a slim chance.
But here, she couldn’t focus on acquiring the Kunpeng Eye.
Jiang Yuebai held the Michen Seal tightly, leaned against the wall, and secretly attempted to break the wall with Space Power, but the Inner Hall’s walls were peculiarly capable of blocking all powers, including Space Power.
Shen Mingjing squinted slightly and continued, "Wenn Su is no ordinary Divinity Transformation Cultivator. The flower basket she carries was crafted into an Acquired Spiritual Treasure personally by Immortal Monarch Chongmin. Once her domain unfolds, the sky and earth are sealed, and no one can escape."
"Moreover, within the Kunxi Divine Palace, even the Divine Thought of Immortal Monarch Chongmin cannot probe inside. He is currently engaged in a Dao discussion with numerous Divinity Transformation Cultivators in the Illusion Realm. If Wen Su dared to come, it must be because the Dao discussion has reached a critical juncture, assuring her that the Immortal Monarch’s focus won’t waver."
"Given this, our only chance of survival lies in obtaining the Kunpeng Eye. The two Kunpeng Eyes are the foundations supporting the entire Kunxi Secret Realm. When the Immortal Monarch took one, it already disrupted the spatial stability of the Secret Realm. Once this Kunpeng Eye is obtained, I have a way to collapse the Secret Realm immediately."
"By then, if you have Cloud-Breaking Charge, you can directly escape the Secret Realm and no longer fear Wenn Su. Fellow Daoist Wangshu, renowned for your chivalrous and bold spirit, will you aid us in escaping? True Monarch Wangshu, rest assured, I promise I won’t snatch the Kunpeng Eye."
After a moment’s contemplation, the four present also nodded.
"Yes, we just want to leave. If you can take the Kunpeng Eye, feel free to do so."
"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Wangshu. As representatives of the Xiong Family, our word is our bond. If we escape, we’d surely visit you to express our gratitude."
Everyone looked at Jiang Yuebai, expressing gratitude in words, yet their eyes held a veiled threat.
Lu Nanzhi also looked at Jiang Yuebai, sending a voice transmission, "If you wish to try, then try. I’ll do my utmost to protect you. If you don’t wish to, I’ll fight alongside you to break out."
Lu Nanzhi’s words were like a stabilizing medicine. Jiang Yuebai weighed the pros and cons; the walls here blocked Space Power, so she had to go outside to tear open the space to escape the Secret Realm.
If a battle ensued here, and then faced Wenn Su outside, it would be too dangerous.
Moreover, she had many ’assets’ scattered outside that couldn’t be lost.
Furthermore, the Kunpeng Eye’s odd allure to her made her heart restless...
Jiang Yuebai secretly handed Lu Nanzhi a storage bag and stepped forward.
"Alright, let’s give it a try. But this counts as risking my life to save yours; shouldn’t you show some appreciation first?"
Everyone: ???
Lu Nanzhi’s hand shook clutching the storage bag, then the corner of her mouth lifted, hmm, this is truly Little Bai!