Chapter 412 - 206: Celestial Evil Demon Venerable (Part 2)
After gaining some treasure, the first thought is to leave this perilous place; some remain unsatisfied, searching for unopened structures; others set their sights on the first two groups, trying to kill and seize treasure amidst the chaos, before leaving calmly.
Book Sea Pavilion, the repository of Gui Xu Grotto Heaven’s treasured collections, is naturally targeted by more than just the Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace.
The Celestial Sword Palace, Minglun Confucian Sect, and Alanda Temple have already taken control and are breaking arrays, warning others not to approach, forcing them to leave reluctantly.
However, upon the Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace’s arrival, most show respect and let them join in for a share.
Li Fanzhou doesn’t take action but quietly stands at the outermost area to watch the drama.
Daoist Gao Yuan finally has room to exert himself; after observing the array’s operation, he releases one hundred and eight array flags, guiding sect members to orderly attack specific nodes, quickly breaking the ever-growing Wood Element Great Array.
Subsequently, everyone rushed in, tacitly occupying territories to collect scriptures, with Confucian Sect and Alanda Temple being slightly weaker, thus taking smaller areas.
Since someone is guarding the array, Chu Xuan doesn’t worry about being ambushed and leads his fellow disciples to freely plunder, possibly for the last time joyfully interacting with them, not wanting to leave any regrets...
Deep in the Book Sea Pavilion, there is another inner array, radiating emerald light, visibly high-grade.
More troublesome is the fact that it’s the type that cannot be violently broken, as forcing it would destroy everything inside the array.
Seeing the situation outside becoming more chaotic, wasting even a bit more time here reduces the harvest, ultimately leaving only the Sword Palace and Dao Palace to break the array.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, the young talents of the Sword Palace, Du Gu Ao Ren and Duan Wenwu, eagerly approach to converse with Chu Xuan and Ye Xingming.
Du Gu Ao Ren already met Chu Xuan at the Hundred Flowers Banquet, a heroic and dashing young woman.
Duan Wenwu was previously involved in an incident, although a bit rash, his character and Sword Dao are commendable.
Chu Xuan, although somewhat distracted and unsure if these two will turn against him later, still exchanges courtesies with them.
Ye Xingming has gradually gained renown over the years, especially with his Emperor’s Heart Sword Body, making the Sword Palace even more covetous, hinting to lure him to their side, causing him embarrassment.
Even Xu Yuanzhi clears his throat nervously, while the Sword Palace’s Daoist simply smiles silently.
Amidst this amicable atmosphere, the two sects’ array masters work together for a stick of incense time, finally unraveling the array.
Inside the array, there are several mysterious Daoist scriptures, jade slips, some alchemical pills for cultivation, and magical treasures corresponding to the cultivation techniques, their brilliance instantly catching everyone’s attention.
Remarkably, there is also a jade-like array plate, estimated to be Celestial Tier. With this plate in hand, even those unversed in arrays can deploy the inner array anytime, anywhere, with enough magical power, offering concealment, protection, and sealing effects.
Moreover, when controlled by an owner, it’s not easily cracked, making Chu Xuan somewhat envious.
If fleeing the sect for survival, he, unversed in array dao, would still need something similar to protect himself, otherwise, even closed-door cultivation would be unsettling.
After the sects evenly split the spoils, Jiang Yiyi suddenly takes the array plate and stuffs it into Chu Xuan’s arms, "This is for you."
Chu Xuan is taken aback and quickly declines, questioning how one can take spoils halfway through the operation. Conventionally, these are distributed by the masters upon returning to the sect.
The two Daoists slightly frown, fearing dissatisfaction among disciples.
However, most have no objections, since without Chu Xuan’s leadership, they wouldn’t have found these two valuable halls so quickly.
Jiang Yiyi, with an air of aged wisdom, says, "An ancestor gave it to you, just keep it."
The two Daoists look at Li Fanzhou, the Supreme Elder, who nods slightly in agreement.
Only then does Chu Xuan accept, looking at Jiang Yiyi with increased gratitude; she might not know what’s happening but noticed the desire in his eyes, hence unexpectedly gifting him the array plate.
Once everyone evacuated the Book Sea Pavilion, a thunderous "boom~!" echoed, causing the entire main peak to tremble, smoke billowing from the direction of Dao Palace, signaling the great array finally breached.
Suddenly, numerous cultivators, like wolves scenting blood, converged on that area en masse.
Chu Xuan merely shakes his head, even though many in his camp show interest, he pays no heed, only flying around for a look, discovering few places left unsearched.
These cultivators, like locusts, have swept clean what’s possible, especially the loose cultivators, taking anything, even the tables and bamboo blinds would be taken if not too cumbersome.
To achieve more, one must now delve into hidden secrets.
Anyway, sects like the Dao Palace, representing righteous sects, wouldn’t actively rob others unless counterattacking defensively; others aren’t foolish either, apart from certain demonic sects, few dare rob them.
While most head towards Dao Palace, Chu Xuan seizes the last moments to lead those around him to the left auxiliary peak.
The two peak guard towers have much valuable, like the astute ones from Tian Xu, who almost swept the entire right auxiliary peak, leaving the incoming cultivators frustrated but powerless.
Chu Xuan had explored the left auxiliary peak in the past, finding a hidden underground palace which promises great harvest for his group.
However, just as he’s about to set off, he notices something amiss; aside from those occupied with attacking and searching, all others beeline for Dao Palace, leaving surrounding areas vacant.
This made the mysterious group encircling them suddenly conspicuous.
Not to mention the Shangguan family’s group, noticing Chu Xuan’s intention to leave the main peak, fearing he detected something amiss, hurriedly showing hostility with murderous intent, a clear sign of trouble to anyone.
Originally, Sword Palace members were hastening towards Dao Palace after leaving the pavilion, but noticing the situation hesitated, stopping to assist.
The Dao Palace members frown, with Xu Yuanzhi stepping forward to demand, "Shangguan Ming! What are you doing?"
"Is the dignified Profound Celestial Sect also resorting to looting?"
Shangguan Elder merely sneers. The second group, originally concealing identities, suddenly removes disguises, revealing the Tian Fire Sun Ring emblem on their chests and sleeves, marking them as Shangguan family elites.
Nonetheless, decision-making now rests with a deep-eyed, high-nosed, grey-clad elder, accompanied by a green-robed Taoist lady. No longer masking, they unleash intimidating pressure, causing nearby cultivators to stifle — unexpectedly revealing to be eighth-realm Integration and seventh-realm Void Refinement cultivation!
This shocks not only the Dao Palace but Sword Palace cultivators and scattered spectators too. Robbery or revenge?
The grey-clad elder coldly states, "The Shangguan family announces to all within the grotto heaven: the Celestial Evil Demon Venerable, known for heinous deeds, countless murders, inciting three battles between righteousness and evil in the past, has appeared today."
"If you bear grudges, seek revenge, wish to vanquish evil and save living beings, come swiftly to this place."
His solemn and authoritative voice instantly spreads throughout the entire grotto heaven, silencing the once noisy world momentarily, only for it to explode like boiling water!
Celestial Evil Demon Venerable?! Is he truly here? Has he not met his end?
Is it a reincarnation or his true self?
Regardless, at this moment, all available cultivators rush from all directions at full speed, and within just a few breaths, the Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace group is surrounded by innumerable cultivators, seeming precariously endangered.