Chapter 693: Thunderfire Cone

As the ground beneath their feet shook violently, the small stone mountain split vertically from peak to base, emitting a soft white light from the fissure.

The stone mountain truly seemed about to split cleanly down the middle.

Han Li and the others drew in a sharp breath, their hearts filled with deep wariness toward the two Southern Dragon Marquis's ability to split mountains and shatter rocks.

Yet despite their shock, their expressions remained calm on the surface, each gazing calmly at the scene before them—though what they truly thought, only heaven knew.

Among them, Wang Chan and Yan Yan Ru Yan, the two with the lowest cultivation, stood pale-faced behind Wang Wang Tiangu, silent.

Han Li cast a cold glance at the two, then turned away his gaze.

It seemed there would be no chance to eliminate Wang Chan before retrieving the treasure.

The incantations of the Southern Dragon Marquis and the white-robed elder never ceased.

After a short while, the stone mountain finally split cleanly in two, revealing a massive fissure over ten zhang wide.

Within the fissure, a set of green stone steps descended straight into the earth, appearing before them all.

"Let's go," the white-robed elder said briefly, a flicker of excitement crossing his face, then led the way inside.

The Southern Dragon Marquis, as the initiator, merely smiled slightly and followed behind him.

Seeing this, Han Li's mind stirred.

It seemed the white-robed elder was no ordinary figure—here, even the Southern Dragon Marquis appeared to defer to him.

The others seemed to have noticed too; after exchanging glances, none spoke of it, each maintaining their composure as they followed inside.

The steps were long, flanked by white moonstone inlays—but the deeper they descended, the colder and more chilling the air became.

Soon after, the group descended nearly a hundred zhang beneath the stone mountain.

The moonstone no longer emitted a faint white glow; instead, it had inexplicably shifted to a deep green hue, casting the passage in dim, gloomy shadows thick with dread.

Seeing this, Han Li furrowed his brow and instinctively increased the distance between himself and the black-faced cultivator ahead, ensuring he had time to react if anything happened.

In truth, it wasn't just Han Li—all the other seasoned cultivators except the Southern Dragon Marquis and the white-robed elder wisely did the same; the entire group had stretched their spacing to over ten zhang.

The Southern Dragon Marquis and the Yun elder clearly knew the others were wary of them, yet pretended ignorance, striding forward without the slightest sign of displeasure.

After walking for the duration of a full meal, Han Li and the others finally stepped into a mysterious great hall.

It was called mysterious because its four walls shimmered with blue light, the entire chamber glowing translucently, as if carved and refined from a single colossal piece of jadeite, dazzlingly splendid.

Standing within this vast hall, dozens of zhang wide, everyone's faces revealed astonishment.

These things could not possibly be real jadeite!

The instant Han Li entered the hall, he swept his spiritual sense across one wall—only for it to rebound instantly, unable to penetrate even a fraction.

Han Li was not surprised; he extended his spiritual sense to every other corner of the hall.

The result was the same everywhere.

Han Li muttered silently to himself, then shifted his gaze to the others.

Wang Wang Tiangu, the You cultivator, and the rest also frowned, clearly feeling as troubled as he did.

"Could this be the place where the 'Tai Miao Divine Barrier' was set? It seems the Southern Dragon Marquis didn't exaggerate after all."

As Han Li pondered inwardly, the entire hall suddenly shook violently, followed by a series of thunderous crashes behind them.

The old woman and the others were startled, turning back quickly—only to find the entrance passage had vanished without a trace, replaced by walls shimmering with the same blue light.

The entire hall had become a sealed tomb.

"Southern Dragon Marquis, what is the meaning of this?" the black-faced man demanded, his expression darkening.

Wang Wang Tiangu and the others also tensed, their eyes fixed on the Southern Dragon Marquis and the white-robed elder, glinting with suspicion.

"You all overthink it!" the Southern Dragon Marquis said calmly. "This is merely the outer barrier activating automatically, sealing the mountain once more. When we came here last time, it was the same. As long as we remain inside the hall for three days, we can wait until the barrier's power weakens, then split the mountain again. We won't be trapped. Besides, with the outer barrier closed, we needn't fear any cultivators discovering us from outside."

Hearing this, the black-faced man and the others were skeptical but their expressions eased.

As long as the Southern Dragon Marquis and the other were also inside the hall, they had no reason to fear a trap or ill intent.

"Then I was rash just now," the black-faced man bowed apologetically.

"No matter. Let's hurry and break the barrier. This is where my companion and I failed last time. The Tai Miao Divine Barrier isn't easy to dismantle."

"Is the barrier truly this difficult to break?" the old woman suddenly smiled, her wrinkled face surprising everyone. "I recently acquired a treasure specifically designed to counter all barriers and shields. Perhaps we needn't go through such trouble—just activating this treasure might shatter the barrier outright."

"Oh? If Madame Tai possesses such a rare treasure, by all means, try it! Our method of using spiritual sense to unravel the barrier isn't guaranteed to succeed."

"Indeed, Yun Daoist, proceed without hesitation. We won't interfere," the Southern Dragon Marquis added, equally delighted.

"Since both of you agree, I won't be modest. But if I do manage to break the barrier with this treasure, may I be granted first pick among the treasures, alongside you two?" The old woman chuckled, her previously dull eyes flashing a sharp gleam as she revealed her true intent.

At these words, the cold-faced cultivator and Wang Wang Tiangu's expressions shifted slightly, but they waited to see how the Southern Dragon Marquis and the other would respond.

The Southern Dragon Marquis showed a flicker of surprise, glanced at the white-robed elder, then addressed everyone in the hall:

"Whoever breaks this barrier—whether Madame Tai or any other Daoist—may choose one treasure first, after my companion and I have selected ours. What do you all say?"

After speaking, the Southern Dragon Marquis deliberately observed Han Li and the others' expressions.

Han Li and Wang Wang Tiangu showed indifference; the black-faced man and the You cultivator looked displeased but said nothing, tacitly accepting.

Smiling, the Southern Dragon Marquis immediately turned to the old woman:

"Since no one objects, Madame Tai, you may proceed."

"Then I shall give it a try," the old woman thought inwardly with delight—she had great confidence in her treasure.

As long as it wasn't an invisible illusion array, she felt her chances were strong; otherwise, she wouldn't have risked angering her companions by raising the matter so boldly.

The Tai woman reached into her wide sleeve, withdrew an object no more than a few cun in size.

It was pointed at the front, broad at the rear, entirely crimson, resembling a sharp cone.

Without acknowledging anyone, she spat a blinding burst of light onto the cone.

Instantly, the object flared red, a wave of searing heat spreading from it, filling the entire hall in an instant.

Even the Southern Dragon Marquis and the white-robed elder, seasoned as they were, recognized at once that this treasure was no ordinary item; they stepped back several paces, studying the old woman's cone with renewed interest.

Wang Chan and Yan Yan Ru Yan, upon contact with the heat wave, turned pale and hastily activated a crimson protective shield, enclosing themselves—only then did their faces reveal terror.

With their late Core Formation cultivation, the heat wave had instantly parched their throats, scorched their bodies, leaving them unable to endure even a moment longer.

A flash of white light, followed by a faint "crack."

Han Li and the others froze, staring intently.

Only then did they notice faint white lightning arcs flickering within the cone's crimson flames.

This treasure was an ancient artifact with both thunder and fire attributes.

Instantly, several pairs of eyes, each with different expressions, fixed on the old woman.

Yet the woman ignored them all, gazing deeply at the blue-hazed wall before her, then flicked her wrist and hurled the Thunderfire Cone forward.

Flames blazed, a low rumble echoed.

The cone spun rapidly above her head, transforming in moments into a streak of light too swift to follow.

Only a faint red-and-white blur remained, darting through the hall at blinding speed—so swift it was almost imperceptible, causing everyone in the great hall to pale.

Han Li was even more startled. He had never seen an ancient treasure with such speed. If used in battle, even a Nascent Soul cultivator would struggle to evade it.

If he encountered it, he could only rely on his Wind and Thunder Wings to avoid it—otherwise, defense was impossible.

Net