Chapter 345

Yuliuli then appeared much quieter. She placed the Immortal Sound Bell before her, her fair hands lightly pressing the bell body, not shaking it, but communicating with it using her own faint immortal soul power.

The Sound Path of the Fallen Immortal Clan excels at communicating with heaven and earth through melody, soothing the divine soul.

At this moment, she was using the Immortal Sound Bell, her natal magic treasure, along with the newly stabilized, order- and tranquility-leaning Dao resonance within the hall, to gently nourish her nearly exhausted immortal soul and damaged divine sense.

Threads of faint, pure and tranquil melodic Dao resonance, like a trickling stream, flowed around her, repairing the hidden wounds of her divine soul, and her complexion gradually regained a hint of color.

The recovery of the remnant warriors like Yunhao carried a sense of tragedy and resilience.

Their cultivation method originally shared the same source as the Immortal Palace, making recuperation here twice as effective with half the effort. But their injuries were equally severe, and their minds had suffered a tremendous blow from the successive sacrifices of their comrades (the female warriors Fengqi and others, Youying).

They silently circulated the ancestral "Return to the Abyss Guard Heart Formula," drawing on the familiar energy of the Immortal Palace's earth veins to restore their flesh and Nascent Soul, while firmly suppressing the grief in their hearts with steadfast guardian vows, transforming that sorrow into an even heavier responsibility, imprinted upon their Dao hearts.

Time, in the silent healing and quiet mourning, flowed bit by bit.

One day, two days…… perhaps even longer.

In this space isolated by the "Eternal Void Seal," where internal time perception is somewhat blurred, everyone immersed themselves in deep recovery. Only the silent darkness on the altar and the eternal illusory silence at the entrance served as an unchanging backdrop.

The first to complete initial recovery and be able to move freely was Cangxuan.

His injury was more about the exhaustion of his divine sense and sword essence, rather than destructive physical trauma. When his sword heart was re-polished to clarity and firmness, and the sword essence within his body recovered to thirty or forty percent, he opened his eyes. The blood threads in his eyes faded, his gaze regained its former sharpness, though deep within lingered an inescapable gloom.

He rose, without disturbing Wang Ping and Yuliuli who were still in deep adjustment, and walked to the entrance, silently gazing at that illusory space. He extended his hand, fingertips touching the hazy boundary. There was no sensation, no resistance, no rebound, only a kind of icy, absolute "emptiness" and "isolation." Youying's aura had completely merged into it, leaving no trace, only that sacrificial will, like a cold stone tablet, standing there.

"Eternal Void Seal……" Cangxuan softly repeated the name of this forbidden art, his fingertips slightly tightening, "Youying, is this 'seal' truly eternal? Could my Cangxuan's sword possibly cleave this void lock?" He seemed to be asking the illusory space, or asking the sword in his hand, or making a silent vow.

He received no answer, only eternal silence.

After a while, Yuliuli also finished her deep soul nourishment. She opened her eyes; though her divine light was not fully restored, it had regained its former clarity and tranquility, though beneath that tranquility lay deep sorrow. She looked toward the altar, then at Wang Ping, and finally her gaze fell on the entrance, where she let out a soft sigh. She put away the Immortal Sound Bell and walked to stand not far from Cangxuan, silently standing beside him.

Next came Yunhao, Qingyu, and the other remnant warriors. Their injuries were more severe, recovery took longer, but relying on their affinity with the Immortal Palace environment and their resilient will, they gradually stabilized their injuries and regained some mobility. Upon waking, they first faced the altar, facing the place where the Chaos Immortal King sat in meditation to guard, and solemnly kowtowed, thanking their ancestors' blessings and the success of the seal. Then, they unconsciously gathered near the entrance, standing with Cangxuan and Yuliuli, facing that illusory space, standing in silent mourning. There were no words, only gratitude, sorrow, and remembrance reflected in their eyes.

The entire hall, except for the faint energy flow sound from Wang Ping's array hub area and the weak flickering glow of Jiu'er, was left with only this silent mourning.

Until——

At the array hub center, the layer of chaotic light covering Wang Ping due to deep adjustment, like a tide, gradually receded.

He let out a long breath, exhaling air tinged with faint gray-black impurities—these were the accumulated dark wounds and filth expelled from his body. Immediately, he opened his eyes.

The chaotic light within his pupils, though not as brilliant as at its peak, had regained stability and depth, like the deep sea after being cleansed by a storm. His complexion was still somewhat pale, but the ashen pallor of exhausted oil and wick had vanished; his breath, though still weak, had become stable and was now rising at a slow but firm pace.

After experiencing a near-collapse crisis, his Late Nascent Soul realm had been forged into something more solid. The light of his Chaotic Nascent Soul had recovered considerably, its rotation becoming stable and powerful. That thread of chaotic immortal essence, though still weak, could now be clearly sensed and was gradually generating on its own. Most pleasing were his meridians: most fractures had been repaired, and spiritual power flow had restored to seventy or eighty percent smoothness.

He first looked toward his embrace…… no, toward the edge of the array hub.

Jiu'er's point of light was now the size of a pigeon egg, nine-colored radiance flowing within; though not as dazzling as in its prime, it already appeared vibrant with life. What pleased Wang Ping even more was that he could clearly sense Jiu'er's consciousness had fully awakened, her spiritual structure stable, and she was actively, slowly absorbing the scattered丹ling Dao resonance and chaotic vitality from the surrounding environment for self-repair.

"Master! You're awake!" Jiu'er's joyful (though still carrying a sense of weakness) thought directly transmitted into Wang Ping's mind, "Jiu'er feels much better! Just…… still no strength."

"It's fine, take it slow." Wang Ping felt the heavy stone in his heart drop, and replied warmly. Jiu'er's recovery was undoubtedly the most comforting news at this moment.

Only then did he lift his head, look around. Seeing Cangxuan, Yuliuli, Yunhao, and others all awake, with stable breaths, gathered at the entrance in silent mourning, his heart ached, and he slowly rose to his feet.

His body still felt somewhat insubstantial, but he could move freely. He walked to stand beside the others, shoulder to shoulder, and together they gazed at that illusory entrance.

"Fellow Daoist Youying……" Wang Ping spoke, his voice somewhat dry, "We…… have temporarily succeeded."

No response. Only the ancient cold and silence of the Eternal Void Seal domain.

"This grace and favor, we shall never forget in eternity." Wang Ping continued, his voice low and firm, "As long as a single breath remains, we must surely seek a way to reverse the void and awaken the slumbering."

Cangxuan gripped his sword hilt tightly and nodded firmly. Yuliuli brushed her fingertips over the Immortal Sound Bell, the bell body emitting an extremely faint yet somehow resolute rhythmic tremor. Yunhao and the others straightened their spines even more, the fire of conviction burning in their eyes.

After mourning, came contemplation of the path ahead.

Wang Ping turned, looking at the silent altar, at the thirty-six stone pillars flowing with fresh chaotic Dao resonance, their light stable, and at the hovering, slowly rotating chaotic-colored new core array eye at the altar's center.

"The seal is now firm, able to ensure three thousand years of peace. But the 'Primordial Chaos' has not vanished, remaining a hidden danger. Fellow Daoist Youying slumbers in the void, needing a chance for rescue. Outside the Immortal Palace, the Netherworld clan, traitor remnants, and even those blinded by greed will likely not rest." Wang Ping said slowly, analyzing the current situation, "Our injuries are not yet healed, our strength greatly diminished; we are not suited for immediate major action. The urgent task is to thoroughly recover, and to utilize this Immortal Palace relic, especially any possible classics or inheritances left within this Chaotic Palace, to find solutions and enhance our strength."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Commander Yunhao," Wang Ping looked toward Yunhao, "You know the Immortal Palace best. Besides this main hall, within the Chaotic Palace, are there still similar important relics like a Scripture Pavilion, Alchemy Chamber, or Artifact Forge? Especially places that might record ancient secrets, void forbidden arts, or information related to the 'Primordial Chaos'?"

Yunhao pondered for a moment, then said: "The Chaotic Palace is the Immortal King's residence and final guarding place; its outer regions have mostly collapsed and deteriorated over the long ages, or been eroded and polluted by the 'Chaos' aura. But the core area, besides this Stabilizing Source Hall, should still have several important locations. One is the 'Chaotic Alchemy Chamber,' where the Immortal King refined pills; perhaps it retains pill manuals, even remnants of creation's vitality, which could greatly aid the recovery of the Danling Child."

Wang Ping's eyes lit up, and he looked toward Jiu'er. Jiu'er's thought also conveyed anticipation.

"Another is the 'Myriad Dao Corridor,' said to be engraved with the Immortal King's insights and deductions on the myriad Dao of the heavens, possibly containing scattered records about the void, chaos, and even the essence of 'Primordial Chaos.' There is also an 'Observation Platform,' connected to the Heavenly Stars Grand Array, possibly allowing one to observe the movements of the Immortal Palace's outer regions and even more distant starry skies, to understand external conditions." Yunhao continued, "However, these places are all guarded by restrictions, and having endured ages and turmoil, their internal conditions are unknown; there may be residual formations or aberrant monsters."

"Having a direction is good enough." Wang Ping nodded, "Once we regain some strength, we will explore them one by one. For now, we will take this hall as our base and thoroughly heal our injuries. This place's chaotic Dao resonance is rich, order stable, most suitable for our recovery, especially for Jiu'er."

Everyone had no objections.

In the following days, the main hall became their temporary refuge and cultivation ground.

Wang Ping, while continuing to consolidate his cultivation and repair dark injuries, also tried to deeply understand and master the newly born thread of chaotic immortal essence, as well as the transformed chaotic five-color divine light and other divine abilities. He often connected his divine sense with the new core array eye to comprehend the higher-level chaotic order within, gaining much.

Besides cultivation, Cangxuan daily honed his sword intent to polish his divine sense, and began attempting to comprehend the spatial law remnants emanating from the "Eternal Void Seal" domain at the entrance, hoping to find a clue about the void forbidden arts within.

Yuliuli, meanwhile, used the Immortal Sound Bell and the hall's tranquil Dao resonance to not only accelerate her own recovery, but also occasionally played simple soothing melodies, invisibly easing the lingering sorrow and agitation in everyone's hearts, benefiting overall recovery.

Yunhao and the other remnant warriors were responsible for guarding the hall's entrance (although it was sealed, but caution warranted) and watching over the still-unconscious severely injured comrades. They also seized the time to cultivate their remnant inheritance techniques, their strength slowly recovering.

Jiu'er's recovery was the most noticeable. Nourished by the Chaotic Danling origin, Wang Ping's continuous delivery of建wood vitality, and the hall's increasingly rich order vitality, his spiritual body solidified at a visible speed. After several days, that cluster of light had recondensed into a palm-sized, slightly transparent yet clear-featured child's phantom; though he could not yet leave Wang Ping's side for long, nor display any divine abilities, his consciousness was clear, lively and lovable, and he could already engage in simple thought communication with everyone, becoming a rare bright spot in this dull hall.

On this day, when Wang Ping felt his strength had recovered to about fifty percent, and his chaotic immortal essence had grown a bit, he decided to begin his first exploration.

Target——the Chaotic Alchemy Chamber, theoretically closest to the main hall and with relatively low danger.

"I will go first to scout ahead." Wang Ping told everyone, "Cangxuan brother, Yuliuli fairy are still injured and need someone to stay and guard. Yunhao commander knows the path, can point me the way, but need not accompany me; staying behind is safer."

Though Cangxuan and Yuliuli wanted to go together, they also knew Wang Ping's words made sense. Their current strength recovery was under thirty percent; going together might only become a burden. Yunhao bore the heavy responsibility of guarding and needed to watch over the unconscious companions.

"Wang brother, be careful. Though the Alchemy Chamber focuses on pill refinement, the Immortal King's methods are unfathomable; there may be arrangements." Cangxuan cautioned.

"If danger arises, retreat immediately; we will respond." Yuliuli said softly.

Yunhao then transmitted the detailed route to the Alchemy Chamber (requiring detours around several known collapsed or polluted areas) to Wang Ping via divine sense.

Jiu'er then transmitted a worried thought: "Master, bring Jiu'er along! Jiu'er feels…… that place might have something familiar, perhaps it could be of help!"

Wang Ping pondered briefly; Jiu'er, being formed from an immortal pill, naturally has affinity for the Alchemy Chamber environment, and might truly be of help. Moreover, his spiritual body is now stable; as long as he does not stray too far, there should be no major issue.

"Good, Jiu'er goes with me." Wang Ping nodded, carefully storing Jiu'er's spiritual phantom in his embrace, shielding it with his own chaotic domain aura.

After bidding farewell to everyone, Wang Ping drew in a deep breath, restrained his aura, and stepped out of the main hall, entering the outer corridor hub where he had once battled the Chaotic Stone Puppet.

Outside the hall, the remnants of the immortal palace came into view. Although the tremors had subsided, the scars left by the previous battle and energy shocks remained shocking to behold. The chaotic runes on the passage walls were mostly dim and damaged, cracks crisscrossed the floor, and while the violent chaotic energy was no longer present in the air, a desolate and deathly stillness lingered like that of ruins.

Wang Ping followed the path indicated by Yun Hao, proceeding cautiously. His divine sense spread out like mercury spilled on the ground, vigilant for any lurking danger. Along the way, he encountered several small areas of spatial instability and lingering foul odors, all of which he carefully avoided or directly purified with his chaotic domain.

After advancing for about half an hour, passing through several side passages and a half-collapsed side hall, at the end of the forward passage appeared a tightly shut door, carved from a mixture of warm white jade and chaotic crystal stone. The door was engraved with patterns of furnaces, elixirs, and cloud rosy hues; though covered in dust for a long time, one could still feel an inward, Dao rhythm containing infinite vitality. On the lintel above, three ancient seal characters were faintly discernible—Chaotic Elixir Chamber.

Arrived.

Wang Ping stopped several zhang before the door, observing carefully. The door was tightly closed, with no obvious restriction light flowing on its surface, but Wang Ping could feel an extremely subtle yet tenacious force enveloping the door, faintly connected to the earth veins of the entire immortal palace. This was not an offensive restriction, but more like an identification and protection mechanism.

He attempted to, sending a thread of his pure chaotic spiritual power slowly into a furnace carving on the door.

Hum……

The door trembled slightly, the furnace carving lit up with a faint glow, as if "identifying" this force. Immediately afterward, Jiu Er in Wang Ping's bosom spontaneously emitted a thread of extremely pure elixir spiritual aura.

The light on the door instantly softened, the tightly closed door panels emitted a low "zha zha" sound, and slowly slid open to either side, forming a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.

A wind even richer than before, mixed with a faint medicinal aroma, a hint of burnt scent, and an indescribable "creation" aura, blew out from the door crack.

Wang Ping's spirit lifted, he gestured for Jiu Er to retract her aura, while he heightened his vigilance and stepped into this chaotic elixir chamber that had been sealed for who knows how many tens of thousands of years.

Inside the door, it was not the imagined spacious and bright elixir hall, but rather a scene that appeared somewhat……messy, even somewhat "tragic".

The elixir chamber was quite spacious, the dome bore traces of a formation gathering starlight and earth fire, but most of it had been damaged. In the center stood a huge, entirely black, crack-covered elixir furnace, with one corner completely collapsed; the furnace body had no spiritual light left, and even the ashes in the furnace base had long gone cold. Around it were similarly damaged jade racks and stone platforms, scattered with shattered jade bottles, blackened medicinal residue, and several scrolls that had long turned to flying ash, leaving only a few fragments of jade slips. The walls, which may have originally depicted elixir diagrams or formations, were now mottled and peeling, making them hard to recognize.

The entire elixir chamber was permeated with a sense of "hasty departure" or "having endured a catastrophe" after the fact.

However, Wang Ping's gaze was instantly drawn to a relatively intact corner deep within the elixir chamber.

There lay a small platform carved from chaotic warm jade. On the platform was not an elixir or a classic, but……a plant.

A plant only about three inches tall, its entire body showing chaotic hues, bearing three crystalline, translucent leaves whose veins seemed to have nebulae flowing within, and at the top bore a dragon-eye-sized fruit, similarly chaotic in color, with natural Dao patterns on its surface……an extraordinary plant!

Though the plant appeared weak, it emitted an indescribable vitality and Dao rhythm. That vitality was not vast and boundless, but extremely inward, pure, as if containing the most primordial life force from the moment heaven and earth were first opened. That Dao rhythm was even more profound, subtly resonating with Wang Ping's cultivation of the Chaotic Dao, yet with an added touch of pure "generation" and "creation" connotation.

And above the chaotic-hued fruit, a thread of extremely weak, almost about to dissipate……pale cyan vortex floated.

The vortex slowly rotated, emitting an aura of "nourishment", "nurturing", and "harmonizing", silently merging into the fruit below.

"This is……" Wang Ping's pupils contracted slightly, his heart stirred.

"Primordial creation qi! It's true primordial creation qi!" Jiu Er's excited voice echoed in Wang Ping's mind, even tinged with a sob, "Grandfather……Grandfather back then most wanted to condense this most primordial creation qi! This……this plant……could it be……"

Wang Ping stepped forward quickly, arriving at the edge of the jade platform, and carefully sensed. The Fusang seed within his body also transmitted a clear, joyful and exhilarating fluctuation, as if encountering a being of similar origin.

That pale cyan vortex was indeed an extremely pure primordial creation qi, though weak, its quality was astonishingly high. And the lower that extraordinary chaotic-hued plant……

"Chaotic……Qinglian?" Wang Ping's mind suddenly flashed with an ancient legend hinted at in the residual thoughts of the Immortal King. When chaos first opened, a green lotus supported the world, containing supreme creation. Could it be that the Immortal King here actually attempted, using supreme elixir arts and chaotic laws, to cultivate a spiritual plant similar to the legendary "Chaotic Qinglian"? Though far from the legend, judging by its appearance, it was already extraordinary!

And this thread of residual primordial creation qi, along with this extraordinary chaotic spiritual plant, might be the most precious legacy left behind after the chaotic elixir chamber endured calamity! For Jiu Er's recovery, for his own insight into the Chaotic Dao, and even for possibly finding a way to rescue the Youying and confront the "Primordial Chaos", it could hold immeasurable value!

Wang Ping's heart began to beat violently.

Exploration had just begun, yet it seemed he had discovered an unexpected opportunity. Yet, in the depths of this silent elixir chamber, beside this extraordinary spiritual plant, could unknown dangers or trials still be hidden?

He gathered his spirit, his gaze sharp as he swept around the jade platform……

Inside the chaotic elixir chamber, time seemed to freeze at the moment of decay and rebirth intertwined.

Wang Ping stood before that chaotic warm jade platform, his breathing unconsciously lightened. Before him, this three-inch-tall extraordinary plant, and above it that thread of pale cyan creation qi, emitted a Dao rhythm so pure, so close to the origin of chaos and life, that his internal chaotic Nascent Soul trembled slightly, and the Fusang seed transmitted a clear sense of closeness and longing.

"Primordial creation qi……chaotic spiritual plant……" Wang Ping's heart surged with waves. He could feel that although this thread of source qi was weak, its essence was extremely high; if he could absorb and refine it, whether for Jiu Er's recovery or for his own benefit in the Chaotic Dao, it would hold immeasurable advantages. And this suspected "Chaotic Qinglian" prototype spiritual plant might even contain the Immortal King's supreme understanding in elixir arts and creation laws.

But the more precious the opportunity, the more often it comes with unknown risks. Would the Immortal King's遗留物 be without protection?

He did not rush to touch it, but instead first carefully swept his divine sense over the jade platform and its surroundings. The jade platform itself was warm and flawless, seeming merely a bearer. That thread of creation qi slowly rotated, besides nourishing the spiritual plant, showed no other abnormality. The spiritual plant grew quietly, its three chaotic-hued leaves crystalline and translucent, nebulae flowing within their veins, the Dao patterns on its fruit naturally formed, emitting a tranquil and inward vitality.

It seemed……there was no danger?

Wang Ping dared not be careless. A thought moved in his mind, and though his hundred-zhang chaotic domain could not fully unfold due to unhealed injuries, a condensed thread of chaotic divine sense, imbued with the意韻 of "inclusiveness" and "perception", slowly extended, extremely gently making contact with that thread of creation qi.

The instant the divine sense thread touched the source qi——

Hum!