Chapter 443: Feng Lingyun

As the voice fell, sixteen brilliant celestial lights descended from the Heavenly Dome, landing precisely in the palms of the sixteen people.

The radiance faded, turning into sixteen palm‑sized identity jade plaques made entirely of milky white jade. The front bore the characters "Inner Gate", and the back was engraved with intricate formation patterns, exuding an aura perfectly aligned with the laws of this world.

Lei Qianjue held the jade plaque in his hand and could clearly feel that with it, the oppressive sense of law that had faintly lingered in the fourth layer vanished instantly, replaced by a feeling as comfortable as a fish in water.

"Inner Gate disciple? So the first three layers were merely checkpoints the Heavenly Court uses to filter external gate laborers?" Feng Lingyun murmured softly, a hint of astonishment flashing in his cold eyes.

The distant voice ignored the crowd's shock and continued to echo through heaven and earth:

"Having entered the Inner Gate, you shall receive the Heavenly Court's teachings. The Transmission Hall ahead is now open; you may enter with your inner gate jade plaque, each limited to selecting one supreme divine skill or Immortal King method. Those who take more will be punished by the formation!"

"Furthermore, the Heavenly Court's core inheritance and the Sheng Xian Chi are both in the Di Wu Ceng 'True Transmission Realm'."

"To enter the Di Wu Ceng, you must gather the four secret keys of the Four Symbols scattered in the fourth layer—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise. When the four keys unite, the guiding divine light will manifest."

"Go then, the Heavenly Court's inheritance is left to the strongest."

The voice gradually faded, and calm returned to heaven and earth, but within the hearts of the sixteen celestial champions, a storm had already risen.

Transmission Hall! Supreme divine skill! Immortal King method!

And the Sheng Xian Chi of the Di Wu Ceng and the core inheritance!

Everyone's breathing grew heavy.

They have endured countless hardships, even daring to offend the giants, all for these very things, haven't they?

"Only four keys means only four people can reach the Di Wu Ceng?"

With those words, the atmosphere in the hall instantly solidified.

The string of cooperation in the hearts of the sixteen celestial champions snapped in response.

Only four keys, yet sixteen people.

That means at least twelve people are destined to be eliminated!

The phrase "left to the strongest" was a bare‑knuckle jungle law proclamation, instantly igniting vigilance and hostility in everyone's hearts.

Lei Qianjue's gaze immediately met Mo Wuxin's nearby, both eyes reflecting unspoken murderous intent and a hint of cooperation.

The other celestial champions subconsciously searched for familiar, trustworthy companions, and a fragile alliance quickly formed in silence.

However, an unexpected scene unfolded.

Feng Lingyun, whom Lei Qianjue had taken for granted as an ally, glided lightly on lotus steps, and amid countless stunned gazes, walked straight to Hun Yuan Xue's side, bowing slightly.

"Snow Fairy, this journey is perilous; I, your junior sister, wish to accompany you and explore opportunities together."

That caused an uproar throughout the hall!

Lei Qianjue's complexion turned iron‑blue instantly, and he shouted angrily, "Feng Lingyun, what do you mean?!"

Hun Yuan Xue was also startled, but quickly recovered, a smug smile blooming on her face. She gave Lei Qianjue a provocative glance, reached out and clasped Feng Lingyun's fragrant shoulder:

"What does it mean? It means that clever people know who to associate with!"

Feng Lingyun ignored the raging Lei Qianjue and replied coldly:

"Brother Lei, our paths differ; we shall not conspire together."

This unabashed betrayal made Lei Qianjue so angry that his whole body trembled.

With Feng Lingyun's addition, the young master of Ten Thousand Demon Valley who had transformed into a blond youth exchanged a glance, then decisively brought a demon‑clan celestial champion into Hun Yuan Xue's camp.

In an instant, centered on Hun Yuan Xue and her unfathomable enforcer "Yuan", a super‑strong team of four top celestial champions took shape.

Seeing the strongest few already banded together, the remaining participants dared not lag, so Lei Qianjue and Mo Wuxin, reluctantly, formed another team with two other factions.

They teamed up with Jin Tuo Zi, the Western Heaven Buddha, and the ancient divine mountain group.

The final four celestial champions could only be forced into an alliance.

The sixteen split distinctly into four groups of four, each harboring hidden motives, distancing themselves from one another, the air thick with the tension of drawn swords and loaded crossbows.

"Go!"

Lei Qianjue led the charge, transforming into a bolt of lightning and racing straight toward the most magnificent Transmission Hall.

Mo Wuxin, Jin Tuo Zi and others, unwilling to fall behind, swiftly accelerated to keep up.

Hun Yuan Xue glanced at Gu Yuan's duplicate behind her and haughtily hummed:

"Yuan, stay close to me; once I finish selecting the technique, we'll snatch those Four Symbols Secret Keys! Whoever dares block us, you tear them apart for me!"

Gu Yuan gave a slight nod, a trace of blood‑thirsty light flashing in his gray‑black eyes, obediently following behind Hun Yuan Xue.

Feng Lingyun smiled and followed behind Gu Yuan.

Soon, the sixteen entered the Transmission Hall in single file.

And shortly after they had entered the Transmission Hall,

On the Tongtian Vine at the far edge, which should have been completely sealed after ushering the sixteen, a figure cloaked in a wide black robe with a hood obscuring the face silently stepped onto the fourth‑layer cloud sea.

Gu Yuan's true self.

He patted the tattered Deceiving Heaven Cloak on his back, looked up at the towering "Inner Gate Island" archway, and a playful grin curled his lips.

"Inner Gate disciple? Each can only choose one book?"

Gu Yuan's true self clicked his tongue twice in his mind,

"The Heavenly Court is still too stingy; only children make choices. Adults, of course, take everything."

He did not, like the others, rush angrily through the main entrance of the Transmission Hall.

With the Deceiving Heaven Cloak shielding his karma and aura, the formations and laws here could not detect his presence, let alone issue him an inner gate jade plaque.

Gu Yuan's true form flickered, like a translucent phantom, bypassing the main entrance of the Transmission Hall and slipping toward the great hall's rear.

Based on experience and the quiet system scan just now, the so‑called "Immortal King methods" displayed before the Transmission Hall are merely copies the Heavenly Court uses to dispatch ordinary inner gate disciples.

The truly valuable items, the original hidden scripture vault, are definitely concealed in an isolated space behind the great hall.

…

At this moment, inside the Transmission Hall.

Sixteen heavenly pride cultivators shuttled through the vast sea of jade slips and golden books, each dazzled.

"Nine Heavens Controlling Lightning True Scripture? A defective giant‑level Immortal King technique? Too weak, unworthy of this young master!" Lei Qianjue tossed aside a jade slip at random and continued searching deeper.

"Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Technique? A complete giant‑level technique? That's somewhat interesting, but the side effects are too great."

Mo Wuxin swayed a white bone folding fan, picking and choosing.

Hun Yuan Xue wandered among the clusters of light, finally fixing her gaze on a jade slip burning with crimson flames: "The lower volume of the Southern Bright Scripture of Departing Fire? Excellent! My Hun family just needs this!"

She excitedly reached out to grab it, but discovered that the jade slip was sealed with a restriction.

She immediately turned to Gu Yuan: "Yuan, help me break it!"

Gu Yuan stepped forward expressionlessly, his gray‑black hand shrouded in Extinction Source power clenched hard—crack! —the barrier that could withstand a full‑force strike from an early True Immortal shattered like an eggshell.

Hun Yuan Xue triumphantly stored the jade slip away.

Gu Yuan simply picked one at random.

Afterwards, she glanced at Gu Yuan and saw him holding an ordinary stone slip inscribed with the Hun Yuan One Qi Technique.

She leaned over curiously to take a look, and her brows furrowed at once.

"What trash technique is this? The Hun Yuan One Qi Technique? Isn't that just a basic cultivation method? Anyone can practice it, it embraces all laws, but it also means utter mediocrity—you'll get nowhere. With your talent and physique, casually picking any Primeval Battle Body would be a hundred times better!"

Gu Yuan gave no reply, calmly accepting the technique.

For him.

He possesses the Primordial Indestructible Scripture—a technique created by the Supreme Immortal King; isn't that better than these?

Choosing this technique is mainly for the sake of the Gu Family's members.

Judging by the Hong Meng Dao Qi stored in his main body, as long as he returns…

…there will be a huge outbreak!