Chapter 91: Water Moon Jade Plate

A bright light shot out from beneath the pool, and a Taiji pattern unexpectedly appeared on the surface of the pool water, spinning incessantly; furthermore, ink-wash style runes appeared all around, drifting about like willow catkins.

Following a shout of "Jump!"

The disciples of the Five Ghosts Sect jumped down first, followed immediately by the Return to Origin Sect, Kaiyuan Academy, Five Yang Temple, Yunu Gong, and so on, and only then did the smaller sects like the Yaoguang Sword Sect and Qingyun Temple, as well as the rogue cultivators, follow; as for Su Yuanshan, he was the very last to jump in, unlike the others who were in such an impatient rush to compete for the lead.

They jumped down one by one, but miraculously, they did not fall into the Cold Pool; instead, they felt a blur before their eyes, as if they had arrived in a strange world.

A blue sky, leisurely white clouds, winding distant mountains and peaks as picturesque as a painting, and lush, verdant mountain forests.

A winding mountain stream path led directly to an ancient temple atop the great mountain, and from within the ancient temple came the sound of a distant bell.

"Dang—dang!"

Hanshan Si outside Yusu Cheng, the sound of drums from the dam reaches the passenger boat!

There were no boats here, only a small dock built of red timber half-submerged in the water, and the boundless Ming Hu! The opposite shore of the lake was shrouded in a strange gray mist, making it impossible to see clearly.

On the bank of the lake stood a stone tablet made from a natural giant boulder, with two lines of bright red characters carved upon it, which read:

"Moon sets, crows cry, frost fills the sky,

Water ripples, fishing lights, facing sorrowful sleep.

Hanshan Si outside Yusu Cheng, the sound of drums from the dam reaches the passenger boat."

The title of the poem inscribed at the very top was "Immovable."

Everyone noticed that stone tablet; to be precise, they noticed the poem on the stone tablet.

Because it was too conspicuous; not only was the location of the tablet eye-catching, but the handwriting was also very striking—after all, with the characters painted in bright red cinnabar, it would be difficult for them not to stand out.

The group from the Five Ghosts Sect was the first to surround it, carefully observing the stone tablet, and one of the disciples asked an elderly man with a long beard.

"Protector, what do you think? Erecting a stone tablet in such a conspicuous place, is someone playing tricks?"

However, the long-bearded elder stroked his long beard and mused.

"If this old man's guess is correct, this should be an acrostic poem. The poem contains key information regarding whether our trip will be a success or a failure."

The disciple was startled upon hearing this.

"An acrostic poem?"

The Five Ghosts Sect Protector nodded and said.

"That's right, read the first character of each line of that poem together!"

Their conversation attracted everyone's attention, and even Su Yuanshan squinted his eyes and watched them from afar, observing what their next move would be.

Sure enough, a Five Ghosts Sect disciple was seen reading it out loud shortly after.

"Moon—water... jade... plate?"

However, the Five Ghosts Sect Protector smiled complacently while twisting his beard.

"Kid, you're wrong. It's not 'Moon Water Jade Plate,' it should be 'Water Moon Jade Plate'! It takes its meaning from the concept of flowers in a mirror and the moon in the water!"

"Flowers in a mirror, the moon in the water; they can be seen, but cannot be grasped, ultimately coming to nothing!"

"If this old man's guess is correct, this Water Moon Jade Plate is the key treasure to passing through here, so we must find it."

The other disciples of the Five Ghosts Sect suddenly realized this and began to cheer with joy one by one.

"The Protector is wise!"

"The Protector is brilliant!"

"Then let us split up and act."

A Five Ghosts Sect disciple was seen glancing at the disciples of the other sects with no small amount of smugness, saying.

"You heard him; our Protector has already pointed out the key for you. I hope you will assist us in finding it. Of course, once we find the opportunity, we will share a little of the credit with you, provided you help us find the Water Moon Jade Plate!"

However, unexpectedly, apart from a few rogue cultivators, the people from the other sects ignored him, which caused the members of the Five Ghosts Sect to feel a sense of resentment.

However, the Five Ghosts Sect Protector said dismissively.

"It is a favor if they help us, and their duty if they don't. Don't count on outsiders; let's act quickly ourselves, lest we be upstaged by others. Of course, when the time comes..."

He swept his gaze over the crowd and snorted coldly.

"Once the opportunity is found, they won't get a share!"

Seeing the Five Ghosts Sect disciples scatter to search for the Water Moon Jade Plate, a disciple of the Return to Origin Sect sighed and complained.

"Great Martial Uncle, why aren't we acting yet? We mustn't let them get the first prize, must we?"

However, a white-haired old man said indifferently.

The women in palace attire from Yunu Gong also remained motionless one by one, seemingly having no intention of searching for the Water Moon Jade Plate; however, a Confucian cultivator from Kaiyuan Academy seemed unable to hold back, asking the middle-aged man beside him in a low voice.

The palace-robed women of Yunu Gong also remained unmoved, seemingly having no intention of searching for the Water Moon Jade Plate; however, a Confucian cultivator from Kaiyuan Academy seemed unable to contain his impatience and whispered to the middle-aged man beside him.

"Senior Brother, why hasn't Master made a move yet? Could it be that we are really going to let that bunch from the Five Ghosts Sect benefit?"

"I am also puzzled; according to Master's usual temperament, he would not allow such a thing to happen, but now he is... seemingly watching and waiting! Strange!"

"I am also puzzled. According to Master's usual temperament, he would not allow such a thing to happen, but now he is... seemingly observing! Strange!"

The monks from Five Yang Temple sat cross-legged one by one, eyes closed in meditation, seemingly deaf to the affairs around them, focused only on reciting 'Amitabha Buddha!'

Cai Lian wanted to follow and take a look, but Lv Qingshan shook his head.

Seeing this, Cai Lian could only stick out her tongue, retracting the step she had taken, and dismissed the idea of following them.

Tian Ruoyun of the Yaoguang Sword Sect, though looking confused, saw that her master was also sitting in meditation and her martial uncle was frowning, so she felt too embarrassed to follow and search for the Water Moon Jade Plate, though she was truly anxious inside; however, she could not understand her master's actions.

Sima Wuhen seemed not at all anxious, and the purple-clad girl still maintained her 'keep away' attitude; one could feel the chill radiating from her body even from ten meters away.

He had originally been worried that Su Yuanshan and the purple-clad girl would be anxious, but seeing this situation, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Su Yuanshan stood there motionless, his hat brim pulled very low!

He seemed even less concerned about that treasure called the 'Water Moon Jade Plate.'

For a time, the atmosphere here was somewhat eerie.

Suddenly, a Five Ghosts Sect disciple shouted in surprise.

【61】 "Oh, heavens, look, there is a plate carved from jade here!"

"Ah, hurry and take it to the Protector to see if it is the Water Moon Jade Plate!"

"Haha, that's it, look, there are a few seal script characters carved on it—Water Moon Jade Plate!"

"We are going to be rich now!"

"Kid, you really have a way with things; you've performed a great service this time."

Huang Yang of the Jade Light Sword Sect heard this and looked astonished, unable to help but mutter a sentence.

"Eh? So fast?"

Xie Lingyu, Sect Master of the Jade Light Sword Sect, suddenly opened her eyes and looked toward the direction from which the Five Ghosts Sect's shouts came.

The Dean of the Open Origin Academy frowned slightly and looked at that stone tablet once again.

Those few monks from the Five Suns Temple could not help but chant a Buddhist name: "Amitabha!"

Cailian looked at Lv Qingshan with a blank expression, opened her mouth, but could not ask anything.

Because Lv Qingshan was looking into the distance, his expression extremely focused, as if he were carefully listening to the commotion coming from the Five Ghosts Sect's side.

The purple-clad young girl still leaned against an ancient tree, turning her head to look elsewhere, appearing indifferent and unconcerned about everything.

And Su Yuanshan finally moved; he pulled up the brim of his hat, squinted his eyes as he looked toward the direction of the Five Ghosts Sect's cheers and laughter, and said a sentence indifferently!