Chapter 54: Sun Rises from Within

Shen Tang shot him a glare, said no more, and the group had already arrived at the Sword Sect's dungeon.

Lu Xingzhou did not let them enter, only having A-Nuo push her inside.

Not long after, Bai Chi's roar came from within: "Lu Xingzhou, you actually dare to commit an act that defies the world, refining a Soul Banner!"

"Don't talk nonsense, what Soul Banner? This is a legitimate Human Emperor Banner!" Lu Xingzhou's voice came through: "My Human Emperor Banner is just short of a few souls to reach a thousand, allowing it to ascend. Brother Bai, your whole family can take a seat; that's a huge favor."

"Lu Xingzhou, you... ah!"

The sound ceased. Dugu Qingli shook her head, pushed Shen Tang, and turned to leave.

She also didn't understand; previously she had been very averse to these things, yet when Lu Xingzhou used them, she didn't feel anything was wrong at all.

Truly strange.

So she asked: "Lu Xingzhou practices the methods of a demonic cultivator, which the Righteous Path does not tolerate and the imperial court strictly forbids; why do you have no reaction at all?"

"Why would I care about that? How Bai Chi died has nothing to do with me." Shen Tang asked back in surprise: "I should be asking why you have no reaction at all?"

Dugu Qingli opened her mouth, and after a long moment actually repeated the sentence: "How Bai Chi died has nothing to do with me."

Shen Tang laughed out loud, then asked: "The Incense Tower is one thing... would you think the people of Lingyun Gate did not deserve to die?"

Dugu Qingli thought for a moment, then shook her head: "No. If they caused trouble at my sect's grand ceremony, they would likely have died even more miserably. They dared to come here to cause trouble simply because they thought we were easy to bully, believing that no matter what, we wouldn't dare to kill. For any grand ceremony of a powerful sect, everyone knows that provocation demands a price."

"Yes. They bullied us because we were weak, never expecting we would truly dare." Shen Tang gazed somewhat distractedly at the pitch-black night sky, murmuring to herself: "I want to know even more: when today's events reach the capital, how will he... think?"

Late at night, the Capital Demon Suppression Bureau received a transmission talisman from Xiazhou and rushed into the palace to report to Gu Zhanting.

Gu Zhanting stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the report, silent for a long time.

After a long while, he finally sighed softly: "Yitang is a phoenix among men; the mere Xiazhou could naturally not stop her brilliance. Fortunately, she also shows understanding... given how firmly she is established now, with a Pill Master by her side, there is no way she cannot treat her leg, yet she has not done so. That is telling me to ask Father Emperor to rest assured."

Pausing, he ordered those around him: "No matter who is secretly conspiring and instigating, make them roll back. Did I say I would support the Tianxing Sword Sect, or was that just a fart?"

Those around him bowed in agreement, all forming some judgment in their hearts.

Your Majesty feels some guilt toward the Princess in his heart...

Clearly a phoenix among men, yet she voluntarily fled to a desolate city to establish herself, only to be bullied by a group of ordinary forces; clearly able to treat her broken leg, yet she lets herself remain paralyzed, showing her intention not to contend.

Even if an Emperor has a heart of iron and stone, she is still his own daughter, the little dumpling he once liked very much when she was small; seeing her wronged to this extent, how could there not be a shred of softness in his heart?

Pity there is a bit of softness, but not much. Otherwise, he should have punished the conspirators for their crimes, rather than just telling them to roll back.

Someone then asked: "Your Majesty, the Incense Tower maliciously attempted to assassinate the Princess; this matter..."

Gu Zhanting said coldly: "The Incense Tower's strength is average, only their connections are wide; Yitang is likely ill-equipped to deal with them. Pass the order: the Incense Tower has gone against my will; henceforth, no one is allowed to assist them, otherwise it is provoking me. As for the tower itself, we need not worry about it; leave it for Yitang to play with slowly on her own."

"Yes."

At this moment, Shen Tang and Lu Xingzhou had already arrived at the location of the former merchant house, standing on the rooftop of the highest building, gazing into the distance between the two mountains.

The clouds on this winter night were very thick; stars and moon were hard to see clearly, with no light. The two mountains were close at hand, yet still a pitch-black mass, indistinct.

At first glance, they blended into a single mass, looking more like a huge alchemical cauldron. The flickering candlelights on Danxia Mountain were like the luster of gems inlaid on the cauldron.

They were waiting, waiting for the moment of sunrise.

Hidden at the base of the building was a huge Spirit-Gathering Formation; at this moment, the spiritual energy within the array was immense, having already reached the energy level of the upper third grade. Regardless of how many purposes the daytime ceremony had, gathering spiritual energy to converge here was the final step.

Spirit-Gathering Arrays fall into two categories: one gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for daily use, facilitating cultivation and absorption; the other is this kind, which steals and stores combat-dissipated power, including the soul power of the dead, also required for spirit gathering.

This type belongs to a heretical scripture through and through; its essence counts as a form of sacrifice. If expanded, it would be a Mountain and River Sacrifice.

Before this, Shen Tang and Dugu Qingli probably never in their lives thought they would participate in a heretical scripture, let alone as the main force.

Shen Tang sometimes wondered if she was like a foolish emperor bewitched by a demonic Daoist.

Yet the scene of sitting side by side with him on the rooftop, quietly waiting for the sunrise, made her heart feel very peaceful.

If not for the two people pushing the wheelchair standing behind her, it would be perfect... now it's hard to even speak properly.

She thought for a long time, then blurted out: "If breaking this also requires a specific date, what then?"

"If it really is like that, there's no way around it, but I don't think it should be that far-fetched... after all, the sealing of the Spirit Spring already borrowed the timing of heaven; repeating it wouldn't make much sense." Lu Xingzhou spoke somewhat distractedly: "I actually have another hesitation now, not knowing whether I should continue."

Shen Tang paused: "What? We've already reached this stage."

Lu Xingzhou sighed: "If there truly is a hidden immortal secret realm here, it might be something we cannot bear."

Shen Tang smiled: "At least we can confirm that before being sealed here, Xiazhou was better than it is now. This shows that even if it is powerful, it is not the type that is harmful to the outside; at most, the crisis is only internal. Right?"

"Mm."

Shen Tang said softly: "Then isn't that settled? Whether there is a crisis is still unknown; it might just be a peaceful treasure land. Even if there is, it's only an internal matter, harming no one else. We will face it together."

Lu Xingzhou turned to look at her profile; he knew Shen Tang had no great demand for this decryption. The foundation of the current Tianxing Sword Sect was already laid; as long as it developed step by step, it would not take long to become a prosperous, powerful sect. If she wanted to decrypt it, she could wait until the faction grew stronger and take it slowly; there was no need to rush into risk now.

The one truly in a hurry was him, Lu Xingzhou.

Not long ago, Dugu Qingli's suggestion regarding bone replacement was still in his ears; previously, without such conditions, he wouldn't have indulged in wild thoughts. But if this is an immortal secret realm, there is a high probability that things like Immortal Bones truly exist, or there might be other beneficial heavenly treasures and earthly gems.

Lu Xingzhou looked at her face, smooth as a calm lake, yet in reality, he did not know how great a desire she suppressed in her heart; all recent arrangements were for this.

But he also knew there were unknown dangers inside; he did not want to drag others in too deeply.

Yet she said, we will face it together.

Lu Xingzhou's expression, which had been somewhat tense, slowly relaxed, revealing a faint smile: "Mm."

Far away, the first wisp of dawn light gradually appeared; neither of them spoke again, staring tightly at the space between the two mountains ahead.

A wisp of light halo from the top of the sun slowly appeared in the mountain hollow.

Lu Xingzhou suddenly ignited a talisman; the Spirit-Gathering Formation at the base of the building seemed to receive a signal, and the stored power began to slowly release downward into the deep earth veins.

The converging power kept sinking, while the distant sun slowly rose; it looked as if the downward pressure of the power here caused the distant sun to rise, a scene quite mystical.

When the stored energy was exhausted, the sun still had a small part hidden beneath the mountain hollow, not fully emerged. Lu Xingzhou was prepared; the talisman flew straight down, transferring all his power into the array.

Immediately after, A-Nuo, Qingli, and Shen Tang took turns in relay.

When more than half of Shen Tang's spiritual energy was injected, the sun finally jumped into a complete circle, looking exactly like a pill jumping out of an alchemical cauldron.

Lu Xingzhou ignited the talisman again; the Illusion-Breaking Formation pre-arranged in the mountain hollow shone brilliantly.

That gentle, newborn warm sun suddenly burst forth with dazzling radiance, reflecting on the formation in the mountains; in an instant, flowing light overflowed, covering the mountain hollow.

The entire space of the mountain hollow seemed faintly warped, as if refracted by light, yet on closer inspection nothing had actually changed.

"Now." Lu Xingzhou slapped the armrest of his wheelchair and shot toward the mountain hollow like a bolt.

The others followed close behind, heading straight for the very center of the hollow.

Even though they had prepared themselves, the sight that met their eyes still gave them a shock.

The once utterly ordinary soil of the hollow was, at some unknown point, covered in all manner of arcane patterns; even its color had shifted from common earth to a faintly white-jade hue. At the center it formed a yin-yang fish shape, one half flame, the other half ice-blue. The two sides were not currently meshing but slightly parted, like an opening door.

The mountain hollow was vast, not just a small plot of land. Looking out, everywhere the eye could reach had already completely changed, looking magnificent, as if one stood amid an immortal's wondrous sight.

Shen Tang drew a deep breath. "You're right. This door was opened by the spirit-gathering array; the trigger point is at the trading house. Once the door opened, sunlight poured in from below, the illusion-breaking array responded and took effect, and only then could the true scene be revealed. Add in the earlier merging of water and fire — if any one of those three links were missing, this puzzle couldn't be solved."

Seeing Shen Tang's gaze that was practically worshipful, Lu Xingzhou shook his head, showing no self-satisfaction.

It looked as if he had only begun pondering this after obtaining the Huo residence, but in fact he had been mulling it over for more than half a year already — from the time he had gone to Danxia Mountain to work as a pill refiner — and one might even say the fuse had been laid ten years ago.

Now that it was revealed all at once, a flood of mixed feelings welled up.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" The wondrous changes here naturally drew the attention of the Heaven's Edge Sword Sect disciples. Jin Mingxiu, Tang Yunzhong and others flew over on their swords, and were all shocked at the sight: "Sect Master, this is…"

Lu Xingzhou unhurriedly set up concealment arrays around the area, saying nothing.

"It's a secret realm, specifics unknown," Shen Tang replied as if it were nothing. "Once Elder Lu finishes laying the arrays, this place will be concealed. Uncle Zhong, take trusted core disciples to guard it — not even ordinary disciples may be told. We'll go in first to check the situation… Remember to seal off the road outside; no one is allowed to approach or disturb us."

As she spoke, her beautiful eyes fell on Jin Mingxiu, and she gave what seemed a casual order: "There may be danger below. Hall Master Jin's cultivation is profound — come in with us."

Everyone felt the arrangement was perfectly normal. Tang Yunzhong solemnly accepted the order and went off to arrange the guard. A-Nuo and Dugu Qingli each shouldered a wheelchair and leapt down first.

Jin Mingxiu's eyes shifted slightly, a hint of a smile in them, and he quickly followed down after them.

The moment the group's figures vanished, before Lu Xingzhou's concealment arrays even took effect, the ground had already closed up on its own — the patterns vanished, and it returned to the look of an ordinary mountain hollow, with nothing unusual left.

(End of chapter)