Chapter 490: Bi Shui Cave Heaven

At the top of the Bi Shui Palace!

Wang Yu froze at these words, his gaze instinctively sweeping toward the lake beneath the massive island.

Could the true Bi Shui Palace be beneath the lake?

Unfortunately, clear restrictions lingered in the surrounding void; his spiritual sense could not extend far from his body, and he dared not recklessly send out his spiritual awareness to probe the lake below the island.

“Enough, we can enter the palace directly from here—friend, you may retract your flying artifact.” At that moment, Yan Lingxiang raised a hand and summoned forth the token that had sunk into the prow of the bone boat; it flashed once and landed steadily in his palm.

Wang Yu tapped the deck with one foot, and the bone boat instantly halted midair.

Then the two of them drifted gently down from the boat.

Wang Yu formed a hand seal with one hand, and the bone boat shrank rapidly into a fist-sized object before vanishing into his sleeve.

Yan Lingxiang merely flicked his sleeve, sending out a yellow message talisman that flashed once and vanished into the void before him.

After a dozen breaths, a ripple stirred in the surrounding void, and a pale, misty gate appeared, from which stepped a middle-aged man dressed in Bi Shui Palace robes.

His features were ordinary, his hair wild, his nose red and bulbous, and he held a blue circular disc in his hands.

“So it’s you, Yan brother—back already? Who is this friend of yours? Are you also entering the palace?” The wild-haired man glanced at Yan Lingxiang coldly, his spiritual pressure radiating the aura of Foundation Establishment mid-stage.

“Ah, it’s Brother Guan on duty. This is Brother Wang Yu, invited here by the Palace Master’s direct order. The Palace Master’s decree is inside the token—Brother, please verify it.” Yan Lingxiang’s expression shifted slightly upon seeing the stout man, but he extended the token toward him.

“Bringing outsiders into the palace requires inspection, naturally.” The wild-haired man took the token without ceremony and placed it atop his disc, scanning it with his spiritual sense.

“So this Brother Wang is here to contemplate the palace’s sacred artifact?” After a moment, Brother Guan returned the token to Yan Lingxiang, a flicker of surprise on his face.

“Correct. Brother Wang Yu possesses exceptional magical talent and meets the criteria to contemplate our sacred artifact—but the Palace Master himself must personally confirm it. Do you have any doubts, Brother?” Yan Lingxiang replied calmly.

“Brother Yan, you jest. With Brother Chai’s decree, there’s no issue—take him inside.” The wild-haired man yawned, cast one last long look at Wang Yu, then turned and walked back into the white gate, still holding his disc.

Without hesitation, Yan Lingxiang strode inside.

After a brief pause, Wang Yu followed.

The instant he stepped through the gate, everything blurred, his head spun, and the world turned upside down.

When Wang Yu’s vision cleared again, he found himself standing in a vast, empty stone hall.

The entire hall was built from emerald-green stone, beneath his feet glowed a white-lit array, and three open blue transmission shafts stood around the perimeter.

This was a transmission array!

Though only a three-shaft array—limited in range—it still left Wang Yu astounded.

The Bi Shui Palace is ridiculously extravagant.

Do all disciples enter and exit the Bi Shui Palace via transmission?

As Wang Yu scanned the hall, Yan Lingxiang, who had arrived with him, seemed to sense his thoughts and explained:

“Brother Wang, this direct return method is not the Bi Shui Palace’s normal entry route. Only gold-core cultivators granted special permission may use transmission to enter. Ordinary disciples enter and exit through the entrance at the top we saw earlier.”

“I see. Your palace’s grandeur truly lives up to its reputation as a major immortal sect.” Wang Yu nodded in admiration.

At this moment, Brother Guan, who had brought them in, ignored them entirely, walking to a cushion beside the array, sitting cross-legged, and closing his eyes to meditate.

“Brother Wang, let’s go. I’ll take you to meet the Palace Master first to submit your mission—contemplating the sacred artifact requires his personal approval.” Yan Lingxiang likewise ignored the wild-haired man, spoke to Wang Yu, then led him out of the transmission hall.

The moment Wang Yu stepped outside the hall, thick spiritual energy surged toward him, invigorating his spirit—but the scene beyond stunned him.

Outside the hall stretched a vast square, a thousand mu in size, surrounded by dense streets leading to every corner, and beyond, endless peaks and hills rolled into the distance.

Among the peaks, faintly visible were blue-green pavilions, halls, and towers, and numerous men and women in Bi Shui Palace robes flew low above the square.

Wang Yu instinctively looked upward.

Hundreds of zhang above, a pale blue energy curtain stretched across the entire sky.

Beneath it hung a crimson sun, illuminating the entire region.

“This is…”

Wang Yu stared at the familiar scene, his expression shifting slightly.

“Brother Wang has realized it? Correct—our Bi Shui Palace is itself a small secret realm, sometimes called the Bi Shui Cave Heaven.” Yan Lingxiang clapped his hands and smiled upon seeing Wang Yu’s astonishment.

“A secret realm—the Bi Shui Cave Heaven—I’ve truly seen something extraordinary.” Wang Yu exclaimed sincerely, his thoughts racing.

The Bi Shui Palace had chosen an entire secret realm as its mountain gate—far beyond his expectations—and this proved its power dwarfed that of sects like the Four Symbols Sect, mere golden-core factions.

At that moment, Yan Lingxiang shook his sleeve, releasing a white bird, a zhang tall. After gesturing to Wang Yu, the two climbed onto its massive body.

The next instant, the giant bird spread its wings and soared into the sky, speeding toward a distant direction.

Standing atop the bird’s back, Yan Lingxiang gave Wang Yu a brief overview of the Bi Shui Palace:

“Brother Wang, our Bi Shui Palace, like other immortal sects, has outer disciples, inner disciples, and true disciples, as well as foundation-establishment stewards, guest masters, golden-core palace masters, and elders.

Aside from the main Bi Shui Hall of the Palace Master’s lineage, there are four major halls, thirteen spirit peaks, and seventy-two true residences.

The four major halls are: Wu Ge Hall, managing external affairs; Yu Heng Hall, managing internal affairs; Cang Feng Hall, overseeing discipline; and Ju Yuan Hall, managing resources.

The thirteen spirit peaks are primarily where golden-core elders reside, each with two or three golden-core peak masters and deputy peak masters.

The seventy-two true residences are private cavern dwellings, each separately carved out for one of the seventy-two true disciples.

The one I’m taking you to meet now is Brother Chai, in charge of Yu Heng Hall—he’s a mid-stage golden-core cultivator and the one directly responsible for managing the talent artifact. Brother Wang, speak as little as possible when you meet him; Brother Chai dislikes talkative people.”

“Thank you, Brother Yan, for the guidance—I know how to behave.” Wang Yu bowed his thanks.

The giant bird flew past more than a dozen towering peaks, finally descending toward a vast cluster of blue-green buildings nestled between several mountains.