Chapter 436: Everlasting Qi

Yan Buji did not rashly go to the main hall, but instead inquired with the nearby humanoid barriers.

"The main hall, that is the Patriarch's cultivation site; under normal circumstances we cannot go there."

"Oh? If we can't go under normal circumstances, when will we be able to go?"

The humanoid barrier clicked briefly, then suddenly said, "If an external enemy invades, everyone must go there."

"External enemy? What kind of enemy?"

"Enemy... enemy... the enemy is..."

Seeing the humanoid barrier's awkward clicking, Yan Buji sighed.

It seems the calculation method of these humanoid barriers has some issues; they don't know much.

"Senior brother, junior brother takes his leave."

"Junior brother, travel safely and remember to return early."

The surrounding humanoid barriers watched Yan Buji step by step up the stairs, heading to the main hall entrance.

Yan Buji knocked on the door: "Patriarch, disciple Yuejin requests an audience."

"Come in."

"Yes."

Yan Buji pushed the door open and looked around.

Inside the ancient great hall there were no superfluous decorations, only a faceless Dao Ancestor statue standing, with candle lamps burning beneath the platform and incense curling upward.

The old Daoist in yellow robes closed his eyes, smiled, and said, "Come, sit down."

Yan Buji saw a meditation cushion appear before the yellow-robed old Daoist, went over, sat down, and said, "Thank you, Patriarch."

"Have you already mastered Heavenly Fire Descending?"

"Yes, the disciple has learned it, but cannot release it at full strength."

The yellow-robed old Daoist nodded: "This should not be a technique you could learn."

"Then Patriarch, why did you summon me today? Is there something?"

The yellow-robed old Daoist looked up, opened his eyes, and gazed at Yan Buji: "Penglai Pavilion needs new offerings; now the people at the foot of the mountain have long forgotten the name Penglai. Do you have confidence to descend the mountain and gather the incense flame?"

Yan Buji's pupils contracted, and he lowered his head: "Yes, the disciple will certainly exert all effort!"

"Alright, alright, since that's the case, go down the mountain then." The yellow-robed old Daoist nodded with satisfaction, watching Yan Buji depart.

At the same time, two old Daoists appeared behind the yellow-robed old Daoist and said, "This man is merely a warrior; where does such high comprehension come from?"

"Although few among this group stand out, this warrior seems unusually different."

"What about those people?"

"Find a way to get them out!"

"Very well."

The silhouettes of the old Daoists gradually faded, and at that moment Yan Buji also descended the mountain, hesitated briefly, then tried to step over the mountain gate.

Out?!

Yan Buji turned his head and saw that none of the previous pavilions, towers, or celestial grandeur remained.

Everywhere within sight was a wasteland of broken walls and ruins, a desolate dead land!

"Illusion Art? Or some kind of formation blocking my view?"

Yan Buji squinted and examined carefully a few times, finding no abnormality within his sight.

Either one is unaware of the outside while inside Penglai Pavilion, or this is the true face of Penglai Pavilion!

Yan Buji turned and walked forward, indeed discovering traces of numerous village clusters nearby, but after the passage of time, everything here had long become ruins.

Upon entering the ruins, Yan Buji was about to scout around when a gigantic demon beast suddenly attacked!

The massive beast, resembling a yellow ox, charged forward; Yan Buji frowned and clenched his fists.

Boom!

One punch shattered the attacking beast, and at that moment Yan Buji realized that demon beasts were everywhere nearby; such a massive shock naturally alerted them!

Sharp-eyed Yan Buji saw a spirit essence rising from the dead beast's body, soaring toward Penglai Pavilion, and roughly understood the purpose of his descent.

"Roar!!!"

Yan Buji raised an eyebrow and laughed, "Still have to squeeze the soft persimmon."

The setting sun sank in the west.

Several silhouettes walked from far away, looking at the numerous demon beast corpses nearby and couldn't help but frown.

"What's going on here? Did those old things from Penglai Pavilion come out?"

"Not likely; judging by the wounds, they were smashed by someone. Those old things don't know close-combat techniques."

"These demon beasts, which barely gathered, are dead like this?"

A few people wore strange expressions; the leading youth, expressionless, said, "They're just waste. Pull more over here, and be ready to continue the mountain assault!"

"Yes!"

After Yan Buji returned to Penglai Pavilion, he saw the surrounding barriers seemingly revitalized, each with a smiling face, looking at Yan Buji:

"Junior brother, you're back?!"

"Senior brother... what's going on with you?" Yan Buji asked curiously.

"That's thanks to the junior brother gathering the incense flame; the Patriarch was pleased to grant us a portion."

Yan Buji nodded, thinking perhaps Penglai Pavilion possessed some ability to absorb essences to sustain its barrier operation.

But how these humanoid barriers were created remained a mystery.

Nevertheless, Yan Buji roughly understood the operating principle of Penglai Pavilion, so next...

"Junior brother, the Patriarch wants you to go over there."

Yes.

Yan Buji went to the main hall and entered it.

The yellow-robed old Daoist was pleased, rose to his feet, and said, "Well done, Yuejin."

The disciple merely exerted a little effort.

The yellow-robed old Daoist nodded in satisfaction: "Good, a disciple like Yuejin, if born in our era, would surely become a pillar of Penglai Pavilion."

Yan Buji frowned: "Ancestral master, I want to ask..."

The yellow-robed old Daoist waved a hand: "We know what you wish to ask. Penglai Pavilion has weathered the ages; we are but mere illusions of the past."

Yan Buji fell silent.

"However, within Penglai Pavilion lies a demon clan emperor from time immemorial, sealed away. If you had not forcefully entered this place seeking to break the seal, we would not wish to harm you."

"A demon clan emperor?!"

Yan Buji's face changed.

The situation is somewhat not right; one must find a chance to flee!

Seeing Yan Buji's grim expression, the yellow-robed old Daoist smiled: "Yuejin, do not worry; the seal remains intact. As long as you stay here these few days, we will naturally send you out later. If you desire the inheritance of longevity Qi, it is not impossible."

"Oh?" Yan Buji asked curiously: "What exactly is longevity Qi?"

The yellow-robed old Daoist felt moved and sighed: "It is said to be the first wisp of qi when heaven and earth were first opened; cultivating it can extend one's life for ten thousand years."

"Ten thousand years of longevity?!"

Yan Buji was shocked, but then thought: even the demon clan emperor is sealed here; even if I could obtain and cultivate this longevity Qi, I might not survive.

Something's wrong; one should flee at once!

"Ancestral master, we are of the human race and ought to serve it! Ancestral master, if you have any orders, disciple, I will surely obey!"

"Good."

The yellow-robed old Daoist laughed and suddenly said: "If so, then go kill everyone inside the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda; they all seek to break the seal, truly heinous!"

Yan Buji drew a deep breath: "Ancestral master, I... my strength..."

"You cannot refuse; rest assured, they have had part of their power sealed, so they will not overpower you too much." The yellow-robed old Daoist narrowed his eyes, flicked his sleeve, and seized Yan Buji.

In the blink of an eye, Yan Buji opened his eyes again to find himself inside a tower!