Chapter 778 Vice Palace Master

The older woman next to her wore a pale blue palace gown. Although time had left some traces on her face, it only served to make her appear more voluptuous, mature, and alluring.

It was clear that this older woman must have been a great beauty in her youth.

At that moment, the older woman in the palace gown gazed at the core of Celestial Yin Valley, where black mist was rising in the distance, and couldn’t help but shake her head. "Qing’Er, I rushed here as soon as I received your message, but it seems I was still a step too late. The mysterious land actually closed half a month ago. What a pity."

"Master, I didn’t expect the mysterious land to close so quickly either. It seems it must have sealed itself off right after I left Celestial Yin Valley."

The young woman who spoke answered respectfully. She was none other than Princess Qing, the Holy Daughter of Moon God Palace, and the older woman was her master, Li Xiaorong, one of the two Vice Palace Masters of Moon God Palace.

"It’s a shame. For the past half-month, Celestial Yin Valley has been filled with slaughter, and now it’s about to close. I still haven’t found that young man you mentioned, Xuan Ye. I’m afraid he has already died in that mysterious land," Li Xiaorong said with a sigh.

A look of disappointment then crossed her face. "I had originally wanted to ask him why he was inquiring about our Palace Master. It seems this trip was for nothing."

Princess Qing shook her head. "Master, I have a feeling Xuan Ye hasn’t fallen. Although he’s younger than me and his cultivation is a bit lower, his strength is terrifying. I nearly died on the altar in the Spirit Marrow Pool, but he was the one who saved me. I even fought him. For someone so young, his strength is not the least bit inferior to mine. I truly can’t imagine how a person like that cultivates."

Li Xiaorong shook her head and glanced at Princess Qing. She knew her disciple better than anyone. Qing’Er had always been incredibly proud. This was the first time she had ever seen her speak so highly of a Martial Artist, and a young one at that.

Still, she said, "Qing’Er, I don’t know about this Xuan Ye’s talent or cultivation, but based on the intelligence I’ve gathered, his chances of survival are slim to none."

Before Princess Qing could speak, Li Xiaorong continued, "I’ve already made inquiries. Countless experts entered that mysterious land this time. Setting other Emperor-rank experts aside, there were nearly thirty Martial Emperors alone. However, fewer than ten made it out alive. Over ninety percent of those Martial Emperors fell in the abyss, and the place where you and Xuan Ye parted ways was right at the entrance to that abyss. That is why I’ve come to this conclusion."

"Ah!" Princess Qing was stunned. She couldn’t believe that so many Martial Emperors had fallen in that mysterious land. "How did those Martial Emperors die?" she asked in shock.

Li Xiaorong sighed. "According to my intelligence, while exploring the bottom of the abyss, those Martial Emperors discovered an ancient burial ground. Inside, there were many powerful puppets of both the Human Race and the Demon Race, including some at the Tier Nine Third Layer. Many of the Martial Emperors exploring the tomb died on the spot. The survivors immediately scattered and fled. Fortunately, the puppets seemed to be restricted by some kind of seal, unable to stray too far from the tomb. Only then did the surviving Martial Emperors manage to escape with their lives."

"What? Powerful puppets of the Human and Demon Races?" Princess Qing exclaimed.

Li Xiaorong nodded. "They were said to be experts from several thousand years ago. Someone recognized one of the puppets as the Celestial Dragon Ancestor of the Long family from Liuxian City, an expert at the Peak of Tier Nine Second Layer from over six thousand years ago. Someone else identified another puppet as Emperor Wan Jing of the reclusive Wan family. However, all these Martial Emperors had lost their consciousness, becoming nothing more than puppets that only knew how to kill."

’So many powerful experts were all turned into puppets.’

Princess Qing couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath. She recalled how she herself had nearly been enslaved by that black power on the altar in the Spirit Marrow Pool and turned into a mindless puppet. A wave of lingering fear washed over her at the thought.

Princess Qing suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "Oh, right, Master. Xuan Ye also mentioned that this entire mysterious land seems to be an ancient seal. I’ve never heard of a seal of such magnitude."

"That is precisely what worries me." Li Xiaorong’s expression turned grave. "In ancient times, countless races populated the continent, and experts were numerous. I fear that this mysterious land is the sealing ground for some powerful race. Based on the intelligence we’ve received, the being sealed inside has not perished with the passage of time. If it were to be released, I’m afraid it would be a huge catastrophe for our Celestial Profound Continent."

"Then what should we do?" Princess Qing asked nervously.

"These are not matters for me to consider alone. The sudden connection between Celestial Yin Valley and the mysterious land was a major event. The intelligence gathered here will surely be transmitted to the Holy City in the Ninth Heaven. When the time comes, the great figures in the Holy City will naturally concern themselves with it. The only reason I rushed here was to meet the Xuan Ye you spoke of and ask him why he was inquiring about Palace Master Yao Yue of my Moon God Palace."

Li Xiaorong’s gaze was solemn. "Palace Master Yao Yue has been missing from the continent for a hundred years. All this time, her Soul Scroll in the palace has remained intact, but the spiritual aura on it has been growing weaker and weaker. I am truly worried..."

"Ah!" Princess Qing covered her mouth, clearly shocked. She naturally understood what a weakening spiritual aura on a Soul Scroll signified.

Li Xiaorong said calmly, "Xuan Ye is so young, it’s impossible for him to have ever met Palace Master Yao Yue. Yet he asked you about her so pointedly. I suspect he has some connection to the Palace Master’s disappearance. For all these years, our Moon God Palace has been searching for the Palace Master, but there has been no news. Back then, a Martial Emperor named Huangfu Xiuming also came asking about the Palace Master. Unexpectedly, he later disappeared as well."

Li Xiaorong couldn’t help but shake her head.

Princess Qing couldn’t help but say, "Master, don’t worry. I will definitely find Palace Master Yao Yue and bring her back."

Li Xiaorong smiled at Princess Qing and patted her head. "Qing’Er, your task right now is to focus on your cultivation and strive to break through to Tier Nine as soon as possible. Without the Palace Master these past years, our Moon God Palace’s situation has been very difficult. As long as you focus on your cultivation, I can rest easy. As for the search for the Palace Master, leave that to us."

"Yes." Princess Qing nodded. "Right, Master, I heard from the Martial Artists who were with Xuan Ye that he seems to be from somewhere called the Profound Light Pavilion. If we start our investigation there, we might find some news."

"Profound Light Pavilion?" Li Xiaorong frowned. The name was unfamiliar to her, but she nodded anyway. "Alright, I will inquire whether a power called the Profound Light Pavilion exists within the Profound Realm Ninth Heaven."

In Li Xiaorong’s mind, since Ye Xuan’s talent was so astonishing, he must be a genius cultivated by one of the Profound Domain’s major powers.

"Since he is not in Celestial Yin Valley, let’s go."

Soon, Li Xiaorong and Princess Qing left Celestial Yin Valley.

If they knew that the Ye Xuan they were so desperately searching for was just thousands of miles away, one wonders what expressions they would have made.

Following their departure, the black mist in Celestial Yin Valley grew thicker and thicker. Gradually, the entire valley was completely enveloped by it.

The three-month annual opening had come to a complete end. The Celestial Yin Valley of today had become a forbidden zone for Martial Artists; none dared to linger there.

As Celestial Yin Valley closed, the uproar caused by the Ancient Demon Land continued to spread throughout the Profound Domain. The puppets of experts from thousands of years ago had caused a massive sensation.

Meanwhile, somewhere deep underground in Celestial Yin Valley, Ye Xuan was so absorbed in his cultivation that he had lost all track of time.

After ten whole days of arduous cultivation, Ye Xuan had finally absorbed a large amount of Jueyin Water into his body, forming a single drop of Jueyin Water essence in his mind.

This drop of essence at first appeared crystal clear and radiant, yet at other times it was pitch-black and profound, making it inscrutable and mysterious.

This single drop of Jueyin Water essence seemed tiny, but it contained a terrifying Jueyin power of extraordinary might.

HUUU!

Exhaling a breath of foul air, Ye Xuan finally opened his eyes after more than ten days of cultivation.

’That old bastard may have tried to harm me, but the Technique he gave me is truly something else,’ Ye Xuan marveled.

’If I’d had this Jueyin Water in my body last time I met Ghost Ruler Emperor, I wouldn’t have been in such a pathetic state. Even if I couldn’t beat him, I could have taught him a lesson he’d never forget, and he wouldn’t have dared to chase me so recklessly.’

What surprised Ye Xuan even more was that in the process of absorbing the Jueyin Water, his physical body had also been greatly enhanced.

The Jueyin Water was cold and icy. As it merged with his body, it unexpectedly reacted with his Nine-Revolving Saintly Body, allowing it to reach the peak of the Sixth Transformation.

Unfortunately, he had brought back far too little Jueyin Water. If he could have cultivated for several months at a depth of over three thousand meters, Ye Xuan was confident he could have broken through to the Seventh Transformation.

Of course, for now, Ye Xuan didn’t dare return to Jueyin Cave without sufficient strength.

BUZZ!

As he gently activated the Jueyin Water in his mind, a power, cold to the absolute extreme, radiated out, freezing everything and even making his very soul tremble.

’Hmm, this Jueyin Water is bone-chillingly cold; it can freeze anything in the world. What’s even more terrifying is that it can even freeze the soul. If I were to integrate this power into my Divine Spirit Gaze, what kind of changes would occur?’

Divine Spirit Gaze was an incredibly fearsome martial technique. Cultivated to its peak, one glance could grant life, and another could bring death. Its power was extraordinary.

Ye Xuan had now cultivated the Divine Spirit Gaze to the Second Layer.

The First Layer had given Ye Xuan an extraordinary boost to his vision and observational skills.

This Second Layer was the Eye of Illusionary Imprisonment, which he had cultivated using the Soul Crystal of a Nightmare Beast. When combined with Soul Power, it could bewilder a Martial Artist’s soul, plunging them into confusion.

As for the Third Layer of the Divine Spirit Gaze, Ye Xuan had not yet begun to cultivate it.