Chapter 302: Swallowing Essence

After crossing the green mountain ahead, an ethereal golden mist appeared, obscuring all sight.

Passing through the mist revealed a White Jade Immortal Palace floating in the air. It was deeply nestled within the golden haze, only a hint of its upturned eaves and long corridors visible.

Only upon drawing closer did the sheer grandeur of the Immortal Palace become apparent. It stretched horizontally as far as the eye could see. Its halls and pavilions were stacked layer upon layer, punctuated by high platforms and watchtowers that receded in waves into the distant golden clouds.

The source of the light and the origin of the mist were both a mystery, yet they converged here.

Below the palace gate, a flat expanse of White Jade stretched out for about a hundred zhang. All who arrived would land upon it before proceeding on foot into the Immortal Palace.

Chen Qingyang looked up at the White Jade plaque above. On it were four ancient characters in golden seal script. After studying them for a long while, he finally recognized them as “Taihao Qingxu.”

The Xu Lingfeng Secret Realm was the domain of the South Radiance, Profound Vault, Upper Purity, and Taiyin—the seat of power that commanded the southern stars of the Divine Court. ‘I wonder what sort of place this Taihao Qingxu is?’

“Junior Brothers, let’s go inside!”

The six brothers walked in. Following them, Chen Qingyang passed through the gatehouse, which was dozens of zhang high, and stepped onto a wide street.

In stark contrast to the exterior, the inside was a scene of utter devastation, its former glory faded to dust. Though the golden mist provided some cover, signs of ruin were everywhere among the residences and palace walls. There was even a crack in the ground stretching over a hundred zhang.

Peering down into the fissure, one could see all the way to a river valley on the ground far below. The walls on either side of the street were covered in marks which, upon closer inspection, looked as if they had been hacked by blades and axes.

The Conscious Fish drifted away from the six disciples. As it neared the marks, it could faintly sense a billowing killing intent, just like in the twilight lands of Xu Lingfeng.

‘The reason for the Divine Court’s fall is unknown, but seeing all this is enough to confirm that a great battle was once fought here.’

As they toured the palaces, they found some were completely empty, while others still had White Jade furnishings. Bookshelves, long tables, daybeds, offering tables—all were forged from White Jade. Even the teacups and vases were made of the same material.

‘He couldn’t help but imagine the Divine Spirits of millennia past, living their lives bathed in this fusion of White Jade and golden splendor.’

Chen Qingyang’s consciousness drew close to the White Jade. A Qi Mechanism pulsed from its surface, rich with Spiritual Qi. ‘In other words, every single piece of it could be used as a Spirit Stone.’

‘As expected of the Tai Xu Righteous Dao. Its foundations run deep. The Spiritual Qi contained in this place alone seems inexhaustible.’

Just then, everyone began moving in the same direction, and Chen Qingyang followed. In the very center of the city stood a White Jade High Platform.

It was immense, standing proudly like a small mountain, hundreds of zhang high and thousands of zhang on each side. Innumerable White Jade Steps were stacked in layers, rising straight up into the heavens.

The Disciples ascended the steps. Some stood near the front and others toward the back; in any case, there was enough room for everyone.

At the very top, through the mist, Chen Qingyang could faintly make out several hundred figures. These were the Masters of the Primordial Sun-piercing Peak, all of them present.

Chen Qingyang’s gaze swept left and right again, taking in nearly the entirety of the vast Celestial Palace before returning to the high platform. He saw a thousand-zhang-tall illusory figure appear in the sky above—it was none other than Master Miaoyou.

He held a Jade Disc and called out softly. A single word was heard—”Open!”—and the clouds parted. The view became perfectly clear, revealing the faces of the nearly three hundred Masters standing at the summit.

The mist was gone, leaving only a golden halo swirling around them. It was like a conclave of Divine Spirits at a grand assembly in the Celestial Palace.

“Brothers, the hour has come. Please, lend me your aid in operating the Array. Disciples, you may now go and seek your own fortunes. After forty-nine days, when you hear the sound of the Golden Bell, you are to reassemble here. Any who wish to observe the Array’s activation may remain!”

It was Miaoyou’s voice, commanding everyone with the authority of the peak’s Peak Master.

‘It seems that presiding over this Grand Array, aside from requiring an Earth Deity, is also a great way to put oneself in the spotlight. Perhaps after the previous Sun-piercing Peak Master is gone, he can smoothly transition into the role.’

‘And in that instant, Chen Qingyang completely understood why Yao Jingzhi was so sycophantic toward Master Miaoyou. The man wasn’t a fool; he was simply backing someone with a boundless future!’

‘That Li Qianxue truly is a force of nature. Before falling into a coma, she was already a Master Life Light, was being groomed to become a Golden Core True Monarch, and had even provoked the Dao and Demon factions into attacking one another in the shadows.’

‘Now, even with her in a coma, I’ve ended up in a bit of trouble just for having crossed such a powerful figure in the past.’

After Miaoyou finished speaking, a good number of people departed. They had witnessed the ceremony many times, after all, and saw no reason to watch it again. Of course, many others remained, their gazes turned toward the sky.

Chen Qingyang remained as well. This was a perfect opportunity for him to observe the workings of an Array.

Atop the high platform, the Masters exchanged hushed words. After a brief moment, the illusory figures reappeared.

When Chen Qingyang looked again, it was not just Miaoyou, but a total of thirty-seven figures. Among them were men and women, old and young. Though their attire varied, their bodies all pulsed with the energy of soaring dragons and leaping tigers, wreathed in an ethereal, divine light.

‘This was the Dharma Aspect of a Master Life Light!’

Miaoyou’s illusion assumed a posture as if to prop up the heavens. Holding the Jade Disc, it rose higher still, standing out from the others like a crane among chickens, the center of attention like the moon surrounded by stars.

The thirty-six other Master Life Lights formed a circle around him, all in a meditative posture. Golden light radiated from their bodies, flowing toward Miaoyou.

The remaining two hundred-odd Masters who had not revealed their Dharma Aspects also arranged themselves into a formation on the White Jade Steps. Seated in perfect rows and columns, they too began to meditate, generating golden light that streamed toward Miaoyou.

The sight of three hundred Masters exerting their power in unison was nothing short of magnificent. Miaoyou formed a hand seal with one hand while holding the disc with the other, seemingly chanting a Spell. Starlight erupted from the Jade Disc, shooting straight into the firmament, where it spread out like a bright mirror, threatening to cover the entire world.