txolops Chapter 289 Scheming for Cultivation Techniques
Chapter 289 Scheming for Cultivation Techniques
On the other side, Wan Tianming of the righteous faction observed the Extreme Yin Ancestor's behavior and frowned deeply. He transmitted his voice to Tian Wuzi and Mu Tengzi beside him:
"When did that old ghost Ji Yin become so concerned about a mere early-stage Core Formation junior? There must be something strange about this! I'm afraid... this kid is definitely involved in their treasure-hunting plan in the inner hall!"
Tian Wuzi stroked his beard and pondered, "Given the temperament of the extremely yin old ghost, he won't act without a reason. There's only one possibility that could make him lower himself and be so enthusiastic towards a junior whose cultivation is a whole realm lower than his."
That is, this boy can bring him unimaginable benefits, and these benefits will most likely lie within the inner hall. And look, this boy has a spirit beast pouch hanging from his waist… Could it be some kind of spirit beast that can exert miraculous effects in the special environment of the inner hall?”
Mu Tengzi's gaze lingered on Han Li for a moment, then she glanced thoughtfully at Luo Ming, who was meditating with his eyes closed and his aura concentrated in the corner, and slowly said:
"A demonic beast capable of withstanding the extreme cold of the Azure Ice Flame is rare in the Chaotic Star Sea. Even if this boy has a spirit beast, it will likely only be an auxiliary force, unlikely to become a decisive one."
On our side, Elder Jin Kui secretly lent us a creation instrument, which can help us avoid the mechanical puppets at the front of the inner hall in advance, thus gaining precious time to retrieve the treasure.
With the addition of the Golden Silkworm, the Separating Tortoise, and the Frost Dragon we've prepared, the success rate of this treasure hunt should be quite high. However… Jin Kui, as the Grand Elder of the Star Palace, is secretly assisting us righteous cultivators in our treasure hunt; what exactly is his intention?”
As both the righteous and demonic factions harbored their own thoughts and secretly plotted, time quietly passed within the stone hall. The light of the teleportation array had not been lit for a long time, clearly indicating that only the dozen or so people before them had managed to pass the second trial and arrive here, a frighteningly high casualty rate.
"Buzz—!"
Without warning, the teleportation array began to flicker violently again! The light was more intense and dazzling than ever before!
Swish!Swish!Swish!
Three figures appeared almost simultaneously in the dazzling white light of the teleportation array!
The man at the front was tall and thin, with a divine light hidden in his eyes as he opened and closed them. His aura was as deep and solid as a mountain. He was none other than Jin Kui, the Grand Elder of the Star Palace!
Behind him were two stern-faced old men dressed in the robes of Star Palace elders; they were the Fourth Elder and the Refined Elder who had previously monitored Luo Ming.
"Kim Kyu?!"
"Why is he here?!"
Inside the stone hall, apart from the three righteous cultivators who seemed to have expected it, everyone else, including Barbarian Beard, Ancestor of Extreme Yin, Qingyi Hermit, and even Luo Ming and Han Li who had just finished their meditation, all had their expressions change!
Jin Kui, with a peak mid-Nascent Soul cultivation level, is the Grand Elder of the Star Palace, wielding the authority of the Star Palace. His strength and supernatural abilities are renowned throughout the Chaotic Star Sea, second only to those few elusive late-Nascent Soul cultivators!
Even the bearded man, known for his formidable physical prowess, would never dare to claim certainty of victory against Jin Kui.
What is his purpose in coming here now? Does the Star Palace intend to break the tacit agreement not to directly intervene in the treasure hunt?
The bearded man's pupils contracted slightly, his muscles tensed instinctively, and a surge of powerful energy rose within him. He shouted in a deep voice:
"Jin Kui! As the Grand Elder of the Star Palace, why are you here at the Void Heaven Palace instead of staying in Tianxing City? Does the Star Palace intend to break the rules and interfere in this battle for the Void Heaven Cauldron?"
Jin Kui seemed oblivious to the subtle hostility and questioning from the bearded man. After stepping into the stone hall, his gaze calmly swept across the entire room, lingering on each person's face for a moment.
When his gaze swept over Luo Ming in the corner, it seemed to pause almost imperceptibly. A faint, extremely subtle divine sense, almost imperceptible to Luo Ming unless his divine sense was far more acute than others of the same level, swept over him and then moved away as if nothing had happened.
However, this "glance" and "scan" suddenly set off alarm bells in Luo Ming's mind! A strong sense of vigilance arose spontaneously.
"This person... paid special attention to me just now?" Luo Ming remained outwardly calm, still sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, but his heart was already in turmoil.
"Is it because I killed the Fire Lizard King that I attracted the attention of such an important figure? Or... is it because of Jin Qing? No, if it's because of Jin Qing, it should be either goodwill or indifference, but this divine sense... seems to carry a hint of scrutiny."
Just as Luo Ming was pondering this, the voice of Tianjing Sanren, filled with surprise and uncertainty, suddenly rang out in his mind:
"Huh? This person has actually cultivated my Golden Light Divine Flame Technique. Although it's somewhat inferior to what I had back then, the core aura is definitely not wrong!"
Jin Kui's gaze, almost tangible, finally landed on the bearded man. Facing the bearded man's wary, questioning gaze, he gave a seemingly gentle yet undeniably authoritative smile, his deep voice echoing in the somewhat empty stone hall:
"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Man, there's no need to be nervous. My presence here today does not represent the Star Palace's intention to break the rules or interfere in the competition for opportunities among you fellow Daoists." His tone was calm, but the calm and domineering aura that naturally flowed from his words, which came from someone who had long held a high position and wielded power, made everyone present feel a chill.
"However," Jin Kui changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over the teleportation array and then looking at the sparse survivors in the hall, a perfectly measured solemnity and apology on his face.
"Jin received an urgent report from two elders in the palace, saying that when the Void Heaven Palace opened this time, some of the core restrictions of the second floor of the inner hall, the 'Ice and Fire Path,' were inexplicably unstable and fluctuated abnormally."
It seems there was external interference, resulting in the appearance of trial monsters that were significantly stronger and more numerous than those recorded in previous years.
The two elders feared unforeseen circumstances that could endanger the safety of the fellow Daoists entering the hall, and even more so, that the restrictions might completely spiral out of control, affecting the stability of the Void Heaven Hall. That's why they urgently sent me this message.
He paused slightly, as if considering his words: "This matter is of great importance, and I dare not be negligent. I have no choice but to make this trip myself to go deep into the core of the inner palace's restrictions to find out what is going on."
Fortunately, they arrived in time. After some investigation and emergency repairs, the abnormal restriction nodes have been stabilized and the hidden dangers have been eliminated.
Fellow Daoists, you can rest assured that the journey ahead will not encounter any unexpected dangers. This disturbance was truly not my intention, and I hope you will understand.
These words were spoken in a grand and respectable manner, offering both explanation and reassurance, while also subtly pointing out the Star Palace's responsibility to monitor and maintain the Void Heaven Palace, thus justifying their sudden appearance.
However, the cultivators inside the hall, who had survived countless life-or-death situations and barely made it through, were all shrewd and discerning. They couldn't help but sneer and scoff inwardly.
Just then, Wan Tianming, the leader of the righteous path, broke the brief silence with a loud laugh, cupped his hands towards Jin Kui, and spoke in a rather "sincere" tone:
"I see! Elder Jin Kui, with his many duties and authority over the Star Palace, still managed to personally travel to dangerous places to repair the slight 'anomaly' of the restrictions in this Void Heaven Palace. Such dedication and concern for the safety of his fellow cultivators truly earn my utmost admiration!"
He first praised Jin Kui, but then subtly changed the subject, a perfectly timed expression of "regret" appearing on his face. His gaze swept over the few survivors in the hall, and he sighed:
"It's just... a pity for those talented young people who unfortunately perished in the Ice and Fire Path. Many of the fellow Daoists who entered the hall this time were outstanding talents carefully cultivated by various sects in the Chaotic Star Sea, and they are expected to advance to the Nascent Soul stage in the future and support a region of the world."
Now... alas, less than one-tenth remains! It's a tremendous loss to the cultivation world of the Chaotic Star Sea! It's truly heartbreaking!
These words, ostensibly lamenting the casualties, subtly point out the devastating consequences of this "abnormal movement of the restriction," implicitly questioning and pressuring the issue—your Star Palace's "inadequate maintenance" led to the fall of so many elites; shouldn't you provide a clearer explanation or offer some kind of response?
Jin Kui was no ordinary man; how could he not hear the veiled meaning in Wan Tianming's words? His smile remained unchanged, his gaze calmly fixed on Wan Tianming, but he didn't respond to the conversation, as if he hadn't heard the latter part about the "loss," simply saying:
"Fellow Daoist Wan, you flatter me. Maintaining the stability of the Void Heaven Palace is simply the duty of my Star Palace. As for the casualties during the trials... the path of cultivation is inherently against the will of Heaven, with both opportunities and dangers coexisting. The Void Heaven Palace has always been like this; only those who reach the end are truly destined, capable, and fortunate."
He casually shifted the blame to the trial itself and personal luck, then gave Wan Tianming no further chance to perform. His gaze swept across the entire audience, his voice rising a few decibels, carrying an undeniable air of announcement:
"Now that the restriction is in place, the trial continues. According to the ancient rules of the Void Heaven Palace, all fellow cultivators who have passed through the second level, 'The Path of Ice and Fire,' to reach this place are eligible for an additional reward opportunity and can choose whether to continue challenging subsequent levels to compete for the final opportunity."
Upon hearing this, the spirits of the cultivators, including several Nascent Soul elders, who were originally preoccupied with the heavy casualties and Jin Kui's arrival, were all lifted!
Especially those Core Formation cultivators, their eyes blazed with eager light! Everyone knows that the rewards for each level of the Void Heaven Palace are always generous, and they don't conflict with subsequent opportunities!
Sure enough, Jin Kui continued, "Around this stone hall, four different teleportation points will appear shortly. Three of them lead to the 'Scripture Repository,' the 'Alchemy Chamber,' and the 'Treasure Pavilion,' respectively, while the fourth leads directly to the third level."
The first three locations respectively hold secret cultivation techniques, elixirs, and rare magical treasures. What you obtain, and its quality, depends entirely on your discernment, knowledge, and luck.
"As for which area you will be teleported to, it's completely random and no one can control it. Once selected, it cannot be changed."
The rules were simple and clear, roughly the same as those Luo Ming remembered. This random teleportation, a "choose one of four" option, depended entirely on luck.
In an instant, the atmosphere inside the stone hall became subtly fervent once more, the previous oppression and solemnity lessening considerably. Everyone secretly prayed, hoping to be teleported to their desired destination.
Luo Ming's gaze swept over the four hazy points of light that lit up one after another on the rock walls around the stone hall. They were different colors and had mysterious auras, corresponding to the "Scripture Repository", "Alchemy Chamber", "Treasure Light Pavilion" and "Entrance to the Third Gate" respectively.
If Yuan Yao were to enter the Scripture Pavilion, wouldn't the problem of the top-tier Yin attribute cultivation technique be solved?
A thought flickered in his mind, and he quietly transmitted his voice to Yuan Yao beside him: "Miss Yuan, have you ever thought about... advancing to the Nascent Soul stage?"
Yuan Yao's delicate body trembled almost imperceptibly. She was secretly observing the four teleportation points and considering which one to choose to enter when she suddenly turned her head, her beautiful eyes suddenly shining with an amazing light as she stared intently at Luo Ming.
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