Chapter 1232: Entering the Pass

"My knowledge of the Nine Yuan Temple is limited, and I can't think of a suitable excuse. Do you have any good words, Fellow Daoist Lan?" Han Li asked.

"If it were any other guard watching the Golden Jade Pass, I would have no way. But since it's the Gold Pattern Guard here, I have a method worth trying," Lan Yan said with a slight smile.

Han Li's eyes lit up, and he discussed with Lan Yan via voice transmission.

"It's still somewhat risky, but worth a try," Han Li said after a moment, nodding.

"Master, even if you can deceive the guards and enter the Inner Temple, the Wheel of Reincarnation's forces haven't arrived yet. If you go in alone and are discovered, you'll have no escape. Isn't that too risky?" Ti Hun suddenly interjected, speaking with concern.

"Given the current situation, if I'm not mistaken, there shouldn't be many experts in the Inner Temple. It's a rare opportunity. But your concern is valid. To be safe, I'll contact the Wheel of Reincarnation..." Han Li said thoughtfully, about to form a hand seal to activate his mask.

But the next moment, his movement suddenly stopped, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, only to vanish instantly.

"Master?" Ti Hun sensed Han Li's pause and asked curiously.

"Nothing. No need to contact the Wheel of Reincarnation," Han Li said.

Though puzzled by Han Li's decision, Ti Hun said nothing.

"Lan Yan, come out," Han Li said, waving his hand. The void beside him rippled slightly, and Lan Yan's figure materialized.

Lan Yan was now wearing a blue cloak that covered her body and face.

"Let's go," Han Li said. The two shot forward and soon arrived before the Golden Jade Pass, landing.

"Who goes there? How dare you trespass the Golden Jade Pass?" A burly man in golden armor stepped out from within the golden barrier and shouted.

The man was over three meters tall, with bulging muscles and a thick, jet-black beard that bristled like steel needles on his chin, looking extremely imposing.

His cultivation was also impressive, having reached the early stage of the Great Luo realm.

"Elder Qi, it's me," Lan Yan said, lowering her cloak's hood to reveal her face.

"Lan Yan? You? What are you doing here?" The golden-armored man was momentarily startled, then frowned.

"Elder Qi, please open the Golden Jade Pass. I have important news to report to the sect," Lan Yan said with a serious expression.

"Now that enemies have invaded the Nine Yuan Temple, all three passes are sealed. No one may enter or leave without a special permit. Do you have one, Lan Yan?" Elder Qi asked.

"I was sent by Saint Envoy Miao Fa to investigate the invaders. Due to the urgency, the Saint Envoy did not give me a permit. However, the information I've gathered is very important. Please help me, Elder Qi," Lan Yan said, producing a light green token.

"The token of Saint Envoy Miao Fa!" Elder Qi's expression changed immediately upon seeing the token, showing reverence.

The Four Great Saint Envoys held extremely high status in the Nine Yuan Temple, second only to the Temple Master and Deputy Temple Masters, far above ordinary elders like him.

Elder Qi did not doubt Lan Yan's words. Like the Lan siblings, he was a former rogue cultivator, and the three had known each other before joining the Nine Yuan Temple. After joining, Elder Qi went to the Gold Pattern Guard, while the Lan siblings joined the Shadow Guard.

They had maintained contact due to their past friendship, so Elder Qi knew that Lan Yan had been transferred out of the Shadow Guard and was now directly under Saint Envoy Miao Fa. It was reasonable that she was investigating the situation outside.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, even though you are acting on orders from Saint Envoy Miao Fa, I am tasked with guarding the Golden Jade Pass. Sect rules are strict and cannot be violated. Please understand," Elder Qi hesitated but still shook his head.

"Elder Qi, the information I've gathered is of utmost importance, concerning the invaders' purpose. Reporting it will bring great rewards from the sect. But due to my low status, I must report to the Saint Envoy first, who will then inform the sect. Haven't you always wanted to join the Elder Council? If you help me today, I can ask Saint Envoy Miao Fa to put in a good word for you with the Temple Master. Joining the Elder Council would be easy," Lan Yan stepped forward and transmitted to Elder Qi.

The restrictions of the Golden Jade Pass were also personally set by the Nine Yuan Ancestor and were extremely powerful, but they did not block sound.

"Is that true?" Elder Qi's heart stirred, and he replied via voice transmission.

"Elder Qi, we've known each other for a long time. You must know my character. Though I'm not a man of my word, I am not an untrustworthy person. If you help me gain this merit before Saint Envoy Miao Fa, I will not forget your kindness today," Lan Yan replied via voice transmission.

Elder Qi nodded slightly but still looked hesitant. After a few moments of thought, he said, "In that case, please contact Saint Envoy Miao Fa and ask her to directly order the gate opened."

"Do you think I haven't tried? I've been trying to contact the Saint Envoy, but there's been no response. She might be busy with something," Lan Yan said, producing a blue communication array disk. Blue spiritual light rippled in circles, but there was no reply.

Seeing this, Elder Qi frowned deeply and remained silent.

"Elder Qi, the two Deputy Temple Masters and the other Saint Envoys are also sending people to investigate the invaders. They might soon discover this information too, and the credit will be taken by others. Such opportunities are fleeting. Don't regret it later," Lan Yan said with a hint of urgency.

Elder Qi's body trembled slightly. His lips moved, but he still didn't speak.

Just then, the spiritual light on Lan Yan's array disk suddenly jumped, and a green maiden's figure appeared—it was Saint Envoy Miao Fa.

"Connected!" Lan Yan was overjoyed.

Elder Qi also showed a delighted expression.

"Lan Yan, why are you contacting me? I'm busy. Make it brief," Saint Envoy Miao Fa said coldly.

"Yes, Saint Envoy. I followed your orders and investigated the invaders outside. I was fortunate to uncover important information and need to report to you in person. However, the Golden Jade Pass is currently closed. Please issue an order to Elder Qi to let me in," Lan Yan said quickly.

"Oh? Since it's important and requires a face-to-face report, Elder Qi, open the Golden Jade Pass. I'll explain to the Temple Master," Saint Envoy Miao Fa said, looking at Elder Qi behind the barrier.

"Yes, I understand," Elder Qi quickly agreed.

Saint Envoy Miao Fa's figure flickered and disappeared from the array.

A trace of a smile flickered in Han Li's eyes, then vanished instantly.

Inside the Flower Branch Space, Ti Hun closed a communication array in front of her with a hand seal.

She had transformed into a beautiful green-clad maiden with a slightly sickly appearance, exactly like Saint Envoy Miao Fa.

"I hope everything goes smoothly for Master outside," Ti Hun murmured, tapping her finger. Red light flashed around her, and she returned to her original appearance.

"Master prepared thoroughly, and the timing was perfect. Elder Qi was blinded by greed and too delighted to suspect that Saint Envoy Miao Fa was an impostor. Don't worry," Xiao Bai said from the side.

"I hope so," Ti Hun nodded slowly.

Before the Golden Jade Pass.

"Alright, the Saint Envoy has spoken. Elder Qi, please open the barrier," Lan Yan said loudly, putting away the communication array disk, as if intentionally letting others hear.

Elder Qi was secretly grateful to Lan Yan for giving him a legitimate way to save face, preventing his subordinates from gossiping.

"Since Saint Envoy Miao Fa has ordered, I naturally comply. Wait, who is he?" Elder Qi was about to order the gate opened when his gaze suddenly fell on Han Li beside him.

Han Li's aura was weak, and Elder Qi had been focused on discussing important matters with Lan Yan, so he hadn't noticed Han Li earlier.

"His name is Zhou Yu, an inner disciple of our temple. The information I mentioned is related to him; he witnessed it himself, so I need to bring him before the Saint Envoy," Lan Yan said.

"Disciple Zhou Yu pays respects to Elder Qi," Han Li said with a slightly fearful expression, bowing to Elder Qi and producing his identity token.

The token bore the owner's image and name. Han Li had already transformed into Zhou Yu's appearance, so he wasn't afraid of being exposed.

However, he had never met Zhou Yu in person and couldn't absorb his aura for a better disguise, which was a minor flaw.

Elder Qi examined Han Li for a moment, then produced a golden jade scepter and pointed it at Han Li's token.

A beam of golden light shot out, penetrated the barrier, and entered the token in Han Li's hand.

Han Li's token immediately emitted golden light, and a figure appeared within, identical to Han Li's current appearance.

Elder Qi carefully compared the two and extended his divine sense to thoroughly inspect Han Li's body. Finding nothing unusual, he nodded, put away the scepter, and withdrew his divine sense.

Han Li breathed a sigh of relief and put away the token.

"Someone, open the barrier," Elder Qi turned and said.

Eight cultivators in golden robes flew out from the crowd behind and landed in front, each producing a golden banner over a person tall and activating it with a spell.

The eight banners unfurled in the wind, rustling loudly, and emitted dazzling golden light, forming waves of golden radiance. The light was actually composed of countless tiny golden runes.

As the cultivators cast their spells, the golden waves quickly converged into a golden sphere the size of a human head, spinning rapidly.

Elder Qi waved both hands, and a golden light flew out from his body—a golden token.

With a hand seal, the surface of the golden token also emitted dazzling golden light, and then a crystalline beam shot out, entering the golden sphere.

The golden sphere immediately split into eight pieces, each quickly transforming into a foot-sized golden rune that merged into the golden light curtain of the Golden Jade Pass.

The thick golden light curtain flickered violently, then slowly split open a crack, just wide enough for one person to pass.

A glint of joy flashed in Lan Yan's eyes. She immediately shot forward, smoothly passed through the light curtain, and entered.

Seeing this, Han Li stepped forward and flew through as well.

As soon as the two passed through the barrier, Elder Qi immediately prepared to activate the token above his head to close the exit.

But at that moment, a sudden change occurred.