Chapter 406: Please Enter

“Fellow Daoists, since the North Cold Immortal Palace is so stubborn, we need not be polite with them. Let us join forces and blast open this restriction together!” Qi Lingxiao shouted coldly.

“Good!”

The people in the cave had spent years searching for the entrance to the immortal mansion, expending no small amount of effort and enduring much hardship. They had long harbored great resentment toward the North Cold Immortal Palace for this move. Now that a force no weaker than the Immortal Palace was taking the lead, many immediately responded with shouts of approval.

“Fellow Daoists, since the Immortal Palace is so unkind, should we merely make them open the restriction and let it go at that? Why not join forces and drive them out of here, letting them taste what it’s like to be unable to enter the immortal mansion?” The pockmarked old man Chen Pi of the Ghost Wailing Sect suddenly bellowed.

At his words, everyone was startled, then fell into dead silence. The many Golden Immortals present, who were the strongest, showed varied expressions.

Although many factions usually maintained a superficial harmony with the North Cold Immortal Palace, revering it as the sovereign of the North Cold Immortal Domain, in secret they were often dissatisfied. They were merely constrained by the Immortal Palace’s power and the fact that it did not affect their fundamental interests, so there were no open conflicts.

Now, with the earlier incident of the Candle Dragon Dao revealing the Immortal Palace’s ambitions, and the subsequent sealing of the immortal mansion ruins touching upon their immediate interests, it naturally aroused public anger.

As a result, even Golden Immortals like Luo Qinghai and Feng Tiandu seemed somewhat tempted.

Although they did not know how many people the North Cold Immortal Palace had sent this time, even if they mobilized all their combat strength, it would not surpass that of the assembled crowd. Driving the North Cold Immortal Palace out was not impossible.

Luo Qinghai, Feng Tiandu, and the others’ minds churned as they exchanged glances, about to speak.

At that moment, a sudden change occurred!

Ripples spread across the surface of the black restriction, and countless profound spiritual patterns emerged. Then, patterns resembling the Nine Palaces appeared alternately, interlocking and growing brighter, causing the entire light screen to tremble.

After a few breaths, all the Nine Palace patterns suddenly blazed with dazzling brilliance, then the light converged, and all the patterns vanished simultaneously. The black restriction also dissipated, revealing the dark cave behind.

The crowd, which had been aggressive and ready to strike, was stunned. They looked at each other, at a loss.

But then, a voice came from within the cave:

“Fellow Daoists, please enter.”

Han Li’s expression shifted. He had seen Xiao Jinhan at the Candle Dragon Dao, though only from a distance, but Xiao Jinhan had left a deep impression on him. This voice belonged to him.

Luo Qinghai, Feng Tiandu, and the other leaders frowned at the sight.

They exchanged glances and then strode toward the cave.

Even Qu Ling, after a moment’s hesitation, followed behind Luo Qinghai and Feng Tiandu into the cave.

Seeing this, the other True Immortal cultivators silently followed. Han Li naturally followed behind Hu Yan Dao Ren, moving unobtrusively with the crowd.

Soon, everyone entered the cave.

Not only the black restriction at the entrance but also the restrictive arrays around the blue light gate had vanished, though the nine sealing stone pillars remained.

Without the restriction seal, the blue light gate emitted a blue light several times more dazzling than before, mixed with a strange cold aura and powerful spatial forces.

The strange cold aura and spatial forces intertwined, and the blue light within the gate churned violently, showing signs of erupting.

At that moment, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth above Red Moon Island roiled, occasionally forming dazzling light clusters that then shattered and burst with thunderous sounds.

The North Cold Immortal Palace members stood near the light gate, led by Xiao Jinhan. He watched the cultivators from various factions filing in, smiling as if he were a hospitable host welcoming distant guests.

Han Li, in an inconspicuous corner, looked at the North Cold Immortal Palace group and his pupils contracted.

The North Cold Immortal Palace group, led by Xiao Jinhan, numbered a full twenty to thirty people.

Moreover, nearly half of them were Golden Immortals.

To Han Li’s surprise, Ouyang Kuishan and the other two Golden Immortals from the Candle Dragon Dao were also there.

As for the others, their cultivation levels were all at the late True Immortal stage or peak True Immortal stage; none were weak.

Han Li couldn’t help but grin. The North Cold Immortal Domain’s strength clearly far surpassed any single faction present. This official force that had dominated the immortal domain for so many years indeed had deep foundations and was not to be underestimated.

But now, with the Cangliu Palace, Fuling Sect, and other factions allied, they were considerably stronger than the North Cold Immortal Palace.

Han Li’s gaze suddenly paused, landing beside the North Cold Immortal Palace group.

Several people in black robes stood there—Lu Jun and Lu Yuqing from Black Wind Island, among others.

Han Li’s heart tightened, and he quickly retreated behind a large man in front of him, concealing his figure.

Although he could disguise his appearance with the Wuchang Alliance mask and fool others, Lu Yuqing had a natural strange eye that could recognize him.

“So Palace Master Xiao is discussing important matters with fellow Daoists of the Immortal Palace. We have intruded rashly; please forgive the disturbance.” Fuling Sect Master Qi Lingxiao said with a sneer, his tone ambiguous.

Feng Tiandu, Qu Ling, Luo Qinghai, and the others, after sweeping their gazes over the North Cold Immortal Palace side, all fixed their eyes on Xiao Jinhan without speaking.

“Heh, Fellow Daoist Feng, Fellow Daoist Qu, Palace Master Luo, all old friends have come. Xiao has failed to welcome you from afar; I am truly sorry.” Xiao Jinhan said with a faint smile.

“Palace Master Xiao, let’s not mince words. You must have heard what we said outside, right?” Feng Tiandu said coldly, clearly unwilling to waste words.

“Xiao never regrets what he does. If you wish to act, do as you please. My North Cold Immortal Palace will meet it.” Xiao Jinhan still wore a smile, speaking calmly.

The North Cold Immortal Palace members beside him all placed their hands on their storage artifacts, showing no fear.

“Palace Master Xiao, do you think we dare not?” Qu Ling’s eyes glowed with cold silver light as she said slowly.

“Your combined strength indeed surpasses that of my North Cold Immortal Palace, but you had best consider the cost of fighting here. Moreover, you see these stone pillars—they form our North Cold Immortal Palace’s unique formation, the Eight Desolates Wandering Array. If I self-destruct the formation, though it won’t destroy the entrance, its power will be enough to annihilate the void near the entrance. What will happen to the entrance then, you can guess for yourselves.” Xiao Jinhan said calmly.

Hearing this, Qu Ling’s expression darkened as she looked at the nine stone pillars.

Feng Tiandu and the others also changed expression.

“Do you think a single statement will make us back down?” Before others could speak, Qi Lingxiao shouted coldly.

“If you don’t believe me, feel free to try attacking now.” Xiao Jinhan spread his hands, speaking with composure.

Seeing Xiao Jinhan’s demeanor, Feng Tiandu and the others felt uneasy and exchanged telepathic messages.

“Fellow Daoist Feng, you are one of the foremost formation masters in the North Cold Immortal Domain. Are these stone pillars really the Eight Desolates Wandering Array?” Luo Qinghai inquired via telepathy.

“I cannot fully recognize the array patterns on these nine pillars, but based on my years of experience with formations, it is indeed an extremely powerful one. If detonated, the consequences would be dire.” Feng Tiandu examined the pillars carefully before replying telepathically.

“Xiao Jinhan is truly cunning, keeping such a trick up his sleeve. Are we just going to let this go?” Qi Lingxiao transmitted reluctantly.

“Breaking this restriction would take considerable time. If we fall out and fight, there’s absolutely no time. Forget it; our primary goal is to enter the immortal mansion. We’ll have to let him off this time. Since he’s let us in, let’s see what he has to say.” Feng Tiandu sighed and transmitted.

Luo Qinghai, Qi Lingxiao, Qu Ling, and the others were silent for a moment before nodding one after another.

“Palace Master Xiao, we have seen your methods. Very well, let this matter end here.” Feng Tiandu said.

Qi Lingxiao glared at Xiao Jinhan and the others a few times before finally sighing.

Luo Qinghai did not speak, but it was clear he agreed.

As for Qu Ling, she simply turned and walked to the side. The True Immortal cultivators gathered there quickly dispersed, making a large open space for her.

Although the other factions were still somewhat unwilling, since the Fuling Sect and Cangliu Palace had backed down, they naturally would not foolishly rush forward to be scapegoats. Even Chen Pi and the alien races, who had been the most indignant at first, fell silent.

“In fact, this Minghan Immortal Mansion is vast and rich in resources. Since its appearance all these years, it has continuously yielded rare treasures. Most of you come for this reason; why harm our goodwill?” Xiao Jinhan said with a faint smile, a slight relief in his eyes.

“Palace Master Xiao, you have been here the longest. In your opinion, when will the immortal mansion descend?” Feng Tiandu did not reply but changed the subject.

“At most two days, the immortal mansion will surely descend. However…” Xiao Jinhan said.

“However what?” Feng Tiandu asked.

“To put you at ease, I have already removed the restriction at the entrance. You should apply some seals here, or else if the Minghan cold energy erupts, it will be troublesome.” Xiao Jinhan said slowly.

As soon as he finished speaking, the churning blue light within the blue light gate suddenly erupted.

A thick blue light pillar shot out from within, soaring straight into the sky.

The temperature inside the cave instantly dropped several times over, becoming bitterly cold. Blue ice crystals formed everywhere, rapidly filling the cave.

The people present changed expression and quickly activated their protective light, fleeing far from the blue light gate.

The ice crystals in the cave were shattered by everyone using their respective methods.

However, the cold energy within the light pillar was too fierce. Some True Immortal cultivators of slightly lower cultivation were invaded by the cold energy and suffered hidden injuries.

The Golden Immortals of the various factions quickly used secret techniques or offered spiritual treasures to protect their subordinates.

For a time, chaos reigned in the cave.