Chapter 478: At the Gate of the Hall

"Palace Master, the direction Ouyang Kuishan just pointed to—wasn't that exactly where the anomaly occurred earlier? If so, it's most likely true." Xue Ying stood aside for a moment, then couldn't help saying.

"No rush. If that really is the entrance to the Taiyi Hall, how could it lack guards and prohibitions? Even if others arrive, getting in won't be easy." Xiao Jinhan shook his head and said.

"Do you mean that what Ouyang Kuishan just said might be false? That's unlikely. If he had the audacity to deceive us, he wouldn't have betrayed Bai Lian." Xue Ying was slightly startled, then a trace of contempt flashed in her eyes as she spoke.

"We cannot fully trust the words of Ouyang Kuishan and his ilk. It never hurts to be more cautious." Xiao Jinhan said slowly.

As he spoke, he pointed at the formation plate with his finger.

A layer of dazzling light emerged on the formation plate, then spread outward, forming another formation.

The formation flickered twice, and a flash of light at the center revealed a figure—it was Lu Yue.

"Subordinate pays respects to Palace Master. You summoned me suddenly—are there any orders?" Lu Yue bowed and asked respectfully.

"Where are you now? Did you sense anything just now?" Xiao Jinhan asked.

"Subordinate is currently in the southeastern area where we parted earlier. I sensed nothing just now." Lu Yue replied.

"Understood. Continue searching nearby. If you find anything, report back promptly." Xiao Jinhan nodded and instructed.

"Yes." Lu Yue nodded and ended the communication.

Xiao Jinhan formed hand seals, about to activate the formation plate again.

At that moment, a black light emerged on his body.

His expression changed slightly, and he immediately waved his hand.

A black formation plate appeared in his hand, emitting rings of black light. A blurry black figure stood within the black light—it was the same person who had spoken with him in secret last time.

"Palace Master Xiao, the entrance to the Taiyi Hall has appeared. Feng Tiandu has also discovered it and is heading there. We have arranged everything according to plan." The black figure spoke.

Upon hearing this, a flicker of joy flashed deep in Xiao Jinhan's eyes, but it vanished in an instant.

"Where is the Taiyi Hall?" He pondered for a moment, then asked.

The black figure waved his hand, and the black light in his hand condensed into a map with a mark that was essentially the same as the location Ouyang Kuishan had just mentioned.

"Good, I'll go there immediately." Xiao Jinhan nodded and said at once.

The black figure hummed in acknowledgment and ended the communication.

"Let's go!" Xiao Jinhan formed hand seals and waved, and the white light shot forward.

Xue Ying's expression relaxed, and she also waved her hand, sending a beam of light into the white light beneath them.

The speed of the white light increased slightly.

After flying forward for a moment, a blue light appeared ahead to their right, flying toward them with incredible speed, arriving in an instant.

Xue Ying frowned, urged a spell to stop the white light, and was about to scold, but Xiao Jinhan stopped her with a look.

The blue light converged, revealing a group of figures—a band of Cangliu Palace cultivators, led by Palace Master Luo Qinghai.

"Palace Master Xiao, and Vice Palace Master Xue, what a coincidence meeting here. Seeing you all in such a hurry, may I ask where you are headed?" Luo Qinghai cupped his hands toward Xiao Jinhan and said with a smile.

"Great Palace Master Luo, if you have something to say, please speak directly." Xiao Jinhan's expression remained unchanged as he said indifferently.

"Hehe, Palace Master Xiao is indeed straightforward. Then I won't hide it. I discovered a relic ahead with a rather troublesome prohibition. We've tried for several days but still couldn't break it, so I suspect there must be a valuable treasure inside. Since you happen to be passing by, would you be interested in taking a look together?" Luo Qinghai asked with a smile.

"A valuable treasure... Where is it?" Xiao Jinhan's eyes flickered as he asked.

"It's not far ahead, less than half a day's journey." Luo Qinghai pointed in the direction they came from and said.

Xiao Jinhan looked in the direction he pointed and saw that it was not the direction of the Taiyi Hall entrance.

"From my observation, the prohibition likely covers an ancient tomb. Though I don't know who is buried there, it must be someone of great origin." Luo Qinghai said, taking out a blue jade talisman.

With a wave of the golden token, the jade talisman emitted a bright blue light, condensing into a water mirror that showed a wilderness with howling winds and rolling sand.

On the ground, there was a huge yellow light shield, elliptical in shape, giving a sense of murkiness.

Beneath the light shield, a massive tomb was faintly visible, like a giant beast crouching on the ground. Even through the water mirror, one could feel its imposing aura.

"It seems Great Palace Master Luo is quite fortunate. But with such a treasure site, wouldn't it be better for your Cangliu Palace to keep it all to yourselves? Why invite us?" Xiao Jinhan glanced at the water mirror twice, nodded, and then asked.

"Palace Master Xiao, as I just said, the prohibition outside this tomb is extremely formidable. We've exhausted all our strength for days and still haven't broken it. Any further delay might attract the covetousness of other forces. That's why I've come to invite you to join us. Let's work together to break the prohibition and split the treasures inside. What do you say?" Luo Qinghai lowered his voice and said solemnly.

"If even the Cangliu Palace Master couldn't break the prohibition, I'm afraid I can't do much either." Xiao Jinhan's eyes flickered a few times, then he shook his head and said.

"Regarding that, Palace Master Xiao need not worry. I've studied the formation for several days and, though I couldn't break it, I've thought of a solution. However, the method requires six Golden Immortals to act together, which is why I've come to invite you." Luo Qinghai smiled.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinhan pondered for a moment, then turned to Xue Ying and said, "Since only six are needed, your Cangliu Palace has five Golden Immortals; just one more is enough. Xue Ying, take a few of them and accompany Palace Master Luo."

"But Palace Master, aren't you suspicious that... If you go alone, what if he..." Xue Ying's expression turned anxious as she transmitted her voice.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Xiao Jinhan waved his hand, cutting off Xue Ying's words.

Upon hearing this, Xue Ying said no more.

"Having Vice Palace Master Xue go is also fine. Vice Palace Master Xue, time is of the essence; let's set off now." Luo Qinghai urged upon hearing this.

With that, he waved his hand, sending a blue light that enveloped the Cangliu Palace group and shot forward.

"Palace Master, I'll be off then." Xue Ying nodded slightly to Xiao Jinhan, then produced a swallow-shaped flying boat to carry the others.

"Go ahead and assist Great Palace Master Luo well." Xiao Jinhan instructed indifferently, emphasizing the word "assist."

Upon hearing this, Xue Ying said no more and pointed with a spell.

The swallow flying boat shot forward, disappearing into the distant sky in an instant.

Xiao Jinhan watched the two groups depart, his eyes flickering until their figures vanished. Then his form transformed into a white rainbow and continued forward.

A few days later, a white light shot over from afar and landed above a huge canyon, revealing Xiao Jinhan's figure.

He clasped his hands behind his back, letting the howling cold wind rustle his robes, and looked around.

According to the locations Ouyang Kuishan and the black figure had pointed out, it should be around here.

After a moment, his eyes suddenly brightened, and his form shot out like lightning, flying silently toward one direction of the canyon.

...

Below the canyon, there was a huge square white stone wall, hundreds of feet in size, with a smooth surface that resembled a gate.

From left to right, the stone wall was engraved with a lifelike landscape painting.

On the white stone wall, a thick white light curtain flickered incessantly.

In front of the white stone wall, many people had gathered, seemingly divided into four groups.

The largest group was the Fuling Sect members—almost all who had entered the secret realm were there, including Feng Tiandu, Qi Tianxiao, and three other Golden Immortals. Only one or two True Immortals were missing, presumably fallen somewhere in the immortal mansion.

Not far from the Fuling Sect stood a group of foreign cultivators—the Nanli tribe.

However, of the Nanli tribe's four Golden Immortals, only the ancient elder and the white-haired old woman were present; the other two were nowhere to be seen. The number of True Immortals was only half of the original, whether they had split up or the other group had fallen.

The other two groups were the smallest. One was Ouyang Kuishan and the other two Golden Immortals of the Candao Sect.

The other group was even smaller, consisting of only a man and a woman, standing farthest from the others. The man was an old man in a black robe with black beard and hair, full of spirit; the woman wore a yellow dress and had a pleasant appearance.

If Han Li were here, he would recognize them as Hu Yan Dao Ren and Yun Ni.

At that moment, a golden light flashed in midair, and a figure silently appeared—a square-faced man with silver whiskers, his white robe with gold patterns fluttering without wind.

Though the newcomer did not speak and not a trace of aura emanated from him, the scene fell silent, and everyone felt an invisible pressure arise.

This white-robed man was Xiao Jinhan.

His sudden appearance startled the crowd; only Ouyang Kuishan and the other two showed joy and went to greet him.

"Greetings, Palace Master."

"You have rendered great service this time. After leaving the immortal mansion, you will be heavily rewarded." Xiao Jinhan glanced at the three and nodded.

"Thank you, Palace Master." Ouyang Kuishan and the others rejoiced, nodded, then stepped aside and stood with hands at their sides.

Xiao Jinhan then turned to look at the Nanli tribe and Hu Yan Dao Ren and Yun Ni, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"Palace Master, these people were likely nearby earlier and arrived over the past few days after seeing the celestial phenomenon." Ouyang Kuishan noticed Xiao Jinhan's expression and quickly transmitted an explanation.

Xiao Jinhan nodded slightly but did not reply.

Seeing this, Ouyang Kuishan and the others relaxed slightly.

"So it's Palace Master Xiao. I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly. But why are you alone? Where are the other fellow daoists of your immortal palace?" Feng Tiandu looked over and raised an eyebrow as he asked.