Chapter 676

"Forget it... I've found some clues about that heavy artifact. Let's deal with the matter at hand first." Shi Chuan Kong said after a moment of silent contemplation.

Zi Qing and Feng Lin exchanged a glance, secretly relieved.

The former fixed his gaze, turned to look at Zhao Zhen and the others, a sneer curling at the corner of his mouth as he spoke, "Daring to lay a hand on the young master of our Guangyuan Zhai—has your path of cultivation been too smooth, or do you find your Taiyi lifespan too long?"

Zhao Zhen and Lu Wu Liang, who had been showing signs of alarm and had retreated over a thousand zhang away, both changed expression, clearly finding the situation troublesome...

...

A few days later.

Han Li and the Rehe Zunzhe hurried along a wide corridor, heading toward a great hall at its end.

Weeds grew thick on both sides of the path, littered with shattered stone statues and lamp pillars, looking utterly desolate.

"This was originally the sect's sacrificial site. That circular altar a thousand zhang in diameter we just passed was where the millennial grand sacrifice was held. Back then, though the concept of the Four Alliance Immortal Regions didn't exist, every grand sacrifice was a grand event for the nearby and even multiple immortal domains, often drawing ten thousand sects to pay homage. The splendor then, alas..." Rehe Zunzhe said, walking forward and reminiscing to Han Li.

In the end, he could only heave a long sigh.

"From ancient times to the present, no matter where, dynastic changes and sect rises and falls are all like this—such is the impermanence of the world... Fellow Daoist Rehe need not grieve too much. The priority now is to find your sect's foundational technique, the 'Great Five Elements Illusory World Technique,' as soon as possible." Han Li comforted him.

Rehe Zunzhe nodded silently, but his gaze still wandered around, his face full of reminiscence.

The great hall at the end of the corridor covered a vast area. Though more than half had collapsed, the remaining carved beams and painted rafters still conveyed the majestic aura it must have had when intact.

Not far away, above the tall vermilion and gold-powdered doors hung a vertical plaque with three large gold-painted characters: "Jingyang Ge" (Hall of Reverence).

Han Li and Rehe Zunzhe arrived before the hall. Looking at the massive pillars, each requiring three men to encircle, and the two doors over a hundred zhang high, they exchanged a glance. The latter raised his palm and slowly pushed them open.

A creaking sound, like a feeble gasp from the ancient hall.

The two entered, finding the interior in utter chaos, littered with broken tiles and debris from the collapsed rear hall, covered in slippery moss and tangled weeds.

Among the rubble, half of a white jade stele jutted out, revealing half of a gold character that seemed to be "Tian" (Heaven).

The original furnishings of the hall were no longer visible; most of the area was buried under ruins, with only some areas along the walls still clear.

Han Li walked along the wall, his eyes sweeping over it. He saw vivid mural paintings on it, still brightly colored as if freshly painted, despite the unknown ages that had passed.

"What are these?" he asked in confusion.

"This 'Tianli Ge' (Hall of Heavenly Calendar) held great significance for the sect, involving many sect secrets. Ordinary disciples were not allowed to enter and observe without permission. The murals here mostly depict important events in the sect's history. Had the hall's formation been preserved intact, all the murals could have been displayed through the formation's operation. Unfortunately, it's all destroyed now; the early murals cannot be shown, only the last few remain visible." Rehe Zunzhe said, shaking his head after a brief look.

Han Li looked at a mural beside him, suddenly raised an eyebrow, and let out a soft exclamation of surprise.

Rehe Zunzhe was also drawn to it and cast his gaze over.

The mural depicted what seemed to be an extremely grand banquet. The dominant colors were bright and festive red, with lanterns and decorations everywhere, spirit beasts leaping, and a lively scene.

After careful examination, Han Li noticed that the mural was not continuous, with clear transitions. With a thought, he followed the wall and looked over several adjacent murals.

The murals showed scenes of Zhenyan Sect's mountain gate welcoming guests, the altar paying homage to heaven, the golden hall hosting banquets, and many others. Important figures of Zhenyan Sect, including Miluo Ancestor and his five disciples, appeared intermittently in these scenes.

"Fellow Daoist Rehe, if I'm not mistaken, these banquet guests seem to be from the天庭 (Heavenly Court)?" Han Li suddenly raised an eyebrow and asked loudly.

The clothes of those being welcomed and feasted in the scene were exactly the same as those of the Heavenly Court.

"Indeed. The guests of this banquet were a group of extremely honored envoys from the Heavenly Court. They were not from the Immortal Palace but were direct envoys from the Central Earth Immortal Domain's Heavenly Court, so the sect received them with the highest rites. The splendor at that time is still fresh in my memory; it was a grand event in the True Immortal Realm." Rehe Zunzhe nodded and said.

"From this, it seems the relationship between Zhenyan Sect and the Heavenly Court shouldn't have been too bad. Why did it end in armed conflict?" Han Li asked, puzzled.

Rehe Zunzhe shook his head and said, "The reason I wanted to return to the sect is also to clarify this matter. In fact, shortly after this banquet, I left the sect on my master's orders to travel, so I know very little about what happened later."

Han Li nodded thoughtfully, but felt increasingly strange about it.

After a moment's deliberation, he continued along the wall and found another corner of a mural exposed under a pile of bricks and rubble. He waved his sleeve to sweep them aside.

After the debris was cleared, the full mural was revealed, depicting a strange scene.

In a rather dark and hidden underground chamber, Miluo Ancestor, accompanied by the yellow-robed tree man, the broad-limbed fire-haired man, and the young man with dark green skin like an iron tower, met a mysterious figure wearing a black cloak and shrouded in gray mist.

In the scene, the features of Miluo Ancestor and his three disciples were meticulously detailed, and Han Li could even discern subtle differences in expressions of surprise, fear, doubt, and confusion.

But the face of the cloaked figure was completely indiscernible.

Moreover, at the end of this mural, Miluo Ancestor went alone to another strange space and obtained a millstone-sized silver compass from a demonic figure with curved horns and black demonic aura.

All scenes ended there, and no further patterns appeared on the ruined wall behind.

"Fellow Daoist Rehe, do you know who this person is?" Han Li stared at the mural for a long time, then pointed at the cloaked figure and asked in confusion.

"Oh, I knew that the Ancestor and my master suddenly left the banquet, but I didn't know what they were doing, let alone who this mysterious visitor was." Rehe Zunzhe shook his head and said.

"Master? Which person in this picture is your esteemed master, Fellow Daoist Rehe?" Han Li asked in surprise.

"That fire-haired man is my master, Qimozi; the yellow-robed tree man is my senior uncle, Muyan; and the iron-tower-like man behind him is my third junior uncle, Wuyang. The two child-like figures at the banquet are my fourth junior uncle, Jin Yuanzi, and fifth junior uncle, Heze." Rehe Zunzhe said, pointing to the three and explaining respectfully.

When Han Li heard the name "Qimozi," his heart trembled slightly. He recalled the big-headed child he had seen in the Shuiyan Palace, who was the fifth junior uncle Heze mentioned by Rehe Zunzhe. The enemy Heze had asked him to kill was clearly named Qimozi.

Could it be that this Heze was referring to Rehe Zunzhe's master? If they were fellow disciples, why would they become mortal enemies?

Han Li's thoughts were momentarily disturbed, and his expression changed slightly.

"What's wrong, Fellow Daoist Li? Do you find something problematic?" Rehe Zunzhe raised an eyebrow and asked in confusion.

Han Li hesitated briefly but did not mention the previous matter. He just shook his head silently and said:

"Nothing, just curious about what they discussed. This mysterious visitor must be someone of importance."

"As for who this mysterious visitor is and what they talked about, we naturally have no way of knowing. But it was clearly a matter of great importance, otherwise the Ancestor wouldn't have left two junior uncles to entertain the Heavenly Court envoys while he took my master and two senior uncles to meet him." Rehe Zunzhe said slowly after hearing this.

"According to you, shortly after that, you left the sect, and it was after this that Zhenyan Sect suffered its calamity. This suggests that the arrival of this mysterious visitor might be related to the Heavenly Court, or even... be the key to the entire destruction of Zhenyan Sect." Han Li rubbed his fingers gently and mused slowly.

Rehe Zunzhe was silent, frowning slightly, his gaze fixed on the mural, also lost in thought.

Seeing this, Han Li said no more and turned his attention back to the mural, his eyes flickering as if pondering something.

"By the way, do you know where the secret chamber depicted in this mural is?" Han Li suddenly asked after a while.

"I'm not entirely sure about this place. I can only guess a few possible locations. Whether it's right or not, we'll have to search along the way to find out." Rehe Zunzhe said.

"Since the 'Great Five Elements Illusory World Technique' is so important, Miluo Ancestor must have treasured it greatly. It's quite possible it's hidden here or in a similar place. We'll have to go and look." Han Li said.

Rehe Zunzhe nodded and said nothing more.

The two carefully searched the area again before leaving and continuing on their way.