As he entered the hall, the crowd of over a hundred cultivators in the plaza outside refused to fall behind and surged inward as one. Zhang Yan remained unhurried, following them at a leisurely pace, shrouded in a misty aura as he stepped forward.
Yue Yuji led the pack ahead with remarkable speed, traversing through three layered halls in a row. At last, they arrived before a five-zhang wide and three-zhang tall water-patterned reflective wall. Walking around it, an expansive and profound hall erged before them. Brightly colored interlaced brackets supported the structure, silk drapes hung across beams, and in front of the hall stood six exquisite jade bridges. Beneath them, spring water surged like waves, streaming endlessly. Embedded within the walls of the hall were bright pearls, radiating a cold moon-like brilliance.
Yue Yuji hovered in mid-air, standing before a high platform. Behind him, on the jade wall, there was a circular relief mural. The carving depicted a flood dragon coiled around its neck and body, its bristling whiskers and fierce eyes conveying wrath, its teeth bared and claws open, surrounded by wave-like patterns that seed to churn up a tempest.
Yue Yuji’s gaze remained fixed on this mural as he spoke in a deep voice, "This must be the true heartland of the Yao Yin Sect!"
A slightly aged voice resonated from behind him, coming from Ying Chenglin, "Daoist Yue, let’s first locate the chanism of the Mountain Guarding Formation before discussing this."
Without turning his head, Yue Yuji chuckled softly and replied, "Now that we’ve entered this place, are you truly afraid we won’t find the chanism? Daoist Ying, you’re being far too hasty."
As his eyes swept around, he shifted slightly and addressed the thin-bearded cultivator who had approached, "Junior Hua, please investigate the side halls and discern the situation here."
Zuo Mo of the Yuxiao Sect rolled his eyes and volunteered, "This hall is vast. I, as a humble Daoist, am willing to accompany Hua Daoist in the exploration."
Yue Yuji knew precisely what was on Zuo Mo’s mind, but remained indifferent, replying, "Then I shall trouble Daoist Zuo as well."
Beside the grand hall, there were two side halls that were equally imposing. The cultivators present dared not move freely, unsure if hidden prohibitions lingered here. All remained within the main hall until, after a mont, the thin-bearded Daoist and Zuo Mo returned to report, "Senior Brother, we’ve surveyed the side halls. The sa type of mural wall exists there as well, but they have long been shattered. The interiors were empty, revealing only unfathomably deep earth caves. Judging by their state, it appears sothing was sealed there in the past."
Yue Yuji showed a flicker of surprise. For sothing to be sealed so solemnly by the Yao Yin Sect, it must not be a trivial matter. A faint sense of unease stirred in his heart, but he swiftly suppressed it. Raising his voice, he declared, "If that’s the case, then the chanism is likely behind this mural wall. If we gain entry, this sect will have no further secrets before us."
As his words trailed off, he swept his sleeve, unleashing a streak of Green Thunder. An ear-splitting boom echoed as the mural wall collapsed instantly, shattering effortlessly!
Before the others could react, he had already strode inside.
Inside, he raised his head and saw a large well ahead. Its rim was three feet high, and blood-red sealing talismans were affixed to its sides. Atop the well cover lay a bamboo scroll, a stone box, a jade dish, a golden seal, and ceremonial Dharma robes, all enveloped in a faint golden radiance.
His eyes couldn’t help but reveal an ardent gleam of joy and excitent.
The hundred disciples who followed behind him flooded in as well. Upon seeing these five items, their eyes were ignited with fervor.
Although they had never seen such treasures before, they knew these must be symbols of sect inheritance—Divine Communication Scriptures, secret techniques, and artifacts of legacy. Elixirs and Spiritual Liquids might also be among them!
It should be noted that Taiheng Ancestor had cultivated to the realm of Ascension, a peerless master of his ti. His Daoist inheritance was anything but ordinary.
Even though it was rely his eldest disciple Yi Jiuyang who passed it on, the Yao Yin Sect had once established formidable influence within East Splendor Continent, comparable to renowned Xuann sects like Nanhua, Yuan Yang, and Tai Hao. Whoever acquired even a fraction of these treasures would gain boundless benefits. Should one sect claim them, its strength could rival Shaoqing, Mingcang, and Yuxiao—the Three Great Sects—within a century.
Yue Yuji circled around the large well twice, appearing to deliberate on how to break its prohibitions. Yet, a calculating glint flickered in his mind as he thought, "How can such a fortune be left to others? With over a hundred individuals here, including disciples of the Ten Great Sects, if divided among them, what will remain for my Hai Zhen Temple?"
While his thoughts churned, the elder Daoist Ying Chenglin stepped forward, eyeing the scene. His expression abruptly stiffened as he gravely warned, "None of you should act recklessly with these items!"
Yue Yuji spun around sharply, his tone annoyed as he asked, "Daoist, what do you an by this?"
Ying Chenglin ignored him and addressed the crowd directly, "It’s said that Yi Jiuyang founded the Yao Yin Sect under Taiheng Ancestor’s guidance for the sole purpose of guarding a certain entity. If this is indeed a seal suppressing so great evil, using sect treasures to hold it in place, then such a threat must be extraordinary. Fellow Daoists, exercise extre caution and do not unseal it lightly."
Yue Yuji scoffed dismissively and retorted, "Daoist, your remark is absurd! We are trapped in an array here, and only by breaking the seals and accessing the inheritance can we escape. Do you an to suggest we shrink back simply because of your baseless assumptions? Truly laughable!"
Ying Chenglin’s frosty white brows furrowed tightly as he countered, "Daoist Yue, the sects will not abandon us here. Among the Ten Sects of Xuann, there are countless skilled individuals. They will undoubtedly discover an Array Breaking thod in due ti. Waiting a little longer poses no risk."
This reasoning was indeed sensible. The anomalies in Bronze Mountain had attracted attention, and external cultivators, even if not concerned about those trapped inside, wouldn’t overlook its Supre Treasures. Sooner or later, they would uncover a way to enter the mountain, allowing everyone inside to escape safely.
However, Yue Yuji burst into laughter, seeming as though he’d heard the most ridiculous joke. As he shook his head repeatedly, he replied, "Today, there are over a hundred people gathered here. But when the Array Gate opens, there will be thousands, even tens of thousands..."
He pointed toward the well cover, his eyes fierce as he shouted, "Now let ask you all, how many can these five sect treasures be divided among?"
...
...(To be continued. If you enjoyed this work, you’re welco to visit Qidian (qidian) to cast recomndation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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