Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The scene changed once again.
The three found themselves standing on a crescent-shaped silver-white beach, with an endless expanse of blue ocean before them. At the horizon where the sky met the water, there was a small white dot.
"That's it! I can finally see my hometown before I die!" Old Ghost exclaimed excitedly.
"Where exactly is your hometown?" Chu Xi asked.
"Girl, you wouldn't understand right now. One day when you do understand, you'll realize that you've strayed too far from home, far enough that you can never return."
"Are you referring to ascending to the Immortal Realm?" Chu Xi pondered.
"What is the Immortal Realm?"
"You've never heard of the Immortal Realm?!" Chuxiong shouted, extremely shocked.
"The old man has been trapped in the Wandering Path of the Stars for so many years, long enough to almost lose himself. The world outside has changed long ago. The old man doesn't want to know about these things; he just wants to see his hometown one last time. Children, let's hurry."
The three soared into the air, gliding over the Blue Sea towards that small white dot.
As they got closer, they were increasingly astonished; the seemingly unremarkable island in the distance was actually magnificent.
This island was not small at all, enveloped in a layer of light blue Restrictions that shimmered. Through the Restrictions, they could see the entire layout of the island.
Everywhere was dazzlingly bright white. Layer upon layer of snow-white walls surrounded a wide and clean white stone street broad enough for ten horses to walk side by side, winding around the fortress and leading up to an unknown number of stories high. Countless deep corridors and dark windows were visible. At the very top stood a White Tower like a sharp sword, its spire piercing through the clouds above.
The entire island floated on the surface of the water like a dead city—immaculately white yet devoid of any signs of life, eerily quiet and solemn.
The three held their breath as they gazed at this temple-like island. Suddenly, Chu Xi said, "Don't you think the architectural style of this island doesn't resemble Middle-Earth at all?"
Li Hong nodded, "The Ancient God Temple is certainly different from the style of Middle-Earth."
"But the Ancient God was originally the ancestor of all cultivators in our Immortal Sect. It is said that the Nine Great Caves were also opened by them. For example, our Nine Li Sect's Chengxian Pavilion, and Kunlun's Kunlun's Twelve Jade Towers, while magnificent, still share a consistent architectural style. Why does this place look so different?" Chu Xi rested her chin on her hand, voicing her inner confusion as if asking herself.
"What are the Children talking about? Why suddenly discuss architectural styles? The Star Sect Temple has many styles; this is just one of them, no doubt about it. We need to find a way to get inside."
"Don't you have any methods?" Li Hong countered, asking the way.
"How would I know the method if I've never been here? Let's take it step by step. Children, go check out the main entrance."
The lowest level of the entire island was surrounded by a tall wall. This wall wrapped around the island like a jade belt, enclosing all the buildings within. In front stood a towering gate. The Restrictions here clearly had a point of connection, indicating that this was indeed the entrance.
The gate stood ten zhang high and five zhang wide, made of familiar jadeite material, with both doors fitting tightly together. Visible streams of light flowed across the surface of the gate; after so many years, the Restrictions still functioned as before.
Standing on the steps and gazing up at the towering gate, a sense of helplessness surged within Chu Xi.
"How do we open the Ancient God's Restrictions?" she murmured, asking the way.
"I know," Li Hong replied quietly, then said, "You all step back three feet."
This time Old Ghost was taken aback: "Li Hong, do you know how to open it?"
"Exactly!"
Li Hong floated up to face the center of the ten-zhang gate. With a flash of iridescence, Lingyi emerged from her forehead. Li Hong reached out to grasp Lingyi and extended her left arm, forcefully drawing a sword-like cut across her left arm.
Blood gushed forth, splattering all over the gate. The Azure Jade Gate was stained with a magnificent crimson pattern.
"What are you doing!" Chu Xi and Chuxiong exclaimed simultaneously, leaping into action. Chu Xi grabbed Li Hong's left arm and without hesitation, tore off a piece of clothing to start bandaging Li Hong's wound.
Li Hong pushed Chu Xi away. "Don't move! Only the blood of a Person Without Any Elemental Affinity can open the temple's Restrictions! I already knew this in the Ancient Celestial Field!"
"Look!" Chuxiong shouted.
Fresh blood was seeping into the Azure Jade Gate. In an instant, the blood on the door was absorbed and slowly disappeared.
"Again!" Li Hong forcefully slashed his wrist with a sword again, blood splattering onto the Azure Jade Gate, which also slowly vanished.
A brilliant Azure Light erupted, and a massive figure suddenly appeared on the smooth surface of the Azure Jade Gate, becoming clearer by the moment.
The figure was as tall as the entire door, imposing and majestic, dressed in pure white linen and wearing a crown of grass. It looked down at Li Hong and the other two floating before the door. The ancient and solemn Face moved slightly, lips parting as a thunderous voice echoed in their ears:
"Who approaches? Do you have the Star Sect token?"
The voice was incredibly resonant, like a piercing sound that stirred up towering waves before the island, creating a thunderous roar that shook the heavens.
Li Hong's eardrums buzzed, and his Dantian felt unstable, nearly causing him to fall. His first reaction was to quickly reach out and grab Chu Xi and Chuxiong on either side.
There were indeed guards here!
Li Hong's mind raced as he stopped Chu Xi from speaking. He pulled an item from his Cosmic Bag and raised it high.
"Press the token against the door," the imposing figure commanded.
Li Hong complied, pressing the item against the door.
A faint buzzing sound emerged as the Azure Jade Plate underwent a transformation, with specks of luminous light spilling out from it, forming an incredibly beautiful starry pattern that enveloped the entire Azure Jade Gate.
Li Hong felt a surge of joy; it really worked! This Azure Jade Plate obtained from the Ancient Celestial Field Center Forbidden Cabin had always seemed connected to the Ancient God or celestial realms, and it turned out to be true!
The figure at the door adopted a solemn and respectful expression, bowing and clasping their hands, "Greetings, Fire Saint!" Gradually, the figure shrank, as if retreating, and slowly faded away from the grand door.
Fire Saint? Li Hong was startled and glanced at Chu Xi.
Chu Xi subtly shook her head in the sleeve.
Li Hong understood and waited for the change.
After a moment, a series of creaking sounds echoed. The door opened from within, widening until it was just enough for a person to pass through, then it stopped, quietly remaining in that position.
Inside was a dark hall, tall and wide. From the outside, it appeared vast and empty, with many massive stone pillars arranged neatly, each large enough to be embraced by several people. Nothing else was present.
"Children, don't be afraid; there is no one here. The figure at the door is actually part of the Restrictions, not a real person. Hurry in! Remember to enter together!"
Li Hong once again took hold of Chuxiong and Chu Xi's hands, and the three of them swiftly flew into the door.
As soon as they entered, the creaking sound echoed again as the door closed behind them, leaving them in an empty darkness.
Flames began to flicker; high above, enormous chandeliers automatically ignited, casting dancing flames that illuminated the entire hall.
"Haha, we really made it in!" Old Ghost exclaimed loudly, clearly overjoyed. Suddenly, a flash of golden-white light appeared as the armor possessed by Old Ghost detached itself from Li Hong and swiftly darted inside with a whoosh. In an instant, it vanished deep into the hall.
Li Hong shouted, "Senior!"
“Children, I’m home, perhaps for the last time!”
“Chase!” Chuxiong shouted.
The three of them darted forward like arrows released from a bow.
As they rushed past massive stone pillars, they reached the bottom of the hall. Li Hong gasped in surprise, “Look!”
At the base of the hall stood a gigantic statue, carved by Black Jade, towering as high as the entire hall itself. It depicted an Ancient God dressed in archaic clothing.
His Face looked strangely familiar; he had an ordinary appearance, but his eyes were dark and bright, with flickering flames burning deep within them. This made the colossal stone sculpture appear lifelike, almost indistinguishable from a real person.
Chu Xi suddenly exclaimed, “Hong, you look a lot like him!”
Li Hong slowed down to take a closer look and couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise. No wonder it felt familiar; upon closer inspection, this figure bore a striking resemblance to him.
It was truly bizarre. Thinking back to the shadow at the door that called him Fire Saint, Li Hong felt an even stronger sense of absurdity.
“Forget about the statue; let’s find Old Ghost!”
They circled around the statue and were suddenly greeted by a bright sight as they stepped outside the hall.
The Restrictions glowed like a transparent dome, enveloping the entire majestic Temple City. Fortresses stacked upon one another reached up to the sky, with layers of white walls cascading beautifully under the blue sky. At the highest point stood a sword-like White Tower, soaring so high it seemed to pierce through the clouds.
“This place can hold a hundred thousand people!” Chuxiong exclaimed loudly. “Such a beautiful Great City, yet there isn’t a single person here. What a pity!”
Li Hong remained silent as he used his Divine Consciousness to search for traces of Old Ghost. In an instant, it felt as if he was speeding forward, passing through wall after wall and street after street.
If the hall here is the first level, then the entire temple has at least ten levels. The roof of each fortress serves as the street for the level above, decreasing layer by layer until it reaches a great height. However, the very top level, where the White Tower is located, clearly has an unusual spiritual fluctuation; it is the center of the entire Temple City.
Li Hong understood that this was indeed a Great City. The Ancient God who built this city clearly did not merely treat it as a temple but truly designed it as a livable Great City, with only the apex being the actual temple.
The presence of Old Ghost had vanished at that top level.
Li Hong smiled, "Let's go! To the top!"
Each level had a spacious hall just like the first level, and behind the hall were wide stairs leading to the upper levels. If both front and back doors were closed, one could not reach the upper levels unless they flew up. This meant that each level could function as an independent area.
The higher they flew, the more amazed the three became.
"After all, this is the grand work of an Ancient God. Such practical and beautiful architecture! If only we could build a similar Great City in our Nine Li Sect for low-level disciples to live in. The place is too large now; it takes forever to get from one door to another!" Chuxiong chuckled.
Li Hong gave him a hearty slap on the head: "Dream on! If we were to build it ourselves, who knows when it would be finished!"
Chu Xi slowed down while flying and thoughtfully said, "This wasn't built by anyone."
Comment 0 Comment Count