Chapter 54: The Sun Rises Among Them

Shen Tang rolled her eyes at him but didn't say much. The group had already arrived at Jian Zong's dungeon. Lu Xingzhou didn't let them enter, only allowing A Nuo to push him inside.

Not long after, Bai Chi's angry roar came from inside: "Lu Xingzhou, you actually dare to go against the world and refine a soul banner!"

"Don't talk nonsense, what soul banner? This is a genuine Human Emperor Banner!" Lu Xingzhou's voice transmitted: "My Human Emperor Banner is only lacking a few soul spirits to reach a thousand souls and can be upgraded. Brother Bai, your whole family can come and sit down; your faces are big enough."

"Lu Xingzhou, you... ah!"

The voice stopped. Du Gu Qingli shook her head, pushing Shen Tang to turn away. She also didn't understand. Before, she was very averse to these things, but with Lu Xingzhou using them, she didn't feel there was anything wrong. It was truly strange.

So she just asked: "Lu Xingzhou practices evil cultivation methods, which the righteous path doesn't tolerate and the court strictly forbids. Why don't you have any reaction?"

"Why should I care about that? How Bai Chi died has nothing to do with me," Shen Tang retorted strangely. "Instead, I want to ask you why you don't have any reaction?"

Du Gu Qingli opened her mouth and after a while, she repeated a sentence: "How Bai Chi died has nothing to do with me."

Shen Tang laughed and asked again: "Incense Burning Pavilion being overthrown is one thing... do you feel that those people from Lingyun Gate deserved to die?"

Du Gu Qingli thought for a moment and shook her head: "No. If they had caused trouble at my master's sect grand ceremony, they would probably have died even more horribly. The only reason they dared to cause trouble here was because they felt we were easy to bully and thought that no matter what, we wouldn't dare to kill people. But everyone knows that provoking a powerful sect's grand ceremony comes at a price."

"Exactly. They only bullied us because we were weak, not thinking we would actually dare," Shen Tang looked somewhat absentmindedly at the dark night sky, whispering to herself: "I want to know even more, when today's events spread to the capital, how he will think."

Late at night, the Town Demon Division in the capital received a transmission symbol from Xia State and quickly entered the palace to report to Gu Zhan Ting.

Gu Zhan Ting looked at the report with his hands behind his back, remaining silent for a long time. After a long time, he let out a soft sigh: "Among the phoenixes of the Tang, a mere Xia State cannot block her grace. Fortunately, she also has some tacit understanding... With her standing so steady now and still having a Dan Master by her side, it's impossible for her leg to not be curable, yet she hasn't cured it until now. That is telling Zhen to set father emperor's mind at ease."

He paused and instructed his attendants: "No matter who is secretly instigating this, make him roll back. Does Zhen saying I support Tian Xing Sword Sect mean I'm farting!"

His attendants just complied, already having some judgment in their hearts. His Majesty is feeling some guilt towards the princess... Clearly a phoenix among people, yet willingly fled to a barren city to stand firm, and was still bullied by a group of ordinary forces to her doorstep; clearly her broken leg can be cured, yet she cripples herself, indicating no fighting spirit.

Even an emperor with a heart of iron and stone, she is still his own biological daughter, a little dumpling he once loved very much when she was young. Seeing her wronged like this, how can his heart not have a trace of softness? It's a pity the softness is only a little, not much. Otherwise, the instigator's crime should have been punished, not just making him roll back.

Then someone asked: "Your Majesty, Incense Burning Pavilion maliciously assassinated the princess. This matter..."

Gu Zhan Ting said coldly: "Incense Burning Pavilion's strength is average, but they have many connections. It's likely difficult for Tang to deal with them well. Pass down, Incense Burning Pavilion has violated Zhen's will. From now on, no one is allowed to assist them, otherwise it will be provoking Zhen. As for Incense Burning Pavilion itself, we don't need to manage it; leave it to Tang to deal with slowly."

"Yes."

At this moment, Shen Tang and Lu Xingzhou had already arrived at the location of the former business firm, standing on the roof of the highest building, looking at the space between the two mountains in the distance. The cloud layer of the winter night was very thick, the stars and moon were difficult to see, and there was no light. The two mountains were close at hand, yet still a dark mass, unclear to see. At first glance, blended together, they looked more like a huge dan furnace. The candle fires on Dan Xia Mountain were like gems inlaid on the dan furnace, glowing.

They were waiting, waiting for the moment of sunrise. A huge gathering spirit array was hidden at the bottom of the building. At this moment, the spirit energy in the array was incomparably majestic, having already reached the energy level of the upper three grades. No matter how many purposes the daytime ceremony had, collecting spirit energy and gathering it here was the final step.

There are two types of gathering spirit arrays: one that gathers heaven and earth spirit energy daily for cultivation and absorption, and one that steals and stores the overflow of battle power, including the soul power of the dead, which is also needed for gathering spirits. This latter type belongs to completely evil canons, and its essence is a kind of sacrifice method. If magnified, it would be a sacrifice of mountains and rivers.

Before this, Shen Tang and Du Gu Qingli probably never thought in this lifetime that they would participate in an evil canon, and still be the main force. Shen Tang sometimes thought, was she like a foolish monarch bewitched by the demonic path?

But at this moment, sitting with him shoulder to shoulder on the top of the building, quietly waiting for the sunrise scene, made people feel very peaceful in their hearts. If it weren't for the two people standing behind, pushing wheelchairs, it would be even more perfect... now it was hard to even say anything.

She thought for a long time and finally uttered a sentence: "If breaking this also requires a specific date, then what should we do?"

"If it's really like that, there's no choice, but I don't think it should be to that extent... after all, sealing the spirit spring has already borrowed the time of heaven, repeating it wouldn't have much meaning," Lu Xingzhou said somewhat absentmindedly: "Now I have another kind of hesitation, not knowing whether I should continue."

Shen Tang was stunned: "Why? We've already proceeded to this step."

Lu Xingzhou sighed: "If there is indeed an ancient immortal home secret realm hidden here, perhaps it is not something we can bear."

Shen Tang smiled: "At least we can confirm that before this place was sealed, Xia State was better than it is now. Seeing that even if it's powerful, it doesn't belong to the type that is harmful to the outside world; at most, the crisis is only internal. Right?"

"Mm."

Shen Tang said softly: "Then that's enough. Whether there's a crisis is still unknown, it might just be an auspicious treasure land. Even if there is, although it's an internal matter, it doesn't harm others. We'll just face it together."

Lu Xingzhou turned his head to look at her profile. He knew that Shen Tang didn't have much demand for this decryption. The foundation of the current Tian Xing Sword Sect had already been laid well. As long as they developed step by step, it wouldn't take long to become a prosperous and strong sect. Decrypting might wait until the forces were strong and then slowly come; there was no need to rush into adventure now.

The one who was truly anxious was him, Lu Xingzhou. Not long ago, Du Gu Qingli's suggestion about exchanging bones was still in his ears. Before, there were no such conditions, so he didn't dare to think wildly. But if this is an immortal home secret realm, then there is a very large possibility that immortal bones and similar things really exist, or there will be some other beneficial heaven materials and earth treasures. Lu Xingzhou looked at her face, which was like a calm lake, but in fact, he didn't know how great the desire in his heart was. All recent arrangements were for this. But he also knew that there were unknown dangers inside, and he didn't want to involve others too much.

But she said, they would just face it together. Lu Xingzhou's always somewhat tense expression slowly calmed down, revealing a trace of a smile: "Mm."

In the distance, the first ray of sky light gradually rose. The two people stopped speaking and stared intently at the space between the two mountains in front. Inside the mountain hollow, the upper halo of the sun slowly appeared.

Lu Xingzhou suddenly ignited a talisman. The gathering spirit array at the bottom of the building seemed to have received a signal, and the stored power began to be slowly released down into the depths of the earth vein. The gathered power constantly sank, and the sun in the distance slowly floated up, looking as if the sun rising in the distance was caused by the power pressing down here. The scene was very mysterious.

When the stored energy was used up, the sun still had a small part hidden under the mountain hollow, not completely out. Lu Xingzhou had already made preparations. A talisman flew straight down, transferring all his own power into the array. Immediately after, A Nuo, Qingli, and Shen Tang took turns relaying. When Shen Tang's spirit energy was injected more than half, the sun finally jumped out in a complete circle, like a dan medicine jumping out of a dan furnace.

Lu Xingzhou's talisman rose again, and the pre-arranged illusion-breaking array in the mountain hollow shone brightly. That gentle newborn warm sun suddenly bloomed with dazzling light, reflecting on the mountain array. In an instant, flowing light overflowed, covering the mountain hollow. The entire space of the mountain hollow seemed to be slightly distorted by the light map, but looking closely, there was no change.

"Now." Lu Xingzhou patted his wheelchair and shot towards the mountain hollow like lightning. The group followed closely behind, rushing straight towards the center of the mountain hollow.

Even though they were prepared, they were still a little shocked by the scene that met their eyes. The originally ordinary soil of the mountain hollow was covered with various profound textures at some point, and even the color had changed from ordinary soil color to a somewhat white jade color. In the center, a yin yang fish shape appeared, one half flame, one half ice blue. At this moment, the two sides were not biting together but slightly open, like an open door.

The mountain hollow was very large, not a small area. Looking with their eyes, all the places within their gaze had completely changed, looking very spectacular, as if they were in an immortal home wonder.

Shen Tang took a deep breath: "You were right. This door was opened by the gathering spirit array, and the opening point was on the business firm's side. After the door opened, sunlight shone into the bottom, and the illusion-breaking array responded effectively, thus revealing the true scene. Plus the water and fire coming together before, these three links; if any one was missing, this puzzle would not have been solved."

Seeing Shen Tang's almost worshipful gaze, Lu Xingzhou shook his head, not being self-satisfied. It seemed like he had only started pondering after getting the Huo residence, but in reality, he had been pondering these things for more than half a year, from the time he ran to Dan Xia Mountain to be a Dan Master. He should even say that he had a clue ten years ago. Revealing the secret at once, quite a few emotions intersected.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" The profound change in this place naturally triggered the attention of the disciples of Tian Xing Sword Sect. Jin Mingxiu, Tang Yunzhong, and others flew out, and seeing the situation, they were all very shocked: "Sect Master, this is..."

Lu Xingzhou slowly arranged a covering array around, not speaking.

"It's a secret realm, the specific unknown," Shen Tang responded as if nothing had happened: "After Elder Lu arranges the array, this place will also be covered. Uncle Zhong will lead trustworthy core disciples to guard it, and even general disciples are not allowed to leak information. We will go in first to see the situation... remember to seal the road mouth outside and not allow anyone to approach and disturb."

Saying this, her beautiful eyes fell on Jin Mingxiu, seemingly casually instructing: "There may be danger below. Hall Master Jin's cultivation is profound, so go in with us."

Everyone felt this arrangement was very normal. Tang Yunzhong solemnly received the order and arranged for guards to go. A Nuo and Du Gu Qingli each carried a wheelchair and jumped down first. Jin Mingxiu's pupils moved slightly, seemingly with a smile, and also quickly chased down.

Just as the figures of the crowd disappeared, before Lu Xingzhou's covering array was effective, the ground naturally closed, the textures disappeared, and it returned to the appearance of an ordinary mountain hollow, no longer special.