Chapter 321: Chapter 44: Constructing the Passageway in Plain Sight
White clouds billowed across the sky as if paving the way to heaven, stretching endlessly into the beyond.
The plain Cloud Realm Flag descended like it heralded the arrival of Heaven itself, the vast Gold Element Qi tearing through the Dao Light and relentlessly pressing down upon the ginsengfruit tree.
Seemingly gentle, but in reality unyielding, the myriad of white clouds were all transformed from the purest Gold Element Qi, which appeared to have the ability to create space.
In terms of the mutual generation and suppression of the Five Elements, the plain Cloud Realm Flag was perfectly poised to counteract the Wood Element of the ginsengfruit tree. Furthermore, with one commanded by its master and the other without, how could the unattended ginsengfruit tree resist being overpowered by the wielded banner?
However, the immediate danger posed by the Kunxu Immortal Palace was not the ginsengfruit tree, but the rest of the powerful presences assembled here.
As the white clouds overpowered the Dao Light, a spark of fire suddenly appeared through the crack in the heavens, falling like raindrops, only to become a small flame akin to that of a candle.
That single wisp of flame upon touching the white clouds erupted violently, emitting a burst of purple light. From it, a huge purple flame transformed into a gigantic hand. While beckoning Li Qinglian into the rift, it also grasped at the myriad white clouds.
"Doulu Purple Fire! Dan Xuzi, do you wish to become an enemy of our Palace?"
"If not being an enemy comes at the cost of allowing the Third Palace Master to acquire this tree, then let us be enemies."
A male and a female voice emanated from beyond the rift, and Jiang Li recognized one of them as the senior Su Nu he had encountered before.
As for the other one...
"It’s Wen Xu from the Daode Sect."
Tianxuan’s voice whispered in his ear, "The cultivation techniques of the Kunxu Immortal Palace are primarily based on the Gold, Wood, Yin, and Yang Elements. If they get their hands on this tree, it would greatly increase the Immortal Queen’s strength. This is something all factions cannot stand for."
The purple fire hand plunged into the clouds, and mists swirled forth, colliding with the purple flames. In an instant, the sea of clouds churned and even the downward pressure momentarily paused.
Despite being a second-grade Dao Artifact, the wielder was only fourth-rank and also engaged in suppressing the ginsengfruit tree, which naturally influenced the outcome.
"Old witch, take this sword from me!"
Elder Kaiyang’s booming shout accompanied by a dragon’s roar of a sword cry came from beyond the rift.
When it came to dealing with the Kunxu Immortal Palace, Elder Kaiyang was always unwilling to fall behind.
Brilliant as the blazing sun, ripples of blood Qi radiated from the rift, stretching out red glows that trembled and took the form of dragons and snakes. It was Elder Kaiyang making his move.
"Hum!"
Space vibrated, the rift tore further open, and vast True Qi from outside surged in, transforming into a pristine white hand that reached into the Dunjia Heaven and Earth, seemingly grasping something before retracting.
Jiang Li simultaneously experienced a pulling sensation as if he could be thrown out of this world at any moment.
"That is your master attempting to use Divine Skills. To others, it appears that you have been taken by your master. As for yourself... Do not resist," Tianxuan’s voice said.
Hearing this, Jiang Li relaxed his body, feeling the world spin before being abruptly flung out, watching the scene of the Cave Heaven Blessed Land quickly receding.
In the blink of an eye, Jiang Li passed through the boundary walls of the Cave Heaven Blessed Land and the scenery of Dragon Abyss Lake appeared before his eyes once again.
At that moment, a flawless jade hand slowly withdrew from the Cave Heaven Blessed Land, perfectly overlapping with Jiang Li’s figure, securing him in the larger palm.
On a mountain peak near East Mountain, Tianxuan slowly closed her hand, the white True Qi hand returning and vanishing into her sleeve, as Jiang Li stood beside her.
By now, both Elder Kaiyang and Elder Tian Ji were no longer beside Tianxuan. Above Dinghu, clouds were gathering, an Azure Dragon soared into the sky, transforming into Sword Gang to strike at the Su Nu; True Qi cleared the way, morphing into a great array of ever-changing patterns, within which surged the Golden Copper Muddied Air.
The Dinghu Sect, the Daode Sect, and the Kunxu Immortal Palace—three factions had now made their moves. Not far away, divine lights twinkled within Divine Capital, a sign that more fourth-rank powers were lying in wait.
Even third-rank onlookers were present, merely withholding action due to considerations.
"I wonder whose hands the ginseng fruit tree will fall into?" Jiang Li mused.
"The most likely outcome is that it falls into no one’s hands," Tianxuan said indifferently. "A second-grade Dao Artifact could provoke the third-rank strong people to act. But this in turn would draw the wariness of other third-rank powers, leading to even more involvement. No matter how the fourth-rank powers are entangled now, the third-rank ones will follow suit. Unless someone manages to secure the tree from the outset, this situation will simply continue indefinitely."
This was also the reason why the Kunxu Immortal Palace had decided to bring out the plain Cloud Realm Flag.
Unfortunately, their plan was thwarted by Li Qinglian.
The most likely end now was to reseal the Cave Heaven Blessed Land so that none could retrieve any treasures.
But since this place was now exposed and located near Divine Capital, who could rest easy? Who knew when the Emperor would seize the ginseng fruit tree for himself?
"Compared to this matter, the death of the Fourth Prince seems somewhat insignificant."
Tianxuan lightly shook her head, then she waved her hand to set up a barrier that isolated the inside from the outside, even pushing out the Five Vile Qi, and then looked at Jiang Li, "Take one of those fruits out."
Jiang Li trusted Tianxuan quite a bit, and upon hearing her command, he took out a ginseng fruit.
There were a total of eighteen ginseng fruits, with four remaining on the tree, Jiang Li had eaten one, kept three, Bu Yusheng had taken four, the Fourth Prince had obtained three, and Li Qinglian had collected three.
The three fruits from the Fourth Prince were now also in Jiang Li’s possession, two of which were still within the mustard ring, to be retrieved after breaking the ring’s seal, while he had taken the third one before slaying the Fourth Prince.
The one he now took out was the Fourth Prince’s lifeline at the time.
Unwrapping the silk that enclosed it, the ginseng fruit resembling a toddler in its third month was revealed.
"Hereafter, you should place these fruits into the Jade Box reserved for storing Spiritual Medicines. The Five Vile Qi pervades the outside world, and mere silk is not sufficient to block it."
Tianxuan first offered a caution, then turned her gaze toward the Ginsengfruit.
Her eyes shimmered with ephemeral gloss, faintly revealing the shape of a compass, endowed with the mystical power to see through reality and illusion.
"Rejecting the Precelestial Five Elements Qi, it embodies the essence of life, hmm... This fruit truly possesses the effect of prolonging life. If it had been before the End of Dharma and the ginseng fruit tree had been planted in the Earth’s dragon veins, it could likely have produced fruit that extended life by tens of thousands of years. It’s a pity that times have changed, now the fruit can only grow in a Cave Heaven Blessed Land. Even the finest Cave Heaven cannot yield fruit that would extend life by tens of thousands of years anymore."
Tianxuan observed minutely and slowly said, "However, even if the effect falls short, the essence remains identical. With the essence of this fruit, it should be possible to replace the Peach and refine the Immortality Elixir."
"Immortality Elixir?" Jiang Li raised an eyebrow.
In the current world, the allure of immortality is extraordinary indeed. Even third-rank strong people are irresistibly drawn to it.
"The Holy Medicine of the Kunxu Immortal Palace has long since run out of finished products. In my estimation, the Immortality Elixir is also likely one of the conditions for the advancement of the West Queen Mother Dao Fruit," Tianxuan observed the Ginsengfruit while speaking, "Kunxu Immortal Palace’s desire for this fruit is probably for the refinement of the Immortality Elixir."
"Eh?"
She suddenly uttered a gasp of surprise, "This fruit can’t be kept for long."
In Tianxuan’s observation, the Ginsengfruit had already begun to show imperceptible signs of stiffness, as if it had transformed from a living infant towards a lifeless corpse.
This was not due to external influences, but rather because the Ginsengfruit itself would gradually become stiff after leaving the tree.
Calculating at this rate, within half a day, the Ginsengfruit would be completely stiff.
In that case...
A veil fluttered across Tianxuan’s face, revealing her inner disquiet, "The Immortal Queen must be nearby!"
From the Divine Capital to Kunxu Mountain is a long journey; even Tianxuan would need some time. If any mishap occurred along the way, half a day might be easily lost.
And a stiff Ginsengfruit would naturally be impossible to use in medicine refining.
The best option would actually be for the Immortal Queen herself to come directly to the Divine Capital and refine the medicine as quickly as possible after obtaining the Ginsengfruit.
But the Immortal Queen, being a third grade, was subject to the scrutiny of other third-rank strong people, so she couldn’t reveal herself easily, not even if unable to obtain the ginseng fruit tree.
She must be waiting somewhere for the Ginsengfruit.
"The Cloud Realm Flag is named after the Cloud Realm because it has the effect of shaping Heaven and Earth’s space..." Tianxuan murmured, "That disciple from Kunxu Immortal Palace has clearly been transported away, the seizing of the Second Grade Dao Artifact was but a diversion."
She suddenly flicked her sleeve, bringing Jiang Li into the space within the sleeve, her figure shimmered and disappeared from the mountaintop.
...
In the solemn and dignified hall, a ray of bright light was cast down from above, illuminating the large bronze cauldron in the center of the hall.
The cauldron stood on three legs, symbolizing the birth of all things, its body etched with ancient, vast patterns, possessing the weight to suppress the Nine Provinces, its very existence indescribable in its profoundness.
Even the invisible gaze seemed to be suppressed when looked upon.
The beam of bright light entering the cauldron faintly reflected a golden-red luster, radiating intense heat, as if a Great Sun was gestating within.
Before this cauldron sat a dignified and stately woman in meditation, consistently practicing her Seal Technique, with a faint yet menacing Qi Mechanism weaving indecisively among her pale, jade-like fingers.
Suddenly, a faint white mist floated up, coalescing, and Bu Yusheng emerged from it. Seeing the woman, she immediately bowed in respect, then presented a jade tray carrying four silk-clad Ginsengfruit.
"Master, the Ginsengfruit has arrived," Bu Yusheng respectfully offered up the Ginsengfruit.
The woman, also known as the Great Palace Master of Kunxu Immortal Palace and referred to as the Immortal Queen, executed an archaic Seal Technique, which landed upon the large cauldron.
In an instant, the cauldron erupted with a brilliance akin to the Great Sun, manifesting various anomalies.
...
Thump!
Jiang Li’s heart pounded heavily, his blood flowing faster within his body, bringing with it an intense heat as the state of Innate Fire Qi emerged involuntarily.
"This..."
He looked in front of him, his face showing shock, "What is this?"
Something was stirring his blood, causing faint red patterns to emerge on his body, his skin crystal clear and emanating an aura as majestic as a God Demon.
This sensation was like...
Ochre Whip!
But the Ochre Whip was still within the Sect, it never left. Whatever was in front of him was definitely not the Ochre Whip.
That left only one possibility.
"Divine Farmer’s Cauldron."
Jiang Li uttered the three words like a groan and gazed at the towering palace walls from afar.