Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 586: Chapter 286: One of the Nine Treasures! Witnessing the Xuanmiao in the Tai Sui Palace (2)

”After all the calculations, it seems only the old cripple from the Wuwei Sect is left.”

At this, the wild flames flickered even higher, and the high furnace behind trembled.

”That old cripple won’t help her either,” Jiang Wansui said with absolute certainty.

”Her chances of success are still less than thirty percent, and even if she succeeds, she may not achieve Pure Yang Wuji; she might even end up transforming herself...”

”Heh heh, Vacuum Refining Form... The fate of this lineage is to refine themselves away...”

”I understand.”

Jiang Wansui nodded and turned to leave.

”Heh heh, Jiang Wansui, it seems you’ve been tempted by the Void Mirror... Indeed, only the Nine Treasures can counter the Nine Techniques in this world.”

In the flame, the words of that terrifying figure halted Jiang Wansui’s departure.

The Void Mirror, one of the Nine Treasures, specifically restrains the Vacuum Refining Form.

”Take care of yourself.”

Without looking back, Jiang Wansui strode away.

The ancient bronze gate slowly opened, accompanied by deafening sounds.

In the flame, the terrifying figure slowly sat down, a wild smile on his lips as he picked up a copper ball, scooped up the iron liquid flowing from the high furnace, and chewed and swallowed it.

...

Tai Sui Village.

The night was dim, and thick fog pervaded.

From the direction of Xu Palace, a great bell rang out, resonating far and wide, enveloping the entire village.

In the haze, the once dim temple suddenly lit up with layers of firelight, almost rising up but not quite, like incense smoke swaying, reaching three feet into the sky.

”Xu Dog? He actually has such a destiny?”

Zhang Fan pondered, originally having arranged for Qin Ergou to enter Zhongnan Mountain, never expecting that he would have such a fate with the Wuwei Sect, entering Xu Palace to continue the extinguished incense, becoming the new Xu Dog.

”Don’t overthink it. He’s entered Xu Palace; he must either succeed or die... there’s no other path,” Bai Yujing said firmly.

”Death too?”

”Did you think being one of the Thirteen Zodiacs is easy?” Bai Yujing glanced sideways.

”Now you’re accomplished, even overlooking the Thirteen Zodiacs?”

At this, Zhang Fan smiled awkwardly.

”Aunt, look at you. From childhood, teachers taught us to be modest and prudent; how could I dare to be arrogant... I mean conceited.”

Among the Thirteen Zodiacs, excluding the Human Xiao, the strength varies greatly, rookies like Lin Jianyue and Wang Tao barely reaching High Skill.

But characters like the Monkey are markedly more powerful, not to mention those like Chen Dragon.

”Let’s go.”

Bai Yujing led Zhang Fan through the boundless fog, even as the Si Snake, unable to see the full view of Tai Sui Village, guiding by the location of the Si Palace.

”The Rabbit’s Life Palace is in the east.”

Mao Shu Zhen Trigram, five elements as wood, located in the east; the Rabbit zodiac wood aligns with the Thunder Wood.

Sigh...

Soon, a palace appeared, faintly in the fog, its incense dim, similar to the Xu Palace earlier, topped with the phantom of a large white rabbit.

”Finally found it.”

Zhang Fan traveled afar from Jiangnan Province, through many trials to find Lin Jianyue.

If Lin Jianyue wasn’t here, Zhang Fan would truly vomit blood three liters.

”Go ahead,” Bai Yujing waved.

”Aunt Bai, aren’t you coming in with me?” Zhang Fan paused to ask.

”Zodiacs cannot enter each other’s Life Palace; it’s the rule,” Bai Yujing explained.

”Alright.” Zhang Fan nodded helplessly.

”I’ll wait for you here.”

Zhang Fan answered softly and turned toward the mist.

The palace neared, and the surrounding fog thinned.

”This is the Mao Palace!?”

Approaching, Mao Palace’s full view finally appeared to Zhang Fan, its hanging sign inscribed with two large characters, styled like Dragon and Snake, similar to the ancient monument at the village entrance.

Mao Palace’s dome revealed a circular form, like a Great Moon, topped with an eternal lamp.

”You better be inside, or this is all for nothing.”

Zhang Fan took a deep breath and stepped into the palace.

The long palace path seemed intestinal, leading directly to the main hall; here in such an eerie place, Zhang Fan dared not wander, going straight to the main hall.

On either side stood mud sculptures of human bodies with rabbit heads, each with distinct expressions and details.

One near Zhang Fan’s right resembled a brawny figure, muscle bound like entwined dragons, especially two massive chest muscles like big drums, reminiscent of ancient warriors.

Another nearby was small and shady, clutching a bag.

A glance revealed dozens of sculptures, some wielding law enforcement swords, others surrounded by flames, or grasping thunder...

”Are these past Rabbits?” Zhang Fan mused, a thought forming.

Reaching the deepest, incense wavered before the Divine Altar, firelight flickered, above a sculpture held herbs in one hand and elixir in the other.

”Lin Jianyue!?”

Zhang Fan’s eyes brightened, instantly recognizing Lin Jianyue’s Life Zodiac.

He could faintly sense a primordial spirit’s pulse from the sculpture, though weak, unmistakably Lin Jianyue’s essence.

”You’re indeed here.”

Zhang Fan breathed a sigh, despite Lin Jianyue’s extraordinary state, finding them meant hope remained.

Buzz...

Zhang Fan’s primordial spirit quivered, black and white Qi surged, like tendrils reaching for the sculpture on the Divine Altar.

Lin Jianyue’s primordial spirit curled like an injured rabbit, glowing moon-like, hiding in the sculpture’s corner.

Black and white Qi flowed, enveloping it, ready to draw it out.

Boom...

Suddenly, the altar shook fiercely; Zhang Fan instinctively looked up, discovering behind Lin Jianyue’s Zodiac a unique sculpture, truly a large rabbit, like the phantom above Mao Palace.

”Rabbit?”

Zhang Fan’s primordial spirit stared at the giant rabbit, seemingly lively, eyes reflecting a moon.

Zhang Fan’s primordial spirit seemed drawn by that ethereal gaze, seeing through those eyes another scene.

Within a grand hall, atop the wall, an ancient scroll depicted a lone moon suspended in darkness, eight silhouettes carrying a coffin.

”Eight Kings Carrying the Coffin!”

Zhang Fan paused; this scroll differed from those seen before, larger, with more detail.

In the night, eight eerie figures carried a coffin, before them a lone figure with a guiding lamp.

In the distance, a great star fell, fire revealing a shadowy silhouette.

Around, twelve varied animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake... watched the Eight Kings Carrying the Coffin scene.

”Eight Kings Carrying the Coffin... what is the true Eight Kings Carrying the Coffin? What does this represent?” Zhang Fan’s mind brimmed with questions.

Boom...

The scene trembled violently, reality returned to the grand hall, a mud sculpture stood before the Divine Altar, mirroring the Tai Sui Dharma Aspect.

”This is the Tai Sui Temple!?” Zhang Fan pondered.

Bai Yujing mentioned, at Tai Sui Village’s center lay Tai Sui Temple and Human Palace, like Yin and Yang fish, balancing each other.

He likely witnessed Tai Sui Palace’s inner scene.

Yet now, the Tai Sui mud sculpture protected the altar, ensuring the incense continued.

On the altar, a primordial spirit perched, profound cultivation techniques, dividing into three forms.

”What’s this...”

”Three Corpses Illuminating Fate, Divine Splitting Technique!!?”