497 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

Chapter 497: The Secret Vault Opens Seventeen days later, just before midnight. Over a hundred individuals stood solemnly and silently at the bottom of the lake within the illusionary formation, awaiting the moment the portal would open. These people were the first group allowed to enter after arduous competitions among various factions. Interestingly, not a single key figure from the local powerhouses like Lianshui Sect or the Five Elements Alliance was present; only the Sharp Gold Alliance sent a nascent stage Golden Core elder. Most of those gathered were elderly, and given their current strength, they seemed unlikely to secure even a morsel inside the vault, with their lives constantly at stake. Neither the Hehuan Sect nor the Pill Alliance bothered to send representatives. The Phantom Sword Alliance and Baishan Sword Sect teamed up under the leadership of a single Golden Core cultivator, ranking them at the very bottom. The full retreat of local Baishan forces gave newcomers the illusion they were still within Qiyun's domain. The Nangong family boasted significant numbers; aside from Nascent Soul cultivator Nangong Meng, they brought seven Golden Core cultivators and over forty Foundation Establishment cultivators, spanning various ages, creating an imposing presence. Similar to the Chu family, many Nascent Soul families from Qiyun sent representatives, whereas Wanbao Pavilion, Pei family, and Gao family—who had feuds with Lianshui Sect—were absent. Other factions like Black Wind Valley, Tianli Sect, and Nanlin Temple also sent cultivators, albeit with varying levels of strength. Many were just passersby who had heard the news and joined out of interest, forming ad hoc teams, though their prowess remained uncertain. Then there was the Jiang family, with their sole Nascent Soul ancestor Jiang Huan, accompanied by five Golden Core and twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators, nearly staking their entire clan's survival on this venture. Meanwhile, the disruptor Bihumen sent everyone they had, led by mid-stage Golden Core Sect Leader Bi Junwei, early-stage Golden Core Elder Bi Ju, and guest elders such as late stage Golden Core cultivator Sang Jia and early stage Golden Core cultivator Du Bie. Their lineup of five Golden Core cultivators was rather formidable too. They positioned themselves close to Qiyun's Jiang family, clearly showing an alliance. If Qi Xiu were present, he would surely sense something unusual. Unfortunately, Chu Shen was unable to grasp any secrets from Nanchu Sect, and Chu Shencang, focused intently on the star chart atop the secret portal, awaited the midnight opening. "This reminds me of the Battle of Siyue Mountain," Chu Zhuangyuan remarked softly to Gan Long and Qi Bingyan, bored with the wait. "Heh..." Though Chu Zhuangyuan had only experienced that single unforgettable battle, Gan Long and Qi Bingyan had far more extensive experiences. "After Wushuang Old Ancestor was assassinated, our Qi family was like fish on the chopping block. Those days were treacherous," Qi Bingyan sighed. Gan Long nodded. "Yes, I remember during the Battle of Chu Qin Mountain, Qi Xiu was merely a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator but managed to lead us astray. That chaotic battle was certainly harsher than the confrontations at Siyue Mountain." "Shh, it's time!" Chu Shencang interrupted the conversation, his back bent like a drawn bow, eyes fixed sharply on the star chart. As midnight approached, the star chart indeed began to display extraordinary phenomena—as stars gradually ignited, flames slowly spread, eventually consuming the entire slab of blue-white jade. The blaze quickly died down, revealing the entrance to the hidden vault. Stairs and walls paved with azure jade led the way, adorned with paintings of white-robed immortals, figures neither purely Taoist nor Buddhist, frolicking within the boundless cosmos. The artwork was elegantly natural, yet incomprehensible to all. A faint light glimmered from deep within the passage. A ripple of anxiety spread through the crowd, eyes turning towards the two Nascent Soul elders, Nangong Meng and Jiang Huan, who stood at the entrance. "So then..." Nangong Meng began, but a mid-aged cultivator in a robe adorned with a blue lotus on his chest hurled his flying sword into the air, and in a single step merged with his sword, disappearing into the passage. With another step, he vanished entirely from sight. "Damn it, he used a sword escape! The Qinglian Sword Sect certainly has no regard for rules!" The crowd erupted into chaos, and unperturbed, Nangong Meng and Jiang Huan swiftly gathered their clansmen, vanishing into the passage in an instant. Without oversight, everyone else showcased their abilities like legendary immortals crossing the sea, streaking into the tunnel like meteors. Amidst the narrow passageway, establishing precedence was inevitable. Chu Shencang, not one to lag behind, unleashed his innate avatar of an eagle to secure a favorable spot. Meanwhile, Chu Shen, supporting a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators, lagged a bit, falling into the middle-lower ranks, and hurriedly flew downward with them. Before long, the scene opened up as they all surged into a grand hall. The ceiling murals mirrored the starry heavens and immortal gatherings, but no one paid them any heed. The hall was surrounded by dozens of tunnels filled with tiny branchings, with many already diving into them. Chu Shencang's figure vanished into one branch without a second thought. "Old..." Chu Shen swallowed the curse on the tip of his tongue, refraining from following that path, instead leading his group in a roundabout check of the various openings. Only upon spotting a secret mark left by Wan Xuan at another entrance did he resolutely lead his entourage in that direction. Such treasure hunts are unpredictable. When a precious treasure lies ahead, notions of righteousness, friendship, and even kinship become unreliable. Every step forward brings uncertainties, and if a chance for enlightenment arises, none can afford hesitation. Those who design these vaults seem to revel in human folly, gleefully watching successors battle to the death for their treasures, instilling the hardships of legacy. The Chu family split up, as did many temporary teams. Those who rushed ahead feared missing opportunities and would not wait for their makeshift companions. The situation quickly turned hostile, with cultivators on the same path starting to scheme against one another and even clash fiercely. For example, two practitioners from Black Wind Valley, Tu Ziru and Tu Dan, blocked a Confucian cultivator from Tianli Sect, showing clear intent to see him dead. The first wave was already in such disarray. Watching it from outside the illusionary barrier, over a thousand cultivators couldn't hold back, rushing forth when the guarding Nangong cultivators cleared the entrance, leading to a fight from the entrance straight through, leaving over a dozen corpses outside the vault. Because he wanted to avoid running into Jiang family members, Gui Qingzhi chose to be among the second wave of cultivators, accompanied by a pair of Golden Core cultivators—a middle-aged man, resembling him closely, and a young woman, vibrant and charming, who stood by him like a petite bird. The three Golden Core cultivators stood like cranes among chickens in the second wave. The middle-aged man swiftly scattered several rogue cultivators blocking their path, entering the hall. Upon seeing traces of others entering various branches, he frowned, "Our advantage is lost, with Nascent Soul cultivators ahead; proceeding further, we'll gain little." "Papa, since we're here, let's enjoy it," Gui Qingzhi insisted. "Ha, coming on such adventures only to bump into your father's old loose ends, you truly are sentimental!" the petite female cultivator, his wife, knowing some of his past with the Jiang family, teased, her words laced with jealousy. "Enough with the nonsense." Gui Qingzhi grimaced and chose a path at random, leading the way inside. "Sigh, still so rash at your age." His father sighed, observing the hall's setup. "This seems the work of a righteous cultivator, the traps inside shouldn't be too perilous." Gesturing for his daughter-in-law to follow, they quickly entered after him. Following the second wave, as news of the aquatic vault's punctual opening spread, more individuals converged from all directions. From a distant peak, Shui Lingyi gazed down at the lake, visibly dejected. "What shall we do, Sect Leader?" asked a subordinate, eager to descend and explore. "I was wondering why Old Bi dared to go all out against us. Turns out, he's latched onto that Qiyun Jiang family, clinging to whatever crooked tree he can find, truly despicable!" Another disciple could not suppress his indignation. "Our movement might play right into Bihu Sect's trap," Shui Lingyi reflected for a long while but ultimately shook her head, her voice heavy with sorrow. "Ever since we aimed to move north into Qiyun, each step I've taken has been a misstep, now isolated, with no way forward or back. Am I really doomed to follow Old Han Yan's fate?" Her disciples quickly voiced their reassurances. ... Meanwhile, in the distant southern city of Zhaixing Cheng, a young Foundation Establishment cultivator lay flat on the ground atop Zhaixing Tower, staring blankly at the starry sky. Though he appeared merely in his teens, he was likely no older than thirty. Plain in appearance, his eyes were as dark as the night sky, yet brighter than the stars, radiating a brilliance that left a lasting impression. "Sigh!" Just past midnight, he sighed softly for no apparent reason, closing his eyes in apparent concern over something. "Uncle Jia, a letter for you." A young gatekeeper approached, handing over an ornate invitation. Opening it, he found it signed by 'Old Friend Qin Changfeng', causing a slight upward curl at his lips. "He still remembers me—very well, I'll see him tomorrow." (To be continued)