Chapter 256: 164、At worst, one life of flesh and blood return, Bronze Immortal Door
The five-day period concluded, and Moyun Palace opened.
Unlike the grand spectacle of its previous appearance, this time only a few people entered Moyun Palace.
"People in the world think that the War God Legacy is in the Inner Three Palaces, which they believe to be the War God Temple. However, that’s not the case," Heavenly Fox King Xiang Jun revealed as she and Xu Xing entered Moyun Palace. "The War God left his legacy in the star map on the roof of this outer region. Only by deciphering this star map can one enter the true War God Temple..."
Xu Xing looked up at the Celestial Constellations on the palace ceiling, sighing. "War God, War God... Everyone in the world was deceived by his title. The War God wasn’t just a brute..."
When he last entered Moyun Palace, he had been suspicious of the star map, believing it concealed secrets. However, the treasures in the Inner Three Palaces had been more alluring, so he had forgone studying the star map and entered the Inner Three Palaces first. But every choice had its gains and losses. If he hadn’t entered the Lake Heart Palace, he wouldn’t have obtained the Crane Spirit Immortal Lamp. Without the insight provided by the lamp’s enlightenment, he wouldn’t have achieved his current state of calm and strength, neither in the Main World nor the Bloodline World.
"This is the Minor Celestial Star Battle Array hidden in the Misty Cloud Veil," Heavenly Fox King Xiang Jun explained. "Brother Xu, your attainments in array techniques are considerable. Perhaps within a month, you’ll be able to discern the spatial node to enter the War God Temple..."
In a chamber within Moyun Palace’s outer region, Heavenly Fox King Xiang Jun retrieved the Misty Cloud Veil and aimed it at the star map on the ceiling. Instantly, a silvery brilliance of starlight shot out from the star map, illuminating the pink veil. Its surface began to display Celestial Constellations similar to those on the ceiling. However, the veil displayed only one hundred and eight stars. Each was the size of a chess piece, and they interconnected in lines, appearing exceedingly profound and unfathomable.
Minor Celestial Star Battle Array? Xu Xing examined the array, his brow furrowed. The star map array on the ceiling of Moyun Palace was indeed the Minor Celestial Star Battle Array. He had previously guessed this array to be at least fourth-level, and indeed, his speculation was correct: the Minor Celestial Star Battle Array was a Fourth-level Array, equivalent to a Nascent Soul stage array.
No wonder the War God Temple in Moyun Palace has been inaccessible, Xu Xing mused, shaking his head. Without the Heavenly Fox Clan’s help, and given the scarcity of array technique inheritances in this world... If not for the appearance of an anomaly like himself, the people of the Bloodline World might have gone another thousand years without obtaining the War God’s Legacy. As for why the War God didn’t leave an array technique inheritance in his inner cave, there might be other secrets involved. However, that was not something Xu Xing could know.
After some thought, Xu Xing took out the Crane Spirit Immortal Lamp, lit it, and placed it beside him. With his current mastery of array techniques, forcibly comprehending a Fourth-level Array was still beyond his capabilities. However, he only needed to comprehend a portion of the array to find the spatial node leading to the War God Temple. That alone would suffice.
As the Crane Spirit Immortal Lamp was lit, a strange fragrance permeated the entire chamber. Initially, Heavenly Fox King Xiang Jun was puzzled as to why Xu Xing had produced a bronze lotus lamp. But once the aroma filled the air, she understood: this lotus lamp was the Ancient Mysterious Treasure from the Lake Heart Palace.
He actually obtained it! Heavenly Fox King Xiang Jun was extremely envious. Among the great treasures of Lake Heart Island, aside from Lady Xiao Xiao’s Misty Cloud Veil, the Crane Spirit Immortal Lamp was paramount. However, despite her envy, she harbored no jealousy. The Heavenly Fox Clan had survived to this day not due to overwhelming power, but because they were adept at understanding their limitations and acting accordingly. One of their ancestral teachings was to "avoid greed."
With the aid of the Crane Spirit Immortal Lamp, Xu Xing gradually deepened his comprehension of the Minor Celestial Star Battle Array. During his previous visit to Moyun Palace, he had already comprehended a small portion of it. Thus, he began his current attempt at comprehension without any hindrance.
「Time passed.」
In the blink of an eye, eight days had gone by. Xu Xing’s comprehension of the Minor Celestial Star Battle Array had reached thirty percent—the minimum threshold to enter the War God Temple.
He retrieved a few array stones he had previously refined from his Storage Bag and tossed them towards the eastern section of the star map on the ceiling, stabilizing a particular point in space.
Suddenly, space trembled and gradually coalesced into a vortex, its surroundings rippling like water. The center of the vortex gradually revealed the vista of another space. Beneath a gray sky lay a stretch of pitch-black scorched earth. In the center of this desolate land stood three ancient stone houses, arranged in a triangular pattern, with two at the base and one centered above them.
Is this the War God Temple?
The scene before them greatly surpassed the expectations of both Xu Xing and Heavenly Fox King Xiang Jun.
In Lady Xiao Xiao’s description, the War God Temple is vibrant with birdsong and fragrant flowers... Heavenly Fox King Xiang Jun speculated silently. Perhaps Moyun Palace’s existence for such a long time drained the War God Temple’s spiritual power. This might have caused the temple, once protected by spells and wards, to devolve into mere stone houses...
"Let’s go in and see..." Xu Xing said. "We’ll know what happened inside once we take a look."
The spatial node to the War God Temple was now open. It would forcibly close after a short while, and the array formation would reconfigure. Finding another spatial node quickly would not be easy. After all, he had only comprehended thirty percent of the Minor Celestial Star Battle Array, not its entirety. Furthermore, the Crane Spirit Immortal Lamp had aided him in his search for this spatial node. Therefore, once the spatial node opened, neither of them could afford to hesitate. Besides, having come this far, there was no turning back for them.
Xu Xing squeezed through the spatial node first. Heavenly Fox King Xiang Jun followed, carrying Shi Yuyan. The three of them arrived in this dim, gray expanse.
"Someone has been here before us... they’ve already entered the War God Temple," they concluded with dismay after entering the three stone houses and searching them thoroughly, inside and out.
Apart from the central stone house, the other two were completely empty. Even the central stone house contained very little. In the middle of its main hall stood an offering table. On it were three silver platters, each holding three different spirit fruits. Against the wall, behind the table, rested a memorial tablet. On it was inscribed: "Spirit Tablet of Former Master Cai Bai."
"Cai Bai, that’s the War God’s true name," Heavenly Fox King Xiang Jun said, a wave of disappointment washing over her. "War God was merely an honorific bestowed upon him by the outside world."
Xu Xing quickly regained his composure. He had always been fortunate with opportunities and possessed the legacy of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, so he wasn’t overly concerned about obtaining the War God’s Legacy. He approached the memorial tablet for a closer look and saw another line of small characters inscribed on its corner: "Erected by Disciple You Taigu."
Demon Emperor You Taigu? Xu Xing frowned, instantly recalling a conversation between Demon Immortal Kou Chun and Shi Yuyan from a hundred years ago. Demon Immortal Kou Chun had once said that the "Sky Element Forget Dust Heavenly Skill" was created by Demon Emperor You Taigu, an astonishing prodigy. One thousand three hundred years ago, he had shattered the void and departed this world. The "Sky Element Forget Dust Heavenly Skill" was a component of the "Cauldron Heart Technique" Cultivation Method. Xu Xing had witnessed the peculiar nature of this Cultivation Method before. Shi Yuyan’s ability to kill King Li Hong of Chu was inextricably linked to this Cultivation Method.
"’This legacy was claimed one thousand three hundred years ago by Demon Emperor You Taigu...’" Xu Xing then recounted what Demon Immortal Kou Chun had said, and asked Heavenly Fox King Xiang Jun if her clan had any records or legends about Demon Emperor You Taigu.
"’I don’t know...’" Heavenly Fox King Xiang Jun shook her head. "’Not all great figures in the world enjoy flaunting their presence. Our Heavenly Fox Clan is focused on finding a way out of this internal Cave-heaven, so we pay less attention to external affairs...’"
Without the War God’s Legacy or Lady Xiao Xiao’s inheritance, the two began searching for an array passage leading to the outside world. They found it hard to believe that You Taigu truly possessed the strength to shatter the void and reach the outside world. Under such powerful spatial forces, even the Golden Body of a Golden Body Realm expert would be as fragile as thin paper, easily torn. Even if Demon Emperor You Taigu had reached the Cave-heaven Realm, it was doubtful he could have withstood the various spatial rifts...
However, after nearly three days of searching, they had practically overturned every inch of the War God Temple but still couldn’t find any sign of a hidden spatial channel.
Since Demon Emperor You Taigu left his inheritance in Moyun Palace, he must have done so for a profound reason... Perhaps the ’Cauldron Heart Technique’ is the key to solving this puzzle, Xu Xing conjectured. He didn’t believe Demon Emperor You Taigu would leave his inheritance in Moyun Palace without purpose. There had to be a deeper meaning to it.
"’But the ’Cauldron Heart Technique’...’" Xu Xing continued, "’This ’Cauldron Heart Technique’ is a demonic Cultivation Method. Though it appears to be divided into inner and outer cauldrons, who could say if this ’Cauldron Heart Technique’ Cultivation Method isn’t itself merely an inner cauldron technique for someone else...’"
He dissuaded Heavenly Fox King Xiang Jun from cultivating this technique, planning to practice it alone. Although Shi Yuyan had also cultivated this technique, judging by when she might awaken, it would likely be at least a year and a half.
In a month, Moyun Palace would close. To re-enter, they would have to wait at least several decades for the next Six Stars Conjunction.
"’If this Cultivation Method is demonic... Brother Xu...’" Heavenly Fox King Xiang Jun’s face filled with worry. By now, she considered Xu Xing a true companion with whom she could strive for the Great Dao.
"’The debt I owe my birth mother is immense,’ Xu Xing prevaricated, offering a plausible reason. ’If I don’t attempt this myself, experience it firsthand, how can I hope to resolve the danger of her demonic transformation in the future...’"
He had already recovered the Heavenly Demon Copper Scroll, which he had lost in his ’Past life’, from King Li Hong of Chu. Since the Heavenly Demon Copper Scroll existed, it was clear that facts had validated his conjecture. As long as he reached another world, the Bronze Ancient Mirror would anchor it, making it his world for the next reincarnation. In other words, in the next world, he would have two lives.
However... the reason he was willing to risk his life now was not only due to Shi Yuyan but also another conjecture. When he first arrived in the Bloodline World, his Yin Soul had been instantly destroyed by the Blood Shadow, leading to his death. This could have been a coincidence, or it could have been inevitable. It was just as his Fate Deduction had indicated: without the corresponding Immortal Fate, one would meet a bizarre death upon reaching the next major realm...
Furthermore, since Shi Yuyan could absorb King Li Hong of Chu’s Origin Energy, if he cultivated the "Cauldron Heart Technique", he could also transfer his own Origin Energy to Shi Yuyan. This way, he would have a powerful ally in the Different World. Although Shi Yuyan had succumbed to demonic influence, she still recognized him as her son. Even if she didn’t, by repaying the debt of flesh and blood in this lifetime, he could sever their mother-son bond, thereby freeing himself from one less lingering concern.
This is an Instance World, after all... He had the capital to take such risks.
"’Since Brother Xu has made up his mind, Ling’er will not try to persuade you further...’" Heavenly Fox King Xiang Jun vowed solemnly. "’Ling’er promises you, Brother Xu, that if we reach another world, I will never abandon your mother...’"
「...」
Although the "Cauldron Heart Technique" was bizarre and difficult to master, Xu Xing’s talent and comprehension were both exceptional. In less than seven days, he had cultivated it to the fourth level of its Cultivation Method. The "Cauldron Heart Technique" comprised thirteen levels in total.
Upon reaching the fourth level and circulating the technique within the War God Temple, Xu Xing, as if guided by an unseen force, indeed sensed something unusual within the hall.
It’s the Spirit Tablet. There’s a key hidden near the Spirit Tablet, he realized.
Xu Xing ceased his cultivation, walked to the offering table, and channeled the magic power of the "Cauldron Heart Technique". The moment he did so, a Bronze Key materialized and fell from a point in the void.
Simultaneously, a Bronze Immortal Door manifested within the hall.