Bai Shuan walked towards a certain area. He extended his hand and picked up a severed hand that was laying on the ground. It was the Drunken Sword's hand that Mi Ling had severed. He took out a golden bracelet that was on the hand before throwing the hand away. He surveyed the bracelet with his consciousness, and a grin appeared on his face.
He inserted his Spirit Qi inside the bracelet and a small, exquisite jade case appeared from the bracelet. It was sealed by many formations and talismans. It seemed like it had never been opened before.
He walked towards Mi Ling and laughed as he presented the jade case to her. "Although there's nothing other than the jade case, it was what we came for anyway, so it doesn't matter."
Mi Ling nodded. "it doesn't matter, I don't think anything he has would be of any value to us."
Bai Shuan sneered. "The old geezer had the jade case for over ten thousand years, yet he hasn't managed to open it."
Mi Ling shook her head. "Without the exact unsealing method, it's impossible to open it, and if you try to open it forcefully, it will self-destruct."
Bai Shuan nodded before asking gloomily, " By the way, What was that serpent just now?"
Mi Ling thought for a while before answering, "I don't know, but I had already predicted that unforeseen things would happen, so I cut off the old geezer's hand as soon as I could."
Bai Shuan looked at her with admiration, "Although my Heavenly Dao innate body is amazing, I don't think it can be compared to your exceptional physique."
Mi Ling smiled and said, "Don't flatter me, Brother Bai. Talent is just talent. In front of absolute power, nothing matters." Her eyes narrowed. Turning to survey the cave before them, she continued, "Now that everything is sorted out, it's time for us to deal with these two."
Indignantly, Bai Shuan raised an eyebrow and said in bewilderment, "I assumed these people were your confederates."
Shaking her head firmly, Mi Ling rebutted, "I can hardly remember the girl's name. As for Liang Yifei, let's just say I'm exacting revenge. Though I can't confirm if the lightning that blasted through Blood Moon City is because of him, I know it must be related to him, If I haven't sensed that danger is coming I would have died there."
As they entered the cave, Mi Ling's expression became ugly as she looked at Yan Ming's lifeless body. "It seems like I underestimated him again."
Bai Shuan extended his divine sense and looked around in confusion, "I saw him entering the cave but I am sure he didn't come out."
He paused for a while then continued, "Do you think that the strange serpent is related to him?"
***
Meanwhile, in Free Heart Pavilion's underground chamber, the space began to distort and a Liang Yifei figure appeared. He was now in his human form. He immediately set cross-legged and closed his eyes, looking at his Void Core in anticipation. He extended his sight inside the Void Core, the space inside filled with darkness and Chaos.
His gaze fell on the figure of a person, bounded with wooden chains on his four limbs. It was none other than Drunken Sword.
Liang furrowed his brow. After he swallowed the Drunken Sword, he was pulled inside the Void Core.
But it didn't end there, as the Lotus seed extended its root inside the Void Core and bounded the Drunken Sword. From the look of it, it was absorbing his dao runes like what happened with the Void Seed.
As for what dao runes are, they present the first connection between the cultivator and the dao. They only appear after breaking through the Dao integration realm.
Soon, Drunken Sword's Dao Lord body began to disintegrate until only his Nascent soul was left.
Suddenly, the Nascent soul opened its eyes in horror. It tried to struggle and break the wooden chains but to no avail.
It, too, began to disintegrate until nothing remained.
Sword Dao runes appeared around Liang Yifei's Void Core, glowing with a bright light. He grinned in satisfaction as he absorbed the dao runes, feeling the power and knowledge they contained flowing into him. He knew that with the Dao runes, his cultivation would definitely improve greatly.
He opened his eyes and started to ponder. "After absorbing the Golden Lotus, my body reached the Golden Violet Stage. According to the Dragon Body Refining Art, it's corresponding to the Dao Integration Realm. My cultivation has also reached the peak of the Nascent Void Realm."
He smiled in satisfaction and began to plan his next steps. "Although with the Void and Sword Dao Runes, I could easily break through to the Spirit Severing Realm, but I am not in a hurry. I should begin to master the other techniques I have First."
He closed his eyes and began to comprehend the Void Section.
Since he already Mastered the Void Perception Stage, and now with the amount of Void Qi the golden Lotus seed releases, he could begin to cultivate the second stage, Void Manipulation Stage, cultivators at this stage could use the void Qi to distribute the space around them and manipulate it to create vacuums or distortions.
Liang focused his mind and began to gather the Void Qi from the Lotus. He felt the energy flowing into his body, filling him with power. He then started to channel the Void Qi into his surroundings.
As he concentrated on manipulating the space, he felt a subtle change in the air around him. He could feel the space becoming thinner and then abruptly thickening.
Meanwhile, back at the cave, Mi Ling sat cross-legged while Bai Shuan stood guard. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her hands forming many mystical seals. With each seal, a Dao rune would appear and float above the jade box. When the number of Dao runes reached seven, the box began to glow with a blinding light.
The seals and talismans began to disintegrate until nothing remained on the box. Bai Shuan's eyes flashed with admiration. "As expected from you, Sister Mi."
Mi Ling shook her head. "If we didn't have the unlocking method, it wouldn't have been that easy."
As she spoke, she extended her hand and opened the box. Inside the box lay a key made of pure gold and intricately designed with ancient symbols. It had a smooth and polished surface and was about the size of a palm.
Bai Shuan nodded upon seeing the key. "Finally, we have the third and last key."
Mi Ling looked at the key seriously. "Collecting the keys is just the beginning. The real danger comes next. The devil's realm is different from our realm. Although they are located in the lower dimension, they have many powerful and ancient cultivators."
Bai Shuan nodded. "You are right, but we aren't going alone. Besides, we already have a solid plan."
Mi Ling nodded in agreement. "Yes, With the support of the Starry Sky Dao Alliance. Entering the devil's realm wouldn't be a problem. Even if we encounter a Void Transformation Realm devil, there would be someone who will take care of it."
She put the key in her storage ring and stood, heading to the cave entrance. "We should leave this place now, in case of any unforeseen troubles."
Bai Shuan nodded and followed her lead. "You are Right Let's go. The sooner we leave, the better."
Soon, their figures disappeared quietly on the horizon..
****
Arcane City
Han Zhi looked at the jade slip in his hand, pondering in silence.
The door to the room suddenly opened and a young man entered the room. He bowed and said, "Greetings, Master."
Han Zhi nodded. "How many people know about this?"
The young man replied lightly, " Now, not that many, but It is the disappearance of one of the three forbidden places in the world that we are talking about. I think within a week, the news will spread everywhere."
Han Zhi looked at the young man hopefully. "Any news about Liang Yifei yet?"
The young man nodded proudly. "Yes, this disciple managed to dig out something important. Before the invasion, I heard that the Dark Viper founded an assassination agency. I am sure you have heard about it."
Han Zhi nodded. "Yes, the Wandering Shadow Tavern. I tried to look for any information about their members, but there wasn't any. They have hidden their identity and tracks very well."
The young man smiled. "Yes, they did, but coincidentally, I have managed to find out one of their member's identities."
Han Zhi's eyes flashed. "Who?"
The young man replied, "It's someone called Lord Wu."
Han Zhi asked instantly, "Where's he now and what's his cultivation?"
The young man smiled bitterly. "Well, that's the problem. He is the owner of a very famous cultivation chamber called the Free Heart Pavilion. You haven't travelled outside the Arcane City since the invasion, so you probably haven't heard of it. And as for his cultivation, it should be at the Spirit Severing Realm."
Han Zhi nodded and waved at him, indicating to him to leave.
The young man bowed and was about to leave when he heard Han Zhi's voice. "Oh right, Shi Long, be careful. And It's better not to wander around too much in the meantime."
Shi Long nodded and left the room quietly.
Han Zhi closed his eyes in thought, and then his figure flashed and disappeared from the room.
After a while, he appeared outside the city. He walked on his feet for a while before arriving at a desolate valley near the mountain base.
His footsteps stopped outside the valley, he took out a strange green jade slab.
He inserted his spirit qi inside the jade slab, and it began to shine brightly. In seconds, the scene in front of him changed completely. It turned into a lush and vibrant garden, filled with blooming flowers and tall trees that provided shade. A small stream ran through the centre, and the sound of its trickling water was soothing to the ears. On the far end of the garden stood a grand palace, its walls made of gleaming white marble, and its roof adorned with colourful tiles. The intricate carvings on the walls depicted mythical creatures and legendary battles, showcasing the skill of the artisans who built it.
The palace seemed to radiate power and elegance, its presence commanding awe and respect. As Han Zhi approached the palace, the Palace's gates opened before him.