Liang Yifei's gaze glided over the looming gates of the Heavenly Mist Palace, shrouded in an ethereal veil of mystery. The entrance, flanked by two towering stone pillars, appeared to have been carved from the very mountainside itself, with intricate depictions of celestial beings etched into its surface.
Beyond the gates lay a labyrinth of ornate structures - their jagged rooftops and intricate lattice walls seeming to disappear into the clouds. The buildings were draped in a soft haze as if they were veiled in a layer of mist that concealed their true nature.
The sect's grounds were lined with twisted paths, snaking their way through gardens of blooming flowers and thriving greenery. Statues of dragons and phoenixes littered the walkways as if protecting the sect from unworthy visitors.
His eyes flashed with a golden light and a slot materialized on his Gelabela, causing a tremendous invisible divine force to surge forth, encompassing the entire vicinity of the palace.
His expression grew grim as he failed to find what he was looking for. When he swallowed the Drunken Sword, he realized that there was no storage device on the man's body. He speculated that Mi Ling had taken it, as it contained a valuable item that she was after.
After some thought, an evil smile appeared on his face as he disappeared.
In the Heavenly Mist Palace's most restricted area, beyond the wrought iron gates that creaked as they opened, lay a majestic mansion that towered over the surrounding landscape. The roof was adorned with resplendent tiles that glistened in the sun. The walls were made of intricate brickwork and were embellished with intricate carvings, depicting mythical creatures and scenes of heroic battles. The entrance was grand and imposing, with double doors made of rich, dark wood that was as tall as a tree and adorned with golden knobs. The windows were tall and narrow, almost like arrow slits, and they were surrounded by delicate latticework that added to the mansion's austere beauty. The entire structure exuded an air of mystery and majesty, leaving onlookers in awe of its power and grandeur.
A figure appeared out of nowhere outside the mansion, ignoring the protective formation and the killing arrays that surrounded the restricted area. He looked at the mansion in front of him and smiled. With a flick of his fingers, the mansion doors shattered.
As he stepped into the mansion, his eyes fell upon two individuals: an old man and a woman.
The old man had white hair and a long beard. His face was weathered and wrinkled with age. He wore a simple robe made of fine silk, with an intricate design embroidered on it. His eyes were piercing and seemed to look right through the newcomer.
The old woman was shorter than the old man, with a hunched back and a crooked nose. Her hair was thin and grey, and she wore a black robe with frayed edges. Her eyes were sharp and calculating, and she held a staff made of dark wood with a glowing crystal at the end.
Both of them looked at the newcomer with shock. It was very unusual for someone to come here outside the palace master. From the way that person shattered the doors, he probably didn't come with good intentions.
Liang Yifei chuckled and said mockingly, "Who would have thought that the Heavenly Mist Palace has two late-stage Spirit Severing Realm cultivators holding the fort from inside?"
The old man's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
Expressionlessly, he divulged, "As the dead are most proficient at keeping secrets, let me tell you that this Exalted is called Liang Yifei, and it's probably the last name you shall hear."
The elderly woman's eyes widened with recognition. "Liang Yifei? The traitor?"
Liang Yifei smiled. "Traitor?" He motioned with his hand and the space warped and twisted around them. The old man's eyes glinted with murderous intent as he reached for his sword but was shocked to find himself immobilized.
Looking at the elderly woman, he saw a bitter smile on her lips, and his heart sank.
Liang Yifei grinned, "Don't overthink it. The void distortion surrounding us serves a purpose. It separates the void and creates a small world controlled by me, which I call the Space-Void Domain. Without my permission, you cannot move within it."
The old man clenched his teeth and warned, "If you don't release us now, you'll face the consequences. Once the Palace Master returns, you'll pay the price, and hiding won't save you."
Liang Yifei chuckled and replied, "I'm afraid that's not an option. You see, I've already paid the price with the loss of the storage device that your master stole."
He then looked at the two with a friendly smile and pondered, "Since the two of you are here, I suppose you're guarding something valuable. However, I can't seem to find anything special in this place."
The old woman glared at him and retorted, "You won't find anything here."
Liang Yifei raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? How about we make a deal then? You tell me what you're guarding, and I will spare your lives."
The elderly man scoffed, "We would never betray our Palace Master."
Liang Yifei shrugged. "Suit yourself then. I'll just have to find it myself." He walked towards them, and the old man braced himself for an attack. However, Liang Yifei merely touched the man's head with his finger.
Out of nowhere, crimson flames engulfed the old man, reducing him to ashes. His Nascent Divinity appeared, filled with anger as it glared at Liang Yifei.
With a smile, Liang Yifei's glabella slot emitted a radiant, golden glow. Soon after, a translucent, small serpent emerged from it. As it appeared, its size began to expand rapidly until it reached a length of two meters. In a split second, the serpent opened its mouth and devoured the Nascent Divinity of the elderly man.
The old woman gasped, never having seen anything like this before.
Liang Yifei then turned to the woman, her face twisted with hatred as she glared at him. "Seems that the old man meant something to you, but it doesn't matter, You will see him again in no time." He waved his hand, and crimson flames appeared, but this time they formed a circle around her and began to grow smaller and smaller.
Despite her resistance, she was ultimately unable to escape the circle and was reduced to ashes. Not even her Nascent Divinity survived.
Liang Yifei sighed and muttered, "What a waste." He waved his hand, and numerous protective arrays appeared around him. Then he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, activating spirit arrays around him.
It took three incense sticks' worth of time before new memories began to appear in his mind—the old man's memories.
When his Consciousness Form devoured the Nascent Divinity of the old man, it also assimilated the consciousness and soul that resided within it.
Also, he knew that this method wasn't always effective as it required significant time and effort to sort through billions of memories and find the desired information.
After some time, Finally Liang Yifei's eyes opened, and a grin surfaced on his countenance.