Burying Immortals?

Burying Immortals? . . .

The Royal Sacred Sect member who had spoken to Qin Wentian earlier stood before the assembled crowd, gesturing toward the immortal palace as he addressed them. His words carried weight as he unveiled the mysteries of the majestic structure before them.

"This immortal palace likely bears the mark of a true transcendent powerhouse, someone of unimaginable strength," he began. "While I cannot fathom the exact extent of their power, I can assure you that it surpasses our wildest imaginations. Inside this palace, you'll find treasures, such as immortal arts and immortal-ranked weapons, beyond your imagination.

"Generations of our sect members have ventured inside, and we've learned that Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants are fated to die upon entering. The highest chance of survival lies with those at the supreme-tier of Heavenly Dipper who have grasped a true intent. This is why we've summoned you all here. The immortal palace is perilous, and I've shared all critical information with Xia Sheng and the other six leaders. They possess the clearest knowledge of the palace's inner workings, and you must obey their every command. Should anyone defy their orders and manage to exit the palace alive, they will still face execution."

The man's expression was solemn, revealing that the Royal Sacred Sect had meticulously prepared for this venture.

His words sent shivers down the spines of the assembled individuals. Immortal arts and weapons within the palace? The strength of the palace's creator must be unimaginable. The thought left them awestruck.

Qin Wentian understood that the Vermilion Bird Immortal Palace, as described by the Xia Emperor, was far more treacherous and enigmatic than he had imagined. Additionally, when the Xia Emperor had fortuitously entered, he was at the peak of Heavenly Dipper cultivation and unaware of the restriction against Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants. If he had known, he would have surely warned Qin Wentian.

"Alright, you may enter now. Xia Sheng will lead this operation. If you happen upon any immortal arts or weapons, hand them over upon leaving. I pledge that the Royal Sacred Sect will treat you fairly. You are permitted to cultivate any found immortal arts. Also, strive to uncover more secrets within and report them upon your exit," the man continued.

Xia Sheng, standing at the forefront, turned to address the group. "Stay close to me. This immortal palace is a world of its own, hiding countless secrets. A wrong step could lead to your demise."

"Move out," he commanded, his eyes radiating an icy, imposing glare that sent shivers through the hearts of the onlookers.

As his voice faded, Xia Sheng led the way toward the palace's entrance.

"Let's go," Quinn urged. Qin Wentian and his companions followed suit. Over a hundred people ascended the palace's stairs, each step emphasizing their insignificance before its grandeur.

"Cloud and Loneliness, lead the way. Watch out for divine inscriptions. The rest of you, protect the group," Quinn ordered upon reaching the entrance. A misty celestial aura hung in the passageway, severely limiting their perception, allowing them to see only a short distance ahead.

As the group ventured further into the passageway, Cloud and Loneliness, renowned masters of divine inscriptions, took on the role of guides, cautioning everyone about potential traps and intricate formations of divine inscriptions. Their expertise lay in deciphering these dangers, and they emphasized the grave risks involved.

"In this passage way, aside from the mist, there are other traps and formations of divine inscriptions," Cloud began, his voice steady. "While countering them isn't overly difficult, the consequences of missteps can be catastrophic, capable of wiping us all out."

Loneliness chimed in, "We've been chosen for our expertise in divine inscriptions. We'll lead the way, but keep in mind that our perception can only extend about ten meters."

Qin Wentian, with his deep knowledge of divine inscriptions, sensed the traps laid out before them. These intricate formations resembled the golden pathway he had encountered in the Royal Tomb of Grand Xia, designed to prevent those unable to negate divine inscriptions from advancing. He pondered whether this was preparation for their current journey.

Cloud and Loneliness, nurtured by the Royal Sacred Sect, demonstrated exceptional skill in divine inscriptions. Although their pace was deliberate, it was also unwaveringly precise, a necessity in a passage where no errors could be tolerated.

Qin Wentian monitored the divine inscriptions closely. Each one was not isolated but interconnected, so disturbing a single inscription could trigger a devastating chain reaction.

After three days of meticulous progress, they successfully traversed the passage of divine inscriptions without a single casualty.

Meanwhile, in the outside world, Di Tian had arrived at the Illusion Mountains. These mountains were treacherous and difficult to navigate, even for Royal Sacred Sect experts who relied on a compass-like artifact. However, Di Tian required no such assistance; he sensed Qin Wentian's presence.

The Royal Sacred Region's guards were bewildered when they saw Di Tian's silhouette. A powerful aura emanated from him as one of the guards questioned him.

"Who are you?"

"I am a junior from the Grand Zhou Empire, exploring the Illusion Mountains in search of rare treasures. I stumbled upon this place by accident and hope that you can forgive my intrusion," Di Tian replied politely. He then shifted his gaze toward the floating immortal palace, feigning awe and amazement as if it were his first encounter with such magnificence.

"Do you wish to enter?" the guard asked with a mocking tone. To them, a seventh-level Heavenly Dipper Sovereign entering the palace meant certain death.

Di Tian nodded and bowed respectfully. "Such a magnificent palace surely holds countless treasures within. However, I wouldn't dare enter without your permission, senior."

The guard chuckled, his warning clear. "You may enter if you wish, but I won't be responsible for your safety. This place is extremely perilous, and with your cultivation level, death is all but guaranteed."

Di Tian hesitated, his struggle evident. Nevertheless, he spoke with determination, "I still wish to give it a try."

Di Tian, undeterred by the warnings and disdain of the guards, bowed in gratitude once more before boldly entering the Immortal Palace. His determination to explore its treasures outweighed any concern for danger.

The experts outside the palace exchanged glances, shaking their heads at Di Tian's recklessness.

Meanwhile, inside the palace, Qin Wentian and his group found themselves in a new passageway. Unlike the previous one, this passage lacked the obscuring fog or intricate divine inscriptions. However, it exuded an ominous and formless energy that hung heavily in the air.

Xia Sheng addressed the group, emphasizing their self-reliance in navigating this passageway. Streams of light within targeted one's willpower, and only those who passed through could consider themselves within the palace's interior.

With a nod of understanding, the group entered the passage one by one. Qin Wentian exchanged words of caution with Fan Miaoyu and Wu Teng before proceeding.

Once inside, Qin Wentian immediately felt an invisible force invade his mind, assaulting his willpower. The impact was intense, causing immense discomfort and a pounding headache. His hands clutched his head, his face twisted in agony, and even his formidable willpower was faltering.

The relentless barrage of energy had a devastating effect. Qin Wentian struggled to push forward, the pain nearly unbearable. Violet streams of light surged into him, intensifying the suffering as he coughed up blood, his face ashen.

The sheer power of the attacks bewildered him. He wondered about the mysterious master of this Immortal Palace, who could unleash such relentless torment.

Realizing that he couldn't linger, Qin Wentian gritted his teeth and forced himself to advance. Lightning continued to assail him, generating explosive shocks in his consciousness, threatening to shatter his mind.

Although Qin Wentian and the others were elite geniuses of the Royal Sacred Region, the struggle was real. They marched forward, their powerful wills and determination their only weapons. Falling behind meant falling into a relentless assault, and those who couldn't keep up were left behind.

Feeling the blood-red lightning ahead, Qin Wentian steeled himself and plunged forward. The crimson glow enveloped him, transforming his sea of consciousness into a stormy sea of blood. Thunderbolts crashed down relentlessly, disturbing the sea and creating a tumultuous spectacle.

Despite the torment, Qin Wentian refused to halt. He had endured this agonizing passage for two days, his body weary, but his determination unwavering. The passageway seemed endless, and he knew he couldn't afford to falter now.

Qin Wentian's blood surged with determination as he faced the blinding, intense light ahead. He couldn't afford to stop here; there were still many tasks awaiting him. He couldn't let himself be halted by this grueling trial. After all, the Xia Emperor had successfully navigated this ordeal, so why couldn't he follow suit?

Fueled by this resolve, Qin Wentian pressed forward. Five arduous days passed, but within the relentless assault of energy, he lost all sense of time. The seven days felt like an eternity, every moment a fierce battle for survival. The torture was unrelenting, pushing him to the brink of despair. But despite his exhaustion, a spark of determination still flickered in his eyes.

What was truly despair-inducing was that this was only the beginning. Qin Wentian journeyed through this passage for an entire month, and when he finally emerged on the other side, he found himself in a vast, boundless world. His first instinct was to collapse onto the ground, his eyelids heavy with exhaustion. All he craved was a deep, uninterrupted slumber.

After what seemed like an eternity, Qin Wentian forced his eyes open and took in the sweeping panorama of this new world.

Before him, countless radiant points of light hovered above the ground, casting a dazzling brilliance upon the world. Each point of light seemed to take on a tangible form, some resembling swords, others resembling ancient texts, like immortal tomes.

Beneath these luminous points, he noticed numerous unmarked tombs. Rows upon rows of graves, devoid of any inscriptions or markers to identify their occupants.

A shiver ran down Qin Wentian's spine, a fear that seemed to originate from the depths of his very soul. Could this vast expanse be a graveyard? Were these points of light actually tombs? But what kind of beings could be interred in such graves?

Could it be that this Vermilion Bird Immortal Palace was a resting place for immortals?

Suddenly, a deafening, world-shaking roar echoed in the distance, accompanied by an overwhelming wave of transcendent power that distorted the very sky. The entire space seemed to tremble, and a thunderous sound reverberated through the air.

"RELEASE ME!"

The voice rang out with bitter fury and deep-seated resentment, shaking the heavens and earth. Soon, a series of mighty auras surged through the entire space, each one so potent that Qin Wentian couldn't help but quiver.

"Finally, there are others here."

A bolt of realization struck him, and he noticed that everyone who had arrived in this passage shared the same fear and trepidation. Even Xia Sheng, who had prior knowledge of the situation, couldn't conceal the tremor in his heart in the face of those overwhelming auras.