Chapter 53: Chapter 511: Beyond the Grandmaster

Night fell once more. The moonlight was faint, its dreamlike radiance spilling across the land, and the world was silent.

Somewhere deep within the Moonlight Forest, solitary peaks, a Giant Lake, a crescent moon, and a light mist formed a desolate scene.

The Giant Lake was vast, surrounded by eight solitary peaks. The moon hung high in the sky, its reflection cast upon the water, making everything seem mysterious and beautiful.

In the center of the lake stood an Ancient Hall, seemingly resting on the water’s surface. It was shrouded in mysterious, moon-like patterns. Its great doors were sealed shut, and it was impossible to know what lay within.

Beyond the lake and the solitary peaks lay an endless, dark forest. A black fog permeated the air, and a powerful, terrifying aura blanketed the area. Even more chilling, formidable wandering souls drifted through the dark woods.

This was a terrifying, forsaken land. Even a Grandmaster-level expert might not be able to cross this dark forest with ease.

After all, this was the deepest part of the Moonlight Forest, a place almost equivalent to a forbidden ground.

However, at this moment, a figure stood atop each of the two solitary peaks to the east and west of the lake.

On the eastern peak stood a man in grey robes. An ancient sword was strapped to his back, and he stood with his hands clasped behind him. His gaze was like a divine light as he stared coldly at the figure on the opposite peak.

If Jiang Jichen had been here, he would have recognized the man in grey as the mysterious Swordsman who had slain the Red Fire Ape King and given him the Little Wooden Sword.

Opposite him, on the western peak, stood a middle-aged man in white. His white robes fluttered elegantly. He was handsome, with eyes like stars and brows like swords, and possessed an Extraordinary, otherworldly air.

His smile was gentle and affable. He looked at the mysterious Swordsman and said, "If anyone knew that Qingxu, the Grey-clothed Swordsman of the Heavenly Sword Alliance, would appear in such a minor kingdom, no one would believe it."

The mysterious Swordsman’s expression remained unchanged. His voice was indifferent as he said, "Since Bai Zihua of the Ghost Blood People from the Blood Refining Alliance has come, how could I not? If I’m not careful, you might blood-refine the entire Celestial Pearl Country, and that would be my failure."

The Ghost Blood Person, Bai Zihua, smiled gently. "I am not here for blood refining this time. There are hardly any Spirit Cultivators in the Celestial Pearl Country worth my notice, much less worth the effort of blood refining. So, you can rest easy, Qingxu."

The Grey-clothed Swordsman, Qingxu, replied coolly, "When it comes to the people of the Blood Refining Alliance, I can never rest easy."

The Ghost Blood Person, Bai Zihua, looked down and sighed. "To hear you say that, Qingxu, truly wounds me. I’ve always considered you a friend."

Just as Bai Zihua’s voice fell, another voice suddenly rang out, "A friend like you? I doubt anyone would dare have one—a man who would even blood-refine his own master!"

As the voice faded, the space above the southern peak twisted, and a figure appeared.

It was an old man in green robes, with graying hair and a goatee, his eyes burning with vigor.

"The Void Shuttling Technique... Elder Kong, your Cultivation has improved again. You were able to use a Magic Technique from the Void Scripture to pass through the Forest of Lost Souls."

Another voice spoke as a new figure appeared on the northern peak. This person was a Daoist, dressed in a shabby Daoist Robe, yet he had the air of a transcendent immortal.

"Daoist Cangsong of Lingxu Temple, you’ve come as well. It seems everyone who was meant to be here has arrived. Shall we begin?" Bai Zihua said, getting straight to the point.

They had all appeared here at the same time. Though they had not arranged to meet, their purpose was the same: to open the Ancient Hall in the center of the Giant Lake.

"To think that an Ancient Divine Hall would appear in a minor kingdom like Celestial Pearl... It’s unbelievable. Within the Divine Hall, there might even be a lost inheritance from a Divine Spirit."

Daoist Cangsong’s tone was tinged with excitement.

Bai Zihua and Elder Kong’s eyes were gleaming, but the Cyan Void Swordsman’s gaze remained fixed on Bai Zihua, not on the Divine Hall. He questioned Bai Zihua coldly, "I heard you abducted a little girl. Do you intend to use her blood to open this Ancient Hall?"

Bai Zihua’s expression remained gentle, his voice calm. "That girl carries the aura of a Moon Spirit, which seems to be similar to the aura of this Divine Hall. I originally intended to have an old servant sneak her in, because I knew that if she were in my hands, you would certainly move against me."

"Where is the little girl?"

Qingxu pressed on relentlessly, seemingly vowing not to stop until he had an answer. It was clear he would not cooperate with them to open the Ancient Divine Hall otherwise.

Bai Zihua was well aware of Qingxu’s temperament. He let out a sudden sigh and said, "My old servant actually lost the girl. She was rescued by a boy at the Second-level Mortal Realm. I don’t know whether I should call my servant useless or praise that boy for his extraordinariness. To think such an outstanding young genius would appear in a minor kingdom like Celestial Pearl... Interesting!"

Hearing Bai Zihua’s words, Qingxu thought of the young man and the little girl. They seemed to be the very people Bai Zihua was describing.

With that, Qingxu’s mind was put at ease. He then said coolly, "Let’s begin."

Elder Kong spoke up. "To open this place, it will take at least ten days to half a month to break the Ancient Prohibition on the outside. Furthermore, the hall’s doors must be opened on the night of the full moon. We are still ten days away from that!"

"Don’t worry. In a minor kingdom like Celestial Pearl, it’s unlikely anyone can pass through the Forest of Lost Souls and reach this place. There’s no need to set up any additional Restrictions. Let’s just begin."

Cang Songzi also nodded in agreement.

And so, the four of them, each standing atop one of the four cardinal peaks, extended their palms toward the Ancient Hall in the center of the Giant Lake. In an instant, four astonishing beams of Spiritual Light shot down from the four directions, striking the Ancient Hall over the lake.

The Spiritual Light shimmered and transformed. On closer inspection, one could see what appeared to be countless Spiritual Patterns forming a Spirit Array, which in turn generated the ceaseless flow of Spiritual Light.

If anyone else had been present, they would have been utterly shocked, for these four individuals were all Supreme beings who had surpassed the level of a Grandmaster.

...

Meanwhile, Jiang Jichen had already escaped with Luuo Xue, breaking free from Granny Liu’s Divine Sense lock. It would not be easy to find them now.

The reason Jiang Jichen was able to vanish without a trace from Granny Liu’s black cloud suppression and Divine Sense lock was, naturally, due to a powerful Spirit Cultivation Step Technique.

Void Shadowless!

The Second Form of the Shadow Step. It allowed for an instantaneous burst of terrifying speed, several times faster than his usual maximum.

Merge into the void. Become shadowless. A thousand miles in a flash!

A distance of just over two li was Jiang Jichen’s current limit. Moreover, this was under an extreme burst of Spiritual Power, which instantly drained more than half of the golden spiritual power from his Qi Sea.

However, the effect was clearly astonishing. Strolling with Luuo Xue under the moonlight, he was already over a hundred li away.

At this moment, Luuo Xue’s young heart stirred. To be alone with a young man, walking hand-in-hand under the moonlight... This scene, she feared, would become her deepest memory, one she would never forget for the rest of her life.

’I hope this path has no end, that we can walk on, hand-in-hand, forever...’

But this was obviously impossible. In the end, they were destined to part and walk different paths.

"The Elders from your Luuo Family will be here to get you soon. I have to go now. Take care!"

Jiang Jichen waved, and his figure receded into the distance, disappearing into the night.

Just now, as soon as they had escaped the Sealing Absolute Prohibition, Luuo Xue had used a Sound Transmission Jade to notify the Elders of her Luuo Family, arranging to meet them here.

Naturally, Jiang Jichen could not meet with the Luuo Family Elders, so after escorting her to this spot, he departed.

Luuo Xue stared blankly into the distance, her expression dazed and sorrowful...