Compass Points the Way, Zixiao Palace Gate Opens

At the foot of Buzhou Mountain, myriad spirits gathered, their clamor shaking the heavens. Cultivators from various races, some riding streaks of light, others astride exotic beasts, or simply trekking on foot, all strove towards Zixiao Palace, hidden atop the clouds. The Pangu pressure emanating from the mountain was vast as the sea; the higher one climbed, the greater the resistance, and the more violent the flow of spiritual energy. Many with insufficient cultivation could not advance past the mountainside, left to gaze at the palace with sighs of regret.

Li Wuyang, blending into the crowd, felt the pervasive, heavy pressure and marveled inwardly. He tried to have Huaihuai fly him up, but after only a few dozen feet, a colossal force pressed down, nearly causing him to fall. It seemed that to reach Zixiao Palace, one could only rely on their own cultivation and willpower, climbing the spine of heaven and earth step by step.

Just as he was observing the path and preparing to ascend with the crowd, the bronze compass in his embrace vibrated more intensely, even emitting a faint, warm glow. A thought stirred within him, and he quietly took out the compass. He saw that its needle was not pointing towards the summit, but steadfastly towards an inconspicuous, vine-covered, deep crevice at the base of Buzhou Mountain.

"Could there be a shortcut?" Li Wuyang's heart leaped. This compass, obtained from that mysterious cave dwelling, was surely extraordinary, and its guidance might hold a deeper meaning. He glanced at the seemingly endless path packed with competitors, then at the quiet crevice, and decisively chose to trust his "destiny."

He quietly detached himself from the main group and approached the crevice. Pushing aside the vines, an extremely pure innate spiritual energy, mixed with an ancient, weathered aura, rushed towards him. The crevice was pitch black and bottomless, but the compass's direction was clear and unwavering.

"Let's go in and take a look!" Li Wuyang gritted his teeth, put away Huaihuai and his other companions (as their size was inconvenient), bringing only Yingying and Jinbao, and cautiously stepped into the crevice.

At first, it was extremely narrow, barely allowing a person to pass. After walking dozens of steps, it suddenly opened up. Inside the crevice was a hidden world, a winding, naturally formed stone staircase leading upwards. The stone walls on either side of the passage were smooth as jade, engraved with faint innate Dao patterns that emitted a soft radiance, illuminating the path ahead. Even more peculiar was that the Pangu pressure here seemed to be largely isolated by some power, making the ascent much easier than outside.

"There really is something fishy!" Li Wuyang rejoiced, quickening his pace up the stairs. The passage was silent, with only the sound of his footsteps and breathing echoing. He could feel that this passage did not ascend in a straight line, but followed an esoteric trajectory, bypassing the most core pressure zones of Buzhou Mountain and heading directly towards the summit.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, a point of light appeared ahead. He quickened his steps and emerged, his vision filled with a sight that left him awestruck.

He was already at the very peak of Buzhou Mountain. Below him was a surging sea of clouds, and above, a sky as clear as washed azure. Directly in front of him, an ancient, magnificent palace, shrouded in purple mist, floated quietly in the void, as if it had existed since time immemorial. The palace gates were tightly shut, and above the lintel hung a plaque inscribed with three Great Dao runes – "Zixiao Palace."

In front of the palace gates was a vast white jade plaza. At this moment, dozens of figures were sparsely seated on the plaza. Each of these figures possessed a profound aura, as deep as the sea; some were immortal and dignified, others majestic and overbearing, and still others compassionate and serene. They were clearly the top powers of the Primordial World who had already arrived.

The Three Pure Ones (Laozi, Yuanshi, Tongtian) sat at the very front, their auras ethereal and profound. Empress Nuwa was elegant and noble, while the great god Fuxi was beside her, deducing the eight trigrams. Di Jun and Taiyi exuded immense demonic energy, facing off against several of the Twelve Ancestor Witches, creating a subtle tension. Zhen Yuanzi, Old Ancestor Hongyun, and others were also present. There were also many more beings whose names Li Wuyang did not know, but whose auras were no weaker.

Li Wuyang's appearance did not cause much of a stir. His cultivation was low, and he had emerged from a "side path." In the eyes of the many great powers, he was like an ant stumbling into a gathering of gods, attracting at most a few indifferent glances before being ignored.

Li Wuyang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, quickly finding the most marginal, inconspicuous corner. Following the example of others, he sat down cross-legged, gazing at his nose and focusing his mind, striving to minimize his presence. He secretly observed the legendary figures he had only heard of in tales, his heart filled with excitement and nervousness.

Just then, the gates of Zixiao Palace silently slid open. A young attendant with a double bun and a stern expression walked out, his gaze sweeping over the assembled beings on the plaza. His voice was clear and cold as he announced, "The time has come, the palace gates are open. My master has decreed that there are three thousand meditation cushions within, corresponding to the number of the three thousand Great Daos. All of you, enter and take your seats according to your destiny."

As his voice fell, the great powers on the plaza rose one after another, transforming into streaks of light. They surged into Zixiao Palace in an orderly fashion, yet with an underlying sense of urgency.

Li Wuyang dared not delay and also quickly rose, entering at the tail end of the crowd.