Golden skeleton, fragmented ancient script, a jade pendant filled with Guardian Dao Rhythm.
Li Su carefully swept the stone cavern with his divine sense. Only after confirming there were no other dangers or traps did he cautiously approach the golden skeleton.
The bones were crystalline and contained a strange power. It was neither demonic qi, nor immortal radiance from Dao arts, nor the blood qi of the Witch Clan, but an energy remnant he had never encountered before—one filled with order and sanctity, seemingly utterly incompatible with the mainstream power systems of the Primordial World.
Though that pressure had become exceedingly faint after the passage of countless years, he could still tell that its owner had undoubtedly been an immensely powerful being in life.
"Van Race? Defection? Beware the light?" Li Su pondered the few incomplete ancient characters. There was too little information to understand their meaning.
The word "Van" seemed, within the hazy fragments of his memories from a past life, to have some connection to the Western Sect. Yet he had never heard of it in this Primordial World.
As for the damaged milky-white jade pendant, the Guardian Dao Rhythm upon it made him feel exceedingly comfortable. It had much in common with the resilience and stability of the "Bedrock Rune," and even seemed faintly capable of complementing it.
The Bedrock Rune's response was so intense. This object had to be extraordinary.
Li Su bowed to the golden skeleton. "Senior, this junior has been fortunate enough to receive your legacy. Should I achieve anything in the future, I will surely not betray the meaning of this 'guardianship.'"
With that, he carefully used a bamboo twig to gently pry apart the tightly clenched finger bones and retrieve the damaged jade pendant.
The jade pendant felt warm and smooth in his hand. Its Guardian Dao Rhythm flowed slowly, calming his mind somewhat.
Though it was covered in cracks and appeared as if it could shatter at any moment, its intrinsic quality was exceedingly high.
[Detected a damaged sacred relic (???) containing innate Guardian Dao Rhythm. It may be slowly absorbed and comprehended to enhance defensive divine abilities and understanding of the "Bedrock Rune." Repair may also be attempted (requires specific materials and a vast amount of merit).]
The system's notification confirmed the object's preciousness.
Li Su carefully put away the jade pendant, then glanced once more at the golden skeleton. After some thought, he cast a spell to seal the entrance to the stone cavern again, lest it be eroded by the astral winds outside.
Only after finishing all this did he leave the stone cavern and rejoin Ming Feng and the others.
"Senior, did you find anything?" Ming Feng asked curiously.
"It was merely the resting place of an ancient cultivator. There was not much to gain." Li Su did not elaborate. This matter was too mysterious and not suitable for public discussion.
Ming Feng and the others did not press him. Seeing that Li Su was unharmed, they continued onward.
The final hundred miles passed without incident, and the group finally rushed out of the suffocating environment of Riftwind Canyon.
The sight before them suddenly opened up!
The astral winds abruptly ceased. Though faint baleful qi still lingered in the air, it had become far more tranquil.
The earth was a vast blue-gray expanse. On the distant horizon, they could vaguely make out the outlines of an endless chain of majestic mountains shrouded in auspicious clouds and immortal radiance!
The mountain range was magnificent, connecting heaven and earth. It emanated a vast, imposing, sacred aura that involuntarily filled one with awe and longing!
Even from such a great distance, they could feel the incomparably abundant spiritual essence of heaven and earth, along with the rhythm of the Great Dao!
"Is that... the Kunlun Mountain range?" Zhiwei murmured as she stared into the distance, her eyes filled with shock and fascination.
Pride and yearning also appeared on Ming Feng and the others' faces. "That is correct! That is the ancestor of all mountains, the sacred realm of Kunlun! It is where our sect is located!"
Li Su's bamboo body stood tall as he gazed at the majestic mountain shadows wrapped in immortal light. His heart surged, and he found it difficult to remain calm.
After untold hardship, a journey of hundreds of millions of miles, and countless perils, he had finally... almost arrived!
The Bedrock Rune softly resonated deep within his primordial spirit, faintly answering the distant Kunlun Mountain. Its guidance became incomparably clear and intense.
"Let us go. There is still some distance ahead, but it is relatively safe now. We must return to the sect as quickly as possible to report our mission."
Ming Feng said.
The group raised their escape lights and flew toward Kunlun Mountain. Along the way, they occasionally saw other cultivators arriving from all directions, some alone and some in groups. All were travel-worn, yet their faces bore a pilgrim-like piety and anticipation.
They also saw squads of patrolling Jade Clarity Sect disciples. Upon seeing Ming Feng and the others' attire and the token in Li Su's hand, they all nodded to them amicably.
The surroundings improved more and more. They could even see spiritual herbs and immortal plants growing about, while rare beasts frolicked nearby, forming a stark contrast to the desolate lifelessness of the Primordial World they had crossed before.
After flying for several more days, an enormous white jade archway, as majestic as a mountain, appeared ahead!
Two enormous ancient characters were carved upon the archway in sweeping strokes—Kunlun!
Beyond the archway lay a winding staircase paved in white jade, ascending into the depths of the clouds as though it led to the heavens. On either side of the stairs stood two rows of powerful golden-armored Dao Soldiers, staring straight ahead with solemn dignity.
Below the archway stood a pavilion called the "Welcoming Immortal Pavilion."
At this moment, several cultivators with profound auras, dressed in high-ranking Jade Clarity Sect robes, were already stationed within the pavilion, responsible for receiving cultivators from all sides who had come to Kunlun.
Ming Feng and the others descended with Li Su and Zhiwei, arriving before the Welcoming Immortal Pavilion.
"Outer Sect steward Ming Feng reports the completion of his escort mission! By decree of Martial Grand-Uncle Qingxu, I have also escorted Fellow Daoist Mo Xing here for recommendation!"
Ming Feng stepped forward and respectfully reported to a middle-aged Daoist presiding over the pavilion's affairs, presenting the token as well.
The middle-aged Daoist accepted the token for inspection, then looked toward Li Su. His gaze was like lightning as it swept across Li Su's bamboo body and the violet-gold token. A trace of surprise appeared on his face before his expression promptly became courteous. "So you are Fellow Daoist Mo Xing, recommended by Martial Grand-Uncle Qingxu.
Martial Grand-Uncle has already sent word, saying that you possess extraordinary talent and instructing us to receive you."
He took out two jade plaques and handed them to Li Su and Zhiwei. "These are temporary Kunlun jade talismans. With them, you may stay temporarily in Gathering Immortal Town at the mountain's foot and participate in the preliminary trial of the Ascension Conference three days from now.
If you pass the preliminary trial, you will earn the qualification to ascend the mountain and take part in the subsequent assessments. As for which immortal master you may be accepted by, that will depend upon your own fortune."
The Ascension Conference? Li Su accepted the jade plaque and swept it with his divine sense, immediately understanding that it was a selection mechanism through which Kunlun Mountain periodically recruited disciples.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist," Li Su said.
Ming Feng and the others also bid farewell to Li Su. "Senior Mo Xing, we must return to the Outer Sect to report. We will part here.
We wish you success, Senior, and hope that you may enter under an immortal master this time!"
"Thank you all for escorting me along the way." Li Su returned their salute.
After parting with Ming Feng and the others, Li Su and Zhiwei followed the middle-aged Daoist's directions toward Gathering Immortal Town beside the archway.
The town was not small. Its streets teemed with people, most of them cultivators of various races who had come hoping to take a master. Their cultivation ranged from Earth Immortals to Heaven Immortals, and one could even occasionally sense the aura of True Immortals.
Shops lined both sides of the streets, selling all manner of pills, magical treasures, and jade slips containing cultivation techniques. The town was bustling with activity.
Though Li Su's bamboo spirit body drew attention, cultivators with all sorts of bizarre appearances were everywhere here, so he did not stand out too much.
After finding an inn, Li Su set up restrictions and took out the damaged jade pendant and the dark yellow stone he had obtained from the battlefield, studying them carefully.
He had to pass the Ascension Conference three days from now.
The Dao Rhythms contained within these two objects might allow his strength to advance another step.
Kunlun Mountain was right before him. The final trial was about to arrive.
Before you continue