A Void Realm Elder's olive branch (part one)
"Is Zhuge Xiang here?" On Green Bamboo Peak, Zhuge Xiang and others were gathered together when a voice suddenly rang out from outside the Courtyard. At the same time, a man walked in. As he walked, the Vital Energy of Heaven and Earth and earth surged with him, clearly indicating that he was a cultivator at the Nascent Deity Transformation stage, capable of causing fluctuations in the Vital Energy of Heaven and Earth and earth.
"May I ask what brings you here, Senior Brother?" Zhuge Xiang stood up and asked when he saw this Deity Transformation Stage disciples coming to find him.
After sizing up Zhuge Xiang, this Deity Transformation stage disciple knew his background and information. He was young enough to comprehend Sword Intent, and would surely survive the Heavenly Tribulation in the Heavenly Tribulation. The Deity Transformation stage disciple showed no arrogance. He glanced at Lu Yuling beside him and said, "I am True Disciple of Asura Elder. My Master needs to summon the ten disciples who have passed the assessment. I've come to take you to see Master. It's even better since you're here Lu Yuling."
"Purgatory Elder?" Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling exchanged a glance, both understanding that Purgatory Elder must know about the disappearance of the Heavenly Dragon Town Evil Pagoda. After a slight hesitation, Zhuge Xiang nodded, "Since Purgatory Elder requests an audience, we naturally dare not disobey."
After finding Zhuge Xiang and Lu Yuling, this Deity Transformation stage disciple also found Zhang Kuang and the other eight disciples who had passed the assessment. He took out a small Treasure Artifact Flatboat, carried Zhuge Xiang and the others, and flew directly to the Floating Island where Purgatory Elder was located.
Standing on the Flatboat, Zhuge Xiang looked at the 108 mountains suspended in the sky and felt an overwhelming sense of awe and pride. The 108 mountains, hanging high in the sky, were truly awe-inspiring. This was the skill of cultivators; they could even make enormous mountains levitate in the air.
Each mountain peak has a different environment due to the different Cultivation Technique and personalities of the Void Realm Great Expert. Some peaks are filled with ghostly energy and soaring Blood Qi, like Netherworld Ghost Realm; some are teeming with Fierce Beast, resembling animals that eat raw meat and drink blood; some have towering Golden Hall, exuding an aura of nobility; and some even have cranes flying, birds singing, flowers blooming, pavilions and towers, presenting a scene of Immortal Sacred Land...
One Hundred and Eight Floating Mountains symbolize one hundred and eight Void Realm Great Experts. This is the foundation of the Asura Sect, and also the true center of the Asura Sect's power and strength. From the Asura Sect Headquarters to the Endless Mountain Range, one can almost see these One Hundred and Eight Floating Mountains by simply looking up. However, this is the first time that Zhuge Xiang and the others have come here.
The Floating Mountain symbolizes the power center of the Asura Sect. Several disciples who have just passed the assessment stand on Flatboat, watching the Deity Transformation stage Artifact Flight back and forth on their magical artifacts. They are all somewhat reserved. Although they are from the same sect, the Floating Mountain and the area below seem like two different worlds.
However, compared to the disciples' restraint, Zhuge Xiang's eyes were filled with fervor. Sooner or later, he would also have his own Floating Mountain. This was the goal Zhuge Xiang set for himself. Perhaps, only by becoming Void Realm Great Expert he not have to worry about anyone daring to bully him.
Compared to Zhuge Xiang's burning gaze, Zhang Kuang seemed completely uninterested. In his view, a good place was one where he could fight with all his might, and he didn't care about power, fame, or anything like that.
As for Lu Yuling? Her expression was calm. Although it was only the reincarnation of Ice Maiden's Three Souls Reincarnation, and her Memory were fragmented and incomplete, this Floating Mountain was like her own Garden to her. She must have been tired of it long ago. Could you expect her to have any special feelings about it?
The Deity Transformation stage disciple, observing the reactions of the Inner Sect Disciple, nodded inwardly. Compared to the restraint of those disciples, Zhuge Xiang's ambitious eyes were striking. Ambition, from another perspective, is also a person's aspiration. From this, one can see that Zhuge Xiang has a firm will and lofty ambitions.
Upon arriving at the Floating Mountain, beneath Purgatory Elder's Palace, the group descended and ascended the steps to the Palace gates. They announced loudly, "Reporting to Master, all ten disciples who passed the Inner Sect assessment have been brought here and are awaiting orders outside the hall."
"Bring it in," a voice came from inside the hall. The voice was calm, yet it gave people a Profound Mysteries feeling, like the roar of a waterfall or the gurgling of a spring.
Following the Deity Transformation True Disciple into the Great Hall, at the innermost part of the Great Hall sat an old man, dressed in a black robe with many incomprehensible patterns carved on it. He did not possess any powerful aura, yet his presence gave one the feeling that he was not actually there, like viewing flowers through mist, which was very eerie. The old man, whose hair and beard were all white, had Childlike Face and Crane-White Hair, and was full of vigor. This was Purgatory Elder, Void Realm Great Expert.
On either side of the Great Hall stood a row of disciples, eighteen on each side. They were clearly the most favored disciples of Purgatory Elder. After leading Zhuge Xiang and the others into the Great Hall, the Deity Transformation stage disciple walked to the very end of the right side and stood there.
Even the True Disciple of the Nascent Deity Transformation stage stood respectfully in the Palace of Void Realm Great Expert. These disciples, who were only at the Meridian Opening Realm stage, were naturally even more reserved, keeping their eyes straight ahead and not daring to look around casually.
In contrast, Zhuge Xiang looked around curiously. This Palace of Void Realm Great Expert was truly adorned with carved dragons and painted phoenixes, and paved with Spirit Stone. His way of looking around was in stark contrast to the reserved demeanor of the disciples beside him.
In fact, while Zhuge Xiang was sizing him up, weren't the people around him also sizing him up? Reaching the Meridian Opening Realm Sixth Layer in two years, and even comprehending Sword Intent, the True Disciple on both sides were all curiously observing him.
Although Zhuge Xiang's look around was somewhat rude, it was still much better than those disciples who didn't dare to breathe loudly. Therefore, Purgatory Elder was not angry. He just smiled calmly and asked, "Your name is Zhuge Xiang? You seem to be very interested in my Palace?"
"Hehe, when I reach the Return to Void Realm in the future, I will naturally have my own Palace. I'll take a look around, so I'll have something to refer to when I build my Palace in the future," Zhuge Xiang replied with a carefree laugh, as naturally as if he were talking about what he was going to eat tomorrow.
These words shocked everyone present. All the Deity Transformation stage disciples in the Great Hall stared at Zhuge Xiang in astonishment.
Although cultivators all strive towards the goal of reaching the Void Realm, no one dares to say it like Zhuge Xiang. He is only at the Meridian Opening Realm Sixth Layer, yet he dares to say that his goal is the Void Realm? Moreover, his expression is completely natural, as if becoming Void Realm powerhouse is inevitable for him.
Even the Purgatory Elder showed a hint of surprise on his face, then laughed, bursting into laughter. "Hahaha, interesting. In all these years, I've never seen any disciple dare to say such things in front of me. You're the first. I like your personality very much. You're free-spirited and ambitious. Not bad. If you have a goal, you should have the courage to say it out loud."
"Thank you for your praise, Elder," Zhuge Xiang said with a slight bow.
"I never praise people casually. The reason I'm praising you is because you deserve it. There's no need to thank me. Since you want to see more of my Palace, would you like to stay?" The Purgatory Elder suddenly spoke, seemingly casually.
Upon hearing this, the True Disciple of the Deity Transformation stage on both sides looked at Zhuge Xiang in surprise. Purgatory Elder's meaning was clear: although he had not reached the Deity Transformation stage, he was willing to make an exception and accept him into his sect. The Inner Sect Disciple who were with him also looked at Zhuge Xiang with envy. He was only at the Meridian Opening Realm, yet he was favored by the Void Realm elder. This was truly a meteoric rise.
"Thank you for your kind offer, Elder, but the outside world is far more wonderful. If I want to have my own Palace, I need to go out and explore," Zhuge Xiang said decisively, shaking his head without even considering the Purgatory Elder's meaning, pretending not to understand.
"Has this guy gone mad?" was the thought on Human Heart.
The fact that Purgatory Elder offered to take Zhuge Xiang as his disciple was already shocking, but Zhuge Xiang actually refused? He actually turned down such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
Slightly taken aback, Purgatory Elder was clearly not expecting Zhuge Xiang to refuse him, and felt a little displeased, but he did not dwell on it. He simply said in a much colder tone, "Alright, enough of the small talk. Now let's get down to business. Do you know why I summoned you here tonight?"
"Please give your instructions, Elder," the Inner Sect Disciple bowed their heads and said respectfully in unison.
"The Asura Purgatory Diagram is my Lingbao. I took it out as the training ground for your second trial, but something went wrong, causing damage to my Lingbao. Some Buddhist Power remains within it. I've summoned you all here simply to ask if you know any clues, or if any of you are traitors within the Buddhist Sect." The Purgatory Elder's gaze swept over all the disciples, his calm eyes seemingly able to see right through them.
Purgatory Elder's words left the Inner Sect Disciple exchanging bewildered glances. Buddhist Power? How could Buddhist Power appear within the Asura Purgatory Diagram? A traitor? The disciples sized each other up, secretly wondering who this so-called traitor might be.
"If the anomaly in the picture is due to an inside job, the probability is highest among you disciples who have passed the test. I have Exotic Treasure Mirror of Truth, which can reflect your Origin Power. To prove your Innocence, I need you all to look in the mirror. Do you have any objections?"
All the Inner Sect Disciple shook their heads, indicating that it was meaningless. Only Zhuge Xiang hesitated for a moment, but he also shook his head.
Buddhist Power? The Heavenly Demon Zen Sound is indeed Sacred Buddhist Art, but this Cultivation Technique shouldn't be considered pure Buddhist Power. It seems that Purgatory Elder suspects there's an inside job at the Heavenly Dragon Heavenly Dragon Temple regarding the disappearance of the Heavenly Dragon Town Evil Pagoda.
With a casual wave of his hand, the space in the Great Hall slightly distorted, and then a gigantic mirror appeared, much taller than a person. Ninety-Nine Eyes were carved on it, each one lifelike, as if they were real, giving one the feeling that every secret of their being could be seen through. (To be continued.)