"This so-called Sword Ranking... is this very thing."
The Palace Maid smiled as she walked up to the Green Jade Screen and laid a hand against it. "This screen conceals a Prehistoric Sword Formation."
"Prehistoric Sword Formation," Gu Qingshan repeated, his expression unchanged.
The Palace Maid continued, "What puzzled the Immortal Venerable was that, although she had subdued this sword formation, she had never been able to find its true sword spirit."
"Your task is to enter the sword formation and find the sword spirit."
Gu Qingshan looked toward the Green Jade Screen.
The whole screen was a fraud.
Heavenly Venerable Xuan Yuan had used this thing to swindle quite a bit of fine Hundred Flowers Jade Brew from Hundred Flowers Fairy.
After he was found out, he had hurried to apologize and promised her some truly valuable treasures to calm Xie Daoling's anger.
These were all harmless little matters.
The important thing was to expose the screen's fraud at once, then go with Xie Daoling to the front lines and save Gongsun Zhi and Ning Yuechan.
With that thought, Gu Qingshan cupped his hands. "Allow me to give it a try."
"Very well."
The Palace Maid gave a slight nod, formed a hand seal, and pointed at the Green Jade Screen.
The Green Jade Screen shuddered.
One strange vision after another appeared, emanating an ancient, timeworn aura.
The Palace Maid shifted her hand seal again. A beam of Seven-Colored Spiritual Light burst from the screen and enveloped Gu Qingshan.
A majestic voice rang out.
"Young one, you may enter only after lighting incense."
Gu Qingshan lit the incense, paid his respects, and stepped into the screen.
As soon as he vanished, the Palace Maid's easygoing manner disappeared. Her expression solemn, she fixed her gaze on the Green Jade Screen.