Before long, Feng Xu arrived at the mountain behind the Feng Family mansion. He sprinted all the way, scaling the mountain as if it were flat ground, and in no time reached a cave halfway up.
Feng Xu charged straight into the cave and raced through a narrow tunnel roughly a hundred meters long. The passage opened up abruptly into an immense space.
Inside stood a magnificent palace.
The entire mountain behind the Feng Family mansion had apparently been hollowed out to build this palace. Although it was buried inside the mountain, the place was remarkably bright—almost no different from the outdoors in broad daylight.
The reason it was so bright was that a wondrous pearl hung from the cavern ceiling, shining with boundless radiance like the sun and moon!
Feng Xu had been here before. Nothing he saw surprised him, and he barely spared it a glance before hurrying along the path built through the mountain to the palace.
"Junior Brother Feng, what brings you here?"
Two disciples stood guard at the palace entrance. Seeing Feng Xu, one of them asked in mild surprise.
Feng Xu hurriedly replied, "Senior Brother, I have an urgent matter and need to see Master!"
"Oh? I see. All right, wait here for a moment. I'll go announce you."
The disciple paused briefly before adding, "The Sect Master is discussing something with the two Grand Elders, so I can't let you in directly."
Though anxious, Feng Xu understood. "You're too kind, Senior Brother. I understand."
"Good."
The disciple nodded, then turned and went into the palace...
A moment later, he returned and said to Feng Xu, "All right, Junior Brother Feng. You can go in."
"Thank you, Senior Brother!"
Feng Xu replied and hurried into the palace.
At the center of the hall sat