Immediately after.
An especially ancient palace, so weathered it even seemed somewhat dilapidated, stood alone here, utterly inconspicuous compared to the other rugged yet magnificent palaces.
Half-Venerable Wuyang raised a hand and pointed from afar at the silent palace ahead, saying, "Senior, the entrance to our clan's Treasure Vault lies within this hall."
As he spoke, he did not dare delay, flicking his finger.
A brilliant ray of light landed precisely upon the ancient, unadorned palace doors, which bore the marks of countless years.
Buzz!
On the surface of the doors, the Black Tortoise relief carved on the left and the Black Serpent imprint coiled on the right seemed to be activated in an instant, rippling with a faint eerie glow.
The phantoms of a turtle and a serpent appeared out of thin air, intertwining as they circled one another and radiated an ancient aura.
Crack!
A dull mechanical sound rang out as the heavy palace doors, sealed in dust for who knew how many ages, slowly opened inward, revealing the profound darkness within.
Seeing this, Half-Venerable Wuyang turned sideways and respectfully gestured inward.
"Senior, please!"
Sha Minghong swept his gaze over the opened doors, then glanced at the deferential Half-Venerable Wuyang beside him. The corner of his mouth curled almost imperceptibly.
He then gave a slight nod and, without further hesitation, strode into the palace.
In his view, before absolute strength, any scheme was futile.
Yet at the very instant Sha Minghong's figure completely vanished into the darkness within the palace!
A sudden change erupted!
Half-Venerable Wuyang, who had remained behind with a humble posture, abruptly unleashed the cold gleam he had long suppressed in his eyes, like ten-thousand-year ice shattering apart!
All humility and unease vanished from his face in an instant, replaced by a madness and resolve