Ren Tianqing and Hong Beimo lifted out the Jade Box together. Qiqi gestured for them to open it, and blue light spilled out as the lid rose. Inside lay a transparent blue skull.
Hong Beimo and Ren Tianqing exchanged a glance, then both looked at Qiqi. She gazed at the skull, the light shifting in her beautiful eyes, and said softly, "Go downstairs and wait for me."
Both men nodded and returned to the lower level by the way they had come, leaving Qiqi alone in the secret cavern. Only after they had gone did she slowly kneel and kowtow three times to the Blue Skull. Then she extended both hands and pressed her palms flat against it. Instantly, the blue light blazed brighter. Qiqi closed her eyes, and golden characters appeared one after another in her mind...
Hu Xiaotian climbed Misty Peak again. Since everyone's attention was focused on the foot of the mountain, no guards had been posted at the summit. Perhaps that had something to do with Unenlightened remaining there. With his martial arts, he had no need for anyone else to intervene, and his ill-tempered disposition made it difficult for him to get along with others.
Following Hong Beimo's directions, Hu Xiaotian slipped into the Spirit Firmament Palace. It was midnight, when Unenlightened should have been in seclusion, regulating his breathing. Hu Xiaotian took care to skirt the place where Unenlightened stayed and listened for sounds inside each chamber. After searching six rooms, he finally heard breathing within one. His hearing was keen enough to identify Xi Yan from that alone. Delight stirred in his heart. Truly, he had worn through iron shoes searching in vain, only to find what he sought without the slightest effort. It seemed Hong Beimo really did value the Cinnabar Cauldron