Xiao Hua followed the Foundation Establishment cultivator into the inner hall. After the time it took to smoke a pouch of tobacco, several divine senses swept over Xiao Hua's entire body, but none lingered.
As they rounded a corridor, a small screen wall came into view. Hanging upon it was an enormous painting depicting an antique pavilion. Its doors stood half-open, and there was even a plaque above them bearing the words "Transmission Technique Pavilion."
Seeing the cultivator stop before the painting, Xiao Hua was somewhat stunned. Could this... be the Transmission Technique Pavilion?
Sure enough, the cultivator pointed and said, "Take out your identity token and throw it into this painting!"
"Yes, this disciple understands!" Xiao Hua replied. He took out his token, hesitated briefly, then tossed it into the painting.
The instant the token touched the painting on the screen wall, a thread of lightning flashed from the painting and struck the token. Strangely enough, a thread of lightning likewise flashed from the token, colliding with the incoming bolt. Both flashes vanished at once, while the token sank into the painting.
A moment later, the entire painting emitted three-colored radiance. When the light flashed, the painting disappeared, replaced before Xiao Hua by a courtyard gate of precisely the same size. Through the gate, not far ahead, stood a pavilion identical to the one in the painting, rising in the center of the courtyard!
As Xiao Hua stared straight ahead, a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator emerged from within the courtyard gate, holding Xiao Hua's token. He looked Xiao Hua over and asked, "Are you Xiao Hua?"
"This disciple is," Xiao Hua answered, not daring to be negligent.
"What business do you have at the Transmission Technique Pavilion?"
Xiao Hua did not answer. Instead, he turned to the Foundation Establishment