The sun is setting.
The moon was obscured by dark clouds, and the entire Heaven-Supervising Hall lost its daytime solemnity, as if draped in a black veil, becoming unusually quiet.
Outside the Heaven-Supervising Hall, Mu Fusheng's figure had become completely transparent, and his aura was also isolated by layers of talismans, as if he had completely blended into the night.
He looked up at the majestic palace, his heart sinking slightly.
The Nether River Abyss, the Yin-Yang Heavenly Pool, the Sacred Church... these clues are too coincidental. Just after Senior Sister Hong Ying obtained the information from the Five Spirits Mystic Art, the Palace Master immediately issued a mission, specifically ordering them to go to the Nether River Abyss.
It all seemed like a pre-arranged scheme.
Mu Fusheng never believed in coincidences.
However, one could not hear any sounds coming from inside the Heaven-Supervising Hall from outside.
The Heaven-Supervising Hall was built with special metals, and within these metals, there were strands of Power of Rules connected to form an array. To forcibly penetrate the walls with one's divine soul to observe the activities inside the hall, one would probably need to unleash all of one's divine soul power... At that time, it would be impossible for the hall master not to notice it.
We have no choice but to go in...
Mu Fusheng took a deep breath, lightly touched the Storage Bag at his waist with his fingertips, and took out three more talismans... a Realm-Breaking Talisman, a Shadow Shadow-Escape Talisman, and a Aura-Concealing Talisman.
With the three talismans stacked on his chest, Mu Fusheng's figure became even more ethereal, and even the spatial fluctuations were suppressed to a minimum.
He took a step forward and silently passed through the faint barrier Heaven-Supervising Hall.
The hall remained empty.
It was nearly midnight, and no lights were lit in the hall. Only the faint moonlight filtering through the transparent walls cast a cold glow on the floor, making the entire hall appear desolate.
Mu Fusheng held his breath and focused his gaze as he scanned his surroundings.
The temple master is not here.
But deep inside the main hall, the door leading to the inner sanctum was ajar, with a faint light shining through the crack.
He approached slowly, each step so light that it didn't even disturb the air.
Just as he was about to get close to the crack in the door, voices came from inside the inner hall.
It was the temple master's voice, deep and solemn:
"The arrangements have been made, and they will arrive at the outer edge of the Nether River Abyss in three days."
Another voice rang out, slightly hoarse:
Are you sure there won't be any changes?
Mu Fusheng's pupils contracted slightly.
That voice... although it was deliberately lowered, it still felt somewhat familiar to him.
The Temple Master said calmly, "The rules of the Supervisory Sacred Hall are that once a mission is accepted, it must be carried out. Besides, I have already ordered Qin Zhao to carry out the Heaven-Supervising Token, and everyone stationed there will cooperate; they won't suspect anything."
"That's good." The hoarse voice paused. "However... those people are not simple, especially that Mu Jiu, he's frighteningly meticulous. Are you sure he won't notice?"
The temple master chuckled lightly, "So what if they notice? The mission has been assigned. If they disobey, they will be violating the Sacred Hall's rules."
Moreover, it's a fact that the seal on the Nether River Abyss is weakening, and it's also a fact that the Sacred Church might be involved. All this information is true; he can't find any flaws."
Upon hearing this, Mu Fusheng's expression turned grim.
It was no coincidence after all.
But why would they do this? Could it be that their identities have been exposed, and they want to eliminate them in the Nether River Abyss?
Just as Mu Fusheng was thinking this, the voice came from inside again.
The hoarse voice paused for a moment before slowly saying, "I hope so. However, just in case... I suggest you send another team to secretly follow them, not for surveillance, but for protection. Although it's their final test, the Nether River Abyss is far too dangerous. If anything happens, it will be a great loss to our Sacred Hall, after all, their talent is no less than mine."
"Protect?" The temple master's tone hardened slightly.
"Yes, protection." The hoarse voice held a hint of amusement. "If they really encounter danger, these protectors can intervene in time to prevent any accidents."
Of course, if all goes well, these people will never show up.
The temple master pondered for a moment, then said, "Alright, I'll make the arrangements."
"Furthermore..." the hoarse voice continued, "The conditions for opening the Yin-Yang Heavenly Pool are almost complete. The item in the Nether River Abyss is the key. We can let them try to compete for it. On one hand, it will be a test for them; on the other hand, if they pass the test, they can also enter the Yin-Yang Heavenly Pool."
The temple master said in a deep voice, "I understand. But that thing is deep in the abyss, and with their cultivation level..."
"Don't worry, someone will guide them," the hoarse voice interrupted. "You just need to make sure they get to the outer edge of the abyss; the rest will be taken care of."
The temple master remained silent for a moment before slowly saying:
"What... exactly does that person want to do?"
The hoarse voice chuckled, a hint of mystery in its tone. "My lord, there are some things the less you know. Just remember, obeying orders will only bring you benefits, not harm."
The temple master fell silent.
A brief silence fell over the inner hall.
Mu Fusheng stood close to the door, his brows furrowed.
Is this another test...? Going to such lengths to arrange this final test for them only shows that the Supervisory Sacred Hall is being overly cautious.
Meanwhile, fragments of information— the Yin-Yang Heavenly Pool, something in the Nether River Abyss, the guidance of the person behind it all—were rapidly piecing together in his mind, but the most crucial link was always missing.
He wanted to continue listening, but the two people in the inner sanctum seemed to have already ended their conversation.
Footsteps sounded, heading towards the door.
Mu Fusheng flashed and silently retreated into the shadows in the corner of the hall.
The door was pushed open.
Mu Fusheng turned his head slightly and watched as the Palace Master walked out first, followed by a person shrouded in a black robe.
The figure of the man in the black robe was completely concealed by the large robe, and even his face was hidden in the shadow of the hood, making it impossible to see his true appearance.
Ke Mu Fusheng felt something was familiar...
The man in black robes walked to the palace gate, stopped, and suddenly looked back at the empty hall.
The moonlight fell into the shadows beneath his hood, vaguely revealing the outline of half his face.
Mu Fusheng was slightly startled, and pulled his head back, pressing his back against the wall in the corner of the hall.
He held his breath, suppressing his heartbeat to its lowest point.
The man in black robes slowly scanned the hall, seemingly searching for something.
But in the end, he found nothing, only shook his head slightly and whispered:
"My lord, what happened tonight is known only to you and me."
The temple master nodded. "Of course."
The man in black robes said no more, his figure transforming into a wisp of black smoke and dissipating into the night.
The temple master stood at the door, watching the man in black robes leave, before turning back into the temple after a long while.
He walked to the center of the hall, looked up at the moonlight on the dome, and murmured to himself, " Mu Jiu... I hope you won't disappoint me."
After saying that, he waved his sleeve, and the doors of the main hall slowly closed.
Silence returned to the hall.
Mu Fusheng remained hidden in the shadows for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, confirming that the Palace Master had left, before quietly withdrawing from the Heaven-Supervising Hall.
On the way back to his cave abode, Mu Fusheng's mind was in turmoil.
Although they knew the other party wanted to test their identities one last time, they still felt that the most crucial link was missing.
Moreover, that intense sense of familiarity also made Mu Fusheng somewhat wary.
More importantly... the black-robed man's last words, "What happened tonight, only you and I know," sounded like a simple admonition, but Mu Fusheng vaguely felt that it was more like an implication.
It was as if the man in black robes knew that there was a third person listening to this conversation tonight.
But he clearly didn't notice anything unusual...
Mu Fusheng shook his head, temporarily suppressing these distracting thoughts.
In any case, a trip to the Nether River Abyss is unavoidable.
Since we can't avoid it, we can only prepare and deal with whatever comes our way.