The Palace

There was a slope with crimson soil.

Wisps of crystalline light radiated from it, lending the place a strange appearance.

Lei Chong stood beside the herb field and opened his Heavenly Eye to examine it closely.

"That looks like... Phoenix Blood Grass." The Witch's eyes lit up.

Lei Chong followed his gaze and looked in that direction.

Sure enough, at the very center of the herb field stood several crimson herbs, shaped like dancing True Phoenixes, poised to be reborn in fire.

Phoenix Blood Grass was a divine medicine. It had originally been an ordinary herb, but after coming into contact with true phoenix blood, it had become a divine medicine.

This herb absorbed the essence of phoenix blood and could help living beings undergo nirvana.

Several stalks of sacred medicine also grew around the Phoenix Blood Grass, all giving off a soft glow. A faint medicinal fragrance drifted over.

Beyond the sacred medicines grew hundreds of stalks of spiritual medicine. They had all absorbed phoenix blood, and their medicinal properties surpassed those of many ordinary spiritual medicines.

Lei Chong looked up at the sky, then glanced at the herb field on the ground.

He finally understood. This had not originally been an herb field. True Phoenix blood had fallen here and been absorbed by the grass, transforming it into true medicinal herbs and turning this place into an herb field.

The two stood on the mountain path, unsure for a moment what to do.

That was true divine medicine, something rarely encountered in the outside world.

But curtains of light flanked the path, preventing them from entering the herb field.

"Why don't you use the five Precious Techniques and try to communicate with the curtain of light? Perhaps you can open a passage," the Witch replied after thinking for a moment.

Lei Chong shook his head. "I don't think that would be wise. This place is different from the foot of the mountain. Using the Precious Techniques won't help, and it might even open a gateway at the foot of the mountain."

"Then what should we do? Why don't we give up on this place for now, obtain the True Phoenix Precious Technique first, and then come back for it?" the Witch said decisively.

"I have another item. Perhaps it's worth a try." Lei Chong shook his head.

The Witch's eyes lit up, and a smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.

Swish!

Lei Chong opened his Qiankun bag and took out a small ladder.

The little ladder was only three inches long and had just seven steps.

Hum!

Lei Chong activated the Heaven Ascending Ladder. It grew in the wind, then rested beside the herb field, actually connecting the path to the field.

Hum!

The ladder glowed faintly, blocking the curtain of light beneath it.

"Huh? You actually have one of these?" the Witch said, somewhat surprised.

Such ladders were extremely rare. Some great sects possessed them, but they were hardly ever seen in the outside world, and their owners were even less likely to bring them out casually.

"It's nothing. I just happened to come by it," Lei Chong said without elaborating.

He watched the Heaven Ascending Ladder closely, checking for any unexpected changes.

Time passed bit by bit, but the place remained perfectly still. The Heaven Ascending Ladder and the formation had reached an equilibrium, and both had fallen silent.

Lei Chong finally relaxed completely. These were protective formations, unlike the formations in Divine Medicine Valley, which were killing formations meant for attack.

Swish!

A flash of light passed, and one of Lei Chong's spiritual bodies appeared.

The spiritual body stepped onto the Heaven Ascending Ladder and walked along it toward the other side.

Beneath the Heaven Ascending Ladder, the protective formation glowed, trying to stop the spiritual body from advancing. But the Heaven Ascending Ladder shone, blocking the formation's light.

The spiritual body stood at the end of the Heaven Ascending Ladder, with the herb field directly below.

With the Heaven Ascending Ladder protecting him, the formation could not stop him at all. The spiritual body swiftly reached out and picked every last herb.

He did not even spare the soil beneath the stalks of Phoenix Blood Grass at the center.

That soil was a brilliant scarlet, like crystalline rubies.

At that moment, countless illusory immortal birds were appearing all around that space.

Beneath those immortal birds, figures rose to their full height one after another.

After practicing again and again, these people had learned the Precious Techniques.

Even in the Vermilion Bird's area, an illusory immortal bird appeared.

The cultivators who had learned the Precious Techniques immediately rushed toward the giant mountain.

More than a dozen figures had gathered at the foot of the giant mountain. Immortal birds appeared above their heads as they sent attacks toward the curtain of light, but they could not open the formation's curtain.

"We're missing a Bi Fang. Which factions are learning it?" one of the deities asked, quickly sweeping his gaze over the people around him.

"Well... there's a problem on the Bi Fang's side. There's a young man there who keeps preventing others from comprehending the Bi Fang Precious Technique," a Venerable answered.

"Could it be him?" Yue Chan quickly thought of someone.

She described the Divine Flame Man's features and asked the Venerable whether it was him.

"That's right, it's him. He mastered the Bi Fang Precious Technique long ago. Whenever we approach, he steps in to stop us," the Venerable said with a nod.

After pondering for a moment, Yue Chan understood some of the reasons behind it.

The Divine Flame Man was alone and had learned only one Precious Technique. If he wanted to enter the formation, he would inevitably be besieged by the various sects.

So he had thought of this method, hoping to force the other factions to compromise with him.

Yue Chan shared her speculation and asked the deities to make a decision.

After the various parties discussed the matter, they decided to send Yue Chan to negotiate with him.

"Fine. I have only one condition: none of you may attack me before the final contest for the True Phoenix Precious Technique," the Divine Flame Man said.

"That's certainly no problem. I can give you my word here and now," Yue Chan said with a nod.

"Have those deities swear blood oaths, and I'll help you open the formation." The Divine Flame Man was in no hurry. He was clearheaded now and knew what mattered most at this moment.

"Fine, I'll go negotiate." Yue Chan turned and left.

Before long, she returned with news.

The Divine Flame Man nodded slightly and followed Yue Chan to the giant mountain.

Two figures were making their way along the giant mountain's path.

They followed a secluded trail to the summit of the giant mountain.

The two raised their heads and silently studied what lay before them. A divine parasol tree stood before them like a pillar supporting the heavens.

The divine parasol tree gave off a faint glow, lending the surroundings a peaceful air.

In the branches of the divine parasol tree was a glowing bird's nest. A faint pressure emanated from it, as though a primordial beast lay dormant within.

Suddenly, the palace above burst into flames, and the faint sound of scripture chanting rang out.

At the same time, it was as if some creature had awakened inside the palace. A terrifying presence spread, compelling people to prostrate themselves in worship.

Looking at the palace above his head, Lei Chong felt the hairs all over his body stand on end.

"That presence is immensely powerful. It isn't being deliberately released; it's emanating naturally. Just who does it belong to?" Lei Chong said with a frown.

The Witch beside him was much the same; her body was actually trembling slightly.

"Are we still going up?" the Witch asked, her face somewhat pale.

"Of course we are. We've come all this way. Do you really want to turn back? Even if we went back down, would those people let us go?" Lei Chong's gaze was unwavering.

"All right, let's go up," the Witch said, nodding earnestly.

Soon, the flames on the palace's surface vanished, and the terrifying presence faded for the time being, allowing the two of them a momentary sigh of relief.

The two immediately quickened their pace and stood before the palace.