230: fear

The purple giant palm covered the sky and the sun, carrying a savage demonic might, pressing down on the few remaining Loose Cultivators in the square.

In front of Nascent Soul Old Monsters, even their thoughts of escaping seemed so ridiculous.

"Charge!"

The instinct for survival overcame fear. A Core Formation Late Stage black-bearded old man roared, injecting all his magic power into an ancient shield, transforming it into a streak of earthy-yellow light, shooting towards the inner hall's stone door.

Beside him, a graceful and beautiful female Cultivator also bit her pearly teeth, slapped her Storage Pouch, and a circle of brilliant golden light instantly enveloped her body.

However, their struggles seemed pale and powerless in the face of absolute strength.

"Bang!"

The purple giant palm descended, and the black-bearded old man, along with his ancient shield, was instantly pulverized into a bloody mist, like a fragile egg.

The giant palm's momentum did not decrease, continuing to grab at the female Cultivator.

"Buzz!"

The golden light protecting the female Cultivator suddenly intensified, its radiance solidifying as if real, actually withstanding the residual might of the giant palm!

With a dull thud, the female Cultivator was struck heavily, spitting out fresh blood, and her figure was sent flying far away. But the golden protective shield, though dim in light, ultimately did not shatter.

"Oh?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Barbarian Hu's bell-like eyes.

Although that palm strike was casual, it was not something a mere Core Formation Cultivator could withstand.

The female Cultivator dared not linger for a moment. Using the impact, she transformed into a golden rainbow and rushed into the inner hall's stone door without looking back, instantly disappearing.

"A little interesting. Still trying to run?"

Barbarian Hu's face twisted into a cruel smile, and he actually raised his hand again.

This time, the purple light in his palm was even more condensed, clearly indicating he was getting serious.

Just at this critical moment, a clear and cold voice, like a cold spring flowing over stone, echoed through the square.

"Enough."

Before the words finished, a slender figure appeared like a ghost in front of Barbarian Hu.

It was Ling Yuling.

She lightly raised her fair hand, a palm as white as jade, seemingly untouched by worldly dust, and gently pressed it against the overwhelmingly tyrannical purple demonic palm.

On one side was monstrous Demonic Qi, on the other was flowing clear light.

This disproportionate collision, to everyone present, was no different from throwing an egg at a rock.

However, the next scene caused all the Nascent Soul Old Monsters present to suddenly contract their pupils.

"Boom!"

The two palms met, and there was no earth-shattering roar, only a dull explosion.

An invisible storm of Qi swept out, centered on the two of them.

The ground of the square cracked inch by inch.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Under a barrage of incredulous gazes, Barbarian Hu, whose physique was as robust as an iron tower, actually retreated three steps in a row!

Each step he took left a deep footprint on the hard white jade ground.

In contrast, Ling Yuling remained quietly in her original spot, her palace dress hem fluttering slightly, completely still.

The entire square fell into a dead silence.

Wan Tianming's gentle smile froze.

Qing Yi Hermit's feather fan stopped waving.

For the first time, a genuine ripple appeared in Madam Wen's cold, unmoving eyes, and a wisp of icy killing intent flashed past.

Even Extreme Yin Old Ancestor, who had been watching the show, had the black Qi around him violently churn.

"You!"

Barbarian Hu stabilized his figure, his purple face turning liver-colored with shock and anger.

He glared fiercely at Ling Yuling, as if wanting to devour her alive.

"Star Palace's little girl, what is the meaning of this?"

Ling Yuling slowly withdrew her jade hand, her clear and cold gaze completely unwavering.

"A Nascent Soul Cultivator attacking a Core Formation Cultivator is already bullying the weak."

"Now that the female Cultivator survived your strike, that should be enough. Yet you still want to pursue her to the death. Don't you think it's beneath your dignity?"

Her voice was not loud, but every word was clear, carrying an undeniable authority.

"Hahahaha! Good! What a 'beneath your dignity'!"

Barbarian Hu laughed in extreme anger, his muscles bulging, and an even more violent Demonic Qi soared into the sky.

"Today, I'd like to see what right you, a little girl cultivated through secret arts, have to dictate to me!"

He originally intended to act immediately and regain his face.

But a glance at Wan Tianming and Madam Wen out of the corner of his eye forced that impulse back down.

Something was wrong.

This little girl's strength far exceeded the rumors!

If he were to fight her head-on now and deplete his Origin Qi, wouldn't that just benefit the hypocrite Wan Tianming?

The void sky cauldron was the most important thing!

Thinking of this, the killing intent in Barbarian Hu's eyes gradually receded, replaced by a sinister sneer.

"Good, very good. I'll remember this. Once we enter the inner hall, I hope you're still this lucky!"

A storm seemed to have calmed down.

But everyone knew that the real undercurrents were just beginning to stir.

Madam Wen had already marked Ling Yuling for death in her heart.

This Star Palace girl must die!

Wan Tianming's heart was also in turmoil. He subtly exchanged a glance with Qing Yi Hermit opposite him.

Both of them had the same thought: Star Palace's intelligence was wrong! This woman is definitely not a 'watered-down' Nascent Soul!

It seemed the original plan needed some adjustments.

In this eerie silence, Wan Tianming suddenly let out a hearty laugh, breaking the deadlock.

He held his whisk and stepped forward.

"Fairy Ling is right, Fellow Daoist Man's actions were indeed a bit biased."

He first seemingly fairly criticized Barbarian Hu, then changed the subject, revealing a gentle smile to Ling Yuling.

"Fairy, now that the inner hall is open, we don't need to waste time here. How about we, the Righteous Path and Star Palace, enter together? That way, we can look out for each other and avoid being ambushed by certain Devil Heads again."

He spoke these words grandiosely, as if genuinely considering Star Palace's interests.

Ling Yuling's clear and cold gaze swept over his hypocritical face. She sneered inwardly but did not expose him.

She merely nodded faintly.

"In that case, I will trouble Sect Leader Wan."

"No trouble at all! Please!"

Wan Tianming was overjoyed. He immediately made a gesture of invitation and led Heavenly Enlightenment Master and Hei Mingzi into the stone door first.

Ling Yuling, with Purple Spirit and Lin Feng, followed unhurriedly.

Why did she agree to Wan Tianming's invitation?

Naturally, it was at Lin Feng's instruction.

Lin Feng knew that the Righteous Path held a detailed map of the fourth floor of the Void Heaven Palace's inner hall.

Therefore, they could save countless troubles and go straight to the final Han Li Terrace.

And what Lin Feng wanted was precisely this outcome.

To create a time difference between the seemingly balanced two sides because of this map.

To let the Righteous Path arrive at the treasure location first and begin their actions.

Thus, when the Demonic Path arrived, a fierce battle for the void sky cauldron would be unavoidable... As expected.

After entering the inner hall, Wan Tianming seemed to be in his own backyard.

Holding an old beast skin map, he led everyone left and right, always accurately avoiding the deadly traps and Restrictions.

The Puppet army on the first floor, the confusing poisonous fog on the second floor, the spatial cracks on the third floor, the ancient illusion array on the fourth floor... These checkpoints, which were enough to give even Nascent Soul Cultivators headaches, were navigated as easily as walking on flat ground under Wan Tianming's leadership.

In just a few short hours.

While the Demonic Path was still in the poisonous fog of the second floor, getting exasperated by the Restrictions triggered by Barbarian Hu's reckless charges.

Lin Feng's group of six had already safely exited the fourth floor.

The view suddenly opened up.

This was a vast, endless ice plain. Biting cold winds howled, sweeping up ice shards everywhere.

In the center of the ice plain, a high platform built from ten-thousand-year-old profound ice emitted a faint blue light. It was precisely the Han Li Terrace.

"We're here!"

Wan Tianming's eyes burst with uncontrollable fervor. He put away the map, no longer bothering to maintain his composure, and with a flicker of his figure, he was the first to rush towards the Han Li Terrace.

Heavenly Enlightenment Master and Hei Mingzi followed closely.

Lin Feng and the other two exchanged glances and also followed.

Upon ascending the Han Li Terrace, a terrifying chill assailed them.

In the center of the high platform was a giant, bottomless cave entrance. Below the cave entrance, instead of profound ice, golden earth fire churned!

At this junction of ice and fire, an ancient and heavy bronze giant cauldron quietly floated deep within the earth fire, appearing faintly.

The void sky cauldron!

"Quick! Move!"

Wan Tianming suppressed his excitement and roared.

He, Heavenly Enlightenment Master, and Hei Mingzi immediately positioned themselves in three directions, each taking out a peculiar spirit insect, entirely golden-yellow and shaped like a silkworm chrysalis.

These were the Golden Silk Cicadas.

The three simultaneously formed hand seals, injecting their magic power into them.

The Golden Silk Cicadas buzzed, opening their mouths to spit out three golden silk threads, thinner than hair but incredibly tough, which wrapped around the void sky cauldron in the earth fire below.

As the golden silk slowly tightened, the extremely heavy void sky cauldron finally began to be pulled up bit by bit.

However, the effect of these Golden Silk Cicadas seemed to be not very good, and the pulling speed was extremely slow.