Five Immortal Sects

Chapter 98: Lord Heavenly Stele

Hundreds of cultivators from both sects stood on opposite sides of the plaza, each group gathered in their designated area. Though separated, none were far from the towering stele ahead, where ten figures now stood.

The ten Core Formation cultivators had spread into a fan-like formation before the stele, with Elder Peng Buxing and Daoist Hang Wu at the center. Elder Peng released his divine sense toward the stone stele, and moments later, the seven-colored radiance coursing across its surface gradually stilled, until a child's face slowly emerged from the stone.

Though standing near the edge of the crowd, Li Yan, like everyone else, stared fixedly ahead. When he saw a human face materialize upon the stele, his eyes flickered with astonishment. So the stele could manifest a human visage, it was clearly the spirit of the artifact.

Just then, a hoarse and aged voice echoed slowly through the air above the plaza.

“So it’s the Daoist cow-nose from Grand Profound Sect. I thought it was those bald bandits from Pure Land this time!”

The first-time cultivators of Wraith Sect blinked in surprise, while many disciples of Grand Profound Sect wore expressions of anger. Yet seeing that none of their own Core Formation elders showed the slightest reaction, they could only swallow their frustration.

Meanwhile, some disciples of Wraith Sect chuckled quietly among themselves, drawing glares from the Grand Profound side, hostile eyes met across the stone-still square.

Following the sound, Li Yan looked toward the stone stele again and realized the voice was coming from the mouth of the childlike face carved into its surface. Its lips moved in sync with the words. This mismatched image, a child’s visage with such a weathered voice felt uncanny to say the least.

“Senior Heavenly Stele,” Daoist Hang Wu greeted with a smile, bowing deeply. “We apologize if we’ve disturbed your seclusion.”

The other nine elders, including Elder Peng, followed suit, respectfully cupping their hands in salute.

This display left many stunned. Even Li Yan recalled what Lin Daqiao had once told him:

“The stele calls itself Lord Heavenly Stele. Its cultivation has already reached the terrifying mid-Core Formation stage.”

Given that the artifact spirit had developed intelligence and likely existed for tens of thousands of years, its seniority was certainly unquestionable.

“Hmph, but with so many Qi Condensation brats entering this time, do you know how much essence that’ll cost me? I’m not playing if it’s like this!”

The childlike face on the stele broke into a self-satisfied expression at the sight of the elders’ deference. Yet when its gaze shifted to the crowd of disciples behind them, its eyes gleamed before quickly reverting to an impassive stare, as if caught red-handed in mischief.

But everyone was already watching, who wouldn't notice such a shift?

The tone abruptly changed, as if all the cultivators gathered were merely characters in the stele's little play. Hearing such words spoken in that ancient voice made the atmosphere feel even more peculiar.

“Please rest assured, Senior,” Elder Peng replied calmly. “Our two sects have each prepared five hundred mid-grade spirit stones to replenish your expended essence.”

With that, his sleeve billowed outward, and countless crystalline stones arced through the air like shooting stars, tracing glittering rainbows across the sky.

Brilliant and radiant, the mid-grade spirit stones painted the air in waves of shimmering light.

At the same time, Daoist Hang Wu smiled and mirrored the gesture. From his verdant sleeve, yet more spirit stones flew out, bathing the heavens in a deluge of five-colored light.

In that instant, the surrounding spiritual energy surged many times over. To those present, it felt as if a meteor shower of colored light were raining down from the sky.

Save for the composed expressions of the Core Formation elders, the rest of the disciples, Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment alike gaped in awe.

Mid-grade spirit stones? A thousand of them?!

Such generosity was staggering.

Even the Core Formation elders in their sects only received ten mid-grade stones per month. Foundation Establishment cultivators, if they had even a few, would treasure them like prized heirlooms.

Each mid-grade spirit stone could be traded for a hundred low-grade ones but few were willing to make such exchanges, mid-grade stones contained far purer spiritual energy, far beyond what lower grades could make up for in bulk.

“Hmph, fine then. I suppose this will barely cover my losses,” the ancient voice muttered again, still carrying that aggrieved, reluctant tone.

Yet the face on the stele, which tried to maintain a serious expression, was visibly struggling to suppress a smile. Anyone could tell it was thoroughly pleased.

After just a few breaths, the celestial rain of spirit stones faded into nothingness.

“Senior Heavenly Stele, shall we begin now?” Elder Peng asked.

They had paid the price. Now it was time.

Inwardly, he thought:

If not for the Nascent Soul ancestor who forged you recognizing your sentience and assigning you to guard this place... you'd have long since been turned into a mindless puppet. Yes, you consume spiritual energy, but from now on, this is the most you’ll ever get. Try to be greedy again and...

“Ahem… Of course! Let’s begin!” the childlike voice declared, trying to hold back excitement.

“You ten, prepare to open the passage.”

The childlike face vanished as the surface of the stele blurred, the rainbow light returning to its original flow across the stone.

At the command, Elder Peng and Daoist Hang Wu turned back toward their companions. Each gave a nod, and the remaining elders immediately began channeling their power.

Streams of divine radiance shot skyward from their bodies.

In the blink of an eye, a destructive aura surged into being between the ten of them, shaking the plaza with overwhelming pressure.

The moment this force emerged, Li Yan and the other disciples were struck by the illusion of imminent death. A feeling of utter powerlessness surged from deep within, paralyzing even the thought of escape. Their faces drained pale.

Above, the converging lights fused into a colossal purple orb, which then streaked down and landed squarely upon the stele.

The terrifying pressure vanished as swiftly as it had come.

Soaked in sweat, Li Yan and his fellow disciples gasped for breath, many barely standing.

The Core Formation elders ahead merely glanced back at them once. They had intentionally done nothing to shield the disciples from the pressure. This had been a test, a taste of the immense power that awaited within the secret realm.

The moment the violet light orb intertwined with the multicolored radiance on the stone stele, the stele vanished without a trace. In its place appeared a roughly one zhang wide black-and-white portal, within which a swirling vortex rotated continuously.

It felt as if anyone who approached would be sucked inside, never to return to this realm again.

The violet orb sustained this for about half a quarter of an hour before the ten cultivators slowly withdrew their energy, their faces showing signs of either paleness or flushed exertion.

In just those few minutes, the ten had expended a tremendous amount of their spiritual power.

Li Yan stood among the crowd, silently impressed.

“To open a secret realm portal requires the combined efforts of ten Core Formation cultivators, and with the stele’s assistance, even they struggle to enter, showing just how difficult the opening truly is.”

“All right, after the two sects’ Core Formation cultivators enter, the remaining Foundation Establishment and Qi Condensation disciples will line up in order, ten per group, taking turns entering between the Grand Profound Sect and the Wraith Sect.”

Peng Buxing’s face was slightly flushed as he spoke. He too had expended a great deal of energy and, during the short break, each took out replenishing pills and swallowed them quickly.

As his words fell, the ten positioned themselves on both sides of the portal once more, jointly forming a peculiar golden seal that ascended into the air. The golden seal manifested as an obscure ancient character.

After the character appeared, it drifted down and stuck above the portal’s entrance, resembling the “Fu” (福) character commonly pasted upside down during New Year celebrations in the mortal world.

“Still waiting? What are you hesitating for?”

Peng Buxing barked sharply and fell silent. The ten struggled mightily to maintain the character’s brilliance, their exhaustion obvious.

The beautiful mistress of Boundless Peak from Wraith Sect, along with two other elders, stepped forward in a single stride and instantly vanished into the black-and-white vortex passage.

Witnessing three Wraith Sect elders vanish, the remaining ten Core Formation disciples of the Grand Profound Sect exchanged glances before swiftly entering the portal one after another like a volley of arrows.

Li Yan stood at the back of the crowd, watching the eerie silence. Apart from a few brief exchanges, neither side uttered a word. It was clear everyone was eager to enter the secret realm as quickly as possible.

Only three Core Formation elders of the Wraith Sect had entered earlier, while the Grand Profound Sect had sent ten, such a disparity in numbers. Didn’t they fear encountering danger inside?

But then he thought again: the portal was on Wraith Sect’s territory. Their sect must have many measures in place. Li Fang couldn’t help but smile wryly at his own needless worry.

Soon, the Foundation Establishment disciples began to take off in waves, alternately entering the portal from both sides.

Even when disciples from both sides met at the entrance, silence prevailed. Still, Li Yan noticed many Foundation Establishment disciples nodding or smiling slightly when they saw the other side.

However, he also spotted at least five or six glaring with hostility at Li Wuyi, their expressions fierce as if ready to tear the eldest senior brother apart.

Li Wuyi, meanwhile, smiled gently at each Grand Profound Daoist who glanced his way, as if they were old friends. When his turn came, he quickly entered the portal and vanished.

Watching this unfold, Li Yan thought to himself,

“It seems Master was right, Senior Brother really has made many enemies. And this is only within the Grand Profound Sect. But Senior Brother is just leading the team on Master’s behalf and isn’t competing, so there won’t be any chance for revenge this time.”

Similar scenes were playing out among Wang Tian, Gan Shi, Baili Yuan, Wei Chituo, and others.

The entry speed was rapid, as the ten Core Formation elders stood vigilantly at the portal, their stern gazes urging everyone to move faster. Maintaining the ancient character at the entrance was clearly taxing.

After all the Foundation Establishment disciples entered, it was finally Li Yan’s group’s turn, also in groups of ten, moving swiftly.

Li Yan was standing too far back, so by the time it was his turn, the process was nearing its end.

When Li Yan and nine others reached the black-and-white portal entrance, he suddenly furrowed his brow. A group of ten Qi Condensation disciples from Grand Profound was also approaching.

As the two groups drew closer, a sudden unease stirred in Li Yan’s heart. This anxiety came from the opposing group of ten. From them, he sensed a familiar yet strange aura.

That aura carried with it a trace of deathly energy, causing a shudder of dread to ripple through him.

Li Yan’s brow tightened and his steps slowed. He carefully studied the approaching group with his eyes, deliberately not releasing his divine sense, knowing that observing quietly would lower their guard.

“The disciple at the back, hurry and catch up!”

Among the ten elders of both sides, a Grand Profound elder noticed Li Yan’s hesitation and frowned with displeasure, urging him on.

Several elders from the Wraith Sect glanced at Li Yan with interest but said nothing.

Behind Li Yan, several Wraith Sect disciples whispered in low tones upon hearing the Core Formation elder’s urging.

“Martial Uncle Li, you should move faster!”

Their disapproval of Li Yan’s hesitation was clear.

The opposing Qi Condensation disciples noticed as well, their cold eyes fixed on Li Yan’s group, but they said nothing.

Li Yan took a deep breath, glanced once more at the waiting ten, then stepped forward decisively and entered the black-and-white portal.

(Chapter End)