After returning to the village, start chasing the mountain from binding Emei

Chapter 896 Dragon and Phoenix Jade Pendant, Opening the Bronze Gate!
"I was kindly pleading for you, trying to spare your life, but you're like a dog biting Lü Dongbin, ungrateful for a good deed! You deserve to die!"

Huang Long kicked it, still not satisfied. "Chen Yang, take it away. Once we're out of here, this old Taoist priest is going to remove its shrimp vein and taste its shrimp meat..."

Clearly, he also knew that Chen Yang possessed a storage treasure, and that the space inside should be quite large.

Although he, as the patriarch of the Heavenly Dao Sect, possessed similar storage treasures, their space was not large enough to hold such a large item.

Without saying a word, Chen Yang directly collected the mantis shrimp's corpse.

This mantis shrimp is so fierce, its flesh and blood must be incredibly nutritious, and he also wants to taste what it tastes like.

Zhou Mingyuan arrived at the edge of the pool and first used his primordial spirit to scan the bottom of the pool to check if there were any hidden dangers.

Chen Yang also walked over.

The sudden chill made him shiver.

The radar was deployed, probing downwards into the pool.

The situation below quickly came to mind.

The pool is forty or fifty meters deep, and the bottom is slightly larger than the top. There are some pits on the pool wall, but none of them are very deep.

It was empty; there was nothing there.

There wasn't even a slightly larger rock at the bottom of the pool.

Even if it existed in the past, it would probably have been destroyed by that mantis shrimp long ago.

There wasn't a single fish or shrimp in the pond; it was completely empty, with only some aquatic plants at the bottom.

This mantis shrimp is not only single and lives alone, but it's also a homebody; it doesn't even have a female shrimp, which is quite pitiful.

Of course, it's just the nature of the mantis shrimp, so perhaps it doesn't care about these things at all. As for food, beings that have reached the Dao True Realm can actually abstain from grains and rely on directly absorbing external energy to maintain their daily energy consumption and cultivation.

"The owner of this cave is truly remarkable, choosing such a creature to guard it..."

Zhou Mingyuan shook his head as he withdrew his primordial spirit.

If it weren't for the pill Chen Yang gave them, they probably wouldn't know how long they would have been entangled with that mantis shrimp.

Chen Yang said, "The water in this pool hasn't frozen even in such extreme cold, and the shrimp's monstrous physique is probably related to this pool..."

Zhou Mingyuan nodded slightly, about to say something, when Huang Long started shouting behind him.

"Forget about the pool for now, we'll have plenty of time to study it later. Let's examine this bronze door first."

Huang Long rubbed his right foot and limped to the bronze door.

The two ignored the pool and, after confirming that there was no longer any danger inside, turned and walked towards the bronze gate.

The fierce battle with the mantis shrimp had almost completely shattered the ice layer sealing the stone wall, leaving a thick layer of broken ice on the ground.

The bronze gate opens to the left and right, standing over ten feet tall. Each of the two doors has a huge animal-head door knocker, exuding a sense of heaviness that makes those who approach it feel solemn and inexplicably oppressed.

Chen Yang looked up and his gaze immediately froze.

Above the left and right gates, near the center, hung a large, semi-circular bronze lock about the size of a vegetable basket.

The large lock secured the two doors tightly, leaving no gaps in the middle.

The padlock has no keyhole, but there are two indentations on the lock body.

One left and one right.

The shape of the two indentations made Chen Yang's heart skip a beat.

He subconsciously looked towards Huanglong Daoist.

Huanglong Daoist happened to turn around and look at him.

That look in her eyes clearly indicated that she was waiting for Chen Yang to perform.

At this moment, Chen Yang's heart was not at peace.

Chen Yang recognized the dent on the lock all too well.

Dragon and Phoenix Jade Pendant.

One has a dragon pattern, and the other has a phoenix pattern; they are exactly the same as the dragon and phoenix patterns on the Zhenshan Stele.

It was only then that Chen Yang realized what was going on.

Why did Huanglong Daoist specifically ask him to come along instead of asking anyone else?

Firstly, Chen Yang and he weren't that close yet, and secondly, Chen Yang's strength was far inferior to his, so how could he possibly help him?
He kept wondering, surely this Huanglong Taoist wouldn't have invited him here to get something for nothing?

Finding a bargain? Impossible. So that's why.

When he came last time, he must have seen the pattern on the copper door lock. Chen Yang was just a locksmith he had called.

Chen Yang frowned slightly and looked at Huang Long. "How did you know the item was with me?"

Huang Long said, "Before June 29th, I went to Raojiang to ask Ding Huanchun for the antidote to the Immortal Water. The information he gave me indicated that this man's scheming was nothing more than wanting me to cause trouble for you. However, this old Daoist is not so easily manipulated..."

Chen Yang didn't speak, he just stared at him intently.

He believed the first half of the statement, but the truth of the second half was questionable.

Zhou Mingyuan looked at the two of them with suspicion, wondering what kind of riddle they were playing.

Facing Chen Yang's questioning gaze, Huanglong Daoist said, "If I wanted to do something to you, I would have done it long ago. Why wait until today..."

Huang Long is not a good person. Chen Yang was already wary of him and only believed half of what he said.

"How much do you know about this?" Chen Yang asked.

Huang Long made no attempt to hide anything. "According to Ding Huanchun, these two jade pendants, one dragon and one phoenix, were obtained from the tomb of Chen Tianyang, the mountain lord. He and his master, Pang Guanglin, each received one, while the one Ding Huanchun possessed was a dragon-patterned jade..."

"Some historical records of Mount Shu state that these two jade pieces first appeared in the hands of Zhao Quanzhen, the last mountain lord, and were said to contain the secret of the severance of the Heavenly Path..."

“I used to think so too, but when I saw the dragon and phoenix patterns here, I knew things weren’t so simple. The dragon and phoenix jade in your hand may have come from Zhao Quanzhen, but they were definitely not forged by him…”

"He most likely obtained it from Chen Tianyang, and returned it to Chen Tianyang's tomb before his death. What is certain is that Chen Tianyang visited this cave ruin a thousand years ago and obtained something from it..."

……

Therefore, the dragon and phoenix pendants originated from this place.

Is it the key to unlock this portal?

"As for the rumors that these two jade pendants are related to the secrets of the Heavenly Road, whether this is true or not is uncertain."

Huang Long looked at Chen Yang calmly, "Don't worry, just open the door. Don't worry about me taking your things. If I wanted to, I would have taken them from you already. Besides, your senior brother is here..."

Chen Yang took a deep breath.

Indeed, both Huang Long and Zhou Mingyuan were far superior to him in terms of cultivation level. If they wanted to take his things, they wouldn't have needed to wait until they got here.

However, Huang Long, knowing full well that the Dragon and Phoenix Pendants were in his possession, remained unmoved.

Is this still Huanglong?

"Hurry up, while the effects of the medicine on our senior brother haven't worn off yet, he can still take some of the damage if there's any danger inside," Huang Long urged, bringing up Zhou Mingyuan.

Zhou Mingyuan looked at him. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"

He was also puzzled as to why Huang Long insisted on bringing Chen Yang along. Huang Long kept explaining to him that Chen Yang had great fortune, and that bringing him along would make it easier to turn bad luck into good.

Huang Long is the patriarch of the Tiandao Sect in Hong Kong Island. He has profound knowledge in divination and feng shui, and is especially proficient in the art of bone reading and face physiognomy.

Zhou Mingyuan actually believed him when he said that.

Only then did it dawn on them that all this good fortune was simply because Chen Yang had the key on him.

Huang Long chuckled dryly, "I was just afraid my senior brother would misunderstand and think I had ulterior motives."

"You lied to me again?"

Zhou Mingyuan's face darkened instantly. "How many more things are you lying to me about? Could it be that what you said before was also..."

"No!"

Huang Long quickly waved his hand, "Senior brother, everything I said before was true. I have already sworn an oath to my Dao heart. If there is any falsehood, I will surely be punished by heaven and die..."

"you……"

Zhou Mingyuan pointed at him, speechless for a long time.

Now it was Chen Yang's turn to look at the two old men in front of him with a pair of gossipy eyes.

What exactly happened between these two?

Zhou Mingyuan didn't even care about the deep-seated hatred between them, but Huang Long, that old Taoist, actually swore an oath of faith.

Although he didn't know what the so-called oath of faith was, it sounded very serious.

Chen Yang looked at this and that, his eyes brimming with curiosity.

However, after holding back for a long time, Zhou Mingyuan only gave Huang Long a cold snort, "If I find out you dare to lie to me, hmph..."

He swung the hammer directly at the bronze gate.

"Buzz!"

He originally intended to make a commotion and pose a threat to Huanglong, but unexpectedly, when he struck the bronze door, a surge of energy caused him to stumble.

"what?"

Zhou Mingyuan paused for a moment and looked towards the bronze door.

This bronze gate was clearly protected by some kind of powerful restriction placed upon it by a master.

Fortunately, I didn't use my full strength in that hammer blow, otherwise I would have been injured by the rebound force.

Ugh!
Chen Yang sighed inwardly, feeling somewhat disappointed.

I thought this would finally settle the matter between the two of them, but it ended up being left unresolved.

"The celestial abode is not something that we mortals can force open."

Huanglong Daoist shook his head. "Chen Yang, stop standing there. Take out the item and open the door. When we find the treasure, you'll definitely get your share..."

“As you said, Chen Tianyang should have been inside this cave, and maybe Zhao Quanzhen was too. What do you think they might have left us?” Chen Yang asked.

Huang Long said, "They are all experts at the Celestial Realm, their vision is far beyond ours. Even a little bit of something that slips through their fingers is enough for us to enjoy. Even if they went in, it doesn't mean they could have emptied the place out..."

In any case, we'll only know what's going on inside once we go in.

While the effects of the drug on Zhou Mingyuan are still wearing off, opening the door now will allow him to carry the team forward should any danger arise inside.

Since we're already here, it would be a shame not to go in and take a look.

Chen Yang went to the door, took out the dragon-shaped jade pendant, and pressed it into the dragon pattern groove on the left side of the door lock.

Click!

Size and shape fit perfectly.

Then, he took out the phoenix-shaped jade pendant and placed it in the phoenix-patterned groove on the right side of the door lock.

There was a click.

Pressed it in.

It fits perfectly.

"Buzz!"

Suddenly, a burst of energy was released from the lock, and a visible energy fluctuation instantly spread throughout the entire bronze gate.

Chen Yang felt a wave of heat wash over him and instinctively took a few steps back.

The thin layer of ice that had just formed on the bronze gate melted rapidly.

"Kakaka..."

A series of mechanical sounds came from inside the gate, like a rusty old machine suddenly being started.

"Buzz!"

The door suddenly shook.

The large lock split in two, the connecting mechanism dislodged, and a crack extended into the stone door.

opened!
"boom!"

The bronze gate shook violently again, and the sound of the mechanism moving stopped abruptly.

The scene instantly fell silent, with only chunks of ice continuously falling from the ice wall.

The lock is open!
Chen Yang immediately stepped forward, removed the dragon and phoenix pendants embedded in the lock, and stored them directly in the system warehouse.

Even if someone wanted to steal something from the system's warehouse, they couldn't.

The door lock has been split in two, and the restrictions on the door should have been removed as well.

Chen Yang casually pushed the door in front of him. The door was heavy, and it only shook slightly.

The coldness of the bronze door made his palms sting.

He quickly withdrew his hand, circulating his true energy to dispel the chill.

"Get away from here!"

Zhou Mingyuan stepped forward, followed closely by Huang Long. The two of them, one on the left and one on the right, each pressed a door and pushed it open forcefully.

Chen Yang hid to the side; the situation inside was unclear, and he wasn't stupid enough to stand at the door.

"Rumble..."

The heavy door was quickly pushed open by the two of them.

A blast of cold air rushed out, and the two old men's faces were covered in a layer of frost almost instantly.

Even though Chen Yang was far away, he couldn't help but shudder.

The two stood on either side of the doorway, staring blankly into the open doorway.

Chen Yang thought the two were frozen, so he went over and peeked inside.

Contrary to his expectations, behind the bronze gate was another passage frozen in ice.

The passage was at least ten feet wide and three feet high, quite spacious, surrounded by thick ice, all white to the eye. The light inside was fairly good, but at a glance, the end of the passage could not be seen at all.

"Let's go."

Huang Long was the first to come to his senses and started walking inside.

Zhou Mingyuan turned to look at Chen Yang, "Stay close to me, don't wander off."

Chen Yang nodded and followed Zhou Mingyuan into the passage.

The bone-chilling cold made Chen Yang feel that every breath was an inhuman experience. Despite using his true energy to ward off the cold, he still shivered from time to time.

Zhou Mingyuan said, "Extreme cold energy also has a miraculous effect on body tempering. You don't need to resist it blindly. You can try to guide this energy into your body and use your physical strength to withstand it. Only use your true essence to resist it when you can't withstand it anymore..."

Body tempering?
Upon hearing this, Chen Yang didn't dare to try it too much. He simply reduced the amount of true energy he used, allowing some of the cold energy to enter his body.

"hiss!"

That feeling was like being stripped naked and thrown into the snow in the dead of winter, the cold penetrating to the bone.

The temperature here was probably below zero. Chen Yang shivered violently, and goosebumps instantly rose all over his body.

In just a moment, I felt numb all over, the cold seeping into my body. In the microscopic world within my body, bodily fluids began to crystallize. Cells were punctured, and the flow of blood melted these ice crystals. The damaged cells were rapidly repaired, only to begin crystallizing again...

This process repeats itself, with the cold air washing over the cells again and again, causing them to be damaged and repaired repeatedly, making them noticeably more and more resilient.

This feeling is really quite uncomfortable.

It was even more painful than directly absorbing the power of the sun to temper his body.

He followed behind Zhou Mingyuan, using a small amount of true energy. He quickly found a balance point that he could bear and slowly adapted, finally feeling a little better.

"Old Zhou, why is it so cold in here? Is this a place for a human to stay?"

When Chen Yang spoke, his tongue was so frozen that it was almost tied in knots.

Zhou Mingyuan said, "This cave either contains some kind of supreme treasure with ice attributes, or it should be set up with some kind of formation that gathers cold energy, or perhaps both. Jinjia Mountain is high in altitude and covered with snow all year round, so it is extremely cold. This place can be said to be uniquely blessed. That bronze door has probably not been opened for a long time. The cold energy gathered in this cave is naturally terrifying..."

"That giant shrimp in the pool outside must have been tempered by the cold for a long time to become so powerful. The owner of this cave is extraordinary; the methods of a Celestial Realm cultivator are beyond our comprehension..."

"I don't think there's any danger in here. Chen Tianyang has been here, and Zhao Quanzhen has probably been here too. Even if there was any danger, they should have dealt with it by now..."

Chen Yang rubbed his face, thinking that he should have brought the tourmaline toad with him; it would probably have loved this extremely cold place.

"Don't be careless."

Zhou Mingyuan shook his head. "Sometimes, the safer something looks, the more dangerous it actually is. If there are any living creatures in there, they're bound to be strong. That mantis shrimp is a prime example..."

As they were talking, they had walked about a hundred meters when the passage ahead suddenly ended.

Before the three of them lay a precipice, below which lay a bottomless abyss, so dark that its depth was impossible to discern.

Their primordial spirits were suppressed to the extreme, and none of the three could reach the bottom of the cliff; only a chilling aura seeped upwards.

Looking out, on the ice wall forty or fifty meters away from the cliff, there is a platform covered with icicles, and several cave entrances can be seen on the platform.

The three looked around and saw traces of a suspension bridge, but it must have been damaged a long time ago. There was only an iron stake nailed to the ice wall and a few short iron chains, frozen to the cliff face.

I measured the distance with my eyes and it was only forty or fifty meters.

At that distance, let alone Zhou Mingyuan and the others, even Chen Yang could easily jump across with a little effort.

But I'm afraid something might happen in the middle.

If I fall off the cliff, who knows if I'll be smashed to pieces?

None of the three dared to take the risk.

Zhou Mingyuan looked at Huanglong and said, "Give me the gold thread."

Upon hearing this, Huang Long didn't hesitate and immediately took out a ball of golden thread, which was the same golden thread he had used to bind the mantis shrimp earlier.

Zhou Mingyuan took out a golden thread and wrapped one end around the flying sword.

Swish!
He summoned a flying sword, which trailed golden threads as it flew directly towards the other side.

"Keng!"

The flying sword plunged deep into the ice wall opposite.

Zhou Mingyuan tugged at the gold thread to test its strength before tying the other end to an iron stake on the edge of the cliff.

"I'll go first, Xiao Yang, then you go second, Huang Long, you bring up the rear."

Seemingly fearing that Huang Long would abandon him after using him, Zhou Mingyuan gave an order and gave Chen Yang a wink, clearly telling Chen Yang to be wary of Huang Long.

(End of this chapter)