Great Red Immortal Sect

Chapter 484 Heavenly Decline and Yin Candle
A thick, brownish-yellow aura surrounded the area like a city, blocking many supernatural powers from reaching the center. They could only wait outside for the aura to dissipate and then scavenge some of the nooks and crannies.

Outside, in a jade-green pavilion, the light of the sun and the earth element resonated with each other, eventually merging into a dazzling golden light that returned to Xu Xuantian's eye.

Zheng Yi Wu Guang was completely refined and completed the Diehui. Now, the power of this spell has suddenly increased again, and there are many new and mysterious hidden contents.

The characteristics of this Earth Spiritual Light are extremely mysterious. Although it is formless and intangible, it is extremely heavy, so that once the spiritual light is released, it has the weight of a thousand mountains collapsing.

Another characteristic is that this Wu Guang is upright and unaffected by deviation. Once activated, it crashes down, and ordinary supernatural powers and spells cannot shake it.

Xu Xuan estimated that with this infusion of spiritual light, the power of the Heavenly Eye had increased significantly, enough to make even a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator wary.

He didn't linger, but took out the Binghuo Xuan Seal. This seal now had a fire and a light. The former was the [Xu Ming Tian Fire], a spiritual fire produced by the Yan Dynasty. For some reason, it was entangled with the clear and turbid spiritual clouds.

The spiritual light behind it was hidden within the seal and did not manifest. At this moment, Xu Xuan activated his divine power, and the Hengyi Dao Beacon within his body also responded, gradually drawing the spiritual light out of the Xuan Seal.

The light was entirely golden-red, filling the space and extending continuously, carrying a majestic and radiant aura that illuminated the entire universe. If Xu Xuan hadn't used his supernatural powers to conceal it, it would have been as if a sun had risen within the pavilion.

"【Liuhe Bingguang】".

Tian Tuo observed carefully and recognized the origin of this spiritual light, which surprised him.

"When the Yan Dynasty unified the world, this light was born from the sun, passed through the Hengyi and fell, illuminating the world and shining upon the six directions."

Xu Xuan took the light and examined it silently. He saw that the light was constantly pulsating and resonating with the [Void Heavenly Fire]. It faintly emitted a few divine lights and pointed towards the core of the cave.

The pure energy within his body surged, as if in response. Within this ray of spiritual light, the scene gradually changed, seemingly revealing past events, causing Xu Xuan to gaze intently.

Before one's eyes was a jade-green pool, within which a grand formation was changing, and the fire of Bing flames surged. A man dressed in a black robe of fire clouds could be seen riding on a cloud of clear and turbid spirits, falling to the ground from the sky.

This person was handsome and tall, with a dragon-like body covered in red scales, and was agile and extraordinary.

He held a crimson sword in his hand and wore a jade pendant at his waist, engraved with the words "Jiangxiao". His aura as a late-stage Purple Mansion cultivator was unmistakable, and his Bing Fire supernatural powers were evident. However, he was somewhat different from Xu Xuan in his interactions, carrying an aura of a majestic emperor.

This person had many remnants of Wu Guang on his body, and was severely injured. His blood spilled into the pool and turned into raging flames.

From the scene illuminated by this spiritual light, half a figure appeared, its face unseen, but a magnificent black-gold robe was faintly visible. The Earth element transformed, and the golden blood on its body fell to the ground, turning into colorful clouds that rose up.

A golden spear thrust out like a dragon, unleashing the solidified power of the Earth element. The Fire element in the Purple Palace was pierced by the spear and lifted into the air.

His face displayed a complex mix of emotions, including astonishment, anger, and doubt. In the end, his physical body was enveloped by layers of primordial light and completely shattered. His supernatural powers dissipated, and a strange phenomenon soared into the sky, with a brilliant golden sun rising in the heavens, surrounded by patches of crimson clouds.

This physical body gradually dissipated, transforming into a ray of spiritual light that swept up a Bing Fire Mystic Seal and fled into the distance. Then, another ray of spiritual fire rose up and disappeared with the clear and turbid clouds.

The radiance swept across, suppressing all the strange phenomena in the Huachi area and restoring everything to normal. The person in question never revealed their face.

This sight startled Xu Xuan, his thoughts racing, and he whispered:

“I observe that the True Man Jiangxiao was killed by the Earth element.”

The whereabouts of the three Purple Mansion disciples are now fairly clear: Ancestor Chiming did not enter the cave heaven and perished amidst the chaos of demons outside, while the other two Purple Mansion disciples entered Kunwei.

The True Man Jiangying was executed in the Netherworld. Judging from his supernatural powers, he was probably at the mid-stage. However, this True Man Jiangxiao was a great cultivator at the late stage of Bing Fire, and he was killed by Wu Earth.

"This person is of the Fu Yi bloodline and cultivates the Bing Huo Zheng Wei technique, which is far superior to the Huo Ya lineage. He is probably seeking a higher position."

Tian Tuo's voice was deep and resonant. His vast knowledge allowed him to discern the true nature of this Crimson Cloud Immortal with just a brief glance. He continued:

"To be able to kill such a Purple Mansion expert, one must be a great master of the Earth element. Golden blood is the symbol of the Shu Kingdom's imperial family."

Xu Xuan's mind was in turmoil. The scene in that ray of spiritual light dissipated. He had thought that the deaths of the cultivators in the cave were the work of the great beings in the underworld, but now it seemed that it was not so simple.

"The ancient Shu dynasty has a history of eight hundred years, which is neither short nor long. It cannot compare to the Zhou dynasty, which has been established for a thousand years. However, the Shu emperors seem to have the means to prolong their lives. There are probably more than one Wutu Zidian in the imperial palace."

He only made a rough estimate, but there was more than one Purple Peak cultivator in an ordinary Golden Core Immortal Sect, let alone the nearly unified Imperial Family.

“Junfeng King is undoubtedly at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm, yet he is on good terms with both Da Chi and Yao Kong, which is not like his usual behavior.”

Xu Xuan was deep in thought when Tian Tuo suddenly cried out, saying:

"We can't figure it out here. We'll only find some clues when the Imperial Palace in the center opens."

These words are indeed true. The outer perimeter has been explored by many Purple Mansions, but the true core is protected by that ray of Wu light, and outsiders are not allowed to enter. They can only wait.

Only by entering the imperial palace can one perhaps find some trace of it.

He immediately got up and walked outside, but the [Six Harmonies Radiant Light] moved on its own, entering his Heavenly Eye and beginning to slowly refine it, giving him a strange feeling.

The situation within the cave is currently complex, and improving his strength is the top priority, so he has no choice but to temporarily put these matters aside.

In the distance, the sounds of supernatural battles echoed, reverberating throughout the area. He looked as far as he could and saw the colorful clouds changing, revealing a vast cloud palace with a plaque hanging high above, bearing the words "Palace of Preserving the Dao." Within, the sounds of Daoist chants resounded, and scriptures emerged.

This palace is magnificent, but it lacks any imperial aura. It is more like a gathering place for immortals. Its entire body is half-hidden in the glow of the sunset. No one had noticed it until a cultivator from the Purple Mansion Realm stumbled into it during a battle, at which point it began to manifest.

In that instant, numerous divine lights soared into the sky, heading straight for this cloud palace. Abandoning all other spiritual objects, Xu Xuan rode the thunder and rushed towards this place.

With almost all the spiritual treasures in the outer regions now exhausted, the appearance of this Cloud Palace is undoubtedly another great opportunity, involving the inheritance of a nation's immortal path, which naturally tempts all cultivators.

Xu Xuan's heart stirred. He hadn't seen any inheritance here before, but now he realized that they must have all been taken into this cloud palace. Without further hesitation, he rode the wind and took off.

A bolt of silver lightning struck, shooting straight into the palace.
-

It is stored in the Dao Palace.

The clouds were misty and the rosy light was dazzling. This precious palace had no physical form, but seemed to be formed from the clouds. Its interior was spacious, like a small secret realm suspended in the sky.

The original restrictions have been mostly broken, and many scriptures have flowed out. Many people from the Purple Mansion have entered to seek inheritance, and there have been battles. Supernatural powers and brilliance permeate this place.

The uppermost barrier remained intact, with clouds gathering to block out many supernatural powers.

Within this single palace, there are over ten cultivators at the Purple Mansion level, half of whom are independent cultivators from overseas. They place great importance on inheritance and engage in fierce battles.

The gates were wide open, and the clouds and mist were ethereal. Xu Xuan stepped inside, his aura not outwardly displayed, but his gaze swept through the room, taking in many scriptures.

He randomly picked up a scroll and glanced at it, only to find that it contained some rudimentary records, but the spells that could be used for Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment were useless for the Purple Mansion.

Occasionally, a few scrolls of scriptures related to the Purple Palace would appear, but they were already surrounded by people vying for them.

The restriction had not yet dissipated, so he first looked at the scriptures beside him. Although most of them were not worthwhile Daoist texts, only involving Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment, some exquisite ones had fallen into the hands of others, causing a struggle for the Purple Mansion.

Xu Xuan did not launch a major attack, occasionally seizing a scripture, but was still gathering his strength, waiting for the restrictions above to be lifted so that the important Daoist treasures could be revealed.

Many Purple Mansions share his views, and most of them are Immortals from outside the country, maintaining a certain degree of restraint. However, Purple Mansions overseas are not so particular; they will fight at the slightest disagreement and are ruthless in their style.

"Take this one."

Tian Tuo spoke, sensing from afar, directing Xu Xuan to look at a white bone covered in incantations. The Crimson Centipede sensed this and, under Xu Xuan's mental control, pounced out and snatched back the bone fragment.

"【Spirit Control Wizardry】."

He glanced at it briefly and felt a surge of joy. This witchcraft manual was of the fifth rank, containing many secrets about controlling beasts and raising Gu, and was far superior to the previous [Wonderful Gu Witchcraft Talk].

Among them is a secret method called "Sensing and Nourishing," which uses one's life force to sense and interact with a spirit beast, mutually benefiting each other. This is the insect-raising technique mentioned by Tian Tuo, and it can be used on the Red Fighting Centipede.

'However, this secret method has requirements regarding fate.' Xu ​​Xuan glanced at it briefly, then put it away for the time being, waiting to discuss the selection of a suitable candidate in detail upon returning to the mountain.

The cloud-like restrictions above slowly dissipated. He was about to make a move when the purple mansions in the palace all stopped fighting and looked up.

As the clouds dispersed, numerous Taoist books were displayed, all of them of the Purple Mansion rank.

Xu Xuan's gaze was like lightning as he quickly looked over. Tian Tuo, sensing this, activated his magic power, pointed to a scroll of blue and yellow Daoist scripture, and said in a deep voice:
"This volume!"

The book was surrounded by yellow mud and flying sand, and there were changes in the aura of spirits. It was called the "Secret Method of the Supreme Evil Divine Embryo". It was the inheritance of the Earth-Nourishing Path. Xu Xuan's heart stirred and he immediately understood the origin of this book.

'The legacy of Qingyang Palace can indeed be found in this grotto-heaven.'

Various supernatural powers rose up, and they all began to vie for it. Xu Xuan went straight for this secret technique, but some Purple Mansions also valued this book and activated their supernatural powers to compete with each other.

Xu Xuan unleashed his divine powers, unleashing rolling lightning and crisscrossing sword light, instantly forcing back the surrounding Purple Mansion cultivators.

He then activated the Snow-Bathing Branch, causing a fierce snowstorm that condensed into a white curtain. The cold air disrupted the flow of magical power among the several Purple Mansion cultivators beside him, causing them to fall behind him.

He instantly retrieved the scripture, glanced at it briefly, but Xu Xuan couldn't make heads or tails of it. He simply tossed it into his dantian. Tian Tuo, however, laughed and said:
"What a secret!"

The voice calmed Xu Xuan down. Since the old demon had said it was good, it must be a treasure. He looked around again, wanting to find other Daoist books.

At this moment, sinister flames rose from the palace gate, and malevolent energy condensed like snakes, enveloping him.

Xu Xuan unleashed a sword strike, dispelling the murderous aura, only to find a man in a crimson Taoist robe appearing before the palace gates.

Above him, a pitch-black spirit urn slowly rotated, emitting a malevolent light and exuding a captivating aura.

As soon as this person appeared, all the cultivators who were still fighting stopped and looked over.

"Fu Chen".

The cultivators present naturally recognized the person before them. This Yin Hui Zhenren was known for his eccentric temperament, fierceness, and unapproachability. Now, he had come with this evil spirit treasure in hand, his eyes filled with murderous intent, and it seemed that a major conflict was about to break out.

Many Purple Mansions had already quietly looked towards the location of the Tribulation-Slaying Sword Immortal, knowing the source of the feud between the two sides, and were subtly moving further away from Xu Xuan.

"come out."

An Xianhui's voice was cold, but his aura changed, becoming more sinister than before. An extremely dense destiny manifested in his body, faintly transforming into the image of Zhuyin.

Xu Xuan drew his sword, and silver lightning surged within it. The Binghuo Xuan Seal at his waist trembled incessantly as if stimulated.

"His destiny has been fully revealed. No wonder he is a Daoist with such a temperament. He is a [Zhuyin], directly inheriting the Ding Fire. Even in ancient times, this would be the highest level of destiny."

There was a hint of apprehension in Tian Tuo's voice, but it quickly turned into a strange laugh:
“This time, by defeating him and banishing him to the mortal realm, your cultivation of the [Extinction of Life] skill will greatly improve.”

Xu Xuan's gaze was deep and focused, subtly confronting the person before him. Golden light surged within his Heavenly Eye as he solemnly declared:

Why force him?

He drew his Dan Ting, his aura changed, and he was not afraid of the fate of the other party. In fact, he also had the fate of the Thunder Palace.

But the man in the crimson Taoist robe stood quietly in front of the door, holding a red candle in his hand. The candle was engraved with sun and moon patterns, and the flame was dim red, barely the size of a bean. All the light in the world was extinguished, and only the candle flame flickered.

The moment this object appeared, everyone in the Purple Palace present changed their expressions, quickly rolled up their scriptures, and fled. In an instant, only Xu Xuan and An Xianhui remained in the once bustling palace.

"Run! Someone's going to die! Fu Chen, have you no shame?"

Tian Tuo's voice revealed an unprecedented level of apprehension. He didn't allow Xu Xuan to make a move and urged him to flee.

Dark red Ding fire spread, and the aura of illness, old age, and decline surged. An Xianhui's gaze sharpened as she looked at Xu Xuan and said in a cold voice:

"I originally intended to have a contest with you, but since you have obtained the [Hengming Xuan Seal] and are unwilling to hand it over, then this is the only way."

He was extremely arrogant. Although he usually acted recklessly, he felt that the weapon in his hand was a bit too much of a bully. Any of the sect's masters could easily burn the person in front of them to death if they came to use it.

He raised the red candle and blew on the dim red flame. Rolling eerie fire surged up, and the entire cloud palace began to collapse and disintegrate. The originally unshakeable restrictions seemed to have vanished.

The true master of Fu Chen spoke in a sinister tone, his dark red eyes revealing:

"If you do not hand over the seal, you may prepare to set off."

His voice seemed to contain a hint of probing. As a descendant of the Hengguang lineage, the fact that the other party valued this spiritual seal so much must be strange, and the sect would never tolerate such a variable.

"What is there to be proud of when one relies on external things?"

Xu Xuan's expression grew serious, but the other party seemed to have heard a joke and laughed freely:
"Are you supposed to give me chances little by little, let me break through, and then have a fair fight? That's ridiculous. So what if I use the sect's resources? Not killing you outright is already an act of mercy from my sect."

Rolling flames rose up, turning the entire cloud palace to ashes in an instant, and the elements of sickness, old age, death, calamity, and self-destruction in the world coalesced into one place.

Xu Xuan swung his sword, unleashing his full power, but he was unable to restrain Ding Huo in the slightest.

The difference in status!

With a single sword strike, the lightning vanished, and the remaining half of the Dan Ting sword melted away under the terrifying Yin Fire, turning into molten iron and lightning that rolled down.

He summoned the Snow-Bathing Branch again, but the snow melted instantly. This magical artifact of the Frost Plum Sect was even unusable. Under the illumination of the Yin Fire, the Divine Glow Pagoda lost all its radiance and power.

The candlelight, in a mere moment, caused the aura of illness, old age, and decline within his physical body to rise, instantly turning the Yuanmu spirit pillar into ashes and dissipating, and even turning his black hair snow-white.

"How about we just hand over that seal?"

When Tian Tuo spoke, Xu Xuan ignored him, his mind racing. This spirit candle was far too terrifying to be dealt with now.

He slowly raised the remaining half of the Dan Ting sword, as if he could feel the mournful cry of the sword spirit within it, and the sword intent of heaven and earth gathered and strengthened it.

An Xianhui's gaze sharpened, thinking that the other party was about to accept the challenge again. He felt a pang of emotion, but in an instant, lightning flashed and the Taoist in front of him had already escaped on lightning, which made him angry.

"Dare you!"

The eerie flames swept across the land once more, turning any palace, temple, immortal peak, or sacred mountain in their path into ashes.

Xu Xuan's face was gloomy. He flew away on lightning, but it was difficult to travel through the void in the cave. The Yin Fire behind him burned closer and closer, giving him a series of warnings.

"What kind of magical artifact is this, possessing such power?"

"【Heavenly Decline Yin Candle】, Ding Fire Spiritual Treasure." Tian Tuo's voice grew solemn. "Not to mention you, even I, in the past, would not have dared to directly confront this candle."

"Retreat immediately, and never dare to get involved, otherwise it will shorten your lifespan."

As soon as Tian Tuo finished speaking, rolling Yin Fire spread from behind Xu Xuan, spreading throughout the world. Its brilliance vanished, leaving only a small, dark red candle flame, which crashed down on his body.

His body's pure energy began to circulate on its own, as if he could see through the red candle and see a dark red flame inside, golden within, like the origin of all fire in the world.

Xu Xuan's mind grew increasingly heavy. He felt the yin fire burning towards him in an instant, and his lifespan was gradually diminishing. Within that dark red flame, there seemed to be a sacred form, like a dragon holding a candle, which could not be illuminated by the sun or moon.

Metal element.

(End of this chapter)