There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 204 The Final Step!

the other side.

Lu Zhao, far away at the Marquis of Dingbo's residence, put down the talisman in his hand, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

“No,” he muttered to himself, a thoughtful look in his eyes, “How could Junior Brother Jiming know so much about the movements of the Liu family in Yujing? He should be in seclusion in the North right now, could it be…”

A guess popped into his head, startling him!
"Someone come here!" Lu Zhao suddenly stood up, his voice urgent. "Immediately send someone to find out where Uncle-Master Jiming is right now! And be quick!"

A few breaths later, the latest news came back. Although Chen Qing's whereabouts had not been found, it had been proven that he had not gone into seclusion.

Connecting the events before and after, Lu Zhao was filled with unease and a sense of foreboding!
"Oh no! If he really goes to Yujing now, especially if he sets his sights on the Liu family, we're in big trouble! No matter how powerful he is, that's only outside Yujing. If he's in the capital and people find out, those powerful beings can suppress him with a single thought! Men, prepare... no, I need to use the teleportation array to find my father!"

With this thought in mind, he hurriedly walked outside, but then he remembered something.

"Yes, let the Chen family of Yujing know first that Chen Xinghen has made rapid progress in the past fifty years and can be of assistance!"

at the same time.

Deep within the Taiyi Palace, in a bronze furnace ten zhang tall and of ancient design, the pure fire of light burns fiercely!
The enlightened master sat cross-legged in front of the furnace, his aura resonating with the furnace fire.

Suddenly, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze reflecting the leaping flames. Then, with a wave of his hand, he caught a communication jade talisman that had flown in silently.

A divine sense swept over the scene, but the Insightful Immortal's face remained expressionless. He simply summoned a disciple and asked indifferently, "So you're the one in charge of duty at the detached courtyard? You said that Liu Yin and Xie Buji have both lost contact? And Liu Yin's behavior has been strange since his return?"

The disciple below bowed his head and reported, "Reporting to Elder Chen, it is indeed so. After Senior Brother Liu Yin returned, his words and actions were somewhat strange. He left in a hurry, and I dared not hide it. Therefore, I reported to Elder Chen of the outer sect. Elder Chen then tried to investigate, but the area that Senior Brother Liu Yin and the others had previously explored was in a state of spatial disorder and could not be reached for the time being."

Master Dongming nodded slightly, as if he had already expected this: "I understand. You don't need to concern yourselves with this matter anymore." He dismissed his disciples, turned to face the bronze furnace that was emitting light, and bowed solemnly: "I would be grateful if you could help me with some calculations."

With a crackling sound, a voice came from deep within the flames: "How do you predict the fate of your two good-for-nothing disciples?"

"No! It's about deducing Li Qing's whereabouts!" Master Dongming said in a deep voice, his expression unchanged. "I suspect that he is no longer in the North, but has come to Yujing."

"Oh?" The voice from the furnace seemed intrigued. "Just because of the information we just received?"

"It doesn't stop there." A wise glint flashed in the eyes of the Insightful Immortal. "In fact, I just received a secret report that the long-abandoned Hidden Star True Lord Shrine in the West City has shown unusual activity today! The clay statue in the shrine is restless, and the accumulated incense and prayer power over countless years almost burst forth!"

The fire in the stove paused slightly.

Dongming continued, "That Li Qing possesses the legacy of the Hidden Star and has been recognized as a master by the Ninth-Rank Merit Lotus. In the Northern Lands, he used bizarre methods to summon the remnant image of the Hidden Star True Monarch and make it his own, unleashing overwhelming ferocity. I believe that the recent disturbance at the True Monarch's Shrine is no accident, but rather a sign that he has infiltrated the Jade Capital, attempting to communicate with the shrine and use its power to carry out his plans!"

"Something's amiss at the Hidden Star True Monarch Shrine?" The voice from the furnace grew more serious. "Since the ascension of Emperor Taiyuan, all parties have tacitly agreed that the fate of this Immortal Dynasty absolutely cannot allow another True Monarch to rise up and divide the world! The former glory of the Hidden Star Sect should have long since vanished!"

"Rest assured, Your Excellency," Master Dongming said confidently. "A great figure has already gone there personally to oversee that dilapidated Taoist temple. At this moment, the clay sculpture has been completely suppressed and can no longer cause any trouble. The slight overflow of mortal willpower will not amount to anything."

As he spoke, he changed the subject again: "However, a storm begins with a ripple. This unusual movement must have a cause. As I just mentioned, it is Li Qing who came to Yujing, trying to communicate with the clay sculpture and hoping to borrow the power of incense offerings!"

As the Master Dongming spoke, he began to reason on his own: "This boy, relying on a bit of luck, has repeatedly taken risky moves, licking blood off the blade, yet he has succeeded time and time again by sheer luck. He has become extremely arrogant and has lost all sense of awe! This time, upon learning that Liu Yin and the others intended to harm him, he brazenly turned the tables and even dared to disguise himself and infiltrate the heart of my Taiyi territory! Such a crazy thing is something that others would not do, but he has done it!"

The voice from the furnace remained silent for a moment before saying, "This is quite interesting. Logically speaking, you have served him for many years, so you should help him with this. However, this child has a peculiar destiny. He is shrouded in the remnants of the Hidden Star Sect's merits, and his heavenly secrets are in chaos. My previous calculations were all like looking at flowers through fog."

Upon hearing this, the Master Dongming stroked his beard and said, "This time is different! If he really dares to disguise himself as Liu Yin, he will be being clever and revealing his own weakness! Please, Your Excellency, first calculate Liu Yin's exact location! Appearances can be imitated, but the soul cannot be deceived!"

"Very well." The voice from the furnace chuckled softly. "Since the real thief hasn't shown any trace yet, it's rather tedious to keep trying to figure out who stole the door. Let's use this self-righteous little thief to pass the time and have some fun."

As soon as he finished speaking, the fire in the furnace suddenly surged!
A blurry figure stepped out of the furnace. This person was dressed in white, with a majestic figure, surrounded by incense smoke, and the sound of sacrificial chants could be heard from the void.

As soon as he appeared, he sat cross-legged in mid-air, his hands forming hand seals.

Sparks flew out of the furnace and merged into its body, spreading out a vast power of deduction and stirring the long river of destiny.

A moment later, the blurry figure paused, uttering a surprised exclamation: "Hmm? Dongmingzi, according to the trajectory of your disciple Liu Yin's life soul, he is currently in the territory belonging to Taiyi Dao Palace, but his exact location is unclear and difficult to pinpoint."

The Master Dongming's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he clapped his hands and sneered, "Just as I thought! He chose the path to hell when there was one to heaven! Thank you for your esteemed presence!"

After saying this, he respectfully bowed and took his leave, then turned and stepped out of the main hall.

Soon, the authoritative voice of the Insightful Immortal resounded throughout every corner of the Taiyi Dao Palace: "Attendants of all halls, listen to my command! Our disciple Liu Yin has been corrupted by evil spirits, lost his mind, and sneaked back to the sect with malicious intent! Anyone who sees him should immediately activate the restrictions without asking for permission and work together to capture him! Remember! Capture him alive!"

The orders were like mountains, passed down layer by layer.

Before long, many of the light and dark restrictions in the Taiyi Palace began to light up slightly, and a murderous aura spread out. An invisible giant net was quietly cast, waiting for the "Liu Yin" who had walked right into the trap to appear.

The Master of Insight stood above the clouds, overlooking the endless palaces, a cold smile of complete control on his face.

"Li Qing, Li Qing, no matter how cunning you are, this time you won't be able to escape! Yujing is not a place where you can run wild!"

"How could it be so easy to infiltrate the heavily guarded Taiyi Palace?"

Chen Qing stepped out of the deep pool, his clothes dry and without a trace of water.

He glanced back at the gradually closing water gate behind him, slightly surprised.

Just now, following the secret method recorded in later generations, he found the ancient bronze mirror hidden in the stone wall at the bottom of the well. He performed the incantation according to the method, and the mirror surface rippled, opening the door by itself without any obstruction.

The secret realm where Chen Qing was at this moment was so rich in spiritual energy that it was almost liquefied. Taking a deep breath, he felt comfortable in every part of his body. It was even better than some blessed lands in the early days of the Immortal Dynasty when the spiritual energy was at its peak!
"Looks like we found the right place."

With a thought, his face and figure shifted like ripples on water, transforming back into the appearance of "Liu Yin," an outer disciple of the Taiyi Sect. Since he had entered the tiger's den, donning a tiger's skin would allow him to maneuver a little longer.

According to the records in the Remnant Scroll Pavilion, the Dao Seed that holds the secrets of the Mysterious Gate of the Female, and even the pseudo-gate itself that Taiyi painstakingly refined, should all be located in the core area of ​​this secret realm. Lost in thought, he hurried along a hidden passageway.

The passageway was deep and dark, the stone walls were cool, and occasionally there were faint flashes of light from the runes, but they were all dim and damaged, obviously due to years of disrepair. Several ingenious mechanisms and traps were also rendered ineffective due to the lack of spiritual energy and were easily bypassed by him. As for guards, there was not even a single one.

"According to the records, this passage was intended as a last resort for people in the secret realm to escape. However, in order to keep it a secret, only the higher-ups of the Taiyi Sect knew about it. Even if it really came to a critical moment, it probably couldn't be widely publicized. So it's understandable that no one guards it." Chen Qing muttered to himself, but quickened his pace.

Even at his pace, it took him quite a while to walk. About half an hour later, a faint light appeared ahead, and he finally saw an ancient stone door.

He raised his hand and pushed the door open.

"Buzz!"

The stone gate opened wide, and a radiant light, accompanied by a surging tide of spiritual energy, rushed towards us!

Looking up and gazing into the distance, Chen Qing's pupils suddenly contracted, and even with his resolute will, he couldn't help but freeze in place.

The sky is high and the land is vast, and the mountains and rivers are magnificent!
Beneath the sea of ​​clouds, peaks rise like a gathering of people, waves surge like fury, palaces stretch endlessly, and celestial music lingers in the air. Nearby, cranes soar through the sky, and exotic beasts roam freely in the wild, ancient forests!
The spiritual energy was so rich that it was almost tangible. Taking a breath made all the acupoints in the body feel joyful and exhilarated, far surpassing the so-called blessed lands and grotto heavens outside!
"What a... paradise on earth!" He exhaled a long breath. "Later generations of fragments only described it lightly with the words 'exquisite arrangement and hidden world,' who would have thought that it would be so magnificent in the long river of history!"

"That place must be at the heart of this realm!"

Having determined the direction, he no longer hesitated, released the flying boat, stepped onto it, and sped away.

A sudden change occurred!

"Buzz!"

The mysterious portal in my heart suddenly trembled violently without warning, then expanded uncontrollably, instantly filling my heart and mind!
A surge of emotion erupted from the depths of his soul, giving rise to an instinctive, almost greedy desire in Chen Qing!

Something here is calling to him frantically, resonating with him!

It's like a wanderer returning home, or a weary bird returning to its nest!

In a daze, Chen Qing seemed to feel himself rising infinitely high, standing tall and upright, with mountains and rivers at his feet, and countless tiny figures looking up at him from all directions!

Something is wrong!
With a quick change of heart, Chen Qing grunted and abruptly shook his head, breaking free from the eerie feeling of being looked down upon.

"Did I just transform into a door that connects heaven and earth?"

Recalling what he had just felt, he seemed to be deep in thought. Then, as if sensing something, he turned his gaze to the east of the secret realm!

A solitary red peak, shaped like a giant bronze furnace, came into view!

That fatal attraction and resonance clearly originated from there!

"The Gate of Taiyi is right there! And its rank is indeed lower than the gate in my heart!"

Suddenly, Chen Qingming realized something. He pondered for a moment, sensing the devouring intent emanating from the portal within his body, and his mind raced!
Finally, he made a tough decision.

"Both sides are the gateways to my heart that I've gained for free. If the situation turns out badly, I'll use the method taught by the Ice Soul Girl to transfer it to my projection and cut it off!"

Once he had this thought, he didn't hesitate any longer. He changed the hand seals, and the flying boat drew a rapid arc of light, heading straight for Mount Tonglu!
"Whoosh whoosh—"

At this moment, from the mountains and forests below, more than a dozen streaks of light shot into the sky, all driven by inner disciples of the Taiyi Sect. They formed a formation and blocked the way.

The young man at the head of the group, with a handsome face, shouted sternly, "Airship ahead, stop immediately! State your names and verify your seals!"

Chen Qing paused, standing at the bow of the boat, wearing the "Liu Yin" appearance, suppressing the boiling agitation within his body, and pretending to be calm, he said: "I am acting on Elder Dongming's secret orders, there is an urgent matter!"

The young disciple's gaze swept across Chen Qing's face, his eyes narrowed, and he said coldly, "Elder Dongming has already given an order that you, Liu Yin, have been corrupted by evil spirits and have lost your mind. He ordered us to capture you on sight! How dare you walk into our trap! Form the formation! Take him down!"

He first gave the order, then instructed both sides: "Send a warning immediately! Liu Yin is here!"

Upon receiving the orders, the other disciples reacted swiftly, their hands flashing with incantations, and streaks of spiritual light intertwined, enveloping the flying boat in a vast, overwhelming display! At the same time, a crimson command arrow whistled as it shot into the sky, exploding with a deafening roar and illuminating the heavens!
Chen Qing's pupils contracted, realizing that his disguise had been exposed and his whereabouts were completely revealed!
"Very well!" He laughed loudly, a sense of exhilaration at breaking free from constraints. "Stealth and concealment are ultimately secondary methods! Since we can't hide anymore, then—"

"boom!"

Chen Qing's aura exploded out without reservation, causing his clothes to billow and rustle even without wind!
"—Fight your way out!"

"Shhhhh-"

Seventy-two yellow and green sword talismans roared out from his sleeves, transforming into a sky full of flowing light. The decaying and degenerate aura instantly spread out, like a flock of crows swooping down to prey, piercing towards the disciples of the Taiyi Dao Palace in all directions!

In the blink of an eye, seven or eight people fell, and the protective auras of many others were on the verge of collapse!

"Form a defensive formation! Join forces to resist!" The leading youth exclaimed in shock, "How could Liu Yin suddenly become so strong?!"

But it was too late!
Using the sword talisman as cover, Chen Qing unleashed seven or eight Silent Dharma Wheels to reap the rewards!
Where the Falun passed, the protective spiritual light of each Taiyi disciple became as fragile as paper, screams filled the air, and they fell down in droves!

"Back quickly!"

Upon seeing this, the young man in the lead paled, his eyes filled with terror: "He's not Liu Yin! This person is either possessed by a demon or an outsider in disguise! We're no match for him!"

"Now that we've been exposed, we can't hesitate any longer!"

Without even looking at the result, Chen Qing reached out and grabbed a piece of flesh and bones. Immediately, the flying boat beneath his feet shone brightly, increasing its speed by three points. Like a shooting star shooting backward, it dragged a long tail of light, smashed through the obstacles, and rushed straight towards the crimson copper furnace mountain!
(End of this chapter)