The realm's core region looked entirely different from the periphery. This wasn't the imagined lofty mountains or deep valleys, but rather a vast, circular plaza paved with some kind of white jade. The plaza floor was covered with dense, already-dim ancient runes. At the center stood a tall altar. The (treasure light bursting to the sky) and radiant halo originated precisely from the altar's apex.
At this moment, several hundred cultivators had gathered at the plaza's edge and along the altar's stairs. Shadows of figures moved about, auras mixed together. From different sects, aristocratic families, and independent cultivators, everyone maintained wary distances while their gazes remained fixed on the altar's apex. The air was filled with an oppressive, volatile tension.
Xiaoqi brought Li Mo and Wang Zhong, arriving quietly and blending into the crowd's edge. His gaze swept across, seeing many familiar and unfamiliar faces. Yan Feng, Shui Wu Hen, and the still-pale Liu Xu stood together, surrounded by a dozen or so disciples who had apparently regrouped with them from the Scorching Sun Sect and Bibo Pool, their momentum considerable. Further away, Mu Xue stood alone atop a broken stone pillar, her moon-white Taoist robes fluttering in the wind. Her cold gaze also fell upon the altar's apex, as if detached from worldly matters, yet none dared ignore her.
He also saw Zhao Tiezhu! That sturdy body cultivator was with his several independent cultivator companions, squeezed into another section of the crowd, waving his stone staff, seemingly confronting a group nearby. His loud voice drifted over: "...First come, first served, understand!" It seemed they had just arrived and hadn't grasped the situation yet, but had already started bickering with someone. Xiaoqi's heart eased slightly. At least Zhao Tiezhu was unharmed.
At the altar's apex, the treasure light gradually retreated, revealing what lay within. Not the imagined divine weapons or radiance-emitting spiritual fruits, but rather a skeleton seated in meditation!
The skeleton was jade-like throughout, radiating a warm luster. Having sat in this place for countless ages, it still maintained complete form, even faintly emanating a terrifying authority and Dao rhythm. Clearly, this skeleton, in life, must have been a being of tremendous cultivation!
What was even more eye-catching was that before the skeleton, not with hands forming seals or resting on knees, but suspended in mid-air—floated a jade slip roughly palm-sized, its entire body flowing with golden light! The jade slip rotated slowly, emanating mysterious fluctuations. That bursting treasure light and enticing Dao (rhythm), the source was precisely this golden jade slip!
"A legacy jade slip!" someone cried out involuntarily.
"It's the life-long learning of this ancient cultivator!"
"Let's grab it!"
After a brief (deathly silence), came utter madness! Compared to possibly unusable divine weapons or spiritual medicines, the legacy jade slip left by an ancient cultivator was simply priceless beyond measure! Obtaining it might mean obtaining a direct path to the Great Dao!
"Whoosh!"
The cultivators closest to the altar couldn't restrain themselves first. Like sharks scenting blood, they charged toward the altar stairs, eyes red with madness!
"Stop them!"
"The jade slip is mine!"
Chaos erupted instantly! Sword qi, Daoist techniques, talisman flashes (flickering madly) across the altar stairs and plaza. Roars, screams, and explosions rang without end. Blood instantly dyed the white jade ground red. Limbs and torsos flew in all directions. For that jade slip, everyone descended into madness. The fragile balance just maintained was completely torn apart.
Yan Feng led the Scorching Sun Sect disciples, like a red-hot blade cutting through, flames raging, forcibly carving a bloody path toward the altar apex. Shui Wu Hen directed Bibo Pool disciples to (deploy) water-element Daoist techniques, either trapping enemies or providing support, coordinating with Yan Feng's assault.
Mu Xue still hadn't moved. She merely (quietly watching) the chaos below, as if waiting for something.
Zhao Tiezhu's side also started fighting. His robust body cultivatorphysique and powerful stone staff gave him distinct advantages in such melee. With his several independent cultivator companions, he charged left and right. Though unable to advance as quickly as Yan Feng, he steadily held a region, slowly moving toward the altar.
Xiaoqi didn't immediately join the melee. He calmly observed the situation. The competition on the altar stairs was most brutal. Every step upward required blood sacrifice. Charging directly up, even with his strength, would inevitably drain him greatly and make him a target.
He was waiting for an opportunity.
The chaos continued. People constantly fell, while others broke through, getting closer to the apex. Yan Feng had already reached the altar's middle section, drenched in blood, looking insane. Shui Wu Hen was right behind him. Several formidable independent cultivators and other sect disciples also used various means, struggling upward.
Just as an independent cultivator seemed about to touch that golden jade slip, a wild joy appearing on his face—
"Ptooey!"
A (sharp) sword light flashed. That cultivator's head soared into the air, blood spraying onto the jade-like skeleton. The attacker was another celestial talent from a certain sword sect.
However, before that sword cultivator could approach, Yan Feng's flaming palm technique had already arrived!
The competition entered (white-hot) stage. The altar apex became nearly a meat grinder.
Now!
Xiaoqi's eyes flashed with sharp light! The Swimming Dragon Nine Turns movement technique, which he had been (ready to launch), suddenly activated to its extreme!
He didn't take the crowded, blood-soaked stairs. Instead, his form flickered, like a ghost circling to the altar's (flank)! That side was steep and sheer, almost no one chose to climb from there.
" (Hidden Dragon Emerges from the Abyss)!"
He lowly shouted. His form seemed to transform into twisted green smoke, feet tapping continuously on the steep altar wall. Speed so fast it left phantom images. At an almost vertical angle, defying gravity, he rocketed toward the altar apex!
This unexpected scene instantly attracted many people's attention below!
"Stop him!"
"It's that kid with the wok!"
Yan Feng also saw Xiaoqi, eyes nearly bursting from their sockets, roaring to intercept, but was firmly entangled by enemies beside him.
Shui Wu Hen tried to (deploy) water-type binding techniques, but that green-smoke figure was too agile, avoiding all obstacles at the narrowest moments.
Mu Xue's cold eyes finally flashed with a trace of fluctuation, seemingly somewhat surprised by Xiaoqi's choice of such a steep path and the extreme movement technique he displayed.
It happened in a flash. Just as those at the altar apex were about to (fight bloody) for the jade slip again, Xiaoqi's form rose like a hawk, arcing beautifully, and precisely landed before that ancient cultivator's skeleton!
He ignored attacks of (shock and fury) from several cultivators beside him. His eyes held only that suspended golden jade slip!
"Time to take it!"
A cultivator nearest sneered, reaching for the jade slip.
But Xiaoqi was faster! It was as if he had calculated everything in advance. The moment he landed, his body used the momentum to spin nimbly. His right hand shot out like lightning. Under countless gazes of shock, anger, and unwillingness, he preemptively, steadily grasped that flowing golden jade slip in his hand!
The jade slip felt warm upon touch. A massive information stream and mysterious Dao (rhythm) instantly tried to surge into his sea of consciousness!
"Seek death!"
"Put down the jade slip!"
Almost the instant Xiaoqi obtained the jade slip, several violent attacks from different directions came at him! Sword qi, blade force, technique lights completely sealed all space around him!
Crisis, at the moment of success, truly descended!