290: Chapter 289 The realm of divine connection

A hint of surprise flashed in Princess Yueli's eyes. She looked Jiang Hanzhou up and down, her gaze lingering for a moment on the tiger soul saber in front of his knees before she nodded: "I see. I am Yueli, a princess of the Ancient Kingdom of Yellow Sands."

She paused, her voice tinged with bitterness: "My royal father was bewitched by the Sect Leader of the Poison Sand Cult. He believes the teleportation array in the Ancient Buddha Temple will bring calamity and release ancient demons to destroy the Western Desert. He doesn't realize that the Poison Sand Cult are actually the lackeys of the Dragon Slaying True Person, seeking to seize the array's core to help him complete his scheme. I've tried to advise my father countless times, but he simply won't listen."

Jiang Hanzhou's brow furrowed slightly: "The Ancient Kingdom of Yellow Sands is in contact with the Poison Sand Cult?"

"It's not contact; it's control." Princess Yueli shook her head, a flash of anger in her pale gold eyes. "The Sect Leader of the Poison Sand Cult used Gu techniques to secretly control several high-ranking officials of the Ancient Kingdom of Yellow Sands, using them to influence my father's decisions. My father doesn't know the truth; he thinks those ministers' suggestions are for the benefit of the Ancient Kingdom of Yellow Sands, unaware that their minds have been enslaved by Gu insects."

She took a deep breath and continued: "Since childhood, I have followed the Imperial Preceptor to learn Wu-Wu Techniques. The Imperial Preceptor was the last Shaman of the Ancient Kingdom of Yellow Sands; he knew of the Dragon Slaying True Person's conspiracy and the truth about the teleportation array. Before he died, he told me that the core of the Western Desert's teleportation array is on the third level of the Ancient Buddha Temple. Only the royal Bloodline of the Ancient Kingdom of Yellow Sands can activate the key to open the third level's Restriction."

Jiang Hanzhou took out the ice-blue rune of the Northern Border's teleportation array from his sumeru pouch and held it in his palm: "I have already found the core of the Northern Border's array. For the Western Desert's core, I need to enter the third level of the Ancient Buddha Temple. Princess, do you know how to enter the third level?"

Princess Yueli looked at the ice-blue rune, a sharp light glinting in her eyes. She drew a fist-sized golden Buddhist bead from her robes and held it in her palm. The bead was a dark gold color, its surface engraved with dense Sanskrit characters that flickered slightly in the candlelight, emitting a faint golden glow. Within the bead, a wisp of golden light could be seen slowly circulating—the power of an ancient Esoteric Sect high monk's sarira.

"This is the key to opening the third level's Restriction," she said calmly. "The Ancient Kingdom of Yellow Sands has guarded it for generations; only those of the royal Bloodline can activate it. The Imperial Preceptor gave it to me before he passed, telling me to use it at the critical moment."

Jiang Hanzhou looked at the golden Buddhist bead in her hand, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke: "Princess, the pursuers from both the Poison Sand Cult and the Ancient Kingdom of Yellow Sands are looking for you. It's too dangerous for you to go to the Ancient Buddha Temple alone."

Princess Yueli looked up at him, her pale gold eyes full of determination: "I know it's dangerous. But if I don't go, the Western Desert will be consumed by the dao seed. Young Master Jiang, you have also come for the teleportation array core; we can join forces. I will take you to the third level, and you will help me hold off the Poison Sand Cult's people."

Jiang Hanzhou looked at her and remained silent for three breaths. Then, he nodded: "Fine."

A faint smile touched the corner of Princess Yueli's mouth—her first since entering the inn. She tucked the golden Buddhist bead back into her robes, stood up, walked to the window, and lifted a corner of the curtain to look outside.

Outside, on the streets of Yellow Sand City, several warriors clad in golden armor were patrolling. Their gazes scanned the surroundings as if searching for someone.

"Young Master Jiang," Princess Yueli dropped the curtain and turned around, "my people are waiting outside the city to support us. Tonight at the hour of Zi, we will leave the city through the West Gate and head for the Ancient Buddha Temple."

Jiang Hanzhou nodded: "Alright. You should rest here during the day and recover from your injuries. I will go prepare supplies; we depart tonight."

He stood up, slung the tiger soul saber over his back, and walked toward the door.

As he reached the door, Princess Yueli's voice came from behind him: "Young Master Jiang, aren't you afraid I'm a spy for the Poison Sand Cult? Aren't you afraid I'm setting a trap for you?"

Jiang Hanzhou stopped but did not turn his head: "If you wanted to harm me, you wouldn't have gambled with your own life. The toxin on that needle was the Poison Sand Cult's unique Heart-Devouring Poison; without an antidote within half an hour, even an immortal couldn't save you. You risked sneaking into the market just to lure the Poison Sand Cult's people out and test their strength. Am I right?"

Princess Yueli fell silent. She looked at Jiang Hanzhou's back, a complex expression flashing through her eyes.

Jiang Hanzhou did not wait for her answer; he pushed open the door and walked out of the room.

The door closed softly behind him.

Inside the room, Princess Yueli sat on the wooden bed, looking down at the bandaged wound on her left shoulder, silent for a long time.

Then, she whispered: "Jiang Hanzhou, you truly are no ordinary person."

Outside, the twilight over Yellow Sand City deepened.

On the streets, the golden-armored warriors were still patrolling.

On the distant horizon, the pagoda of the Ancient Buddha Temple reflected the golden light of the setting sun, appearing like both a summons and a warning.

After three days of rest, Princess Yueli's injuries were completely healed.

During these three days, Jiang Hanzhou did not leave the inn. During the day, he would Cultivate in his room, further integrating the Qi of the Western Desert's sands into his Tidal True Intent, adding a layer of sandstorm-like fury to his Mystic Ice Tidal Slash beyond its icy coldness. At night, he would discuss the route to the Ancient Buddha Temple with Princess Yueli, choosing a hidden path across the edge of the sea of sand to avoid Poison Sand Cult outposts and the Ancient Kingdom of Yellow Sands' patrols.

Princess Yueli knew the terrain of the Western Desert like the back of her hand. Having grown up in Yellow Sand City and followed the Imperial Preceptor across every corner of the desert, she knew which sand gullies could provide cover, which stretches of Gobi had water sources, and which sand dunes held the watchtowers of the Ancient Kingdom of Yellow Sands. She used cinnabar to mark a winding route on the map: starting from the West Gate of Yellow Sand City, heading sixty li to the south-southwest, crossing a dry riverbed, and then traversing three sand dunes to bypass all patrols and reach the Ancient Buddha Temple directly.

"Few people take this path," she said, her finger tracing the map, "because there are sandworms in that dry riverbed, and ordinary people dare not approach. But sandworms fear fire; your Heavenly Fire True Intent is their perfect counter."

Jiang Hanzhou nodded, committing the route on the map to memory.

On the third night, the two quietly left the inn. Jiang Hanzhou had changed into dark grey night-traveling clothes, with the tiger soul saber on his back and a water skin and food pouch hanging from his waist. Princess Yueli had changed into tight-fitting leather armor, her white dress stored in her sumeru pouch and her jade sword hanging at her hip. Her jet-black hair was tied into a high ponytail, giving her a valiant and spirited appearance.

The two slipped out the back door of the inn and wound through alleys to the West Gate. There were fewer than half the usual guards at the gate; only two soldiers were on duty. One was leaning against the city wall dozing, while the other paced back and forth listlessly. Jiang Hanzhou activated the Breath Concealment Method, drawing his presence in to the extreme. Then, his figure flashed as he silently crept behind the pacing soldier and struck his neck with his palm. The soldier's body went limp, and he collapsed unconscious. Before the other dozing soldier could react, he too was knocked out by Jiang Hanzhou.

Princess Yueli stepped out from the shadows, glanced at the two soldiers, and then pushed open the West Gate. The two slipped through and vanished into the night.

The night in the Western Desert was bone-chillingly cold, a stark contrast to the daytime heat. Moonlight spilled over the sand dunes, dyeing the yellow sand silver-white. Wind blew from the depths of the sea of sand, carrying grit and a chill that cut the face like a blade. Jiang Hanzhou led the way, his Wave-Treading Step leaving a trail of shallow footprints on the sand. Princess Yueli followed behind him, her steps light and nearly silent upon the desert floor.

The two followed their planned route, traveling south-southwest.

In the darkness, the dry riverbed looked like a giant scar stretching across the sea of sand. The riverbed was about ten zhang wide, flanked by steep sandy walls and covered with gravel and dried plant roots. The moment Jiang Hanzhou stepped into the riverbed, he sensed an obscure, foul-smelling aura beneath the sand. Those were sandworms—massive, earthworm-like creatures covered in hard carapaces and filled with rows of sharp teeth. They tunneled through the sand, sensing vibrations on the surface; once they detected prey passing by, they would burst out of the ground to drag it under.

He activated his Heavenly Fire True Intent, and a wisp of red-gold flame surged from his palm, heating the surrounding sand until it was scorching. Sharp hisses rose from beneath the ground as the sandworms sensed the aura of the fire and quickly fled, not daring to approach.

Princess Yueli watched his back, a hint of surprise in her eyes. She had seen many Cultivators who could manipulate fire, but never one who could control the Heavenly Fire True Intent with such exquisite precision. That wisp of flame was neither too intense nor too dry—just enough to ward off the sandworms without scorching the gravel or roots in the riverbed. His control of the intensity was perfect.

They crossed the dry riverbed and traversed three sand dunes, finally sighting the Ancient Buddha Temple at dawn.

Most of the Ancient Buddha Temple was buried by sand, with only half a pagoda and a dilapidated main hall exposed. The pagoda was octagonal, built entirely of dark yellow giant stones, its body covered in cracks where dried weeds grew. A massive treasure pearl should have sat atop the pagoda, but now only an empty indentation remained, the pearl long gone. The main hall was built behind the pagoda; most of its roof had collapsed, and on the remaining walls, mottled murals were faintly visible, depicting scenes of the Buddha preaching, though the colors had faded to mere outlines.

The entire temple was surrounded by a layer of faint Buddhist light. This light was pale gold, like a morning mist enveloping the temple. The Buddhist light was completely at odds with the sandy aura of the Western Desert, appearing exceptionally striking in this dead sea of sand. Jiang Hanzhou stood atop a sand dune, looking at the light; the Golden Sharpness True Intent within his body vibrated slightly, creating a faint resonance with a certain power contained within the Buddhist light.

"That is the Ancient Buddha Temple," Princess Yueli said in a low voice as she walked to his side. "The Imperial Preceptor said that high monks of the ancient Esoteric Sect reached Nirvana here, leaving behind the power of sariras, which is why the Buddhist light has not dissipated for a thousand years. The Poison Sand Cult discovered this place long ago, but they cannot break the Restriction at the hall's entrance, so they can only stand guard outside."

Jiang Hanzhou's gaze moved from the pagoda to the main hall. At the hall's entrance, over a dozen Poison Sand Cult Disciples dressed in earth-yellow robes were patrolling. Curved sabers hung at their waists, and they held Gu tools—some shaped like gourds, others like bone flutes or bronze bells. Their faces were veiled with yellow cloth, revealing only dark yellow eyes that glinted with vigilance.

On the stone steps of the hall's entrance, an old man in dark red robes stood with his hands behind his back. The old man's face was gaunt and covered in dense black patterns that crawled slowly beneath his skin like living things.

In his hand, he held a pitch-black staff topped with a fist-sized dark yellow orb, within which countless fine grains of sand could be seen slowly circulating.

He was surrounded by a thick layer of poisonous mist mixed with fine sand, the grains swirling in the air with a rustling sound.

An Altar Master of the Poison Sand Cult. A Wu-cultivator of the Spirit Communication Realm, equivalent to the Early Stage of the Dragon-Elephant Intersection Realm in the Eastern Sea.

Jiang Hanzhou's pupils constricted slightly. He sensed an aura from the old man similar to that of Master Kurong—cold, sickly sweet, and smelling of decay.

Moreover, he sensed a fluctuation of power within the old man that shared the same source as the dao seed, a fluctuation more mature and concentrated than the one in Master Kurong.

It was a mature dao seed, only one step away from being harvested.

A trusted aide sent by Wei Wuya, specifically tasked with guarding the core of the Western Desert's teleportation array.

"The Poison Sand Cult arrived early." Princess Yueli's voice was grave as she raised her right hand and pointed at the stone steps of the hall. "Look there; those flickering runes on the steps are the ancient Restriction. They were left by the Innate One Qi Sect and are based on Esoteric Sect Buddhist Dharma; ordinary means cannot break them. The buddha bone jade pendant in my hand is a sacred relic passed down through generations of the Ancient Kingdom of Yellow Sands. It contains the sarira power of an ancient Esoteric Sect high monk and can dissolve the Restriction."

She took out a palm-sized jade pendant from her robes. The pendant was dark yellow, its surface engraved with dense Sanskrit characters that flickered slightly in the moonlight, emitting a faint golden light. In the center of the jade, a wisp of golden light circulated slowly—the power of the Buddha bone sarira.

Jiang Hanzhou looked at the Poison Sand Cult Disciples at the hall's entrance, quickly estimating their numbers and strength. Twelve outer Disciples, with cultivation between the Early and Middle Stages of the Soul Condensation Realm. Combined with that Spirit Communication Realm Altar Master, their overall strength far exceeded his and Princess Yueli's. Charging in would offer almost no chance of victory.

However, he had the advantage of stealth. His Breath Concealment Method could perfectly hide his presence, his Heart Blade could silently erase Divine Souls, and his Dao-Slaying Blade Intent could counter the dao seed. As long as he seized the right moment to clear the outer Disciples first and then focused all his strength on the Altar Master, victory was not impossible.

"Princess Yueli," he whispered, "stay here. Once I've cleared the outer Disciples, you can approach the hall. Breaking the Restriction will take time; I will hold off the Altar Master."

Princess Yueli nodded, gripping the jade sword at her waist.

Jiang Hanzhou took a deep breath and activated the Breath Concealment Method, drawing his aura in to the absolute limit. His heartbeat slowed, his breathing became shallow, and his body temperature dropped until he was like a cold stone, with not a trace of life leaking out.

His figure flashed as he slid down from the top of the sand dune, moving across the sand toward the Ancient Buddha Temple without a sound.

His speed was fast yet light, his Wave-Treading Step leaving almost no footprints on the sand. Within a few breaths, he had circled behind the Poison Sand Cult Disciples and hidden behind a stone pillar on the side of the hall. The pillar was about two feet thick, enough to conceal his frame.

He peered out from behind the pillar at the patrolling Poison Sand Cult Disciples.

Twelve people, divided into three groups of four, patrolling back and forth at the hall's entrance. The distance between each group was less than ten zhang; if anything happened to one group, the other two would notice immediately.

He had no time to hesitate.

The Heart Blade slowly condensed within his Sea of Consciousness. That blade, forged with the heart as the furnace, the spirit as the fire, and the dragon soul as the bone, now hovered above the lake of divine soul. The dark golden patterns on the blade flowed slowly, and the dark golden halo at the edge of the blade flickered slightly.

He locked onto the two outermost Disciples and struck silently with the Heart Blade.