423: Chapter 423 The Gate of the Five Elements

The dark golden passage stretched out as if without end.

Giant pillars stood silently on both sides, their ancient carvings casting shadows of varying depths under a soft white light coming from an unknown source.

Footsteps echoed in the emptiness, swallowed by the vast space, sounding exceptionally lonely.

The rich Five Elements Spiritual Qi in the air made their hearts feel slightly heavy at this moment.

It was too quiet, too empty; instead, it exuded an indescribable eeriness.

The group walked very slowly.

On one hand, their injuries had not yet healed, and on the other, their vigilance was raised to the highest level.

Ye Tian walked in the middle of the group. The sword had been sheathed, but his left hand rested lightly on the sword hilt.

The wound on his neck had been carefully bandaged by Shui Qingdie, but it still hurt; every swallow felt like swallowing a razor blade.

His face was pale, but his eyes were calm. His gaze swept over the giant pillars and the vault above, his spiritual sense cautiously spreading forward.

The resonance from the two taichu seals and the chaos token in his bosom grew stronger and stronger, like a beating heart, all pointing toward the depths of the passage.

The chaos bead's longing also became clearer, carrying a throbbing sensation that was almost like urging him forward.

"This damn place, why build it so big? Who's supposed to live here?" Xiahou Ba muttered while carrying his axe, breaking the suffocating silence.

He had a loud voice, and his words created echoes in the passage, making him shrink his neck in surprise.

"Ancient ruins cannot be judged by common sense," Yun Wuji said in a low voice, his gaze passing over a giant pillar carved with shifting star maps. "Every brick and pillar here contains Dao rhyme; this is definitely no ordinary palace."

"The distance we have traveled likely exceeds the scale of the palace seen from the outside."

"It's space folding, or the technique of Sumeru in a Mustard Seed."

Dongfang Xinghe joined the conversation. As he walked, he stared unblinkingly at the runes on the pillars, his fingers unconsciously tracing patterns in the air, his eyes filled with a near-fanatical obsession. "Exquisite craftsmanship... no, it's seizing the creation of heaven and earth!"

"If I could comprehend here for ten years... no, even just a few months..."

"Let's worry about getting out alive before talking about comprehension," Pei Tieshan said gloomily. The bandages on half his body were seeping blood again, and his brow furrowed as he walked. "I keep feeling like something is watching us."

These words sent a chill down everyone's spine.

Han Xiao silently pulled the unconscious Ghost Girl closer to him, his other hand resting on his sword case.

Qin Pojun didn't stop, but he gripped his long spear tighter. The spear tip dipped slightly, pointing toward the ground—a starting stance ready to explode at any moment.

"It is indeed too quiet," Yu Miaoqing's voice rang out. She and Feng Xuan guarded the flanks on the left and right. "The Five Elements Unification Hall is the final trial grounds; it can't possibly just be an endless empty corridor."

"The trial... perhaps it has already begun, and we just haven't triggered it yet."

Just as she finished speaking, Qin Pojun, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped.

"There's a door."

Everyone immediately gathered around.

The passage ahead suddenly opened up. It was no longer an endless colonnade but a massive circular hall.

In the center of the hall's vault, a slowly rotating five-colored orb of light floated, emitting a majestic pressure.

Below the orb, five tightly closed stone doors stood, corresponding to the colors gold, green, blue, red, and yellow.

The stone doors were identical in style; aside from the colors, no difference could be seen.

Between the five stone doors and the group, a massive circular Formation diagram was engraved on the floor of the hall.

At the center of the Formation diagram was the light and shadow cast by the five-colored orb.

"The Gates of Five Elements?" Xiahou Ba craned his neck to look. "Which one do we take? Don't tell me we have to split up?"

No one answered.

Everyone's eyes fell upon the Formation diagram.

The Formation lines were slowly lighting up, light flowing through them, until finally, several lines of clear ancient seal script condensed on the ground before them:

"The Five Elements rotate; the Dao Heart is the proof."

"Choose one door to enter; question your original heart."

"Pass and move forward; fail and return to dust."

"Those on the same path may take the trial together, but the tribulations shall multiply."

The characters flickered for a moment before slowly dissipating.

At the same time, the five closed stone doors rumbled and slowly opened a crack inward.

Behind the doors was no longer solid rock, but swirling halos of light corresponding to their respective attributes.

Behind the Gold Gate was a blinding white light; behind the Wood Gate, a lush green light; behind the Water Gate, a deep blue shimmering light; behind the Fire Gate, a crimson flame light; and behind the Earth Gate, a heavy yellow light.

"'Choose one door to enter... question your original heart?'" Shui Qingdie murmured, a trace of worry flashing in her beautiful eyes as she looked at Ye Tian.

Ye Tian had not yet recovered from his heavy injuries; this Heart-Questioning trial sounded exceptionally dangerous.

"'Tribulations shall multiply...'" Qin Pojun pondered the last four words, his brow furrowed. "Does it mean that if multiple people enter the same door, the difficulty of the trial increases according to the number of people?"

"It should be so," Yun Wuji nodded. "It seems this first stage is a screening process."

"It screens not only strength but also Heart-Nature, as well as one's affinity and understanding of the Five Elements Dao."

"Traveling alone, the trial targets the individual. Traveling together, it tests whether the hearts of the group are as one and if they can overcome the tribulation together."

"Damn, sounds mysterious," Xiahou Ba scratched his head. "So how do we choose? Each go our own way, or squeeze into one door together?"

The group fell silent.

Going together meant greater difficulty; 'tribulations shall multiply' was surely no empty threat.

Splitting up, however, might scatter their strength, forcing them to face danger alone in this unknown place.

"I'm following Junior Brother Ye!" Pei Tieshan was the first to shout, standing by Ye Tian's side. "Junior Brother Ye is heavily injured; I'm not comfortable letting him go alone!"

"I'll go with Junior Brother Ye as well," Shui Qingdie spoke almost simultaneously.

She looked at Ye Tian, her eyes full of concern.

Dongfang Xinghe looked at the five doors, then at the runes on the pillars, hesitating. "From the perspective of the Formation, five people entering five doors seems to best fit the meaning of 'Five Elements rotation.' It might trigger some kind of balance or hidden path."

"But... the risks are unknown."

"Splitting up scatters our strength too much," Qin Pojun said deeply. He glanced at the Ghost Girl, who was being supported by Han Xiao. "Lady Ghost Girl is heavily injured and unconscious; someone must look after her. I fear Brother Han cannot manage alone."

Han Xiao nodded silently in agreement.

"Then we go together," Ye Tian suddenly spoke.

"Since it's 'Heart-Questioning,' it likely tests not just individual Heart-Nature, but also the 'heart' between companions.

We have fought side by side to reach this point. If we part ways here, our morale will scatter first. If the tribulations multiply, then let them multiply. We'll charge through together."

His gaze swept over everyone. "However, we must consider which door to enter. I suggest the Fire Gate."

"The Fire Gate?" Everyone looked at the portal swirling with crimson light.

"Junior Brother Ye has the deepest understanding of the fire element; choosing the Fire Gate is indeed the best option."

Yun Wuji first expressed agreement, then looked at Qin Pojun and Xiahou Ba. "Brother Qin's Spear Intent is sharp and subtly aligns with the gold element. Brother Xiahou's Cultivation Technique is heavy and primarily earth-based. If we enter the Fire Gate, our attributes won't be perfectly compatible, so the trial might focus more on Heart-Nature than on cultivation attributes."

"I'm not afraid!" Xiahou Ba pounded his chest loudly. "If it tests Heart-Nature, then let it. Can it hurt more than being hacked by a blade or split by an axe?"

Qin Pojun also nodded. "Charging through together means we can look out for one another. Only..." He looked at the unconscious Ghost Girl. "Lady Ghost Girl is unconscious; how will she pass the Heart-Questioning trial?"

"Bring her," Ye Tian said, looking at the Ghost Girl's pale face. "Since she has come this far with us, she is our companion. The Heart-Questioning trial... perhaps being unconscious is itself a state. Brother Han, I'll have to trouble you to protect her."

Han Xiao silently hoisted the Ghost Girl onto his back, securing her with a cloth belt, and nodded.

With the plan decided, the group no longer hesitated and walked toward the crimson Fire Gate.

The closer they got, the more they could feel the scorching fluctuations coming from within the door. It wasn't simple high heat, but an aura that felt as though it could ignite one's blood and Soul.

"Are you ready?" Qin Pojun stood at the front and looked back at everyone.

"Let's go!" Xiahou Ba growled.