475: Humane Immortal Palace

Xu Qing's Dao thought swept across the city's most prosperous "Drunken Immortal Pavilion."

There, music and dancing filled the air, and Fairies offered wine, yet every guest wore a military token at his waist; passing by "Enlightenment Cliff," he saw young Cultivators sparring and debating the Dao, but all they practiced were one-strike-kill battlefield Martial Skills; even the children hawking wares on the street were playing with miniature battle formation models.

Zhan Tian Old Ancestor's voice suddenly rang out: "It's beautiful, isn't it? But you must know..."

He pointed to a suddenly dimmed Starry Sky in the distance, "Even as we speak, at least three outposts outside Tianyang Pass have been breached."

Outside Tianyang Pass, there were numerous outposts, which served as the front line for the Eternal side. Once the Tianyang army attacked, they would inevitably have to pass through these front outposts, giving Tianyang Pass time to react.

As if to confirm his words, a low, solemn bell suddenly rang in the city.

All pedestrians stopped simultaneously; whether they were merchants in the middle of a transaction or Cultivators drinking wine, they all silently took out their weapons and caressed them.

This was the "Falling Star Bell"; each chime represented the fall of an outpost.

The bell rang five times.

Xu Qing saw five white flowers float out from the left of the two vast immortal palaces, falling towards a large river outside the city. Those petals drifted downstream, and as they passed through a certain barrier, they suddenly transformed into five meteors, flying towards the battlefield outside the pass.

"This is..."

"Heroic Spirit Flower," Zhan Tian Old Ancestor said softly, "It allows the lingering souls of the fallen to find their way home."

"Kid, I'll go report first, see you later!"

Zhan Tian Old Ancestor headed towards the vast immortal palace on the left side of the sky.

Meanwhile, the fleet slowly descended into the northern region of the main city. As the altitude decreased, a vast complex of palaces gradually revealed its true form from within the clouds.

This was the Human Race Holy Temple's station in Tianyang Pass—the Human Dao Immortal Palace, whose grandeur was unmatched in the main city.

Three hundred sixty-five towering jade pillars were arranged according to the constellations of the Zhou Tian, with each pillar entwined by a lifelike golden Dragon sculpture.

These golden Dragons were not inanimate objects, but rather true Dragon souls refined into the pillars, serving not only as decoration but also as the core formation spirits of the protective grand array.

As the fleet approached, the golden Dragons on the three nearest jade pillars suddenly opened their eyes. With a gentle sway of their whiskers, a rainbow bridge descended from the clouds, steadily guiding the fleet to land.

At the end of the rainbow bridge were nine tiers of white jade steps. Everyone disembarked and stepped onto the rainbow bridge!

With each step, corresponding astrological patterns automatically appeared beneath their feet.

When Xu Qing stepped onto the last tier, the entire star map suddenly lit up, transforming into a light screen that swept over his entire body. This was the Holy Temple's unique "Heart-Questioning Array," which did not check cultivation but only verified one's Dao Heart.

After passing through the Heart-Questioning Array, the other ancient clans and great Sects greeted Xu Qing. After all this was done, they headed towards the distant immortal palaces and jade towers.

These Family Sects already had elders here, so they had residences. The Xu Family had just arrived and needed to register for accommodation!

An old man dressed in a star-patterned Daoist robe stepped forward, cupped his hands, and smiled, "This old man, Xuan Xingzi, is temporarily in charge of the affairs of the Gathering of Immortals Residence. Grand Elder Xu has come a long way from the Holy Temple, please follow me to the Gathering of Immortals Residence to rest."

Passing through nine gates, the view suddenly opened up.

Seventy-two fountains were distributed according to the earth's ley lines, spouting not ordinary spring water, but liquid Chaos energy.

In the center of each spring eye was a statue, holding different Magical Artifacts, depicting the Human Race's seventy-two fundamental Great Dao.

"Grand Elder Xu, please look!" Xuan Xingzi stroked his beard and smiled, and with a wave of his hand, a map of the Human Dao Immortal Palace appeared before them. Xuan Xingzi's finger hovered over a certain spot.

A crystal-clear glazed palace floated in the clouds. The palace roof had no conventional tiles, but instead was inlaid with projections of three hundred sixty Eternal stars, slowly rotating along a mysterious trajectory.

Xuan Xingzi lowered his voice, "Zhan Tian Old Ancestor specifically instructed us to arrange for you to stay in the Starry Sky Pavilion."

Xu Qing smiled, "Since it's Senior Zhan Tian's arrangement, then I'll choose the Starry Sky Pavilion!"

"This is the control Jade Slip for the Starry Sky Pavilion!" Xuan Xingzi said, taking out a Jade Slip with swirling starlight. "Zhan Tian Old Ancestor specifically instructed that if you have time, you can find him at 'Zhan Tian Palace.'"

He pointed to one of the three hundred sixty-five immortal palaces high in the sky—that palace resembled a gilded halberd thrust into the clouds, surrounded by nine fiery Dragon phantoms.

Only Dao Ancestors could reside in the three hundred sixty-five immortal palaces. As for the immortal mountains, they were for Half-Ancestors, but one had to have made certain contributions. Xu Qing had just arrived, so he naturally had no contributions to speak of.

As he walked, he unknowingly arrived at a plaza. Xu Qing noticed a stone tablet in the center, tens of millions of feet high.

The tablet was densely inscribed with names; some names shone like stars, while others were dim and lusterless.

"This is..."

"The Monument of Heroic Spirits." Xuan Xingzi's expression was solemn. "The glowing names represent Fellow Daoists who are still guarding Tianyang Pass. Those that have dimmed..."

He didn't finish his sentence, merely caressing a few dim names. "Look at this 'Star River Child.' Three years ago, I personally welcomed him here, but a year ago, to cover his comrades' retreat, he self-detonated his Dao foundation to block the enemy. And this 'Profound Ice Fairy,' last year she was besieged by the three Immortal Monarchs of the Chaos Race, fighting until her last breath..."

Xu Qing's expression grew solemn, and he bowed respectfully to the stone tablet, followed by the Xu Family members behind him.

When Xu Qing stood up, he noticed a line of small characters at the very top of the inscription: "Today we guard the pass, only so that future generations need not fight again!"

"Grand Elder Xu, Fellow Daoists, please leave a trace of your Dao Soul on this Monument of Heroic Spirits. If..."

Xuan Xingzi didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.

Xu Qing didn't hesitate, merging a wisp of his soul read into it. Xu Yuan and the others did the same.

Passing through the main plaza, everything along the way was astonishing.

There were floating medicinal fields cultivating Immortal divine medicines that only grew in Chaos; there were trial grounds simulating various extreme battlefield environments; and there was even an "Enlightenment Tower" entirely composed of Great Dao, specifically for Cultivators to comprehend various Great Dao.

"We've arrived." Xuan Xingzi stopped at a three-way intersection. "The left leads to the Starry Sky Pavilion where you will rest, the right is the preparation zone, and straight ahead is the library."

He handed over a Jade Slip. "This is a map of the Immortal Palace's layout. The red areas are restricted zones, please be careful."

Xu Qing was about to head to the Starry Sky Pavilion when he suddenly sensed something and looked up towards the east.

A golden light streaked through the air and landed steadily in front of him, revealing the figure of Zhan Tian Old Ancestor.

"Kid, come find me once you're settled." Zhan Tian Old Ancestor laughed heartily and tossed him a crimson-gold wine pot. "First, taste the true 'Nine Tribulation Lightning Nectar,' it's a hundred times better than that jar on the ship!"

Before Xu Qing could respond, he transformed back into golden light and departed, leaving only an echo in the air: "This Old Man will wait for you at Zhan Tian Palace, where you can see the most magnificent scenery in all of Tianyang Pass!"

Xuan Xingzi and the others had already knelt on the ground, only daring to rise after the golden light had completely vanished.

Xu Qing toyed with the wine pot, discovering that its body was actually crafted from Chaos gold essence refined with Eternal Tribulation Lightning. This container alone was comparable to a chaotic spiritual treasure.

"Grand Elder Xu and Zhan Tian Old Ancestor have quite a friendship." Xuan Xingzi's attitude grew even more respectful. "Even Half-Ancestors are usually not allowed into Zhan Tian Palace..."

Xu Qing smiled without speaking, tilting his head back to drink a mouthful of lightning nectar.

As the liquor entered his throat, it actually manifested nine layers of Lightning Tribulation phenomena within his body, finally transforming into pure Dao power that merged into his limbs and bones.

"Good wine!" He praised, then put away the remaining lightning nectar. "Please lead the way; I'll go to the Starry Sky Pavilion to rest for a bit first."

Under the twilight, the main city lit up with countless household lights, but upon closer inspection, one would find that each light was an undying battle soul.

This city used the most magnificent immortal realm to envelop the most brutal iron and blood; it used the most elegant facade to carry the most resolute will.