411: Chapter 411 Ruins

The group followed A-Qi toward the southern part of the desert.

"Revered Master, what were you and A-Qi chatting about just now? What did it say was in Camel Bell Ferry? Why did it suddenly stop?"

Mu Wanqing, unable to contain her curiosity once again, leaned in toward Chen Xuan and asked in a crisp voice.

Hearing this, Chen Xuan raised his hand and signaled for her to bring her head closer.

The next moment!

A crisp "thump" sounded.

A red finger mark instantly appeared on the young girl's fair forehead.

"Anything else you want to ask?"

"Ouch!"

Mu Wanqing clutched her forehead and shrank back, her almond eyes instantly welling with a sense of grievance as she pursed her lips and muttered,

"Revered Master, how can you be like this... If you don't want to say, your Disciple just won't ask, but why did you have to hit me?"

"No, your Revered Master just likes flicking your noggin."

Mu Wanqing, feeling slighted, whispered, "Revered Master, you weren't like this before you took me in as a Disciple. You were so gentle back then."

The corners of Chen Xuan's mouth curled slightly. "Times have changed."

If it were that girl Shu Shichan, and Chen Xuan gave her such a flick, her eyes would surely light up, and she would immediately cry out, "Thank you for the reward, Revered Master!"

She would then pull out some gong-and-drum-like object from heaven knows where, banging it loudly enough to shake the sky, shouting to everyone she met, "Revered Master personally bestowed a chestnut upon me; it is a great blessing," making sure everyone knew about it.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed in a flash. Under A-Qi's guidance, the group crossed undulating sand dunes, and a narrow canyon entrance suddenly appeared ahead.

As they looked inside, the wind and sand seemed to subside a bit.

On both sides of the canyon were steep, mottled rock walls.

Deep within the canyon was actually a Sect ruin half-buried by yellow sand.

Broken walls and ruins protruded abruptly from the dunes. Some were just half-broken stone pillars with faint, blurry carvings still visible, while others were collapsed walls leaving behind a mess of bricks and stones covered by thick yellow sand, with only a few corners showing.

In the distance, the silhouette of a dilapidated hall was faintly visible, its roof long gone.

"This place... is actually a Sect ruin?" Xiao Lingxian couldn't help but exclaim softly.

Yu Qingyan turned to look around, finally resting her gaze on a stone tablet, but the top third was broken off, making the full text unreadable.

"...Void Palace."

"Yuquan Void Palace."

A-Qi took over the conversation, then quickly walked to a relatively flat patch of sand, its claws rapidly rummaging through the yellow sand.

"This Sect was once illustrious and well-known to everyone. Many Cultivators went to great lengths just to join it."

Chen Xuan asked casually, "How do you know this?"

"Because... I was a Cultivator of the Yuquan Void Palace back then."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone froze for a few seconds, then their gazes simultaneously shifted to the rat shadow that was still using its claws to dig through the floating sand.

What did that mean!

This Yao Beast before them... was actually a Cultivator of this Sect?

Chen Xuan used the Samsara Heavenly Dao Eye again to check A-Qi's information; it was indeed that Yao Race.

"Found it!"

A-Qi's claws suddenly paused, a flash of joy appearing in its eyes.

It vigorously dug away the yellow sand beneath it, revealing a square bluestone floor tile.

Complex patterns were carved on the tile, looking out of place compared to the surrounding sand. A-Qi pressed several nodes of the patterns in sequence with its claws. With a few soft "clicks," the bluestone tile slowly slid to one side, revealing a pitch-black entrance. A cool breeze wafted out from below.

"This is a secret passage left by the Sect, leading to an underground secret chamber. It's hidden and safe, enough for us to settle down temporarily."

A-Qi turned around and said to everyone, "The Restrictions inside haven't been activated for years and should still be intact. Fellow Daoists, please follow me."

Chen Xuan's gaze swept over the entrance of the secret passage. Sensing no obvious dangerous aura inside, he nodded.

"Let's go!"

With that, he took the lead and stepped into the secret passage, with the others following closely behind.

...

On the other side!

Just as the light of their flight reached halfway, a familiar figure blocked the void ahead. It was none other than that White-Haired Youth whose depth could not be seen.

Gu Yunshen and the others couldn't help but curse inwardly, their expressions becoming increasingly solemn.

"As expected, it won't be that easy to escape."

"It's rare for you all to visit my Camel Bell Ferry. Why be in such a hurry to leave? At the very least, let me fulfill my duties as a host and treat you well before you depart."

The White-Haired Youth's mouth curled into a playful smile as he spoke jovially.

Pavilion Master Shen's face was grim, and he didn't say much.

A bronze Token suddenly appeared in his palm. He rapidly injected spiritual power with his fingertips, and the Token instantly shattered, turning into a sky full of brilliant flowing light.

Amidst the converging light, a Star-Patterned Purple-Gold Eagle flapped its wings and cried out, its massive wings spreading out to blot out the sun.

Inside the eagle's beak, a purple ball of light rapidly condensed, its energy surging within, becoming increasingly dazzling and exuding a heart-palpitating might.

"Go!"

With a thought from Pavilion Master Shen, the Star-Patterned Purple-Gold Eagle immediately dove toward the White-Haired Youth, unleashing its long-prepared full-strength strike.

Let's go!"

Pavilion Master Shen knew this strike might not be able to do anything to the opponent; he only sought to gain a moment's breathing room.

The four of them immediately mobilized their spiritual power and sped through the air, wanting to leave this dangerous place as quickly as possible.

But the next moment, when they had traveled less than a mile, that white figure was already standing leisurely ahead, looking at the four of them with a half-smile.

Seeing the White-Haired Youth's relaxed and effortless appearance, as if he were taking a stroll in a courtyard, Dongfang Li and the others felt a pressure like a collapsing mountain strike them, their hearts feeling heavy.

"What kind of appetizer would you all like to be treated with?"

Chen Xuan chuckled. "Treating us is fine, but I'm curious, among your dishes for guests, is there dog meat? Preferably the meat of a Moon-Devouring Dog, paired with strong wine—that taste is truly unparalleled."

"You're looking for death!"

The Desolate Night Wolf Venerable, who had been smiling just a moment ago, saw his face instantly darken like water, killing intent clear in his eyes.

The two words "Moon-Devouring" were enough to prove that this person had seen through his roots. But choosing to say "dog" was a direct insult to him.

With a sudden point of his finger, several streaks of gray Sword Qi tore through the void, carrying a world-destroying might as they headed straight for Chen Xuan, clearly showing murderous intent.

"Boom!"

At the moment of the loud explosion, a golden barrier suddenly appeared, steadily blocking the way in front of the four. Those gray Sword Qi streaks, which were enough to heavily injure Mahayana Stage Cultivators, were actually blocked head-on by this barrier, without even causing a single ripple.

Pavilion Master Shen, Gu Yunshen, and the others turned their heads in astonishment, their gazes falling on Chen Xuan beside them, their eyes full of disbelief.

Although they had long known his cultivation base was much deeper than theirs, witnessing this scene with their own eyes still left them shaken by the massive gap between them.

In their last sparring match, could it be that the other party had held back?

At the thought that he had exhausted his strength yet hadn't managed to force out even a fraction of this ally's true power, Pavilion Master Shen, as one of the four branch pavilion Revered Masters of Tiangong Pavilion, couldn't help but feel an indescribable sense of frustration, even faintly doubting himself.