Chapter Fifty-Three: Gathering of All Parties

  Third update! I'm exhausted, seeking votes and bookmarks before sleep, yeah, three updates will continue tomorrow!

  The Great Hall of Treasures.

  Unlike the layout of Zhenbao Temple, there are no separate secret rooms here. As soon as you enter the main hall, it is a huge space with an area of at least 1,000 square meters.

  Row upon row of bookshelves, each over ten zhang high, filled the surroundings, layer upon layer occupying every space in the grand hall. If one looked down from above, the rows and columns of bookshelves formed octagonal shapes from inside to outside, like layers of blooming flower buds, neat and orderly.

  Walking among them, as if entering a winding maze, the line of sight is full of bookshelves filled with jade slips, unable to distinguish east, west, south and north.

  At this moment, Chen Tang stopped in front of a bookshelf, he had already gone through all the bookshelves along the main hall.

  "Seals, puppets, beast rearing, planting, divine communication, law keys...... This depository hall is actually all-encompassing and all-purpose!" Chen Xuan couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

  Next to him, Ji Yu put down the jade slip in his hand and shook his head: "A large number does not necessarily mean precious and rare. In my opinion, eight or nine out of ten jade slips are ordinary goods."

  Chen Yu, however, did not agree. He knew that Ji Yu's vision was extremely discerning and it was only natural that he would not appreciate these jade slips, which were extremely precious to him.

  He was poor since childhood, and when he went to the Linglong Pavilion in Songyancheng to buy the basic martial skills needed for body refinement, he was ridiculed by a female servant. If it weren't for General Qin's young princess, Hongcui, stepping in, he would have had to swallow his pride and leave dejectedly.

  So, at this moment, facing the jade slips that are as numerous as a vast sea of smoke, he has secretly made up his mind. Even if he doesn't cultivate himself, he wants to take them all away and exchange them for yuan stones, which would be a huge fortune!

  But just then, a sudden sound of footsteps echoed outside the grand hall.

  Someone has come so quickly!

  Chen Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and it was now impossible to search for these jade slips on a large scale. However, the thought of missing out on so many jade slips was also unbearable.

  What's wrong?

  Left the Treasure Hall empty-handed, will this time in the Canglang Hall also repeat the same mistake?

  "Swordsmanship, divine power, physical skills... I've picked them out for you. What else do you need?" As he spoke, Ji Yu reached out and drew a series of strokes in the air, and one by one, jade slips flew over like they had grown wings.

  Chen Xiao was taken aback and asked: "Can you take everything away?"

  Ji Yu's face sank, and he stopped his movements.

  Chen Xiao cursed silently, having dealt with Ji Yu for a long time, he was extremely familiar with Ji Yu's temperament. In terms of cultivation, he could carefully guide himself, but if he were to ask him to help with something he didn't want to do, that would be absolutely impossible.

  According to Ji Yu's words, only by going through all the trials of Tianfeng and becoming the direct disciple of the master of the cave can one summon him.

  At this moment, seeing Ji Yu's displeasure, Chen Tai immediately apologized and said: "Senior Ji Yu, please don't be offended. It's just that I'm too greedy. If I had a choice, I would hope to obtain some ritual jade slips like the ones used for divination."

  Chen Yu knew that as long as they talked about the creation of symbols and such, Ji Yu would be extremely delighted. This was because his master, Fu Xi, had gained enlightenment on the great Dao by observing the River Chart and deducing the mysteries of the cyclical workings of Heaven.

  It was only because he had gained some insight into the Way of Symbols that he could leave the Starry Sky Secret Realm and gain Ji Yu's recognition.

  As expected, upon hearing Chen Xiao's words about the art of seal-making, Ji Yu's expression eased up instantly, and he let out a cold snort. He stretched out his hand and made a swift motion in the air, causing over a dozen jade slips to shoot out once again.

  "I have thirteen jade slips of the Thirteen Formulae, plus the ones related to sword techniques, body techniques and spiritual powers, I now own twenty jade slips. Although it's just a small part of the vast collection in the Tian Cang Hall, those that were chosen by Senior Qi Yu should all be some rare treasures."

  Chen Tang casually put all the jade slips into the storage ring and followed Ji Yu's back, rushing towards the road they came from.

  The footsteps were getting closer and closer, mixed with the noise of people's voices. Chen Tai was now alone, and those who could enter the main hall were not only Purple Mansion cultivators, but also came in pairs. The huge gap in strength and numbers made him dare not to stay any longer. In order to prevent being discovered, he didn't even move the many jade slips on the bookshelf beside him, fearing that someone would notice something from the clues.

  Unlike others who entered the grand hall through the main gate, Chen Yu came in from a secret path in the main hall. If one didn't carefully search for it, it would be extremely difficult to find this passageway, so on his way back, he didn't encounter a single cultivator.

  "Hahaha, the Hall of Classics! The Hall of Classics left behind by the Cave-Dark Immortal!" A shrill and hoarse laughter suddenly echoed within the grand hall. "These rows upon rows of jade slips on the bookshelves must number in the tens of thousands, sealed away for millennia. Now they're actually a bargain for us, what a great opportunity indeed."

  This guy is not hiding his excitement at all, in a dark door far away, Chen Tai heard the voice and shook his head, just about to step into the dark door and leave, suddenly hearing a familiar voice, he stopped abruptly.

  "Are all of you fellow Taoists from the Fengxia Sect rejoicing a bit too early?" The voice was pleasant and warm, but to Chen Xiao's ears, it sent a surge of murderous intent through his mind.

  Cheers!

  It was just ashes, but Chen Yao also recognized the owner of this voice.

  Recalling the time he was ambushed by this guy in the Red Flame Mountains and fell into that deep abyss, Chen Tai's hatred surged uncontrollably to his head, his expression already icy cold.

  "Seasonal elder, I have decided to stay." Chen Qi took a deep breath and transmitted his voice in a low tone.

  Ji Yu glanced at Chen Tai and said calmly: "You settle your own scores, even if you are killed by the enemy, I won't help you."

  Chen Ting nodded, for enemies, only by killing them with his own hands could he vent the surging hatred in his heart.

  Splash!

  Chen Xiao looked around, then bowed his body, with the tip of his foot lightly touching the ground, like a silent civet cat, agilely climbing up to the stone beam above the corner. This stone beam was about one zhang wide and, together with dozens of other beams, crisscrossed like a large net through the upper space of the entire hall. Hiding on top didn't have to worry about being discovered by people below.

  Moreover, from this position, the entire scene of the Grand Temple can be seen. According to Chen Yu's speculation, those Phoenix Gorge cultivators and Chai Le Tian would inevitably engage in battle for the jade slips stored within the temple, allowing him to hide here and wait for the perfect moment to launch a sneak attack on Chai Le Tian!

  Zifujing cultivator has possessed the power of thought, and his six senses are sharp. He is extremely sensitive to the surroundings. Chen Tang dare not use his mental power, and he retracts all his breath, prostrating himself on the stone beam, like a black shadow. At the same time, his eyes narrowed into a slit, carefully looking down at the front of the main hall.

  At this moment, two groups of monks have gathered in the grand hall of the temple.

  One group was led by Chai Le Tian, and included Du Qing Xi, Duan Mu Ze, Song Lin... all of whom were familiar to Chen Tang.

  On the opposite side, there were eight or nine strangers with different clothes, old and young. The four people in front were very eye-catching, an emaciated old man, a sturdy middle-aged man, and a pair of young men and women. They wore the same crimson purple robes, embroidered with exquisite patterns of fire phoenix flying and clouds surrounding, which was exactly the same as the cultivators from Fengxia Valley that Chen Xi had seen in Xueyecheng.

  At this moment, both groups have taken out their own magical weapons and are confronting each other in the empty space between the bookshelves, the atmosphere is tense.

  "Hmph, although you are all from the major powers of Longyuan City and have extraordinary identities, sorry to say, it's impossible for us to leave for the sake of the jade slip here. Not only will I, Fu Heng, not agree, but also the fellow Taoists behind me will definitely not agree!" The thin old man from Fengxia Sect said coldly.

  "Right, we absolutely won't agree."

  "You want us to withdraw voluntarily? No way!"

  The other monks behind the thin old man Fu Heng also echoed, but their expressions were not relaxed at all. Obviously, Chai Letian and others had brought them no small pressure.

  "What's the point? You've offended us, you small sects and schools. Will you have a good day in the future?" Chai Letian said slowly: "Don't you worry that the sects and clans behind you will be uprooted and destroyed?"

  "I advise you to leave quickly, Chai brother's ancestor is one of the few remaining Mahayana practitioners in the southern border. Dealing with you people is just a matter of moving his lips." Yú Hào Bái from Wàn Yún Academy shook his head and sighed, he looked refined and elegant, but his words were full of flattery towards Chai Lè Tiān.

  Fu Heng's gaunt face suddenly changed, alternating between green and white, as his heart was undergoing intense struggle. Behind him, the faces of the monks from different cities in southern Xinjiang were also mostly gloomy.

  Is the deterrent power of the underworld so great?

  Seeing Fu Heng and others' morale waning, Chen Tai couldn't help but feel anxious. If Fu Heng and the others were to flee without a fight, then his plan for a surprise attack would be completely ruined.

  "Hmph, as far as I know, the great master Chai Shao is not an unreasonable person. Moreover, this Sword Immortal's abode was originally ownerless land. Whoever obtains the jade slip here will be its rightful owner. To ask us to leave just because of a single sentence is rather excessive, don't you think?"

  Fu Heng gritted his teeth and said, "In my opinion, it's better to do this. If Chai Daoyou agrees, we can take 40% of the jade slips here, and you can have the remaining 60%. How about that?"

  "Absolutely impossible!" Chai Letian immediately vetoed, coldly laughing: "Want to rob me? You're not even qualified, I'll give you ten more breaths of time, hurry up and get out of this hall for me. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless later!"

  "You..." Fu Heng's eyes widened in anger, his face purpling with rage, he was so furious that he couldn't get the words out.

  "Hmph, with such guts, you dare to come and compete with me? Hurry up, five breaths of time have already passed." Chai Le Tian disdainfully shook his head.

  These guys really have the heart of a thief but lack the courage!

  Watching Fu Heng and others holding back their anger and not daring to make a move, Chen Tang couldn't help but feel speechless.

  "Hum, who is it? It's actually Chai Daoyou of Xingluo Palace!" Just then, a soft and gentle female voice echoed in the grand hall.

  Chen Yao raised her eyes and looked over, involuntarily crying out in a low voice that something was wrong. Su Jiao and her group had also arrived!