Chapter 134 (1/2)
Xiao Chen picked up his pace and bolted quickly towards the illusory domain of Xiaoyue’s memory. Even before entering, an overwhelming gust of Devil Qi rammed into his face. It was so strong that he could have sworn that it was the strongest Devil Qi that he had ever encountered.
The sky above the stronghold of the Thousand Feathers Sect began to fill with palls of dark clouds, blotting the sun from the idyllic floral terraces of the lush valley. Everyone inside the gardens was terrified by the sudden culmination of darkness hanging ominously overhead. Perfected Immortal Su Nian, with a group of seven elders, took into the sky, riding on their swords and began to assume orderly positions over the skies of a mountain peak. The eight of them, Xiao Chen realized, were defending the peak with a formation, the Universal Mystic-Yin Formation.
“What is going on, Sect Leader! The will of Master Qianyu, the Founder, had claimed that the one buried below is a person who had died thousands of years ago! She mentioned that there’s no way the person will return to live! But what’s going on!”
Perfected Immortal Su Nian’s expression turned grim. “C-could it be… Somebody had breached the Samsara and supplanted the souls of others in order to resurrect the person below…” she murmured deeply. Swiftly, she regained her stern demeanor, barking loudly, “The strength of the Universal Mystic-Yin Formation is waning! Hear my call! Join your powers, everyone! We must seal the true form of the person!”
Xiao Chen could hardly stop himself from trembling faintly. The ring of mountains outside the valley formed a geographical array in the form of the Universal Mystic-Yin Formation. The true and actual Universal Mystic-Yin Formation, in fact. Most possibly a meticulous arrangement by the founder of the sect, Qianyu Nishang, to hold the seal that restrained the person underground. But who could it be? Why was she so fearful of a person who had been dead for thousands of years that she had to use such one of the most powerful and oldest formations, the Universal Mystic-Yin Formation to maintain the seal?
Xiao Chen’s brows furrowed suspiciously. He was certain that it was Qianyu Nishang’s aura that he had felt before entering this illusion. Was he mistaken somehow? And who was this person now sealed underground? But the terrifying voice that echoed from underground that sounded like the shrilling howls of Qianyu Nishang. Could it be…
The growing dread within him pulsated strongly as his frown deepened into a grimace. He did not know who it was that was sealed underground, but an ominous foreboding crept up his spine, one that gave him a strange feeling. There was more to the seal itself that held the person underground. More so, when everyone from the Thousand Feathers Sect knew nothing of the identity of the person entombed underground.
He could tell, that the person sealed and imprisoned underneath their feet, was neither a monster nor anyone from the ancient past. From the sharp, earsplitting cries, it was clearly a woman, one who must have been closely related to Qianyu Nishang and one whose existence she could not tolerate, or even…
Xiao Chen felt an urge to step closer to find out. But before he could move, a booming voice resounded imperiously from the edges of the horizon like a thunder, chanting a verse from Buddhist scriptures, “All things in the immaterial realm are in essence formless; so are the things that presently assumes form…”
It was Xu Gu’s voice! Xiao Chen sensed sudden clarity taking hold of his addled mind as he was jerked back into consciousness. Everyone was back around him, looking at each other with confused and puzzled looks. Some did not even realize what had happened, Xiao Chen noticed, but Xu Gu, being the most resolute and stalwart of the entire company, was the first to break the spell of the enchantment.
Yu Yifeng, Mu Chengxue, and a few others looked evidently sorrowful; they must have just revisited their painful memories. But Xiaoyue, her face pale as death, was trembling as if she had witnessed something terrifying.
“Is something wrong, Master Xiaoyue?” Xu Gu feigned a cough to regain her attention.
Xiaoyue jumped, awaken from her stupor. But she swiftly recollected herself and re-assumed her lofty demeanor. With a thin smile, she responded, “I’m fine. We have all fallen under the spell of an enchantment earlier with fabricated illusions to deceive us. We must take heed not to fall for the schemes of our enemy and be careful!”
But Xiao Chen was unfazed by what she said. He was still wondering about the identity of the person trapped underneath the stronghold of the Thousand Feathers Sect. In truth, Qianyu Nishang, once his junior in the Mystic Cyan Sect, had no reason to build an order of her own. What was her purpose then of starting the Thousand Feathers Sect? Although they were all thrown into a motley of illusions, Xiao Chen was sure that these were true memories of respective individuals in the company. What he had witnessed about Xiaoyue’s memory filled his heart with a premonition that whatever it was that was imprisoned at the stronghold of the Thousand Feathers Sect, it would not be long before word of its existence escaped and the entire world would know.
A young man in purple stepped out of the crowd. Xiao Chen recognized him as the scion of the Master of the Priory of the Mystic Winds, Lu Jiangxing. The Priory enjoyed quite a reputation in the East Divine Continent with a strong following of students and disciples. But Lu Jianxing spoke with a sickly expression, “What she said is true. We must be wary of the treachery that abounds this place. We must stay together and not wander alone.” He ended with a smile towards Xiaoyue.
Did he also witness Xiaoyue’s memories earlier during the illusion? Xiao Chen could not help but wonder.
Dusk was nearing. The company had exhausted too much time being trapped in the illusions. If what the voice that echoed from the mountaintop had said was true, the company would be in mortal danger if they were still in the Cold-billow Labyrinth when night came.
But with their escape cut off and with the lack of a consensus, everyone’s gazes traveled to the only de facto leader of the group, the monk Xu Gu. His fingers were twirling a set of dark-brownish prayer beads. “Since we’re all trapped here. I’m afraid that our only option is forward,” he said finally, “but we must be careful to not wander alone.”
But his leadership restored confidence and hope to the company. Ye Wuhen flailed the sleeve of his shirt, yelling, “I refuse to believe that a small fortress such as this Wuwang City has to power to keep us here for long!” Proudly, he began to take the lead, walking at the front of the company.
The rest of the company trailed behind his footsteps, maintaining constant vigilance to any dangers that might be lurking around them, although not without doubt and suspicion towards their own, for some were afraid that their secrets might be revealed to others while being trapped in the illusions.
After another 20 miles, the company reached before the mouth of a cave. The entrance of the cave, naturally sculpted by nature, was flanked by tall, precipitous cliffs hanging overhead with no other way to advance. “The exit must be at the other side of this cave,” Xiaoyue spoke first, “but I suggest that we send a small team to scout for dangers before the entire company moves in.”
She was volunteering to be one of the warriors to help reconnoiter the cave and ensure safe passage of the rest. But no one else would dare come forward, their feet shuffling uneasily with their heads hanging over their shoulders. Most of the company were already badly shaken after their torturous ordeal being tormented by the hallucinations of their memories. Many of them would have remained trapped in the enchantment of not for Xu Gu’s Lion’s Roar technique.
“Amitabha…” Xu Gu chanted, “Allow me to accompany Master Xiaoyue into the cave.”
But Xiaoyue immediately stopped him. “No, Senior Xu Gu,” she said sharply, “you are more needed out here.” That was true, Xu Gu was needed to lead the company outside if Xiaoyue were to lead the scouting party. Instead, Xiaoyue turned to Lu Jianxing, saying to him, “The Priory of the Mystic Winds is well-acclaimed for your conveyance magic. Will you come with us? Your magic can quickly transport yourself out here to warn the others if anything happens inside.”
“Th-this is…” Lu Jianxing mumbled incomprehensibly, hesitant to volunteer himself. Ye Wuhen stepped forward and offer himself. “Hmph! I would like to see for myself if this cave can swallow us alive! Those who are afraid of dying need not come forward!”
“You!” Hearing the mockery, Lu Jianxing snarled with rage at him. But knowing better than to say anything else, he too stepped forward and struggled enough courage and resolve and said, “Very well. I’m interested to explore the cave too!”
“So be it,” Yu Yifeng spoke suddenly, “Junior Brother,” he said to Xiao Chen, “You will stay here. I’ll go in too.” But he was about to take a step to the front when Xiao Chen held him back. “No,” Xiao Chen said suddenly, “Brother Yifeng, it’s better that you stay here to protect Miss Mu and Senior Sister Luo. I’m the one who should go.”
With the Fuxi Zither and his Immortal-override Steps, Xiao Chen was sure that he could withdraw to safety if anything happened.
“I see,” Yu Yifeng responded, “Very well. Be careful.” He nodded gently to Xiao Chen. Luo Shangyan approached them and said, “How about I come with you?” she asked Xiao Chen, but he smiled in return. “It’s all right, Sister. Don’t worry.”
With two more volunteers, Qin Xinyan of the School of the Savage Flames and Liu Chengfeng of the Order of the Silvery Moon, an altogether of six people made up the scouting party. They trailblazed the uncharted darkness of the cavern, while the rest of the twelve people remained at watch outside.