Having weathered the trial of illusions, the Qingxu Temple group's dao hearts were more condensed, and their eyes held less of the excitement and restlessness from first entering the treasure land, replaced by more steadiness and vigilance. They continued upward along the starlight corridor, drawing ever closer to the towering Ten Thousand Laws Palace emanating vast energy.
The corridor's end connected to an enormous white marble plaza. At the plaza's end was the Ten Thousand Laws Palace's dark golden main door, tens of feet high and tightly shut. Nine golden pillars with coiled dragons stood before the door, magnificent in every way. Yet at this moment, this plaza that should have been silent wasn't occupied by only their group.
Just as they stepped onto the plaza, from two other directions, other cultivator teams almost simultaneously arrived.
On the left side, a group of seven or eight people wore moon-white robes with cold, otherworldly temperament. The leader was none other than Mu Xue, the true transmission disciple of the Mysterious Mechanism Holy Land whom Xiao Qi had once met on the Ascending Heaven Stairs, with temperament like ice and snow. She still had a cold expression, her gaze sweeping over the Qingxu Temple group. When she saw Xiao Qi, she paused slightly, a trace of imperceptible surprise in her eyes—seemingly surprised he could reach the core area so quickly—then nodded slightly in greeting.
On the right side, a group of over ten people wore uniformed red martial attire with hot, slightly volatile temperament—the disciples of the Western Region's Flaming Sun Sect. The leader was powerfully built with an arrogant face—Yan Feng, the Flaming Sun Sect's young master who had once clashed spiritually with Xiao Qi at the secret realm entrance. His expression now wasn't good—clearly his journey hadn't been smooth either, his robes even bearing several charred tears. His gaze first greedily swept over the magnificent Ten Thousand Laws Palace doors, then landed on the Qingxu Temple group. When he saw Mu Qingfeng and Xiao Qi, his eyes flashed with sinister intent and undisguised hostility.
Three teams stood in triangular formation on the plaza. The atmosphere instantly became delicate. The air seemed to solidify, with only the distant waterfall's roar and the ancient pressure pervading the plaza flowing silently.
After a brief silence, Mu Qingfeng, as Qingxu Temple's senior brother, first broke the deadlock. He cupped his hands toward Mu Xue's direction, his tone peaceful: "Fellow daoist from the Mysterious Mechanism Holy Land, a pleasure to meet you."
Mu Xue also cupped her hands in return, her voice clear: "Fellow daoist from Qingxu Temple, a pleasure to meet you." Her words were concise with no excess pleasantries.
Mu Qingfeng then turned his gaze to the Flaming Sun Sect side, similarly cupping his hands: "Fellow daoist from the Flaming Sun Sect."
However, Yan Feng only snorted coldly, lifting his chin slightly, his tone carrying unceremonious interrogation: "Mu Qingfeng, your Qingxu Temple certainly has good luck to arrive here first! I presume you were the ones who opened the entrance outside?" His words made several Flaming Sun Sect disciples behind him cast unfriendly gazes, faintly emanating spiritual energy fluctuations with oppressive intent.
Clearly, they were still holding a grudge about being "beaten to the punch" by Qingxu Temple, even suspecting whether Qingxu Temple had mastered some shortcut or secret unknown to them.
Mu Qingfeng frowned slightly, his tone remaining steady: "Merely fortunate coincidence. Secret realm exploration depends on each person's methods—why must Fellow Daoist Yan Feng be like this?"
"Each person's methods?" Yan Feng sneered, his gaze like a poisonous snake sweeping over the Qingxu Temple group, finally fixing on Tang Xiao Qi, carrying thick scrutiny and a trace of greed. "I think not. I heard your Qingxu Temple has a kid possessing a strange treasure that can restrain demon cultivators and open restrictions ordinary people can't. Could it be you relied on this to advance unimpeded all the way?"
His words were extremely provocative. Not only did they reveal that Xiao Qi possessed a strange treasure (clearly the news had spread within certain circles), but they also attributed all of Qingxu Temple's ability to reach this place to the "strange treasure," intending to sow discord while applying pressure.
The Qingxu Temple disciples' expressions changed upon hearing this, especially several young disciples whose faces showed anger. Liu Yun's eyes turned cold, her longsword emitting a faint hum.
Xiao Qi's heart also tightened. Feeling the other party's malicious gaze, he instinctively clenched his fists, but thinking of Senior Brother's earlier warning, he forcibly suppressed the impulse to speak.
Mu Qingfeng's expression didn't change, but his gaze sharpened. He stepped forward, his body's steady, mountain-like yet implicitly sharp sword intent faintly erupting, quietly dissolving Yan Feng's oppressive aura. "Fellow Daoist Yan Feng, choose your words carefully. The secret realm is full of dangers. We Qingxu Temple disciples could reach this place relying on unity among fellow disciples and bloody battles, not external objects. As for what fortune my junior brother has, that's Qingxu Temple's internal affair—no need for outsiders to concern themselves."
His words were neither humble nor arrogant, both defending his fellow disciples and pointing out the other party was overreaching.
Yan Feng hit a soft nail, his expression growing even worse. He stared at Mu Qingfeng, then fiercely glared at Xiao Qi, coldly laughing: "Fine, unity among fellow disciples! I hope you can stay this 'united'!" His words carried hidden meaning, the threat obvious.
Just then, Mu Xue, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, suddenly spoke. Her voice like ice springs striking jade, she broke the tense atmosphere between the two sides: "The Ten Thousand Laws Palace is right before us. The inheritance hasn't been obtained, yet you argue and fight among yourselves here—isn't that putting the cart before the horse? Better to think about how to open these palace doors."
Her words pulled everyone's attention back to the tightly shut Ten Thousand Laws Palace doors emanating vast pressure.
Yan Feng snorted coldly. Though dissatisfied, he knew Mu Xue's words made sense—this indeed wasn't a good time to fight. He fiercely glared at the Qingxu Temple group, then turned his gaze to the palace doors to study them.
Mu Qingfeng also naturally withdrew his aura, casting a grateful glance at Mu Xue. Mu Xue nodded slightly, saying nothing more.
The three forces temporarily maintained a fragile balance, all concentrating their attention on the final barrier—the Ten Thousand Laws Palace doors. However, everyone knew this balance was extremely fragile. Once it came to competing for the core inheritance, or a method to open the palace doors was found, this brief calm would instantly shatter.
Xiao Qi stood behind Mu Qingfeng, clearly feeling the malice from the Flaming Sun Sect direction and the vague scrutiny from the Mysterious Mechanism Holy Land. He took a deep breath, knowing the real test probably started from this moment. He silently circulated the Spirit Concentration Art to keep himself calm while sensing the jade pendant at his chest. The jade pendant here transmitted a strange, complex feeling of both intimacy and warning—seemingly indicating great opportunity behind the doors, but also hidden unknown dangers.