Published: September 9, 2025
Chapter 826: The Scroll Painting
While Han Li and the others pursued Elder Zhong and his group alongside the flying squirrels, the sect master of the Ghost Spirit Sect and Wei Wuya had already crossed over the Great Mountain and appeared in a basin.
The basin was dark and damp, with puddles of various sizes scattered across the ground, making the group, who had to proceed on foot, feel quite frustrated.
Although they could cast minor spells to block out the mud and dirty water, their speed naturally dropped significantly.
Yet this time, neither Sect Master Wang nor Wei Wuya complained.
Because earlier, when they crossed the peak of the Great Mountain, they had seen from a high vantage point a colossal structure resembling an altar situated at the center of the basin.
This sight immediately lifted the spirits of everyone following the sect master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, pushing aside any previous doubts.
After all, since entering the valley, this was the first time they had seen such a complete building. Without a doubt, this place was no ordinary site. It likely had some connection to the so-called Lingmiao Garden mentioned by the sect master of the Ghost Spirit Sect.
So, the group slowed their pace even further, yet none of them appeared impatient or restless.
Some had tried to use levitation technique to move several feet above the ground, but the only result was that shortly after, a blood-red lightning bolt struck down from the sky, nearly shattering a cultivator’s protective magical artifact. It seemed that the closer one approached the center of the basin, the stricter the anti-air and sealing formations became.
Given this, the others gave up on shortcuts and could only proceed slowly in a line.
A disciple of the Ghost Spirit Sect took the lead. Whenever bushes or other obstacles blocked the way, a few fireballs would be cast, easily clearing a small path.
After traveling for most of the day, the group finally neared the altar and saw its massive silhouette in the distance.
The altar was entirely made of white mountain stone, shaped like a huge trapezoid with stairways on all four sides. It towered into the clouds, several hundred zhang high, truly magnificent. However, it was too far and too tall to clearly see what exactly was on top.
“Almost there. It looks like in another hour or two, we can reach it. Sect Master Wang, I’m even more curious now about how you know about Lingmiao Garden,” Wei Wuya said. Though still walking on foot, his entire body emitted a faint green radiance, and with a light step he silently glided several yards forward, seeming very relaxed.
“Sect Brother Wei, rest assured. When the time comes, I will definitely explain everything to you,” the sect master of the Ghost Spirit Sect said with a slight smile, as if unconcerned.
Wei Wuya nodded and was about to ask more when suddenly, the disciple leading the group let out a flash of spiritual light, stumbled, and was silently sliced in two from shoulder to waist, the corpse dropping soundlessly to the ground.
“Spatial rift!” The sect master’s expression changed drastically when he saw this.
Wei Wuya and Wang Tiangu behind him also darkened their faces.
Although they did not know what plans the sect master had, ever since following his guided route into the valley, they had never encountered any invisible spatial rifts. The tension they had felt earlier had somewhat eased. But now, suddenly a spatial rift appeared. Both men felt a chill in their hearts.
The other three disciples of the Ghost Spirit Sect also looked pale.
The entire group halted and stopped progressing.
The sect master stared at the corpse cut by the rift, his expression unstable. Wei Wuya closed his eyes, seemingly sensing something with his spiritual awareness, but moments later he opened them again.
“No use. This spatial rift cannot be sensed simply by strong spiritual awareness. The rift’s presence cannot be detected,” Wei Wuya said with an expressionless shake of his head.
Upon hearing this, Wang Tiangu raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Five fireballs were scattered forward.