Chapter 160 – The Alchemist Activates the Array, Friction Rises as the Palace Doors Shut
by SurroundedbyBooksA foul stench lingered in the air.
Clearly, no air had circulated inside for a long time, and it was now in the process of slowly ventilating.
But cultivators had no fear of such rot—holding their breath was enough.
Mortals, however, would suffocate quickly if they entered.
Yu Xian, clutching a spirit stone and absorbing its energy to restore his strength, pressed forward down the passageway.
No sounds came from ahead.
The six others clearly were in a hurry—not only did they scramble and compete, but none wanted to fall behind. As such, they had all accelerated and quickly disappeared from sight.
The tunnel was spacious, its sides pitch-black—nothing was visible.
Yu Xian pondered briefly, then raised his hand, summoning the Sea-Calming Pearl into his palm.
First, the pearl’s gentle glow provided illumination.
Second, should danger arise, he could hurl it without hesitation—it would be nearly impossible to miss in a confined space like this.
Still, given others had already passed through, there was likely no immediate threat.
Cautiously but swiftly, Yu Xian continued forward. After about half a stick of incense’s time, light bloomed ahead.
He put away the pearl and looked forward.
A massive palace hall appeared before him.
The six who had gone ahead now stood before its gates.
As soon as they saw him arrive, their faces lit up.
“You’re finally here!”
“Yu Daoyou, a bit slow, huh?”
“Just waiting on you—come on!”
Yu Xian frowned slightly but walked forward while examining the hall.
“Fellow Daoists, why aren’t you going in?” he asked.
The hall was grand, stone pillars holding up a domed ceiling, draped in fine silken curtains.
Eight iron chains extended from the surrounding pillars, suspending a sarcophagus—seemingly forged from metal—high above the ground. Its age was indeterminable.
“Junior Brother Yu, we can’t enter without you,” Jiang Xiaolong said with a bitter smile. “Come see for yourself—there’s an array restriction that only an alchemist can bypass.”
The others nodded, their expressions mixed.
So what if they came first?
They still had to wait.
This tomb was utterly frustrating…
Yu Xian stepped forward, puzzled, and saw it clearly: though the palace doors stood wide open, a translucent barrier shimmered faintly like rippling water—barely visible unless one looked closely.
That “water curtain” prevented entry.
However, it clearly posed no danger—otherwise, one of the six would’ve already perished trying to force their way through.
“What array is this, fellow Daoists?” Yu Xian asked. “Why must it be me to open it?”
Tong Xue smiled. “No need to wonder, Daoyou. Just touch it, and you’ll understand.”
Yu Xian frowned.
Let him test an unknown array? Were they joking?
“Haha, no need to worry—I’ll demonstrate.”
Tong Xue, seeing Yu Xian’s hesitation, smiled and extended his hand toward the barrier.
A red light flashed, and the array repelled his hand.
The formation shifted—now it was a six-pointed star, identical to the alchemy test array from earlier.
What did this mean?
He had to refine another pill to gain access?
Yu Xian frowned deeply.
He hadn’t recovered from the last attempt; to refine again at that level of intensity was impossible.
He needed at least a day or two of rest to restore his stamina and hand precision.
Tong Xue pulled back his hand and said, “It seems the array is linked with the previous test. Since you completed the alchemy before, it now responds only to you.”
Ge Xiyu added, “It’s a paired array—main and auxiliary. The main one was used in the earlier test; this one is its counterpart. It remembers your spiritual imprint. Only you can open it now.”
“I see…” Yu Xian narrowed his eyes. “So only I can open it?”
“Go ahead and try,” Qi Xuan chuckled. “If you can’t, we’ll think of something else.”
Yu Xian scanned the six men.
They all seemed genuinely hopeful.
Clearly, each had tried and failed. There seemed no deceit.
And they had no reason to conspire against him.
So he nodded. “Very well, I’ll try. But if I fail, don’t blame me.”
“Of course not,” Jiang Xiaolong said with a laugh. “Just try your best.”
Yu Xian stepped forward and extended his hand, touching the array gently.
The pill he refined earlier—the Yellow Dragon Blood Dust Pill—was imbued with his essence, impossible to fake.
The moment his hand met the barrier, ripples spread outward like water.
The six cultivators brightened instantly, eyes gleaming.
It worked!
The barrier had indeed been waiting for Yu Xian.
Though he refined the pill and opened the array, the treasures inside were for everyone.
It was mutual gain.
They brought him here; he opened the way.
As they all considered this balance—
Pop!
The barrier burst like a soap bubble.
Whoosh!
A violent gust surged from within the palace.
Yu Xian stepped back, raising a sleeve to shield his face.
As the wind died down, they saw the path ahead was now clear.
But none of the seven dared to enter first.
Everyone knew—this was likely the true burial chamber.
That suspended sarcophagus might contain a corpse… or something worse.
No one wanted to be the first and risk disaster.
But they had to go in.
Qi Xuan smiled. “Let’s all enter together.”
“Yes, together,” Tong Xue echoed.
The others agreed and stepped through as a group.
The entrance was wide enough for all seven to pass comfortably.
Surprisingly, there was no danger inside.
With the full view of the hall now visible, they saw more than just the sarcophagus and pillars.
Lining the side walls—previously hidden—were two rows of standing figures.
Seven cultivators tensed.
Yu Xian’s hand formed a mudra inside his sleeve.
Under the flickering golden glow of eternal lamps, the figures became clear—
They were desiccated corpses, standing with closed eyes.
“Desiccated corpses?” Tong Xue frowned. “Why so many? Grave goods?”
“Hard to say,” Qi Xuan said coldly. “We must tread carefully.”
Jiang Xiaolong examined them. “These aren’t golden-skinned cultivator corpses. Might have been mortals or weak cultivators. But they likely weren’t buried as offerings—this seems more like some kind of ritual.”
“Ritual or offering, doesn’t matter. Let’s look for treasures,” Qi Xuan snapped and approached the sarcophagus.
Everyone followed—no one wanted to miss out.
Sure enough, near the sarcophagus was an altar table.
On it rested: a burned-out incense burner, the skulls of sacrificial animals, three jade bottles of pills, and three ancient tomes.
Even Yu Xian’s expression changed as he read the titles:
Innate Technique (先天功)
Daoist Pill Secrets (道丹秘術)
Blood Spirit Art of Qing Shang (清上血靈術)
Clearly extraordinary!
Qi Xuan moved first—reaching for them.
Bang!
Another hand struck his aside.
“Jiang Daoyou?!”
Qi Xuan’s face darkened.
“You trying to take everything?” Jiang said coolly. “These belong to all of us. You can’t just snatch them.”
Qi Xuan narrowed his eyes, then laughed. “Just looking, no intention to keep them.”
“Glad to hear it,” Jiang said. “We share the risk; we share the reward. These six items—three tomes, three bottles—must be fairly distributed.”
The rest agreed.
Qi Xuan said nothing.
Yu Xian remained silent. With his current strength, he had no right to speak. He might get nothing at all.
“Let’s start by reading the tomes,” Jiang said. “If they can be copied, everyone gets a copy—no need to fight.”
Everyone agreed.
But as Jiang reached out to take the first book—
Poof!
The entire altar vanished.
Everyone’s expressions changed.
Especially Jiang Xiaolong—staring dumbfounded.
“Jiang Xiaolong!” Qi Xuan roared. “You hid the entire altar in your storage bag, didn’t you?!”
“Absurd!” Jiang shouted. “It vanished on its own! I didn’t even touch it!”
“No one believes that!” Qi Xuan sneered. “If you’re innocent—show us your storage bag!”
Jiang paled and retreated. “Never! It holds my secrets! You think I’d show it to you!?”
“Then you’re hiding something!” Qi Xuan’s aura surged.
Tension rose—
Until—
“Wait.”
Yu Xian’s calm voice cut through the storm.
He looked at Qi Xuan. “Isn’t it basic principle that he who accuses, must provide evidence? Since you’re the one accusing—where’s your proof?”
Qi Xuan froze.
Jiang Xiaolong, stunned, then looked at Yu Xian with gratitude.
He turned back to Qi Xuan. “You have no evidence. You’re slandering me!”
Qi Xuan laughed, then pointed at Yu Xian. “We all saw it vanish! What proof do I need!?”
Yu Xian replied flatly, “Then by your logic, maybe you hid it when you touched it first. Let me check your storage bag.”
“You bastard!” Qi Xuan raged. “You want to die!?”
Yu Xian remained calm.
He knew—if Jiang Xiaolong was attacked, he’d be next. They were allies in this.
“Qi Xuan! You dare threaten my junior brother!?” Jiang shouted. “Don’t forget—I have a peak early-stage Golden Core beast!”
Qi Xuan’s expression darkened.
The group instantly split into two sides.
Su Mofeng and Ge Xiyu stepped beside Jiang.
Tong Xue and Kang Xinping stayed neutral.
Seven had entered together.
Now there were two factions.
Before anyone could strike—
SCREECH!!!
A harsh grinding noise echoed!
They turned—and watched in horror as the palace doors began to close!
Boom!
Before they could react—the doors slammed shut!
“What’s happening!?”
Qi Xuan panicked, his lightning flaring as he dashed toward the sealed exit.
Everyone, including Yu Xian, rushed after him.
Now, treasures and grudges meant nothing.
If they couldn’t escape—
They’d die here.
“Open!!!” Qi Xuan roared, hurling a thick bolt of lightning at the gate.
Boom! Sparks flew—but the door didn’t budge.
“Together! Attack together!” he shouted.
The others joined in.
Yu Xian’s fingers danced as he gathered energy—then launched a devastating Earthfire Spell.
A pillar of molten rock burst forth, slamming the doors with thunderous force.
Even the others were shocked by the spell’s power.
This… from a Foundation Establishment beginner!?
But…
BOOM!!!
Even Yu Xian’s mightiest spell couldn’t leave a scratch.
The palace door… was unshakable.
His eyes trembled slightly.
They were trapped.
Now what…?
[Author’s Notes]
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