Chapter 332

Chapter 332: The Saint’s Divine Temple

Little Flame formed a small passage that tightly blocked the surrounding Ominous Presence. Not a wisp of dark energy drifted over, and the red flashes seemed to intentionally avoid them.

The absence of dark energy made sense since Little Flame was the True Fire of the Phoenix, which naturally countered such energies. But the Ominous Presence’s behavior puzzled them. You You considered that Feng Rong’s Divine Clan heritage might be the reason. Xiuyuan had mentioned this burial site was once a battlefield for the Sin Clan, who were originally part of the Divine Clan. All who perished here were divine beings.

Recognizing Little Flame’s familiar Presence, the Ominous Presence didn’t attack. The trio advanced unhindered through the yellow sands until, after half an hour, the bleak landscape faded. The oppressive atmosphere vanished completely.

The scenery shifted abruptly, as if a yellow curtain had been torn away. Instead of the expected wasteland, they faced lush green mountains veiled in mist. Thick purple divine power swirled among the peaks, refreshing their spirits. This place felt more divine than the outer Divine Realm.

"What…" The group stared in disbelief.

"Holy cow! Xumi Grass!" Xiuyuan dashed to a plant on the right, eyes wide. He spun around, shouting again, "Thunder Rock! Solar Lotus! Breeze Branch! Is this the True God’s realm? How come extinct divine herbs grow here?"

Xiuyuan bounced between discoveries, utterly forgetting their mission.

Yu Hao gaped at the surroundings. The divine power here felt several times stronger than outside. Who knew such a place existed in the Divine Realm?

"Celestial Maiden…"

"What’s that?" You You interrupted, pointing rightward.

Yu Hao turned to see a white pillar piercing the sky, surrounded by smaller stone branches stretching upward like a web.

"That’s the Tree of Heaven Pillar," Yu Hao explained. "Since it’s forbidden ground, no one maintains it. Stone spirits drawn by the pillar’s power created those branches."

"Doesn’t it look more like a tree?" You You pressed.

Yu Hao checked their map and gasped. The drawn pillar matched perfectly. They’d redrawn this map under the Messenger of the Underworld’s guidance, who insisted the "Tree of Heaven" looked exactly like this.

"The Messenger meant the Tree of Heaven Pillar all along!" Yu Hao realized why they’d been told recognition would be instant.

"Let’s fly up for a better view!" You You summoned her flying sword.

Yu Hao soared to a vantage point, comparing landmarks. Tree of Heaven Pillar, Heavenly River, Spirit Lake, Divine Mountains – everything matched their map.

"This is it!" You You pointed northwest. "The Saint’s marked location is there."

Leaving Xiuyuan to his herb gathering, they flew past celestial features until reaching a vast lake.

"According to the map, this should be…" Yu Hao trailed off, baffled. "Why a lake? Let me scan it."

His divine sense swept the waters but found nothing – no Saint, no clues.

"Nothing here," he reported.

You You frowned. The Messenger might be eccentric, but why lie? Had the Saint moved?

Approaching the shore, she felt a chill on her wrist. The contract spell Yuan Papa had cast flickered into view.

"Careful!" Yu Hao yanked her back as loud splashes erupted.

Blinding light walls encircled the lake. The water surface warped, its barrier dissolving to reveal an immense white palace glowing with sacred radiance, untouched by worldly impurities.

Before it stretched a golden lake, bisected by a white jade path to the grand entrance.

"The Saint!" Yu Hao vibrated with excitement, pointing at the palace’s apex. "That golden sun symbol – I’ve seen it in ancient records!"

You You studied the familiar yet unplaceable emblem.

"This must be the Saint’s Divine Temple! She’s here!" Yu Hao turned nervously to You You. "Should we… enter?"

"Let’s try." They approached the light barrier.

Yu Hao bowed deeply. "God of War Yu Hao and Celestial Maiden You You request an audience with the Saint!"

The barrier parted. You You stepped onto the jade path.

As Yu Hao followed, the light snapped shut. He smacked into the barrier and flew backward, planting face-first in mud.

You You: "…"

Yu Hao: "…"

Since when did temples play favorites?