Chapter 1032: Communication

Chapter 1032: Communication

Treasure light radiated in all directions. The interior of the pavilion was completely hollow, an open space filled with floating orbs of light. Inside each orb rested a single astra.

There were common flying swords, as well as other astras of various unconventional shapes and designs. Some, however, were clearly damaged. Those were ancient treasures that had survived only in fragments.

Qin Sang stood at the entrance, observing the astras contained within the glowing spheres.

With his knowledge as an artifact refiner, he could roughly discern the quality of some, but when it came to those ancient fragments, he could make no confident judgment. A few might be as unique as the Red Origin Gauze, extremely subtle in effect, but their remaining power would likely last only a few uses before collapsing.

He extended a hand and easily summoned one of the light spheres to him. After examining it briefly, Qin Sang shook his head. Without the use of spiritual consciousness, it was difficult to determine the astras’ exact grade.

"Huh? Bring that chain over here and let me take a look," Bai suddenly spoke.

Qin Sang followed his gaze and, to his surprise, found that Bai wasn’t pointing at a damaged ancient treasure but at a complete astra.

The intact astras inside the Hundred-Treasure Pavilion had all been refined by the cultivators who created the trial realm. They belonged to a much later era than Bai’s. Why would he be interested in something like this?

Curious, Qin Sang summoned the light sphere containing the chain. The chain was as thick as a baby’s arm, each iron link tightly connected to the next, perfectly uniform in shape. It looked plain and unremarkable, completely black without any luster or rune markings.

Still, since it existed here in the Hundred-Treasure Pavilion, it must have its purpose. It couldn’t be judged by appearance alone.

"Do you recognize this item?" Qin Sang asked.

After a moment of silence, Bai replied uncertainly, "It looks familiar. I seem to recall seeing something similar before, but I can’t quite remember what it was... Perhaps it's just a coincidence."

Then he chuckled slyly. "Which one do you fancy? Want me to step out and see if I can help you take it with us?"

"Forget it. There’s no way the Hundred-Treasure Pavilion would have such an obvious loophole. The only reason you can be here with me is likely because of the Heavenly Corpse Talisman. You’re recognized as my refined corpse. If you take anything, it’ll still count as my doing. If that costs me the chance at the Soul-Cleansing Liquid, it’d be a terrible loss. There’s nothing more worth seeing here. Let’s head back," Qin Sang said, shaking his head.

Even the finest astra couldn’t compare to his ebony sword or the eighteen devilish banners. It wasn’t worth the risk.

Qin Sang turned and left the stone peak, finding a concealed spot nearby to sit down and recover his strength, waiting patiently for Ming Wei’s arrival.

***

Far away from the stone peak...

Inside a hidden cave, Su Nu and her companions stood at its mouth, gazing toward the Hundred-Treasure Pavilion.

"I’ve already seen several evasion lights enter the peak. And there must be others who arrived even faster than us. Most of them are true disciples of various sects, and they know about the Soul-Cleansing Liquid. With so many people competing for it, the battle will surely be fierce," Su Nu said.

She turned toward the long-bearded elder with a solemn expression. "Eldest Senior Brother, how long do we keep waiting? If we don’t start preparing soon, I'm afraid that we won’t stand a chance, especially against those from the righteous and devilish paths. They might even join forces to eliminate us first."

"No need to rush. There’s still some time before the Soul-Cleansing Liquid appears. We’ll wait for one more incense's time. If Junior Brother Zuo still hasn’t arrived by then, we move on without him," the elder replied calmly

Everyone fell silent, eyes fixed in the direction of the stone peak. An incense’s time passed. Their Junior Brother Zuo still had not shown up.

"Let’s go!" the elder said solemnly, and was the first to fly out of the cave. The others followed close behind.

Instead of heading toward the Hundred-Treasure Pavilion, they flew in the opposite direction for a long distance, until even the stone peak was no longer visible. They finally stopped within a deep valley.

"Before we entered the final trial, Master instructed us to join forces and activate this command token," the elder said.

The long-bearded elder stopped hiding. He reached into his Mustard Seed Pouch and produced a command token identical to the one held by the Dongji Alliance's leader outside the inner hall.

"Junior Brother Zuo’s strength is on par with mine, so he should also have one. However, we have no idea what the token actually does or what Master’s true plan is. We’ll only find out by trying."

The others exchanged glances, all focusing on the token. None could discern anything from its surface, so they followed his lead.

"Form the array!" the elder commanded.

Everyone took their positions and began working in unison.

***

Elsewhere, in another hidden realm within the trial realm...

The air was blazing hot and filled with rolling smoke. The sky was sealed under a thick shroud of ash, yet the world was blindingly bright. It was a world of molten lava.

Waves of magma surged like crimson seas. From time to time, fire spirits leapt and swam freely within it, far larger and more powerful than the ones Su Nu had faced earlier.

Even more terrifying were the spatial rifts twisting across the air above the magma, some even drifting slowly, making this place an unmistakable death zone.

Amid such danger, a single island floated in isolation, miraculously untouched by the molten tide. Upon that island sat an old man in a gray robe, his expression kind and tranquil, as if in deep meditation.

His aura was faint and concealed, blending perfectly into the surroundings. Even the fire spirits swimming nearby remained unaware of his presence.

Anyone who had been on the square outside the inner hall would recognize him immediately. He had stood behind the Dongji Alliance's leader and chosen to enter the Spiritual Infant cultivators’ trial realm when the gates opened.

The gray-robed elder sat motionless, completely indifferent to the peril surrounding him, showing no urgency to escape the trial realm.

After an indeterminate span of time, his eyes suddenly opened, and a flash of light flickered within his pupils. He turned his hand and retrieved an identical command token.

By now, Su Nu and her companions had nearly completed their preparations. A massive array had taken shape in the valley, its range vast and its structure intricate, nearly covering the entire valley.

The long-bearded elder took a deep breath and said in a solemn tone, "Begin!"

He raised the token and cast it into the air above the array. The others stood behind him, all looking up toward the floating command token.

Su Nu stared fixedly at the elder’s back, a flash of urgency appearing in her eyes. Yet with the burly man and the others standing beside her—all of them stronger than she was—she dared not make a single reckless move.

"Fix!" the long-bearded elder shouted, throwing out the command token and pointing toward it.

The token froze in mid-air at the exact center of the array. At once, the power of the grand array activated. Countless runes flickered, and streams of light began to circulate.

Rumble...

The ground quaked violently.

Had the place not been so well hidden, the disturbance would have surely drawn attention.

The spiritual array's runes surged wildly into the command token. The token trembled, radiating waves of light that grew brighter and brighter until they illuminated the entire valley.

Everyone’s hearts tightened as they watched the token’s changes with anxious eyes.

At the same time... On the island amidst the magma, the gray-robed old man’s command token flickered faintly like a wavering candle flame. His expression brightened, and he quickly began to chant an incantation.

Beneath the celestial barriers of the inner hall, the command token of the Dongji Alliance's leader trembled slightly in his palm, startling him awake.

He raised it and examined it for a moment. Then the corners of his lips curved into a faint smile. "Do you think that hiding at the main sacrificial altar, which only a Spiritual Infant can unlock, inside the Core Formation Realm’s trial would make it flawless?"