Chapter 835: The Taiqing Heart Lantern

"Saint Lun Hui? He doesn't seem impressive at all," Madam Rouge replied disdainfully.

"Can your mirror peer into other Enlightenment Grounds? I'd like to have a look," Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Madam Rouge glanced at Xiao Nanfeng and waved a hand.

With a rustling sound, nearly a hundred additional mirrors appeared out of thin air, surrounding the central one just like the Enlightenment Grounds in the distance.

Each mirror displayed what was happening in the corresponding Enlightenment Grounds. Apart from the central mirror, which showed Saint Lun Hui, the other mirrors each featured different figures in robes, male and female alike. Xiao Nanfeng recognized most of them—they were Taiqing guardians, and the former sect master Lu Yan was included in their number. They all seemed to be solemnly waiting for something.

The hundred Enlightenment Grounds were packed with red-furred monsters, an endless sea of them that left Xiao Nanfeng stunned.

"Saint Lun Hui is casting a spell," Madam Rouge murmured.

The two of them turned their attention back to the central mirror. Indeed, the saint seemed to be chanting. The air before him rippled slightly as if he were summoning something.

After about two hours, the space in front of Saint Lun Hui split open with a rumbling crack. Black fog poured out from the rift, filling the Enlightenment Grounds with a primordial aura that surged in all directions. It even spilled out toward Xiao Nanfeng.

"What a familiar aura," Madam Rouge murmured, surprised.

In the center of the black fog, a huge circular platform began to emerge—a circular altar a few kilometers wide. A few runes pulsed along its surface.

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"The primordial altar?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

They watched on as Saint Lun Hui took a deep breath and chanted loudly, "Primordial Altar, hear my plea! In the past, the Taiqing Grandmaster sacrificed the Taiqing Heart Lantern to you. Today, I come with a similar offering in exchange for the relic. Please accept me plea!"

The primordial altar emitted an even more powerful burst of black fog, which coiled around the altar in a swirling storm. A terrifying maw formed, seemingly ready to devour everything in its path.

"Masters of the Enlightenment Grounds, drive the red-furred monsters toward the primordial altar!" Saint Lun Hui commanded.

"Understood!" the Taiqing guardians replied.

Immediately, the superior yin pearls within the Enlightenment Grounds began to direct the countless red-furred monsters toward the primordial altar, where they were quickly consumed by the hungry black fog.

The red-furred monsters in the central Enlightenment Grounds were devoured in an instant.

One by one, the other Enlightenment Grounds forged a connection with the central territory, each forming a portal through which the red-furred monsters were driven toward the primordial altar.

The monsters surged forward in droves, vast as the ocean. They comprised nearly the entire population of the divine empire of Daxue. Despite the Taiqing guardians' best efforts, it would take quite a bit of time to drive all the monsters toward the altar.

"They're sacrificing an entire divine empire's population? These people are truly heartless..." Xiao Nanfeng murmure,d frowning.

The red-furred monsters were devoured by the primordial altar without so much as a scream.

When the last of the monsters had finally been consumed, the black fog by the surface of the altar began to dissipate, though a faint layer remained behind to shroud the altar's true appearance.

It trembled briefly before a red glow emerged from within, illuminating the central Enlightenment Grounds.

A small red flame appeared, followed by a wick, and then the Taiqing Heart Lantern itself—a simple red oil lamp with an eerie crimson flame.

Even through the mirror, Xiao Nanfeng felt a chill at the sight of the lantern despite its small size and unassuming appearance.

"The Taiqing Heart Lantern? It's said to contain the Taiqing Grandmaster's heart force and insight into his cultivation of the heart. No wonder they're going to such lengths to retrieve it from the primordial altar," Madam Rouge murmured.

Xiao Nanfeng's eyes lit up with a sudden realization. "Are you saying that it's possible to exchange offerings to retrieve items once sacrificed to the primordial altar?"

Madam Rouge frowned for a moment. "I'm not sure. I've never tried it, at least. I don't know if this Taiqing Heart Lantern was the one sacrificed long ago, or if the primordial altar was able to create a copy."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. The thought filled him with anticipation.

As the Taiqing Heart Lantern emerged from the primordial altar, it bathed the Enlightenment Grounds in red light. The central territory seemed to exert a pull on the surrounding Enlightenment Grounds, drawing them all in.

One quickly merged with the central Enlightenment Grounds, like two soap bubbles becoming one.

Pop, pop, pop...

The Enlightenment Grounds continued to merge in rapid succession.

"The Taiqing Heart Lantern, like the Shangqing praying mat, can merge Enlightenment Grounds together?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

"Merging Enlightenment Grounds simply requires a corresponding source of heart energy. The Taiqing Heart Lantern contains ample heart force from the Taiqing Grandmaster himself. It's ideal for merging Enlightenment Grounds from the same lineage."

"So that's how it is." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

The central Enlightenment Grounds continued to expand as the pillar of white light behind Saint Lun Hui grew larger, amplifying his aura and power. The saint's face lit up with excitement, realizing that his power would reach an apex once all the Enlightenment Grounds had merged together.

"The Taiqing Heart Lantern is worth every bit of effort I put into securing it, haha!" he shouted.

Just then, a beam of white light shot toward him.

"Who's there?" he demanded, slamming his palm forward.

The white light exploded into dense white fog that instantly enveloped Saint Lun Hui, coalescing into a block of solid ice that trapped him within.

Saint Lun Hui froze. The solid ice seemed to be able to sever his connection to the pillar of white light. All the energy that Saint Lun Hui tried to draw from the pillar was reflected as it struck the ice.

"The Ice Casket of the divine empire of Dahan? Han Gucheng, show yourself!" Saint Lun Hui called out.

Out of nowhere, a figure emerged from the void—none other than Han Gucheng himself.

He was holding the relic that had sealed the saint in his hand. He smiled. "I've been waiting for you for quite some time, Saint Lun Hui. You've been rather slow about all this."

"What?" Saint Lun Hui suddenly felt a sense of unease.

"Without my assistance, you wouldn't have been able to finish the offering so quickly. I was right, after all—the primordial altar is in your possession. Now, it'll be mine!" Han Gucheng laughed triumphantly.

Saint Lun Hui's eyes twitched. "No wonder the divine empire of Daxue fell so easily. I thought it was due to those Taiqing guardians, but it was your doing! How did you find out?"

"Was it really that hard? The Taiqing Heart Lantern is a priceless treasure, as is the primordial altar," Han Gucheng replied, his voice brimming with excitement.

He flew over to the two relics.

"Stop him!" Saint Lun Hui shouted.

The superior yin pearls charged toward Han Gucheng as they emitted murderous auras.

At that moment, a figure stepped between Han Gucheng and the superior yin pearls. With a single blow, she sent all of them flying backwards.

"Gan Qing?" Saint Lun Hui exclaimed.

She was none other than the former emperor of Daliang.

Han Gucheng quickly approached the Taiqing Heart Lantern, eyes gleaming with anticipation. He reached out for it, but the moment his hand drew near, the lantern emitted a brilliant red light that repelled him.

"Strange. Why does the heart energy around the Taiqing Heart Lantern seem so strong? It's actively repelling anyone who tries to touch it—could this be the original Taiqing Heart Lantern from thousands of years ago?" Han Gucheng exclaimed.

Just then, another figure rushed into the Enlightenment Grounds—a second avatar of Saint Lun Hui, who flew straight toward the Ice Casket and struck at it with a fist.

"Break!" he shouted.

However, a woman suddenly appeared before him, meeting his punch with her own. The clash generated a fearsome shockwave.

"The Immortal Emperor of Daxue, Lin Wanqing? Are you one of Han Gucheng's subordinates, too?"

Lin Wanqing, having intercepted Saint Lun Hui's avatar, glared back at him coldly.

"Han Gucheng is my husband. What do you think?"

The saint's avatar was taken aback. He hadn't realized that both the Immortal Emperors of Daliang and Daxue were allied with Han Gucheng.

With a whoosh, yet another avatar of Saint Lun Hui joined the fray.

Gan Qing abandoned her assault on the superior yin pearls and rushed to meet him, her fist clashing with his in a mighty explosion that halted his advance.

Gan Qing and Lin Wanqing each held off one avatar from Saint Lun Hui, leaving him helpless.

"What are you waiting for? Help me break out of this Ice Casket!" he shouted.

The superior yin pearls rushed toward the casket once again.

Han Gucheng smirked and waved a hand. "Freeze!"

A beam of white light shot forth, instantly encasing all the superior yin pearls in ice.

The superior yin pearls emitted frost themselves and were highly resistant to it. They would break free soon enough, but Han Gucheng merely needed a moment's delay.

He turned and prepared to seize the Taiqing Heart Lantern again.

At that moment, another figure appeared beside it—Madam Rouge.

Her eyes lit up with anticipation as she too reached out for the Taiqing Heart Lantern.

"You? This is my relic!" Han Gucheng thundered.