Chapter 438: Opening the Heavens

After circling around, Chu Liang returned to the central peak of the hidden realm and, sure enough, found that Situ Guanhai and Xi Miaoxian had also returned.

As soon as he landed, the two approached him and formally expressed their gratitude. "Young Hero Chu, many thanks for rescuing us."

Due to the tense relationship between Mount Shu and Penglai, Xi Miaoxian hadn't even acknowledged Chu Liang before. Now, having been saved by him, she couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed of herself.

Situ Guanhai, on the other hand, appeared somewhat astonished. "I've heard my junior brother mention you before, but I didn’t expect you to be this skilled. I had just developed this talismanic technique which integrates elements of the Eight Trigrams so I thought I was the only one who would know it. I really didn't expect to see you performing it too."

"Apologies. I learned it from you without your permission while observing the extraordinary power displayed by the talismanic technique you performed," Chu Liang said with a smile. "Both of you really don't have to thank me. We were just doing each other a favor."

Although Chu Liang was being modest, his words left Situ Guanhai even more astonished.

"You learned it just by watching me perform it once?" Situ Guanhai's eyes widened in disbelief. "This..."

It had taken him countless hours of practice to perfect the technique, yet Chu Liang had mastered it after a single glance. The realization was both impressive and unsettling.

"I’ve long heard of Young Hero Chu's rising fame and extraordinary talent over the past year. Seeing it today, it’s truly remarkable," Xi Miaoxian praised with a smile.

Being complimented by a beauty would certainly spark joy, but Chu Liang knew Situ Guanhai clearly had feelings for Xi Miaoxian. Not wanting to steal the spotlight, Chu Liang subtly shifted his gaze to Situ Guanhai and said, "Brother Situ, as the creator of this technique, you are the one with extraordinary talent."

As they spoke, Monk Pushan and Feng Chaoyang, who had been lingering nearby, approached as well.

Upon hearing that Chu Liang had saved Xi Miaoxian and Situ Guanhai, Feng Chaoyang couldn't help but ask, "Young Hero Chu, why did you save them?"

Chu Liang smiled faintly and felt a sense of apprehension.

The next series of events turned out just as he had expected.

Before he could respond, Xi Miaoxian shifted her attention to Feng Chaoyang. She fixed her gaze on him and remarked, "Just because some of you harbor ill intentions doesn’t mean Young Hero Chu should abandon his chivalrous conduct and stoop to your level."

"Hmph," Feng Chaoyang snorted coldly. "Chivalry, you say? It all depends on who’s on the receiving end. Hasn't the Penglai Supreme Sect often oppressed the Mount Shu Sect?"

"Stop slandering us!" Xi Miaoxian exclaimed. "We have always worked closely with Mount Shu; we are allies."

"Yeah, right," Feng Chaoyang shouted. "We, the Celestial King Sect, are the true allies of Mount Shu!"

"Regardless of sect, I've long admired Young Hero Chu's reputation," Xi Miaoxian said as she took a step forward.

"I’ve known Young Hero Chu for a long time!" Feng Chaoyang suddenly exclaimed, grabbing Chu Liang's arm with a firm grip.

"From now on, Young Hero Chu will be my dearest friend!" Xi Miaoxian declared, stepping up and looping her arm around Chu Liang's.

"Wait, wait, wait..." Chu Liang quickly pulled his arms free and leaped back in a hurry.

Well, it’s fortunate the people from Celestial Pivot Pavilion aren't here,

he thought.

Otherwise, if this scene reached the Wind-Catching Hall, it would probably end up in The Seven Stars Gazette, and explaining it would be impossible!

Over the years, the disciples of the Penglai Supreme Sect and the Celestial King Sect—two of the top immortal sects—had always clashed like fighting crickets, squabbling whenever they met.

Disciples from other immortal sects had long grown accustomed to it.

But why was that strange competitive spirit being directed at me?

"In this hidden realm, let’s stop arguing over pointless things," Chu Liang advised. "How about some healthy competition? Let's see who can comprehend the eight talismanic scripts first or who can obtain the golden talisman."

"I'm not competing with her," Feng Chaoyang pouted.

"Oh? Why not?" Xi Miaoxian shot him a sideways glance.

Feng Chaoyang loudly declared, "Because I can't beat her!"

"... " Chu Liang fell silent.

Honestly, you really didn’t have to sound so proud of that.

...

Xi Miaoxian, clearly tired of the bickering, turned her focus to Chu Liang and said, "We’ve likely already pinpointed where the golden talisman is hidden."

"What?" Chu Liang looked over as he spoke. "Then that Xiangliu from earlier..."

"Exactly," Xi Miaoxian confirmed with a nod. "We stumbled upon an underwater palace guarded by the Xiangliu. It seems we need all of the Eight Trigram Talismans to unlock the entrance. I got impatient and tried it anyway, using a talismanic for each of the seven heads. But two heads were left untamed, and that's why things turned out the way they did earlier..."

So that's what happened.

Chu Liang thought back to the earlier scene when Xiangliu had been chasing them; sure enough, only two of its heads had attacked. But even so, that monstrous beast was on par with a seventh-realm demonic beast. Even if it only had two heads left, it was not something that they could handle.

If they could gather all eight talismanic scripts, the eight heads would allow them entry, and subduing the final head wouldn't be nearly as difficult.

This was the actual trial that the Celestial Talisman Master had set up.

Situ Guanhai then remarked, "But actual fire doesn’t exist in this hidden realm, so there’s no way for us to study the Li-Character Talisman."

Chu Liang nodded slightly.

To comprehend the talismanic script, they needed to study something that exist in this hidden realm. It had to be something that came into existence through a talismanic script. They could not summon a fire through a talisman.

But with the endless rain and wind in this realm, how could even a single spark of fire survive?

Everyone gathered in a circle, silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.

Monk Pushan leaned over and whispered to Feng Chaoyang, "What are they doing?"

"I have no idea. It looks like they’re deep in thought," Feng Chaoyang whispered back.

Not wanting to stand out, Feng Chaoyang furrowed his brow, pretending to think hard about something, though he had no clue what he was supposed to be thinking.

Monk Pushan covered his face with a hand and sighed. "Young Hero Feng, you really have it rough."

"Yeah," Feng Chaoyang muttered. "There’s no sun, moon, or stars here. My Heavenly Star Unusual Art is completely useless."

"What did you say?" Chu Liang suddenly looked up.

"I said..." Feng Chaoyang shivered under Chu Liang's gaze, blinking nervously. "My Heavenly Star Unusual Art can’t be used here..."

"The sentence before that," Chu Liang muttered, "There’s no sun or moon here..."

Suddenly, he stood up and looked to the sky. "This place is composed of the most primal elements of the Eight Trigrams Talismans. But no matter how primal, there should be one essential thing..."

"Exactly!" Xi Miaoxian's eyes brightened, a divine light flickering within them.

"Thanks to you, Brother Feng." Chu Liang patted Feng Chaoyang on the shoulder before shooting up into the sky.

Thanks for the casual remark that answered my question. Indeed, there is no fire here. But there should be one important thing—and that is... the sun!

At that moment, dark clouds rolled across the sky, with winds howling and thunder rumbling, concealing the heavens and blocking all sunlight and moonlight.

Chu Liang soared higher, his hands tracing intricate patterns in the air as he activated the Qian-Character Talisman, unleashing a powerful, rumbling force.

Boom—

The sky full of dark clouds slowly parted, as if pulled aside by a pair of giant hands, moving with a thunderous sound to both sides.

Opening the heavens!

As the clouds parted, a crimson sun emerged, blazing brilliantly in the sky, its radiant light flooding the earth. Divine light cascaded down, illuminating everything in its path and filling the world with a scorching brilliance!

It was fire.

An unimaginably blazing fire!