Chapter 644 477: Qing Song's Affairs Settled

East Sea.

The great battle on Qing Song Island had raged for some time. As the Cave Heaven faded from the mortal realm, the loose cultivators scattered like a swarm of bees, and the brilliance of spirit mechanism, once dazzling as the blazing sun, gradually waned until all that remained was the visage of an ordinary Cave Heaven Blessed Land.

Within the Great Void it was misty and boundless. Strands of flowing light rose up; the Cave Heaven of Qing Song Temple had completely detached and disappeared within the inky blackness of the Great Void, becoming waves of multicolored light sinking into infinite nothingness.

Brilliant colors from Divine Skills flowed within the Great Void. Figures stood there, encircling the floating pair of jade boxes at the center, silently watching. Not a single person spoke.

The atmosphere was awfully awkward. Soon, a northern figure broke the silence, speaking quietly:

"The couple belonging to Hengzhu Toaism and Changhuai Shan were empty to begin with. As for the two lost boxes, those are from Green Pond Sect and Ziyun Sect."

Nearby, swirling colored light gathered into a patch of blue-gray. Yuan Su stood in the Great Void, snorting coldly:

"What a lot of scrambling and fighting—I'd wager Hengzhu Toaism knew full well their box was empty! They didn't even send their Zifu…"

"The two left are Sword Sect and Great Owl Sunflower View. Neither are easy to deal with; perhaps you'd best weigh your own odds!"

Apparently, Yuan Su's reputation was never stellar. All present understood his temperament—his lifespan already near its end, nothing left to fear. Even when mocked, he said nothing, though a few Zifu did snort softly.

None of the Zifu mentioned the fate of those marked by destiny; it was as though some implicit agreement had already been reached. Only one sword-bearer spoke up:

"I only want the jade box that is rightfully ours…"

As soon as the words left his lips, someone interrupted with open disdain:

"So all the benefits go to your Sword Sect, and the rest of us are just here spectating?"

The sword-bearing man paused, then said:

"I'm willing to offer a compensation of sorts. The ancestral artifact inside the jade box—I, Cheng, must take it back."

The Great Void fell silent until, at last, a black-robed man spoke:

"We of Xiukui Toaism must do likewise."

All the Zifu's spiritual senses collided, whispering among themselves, while Yuan Su watched the jade boxes with lowered head, waiting for something, eyes fixed intently. Sure enough, a figure slowly stepped out into the Great Void.

This person wore a white robe, sword at his waist—a wooden sheath, hilt made from reddish-brown pine. He strolled in as though through a leisurely garden, coming to a gentle halt before the two jade boxes.

His face was blurred and indistinct. As he quietly approached, ripples of white radiance spread beneath his feet like waves stirring on water.

'Shangyuan!'

"Shangyuan."

All the Zifu simultaneously froze, every pupil—imbued with Divine Skills—fixed upon him. The various divine arts and esoteric Pupil Techniques intertwined and clashed throughout the Great Void, as if they would bore a hole right through his white robe.

None showed surprise. Instead, each seized every fleeting moment to measure this man with their techniques. All previous arguments and murmurs seemed never to have happened. These eleven Zifu were here solely to await his arrival.

Shangyuan Perfected Person reached out and picked up one of the jade boxes.

The box, fought over but never opened, seemed utterly ordinary in his hands. With a casual flick, he opened it—inside lay a short sword blade.

Shangyuan Perfected Person took it out, looking somewhat disappointed, and flicked it to the sword-bearing cultivator, speaking softly:

"Keep it well."

The Sword Sect Perfected Person was deeply grateful, bowing repeatedly, then said:

"Senior… when do you plan to break through? Have you decided on the method?"

Shangyuan Perfected Person, apparently familiar with him, ignored the rest of the Zifu, chuckling lightly:

"The 'Jade True' belongs to the Ancient Merging Method. I take neither Yin Yang nor the Five Elements, but attest to Metal Nature through the proof of Void and Substance."

He turned to look at the Xiukui Perfected Person beside him, and spoke gently:

"'Hengzhu' and 'Xiukui' are also of the Ancient Merging Method. You all may come and observe—it could benefit you greatly."

He said this as he picked up the remaining jade box, tossing it to the Perfected Person's hand, paying no heed to the words of thanks, vanishing on air.

With benefits secured, the Sword Sect and Great Owl Sunflower View Perfected Persons were overjoyed. There was no reason to linger in the Great Void; goods in hand, they flashed away in an instant, disappearing without a trace.

The remaining nine Zifu said nothing, only staring as the two jade boxes were imperiously divided. None dared to speak. Only the one in the very center sighed, and with a gentle wave summoned treasures into the air.

There were many treasures, the most basic of which were the finest Foundation Establishment artifacts, arrayed thickly in the Great Void. Only a few caught the eye as ancient magical instruments from the Cave Heaven. That Zifu spoke:

"Twenty-six magic artifacts, two Zifu Spirit Instruments, six pieces of inheritance news, nine clues to ruins, as well as all kinds of lost lore. Choose freely as you wish; if the value is overly great, leave something behind in exchange."

He raised his brows and, from the pile, drew forth a sparkling, watery stone; wave patterns flickered on its surface amidst twinkling light.

The Perfected Person glanced at it and spoke softly:

"Does anyone want this one? For Foundation Establishment, it's a top treasure, called the Jade Sky Screen."

...

Green Pond Mountain was half a nation west of Wangyue Lake; Li Xizhi donned white robes, the group riding the wind, aiming not to be spotted and flying high above, among the clouds.

The spirit mechanism here was thin, hard for wind-riding, so few came to this place. Yet these were disciples of the Immortal Sect, so riding the wind here was only natural. In silence, they flew through the rising, rosy clouds.