White-Robed Chief

The location they were in was the front basilica, the former area where Chancellors rested.

It was a place to take a break before and after the imperial court session. Having an audience with the Emperor was a strenuous task after all. It was simply exhausting to be on their feet the whole time and hike out of the Imperial House on foot thereafter.

“Young Lu, follow me.” The elder in black chuckled as he swung his horsetail whisk. “You three wait here. I will escort you after.”

“Yes, Elder Zhao.” The trio gestured a fist salute with respect and nodded.

The plump elder in black descended the stairs. Chu Li followed close behind, bypassed the basilica and marched 200 yards to a hall in the back.

A board was hanging over the hall with the words, ‘Chong Wen Hall’ gleaming in a golden shimmer.

Chu Li lifted his head to look. For a moment, he was stunned.

He was not as susceptible to his surroundings as when he had the Omniscient Mirror. However, he finally realized that everything above his head was a different view after entering the Imperial House.

Ten feet above his head were no longer murals or shiny stones but clusters of luminous pearls inlaid in stone slabs.

These luminous pearls were not counted individually but by clusters to illustrate a night sky.

A cluster or several clusters of luminous pearls formed a constellation and there were other clusters of exceptionally bright pearls that shaped a full moon that emitted a gentle glow.

With luminous pearls, everything in the Imperial House was visible without the presence of a torch. Although it could not compare to daylight, the place was brightly illuminated without a hint of gloominess. One would forget that they were underground.

Chu Li was speechless with amazement at the number of luminous pearls in the ceiling. If he had the Omniscient Mirror, he would be able to estimate the number at first glance. However, he had to take his time counting area by area to make out the number. This was a display of the imperial family’s luxury in all its glory.

“Young Lu, what are you standing around there for? Come over!” The elder in black who was ahead, turned back to look at him.

Chu Li smiled. “Elder Zhao, do I really have to go to Chong Wen Hall?”

“Quit the nonsense.” The elder in black beamed. “Don’t worry, you’ll be on duty outside the hall. You won’t be going in.”

Chu Li breathed a sigh of relief before motioning a fist salute. “Thank you, Elder Zhao.”

The elder in black said, “It’s not easy outside the hall. You must endure it.”

It was sheer hard work to be on duty inside the mausoleum for Protectors of the exterior mausoleum. It would be fine if they were able to persevere but their martial arts would regress to nothing if they failed to do so. Hence, their lives were at risk when taking different turns in duty.

He had no choice but to order Chu Li to guard Chong Wen Hall. After checking the cultivation level of the four, Chu Li was the strongest so he was the only suitable one.

Chu Li sighed. “I’ll try my best!”

“If you’re able to hold on, I’ll give you something.” The elder in black chuckled.

Chu Li regained his spirits. “What good is Elder Zhao going to provide me?”

“Two jugs of wine.” The elder in black laughed. “I know you love your wine more than anything. This wine is gifted by the Imperial House for us in the inner mausoleum. No one else has the chance to savor it!”

“Thank you, Elder Zhao!” Chu Li’s mouth watered. He gestured a fist salute to offer his gratitude.

The elder in black grinned. “Keep watch here, you are not to enter in there.”

“Yes.” Chu Li solemnly nodded.

He knew there were masters inside the place. In terms of defense, Chong Wen Hall was the strictest, not just on the outside, but more so on the inside with masters covering every inch of the place. There was no way to invade the place.

Chu Li felt like his acute senses were lost and his hands tied without his Omniscient Mirror. He did not know whether there were any masters inside the hall or what the imperishable golden body looked like.

Nevertheless, piling momentum surged towards him and crushed him. He felt as if he was in the midst of raging waves yet somehow carrying the weight of a mountain on his shoulders at the same time. It was heavy and a struggle. His body was creaking as though his bones were about to break and his flesh was about to be crushed to bits under pressure.

He initiated Maha-Vairocana’s Immobility Scripture. A ring of light flowed along behind the head of the Buddha in mind void, flickering in a white glaze. Regaining his spirit, he loosened up a tad. He was no longer seeing stars but still felt awful.

He carefully inspected his body to endure this force. Was it an illusion or the real deal? Did it have a direct impact on the spirit or an intangible force of substance like Heavenly Demonic Power?

Chu Li observed the situation within his body through the Omniscient Mirror and found it was not an impact on the spirit as he thought. The force was real, invisible yet an existence with substance. It was a bit similar to the Heavenly Demonic Energy he felt from Fu Qingya.

After this force raided his body, he felt both weight and strength squashing his flesh, as well as his spirit. Those with low cultivation levels would quickly crumble under pressure. The collapse of both spirit and flesh brought about the regression of martial arts.

He shook his head and sighed internally. It seemed the strike inflicted by the Emperor before was not his entire strength and only the tip of the iceberg. He still had a long way to flee from the palm of the Emperor’s hands.

This aside, he was already helpless against such presence.

Though he had Maha-Vairocana’s Immobility Scripture, he could not step a foot closer into Chong Wen Hall. All he could do was stand at a distance, circulating his martial arts in agony for a fighting chance. He did not know how long more he could endure.

His inner energy was reduced to nothing. It was difficult to ward off the invasion of this invisible force with a dwindling drive. Feeling defeated, he estimated he would not last more than two hours.

Maha-Vairocana’s Immobility Scripture could obstruct the force from invading his spirit but was powerless against the invasion of the body. Heavenly Demonic Power and many of his martial arts were restricted, deeming them ineffective against this force.

Struck by a thought, he circulated the Heavenly Demonic Spirit Devouring Technique. If it was capable of devouring this force, the Heavenly Demonic Orb would be greatly nourished, perhaps even be enhanced.

He circulated Heavenly Demonic Spirit Devouring Technique but alas, to no avail.

Heavenly Demonic Spirit Devouring Technique could not engulf this force. The force was strange. It was gentle as the water in spring, thin as a muslin yet somewhat imaginary at the same time. Heavenly Demonic Spirit Devouring Technique was unable to capture its existence.

Wheels were turning in Chu Li’s head as he tried to figure out other ways to suppress it. There was a possibility if him caving in if this were to continue on. At that moment, not even the Earth Matrix and Reincarnation Scripture would not be able to recover the regressed martial arts.

Suddenly, the intruding unknown force became tame at the trigger of Earth Matrix and Reincarnation Scripture and was effortlessly converted into his inner energy. Following the circulation of Cloud Slashing Power’s heart technique, this energy finally became Cloud Slashing Power’s inner energy.

This gushing vibrant inner energy was not restricted by the bronze gates and formations. It would not be considered anything extraordinary if the same inner energy was obtained outside. Although it was purer, the inner energy lacked in depth. Still, it was a formidable power. He had a sudden urge to barge into the hall to take a look at the golden body.

Chu Li accelerated the circulation of Earth Matrix and Reincarnation Scripture, hastening the energy conversion. As he was in his element, his Cloud Slashing Power’s inner energy was on the rise.

He had a boost in confidence. By the looks of it, Chu Li would have been able to stand firm on his own two feet and last for at least a day!

After settling his mind, he stood still falling deep into thought. How could he go about entering Chong Wen Hall to catch a glimpse of the immortal golden body? If he could not even take a peek of the golden body, how could he possibly obtain the Enlightened Master’s energy? The first step to get his hands on the Enlightened Master’s energy was to enter the hall.

He vaguely had an idea of why he stood guard outside the hall. It was possibly because he was a Protector of the exterior mausoleum. Only Protectors of the inner mausoleum had the right to enter!