Chapter Fifty-Six: The Altar

Two hours later, Sun Fanbai walked in from outside the inn, holding a Bagua compass in his hands.

“Everyone… I…” he began, only to see Shi Qi and the others sprawled separately across the floor, rambling nonsense.

Sun Fanbai wiped his brow in embarrassment, muttering to himself, “What on earth…”

Su Xiaomu, popping the last piece of smoked meat into her mouth, mumbled, “They drank too much—hopeless but can’t resist playing around.”

With a sweeping gesture, Sun Fanbai sobered the three up.

“I have used the Bagua compass to draw in spiritual energy from the southern part of Little East Prefecture,” Sun Fanbai explained. “If the Lingxu spatial rift opens at midnight tonight, the energy within the compass will certainly fluctuate. At that moment, Miss Su, your perception will be crucial to pinpoint the exact location.”

Bai Qiu nodded. “Old Sun, you always have a way. Why not sit down for a drink?”

Sun Fanbai shook his head. “I’ve long since abstained from worldly pleasures. I wouldn’t enjoy it.”

Shi Qi smacked Bai Qiu on the back of the head. “All you think about is drinking!”

Bai Qiu rubbed his head. “Don’t look at me; I wasn’t the one who started it.”

Shi Qi glanced sideways, then said in unison with Bai Qiu, “It was Yan Yu!”

Yan Yu was speechless.

That night at midnight, the five gathered around a table where Sun Fanbai’s Bagua compass slowly revolved.

“Still nothing?” Bai Qiu asked.

Su Xiaomu shook her head. “I haven’t sensed anything.”

Bai Qiu turned to Sun Fanbai. “Old Sun, is this thing broken?”

Sun Fanbai shook his head in silence.

A moment later, Su Xiaomu suddenly exclaimed, “There it is!”

“Where?” they all asked.

She pointed to a position on the compass. “Kun—earth—yielding—the mother—the belly… Southwest. Let’s go!”

The five left the city, shooting into the sky, heading at full speed toward the southwest of Little East Prefecture.

Within the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, they reached a small valley named “Bowl Gully.”

“Stop,” Su Xiaomu signaled. “I can feel it. It’s close.”

No sooner had she spoken than the space to their right began to distort—the telltale sign of a Lingxu spatial rift forming!

As the rift steadily opened, Bai Qiu said, “Not bad, Old Sun. You really know your stuff.”

Yan Yu chimed in, “You think everyone’s as useless as you?”

Bai Qiu shot Yan Yu a middle finger and let it go.

As the rift widened, Shi Qi said, “That’s enough. Let’s go!”

The group nodded and charged into the opening.

Passing through, they saw outside the rift a giant mantis-shaped demon beast, evidently waiting for its chance to escape.

Upon seeing the newcomers, the mantis hastily retreated, turning to fly away.

“Wretched creature, halt!” Sun Fanbai bellowed. With a flick of his right hand, a golden Immortal Binding Rope flew from his sleeve, speeding after the mantis and binding it tightly.

Shi Qi and Bai Qiu followed up with a barrage of spells. The hapless mantis, caught off guard, was blasted straight to oblivion.

After slaying the mantis, Shi Qi surveyed the surroundings, sensing the abundant spiritual energy within the Lingxu.

The air here was far richer in spiritual energy than any of the Twelve Prefectures. Towering ancient trees were everywhere, no doubt thriving thanks to this profusion.

Bai Qiu landed beside the mantis’s corpse. “This must be the beast that slaughtered those villagers.”

Yan Yu nodded. “It was this very monster I fought that day.”

“Time is short,” Shi Qi said. “Yan Yu, you spent some time here before—did you notice anything unusual? Like an array or an altar?”

Yan Yu shook her head. “The Lingxu isn’t large—about the size of a city. The edges are walled off by that air barrier I mentioned. I’ve searched the whole place. Apart from trees and several demon beasts, there’s nothing special.”

“Let’s go check out the air wall,” Sun Fanbai said.

“Just pick a direction and keep flying straight,” Yan Yu replied.

Choosing a direction, the group flew swiftly. Though the demon beasts throughout the Lingxu lacked reason, they sensed the newcomers’ formidable presence and hid away, not wanting to die needlessly.

The Lingxu truly wasn’t large; within moments, they reached its edge and confronted the air wall.

Shi Qi examined it. The transparent wall seemed non-existent, but when he activated his Heavenly Eye to peer within, all he could see was chaos—nothing discernible. He swung his fist hard at the wall.

“Duang!”

His knuckles struck the barrier with a deafening clang, as if hitting solid steel; his fist tingled with pain, yet the wall didn’t budge an inch.

Bai Qiu and Sun Fanbai each tried spells to break it, but to no avail—the air wall remained unmoved.

Sun Fanbai frowned. “What a strange Lingxu.”

“There must be something different about this place,” Shi Qi reasoned. “Otherwise, why would the Lingxu rift open here of all places? Think—what are we missing?”

Suddenly, Yan Yu spoke up, “Wait, I remember now. There’s a lake in the middle of the Lingxu—the only one. I’m not a strong swimmer, so I didn’t explore it.”

“Let’s go check it out,” Bai Qiu suggested. “There’s nothing more to find at this wall.”

The others agreed and flew to the Lingxu’s center.

Sure enough, at its heart was a blue-green lake surrounded by towering giant trees.

“I’m a good swimmer. I’ll go check it out,” Shi Qi volunteered.

But Sun Fanbai stopped him. “No need, brother Shi. I have just the thing.”

He pulled a silvery pearl from his storage pouch, lustrous and glowing with pristine light.

“Water-Repelling Pearl!” Bai Qiu exclaimed.

Sun Fanbai nodded. “Exactly.”

He infused it with true energy, and the pearl flared with white light, forming a protective sphere around them.

“Let’s go,” Sun Fanbai said.

They leapt into the water. Instantly, the lake parted as if sentient, clearing a dry path wherever the pearl’s barrier passed. Not a drop touched them as they dove deeper.

“Hey,” Bai Qiu laughed, “this thing’s pretty handy. Shi Qi, do you think it’d counter your water-element spells?”

“Maybe after we leave the Lingxu,” Shi Qi replied. “Borrow Old Sun’s pearl and let’s have a duel!”

Bai Qiu shook his head. “You’re making progress too fast, you little monster. I’m not fighting you!”

Amidst their banter, they reached the lakebed, which was dim but clear under the pearl’s glow.

Shi Qi surveyed the area. The lake wasn’t large; the bottom was easily visible.

“Look there!” Bai Qiu shouted.

Following his gaze, they saw a small altar at the very center of the lakebed.

“As expected,” Sun Fanbai said, “the secret of this Lingxu must lie within that altar.”

“Let’s find out,” Yan Yu urged.

The three strode confidently toward the altar, but Su Xiaomu and Shi Qi felt a faint unease. The demon cores within them trembled, as if stirred by some unknown force.

As they neared the altar, they saw it was simple—a lone stone table, upon which rested a black stone orb, faintly veined with cracks.

Shi Qi and Su Xiaomu stared at the orb, their demon cores trembling more violently. Deep within, Shi Qi even felt a thread of fear.

“What is this black orb?” Yan Yu wondered aloud, reaching for it.

“Wait!!” Shi Qi and Su Xiaomu cried in unison.

But it was too late—Yan Yu’s hand touched the orb.

Suddenly, black light burst from the stone, enveloping them all.

What’s happening?!

Everything went dark. Instinctively, they readied themselves for danger.

Shi Qi hurled out the Thousand-Strand Shield to guard the group, Bai Qiu gripped talismans in both hands, Sun Fanbai and Yan Yu summoned the Bagua compass and the Sevenfold Banner, all bracing for attack.

But all was silent. Nothing happened.

After a time, their vision cleared.

Bai Qiu checked himself—unharmed. “What just happened?”

No answer. He turned, only to find Shi Qi and the others staring wide-eyed behind him.

He looked over his shoulder—and his mind went blank with shock.

There, before him, was a dragon!

A colossal azure dragon—serpentine body, crocodilian head, lizard limbs, eagle talons, serpent tail, fish scales, whiskers at its mouth, a luminous pearl beneath its chin.

The dragon glared at them, its eyes fierce and unblinking, paralyzing them with dread.

It was as if they were bound in place. Several heartbeats passed before they could move again, cold sweat running down their backs.

“A dragon… It’s really a dragon! The legendary dragon!” Yan Yu cried.

Sun Fanbai observed for a moment, then exhaled deeply. “We were caught off guard by a secret technique, and it amplified our fear. Now that we’re aware, the effect is fading.”

He continued, “First, this isn’t a physical being—it’s an illusion.”

With that, they all activated their Heavenly Eyes. Sure enough, upon closer inspection, the dragon was not material, but the product of an elaborate formation.

Bai Qiu sighed in relief. “How embarrassing—not to notice it was an illusion. But this is so real, far more convincing than my family’s Azure Dragon Talisman.”

Sun Fanbai went on, “Second—Brother Shi, take a good look at this dragon. Is anything amiss?”

Shi Qi nodded, studying it closely.

Aside from its immobility, the dragon was indistinguishable from reality—if one didn’t look carefully, it was impossible to tell it was an illusion.

It had a serpentine body with four limbs, a slender neck adorned with white markings, and above its eyes, protruding flesh crossed between the brows; each claw had four talons.

“Hmm?” Shi Qi finally sensed something odd.

Sun Fanbai glanced at Shi Qi, a mysterious light flickering in his eyes…