Cloudwater Palace, turtle-snake Taiyi... As Li Fan pondered, a plan began to form in his mind.
He certainly wouldn't risk his life to test the Heaven-Scorning Sword's power firsthand inside Taiyi Hall.
And with Formless Killing Mechanism at his disposal, there was no need for such direct exposure.
He deployed his avatar to make some arrangements.
Meanwhile, his true self quietly approached Cloudwater Palace, like a hunter waiting for rabbits.
Soon, a guide to exploring Cloudwater Palace began spreading throughout the Congyun Sea. No one knew its source.
Initially, cultivators remained skeptical of the guide's contents. But as some practitioners tested its methods with their very lives and genuinely obtained inheritance technique, the guide's accuracy was ultimately verified.
By mastering an Oddity's rules, casualties could be nearly eliminated.
Thus, Cloudwater Palace, which was already a popular destination for explorers, became even more bustling.
Not only did rogue cultivators continue to gamble with their lives, but even normally cautious members of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, now armed with these "clearance answers," were unable to resist.
All of them flocked to Cloudwater Palace seeking opportunities.
Li Fan, who had been waiting all this while, selected those with exceptional providence and marked them with Formless Killing Mechanism.
Using them as his eyes, he probed the mysteries of the Heaven-Scorning Sword.
The guide's conclusion clearly explained how to approach Taiyi Hall and awaken the turtle-snake monster, but made no mention of what opportunities one might obtain there.
As the saying goes, “Appetite comes with eating.”
It felt only logical that greater treasures lay deeper within Cloudwater Palace. Moreover, among the many explorers, it was inevitable that there were bold souls full of pioneering spirit.
Thus, under Li Fan's watchful gaze, nearly a dozen individuals, who were still unsatisfied by their current gains, pressed onward to Taiyi Hall.
Soon, they reached the sword forest.
Though the heart-piercing pain from the swords was terrifying, the thought of treasures ahead made the suffering more bearable.
Gritting their teeth against the agony, the group arrived nearly exhausted at the plaza before Taiyi Hall.
Following the guide's instructions, they began shouting:
"I am a disciple of the 167th generation of Cloudwater Palace. I seek an audience with Patriarch Taiyi!"
"Patriarch Taiyi, we beg you to show yourself!"
Their cries echoed above the great hall.
Boom!
The earth trembled as Taiyi Hall rose into the air.
Amidst the fear and anticipation of the crowd, the turtle-snake monster showed its form.
It gazed confusedly at the people before it, taking a long moment to process the situation.
A few quicker-witted cultivators activated the inheritance techniques they'd obtained from Cloudwater Palace, demonstrating their credentials.
The others immediately understood and hurriedly followed suit.
Suddenly, successive flashes of light from various techniques shone within the plaza, illuminating Taiyi.
"You..."
The slow-thinking turtle-snake monster finally gathered its wits.
"Are you all... disciples of Cloudwater Palace?"
Its gaze swept over them, verifying each one individually.
Observing the cultivators' varied expressions, its murky eyes filled with nostalgia and joy.
"Our Cloudwater Palace hasn't been this lively in so long.
"Ever since...
"Wait, I seem to have forgotten something important."
The turtle-snake's tone shifted, and its gaze suddenly grew bewildered.
Then, as if remembering something, its expression drastically changed.
The plaza shook violently as Taiyi Hall shuddered.
The massive turtle-snake monster began trembling uncontrollably for some reason.
"Children..."
It struggled to speak.
"Run!"
The cultivators who had been so eagerly anticipating this moment now stood frozen in place.
They all thought they must have had misheard.
"What does it mean, telling us to run?"
Everyone exchanged puzzled glances, unable to comprehend what was going on.