"So, counting from the moment your Medicine King Sect returned to the Xuanhuang World, it’s been twenty-four years. The timeline matches up." Xiao Heng immediately grasped the implication.
"But Fellow Daoist Linghu clearly stated the Medicine King Cauldron only left the world for a short while before returning. How could such a brief period translate to thousands of years passing here?" Zhang Haobo's brow furrowed deeply. "A time flow differential of over a thousandfold? Is that truly possible?"
None present could answer that question, and they all fell into a heavy silence.
"Perhaps there is a way to determine what truly transpired back then." After a moment, Linghu Chang seemed to recall something and spoke abruptly.
"When the Medicine King Cauldron fell towards the Xuanhuang World, its fuel was depleted and it ultimately fell into dormancy.
"But you just said you were only able to enter this place by guidance from the Mini Medicine King Cauldrons."
He looked at Xiao Heng. "Under normal circumstances, the resonance between Medicine King Cauldrons is one-directional. Only the holder of the true Medicine King Cauldron can sense the locations of the other Mini Cauldrons.
"For someone holding a Mini Cauldron to sense the location of the true cauldron... that typically only happens when the Sect Leader is summoning nearby sect disciples.
"This indicates one of two things: either the Sect Leader has already awakened. Or, after all these years, the Medicine King Cauldron recovered some power and has begun autonomously executing its protocols, calling for aid from the external world.
"In any case, we must proceed into the Gate of Life and Death to check on the Sect Leader's condition."
Linghu Chang stated gravely.
"Gate of Life and Death? That gray stone door at the end of the corridor? We tried it. It's completely immovable." Su Xiaomei responded.
"Naturally. ‘The Gate of Life and Death descends, severing life from death.’ Not even a Dao Unity cultivator could hope to make it budge. If you could damage it, it means something has gone terribly wrong." Linghu Chang dismissed her concern.
"You have a way?" Su Xiaomei asked, a touch of defiance in her voice.
"Hmph." Linghu Chang snorted coldly and said nothing more, flying towards the depths of the passageway.
Su Xiaomei and the other two exchanged glances and followed closely behind.
They arrived before the gray stone door moments later.
Linghu Chang was already seated cross-legged on the floor. The Mini Medicine King Cauldron materialized above his head once more, projecting a protective barrier.
A circle shimmered with golden light on the ground around him, inscribed with numerous symbols.
He then took out a talisman and affixed it to his own forehead.
Twenty-four golden needles orbited around him.
Four jade tablets were positioned around him.
Only after completing these defensive measures did Linghu Chang address Xiao Heng's group courteously. "Fellow Daoists, I must trouble you to act as my guards."
"Wonder what he's showing off for," Su Xiaomei muttered under her breath.
Linghu Chang paid her no mind, closing his eyes.
Then, an infantile form bearing an eighty percent resemblance to Linghu Chang himself suddenly emerged from his body.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoists!" The infant gave a cultured bow to Xiao Heng and the others, its appearance utterly adorable.
"This is..."
"A Nascent Soul?"
Xiao Heng and the others were profoundly shocked.
Modern cultivators had long abandoned the method of "shattering the golden core to form the Nascent Soul."
Instead, they directly plundered a grotto-heaven, forming a grotto-heaven domain to serve as a substitute for the Nascent Soul.
Witnessing this legendary existence now, their shock was mingled with intense curiosity.
After his Nascent Soul exited his body, it did not immediately fly out beyond the protections Linghu Chang had laid.
Instead, it retrieved a set of miniature Azurewood armor and donned it.
It then swallowed several pills before finally transforming into a streak of flowing light, shooting towards the gray stone door.
Bathed in that greenish radiance, the stone door seemed to absorb the light, acquiring a faint sort of vitality, as though it had briefly come alive.
Seizing the opening, Linghu Chang plunged headfirst into the emerald-hued region of the gate.
The moment he vanished, the Gate of Life and Death fell silent, returning to its original, lifeless state.
“A Nascent Soul departing the body... truly extraordinary,” Su Xiaomei muttered, reaching out to knock on the stone door. Dull thuds echoed in response.
Unable to enter, she clicked her tongue in regret.
Her gaze then drifted toward Linghu Chang’s physical body, which remained seated at the center of numerous protective artifacts. A contemplative glint flashed through her eyes.
“This guy is seriously loaded,” she transmitted quietly. “If he’s carrying this much on him alone, just imagine the rest. There are still so many cultivators asleep inside the Medicine King Cauldron; who knows how much they’ve accumulated over the years?
“And that’s not even counting the Medicine King Sect’s own secret stores.”
“Senior Skull was right,” Zhang Haobo chimed in. “This truly is a rare opportunity.”
“Too bad we’re not strong enough,” Su Xiaomei sighed. “Otherwise...”
Xiao Heng said nothing.
He stared intently at the gray Gate of Life and Death, his brow furrowed in thought.
Time passed slowly.
Linghu Chang seemed to have vanished completely after entering the gate, giving them no sign or message.