As Li Fan departed, that look of concern slowly faded from the Daoist's face.
After an unknown length of time, in the silence of the Demon-Refining Pagoda, Daoist Chong's murmuring began again.
"...There are no more alchemical ingredients. What should I do?..."
***
Outside the Demon-Refining Pagoda, Li Fan sensed the locations of Sikong Yi and Baili Chen.
They were already very close to the core of Cloudwater Palace: Taiyi Hall.
Information about Taiyi Hall immediately surfaced in Li Fan's mind.
It was said that Taiyi Hall was where Cloudwater Palace received honored guests and held sect meetings.
It wasn't considered particularly dangerous, but the specific circumstances surrounding it were rather unique.
Sensing that Sikong Yi and Baili Chen seemed to have stopped for some reason, inching forward at a snail's pace toward the central area, Li Fan immediately understood what was going on.
He snorted coldly and hurried in their direction.
Before Taiyi Hall, countless broken swords were thrust into the ground.
Their blades interlocked, forming a veritable forest of swords that blocked the path to the hall.
Sikong Yi and Baili Chen were currently stepping on the sword hilts, making their way toward Taiyi Hall.
With each step forward, a phantom of the broken sword beneath their feet materialized above them.
Then it shot down, piercing through their hearts.
There was no spray of blood.
After piercing them, the phantom would vanish. It caused no physical harm, only excruciating pain.
The agony caused their bodies to tremble uncontrollably, and sweat poured from their foreheads like rain.
After a long period of recovery from the indescribable pain, they would take a deep breath and step forward onto the next sword hilt.
Another sword phantom would pierce them.
This was the reason for their painfully slow progress.
Though the suffering was extreme, their gazes were firm, showing no intention of retreat.
What they had toiled so desperately for lay just ahead, nearly within their grasp. How could they possibly give up now?
Steeling their resolve, they gritted their teeth and pressed onward.
Just then, they sensed someone approaching from behind.
Turning to look, they couldn’t suppress their overwhelming shock, and a cry escaped their lips.
“You?! How is this possible?”