The Cloud-Fishing Elder, originally looking rather pitiful, perked up immediately upon hearing Qin Ming’s words.

"Hehehe! My cultivation and divine techniques are indeed somewhat stronger than those two fellows, so this little injury is not a problem. I’ll go with you on this journey, and if we can completely resolve this matter and find the Ascension Platform in the process, that would be excellent."

Qin Ming slightly nodded, then had Qi Xiaoyu attempt to break the restriction on the Stone Gate of the Luotian Hall.

The Cloud-Fishing Elder took the opportunity to sit and meditate in place to recover.

Time slowly passed.

After a while.

In front of the Stone Gate of the Luotian Hall, Qi Xiaoyu had an extremely solemn expression and said, "Brother Qin, the array restriction here exists independently. It will take quite some time even if I slowly break it."

Hearing this, Qin Ming immediately called out the Heaven-Devouring Rat from the Little Spirit Realm to give it a try.

The Heaven-Devouring Rat came out with an arrogant look, eager to put on a show, but seeing the nearby seated Cloud-Fishing Elder with unfathomable cultivation, it hesitated and obediently followed orders.

It approached the Stone Gate of the Luotian Hall, exhaled a Forbidden Profound Light, and began to break the array restriction.

Crash!

Before long.

A sound of mechanisms turning came from the stone door, and golden rings emerged in circles.

Upon seeing this scene.

Even the Cloud-Fishing Elder looked at the Heaven-Devouring Rat in amazement: "I didn’t expect Friend Qin, to actually have such a unique-bloodline beast, truly extraordinary..."

With his experience, it was clear that Qin Ming had no small amount of luck and would achieve great things in time.

Half a stick of incense later.

The Heaven-Devouring Rat exerted all its strength, and though it was managing to break the restriction, it was clearly struggling.

As the last golden ring on the stone door lit up, the giant stone door opened with a boom, revealing a twisting rotating Gate of the Void.

Qin Ming released a Divine Thought to probe it, yet found nothing unusual.

The Cloud-Fishing Elder also got up to examine it, and after a moment, unable to discern anything, looked awkwardly at Qi Xiaoyu.

Qi Xiaoyu stared at the golden rings on the stone door and the surrounding inscriptions. Combined with the Gate of the Void, he suddenly became excited: "Could this be the legendary ’Sumeru Gate’!"

"Oh? Friend Qi, do you recognize this gate?" Cloud-Fishing Elder asked in surprise, "Isn’t this just a grand hall?"

"Reporting to Elder, this Sumeru Gate is an ancient teleportation restriction that can send people to a certain independent space, which should be the core of this Luotian Hall." Qi Xiaoyu explained, "Having studied the Dao of Arrays, I have some understanding of this ancient spirit pattern.

"Friend Qi is truly impressive, I am in awe." Cloud-Fishing Elder praised, "Then we shouldn’t delay, Friend Qin, shall we go in quickly?"

Qin Ming nodded slightly but cautiously asked, "Fellow Daoist Qi, is there no danger behind this Star Permanence Gate?"

Qi Xiaoyu replied after a brief thought: "The space of such an Ancient Immortal Spirit Land is stable, otherwise it wouldn’t trigger the Tai’e Text on it, so there shouldn’t be any major issues."

Hearing this, Qin Ming felt much relieved.

"If that’s the case, I’ll go first. Even if there’s an incident, I can handle it. Friend Qin, the two of you follow closely after." The Cloud-Fishing Elder, after some recovery, seemingly having consumed some precious pill, was much better from his original serious injuries.

Naturally, the two agreed, "Then Elder Lu, please go ahead."

Under the watchful eyes of both, the Cloud-Fishing Elder’s figure entered the Gate of the Void.

Seeing nothing unusual, Qin Ming and Qi Xiaoyu exchanged a glance and returned the Heaven-Devouring Rat to the Little Spirit Realm.

Then they stepped into the Sumeru Gate.

...

After just two breaths.

The Cloud-Fishing Elder felt a sudden disorientation and, upon regaining awareness, found himself standing before a bottomless cliff.

Above the cliff, there was a round White Jade Platform, exuding an ancient and desolate aura, reaching toward the sky.

The Cloud-Fishing Elder was overwhelmed with joy at the sight of this platform, exclaiming excitedly: 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"It’s the Ascension Platform!!"

He immediately transformed into a white Escape Light, landing before the platform, but upon seeing the scene before him, his previously excited expression froze on his face.

The interior of the Ascension Platform had numerous cracks splitting it, damaged by unknown causes...

The Cloud-Fishing Elder experienced extreme joy and then great sorrow, standing there, stunned for a long time...

...

Qi Xiaoyu was transmitted to a pavilion, only to see the sign above engraved with the words "Spirit Array Pavilion".

Looking at the dazzling array of bookshelves inside the pavilion, he realized this was the array inheritance place of the Luotian Daoist Palace and was immersed in joy.

On the other side.

Qin Ming felt a sudden wave of dizziness and was transported to a scenic Immortal Spirit Land.

Currently standing at the foot of a mountain, there was a shrine on the mountain, seemingly ancient and long-standing.

Inexplicably, it seemed something significant was calling to him from above.

...

Within the gray space.

The Celestial Hatred Demon Monarch, Lan Bing Saintess, and the Rock Demon entered.

The three gazed at the deep space, remaining silent for a long time.

"It seems like someone in the human race outside has repaired the Grand Array of the Primordial Extreme Mountain, causing Master Saint Ancestor to fall silent again..."

Absorbing and refining the Nascent Soul, it seemed that the Rock Demon had mostly regained its power and cultivation.

Compared to when chasing the Cloud-Fishing Elder, its aura was even more terrifying.

"Lord Rock Demon, what now?" Celestial Hatred Demon Monarch asked.

"I have a special secret technique that can momentarily communicate with Master Saint Ancestor."

The burly man with bushy hair spoke.

Before the Celestial Hatred Demon Monarch and Lan Bing Saintess could react, the Rock Demon was chanting incantations and cast a spell toward the center.

Black demon patterns flickered, causing some movement in the distant restriction.

The gray mist in the air slowly dissipated, once again revealing the figure of the Three-headed Giant Snake.

Seeing this, the Rock Demon cast a peculiar Spirit Pattern.

After a while.

Through the Rock Demon’s special means of awakening, the Split Soul of the Six Paths Saint Ancestor, once again slowly awakened.

The figure of the Three-headed Giant Snake appeared, opening its extremely cold vertical pupils and flicking its crimson forked tongue.

"It’s you, Rock Demon."

"Didn’t you fall along with the other demons in that great battle?"

The Split Soul of the Six Paths Saint Ancestor had awakened, speaking to those within the gray mist space.

"Reporting to Master Saint Ancestor, your subordinate was also trapped in the mountain by the techniques of the Primordial Extreme Three Saints. When you woke earlier and caused some commotion, I was lucky enough to escape."

"I’ve come to seek your instructions on what should be done next to aid in your escape?"

"Should we just remove those two Spirit Communication Treasures? I am willing to try." The Rock Demon said respectfully.

The Three-headed Giant Snake replied, "With your skills, you still can’t overcome the Primordial Extreme Divine Light to take those treasures."

"Right now, there’s something important. I can sense that three ants have entered the Luotian Hall..."

"It’s urgent to stop them. If the Primordial Extreme Three Saints or that Cyan Emperor left any contingencies in the Luotian Hall, I don’t want to see any drastic changes."

Upon hearing this.

Not only the Celestial Hatred Old Demon and Lan Bing Saintess but even the Rock Demon was taken aback:

"What?!"

"The Stone Gate of the Three Great Holy Palaces can’t be forcefully opened even by those in the Divinity Transformation Stage, right?"

"How could they possibly get in?"

The Three-headed Giant Snake explained, "Hmm... I can also sense a trace of the Spirit-Devouring Beast’s aura... it seems related to this."

"Your subordinate will go immediately to stop them. If someone obtains the Spirit Communication Treasure left by the Venerable Cyan Emperor, that wouldn’t be good at all!" Mentioning this, even the Rock Demon showed a nervous expression.

The Three-headed Giant Snake nonchalantly said, "Even if one obtains a Spirit Communication Treasure, it’s not immediately usable."

"Such a level of treasure requires cultivation of the corresponding Treasure Refining Technique and Mana to use. The Immortal-Slaying Gourd left by that Cyan Emperor brat requires cultivating the Cyan Emperor Technique of the Cyan Origin Sect to the 16th layer to obtain the Treasure Refining Technique needed to wield this Spirit Communication Treasure..."

...

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