Chapter 600: Dividing the Spoils
The radiant light in the sky slowly dissipated, and the numbness on their faces finally faded. Inside the hall, the group cautiously opened their eyes, tears streaming down their cheeks as their reddened eyes adjusted to the scene.
With the Unspeaking Bell leaving this realm, it took over ten breaths for the residual effects to completely vanish. The group finally regained the ability to speak, though Nian Yi's voice was hoarse, "Taiyuan True Monarch personally intervened... Truly a rare sight, even across centuries."
This rarity was no exaggeration—records of Golden Core Realm cultivators acting directly were scarce, often tracing back a millennium.
Zhang Yun, having performed the most reverent bow, slowly straightened himself. He tidied his robes, bowed three times toward the west as though deep in contemplation, then cupped his fist toward the group in a silent farewell before calmly departing.
The group was visibly shaken, their expressions varied. Yu Muxian wiped the tears from his eyes and used mana to soothe his vision. Only then could he faintly make out the objects before him. He reached for the ornate pouch at his waist and found that the gold-essence and silver lining protecting his storage pouch had already melted away.
In just the brief moment prior, the gold-essence and silver lining had separated distinctly, dividing into a pool of brilliant gold-essence and icy, shimmering spirit-silver, both lying at his feet.
Despite years of cultivation and a normally unshakable temperament, Yu Muxian's expression twisted for the first time in decades as he cursed inwardly, Yuanwu... He must have gone mad! Sending me to seize such a thing! Even Yuanwu himself would kneel here obediently, let alone dare to covet it. How could this be something a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator could hope to touch?
His face darkened slightly. Beside him, Tang Shedu, gripping his long halberd, seemed to understand Yu Muxian's frustration and gave a faint, helpless smile. However, the solemn atmosphere left him no opportunity to offer consolation.
As Zhang Yun exited the hall, the remaining six turned their attention to the five jade boxes atop the main platforms. Of those gathered, Mount Changhuai, Azure Pond Sect, and Yue Cultivating Sect each represented one power, while the remaining two were lone cultivators bearing threads of fate, both exuding a presence that discouraged confrontation.