Precious Light Pavilion

Chapter 475: Winds Stir Beyond the Seas – Precious Light Pavilion

Since none of the cultivators present were willing to brave such a risk and return empty-handed, no sooner had the man finished speaking than someone stepped forward without a word and strode toward one of the green stone passages.

A moment later, the man’s figure vanished silently into the passage.

With someone taking the lead, the others began to move as well.

After witnessing Wan Tianming and the others each choose a passage and enter, the demonic path old freaks like Extreme Yin remained where they were, exchanging cold glances, in no hurry to follow.

Extreme Yin Patriarch, giving a cold glance at the two white-robed elders who still sat cross-legged without moving, hesitated for a moment. Then he suddenly pulled off a glistening bracelet from his body.

The bracelet was strung with four oval beads, each the size of a thumb, radiating a faint green light.

“These are Bodhi Beads. They have the miraculous effect of calming the spirit and settling the soul. With these four beads on your person, even if the danger of the Extreme Illusory Mirage Realm were to suddenly increase severalfold, they should still keep your consciousness clear.” Having said this, Extreme Yin Patriarch solemnly handed the bracelet to Han Li.

Overjoyed, Han Li did not decline. He accepted it, voicing his thanks repeatedly.

He had long heard of the reputation of the Bodhi Beads. It was said that simply carrying one such bead could greatly reduce the interference of inner demons during cultivation, making it an extremely rare and precious treasure.

For Extreme Yin Patriarch to so lavishly string four together into a bracelet and give them to him just to ensure he could pass the final trial—this truly caught Han Li off guard!

Judging from Extreme Yin’s pained expression, even if he was too embarrassed to ask for them back immediately after the trial was passed, they would surely be taken back once Han Li had outlived his usefulness for retrieving the treasure.

But for now, within the Void Heaven Palace, everyone harbored their own schemes. Even Extreme Yin Patriarch, a Nascent Soul cultivator, was being secretly plotted against by Profound Bone Saint.

As for whether this nominal master of his would even walk out of the Void Heaven Palace alive, Han Li had his grave doubts.

In front of Extreme Yin, Han Li fastened the bracelet around his wrist and examined it again closely.

These Bodhi Beads felt neither like wood nor metal, and a faint, sandalwood-like fragrance drifted from them. The scent cooled his mind and greatly lifted his spirits.

Truly extraordinary!

“In theory, these few Bodhi Beads should be enough. But to be safe, Young Friend Han, take this item as well.” The Confucian-robed elder, smiling, pulled out a green talisman and handed it to Han Li. “This is a Verdant Nether Needle Talisman Treasure I once refined. Its power is several times greater than an ordinary magic treasure. Keep it on you for self-defense.”

“A Verdant Nether Needle Talisman Treasure?” Han Li was momentarily stunned, then excitement surged within him.

This was a Talisman Treasure created by a Nascent Soul cultivator, leagues apart from the trashy ones he had encountered before.

Although the Evil-Cleansing Divine Lightning of his Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords was formidable, he could not use it recklessly.

With this item, his safety would naturally be far more secure.

Han Li accepted it without ceremony and offered his respectful thanks.

At this point, Man Brutal Beard, without a word, simply tossed over a dark inner armor. It was covered in silvery-white scales, giving it a heavy, solid appearance.

“Brother Man is truly generous. To lend this rare treasure, the Imperial Scale Armor, to my disciple for life-preservation, I thank you on his behalf!” Extreme Yin was visibly moved at the sight of the armor. A flicker of greed passed across his face before he quickly spoke.

“This armor was still of some use to me over a century ago. But now that my Heavenly Devil Arts have long reached perfection, I will lend this item to the boy to protect his life for now. I hope he does not disappoint me! Otherwise, heh heh…” Man Brutal Beard cast a cold glance at Han Li, his face twisting into a sinister expression.

At this, Han Li’s expression shifted slightly.

Hearing that the armor was only a loan, a trace of disappointment flashed across Extreme Yin’s face but vanished in an instant. He smiled and said, “Good! With these treasures protecting him, my disciple should be able to escape any unforeseen danger safely. Let us go and retrieve the treasure. The opening of these passages is limited by time.”

Upon hearing this, Man Brutal Beard and the elder raised no objection. However, they did not move, but instead cast a knowing, meaningful glance at Han Li.

Han Li was taken aback, but then gave a wry smile.

It seemed these three were still afraid he might shrink back at the last moment. They had to watch him enter first.

Thus, with a faint smile on his face, Han Li casually chose a passage and stepped inside.

Only then did Extreme Yin, the elder, and the others exchange smiles and select the other three passages, stepping in one by one.

“Don’t you think the actions of those demonic path cultivators were a bit odd?” When the stone hall was left with only the two white-robed elders, the cold-faced one, whose expression had been impassive with his eyes closed, spoke slowly.

His voice carried a hint of chill!

“Although those old freaks used means to interfere with our eavesdropping, from their expressions, they certainly seemed to place great importance on that early Core Formation boy. They even gave him several items for protection.” The kindly, benevolent-looking white-robed elder frowned slightly, nodding in agreement.

The two fell silent for a moment after exchanging these words.

“What do you think?” the cold-faced elder asked again, his tone somewhat grave.

“For demonic path old freaks to place such importance on something, it must be a matter of benefit. And here, the only thing that could move them is the Void Heaven Cauldron in the inner hall. That Core Formation boy is probably of great help to them in retrieving the treasure,” the other elder replied after some hesitation.

If Han Li had heard these words, he would have been speechless.

These two were true old foxes. With just a few brief remarks, they had already guessed seven or eight parts of the truth.

He could not help but admire them!

“Retrieve the Void Heaven Cauldron? Are they still dreaming such daydreams? Aside from those spiritual beasts that should have gone extinct in the Chaotic Star Sea long ago, this is utter fantasy. Otherwise, the Saint Masters of the previous generations would have taken it long ago. How could it be left for them?” A voice of contempt rang out.

“That may not be so easy to say! Who knows if these people have really gotten their hands on some ancient remnant beast? As long as someone is willing to invest a great deal of time and effort, it is not entirely without hope. After all, the last time this happened, there was a cultivator who nearly succeeded in retrieving the Void Heaven Cauldron. Though in the end, he only managed to force the lid open a crack, take a single Heaven-Mending Pill, and flee after being ambushed. This time, Wan Tianming’s Golden Silk Silkworms… I don’t think it is completely impossible.”

“If that is the case, to be safe, we should secretly follow them. If the cauldron is not retrieved, all is well. But if it is… we cannot allow another Heaven-Mending Pill to fall into others’ hands.”

“That is the only way…”

…

Han Li had no way of knowing that he had already attracted the attention of the two Law Enforcement Elders of the Star Palace.

At this very moment, he was walking step by step up a spiraling staircase of green stone, surprise plastered across his face.

Not long after entering the passage he had chosen at random, an endless series of green stone steps had appeared before him. After walking for a full meal’s worth of time, there was still no sign of an end.

Curiosity burned within him. Could this pavilion really be built at such a height?

Harboring this doubt, Han Li calmed himself and steadily ascended the steps, taking his time.

After climbing another hundred or so zhang, he finally spotted a glimmer of light. His spirits lifted, and he quickened his pace.

Sure enough, after turning a corner, a simple square exit lay before him.

Peering cautiously into the scene outside from the exit, Han Li’s expression shifted. He quickly strode forward.

A dark yellow sky, grayish, hazy fog. No blue sky, no red sun—everything was dyed in murky, indistinct colors.

This was an immeasurably deep, cylindrical space—massive in scale.

At first glance, it seemed quite narrow. All around was thick, impenetrable mist that revealed nothing.

The area was not large, less than a thousand zhang in diameter, allowing Han Li to take in the entire scene at a glance.

He was standing at what looked like a window carved into the mist wall.

Ahead of him, a white jade bridge, several dozen zhang long, floated suspended in the high air.

The bridge was exquisitely crafted, carved with dragons and phoenixes. One end connected to the square exit, while the other led to a two-story pavilion floating in the very center of the space.

The pavilion was over thirty zhang tall, divided into two levels, and entirely carved from beautiful jade. Sparkling in the void, it resembled a celestial palace.

Above the entrance to the pavilion hung a golden plaque, about a zhang in size, bearing three large ancient characters—

“Precious Light Pavilion.”

Han Li did not rush onto the bridge. Instead, he carefully examined the pavilion.

Though not large, an unfathomably powerful fluctuation of spiritual energy emanated from within, and a faint white glow enveloped the structure. Clearly, a formidable restrictive array had been laid here.

Finally, Han Li moved.

He stepped onto the jade bridge, walking toward the Precious Light Pavilion step by step.

When he reached the center of the bridge, Han Li couldn’t help but tilt his head and cast a glance downward.

An abyss like a bottomless chasm. He could not see the bottom at all, only faint, blurry patches of black.

It sent a chill straight through the heart.