Chapter 140: Super Authentic Fried Beans and Genuine Tiger Bone...
In the empty hall, Bai's somewhat weak voice echoed. The two leaned against the jade pillar and waited quietly for a moment, but received no response.
"Ye Zai, could it be that your voice is too soft? Shout again?" Jiao Jiao asked, her tortoise shell dented in, indicating her injuries were also severe.
Upon hearing this, Bai also perked up and called out again, "We two juniors came here specifically to pay our respects, and also... to take refuge in this trouble. Senior, if it's convenient for you, could you come out and meet us, and lend us a hand? I'll definitely burn more paper money and offer more incense for you later, and I guarantee you'll become the most dignified ghost in this imperial tomb."
The main hall remained deathly silent, without any movement.
Zhong Jiuli pulled Bai Ye to sit down on the spot. "Aye, let's rest for a while and take this opportunity to regulate our breathing."
Although Bai was somewhat disappointed, she didn't want to just wait to die. She sat down next to Zhong Jiuli, touched her storage ring, and probed it with her divine sense. The healing pills had been completely used up.
She closed her eyes helplessly and leaned against Little Green to heal her injuries.
This brief period of calm did not last long.
"boom!"
A deafening roar came from the outside world, and the earth trembled. The two people and the tortoise who were meditating and regulating their breathing in the celestial palace were all awakened.
Bai also opened his eyes and looked at Zhong Jiuli, seeing a solemn expression in her eyes. The two of them had not yet recovered from their injuries, yet the Demon Emperor with the Demon Eye had arrived so quickly.
In fact, even if they were repaired, it wouldn't make much difference; they are currently powerless against the Demon Emperor.
Zhong Jiuli gazed intently at Bai Ye, the listless little turtle in her arms, and the bewildered little fire, and said in a deep voice, "A-Ye..."
"Stop!" Bai cut her off. "Don't say things like 'you hold them off so I can run away first.' You know, without you, I have no chance of getting out. Not to mention how terrifying this Imperial Tomb is, the Star Storm outside could turn us into mincemeat."
"Insects, come out and face your death!" The Demon Emperor's furious roar came from outside.
The celestial palace shook violently, and the attacks could be felt continuing, yet the ugly thing still did not appear.
Bai also peeked out with some doubt and saw that the hideous Demon Emperor was surrounded by thin black energy, and his demon eyes looked like many of them had been gouged out, leaving behind dark holes, making him look even more disgusting.
It hovered in mid-air, coldly gazing at the celestial palace below. Giant palms descended one after another, causing the laws of nature to tremble, but the celestial palace remained unmoved by these repeated attacks. The giant palms, powerful enough to shatter mountains and break peaks, could not shake the half-collapsed celestial palace.
"Is it... unable to get in?" Bai also noticed something amiss.
"It should be so, otherwise it wouldn't be making such a fuss."
"That's alright then, let it bark for a while, then we'll rest." Bai said, her body going limp as she lay down on the ground. She was utterly exhausted, not just physically, but even more so mentally.
Faced with the Demon Emperor's pursuit, the two dared not relax for a moment. After several months of working without sleep, their spirits were already stretched to the limit.
"Sleep for a while, I'll stay with you." Zhong Jiuli picked up her head and placed it on his lap, gently stroking her cheek. Her face was so pale that it was almost bloodless, and her flesh was shriveled up. This was because she had lost too much blood and energy.
Even though Bai's physical body was incredibly strong, it was constantly collapsing and rebuilding, and all his vital energy had long been exhausted.
"Mmm." Bai responded weakly, closed her eyes, and almost instantly fell asleep.
Zhong Jiuli hugged Bai Ye and closed her eyes to rest. Since this immortal palace could protect them, they would just live a little longer.
The main hall of the Immortal Palace was quiet, with only a few exhausted wounded resting there. Outside the Immortal Palace, the roar of the Demon Emperor was like thunder, constantly exploding.
Its enormous body hovered in mid-air, all its demonic eyes wide open, filled with boundless rage. Having been injured time and again, it was utterly enraged.
"A mere remnant army dares to try and stop me?"
The Demon Emperor unleashed both palms simultaneously, unleashing terrifying attacks imbued with the laws of destruction, raining down upon the ruined Immortal Palace.
The black aura surrounding it transformed into ferocious beasts that rushed outside the celestial palace, devouring the clear light.
"Boom! Boom!"
The shattered land shook violently, as if the end of the world had arrived, but the celestial palace remained peaceful. Although the clear light flickered, it actually blocked the Demon Emperor's furious bombardment.
After a long while, the terrifying attack finally stopped. The Demon Emperor with the Demon Eyes coldly looked at the celestial palace below and sneered, "I'd like to see how long you two little insects can hide here."
......
Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the figure lying on the ground, fast asleep, finally stirred inside the main hall of the celestial palace.
When Bai regained consciousness, the pain in her body had lessened considerably. She opened her eyes and looked at the unfamiliar white jade roof with a hint of confusion in them.
"Da Bai, you're awake?" Tai Huo, who was guarding her side, noticed that she was awake and immediately came over to check on her.
Bai nodded without speaking. After a moment of clarity, he realized where he was, that he was being chased, and that this was the celestial palace that had saved their lives.
She propped herself up to sit up; her clothes, soaked in blood, were now dry and stiff.
Bai loosened his belt, took off the clothes that he could support himself, and looked at the wounds on his body. Most of the previously broken flesh had healed, leaving only some light pink marks.
She brushed off the bone fragments stuck to her skin, cast a dust-removing spell, took out a clean set of clothes to change into, stretched her arms, and yawned. Immediately, a crackling sound like popping beans echoed in the celestial palace.
Bai's entire body, from the cervical spine to the coccyx, and then to the limbs, all the broken and misaligned bones were being restored one by one under the powerful repair of life.
After warming up, Bai exhaled a long breath of foul air, tinged with the smell of blood. This exhalation seemed to release all the fatigue, depression, and despair of the past few days.
A deep sleep not only healed the wounds on her body, but also nourished her nearly depleted spirit. Her previous thought that she would live if she could, and it would be okay if she died if she couldn't live, completely vanished.
Her eyes brightened again, shining like stars whose dust had been wiped away.
"Have you rested enough?" A slightly hoarse voice came from behind.
Bai turned around at the sound and met Zhong Jiuli's gaze. She had also woken up, leaning against the jade pillar with a faint smile on her lips, and her clear, cold eyes had regained their luster.
"Yes, I've rested well. Did I make too much noise and wake you up?"
"Yes, yes!" Before Zhong Jiuli could reply, Jiao Jiao's sleepy voice interrupted.
She poked her head out of the turtle shell, opened her little mouth and yawned widely, complaining in a muffled voice, "I was eating just now, the table was full of roasted meat, and then I heard the crackling sound of frying beans, and then all the meat on the table turned into fried beans. I was so angry that I woke up."
"When I get back, I'm definitely going to stir-fry two pounds of fragrant broad beans and eat my fill!"
"We also want to eat grilled prawns!" Little Taihu said, drooling.
Bai replied with a smile, "Okay, then grill lots and lots of shrimp for us at Taihu."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Jiuli couldn't help but smile. She stood up, and with a flash of immortal light, her blood-stained clothes were instantly restored to their original state. The previous escape had been far too urgent, pushing her mental and physical strength to the limit. Now that she had rested, she naturally didn't want to be covered in filth.
She imitated Bai Ye, stretching her arms and yawning, and the familiar sound of frying beans rang out again.
Upon hearing this, Jiao Jiao's eyes widened in surprise, and she exclaimed, "Oh, so it wasn't the fried beans, it was your bones cracking!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she caught sight of the scattered, gleaming white bones on the ground. The thought that she had actually wanted to eat them made her feel nauseous and she gagged. The turtle felt quite unwell.
Seeing this, Bai Ye was seized by a mischievous impulse. He squatted down with a grin, picked up a piece of bone that had fallen from his own body, and handed it to Jiao Jiao.
"Hey, want to try some? This is super authentic tiger bone, I heard people usually grind it into powder for medicine or soak it in alcohol. You can eat the freshest one, with my own flavor in it, aren't you happy?"
"Pah, pah, pah!" Jiao Jiao was furious, waving her little paws and cursing, "You mean-spirited brat, get away from me, get your stinky bones away! I'll teach you a lesson today!"
As she spoke, she mustered her strength and jumped up on the spot, delivering a headbutt to Bai Ye with her still slightly concave tortoise shell.
"Ouch!" Bai also covered his head in agreement, laughing heartily.
Jiaojiao landed a successful blow and, seeing Bai Ye's exaggerated expression of pain, she giggled along. Xiao Taihuo, seeing this, also giggled, and their clear laughter echoed in the spacious hall.
Zhong Jiuli stood to the side, a slight smile playing on her lips, her eyes and brows brimming with joy. The road ahead might still be fraught with peril, but as long as these few friends were around, laughing and joking, she felt that there was no obstacle in the world she couldn't overcome.
Their cheerful laughter aroused the demon emperor who was waiting outside.
The Demon Emperor, hearing the merrily laughing coming from the Celestial Palace, was enraged. He had painstakingly staked out the palace, yet these ants inside showed no fear and instead dared to laugh so arrogantly?
This was blatant disregard for it. It roared and slammed its massive hand down again.
"Boom!"
A loud bang was heard, the earth began to shake again, the clear light outside the celestial palace flickered, and the people inside the hall stopped laughing and joking.
Bai also picked up the silly and happy Jiao Jiao and put her in his arms, leaving only her little head sticking out. At the same time, he waved to Tai Huo, "Come on, Tai Huo, come back."
The little fire transformed into a streak of light and rushed towards Bai Ye, then turned back into a white jade hairpin and was inserted into her hair.
"Let's go in and see if there's any ancient teleportation array in this celestial palace that could send us back to the Nine Provinces. That would solve everything." Bai Ye had a wild idea and took Zhong Jiuli's hand to walk inside.
They couldn't just waste time here with that Demon Emperor with the Demon Eye. He had an endless lifespan and could guard them for hundreds of thousands or even millions of years without any problem, but the two of them didn't have that much time to waste.
Otherwise, by the time they leave here, the entire Nine Provinces might have been trampled flat by the Void Demon Clan, and then there will be nowhere to cry.
This celestial palace doesn't look very big from the outside, but it's clearly equipped with a spatial array inside, making its area incredibly large.
Corridors lead to various places, each connecting to a different palace. Although many places have collapsed, jade pillars are broken, and rubble is everywhere, the remaining exquisite reliefs still reveal the former glory.
They ventured deeper into the corridors, exploring many grand halls and quiet chambers. Some halls contained scattered jade vases or broken shelves.
Bai didn't miss a single one, searching with great interest, quite enjoying the thrill of a treasure hunt. Unfortunately, most of the medicine bottles were empty, and the few that contained pills had almost completely lost their medicinal properties due to their age.
"It's alright, every little bit counts. As long as there's no expiration date, there's no such thing as 'expiration.' Keep them for next time." Bai didn't stand on ceremony and, adhering to the principle of not missing out on anything that was still somewhat usable, put all the scraps into his storage ring.
His movements were extremely skilled; it was clear at a glance that he was an expert at picking up beverage bottles.
Zhong Jiuli didn't stop them, letting the little tiger search for treasures. The two explored for a long time, but these corridors seemed endless, and they couldn't find an exit or any magical treasures or inheritances left behind by the Immortal Emperor.
Just then, Xiao Jin in Bai Ye's mind suddenly spoke, "Little Tiger, go back."
Bai quickly replied in his mind, "Xiao Jin, you're awake. Did you find anything?"
“Go back to the warehouse you passed earlier,” Xiao Jin said succinctly.
Bai Ye stopped asking questions after hearing this, took Zhong Jiuli's hand and turned to leave. Zhong Jiuli was puzzled when she saw her suddenly turn back, but she followed her back.
The two quickly returned to the warehouse, which was mostly collapsed. The place was a mess. The only thing Bai had noticed there was a bronze cauldron made of a special material. Although it had cracks, it was extremely heavy to lift. The cauldron was already in her storage ring.
"Clear away that collapsed wall; there's a restriction behind it," Xiao Jin instructed.
Bai followed instructions and used both hands and feet to clear away the pile of debris. Sure enough, an extremely ancient and profound array pattern appeared on the wall, emitting a faint energy fluctuation. If one did not look closely, one would definitely miss it.
Zhong Jiuli, with her Immortal King realm cultivation, had not sensed the existence of that restriction before.
"Let her come," Xiao Jin said.
Bai also turned to look at Zhong Jiuli, "Take a look, can you open it?"
Zhong Jiuli stepped forward and carefully examined the restriction. It was an array set up with immortal power, and indeed, only she could open it with spiritual power.
Her body was enveloped in immortal energy, and she formed hand seals, sending streams of pure immortal energy into the wall.
The array patterns on the wall lit up, and a slightly unstable light screen slowly appeared. The light screen was hazy, and it was impossible to see what was inside, but the aura emanating from it was very peaceful, so it was probably not a dangerous place.
Zhong Jiuli's forehead was covered in sweat. Maintaining this light barrier was extremely taxing on her. She urged softly, "Aye, hurry up and go in. This restriction is very strong. I can't hold on for long."
Seeing this, Bai Ye quickly slipped into the light curtain, followed closely by Zhong Jiuli.
The two figures disappeared, the light screen dimmed, and the wall returned to its original state.
Behind the light curtain lies another world.
Bai Ye and Zhong Jiuli stood still, looking around. The place was beautiful with clear waters and lush mountains, the sky was crystal clear, and the air was filled with a rich spiritual energy. Taking a breath of it made one feel refreshed and relaxed, and every pore on one's body opened up.
In the distance, the ethereal mountains and flowing springs and waterfalls resemble a silver river hanging down from the heavens.
"We're... out here?" Bai was somewhat incredulous, having returned to Kyushu so easily.
“No, this is a legacy space created by the Immortal Emperor before his fall using his supreme divine power,” Xiao Jin said.
"Inheritance Space?" Bai perked up the moment he heard this. "Which Immortal Emperor is it? Am I going to receive an inheritance if I come in? Is it some kind of empowerment technique that allows me to become an Immortal Emperor on the spot, and then go out and beat up that Demon Eye Monster?"
"More than one!"
Xiao Jin's answer silenced Bai Ye instantly. She was shocked, "Many Immortal Emperors have perished here?"
"Yes, let's go up that mountain."
Bai also composed himself, took Zhong Jiuli's hand, pointed to the majestic immortal mountain in the distance, and said excitedly, "Zhong Jiuli, my teacher said that this is the place where the Immortal Emperor inherits his legacy. If you go in, you will definitely gain the favor of the Immortal Emperor. Then you can become an emperor on the spot and we can turn the tables and go back to fight back."
Zhong Jiuli looked at her excited expression and couldn't help but chuckle. "Silly girl, achieving the position of Immortal Emperor is no easy feat, especially since relying on inheritance makes it absolutely impossible to leap to the throne in one fell swoop."
“Others may not be able to do it, but we are different.” Bai also pulled her forward. “Look at our experience, it’s the standard protagonist template: we survived a desperate situation, we survived a great disaster, and then we suddenly became powerful and made a strong comeback.”
"Yes, yes, yes, a great calamity is sure to bring good fortune." Zhong Jiuli went along with her words.
As they spoke, the two had already stepped onto the stone steps leading to the immortal mountain.
This is an extremely magnificent fairy mountain. The huge stone steps are more than half a person high, winding upwards and stretching as far as the eye can see, as if leading straight to the heavens.
Bai Ye and Zhong Jiuli climbed the steps. The first few hundred steps were a bit challenging, but with their cultivation levels, they managed to walk them with ease.
When he reached the thousandth step, a blood-red longsword blocked his path. The mere aura emanating from the sword caused Bai Ye's skin to sting.
"Seriously? You're putting on that test-the-juniors act in a place like this?" Bai Ye paused slightly, rolling his eyes in exasperation.
These Celestial Emperors don't even consider where they perished. What respectable person would come to such a secluded imperial tomb, located in the territory of the Void Demon Clan, to undergo this kind of trial?
"This is not a test, but a means of warning the enemy," Xiao Jin reminded.
The next second, the long sword moved.
A crimson blade of light shot into the sky, instantly changing the color of the heavens and earth. The entire inheritance world trembled violently, as if it would be torn apart by this incomparably sharp blade energy at any moment. Even the Emperor's Tomb outside was affected by this blade energy, and a faint sense of tremor emanated from it.
"Holy crap, is she trying to kill us all with one strike?" Bai exclaimed in surprise. Dahei appeared instantly, and she swung her sword, unleashing several sword energies in succession.
But the sword energy she unleashed, let alone resisted, vanished silently before it even touched the blade's edge.
Zhong Jiuli was also making a move. She could feel the power contained in this strike, enough to kill an ordinary True Immortal, and Bai was no match for it.
She dared not slack off. With a thought, a colossal World Tree Dharma Image appeared behind her, seemingly capable of supporting an entire world.
"Celestial Technique, Open the Heavens!"
Zhong Jiuli formed a hand seal, and the World Tree Dharma Image radiated boundless light, blocking the two of them.
"boom!"
The blade struck the barrier with a deafening roar, but the two people inside the protective shield remained unharmed; the barrier had blocked the attack.
After the first strike, the longsword did not continue its attack. Instead, it seemed to possess human nature, carefully examining the World Tree Dharma Image behind Zhong Jiuli. The light on the blade flickered erratically, as if it were confirming something.
A moment later, the long sword trembled slightly and emitted a soft hum, as if greeting the World Tree. Then, with a "whoosh," it transformed into a streak of light and flew towards the mountain peak.
"Phew..." Bai also breathed a sigh of relief. "It seems that the knife and the World Tree are old acquaintances, so they're not stopping us?"
Zhong Jiuli dispersed her Dharma form and nodded, saying, "Perhaps the owner of that sword once fought alongside the World Tree and is familiar with this aura."
"Let's go." Bai put away Dahei and continued walking forward with Zhong Jiuli.
After walking a long distance, the two encountered a long spear blocking their path again. However, when they got closer, the spear merely glanced at them and then moved aside.
Bai was also certain that the gun was sizing them up, because the gun barrel was slightly bent, making it very obvious that it was looking down like a person.
From then on, no obstacle they encountered along the way hindered them. Bai felt as if she were a VIP member on a video platform, enjoying unimpeded access all the way to the mountain peak.
At the summit of the sacred mountain, life thrives.
Bai stood still, looking out. Facing the mountain path was a lush and verdant bamboo forest. The tall bamboos swayed in the wind, their leaves rustling and emitting a refreshing fragrance that made one feel light and refreshed.
"This bamboo, could it be some kind of extraordinary immortal bamboo?" Bai's eyes lit up as he murmured to himself.
Jiaojiao, nestled in her arms, also poked her head out, her little eyes sparkling, and drooling as she chimed in, "There must be bamboo shoots in the bamboo forest, bamboo shoots from the Immortal Bamboo, they must be so delicious!"
Both the man and the tortoise focused their gazes on the bamboo forest, their eyes reflecting the same intense desire to eat.
Jiaojiao reached out her little paws and tugged at Bai Ye's clothes, whispering, "Ye Zai, bamboo shoots stewed with meat must smell amazing. Even if there's no meat, a simple soup would be a delicacy. Shall we go dig some up and try some?"
Bai also turned to look at Zhong Jiuli, but didn't say anything. Her word didn't count; his wife had to agree.
Zhong Jiuli looked at the bright, sparkling eyes of the two children, one big and one small, and was both amused and exasperated, but still resolutely refused, saying, "Don't be silly. This place is no ordinary place. How can we act recklessly? We can talk about the bamboo shoots later. Let's go ahead and take a look first, so as not to be impolite."
"Okay." Bai nodded obediently. Between friends and his wife, listening to his wife was definitely more important.
Jiaojiao watched the bamboo forest recede into the distance with lingering affection. The two people and the tortoise walked along the forest path, surrounded by swaying bamboo shadows and refreshing air.
After walking through the bamboo forest for a while, the view suddenly opened up ahead.
A vast open space appeared before us, and at the end of the open space, a magnificent, ancient building, gleaming with gold, stood between heaven and earth.
Outside those buildings were bodies, some sitting cross-legged, some leaning lazily in casual poses, and some standing with their hands behind their backs, gazing into the distance...
Among them, some retained their complete human form, while others revealed parts of their divine beast forms, but without exception, they had all lost their life force.
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