"Immortal Meeting Mansion..." Ji Ruxu whispered the three words, her voice cutting through the air like a frigid winter gale—cold enough to freeze the breath in your lungs. This was the most mysterious sect in the Northern Dynasty, one that kept to itself but struck fear into everyone’s hearts. Every disciple under its roof was a total badass, especially skilled in illusions and disguise—so good, they could pass off as your own shadow without you noticing. They moved like ghosts, never showing their faces unless they were pulling off some shady crap for the rich and powerful, their hands stained with more blood than you could imagine. Now they’d had the guts to kidnap dozens of Ji family members—what the actual hell were they planning?
With the clues staring them in the face, there was no time to waste. Every second they dragged their feet, the Ji family’s danger spiked. Ji Ruxu’s spiritual energy flared, and she shot forward like an arrow off a bow, her robes fluttering as she raced to the front. Mo Jing, Yun Shu, Yun Juan, and Ji Wuli followed right on her heels, light on their feet and faster than lightning—no time for slacking. Using the path the scout beetles had mapped out earlier, they dodged every trap and snuck into the "Immortal Meeting Inn" like phantoms in the night, not even a single footstep echoing.
The inn was dead silent—so quiet you could hear dust settling on the tables. Thick layers of grime covered every chair and table; a single touch sent clouds of dust swirling. It was obvious this place had been abandoned for ages, not a single trace of human life left. A creepy, bone-chilling aura hung in the air, mixed with the stench of damp mold and a faint whiff of blood—enough to make your skin crawl. Mo Jing quietly sent out a few more scout beetles to check for ambushes, and once they gave the all-clear, she gestured for the others to follow. Tracking the beetles’ last signal, they hurried through the run-down lobby, slipped into the kitchen, and found a hidden secret passage behind the stove, masked by a concealing formation. The entrance was pitch-black, like the gaping maw of a monster—dark as night, with who-knows-what dangers lurking inside, sending chills down everyone’s spines.
They lit up their spirit stones, their faint glow guiding them as they stepped cautiously into the passage. It was narrow and damp, moss clinging to the walls, the stone floors slick enough to make you slip if you weren’t careful. After walking for about half an hour, they reached the end—and there it was: a massive stone door, forged from black obsidian and dark iron, so tough it could withstand a mountain collapse. Covering its surface were intricate formation patterns, crisscrossing like a tangled web. If they hadn’t known the passage was there, and if Yun Juan wasn’t a total formation whiz, they’d have never noticed the door, let alone broken through it.
"Let me handle this." Yun Juan stepped forward, her eyes sharpening with focus. Faint spiritual light flickered at her fingertips, like fireflies fighting to shine in the dark. She traced the formation’s lines carefully, every curve holding a secret code, every stroke hiding the formation’s power. After a minute, beads of sweat dotted her forehead, her face pale—breaking formations drained a ton of spiritual energy. She pointed anxiously at three spots on the door, her voice trembling slightly: "Here, here, and here—these are the formation cores! If the three of us channel our spiritual energy at the same time, hit these spots dead-on, the door should open!"
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Ji Wuli and Yun Shu stepped up, standing side by side with Yun Juan. They exchanged a quick glance, then channeled their spiritual energy all at once. Thick, surging energy burst from their bodies, like a roaring tide, rushing straight for the three formation cores. The energy clashed with the formation lines, letting out a faint hissing sound. The patterns on the door dimmed, and the massive stone door began to tremble, inching open slowly.
The door slid inward with a heavy, creaking groan—like the earth itself was sighing—echoing through the silent passage. The moment it cracked open, a blinding light flooded out. Everyone squinted, and once their eyes adjusted, they saw a brightly lit stone staircase, lined with glowing night pearls that turned the whole path into daylight. It was like a mysterious portal to another world, stretching straight down into the depths of the earth, disappearing into the darkness.
They descended the stairs carefully, dozens of feet down, until the steps widened and their eyes suddenly opened up. A huge underground cave lay before them—so massive it took your breath away. The walls were smooth, carved with ancient runes that glowed faintly, and the ceiling was strung with glowing crystals, lighting up the entire cave like day. In the center, dozens of Ji family servants and guards were locked in special black iron cages, their spiritual energy suppressed by formations carved into the metal. They were ragged, covered in bruises, their eyes filled with terror and despair, soft sobs echoing through the cave—like lambs trapped in a dark abyss, helpless and small.
The fake steward had dropped his disguise, revealing a sinister middle-aged man with a cold, cruel look. Gone was his earlier politeness—now he stood with his arms crossed, grinning maliciously alongside several Immortal Meeting Mansion disciples. Their smiles were like the devil’s, full of mockery and cruelty as they stared at the caged Ji family members.
On a high platform at the back of the cave, a arrogant young man in brocade robes twirled a glowing jade pendant between his fingers. The pendant was sleek and bright, shimmering with spiritual energy, like a mysterious star in the night sky—holding secrets no one could guess. He exuded the arrogance of someone born into power, his brows furrowed with conceit, like the whole world was beneath him. Standing beside him was an old man with a deep, unreadable aura—dressed in plain robes, his face lined with age, but his eyes sharp as a blade. He kept his energy hidden, looking ordinary at first glance, but no one dared get close—he was clearly a total powerhouse, his strength off the charts.
"Ji Ruxu!" The young man’s eyes widened in shock when he saw them, then a sneer tugged at his lips, his voice dripping with disdain. "Didn’t expect you’d actually find this place. Guess I underestimated you."
"Han Li!" Ji Ruxu’s gaze turned sharp as a knife, piercing straight at the young man on the platform. Her energy turned icy cold, her voice shaking with suppressed anger and urgency. "Why did your Han family order the Immortal Meeting Mansion to kidnap my family? The Ji and Han families have never had a grudge—why are you trying to wipe us out?"
"No grudge?" Han Li scoffed, waving the jade pendant triumphantly, his eyes filled with greed. "Obviously for this—the fragment of your Ji family’s heirloom, the ‘Map of Mountains and Rivers’! Rumor has it this piece holds the entrance to an ancient secret realm, plus endless treasures and cultivation manuals. Get this, and the Han family will become the top clan in the Northern Dynasty—maybe even rule the entire Six Realms!”
