After stepping into the passage, it felt like passing through a layer of thick, warm water curtain.
The surrounding light twisted and spun within the water curtain, countless bizarre colors and fragments whizzing by.
The little white fox’s fur bristled in shock, letting out a "chirp" and clinging tightly to Chen Ye’s arm with its little paws.
"Hold on tight, don’t be afraid. This space passage... is already unstable," Chen Ye reassured in a low voice.
He looked back, but the light curtain at the entrance had vanished.
The mysterious black-robed cultivator and Jian Gu were nowhere to be found, leaving only an infinite vortex of light before him.
As he moved forward, Chen Ye was on alert for his surroundings while pondering the recent ambush.
"Why would someone try to assassinate me? This person acted cautiously, premeditatedly. Didn’t attack directly, but instead, struck suddenly when I charged the grand array... Even though I was somewhat prepared, I was caught off guard."
He still felt a lingering fear.
It seemed not dangerous at first, but it was the most perilous moment since entering the grotto heaven.
Dignified as a Foundation Establishment Middle Period cultivator, quite a figure in the outside world, yet stooped to ambush someone of a lower realm like him.
"It seems... this person was apprehensive? Otherwise, why be so cautious. Must have known my past..."
Chen Ye mused silently. Outsiders had no idea he had any token, which meant the opponent purely came to take his life.
Deeply considering it, there were only a few factions that had enmity with Chen Ye.
The Ji and Wei families didn’t have any Foundation Establishment Middle Period cultivators, so this person must be from the Ten Thousand Puppet Sect, Xu Family, Emotion Crossing Sect, or another force under Lingyin Sect.
Chen Ye shook his head, utterly perplexed. He couldn’t determine which faction had made a move, nor understand why Jian Gu assisted him.
He raised a spiritual shield, protecting the disciple as they advanced.
The passage was not smooth; energy fragments occasionally slashed by, striking the spiritual shield and making a sharp "hiss."
"Condense!" Chen Ye commanded in a low voice, lightly pointing a sword finger.
A concentrated blue sword light flew out, clearing a section of the turbulent flow.
But the aftermath of the dispersing sword light instead triggered more intense localized distortion, causing him to stumble.
"Master, be careful!" Zhiwei’s face tensed, quickly supporting the Master’s arm.
"Ahem." Chen Ye steadied himself, looking slightly embarrassed, "Still not very handy."
They continued moving forward until the turbulent flow ahead surged violently, coalescing into a blurry portal.
"We’ve arrived!"
Chen Ye’s heart tightened.
No doubt, this was the exit of the passage, the final gateway leading to the Ninth Layer Heaven!
"Chirp chirp..."
The little white fox became even more excited, leaping onto Zhiwei’s shoulder, standing upright, staring blankly at the portal.
Its little head couldn’t comprehend why the once prosperous fox clan blessed land had become ruins, but if they could enter the most mysterious Ninth Layer Heaven, perhaps all questions could be answered! It still held hope, wishing that its clan was living peacefully in the Ninth Layer Heaven.
"Hold on tight!"
Chen Ye grabbed the scruff of the little white fox, wrapped his other arm around Zhiwei, and with a low shout, spiritual power surged, transforming into a long rainbow rushing into the portal.
The light before them flared brightly and then dimmed instantly.
At the moment of exiting the portal, the sense of weightlessness disappeared suddenly, feet solidly on the ground, and a desolate, barren atmosphere hit them.
Chen Ye quickly stabilized himself, with the Flying Light Sword hovering by his side, cautiously surveying the surroundings.
They were unexpectedly in the sky of another world.
Above, there was no sun, but a soft golden-yellow light spread like cloud brocade.
Below was solid, ancient bluish-gray stone bricks stretching into the distance.
This stone ground floated above the boundless sea of chaos clouds, visible only as a vast, wide stone brick road, piercing through the cloud sea, leading to a magnificent palace complex suspended in the distant firmament!
The palace emitted an antiqued bronze hue, seemingly forged from divine metal, towering like mountain ranges.
Massive stone pillars supported the sprawling halls, carved with unrecognizable patterns.
"What a huge... celestial palace..."
Zhiwei looked up with a small face, her clear dark eyes reflecting that ancient suspended palace complex.
The little white fox also poked its small head out from Chen Ye’s embrace, its big black eyes wide open, chirping incessantly.
It was saying, this is the sacred land of the White Fox Race.
According to legend, a mythical creature resides within, and this road is called the Divine Path by the White Fox Race.
Only the patriarch can worship the Divine Path and meet the divine presence.
Chen Ye’s gaze swept grimly over this floating celestial domain.
They were now standing on the long Divine Path leading to the main hall of the celestial palace.
On both sides of the Divine Path was the endless, churning sea of chaos clouds, unfathomably deep.
"A mythical creature... could it be Qing Jun?"
He thought thus, for Qing Jun was undoubtedly a mythical creature. With this in mind, he inquired,
"Worship? Could it be that the mythical creature would actually meet with you, White Fox Race?"
"Chirp chirp!"
The little white fox proudly wagged its tail.
Of course it will.
Its White Fox Race settled in the Eighth Layer Heaven precisely relying on the mythical creature’s protection; the two had excellent relations!
Chen Ye remained skeptical:
"If your relations are so good, why do you keep calling it a mythical creature without knowing its esteemed name?"
"Chirp..."
The little white fox felt guilty, dropped its tail, hesitated for a moment, then explained truthfully.
This is because the White Fox Race can only perceive vague thoughts and has never seen the true form of the mythical creature.
Even the patriarch merely worships on the Divine Path, never entered the palace.
Moreover,
Two hundred years ago, turmoil occurred in Songyang Cave Heaven; since then, the mythical creature vanished without a trace, and the White Fox Race could no longer feel Its will.
If not for this, how could outsiders wreak havoc in the White Fox Blessed Land?
Upon mentioning this,
The little white fox let out a mournful cry.