It thought its kin might have come to the Ninth Layer Heaven to seek refuge, but clearly, there wasn’t a single fox here!
"Two hundred years ago? Dandan Qingjun was already present three hundred years ago at Dragon Sleep Mountain..."
Chen Ye calculated in his heart. The timeline seemed to conflict, but this little white fox had an extremely vague concept of time and most likely got the dates wrong.
The Divine Path stretched straight forward, leading to the grand Celestial Palace suspended above the chaotic sea of clouds.
Other than the sole road beneath their feet, the surroundings were filled with endlessly churning clouds.
The moment Chen Ye probed with his Divine Sense, it was instantly scattered and shattered; he quickly withdrew it, his heart pounding.
This place forbids flight!
It’s impossible to fly directly over; one must tread steadfastly to complete this long Divine Path.
The two humans and one fox advanced cautiously.
The stone path was ancient and rustic, occasionally revealing fractured stone pillars floating not far in the cloud sea beside the road.
"Master, there’s light ahead."
Zhiwei keenly pointed forward.
Ahead, the clouds and mist slightly parted, revealing a broken stone stele, as tall as a person, standing in the center of the road.
"Hmm? Isn’t that the Tao Stele of the Qi Cultivation Stage from the First Layer Heaven?"
Within the Nine Layers of Heaven in the Guiyi Domain, each layer had different Tao Steles, and this Qi Cultivation Stage’s Tao Stele before them was clearly a miniature version of the First Layer Heaven’s Tao Stele.
Chen Ye examined closely and found the sword marks on this Tao Stele were identical to those on the one outside.
"Could it be that this Tao Stele is a projection of the one outside? If the Tao Stele outside breaks, would this one break too?"
Chen Ye speculated, and the little white fox immediately explained.
When the stone stele outside was intact, a barrier covered the Celestial Palace, making it impossible to approach the entrance from outside, let alone ascend to the Celestial Palace.
"I see... It seems the Emotion Crossing Sect purposely destroyed the Qi Cultivation Stage Tao Stele outside to lift the prohibition here. The Tao Stele is the source of power for the Ninth Layer Heaven, functioning as the core of the Grand Array. Destroying the Tao Stele is like taking away the fuel from under the cauldron, cutting off the power source of the prohibition in the Ninth Layer Heaven."
Chen Ye was suddenly stunned as he glanced around the Ninth Layer Heaven.
Clearly, the Ninth Layer Heaven was different from the external eight layers, a separate smaller world opened in the void.
And the stone pillars outside were the pillar stones supporting the operation of this smaller world.
Once the pillar stones disintegrate, this Ninth Layer Heaven would collapse too!
No wonder the Ninth Layer Heaven had sky-piercing beams of light when outside, for those beams of light were signs of spatial collapse!
And the collapse of the Ninth Layer Heaven might even lead to the collapse of the vast Songyang Cave Heaven!
Sure enough, as they proceeded, they encountered eight Tao Steles along the way, all destroyed.
The closer Chen Ye got to the Celestial Palace, the more tightly his brows furrowed.
The Celestial Palace seemed to be at the end of the Divine Path, yet despite passing eight Tao Steles, the distance to the Celestial Palace hadn’t diminished.
"Master... This Celestial Palace seems merely a phantom, like a mirage." Zhiwei cautiously sensed and hesitated.
Chen Ye nodded, "It should just be an ancient projection. This place is clearly already within the Cave Heaven; it’s impossible to open such a grand small world... It seems within the Ninth Layer Heaven, only this Divine Path exists."
The little white fox was greatly taken aback, "Chirp chirp!"
Could it be that the Celestial Palace, which the White Fox Race had revered for so many years, was merely an illusion?
It even thought it was the palace of mythical creatures!
Slumped on Zhiwei’s shoulder despondently, its fluffy tail drooped lifelessly.
The sacred ground it had always believed in, the clan’s last hope, was only an untouchable illusion.
"Perhaps at the end of the illusion lies the true reality."
Chen Ye’s voice was steady, gently patting the little white fox’s back,
"Don’t lose heart; no matter what, we must reach the end of the road to see."
They had no idea how long they had walked.
The end of the Divine Path suddenly emerged before their eyes.
Here lay a stone platform, and on it stood a solitary scarlet crystal Tao Stele!
This Tao Stele was only about three meters high, and Chen Ye had never seen it in the outside world, but he could guess this was the legendary Guiyi Stele.
"The ninth Qi Cultivation Stage Tao Stele, according to Hee Qi, this is the Divine Soul Tao Stele; could it be that in the past, it confined Divine Souls, which is why it’s only three meters tall?"
Before he could be shocked, Chen Ye’s expression turned joyful.
In front of the Tao Stele, a petite figure sat cross-legged, facing away from them.
Her dazzling gold hair was bound with a wooden hairpin, carrying a long sword, motionless as stone.
"Bai Susu!" Chen Ye felt joy in his heart, finally putting his worries to rest.
Judging by her appearance, she was unharmed. Could it be she had already slain the Demon Cultivator?
"Master, she seems unaware of our presence," Zhiwei whispered softly aside as a reminder.
Chen Ye nodded, gesturing for her and the little white fox to stay put as he cautiously stepped forward.
Unexpectedly, after only a few steps, the golden-haired figure seemed to sense something.
"Who?" Bai Susu’s figure remained motionless, her voice icy.
This person... didn’t even bother to glance back?
Chen Ye’s feelings were truly torn between anger and joy now.
He was forced into the Cave Heaven because of Bai Susu, but finding her meant he had a backer...
"True Inheritor Bai, it is I, Chen Ye. Long time no see."
Chen Ye stopped and clasped his hands in salute.
"Hmm? It’s you, that troublesome guy? Who permitted you to enter! Competing for opportunities at the Qi Cultivation Stage?"
Despite a hint of enthusiasm in her words, Bai Susu concealed suspicion after a moment,
"Wait, you’re... you’ve reached Foundation Establishment?"
Seeing Bai Susu actually brought a genuine sense of relief to Chen Ye.
The Golden Furred Ball is invincible in the world!
With her around, what did he have to fear from the so-called Wei Family, Ji Family, or even the Bai Family?
He smiled, "True Inheritor Bai is in closed-door cultivation here; if I don’t work harder, won’t I be left far behind?"
"Hmph, I see you’ve made some progress." Bai Susu snorted, "As a servant, you must cultivate well! Only then can you serve your master for a lifetime!"
Zhiwei gripped her sword hilt tightly, her heart filled with indignation. Her master was no one’s servant!
Yet now... her master truly needed Bai Susu.
Her heart felt sore and aggrieved, but she could only lower her head powerless, her fingers trembling.
Just as Chen Ye was about to speak, his expression suddenly changed.
Something wasn’t right.
Bai Susu remained sitting cross-legged, motionless, not even turning her head.
Given her lively and animated nature, upon seeing him approach, even if she didn’t immediately jump up and boast a bit, she would not remain so silent.
"What’s wrong with you?" Chen Ye’s expression tightened, quickly stepping forward to circle to the front of the Tao Stele.
"Wait..."
Bai Susu panicked; before she could stop him, Chen Ye had already approached.
He saw the golden-haired girl’s face pale, a nearly transparent chain of soul power linking her brow to the Tao Stele.
Far from being safe and sound, she was clearly being refined by this Divine Soul Tao Stele!
Previously, Hee Qi had informed Chen Ye that Bai Susu was trapped by the Demon Cultivator’s scheme within the stele.
Chen Ye had thought she, like those Golden Core True Men, was trapped inside the stone stele.
So seeing Bai Susu sitting before the stele, he assumed she had broken free of her constraints.
But he never expected her Divine Soul was held captive by the Tao Stele!
"You..." Chen Ye’s heart tightened.
"What you! Call me master!"
Bai Susu interrupted Chen Ye, seemingly indifferent, her tone casual.
"I’m refining this stele... You should hurry and get out, don’t disturb my cultivation! After all, you came seeking opportunity, wait... wait until I get out, and I’ll give you some treasures!"
"True Inheritor Bai, I think this stele is refining you instead..."
"Nonsense!"
Bai Susu’s eyelashes quivered as if trying to glare in protest, but a surge of strong light passed along the chain, she groaned softly, swallowing back a cry of pain, her voice weakened.
"This is... a trial one must undergo when comprehending the ancient divine stele! Unless... you’re here to compete with me for this opportunity?"
By the end, Bai Susu sounded somewhat upset.
She treated Chen Ye so well!
And yet, now he wanted to seize her opportunity!
Ungrateful, audacious!
Moreover, she observed Chen Ye had recently reached Foundation Establishment, meaning he dared to come to the Cave Heaven seeking opportunity while still in the Qi Cultivation Stage.
He’s seeking opportunity regardless of his life?
Thinking this, Bai Susu finally spoke with exasperation, "Forget it... you fool! Yes, the stele is indeed refining me, it’s no opportunity, so now will you take the little girl and leave?"