Chapter 376: Chapter 374: Evergreen Hall (Seeking Subscription)_1
"No... this place doesn’t require that."
The old ghost answered with an ancient-sounding voice.
Zhan Tu pinched a magic spell with both hands and spouted a green orb from his mouth.
Only when Fang Xi looked closely did he realize that the orb was marked with clear wooden grain patterns, most likely made of Evergreen Wood.
And it was... four-rank Evergreen Wood at that!
The green orb fell onto the light screen, immediately flashing with spiritual light, revealing a series of incomplete runes.
On the light screen, silver runes also flashed into existence, equally incomplete.
The two sets of runes fused into one, forming entirely new runes.
Just then, the light screen boomed loudly, automatically splitting open a crack just wide enough for one person to pass through.
’So this old ghost actually had a key.’
Fang Xi was still marveling when he saw Zhan Tu flash through the crack into the inside. He smiled faintly and followed suit.
The Evergreen Hall wasn’t built towering or magnificent, but its entire body was dark green, exuding a unique vitality.
Fang Xi knocked on the wooden wall in front of him, and it emitted a sound like metal striking iron.
"They actually used third-rank Evergreen Wood to construct the palace..."
He rubbed his hands together: "Under normal circumstances... I might have just dismantled this palace."
"Humph!"
The old ghost snorted coldly and walked into the center of the Evergreen Hall.
The Evergreen Hall wasn’t large, with a hall at the front that must have been for deliberation. Now, the desks and chairs were scattered and disordered, it was unclear what sort of chaos had transpired here previously.
Fang Xi’s Divine Consciousness swept through the area, but he didn’t detect any cultivator remains.
However, when he extended his Divine Consciousness towards the back of the hall, it was unceremoniously bounced back, causing him to be slightly startled.
’It’s quite reasonable for the core area of a school to have prohibitions against Divine Consciousness probing.’
Fang Xi, with his hands clasped behind his back, said to Zhan, "Sir Zhan... shall we visit the rear hall together?"
Zhan Tu shuddered, the protective treasure light around his body trembling. Then he said haltingly, "That’s precisely what Elder Ghost instructed..."
The two of them immediately crossed the hall to reach the backside of the Evergreen Hall.
Here, there was also a layer of light shield, which seemed very strict.
But after Zhan Tu used the same method to open the door, Fang Xi couldn’t help but gasp, "Is this..."
Inside the rear hall of the Evergreen Hall were none other than rows of quaint teleportation arrays!
These arrays had withstood the test of time, covered in various Spirit Marks arranged in octagonal patterns, and there were far more than just one!
Fang Xi looked around and couldn’t help but shake his head: "A total of eight teleportation arrays... but unfortunately five of them are damaged."
The worn teleportation arrays seemed to have been affected by some magical battle, some surfaces marred by innumerable cracks, others shattered into several pieces.
The remaining three arrays weren’t necessarily intact, either.
After all... there were also the corresponding arrays on the other side!
If the arrays on the other side were already damaged, those set up here would naturally be ineffective!
"Hehe... Sir, do you recognize these arrays?"
Yellow, hazy light appeared again in Zhan Tu’s eyes as he uttered the ancient voice.
"Of course, I recognize them... these are teleportation arrays."
Fang Xi approached one of the intact arrays, his finger tracing the pitch-black Spirit Stone slot, the grey Array Base, and the bright silver runes, his face revealing a fervent longing: "Not just that... but they are ancient teleportation arrays capable of transporting over the longest distances!"
His expression at that moment was like that of a lecher seeing a beautiful woman, or a gourmet encountering a delicacy, unmistakably genuine.
Fang Xi even felt an urge to go into seclusion here and study the ancient teleportation array, convinced that if he understood it, he could advance his Array Taoist skills and even construct a teleportation array capable of distances over a thousand miles!
"Hmm? Sir, you are truly an Array Master for being able to discern that..."
The old ghost was slightly surprised, then proudly claimed, "These Eight Great Ancient Transmission Arrays, each one can transport across tens or hundreds of thousands of miles... They were used by the Nine Leaves Sect of the past to communicate with the major Cultivation Regions of this realm, albeit... most have now been abandoned."
"The major Cultivation Regions?"
Fang Xi asked doubtfully.
"Hehe... you didn’t think that in this world, there is only the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm, did you? The Eastern Sea, the Western Desert... and the North Plains... if you travel north from the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm, crossing the Great Dream Marsh, you will arrive at the Central Region, which is now in ruins, and further north is the North Plains Cultivation Realm, and to the east is the Eastern Sea Cultivation Realm... alas, in the past, the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm was preeminent, but the Cultivation Realms each had their own outstanding figures, now the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm has declined..."
The old ghost sighed.
"Our realm is that vast?" Fang Xi’s eyes twinkled: "I’ve read an ancient book that mentioned there are three thousand minor worlds beneath the Earth Immortal Realm... Could it be that each is as vast as the Mortal Realm we inhabit?"
"Not exactly... No one knows exactly how many minor realms there are beneath the Earth Immortal Realm, and if we truly count, perhaps there are over eighty or a hundred thousand..."
The old ghost shook his head: "But strictly speaking, in terms of vast territories or the strength of cultivators... our Mortal Realm can be considered one of the larger realms among those under the Earth Immortal Realm."
"So it is..."
Fang Xi had to admit that his understanding of this realm was still too shallow.
After all, he had been just a mere Core Formation cultivator and had been concentrating on his cultivation.
Even after achieving a Heterodox Nascent Soul, he had not engaged in gatherings or discussions with other Nascent Soul veterans, truly a land turtle!
’In that case, the Great Cold World and the Red Sun World... could only be considered smaller worlds?’
Fang Xi thought to himself, ’Could it be... the power of the Treasures of All Heavens is limited? That it can currently only send me to smaller worlds? And if its power grows, or if I become stronger, could there be other larger worlds? If so... the opportunity for Transcendent God lies there!’
With Nascent Soul within reach, Fang Xi naturally started planning for Transcendent God.
It might be difficult to advance in the Mortal Realm, but if he could acquire resources from different major worlds, exchanging strengths and weaknesses, it might not be impossible to forge a new path!
With this thought in mind, Fang Xi couldn’t help but look at the old ghost with a hint of regret in his gaze.
This old fellow was a treasure trove, indeed... but unfortunately, soul-searching was out of the question.
While the two were talking, Fang Xi and Zhan Tu had already begun inspecting and repairing the remaining three ancient teleportation arrays one by one.
Fang Xi took out eight top-grade Spirit Stones and placed them into the grooves of a teleportation array.
This type of ancient teleportation array couldn’t use medium-grade Spirit Stones; only top-grade Spirit Stones could serve as its power source.
Then, he cast a Magic Spell, trying to activate the teleportation array.
Unfortunately...
This teleportation array didn’t react at all.
"The array patterns and Array Base are intact, and there’s nothing wrong with the Spirit Stones. It seems that the teleportation array on the other side is the problem; it must be damaged..."
For this kind of ancient teleportation array, as long as one side is powered by Spirit Stones, it can be activated. Thus, Fang Xi ruled out the possibility that the teleportation array on the other side lacked Spirit Stones.
"What a pity..."
He shook his head, filled with regret.
"Mine isn’t working either..."
Zhan Tu also took back his Spirit Stones, his face showing the same disappointment.
Eventually, the two came to the last ancient teleportation array.
"According to Senior Ghost, this teleportation array can transport us to those ruins!"
Zhan Tu took a deep breath and stuffed top-grade Spirit Stones into the eight corners.
Hum!
As the Magic Spell was cast, the teleportation array suddenly began to roar, and strands of silver runes lit up, flashing with a dream-like glow.
"It still works!"
Zhan Tu immediately became overjoyed.
"It looks like this old ghost had a plan all along..."
Fang Xi gave Zhan Tu a glance, his wariness growing.
At the same time, his gaze swept over the damaged teleportation arrays and thought to himself, ’Teleportation Array Skills have long been lost in the South Wilderness, but... I know them! I may not be able to fix those that are too badly damaged, but ones with only a corner or two damaged shouldn’t be a problem!’
The idea of claiming Jade Island was already tempting, and now it grew even stronger.
Being able to repair an ancient teleportation array would be immensely beneficial!
"Only this teleportation array works, and it just happens to lead to the ruins. Isn’t that a bit too coincidental?"
Fang Xi’s gaze returned to the only intact ancient teleportation array, his face showing a cautious expression.
"Hehe... It was not easy nurturing you and Zhan to reach the Golden Core stage with the Kuyong Skills. How could I harm you?"
"And... I’ve indeed known for a long time that this was the only functioning array in the ancient palace."
Old Ghost appeared, chuckling mysteriously and implying, "I still need to rely on Sir for something, so why would I rashly harm you?"
"That’s hard to say..."
Fang Xi’s face showed a grave expression: "Regarding the teleportation array, I do want to verify something..."
"Oh? How do you plan to verify?"
Old Ghost didn’t rush him, asking casually.
Fang Xi slapped his Spirit Beast Bag and released Daqing.
The Blue Dragon looked confused, then heard its master command, "Shrink a bit!"
It roared in protest and promptly transformed into a three-foot-long blue flood dragon, resembling a snake.
"A third-stage Blue Dragon!"
Zhan took a step back, a hint of wariness on his face.
"Let’s send this Spiritual Pet first... If there’s any danger that causes its death on the other side, the Soul Pact and the Prohibition I left on it will dissipate."
Fang Xi smiled and asked, "What do you think, Sir?"
"Good, this plan is very prudent!"
Old Ghost actually agreed at once.
Fang Xi was slightly surprised, but still let Daqing onto the ancient teleportation array and after giving it a few instructions, he waved his hand and cast the Magic Spell.
Boom!
A dazzling silver-white light flashed, and once the light subsided, Daqing’s figure had vanished from its spot.
"How is it?"
Old Ghost asked.
"Though the connection feels weaker, it indeed seems not to have died yet..."
Fang Xi touched his glabella and answered candidly.
"Heh heh... Old Ghost will enter second with Zhan, and as for you, Sir... a great opportunity lies on the other side, it’s up to you whether you dare to follow."
Zhan placed himself on the teleportation array and activated the Array Skills once more.
In the next moment, within the same dazzling light, he disappeared.
Fang Xi released his Divine Consciousness, scanning the surroundings, and then raised his hand.
A streak of pitch-black light appeared, which was the Demon Blood Flood Dragon!
"Guard this place, especially the teleportation array!"
After instructing the Puppet, he stepped onto the ancient teleportation array and cast the Magic Spell.
Boom!