Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies

"""

Accompanied by a low and prolonged hum, the great bronze door of the palace was pushed open by the arrow beam.

A thick and primal aura rushed over them, causing both to involuntarily hold their breaths.

This kind of aura was incredibly dense. If they had been standing at the palace door, they might have been affected, possibly even injured.
Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire

"Let's go." Shen Qing tightened the treasure bow in his hand, took a deep breath, and was the first to step into the palace.

Liu Chengyan followed closely behind.

As Shen Qing and Liu Chengyan stepped into the ancient palace, an unusual luster appeared before their eyes, causing them both to gape in astonishment.

In their sight, rows of sparkling crystals filled the great hall, extending into the depths.

As they had pushed the door open moments ago, a faint and crisp sound echoed within the hall, as if the figures tightly sealed within the transparent crystals were awakening, emitting a faint and elusive glow.

"These... are these ancient cultivators from a thousand years ago?"

Shen Qing was shocked, his voice subconsciously lowered, eyes filled with disbelief.

"Even in ancient books, they're rarely mentioned, and yet here there's such a vast number, with possibly more remaining hidden. What secret realm is this, and what does it conceal?"

There was no answer.

Shen Qing cautiously advanced and stopped before a crystal.

Under the hazy crystal light, he saw a withered skeleton in a blue robe sealed within.

It rested quietly in the crystal, its body cracked in multiple places, as if it might crumble into dust with a mere touch.

Liu Chengyan swallowed and stepped forward for a closer look, saying, "This person must have had remarkable cultivation in life and held a significant position in the Tai Xuan Sect. This crystal is also unusual, but still could not withstand the erosion of time, leaving only the skeleton preserved under the crystal's protection until now."

Anyone able to retain a trace of themselves over such a long passage of time was undoubtedly a peerless powerhouse of the Tai Xuan Sect in that era.

The Tai Xuan Sect must have been resplendently glorious in ancient times.

Yet, why they were sealed within this crystal remains a mystery.

Shen Qing continued forward and saw another body preserved more intact.

It was shriveled, its vitality completely drained, resembling a mummy.

But compared to the first one he saw, it was undeniably stronger; this powerhouse must have been a prodigy of the Tai Xuan Sect.

He stared at the jade plaque hanging at the waist of this "mummy" within the white crystal, on which was inscribed in small characters: "Tai Xuan Sect, Li Muyun."

"Let's get out of here quickly. Standing here looking at these corpses gives me chills. It feels eerie," said Liu Chengyan, standing in the main hall, uneasy with the scene.

Shen Qing radiated his divine sense, thoroughly probing, finding no clues, and promptly moved past these "crystals" to the end, entering a spacious hall.

In the hall, many more "crystals" were present, each sealing a lifelike person.

These individuals appeared in much better condition than those outside, their physical bodies had not decayed.

Some even had skin that remained ruddy, as if they were about to revive in the next moment, which was astonishing.

Beyond these 'crystals' captivating them, the monumental jade scroll suspended at the center of the hall astonished Shen Qing and Liu Chengyan.

Upon close inspection, Shen Qing found it etched with intricate runes, emitting a gentle glow that illuminated the whole hall as bright as day.

His expression turned considerably serious, "Shall we go up and take a look?"

"Could it be dangerous?"

Shen Qing was resolute, directly creating a wisp of a divine soul avatar.

Seeing two identical Shen Qings, a hint of peculiar color flickered in Liu Chengyan's eyes.

Shen Qing's plan was simple: to have the divine soul avatar make contact.

If danger arose, he could abandon the wisp of divine soul.

Though there would be some damage, it would not be life-threatening.

"Go!"

The divine soul avatar, with a solemn expression, walked slowly toward the jade scroll, reaching out to touch it. A warm and powerful force surged instantly into his body, causing him to shudder.

In that moment, it was as if Shen Qing's mind established a spiritual connection with the Tai Xuan Sect, a transcendent connection beyond words silently formed.

On the other end of this connection was the accumulated essence of the Tai Xuan Sect over the centuries, filled with the insights of many ancient forebears into the principles of heaven and earth and the path to immortality.

Among the numerous methods, a profound martial arts technique emerged in his mind.

"The Tai Xuan Dao Literature?"

Upon learning the utility of this technique, Shen Qing was jolted internally.

This was the core martial method of the Tai Xuan Sect, condensing the sect's countless painstaking efforts.

The great powers of the Tai Xuan Sect, worrying their legacy might end, had specially left this scripture behind.

Shen Qing stood quietly at the main hall entrance, surrounded by gentle circles of pale purple spiritual energy.

His eyes closed tightly, an ineffable seriousness between his brows as he diligently cultivated.

Here, the concentration of spiritual energy was astoundingly dense.

As soon as Shen Qing began to cultivate, the spiritual energy of this realm started forming into dazzling vortices, madly rushing into his body.

These energies surged through his meridians like rivers into the sea, not only nourishing his physical body but also invisibly strengthening his divine soul.

An invisible and grand power silently descended, nourishing every inch of Shen Qing's flesh and bone like gentle rainwater, causing a pleasant hum throughout his body.

Yet as he frantically absorbed the spiritual energy of this realm, the "people" hidden in the numerous crystals in the palace began to age little by little, with some even turning directly into piles of bones, the transformation stark.

With the support of the ink wash panel, their productiveness determined their reward.

After about the time of one incense stick, Shen Qing saw the records and information of the Tai Xuan Dao Literature appear before his vision.

He had successfully mastered and internalized this cultivation method, making his divine soul stronger.

At this moment, he seemed to have sensed subtle changes within the palace.

Instinctively, he recalled the wisp of divine soul and said to Liu Chengyan, "This place is not safe for prolonged stay. Let's leave first."

Liu Chengyan did not know the reason but still followed Shen Qing out of trust.

As they returned to the main hall, a cracking sound came from the crystals laid out on the hall.

Shen Qing looked around and saw many of the well-preserved crystals beginning to collapse, revealing cultivators who opened their cold eyes, staring fixedly at Shen Qing, sending chills down his spine.

Realizing he might have touched something extremely formidable, Shen Qing immediately activated the Grand Teleportation technique, taking Liu Chengyan through the void.

Their presence vanished from the main hall.

At the moment they disappeared, five crystals completely shattered, with five ancient beings emerging from within them.

Each of them exuded an overwhelming aura, their entire being brimming with unique energy.

After losing their target of Shen Qing, their expressions suddenly turned aloof and absent-minded, as if lost.

They spun around vicuously like headless flies, then one by one rushed out of the hall.

Meanwhile, Shen Qing and Liu Chengyan materialized out of thin air back in the original alchemy hall.

"The risks present in there are even greater than I imagined. We need to find a place to hide," Shen Qing straightforwardly remarked.

Having received the legacy of the Tai Xuan Sect, he had learned much.

For instance, only cultivators or martial artists below the age of thirty-five were permitted to enter this treasure trove. Others who tried would be obstructed by the array formations within, unable to proceed.

And, the Tai Xuan Sect did not perish by annihilation but preserved their bodies to await an opportunity, aiming to vindicate the Immortal Path.

Moreover, it appeared that many sects shared similar fates during ancient times.

They might all be revived someday.

'I must quickly enhance my cultivation,' Shen Qing felt a deep sense of urgency.

He and Liu Chengyan returned to the alchemy hall and said to Liu Chengyan, "Can you set up an array to ensure our safety?"

"""