ATPnovel Chapter 168 The Gate of the Water Mansion
Chapter 168 The Gate of the Water Mansion
Zhou Ning frowned.
Here come cultists too?
It seems this trip to the Water Palace will not be peaceful.
"Lord Han, how many people did the Demon Suppression Division send?"
Han Wei said, "Twenty of them, all experts above the Foundation Establishment stage. I will personally lead the team."
Zhou Ning nodded: "That's good. We'll look out for each other then."
As the two were talking, Xuanzhenzi walked over.
He was dressed in a blue Taoist robe, holding a whisk, with a ruddy complexion and vigorous spirit.
He smiled slightly when he saw Zhou Ning.
"Young Master Zhou, you've arrived. This humble Taoist has been waiting for you for a long time."
Zhou Ning cupped his hands in greeting: "Daoist Xuanzhenzi, it's been a long time. Has your injury healed?"
Xuanzhenzi nodded: "It's all better now. Thanks to your pills."
He took a map from his sleeve, spread it on the ground, and pointed to a location marked on it.
"This is the location of Penglai Island, in the center of the marsh, about fifty miles from the shore. The island should emerge from the water at midnight tonight. At that time, a pillar of light will appear on the water, and that will be the entrance."
Looking at the map, Zhou Ning asked, "Master Xuanzhenzi, is there any danger on the island?"
Xuanzhenzi said, "Of course there are. How could the Water God's Water Palace not have restrictions and guardian beasts? Besides, the evil people have also come; they won't just sit by and watch us take the treasure."
He paused, then continued, "I suggest that we righteous cultivators join forces to deal with the evil forces and the guardian beasts. Once we enter the Water Palace, we can each use our own abilities to retrieve the treasures."
Zhou Ning nodded: "Okay. I agree."
Yu Zhenzi from Qingcheng Mountain also came over and expressed his agreement.
Representatives from the other righteous sects also nodded in agreement.
Thus, a temporary alliance of righteous forces was formed.
Night falls.
The moon was obscured by thick clouds, and the world was pitch black.
The lake was shrouded in mist, making visibility very low.
Zhou Ning stood by the swamp and spread his divine sense, covering an area of hundreds of thousands of feet in radius.
He could sense a powerful surge of spiritual energy in the center of the swamp, as if something was about to burst forth from the water.
It was just past midnight.
Suddenly, a dazzling golden light shone on the lake.
The golden light shot out from the bottom of the water, soaring straight into the sky and illuminating the entire Yunmeng Marsh as if it were daytime.
In the golden light, a huge island slowly emerged from the water.
On the island, pavilions and towers are scattered in a well-organized manner, surrounded by an ethereal atmosphere, just like a fairyland.
"Penglai Island!" someone exclaimed.
As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of figures leaped from the shore and flew towards the island.
Some flew on swords, some walked on water, and some rode spirit beasts, each displaying their unique abilities.
Zhou Ning also drew his Qingfeng sword, flew on it, and followed the crowd.
The island is very large, covering several hundred acres.
The island is covered with exotic flowers and plants, and its spiritual energy is so abundant that it is breathtaking.
Zhou Ning landed in front of a palace and found that the palace gates were tightly closed, with complex runes engraved on them, emitting a faint golden light.
"A key is needed to open it."
Xuanzhenzi walked to his side and carefully examined the runes on the door.
"These runes are restrictions left behind by the ancient water god. Only a specific token can open them."
Zhou Ning asked, "What token?"
Xuanzhenzi shook his head.
"I don't know. But since the water palace has surfaced, it means the token is nearby. Let's split up and search."
The group dispersed and searched the island.
Zhou Ning walked along a path deeper into the island.
After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he arrived at a small pavilion.
Inside the pavilion, there was a stone table, on which lay a jade slip.
Zhou Ning picked up the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense.
The jade slip contained a passage.
"The gate to the Water Palace must be opened with a token from the Water God. The token is a jade pendant, which the Water God gave to the Angry Dragon Lord, the Water God of the Huai River. To enter the Water Palace, you must first obtain the jade pendant."
"The Angry Dragon Lord?" Zhou Ning's heart stirred.
Isn't that the Huaiyang water god he learned about from the ancient books he read about?
He happened to have a water-repelling pearl given to him by the Angry Dragon Lord. Although it wasn't exactly a token, it might come in handy.
He carefully put away the jade slip and returned to the palace.
The group returned one after another, but none of them found the token.
"It seems the token isn't on the island."
Yu Zhenzi frowned.
"Could it be underwater?"
Zhou Ning said, "I know where the token is."
Everyone turned to look at him.
Zhou Ning took out the Water-Repelling Pearl from his bosom and said, "This Water-Repelling Pearl was given to me by the Angry Dragon Lord, the Water God of the Huai River. Although it is not a token, it may be able to open the gate to the Water Palace."
He walked to the palace gate and stuck the water-repelling bead on the door.
The water-repelling bead emitted a blue light, and the runes on the door began to flicker.
A moment later, the door slowly opened.
"It's open!"
Some people cheered.
Zhou Ning avoided the water droplets and was the first to enter the palace.
The palace gates slowly opened, and a rich spiritual aura rushed out.
The spiritual energy was pure and ancient, carrying the vast aura unique to ancient times, completely different from the spiritual energy of the human world today.
Zhou Ning took a deep breath and felt the illusory image of his primordial spirit in his dantian tremble slightly, as if it were cheering and jumping for joy.
The palace is even more magnificent inside than it appears from the outside.
The tall stone pillars are carved with lifelike aquatic patterns, including dragons, jiaos, fish, and shrimp, each one exquisite.
The floor was paved with white jade slabs, smooth as a mirror, reflecting the luminous pearls embedded in the dome, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime.
In the very center of the main hall, there is a high platform.
On the high platform, there was a trident, its body engraved with intricate runes and emitting a faint blue light.
Next to the trident was a jade box, which was tightly closed, and it was impossible to tell what was inside.
"That's the trident of the water god!" someone exclaimed.
As soon as the words were spoken, several figures emerged from the crowd and rushed towards the platform.
Their eyes were filled with greed, and they wished they could possess the treasure.
Zhou Ning frowned but didn't move.
He knew that the water god's treasure could not be obtained so easily.
Sure enough, just as those figures rushed to the platform, a dazzling blue light suddenly shone from the ground.
Countless water arrows shot out from the ground, turning those greedy cultivators into sieves.
They screamed and collapsed to the ground, their blood staining the white jade slab.
"There are restrictions!" someone shouted in terror.
Everyone retreated, no longer daring to step forward rashly.
Zhou Ning walked to the platform, squatted down, and carefully examined the runes on the ground.
The runes were complex, somewhat similar to those he had seen in the Huaiyang Water Palace, but more ancient and profound.
He could sense that the runes contained powerful water-attribute spiritual energy, which, once triggered, would unleash a water arrow attack.
"These runes are a restriction set up by the water god."
Xuanzhenzi walked to his side, his expression solemn.
"To obtain the treasure, the restriction must be broken. Otherwise, whoever touches it will die."
Zhou Ning asked, "Master Xuanzhenzi, do you have any knowledge of formations?"
Xuanzhenzi nodded.
"I know a little about it. But the Water God's restrictions are not ordinary formations."
"It requires water-attribute true essence to break. I cultivate fire-attribute techniques, which are incompatible with water, so I'm afraid it won't work."
Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said, "I'll give it a try."
He walked to the platform, placed his hands on the ground, and infused his spiritual power into the runes.
His "Innate Qi" cultivates righteous energy, which is predominantly yang in nature, but does not exclude water.