âExtreme Dao, Sword Dao, what will be the next one? Infinity?â
He had a specific direction in mind, but how to take the next step was something he still didnât know.
This was the bottleneckâknowing exactly what one wanted but not knowing how to strive toward it.
Some people got stuck at this stage for countless years, fighting desperately for ages without finding the answer.
Jian Wushuangâs comprehension had surpassed his peak from the past, several times stronger. Perhaps he would succeed soon, but no one could say for sure.
While pondering over his own matters, he also listened to the conversations of those around him.
Time passed quickly. The group discussed for an entire day and night.
In fact, it was just a few seasoned veterans trying to wear down True Lord Xue Yang until they had coaxed every detail out of him. Only then did they make a decision.
This was expected. True Lord Xue Yang hadnât wanted to say too much at first, but the chances were the same for everyone going.
Once everything was revealed, his advantage would be gone.
But if he kept quiet, no one would be willing to go with him.
Even his own brother wouldnât agree to him going to the Twin-Faced Godâs Mansion.
That was why he hadnât told Yang Dingtian about it.
One was righteous, the other was evilâYang Dingtian and the Twin-Faced Buddha had always been at odds.
For his own brother to go to the Twin-Faced Godâs Mansion was, in Yang Dingtianâs eyes, akin to seeking death.
The Ancient Demon Palace was in the Twin-Faced Godâs Mansion, and even Yang Dingtian himself couldnât access it.
Ordinary people could disguise themselves and possibly sneak into the mansion undetected.
But if Yang Dingtian tried, he would surely be discovered.
That was the reason why True Lord Xue Yang hadnât sought Yang Dingtianâs help.
He was proud, but not to the point of being arrogantly self-delusional.
If the Ancient Demon Palace wasnât located in the Twin-Faced Godâs Mansion, he would have chosen to tell his brother, letting Yang Dingtian go there personally. Then, even if they had to split it fifty-fifty or seventy-thirty, it would still be cooperation, protecting his dignity while helping his brother, earning the latterâs approval.
But the problem was that the Ancient Demon Palace happened to be inside the Twin-Faced Godâs Mansion.
When he first discovered this, he had been devastated.
He had, of course, never been to the Twin-Faced Godâs Mansion, but he had obtained an Ancient Demon Tokenâa personal jade pendant of the Sea-Overturning Demon God. It contained a map and the exact location of the Ancient Demon Palace, and with the jade, he could enter.
However, to enter the Ancient Demon Palace, one needed a bloodline imprint.
In other words, the aura had to match.
No one could do thisâonly Special Life Forms could.
Yet True Lord Xue Yang had found, through various records, that aside from the main entrance, the Ancient Demon Palace had a special passage. This passage had been used by the Ancient Demonâs subordinates for their daily duties and maintenance of the palace.
This passage could accommodate four Zhen Xian and three cultivators at the Mahayana stage.
It did not require a bloodline imprint, nor the Ancient Demon Token.
So his token was effectively useless.
This meant that he no longer held an advantage, and by the time everyone entered through the special passage, the treasures inside would be won purely by individual ability.
Once he had laid everything bare, the crippled elder and Fairy Ziyu also agreed one after the other. The other two Four-Step Zhen Xian decided to agree as well.
After all, the temptation was simply too great.
Even if the Twin-Faced Godâs Mansion was hell itself, they still had to venture into it.
âSince everyone is in agreement, letâs each begin our preparations now! But remember, before we leave, we must announce that weâre going into seclusion. For this, weâll need Fairy Ziyuâs help!â True Lord Xue Yangâs gaze shifted to the main seat.
The Ziyu Immortal Fairy let out a faint smile with her crimson lips, her voice filled with charm as she said, âRest assured, I will arrange your caves, but when the time comes, you all must send in an avatar. You should do things thoroughly, right?â
âNaturally!â Everyone nodded in agreement without objection.
Once the date was set, Ziyu Immortal Fairy brought out an Oath Stone, and everyone stepped forward to swear their blood oaths one by one.
The oath was simple: they must not reveal this conversation.
Inside the Twin-faced Divine Palace, they must not attack one another.
However, after entering the Ancient Demon Palace, the oath would be lifted.
This oath was relatively lenient, without much restraint.
Once inside the Ancient Demon Palace, everything would depend on oneâs own abilities.
This point disadvantaged True Lord Xue Yang the most, but he still accepted it. At the very least, regarding the Ancient Demon Palace, he knew much more than everyone else.
For instance, he knew where certain treasures within the Ancient Demon Palace were stored, how to access some hidden chambers, and other similar information.
But that was the extent of his advantage.
Compared to Tian Can and the others, it wasnât much of an edge.
Tian Can had brought along his own disciple and was incredibly strong, so his chances were high.
However, among those present, Ziyu Immortal Fairy remained the most secure.
Two Four-step Zhen Xian and Jian Wushuang were on her side.
Ziyu Immortal Fairy herself was only a Four-step Zhen Xian, but she had a vast array of treasures. Her Origin Source Dao was powerful, and her Divine Eye inheritance, obtained from the Second Sequence, had now been cultivated to the fourth level. She was close to perfecting the fifth level, making her strength comparable to that of Tian Can and Wuhou True Immortal.
She was the core figure in this operation.
Whether it was someone as cunning as Old Man Tian Can or someone as cold-hearted as Wuhou True Immortal, they had to tread carefully around this female immortal.
The same was true for True Lord Xue Yang.
Jian Wushuang might have appeared carefree on the surface, but deep down, he wasnât that concerned.
However, he remembered Ziyu Immortal Fairyâs kindness.
Having been in the world for many years, he had encountered plenty of people.
Many peopleâs characters and motives could be discerned from a simple conversation.
Take Old Man Tian Can, for example. He was dangerous and had no bottom line. The moment danger struck, heâd be the first to run.
Then there was Wuhou True Immortal. He was rigid and unyielding, which was both his strength and his weakness. Being teamed up with someone like him could easily get one killed, as his actions were not as cunning as Tian Canâs. However, in battle, Wuhou was somewhat reliable.
Finally, there was Ziyu Immortal Fairy, someone who could navigate every situation.
Those who didnât like her would consider her opportunistic, clinging to power and wealth without any principles.
But those who admired her would see her as loyal and righteous, always genuinely helping those around her.
Moreover, being a female immortal garnered her considerable goodwill among her peers.
This was why True Lord Xue Yang had chosen Ziyu Immortal Fairy to gather the groupâhe trusted her.
Jian Wushuang had encountered many similar figures.
In the end, actions spoke louder than motives. It wasnât about what lay in someoneâs heart but what they did.
After the gathering, Ziyu Immortal Fairy did not keep her so-called trusted companions, thus avoiding suspicion from both Tian Can and True Lord Xue Yang. This also made her seem open and transparent to her allies.
Jian Wushuang chose not to leave and stayed at the residence.
He didnât have much to prepare. Being intangible and invisible, he could conceal himself so that no one could find him.
Unless someone sealed the space and launched a wide-range attack.
Moreover, he didnât bother preparing life-saving items.
If entering the Twin-faced Divine Palace threatened his life, then his Realm Beastâs physical body would be too worthless.
He had never regarded immortals as a real threat.
Back in the Great Division, as a Yan Immortal, he could thrash even a Grand Yan Immortal.