Immortal of the Nine Realms-Chapter 1329: Qingming Expedition Team

Shock and alarm flashed in the eyes of the old temple master. "The Azure... Azure Lightning Art?!"

That lightning bolt... it's almost identical to the Azure Thunder recorded in the ancestral texts of the Dragon Tiger Temple. Its aura is distinctly different from ordinary lightning....

The middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back. Smiling faintly, he said, "Oh? You have a good eye. Tell me, how long has this Three Halls Trial you established here existed?"

The crowd was confused as to why this powerhouse would bring up the Three Halls Trial.

Could it be...?

They felt a chill of disbelief. Could the ancestral teachings left by their forefathers be real? Did the Three Halls Trial actually hide some great opportunity?

They could not help but think this way. After all, the three grand elders could not withstand one move from this man.

The old temple master forced a stiff smile but did not answer the middle-aged man.

"And who might you be...?" he asked cautiously.

"Looks like you still haven't realized your situation. This planet shows no trace of a Starry Teleportation Formation. That means you have had almost no contact with the outside world for countless years. In such a pure land, there must be many relics left from the ancient era. And the strongest here is only you, a first-transformation Loose Immortal."

The man's smile deepened. "Don't pry into my origins. Answer well, and I might let you live. After all, we both come from the lineage."

The strongest here? A first-transformation Loose Immortal? An actual Immortal?

The three grand elders were dumbstruck.

If the old temple master had said this himself, neither the three grand elders nor the gathered cultivators would have believed him. But these words had come from the man who had nearly flattened the three grand elders. The crowd had no choice but to believe him.

Their eyes filled with dread. The old master had been telling the truth all along! He really was the strongest here. Yet this man's mysterious origins and cultivation clearly far outstripped the temple master's.

Who is he, and where did he come from? And what is this Starry Teleportation Formation he was speaking of? He also said something about the "outside world." What did he mean by that?

The old temple master's expression darkened. After a pause, he said slowly, "As far as I know, the trial has existed for at least 8,000 years. Whether it has been around for more than that, I cannot say. I, myself, am only 4,000 years old."

4,000 years...

The disciples, regardless of cultivation realm, gasped in shock.

To upper-realm cultivators, living four thousand years was already shocking. For lower-realm cultivations, they could not even count that far. They could hardly imagine anyone living that long; perhaps only immortals could live so long.

"Hmm. It makes sense. These Three Halls Trials are ancient relics. Once one is used, it's gone forever," said the middle-aged man. "And it's even rarer to find a complete set. I've traveled countless places, even breached forbidden regions, and only ever found a single trial of the Azure Lightning God Beast."

He smiled faintly. "I expect today I will obtain the inheritances of the Yin Lunar God Beast and Twilight Solar God Beast."

The crowd's hearts raced. So the Three Halls Trial wasn't a sham—it was real!

There was no way the old temple master had invited such a powerhouse just to put on a show, right?

"Daoist friend... forgive me, but this is our sect's legacy. Outsiders cannot enter." The old master rubbed his hands nervously. "Perhaps you could look elsewhere?"

The man smiled faintly. "I'll give you a choice. Submit to me, and I may take you beyond your star to see the world. Have you heard of the Spirit God Sect? Their power spans the Nine Mortal Realms. I am one of their cultivators, a member of the Spirit God Sect's Qingming Expedition Team. Follow me, and you'll even see the wonders of ancient regions."

The Nine Mortal Realms?

The crowd was baffled again.

Even the old master looked blank. "I don't understand what you mean. But the Three Halls Trial truly cannot admit outsiders, so I must ask you to—"

Boom!

A deafening crash shook the air. A crater dozens of meters wide and hundreds of meters deep appeared where the old master had stood.

Moments ago, they had witnessed the power of an Azure Lightning bolt, but this one was even more terrifying.

"Old master!" the three grand elders cried out, their faces dark.

"It's fine... I'm still alive."

The old master reappeared behind them, his expression grave as he glared at the man.

"Fellow Daoist, you strike again and again. Do you take me for a pushover?"

The man grinned. "Show me whatever tricks you have."

The old master gave a cold snort. His aura surged, no longer mild. Immortal essence roared forth. In an instant, he no longer seemed the kindly elder of before.

The three grand elders were flushed with excitement.

The elders and disciples all held their breath, hearts pounding.

"Heavenly Soldier Art!"

With a fierce shout, a mysterious power surged into the old master's body, and he transformed into a Heavenly Soldier over a hundred feet tall, standing awe-inspiring and majestic.

With a huge stomp, his feet came crashing down on the intruder.

The crowd gasped, eyes wide with excitement and anticipation.

The middle-aged man only chuckled, shaking his head. "A petty trick."

He didn't even unleash a secret art. He simply reached out and grabbed at the air. A giant handprint of immortal essence clamped tightly onto the old master.

Crack!

Something within the old master fractured. His immortal essence scattered, and his mighty heavenly-soldier form collapsed, returning to his gentle appearance.

The old master desperately used his immortal essence to resist the crushing grip. He frantically pleaded, "Wait, senior, please! Perhaps there is room for discussion!"

The Dragon Tiger Temple fell utterly silent, the crowd dumbstruck.

The man smiled faintly and released the handprint. "You're quite talented. Reaching Loose Immortality is no small feat. My name is Wei Wuxian. From now on, call me Senior Wei."

The old master nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, Senior Wei."

Wei Wuxian began to draw information about Ziyuan Star from the old master.

Meanwhile, no one in the Dragon Tiger Temple dared utter a sound. Their hearts were heavy. They knew change was coming.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a large group suddenly arrived, over a thousand strong.

The crowd was bewildered.

What is happening now?!

Wei Wuxian glanced at the newcomers, then said to the old master. "Send them away. They'll disturb our discussion."

"Ah, yes, of course." The old master nodded, then called out loudly, "The Dragon Tiger Temple is not receiving guests today! Please, all of you, leave!"