Chapter 26 Thousand Lotus Cave Abode

From the farthest western reaches of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, if one traveled another three hundred li westward, they would encounter a continuous range of mountain peaks, veiled by a sea of clouds.

Within these cloud-wreathed peaks, majestic palaces were erected, and hidden beneath them lay mysterious caves abodes.

If a disciple from a sect in the eastern region of Heavenly Wind Kingdom were to witness this sea of clouds and mountains, they would surely recognize it as the dwelling place of Taixuan Sect, the highest-ranking sect among the thirty-six sects of the entire eastern region of the kingdom.

At this moment, on the grand square of the Taixuan Sect's mountain gate, thousands of figures were seated and cultivating. These were all a group of somewhat naive young men and young women.

After cultivating for a while, many among these young men and women would stealthily open their eyes and peer toward the high platform of the grand square.

On the high platform of the grand square, a young girl clad in light blue garments sat in silent meditation, her eyes closed.

She was an exceptionally beautiful girl, no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, yet she possessed a face that could bring disaster, delicate and ravishing. Her faint eyebrows were like a pair of crescent moons, and beneath them were gently closed eyes and long lashes, captivatingly beautiful. Her snow-like skin, upturned nose, rosy lips, and those small dimples when she smiled, all exuded an enthralling beauty.

If Ye Chen were to see this young girl, he would undoubtedly recognize her as Jiang Yao, the prodigy who was worshipped by countless young disciples of Qingyun Sect and had stepped into the Spirit Sea Realm at just sixteen years of age, the foremost talent among the thirty-six sects.

The gazes of the young men and women on the grand square who were stealthily looking at the high platform were all fixated on the young girl there.

Admiration, excitement, and reverence filled their eyes.

"Jiang Yao senior sister, I can't believe that it's you supervising our cultivation on the grand square this time!"

"Jiang Yao senior sister is the youngest powerhouse in the Spirit Sea Realm of our Taixuan Sect; she stepped into this realm at merely seventeen years of age!"

"I heard that when senior sister Jiang Yao was fourteen, she had already reached the tenth level of True Qi. I'm fourteen this year and am only at the fifth level of True Qi, far behind her."

"Not only does senior sister Jiang Yao have unmatched talent, but her beauty is also breathtaking!"

The young men and women whispered among themselves, yet suddenly, Jiang Yao, who was seated on the high platform, opened her eyes from meditation.

The young men and young women on the grand square who were sneaking glances at Jiang Yao were startled, fearing that their lack of focus on cultivation had been noticed, and hurriedly closed their eyes to resume their practice. What they didn't know was that the moment Jiang Yao opened her eyes was precisely when Ye Chen was grabbed by the hundred-zhang tall phantom of a three-eyed giant ape!

As Jiang Yao opened her eyes, she looked toward the direction of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, and at the same moment, a faint blue lotus water pattern briefly flickered on her fair forehead, then vanished.

"Another person has entered the 'Thousand Lotus Cave Abode'? Although many have entered it over these three years, alas, none has managed to pass the 'Fire and Water Dao' trial within the cave abode."

"When will I find a companion to explore the inner sanctum of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode with me?"

Jiang Yao murmured to herself, gently biting her lip.

After a moment of hesitation, she stretched out her hand, flicking a talisman from her palm, which transformed into a streak of flame and flew towards the depths of Taixuan Sect.

Watching the flame streak away, Jiang Yao rose to her feet from her meditative pose, "Perhaps a trip to Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain is in order. Maybe this time, the individual entering the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode will become my future companion."

As she stood, her cascading blue hair fell loosely around her, and the light breeze teased individual strands into a delicate dance, creating an indescribable charm.

Soon after Jiang Yao had risen, a mystical white hawk flew in from the depths of Taixuan Sect, finally perching atop the high platform, beside Jiang Yao.

"Senior sister Jiang Yao, you called for Chan'er, what instructions do you have?"

A sword-bearing girl of about twelve or thirteen years old in white garments hopped down from the hawk, ran up to Jiang Yao, and sweetly asked.

Jiang Yao looked at the sword-bearing girl and smiled slightly, "Chan'er, you shall oversee their cultivation here for me. I need to step out for a bit."

"Of course!" The sword-bearing girl nodded enthusiastically, then glanced curiously at Jiang Yao, "Sister, where are you going?"

"To Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain."

Jiang Yao spoke softly.

...

After a slight bout of dizziness, Ye Chen's consciousness returned to clarity.

Looking up, he realized he was within an immense cave abode, hundreds of zhang high and more than a hundred zhang wide.

"Where is this?"

"Could this be the 'Thousand Lotus Cave Abode' that voice mentioned?"

Ye Chen remembered the sudden voice that told him he had earned the right to enter the "Thousand Lotus Cave Abode." Then, he had been seized by the gigantic palm of a hundred-zhang tall three-eyed giant ape phantom.

When he came to, he found himself in this vast cave abode.

"Correct, this place is the 'Thousand Lotus Cave Abode'!"

A voice like thunder suddenly erupted within the cave abode, and Ye Chen looked towards the source of the voice, only to see a hundred-zhang tall fiery ape suddenly appear and begin to speak.

This immense fire ape, with fur blazing like flames and a third eye on its forehead, was strikingly similar to the phantom of the three-eyed giant ape that had grabbed Ye Chen, except the former was a phantom whereas the latter was very much real.

"You... you can talk?"

Ye Chen was astounded that the giant fire ape stood a hundred zhang tall, and its ability to speak like a human added to his amazement.

This talking hundred-zhang tall ape, and this abrupt arrival in an unknown cave abode, all contributed to Ye Chen's sense of profound mystery.