Chapter 81: Taixuzi

"Please, everyone, go ahead," Princess Qianyou said with a slight smile.

Gu Lin, standing nearby, looked anxious. What was Qianyou doing? Why was she giving this opportunity to outsiders?

Zhong Shan, observing Qianyou's actions, felt a spark of admiration. What a clever woman!

"Zhong Shan, let's go down and find the array spirit," Tian Ling'er immediately suggested.

"Alright," Zhong Shan nodded at Tian Ling'er. He then glanced at Yinglan, who, through the brim of her hood, gave Zhong Shan a look indicating that she would follow his lead.

Zhong Shan also noticed that Bei Qingsi was looking downwards, seemingly calculating something. There was a flash of excitement and a trace of concern in her eyes.

Two days ago, Zhong Shan had deduced from Bei Qingsi's words that she was looking for something important. She hadn't found it yet. Since Bei Qingsi was ignoring the evidence to clear her father's name and instead focused on breaking through the formation, it implied that the evidence must be within the formation. With Taixuzi being the only one controlling the formation, whatever Bei Qingsi sought must be with him.

Judging by Bei Qingsi's current expression, Zhong Shan quickly concluded that she knew which gate led to Taixuzi.

"Why aren't you going?" Princess Qianyou suddenly asked, looking at Zhong Shan's group.

Zhong Shan looked at Princess Qianyou and then quickly said, "Qingsi, take us down."

Bei Qingsi glanced at Zhong Shan, and a hint of gratitude appeared on her normally stoic face.

"Alright," Bei Qingsi nodded.

She threw her flying sword, which emitted a white glow. Zhong Shan, holding onto Yinglan, stepped onto it. Tian Ling'er followed, stepping onto her red ribbon, and they all flew down together.

The area below was vast. The hundreds of people present each rushed towards a gate of their choice.

Standing on the flying sword, Zhong Shan noticed a peculiar phenomenon. A person would enter one gate and, shortly after, emerge from another. It wasn't just one person—everyone experienced this. They entered one gate and exited another, as if the more than eighty thousand gates were strangely interconnected.

Seeing this, Zhong Shan's eyes narrowed, a hint of intrigue flashing within them. However, he remained calm, letting Bei Qingsi guide them. Zhong Shan trusted that the gate Bei Qingsi led them to was where Taixuzi truly was.

As Zhong Shan rode the flying sword, he felt two pairs of eyes fixed on him.

One was Princess Qianyou. She had developed an appreciation for talent. Despite Zhong Shan's relatively low cultivation level, his potential seemed boundless. Though she hadn't used her spiritual sense to inspect him—since that was taboo in the cultivation world—she was interested in recruiting him.

The other pair of eyes belonged to two men in white robes, one looking like a young boy, the other like a middle-aged man.

"Chu Jiu, do you think we should find the array spirit?" the young boy asked with a smile.

"Everything depends on Young Master's decision," the middle-aged man said.

"Just now, dealing with the Grass Bandits, you saw it too. This person named Wù is indeed extraordinary, rare to have strength equal to mine. He's the one. Later, find a gate. In the gate, you guard the surroundings, while I duel with this person," the young man solemnly declared, as if battle were the most exhilarating thing in the world.

"Yes," the middle-aged man promptly responded.

On the mountain, Gu Lin anxiously watched as the group searched below.

"Qian You, aren't we going to search? What if these people get hold of the Formation Spirit? Haven't we been paving the way for others?" Gu Lin anxiously inquired.

Glancing at Gu Lin, Princess Qian You sighed, "Fusing with the Formation Spirit isn't something done in haste. Ah Er has an impeccable memory. As long as he's seen it, he remembers it all. These people swiftly enter and exit various gates, with each entry and exit screening out two gates for us. If they stay inside one without coming out, that's when they've found Tai Xu Zi."

"Then shall we enter then?" Gu Lin suddenly seemed to grasp the situation.

With a helpless glance at Gu Lin, Princess Qian You softly 'mm'ed.

"Zhong Shan, which gate shall we enter?" Tian Ling'er flew by the side of Bei Qing Si, asking.

Glancing at Tian Ling'er, Zhong Shan then looked at Bei Qing Si, "We follow Master Uncle. We will surely find Tai Xu Zi."

"Oh?" Tian Ling'er's mouth opened in disbelief.

But Bei Qing Si's gaze towards Zhong Shan held an unexpected hint of surprise, and as she looked at Zhong Shan, her eyes also bore a strange expression.

Soon, the four descended to the valley below, standing before a gate.

"Let's go," Bei Qing Si softly said.

"Mm," Zhong Shan nodded. With Ying Lan and Tian Ling'er following, they stepped inside. At this moment, Zhong Shan's concealed figure also arrived here.

The four entered.

In an instant, the surroundings changed drastically, and the group suddenly found themselves in a very peculiar environment.

A chasm of ten thousand feet deep, yet it seemed to have a transparent floor, preventing them from falling. Beyond the abyss, it wasn't pitch black, but rather filled with peculiar scenes. Many of these scenes were outside the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation, beyond the grand formation, very peculiar, as if from this place, they could see everything outside the grand formation.

And encircling above were scenes of cultivators breaking through formations from all directions. Here, they could see everything inside the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation, all scenes visible here, including Tian Sha and Mister Shui Jing.

This was the central hub of the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation, where the Dragon Eye resided.

At the center of this transparent ground sat an old man with a sallow complexion.

The old man wore a set of yellow clothes, but it seemed as if a thick layer of dust had accumulated on them. His hair was yellowed, and there was a considerable amount of sweat under his armpits.

The old man kept smiling as he looked at the group, and Bei Qing Si slowly approached, with Zhong Shan leading the two women behind.

"So stinky," Tian Ling'er immediately covered her nose, frowning.

"Hahaha!" The old man suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

"Ling'er," Zhong Shan furrowed his brows and called.

Seeing Zhong Shan's furrowed brows, Tian Ling'er immediately stuck out her tongue.

"The young lady is right, it does stink, and I stink too," the old man shook his head with a wry smile.

"Elder, Ling'er is naive and outspoken, with no filter in her words. Please forgive her impudence," Zhong Shan quickly apologized on behalf of Tian Ling'er. Based on the information he had gathered over the past two days, Zhong Shan knew that the old man in front of him, Tai Xu Zi, was nearing death. As they say, a dying man's words are often sincere. Some people become kind before their demise, but some become extremely extreme. Zhong Shan had never met Tai Xu Zi before, so he was cautious.

"No worries. Your unexpected arrival here is quite surprising. You don't need to worry. I just want to find a successor to inherit our ancestors' Formation Spirit and help me with a task. In this generation, there's only one Formation Spirit left. Among you four, who wants the Formation Spirit?" the old man smiled at them.

Zhong Shan furrowed his brows but remained silent.

"Elder, I didn't come for the Formation Spirit. I'm here to find something else," Bei Qing Si suddenly spoke up.

"Oh?" The old man looked at Bei Qing Si with some curiosity.

"I'm Bei Qing Si, daughter of Bei Qing Feng. My father was framed by his enemies, and he once left something with you, Elder. Please, in consideration of my father, give me that item to clear his name," Bei Qing Si requested urgently.

"You're Bei Qing Feng's daughter? Ah, yes, with your appearance, it's no wonder the Bei family's bloodline has been activated once again in your generation. I should have thought of it earlier. It's just a pity about Qing Feng, sigh, he passed away even before me," the old man became somewhat excited and regretful.

In a swift movement, the old man took out a purple book.

"I was just about to ask someone to bring this item to you, but you've come on your own. Here, take it. Remembering the days when Qing Feng and I served together in the court really brings back memories. It's just that I wasn't fortunate enough to leave behind an heir," Tai Xu Zi sighed as he handed over the book.

Tears of excitement welled up in Bei Qing Si's eyes as she looked at the purple book.

"Thank you so much, Elder," Bei Qing Si said, deeply moved.

"Your father and I were brothers. You can call me Uncle," Tai Xu Zi told Bei Qing Si.

"Uncle," Bei Qing Si echoed softly.

"Alright, alright, having a niece before my death is enough. The heavens aren't unfair after all," Tai Xu Zi said, somewhat emotionally.

"Huh?" Tian Ling'er suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

Zhong Shan turned to look, only to find Tian Ling'er pointing at a spot below, where a scene displayed the surroundings outside the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation.

"What's wrong?" Zhong Shan asked softly.

"I know that place," Tian Ling'er whispered to Zhong Shan.

Meanwhile, on the other side...

"I was originally looking for someone to inherit the Formation Spirit, but since my niece is here, I'll give the Formation Spirit to you," Tai Xu Zi immediately spoke up.

"No, Uncle, I have no use for the Formation Spirit. Please give it to Zhong Shan," Bei Qing Si quickly refused, putting away the book.

"Zhong Shan?" Tai Xu Zi turned to look at Zhong Shan.

It was obviously a male name, so it wasn't difficult to guess.

Looking somewhat surprised, Tai Xu Zi scrutinized Zhong Shan for a while and said, "Your aptitude is too poor. Only at the Fourth Stage of Innate? Strange, strange."

Zhong Shan scratched his nose, knowing his aptitude was indeed poor, but there was no need for such a blunt evaluation.

"Niece, are you really giving it to him?" Tai Xu Zi suddenly turned to Bei Qing Si with a strange look.

And for the first time, Bei Qing Si blushed.

"Hahaha!" Tai Xu Zi burst into laughter knowingly, then looked at Zhong Shan.

"Alright, kid, I'll pass on the Formation Spirit to you. Just don't let down my niece," Tai Xu Zi said immediately.

"Huh?" Zhong Shan touched his nose again.

"Uncle, what are you saying? You're mistaken. It was Zhong Shan who brought the news to you. My niece is grateful to him. Besides, I don't want to enter the battlefield, and the Formation Spirit wouldn't be of much use to me anyway," Bei Qing Si quickly clarified.

"Huh? Alright then," Tai Xu Zi shook his head.

"Elder," Zhong Shan immediately addressed Tai Xu Zi.

Since the misunderstanding was cleared up, Tai Xu Zi reconsidered Zhong Shan.

"Could you pass the inheritance to her?" Zhong Shan pointed to Ying Lan.

PS: Seeking votes!