Chapter Thirty: The Temple of Arcane Arts

"I never expected such a wonderful opportunity to come my way—becoming a disciple of Cloud Palace Peak! That’s the highest honor imaginable!"

"Indeed, once I join Cloud Palace Peak, my family will be glorified for generations!"

"Glorified? That’s an understatement! It’s as if the ancestors’ tombs are blessed!"

The cultivators present were all voicing their excitement, their expressions betraying a fervent desire to enter Cloud Palace Peak.

"Thankfully, I made the right choice. Those who picked the spirit stones will surely regret it once they realize what they missed!"

Only moments ago, some had lamented not choosing the spirit stones, but now a sense of relief washed over them. If they’d succumbed to temptation, they would have let this golden opportunity slip away.

Once admitted to Cloud Palace Peak—even as an outer disciple—obtaining ten spirit stones would be trivial. Ten times ten, a hundred times ten, even ten thousand spirit stones would be within reach!

Of course, many cultivators marveled at Cloud Palace Peak’s methods. Distributing spirit stones on such a grand scale, even if only ten were awarded, was enough to stir greed in most hearts.

"Those who chose the spirit stones are short-sighted, focused only on immediate gain," Cai Ling said solemnly. Though her voice was soft, it carried to every ear present.

She didn’t elaborate, but her simple statement allowed the cultivators to grasp the underlying reasoning.

Indeed, those who chose the ten spirit stones cared only for the instant benefit, hoping to break through with the stones, oblivious to the true marvel of the arcane arts.

Spirit stones vanish in a day, but the mastery of arcane arts endures forever!

Cloud Palace Peak, even when recruiting outer disciples, had its requirements—seeking those with insight and possibly discovering hidden talents. Those who chose the spirit stones had severed their ties with Cloud Palace Peak from the very beginning!

Of course, Cai Ling had left the most crucial point unsaid.

"Those who have only reached the Skyward Realm are the simplest to manage, and it greatly reduces the risk of spies from other sects..." Cai Ling murmured inwardly.

That was the reason Cloud Palace Peak fostered the Yunfeng Empire. Don’t underestimate a realm dominated by mortals. No one is born powerful; all begin as mortals and cultivate their way up. Controlling an empire—even a common mortal kingdom—can supply Cloud Palace Peak with talent!

This time, the grand mobilization by Cloud Palace Peak was primarily to search for clues about the missing Ethereal Stone. Selecting promising outer disciples was also a significant objective.

"Senior... Is this true?" Fang Qing asked, disbelief evident in his voice.

"Yes," Wang Changsheng nodded gently.

"What a pity—I already have a master," Fang Qing finally shook his head.

Wang Changsheng watched Fang Qing shake his head, then saw a determined look in his eyes, which surprised him.

To Wang Changsheng, Fang Qing was merely his second uncle’s nominal disciple. If not for this incident, his uncle might have forgotten about Fang Qing altogether. Yet, faced with the immense lure of Cloud Palace Peak, Fang Qing didn’t even consider it.

Perhaps Fang Qing knew he wouldn’t be selected anyway.

Whatever the reason, Fang Qing’s attitude made Wang Changsheng view him in a new light.

"Let’s just observe for now," Wang Changsheng said to Fang Qing. "The so-called comprehension of the Arcane Sanctuary is surely not simple!"

Fang Qing nodded.

How could it be simple?

Li Fusheng, Gong Yu, and Guan Danian—those whose cultivation was unfathomable—were all here, and Gong Yu and Guan Danian had come specifically for the Arcane Sanctuary. Even a fool could see the sanctuary was no ordinary place!

Moreover, at the outset, the Cloud Palace Peak representatives had explained: if one’s insight and aptitude were insufficient during the sanctuary’s trial, there would be no gains whatsoever. If you chose the sanctuary and gained nothing, you would not receive any spirit stones.

This caused most cultivators to opt for the spirit stones, unwilling to risk failure.

Otherwise, more would have chosen the sanctuary. Cloud Palace Peak’s announcement directly dissuaded many from trying for the arcane arts.

Boom!

Just as anticipation reached its peak, a rumbling sound echoed from within the cloud vessel.

Next, everyone watched as a compass flew out from the vessel.

Boom, boom, boom...

After the compass emerged, it emitted thunderous sounds, and beams of mysterious light shot forth, constructing a massive palace in midair.

"This is the Arcane Sanctuary?"

"What a magnificent sight! Only Cloud Palace Peak could create this!"

"So the sanctuary is merely a projection from within a compass?"

The crowd was awestruck by the palace’s appearance.

Wang Changsheng and Fang Qing were equally stunned. They’d assumed the sanctuary was an actual hall, given the cloud vessel’s vast size—it could easily conceal one. But to their surprise, the sanctuary was projected from the compass.

"Fools," Li Fusheng seized the chance to show off. "This is not the true Arcane Sanctuary. The real one is within Cloud Palace Peak. This is merely a projection, created by special means."

"This projection retains certain functions of the sanctuary," Li Fusheng continued, his voice leisurely. "For instance, it’s perfectly suitable for comprehending arcane arts."

With his words, Li Fusheng adopted the demeanor of a master, looking down upon the cultivators with a smug expression.

As arrogant as he was, Li Fusheng had enlightened those present about the sanctuary’s purpose.

The projected palace grew increasingly real, and soon the crowd could discern exquisite decorations along its edges—techniques none had ever heard of.

"The skills of cultivators are indeed extraordinary..." Wang Changsheng mused inwardly.

It took half an hour for the sanctuary to fully manifest before them.

Seeing it complete, Cai Ling produced a jade slip, which flew straight to the sanctuary’s doors and hovered in place.

Moments later, the jade slip shattered, revealing a faint figure at the entrance. The figure formed a complex seal, and the sanctuary’s doors slowly opened.

As the doors parted, waves of mysterious energy shot out from within, enveloping an area on the moon platform.

"All right, everyone, enter the aura field and immerse yourselves. Your fortune depends on your own luck." Cai Ling spoke in a deep voice. "Once your comprehension ends, the sanctuary will eject you. Do not resist, lest you be harmed!"

With that, Cai Ling returned to the cloud vessel.

"What are you waiting for? Let’s go!"

Gong Yu was the first to act. Before the crowd had digested Cai Ling’s words, Gong Yu was already seated cross-legged in the aura field.

Li Fusheng and Guan Danian moved quickly as well, seating themselves at the very center.

The rest soon followed, each dashing at their fastest speed toward the aura field. Though none knew whether position would affect comprehension, everyone sought the center.

Seeing Gong Yu and the others seated in the middle, Wang Changsheng and Fang Qing also entered, sitting cross-legged. Watching the surrounding cultivators begin their meditation, they too activated their techniques and began to immerse themselves.

As soon as Wang Changsheng entered the state of comprehension, he felt his inner qi surge more vigorously than ever before.

"This...this..."

Wang Changsheng was stunned.

He felt an urge to draw out his spirit stones and absorb their energy. He was certain that cultivating here would be several times faster than usual.

In the end, he restrained himself.

As his qi gradually calmed, Wang Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief and focused on the mysterious light emanating from the sanctuary.

"Hm?"

When the light entered his body, it went straight to his mind, and a scene unfolded in his consciousness.

Wang Changsheng opened his eyes in confusion. "That’s not right..."

The vision in his mind was familiar—he was certain it wasn’t an arcane art.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Wang Changsheng tried again.

After half an incense stick’s time, he opened his eyes once more, even more bewildered.

"What is going on?" he wondered.

The vision was of his earlier journey aboard the cloud vessel, descending from the Skyward Realm. The vessel cleaved through the starry void, and streams of mysterious energy shot forth.

It was those lights that had captivated Wang Changsheng, causing him to delay the vessel’s schedule.

Unwilling to accept defeat, Wang Changsheng immersed himself again.

"Still the same vision..." He opened his eyes to see some cultivators being ejected from the aura field, their faces full of regret—clearly, they’d gained nothing in the brief time allotted.

"Am I also fated to gain nothing?" Wang Changsheng thought.

"No matter—I want to see what tricks are at play! At least the sanctuary hasn’t expelled me yet." With that, he dove deep into his meditation once more.

Boom, boom, boom...

The starry void kept shattering in his mind. Not only did the scenes break apart, but the mysterious energy seeped deeper into his consciousness. As the light continued, Wang Changsheng noticed the starry void reappeared.

Soon after, it shattered again, and the light shot forth once more.

"There’s some change... What is this..." Wang Changsheng realized that as the starry void broke and reformed, subtle changes appeared—changes so slight that only after observing them hundreds of times could he discern them.