Chapter 106: Treasure tower

Although Shen Shuibi was very happy, Li Qi's vigilance was at its peak.

He also knew that this was probably useless; if something truly happened, Shen Shuibi would definitely notice it much earlier than him.

After all, she was a rabbit who could hear movements from ten miles away with just her ears.

But even so, one should not lower their guard.

Old Ma, who had just regained some weight two days ago, lost a large portion of it again, and this time it was even more severe; his eye sockets looked sunken, and his ribs were palpable. Another fifteen days of continuous travel had truly exhausted him, causing him to lose a lot of fat.

However, all the hardship was worth it.

After such a long trek, they had finally found Empress Luofu.

Twenty miles further, it didn't take long, just about ten minutes, before a canyon appeared before them.

Walking through the canyon, white clouds filled the view, a uniform expanse, surrounded by two emerald cliffs, like a spiritual mountain. The valley was secluded and beautiful, with only the sound of gurgling water.

However, the cliffs on both sides were treacherous, with the canyon walls standing close together, as if cut by a knife. Jagged rock fragments jutted out, and the sheer peaks on both sides seemed to hang in the Void Realm. The rock formations were expansive and sharp, and waterfalls cascaded down the walls, floating in mid-air without any support, their mist obscuring the sun. Rainbows stood in the sky, instantly making one feel dizzy with fear, yet also awestruck.

"This place... it doesn't look like a natural canyon?" Li Qi felt a chill down his spine as he walked through it.

The Baiyue region had many mountains, but none were as steep and treacherous as these. The canyon walls on both sides were nearly a thousand meters high, yet almost vertical. Which mountain was this long?

To call it a mountain... it was more like a sword mark.

A sword, a thousand meters wide and dozens of miles long, had left a scar on this land, creating this terrifying canyon.

"Yes, it's right in here!" Shen Shuibi, however, was beaming with excitement.

This entire canyon was filled with Niangniang's Qi!

"Yes, these are all the Qi of the earth's breath. The ancients said: 'When the great mass breathes, its name is wind. It does not act unless it acts, and when it acts, all the myriad apertures roar. Do you not hear the rustling sound? The terrifying places in mountains and forests, the hollows and holes in hundred-circumference trees, when a gentle breeze blows, it is a small harmony, when a strong wind blows, it is a great harmony, and when a fierce wind ceases, all the apertures become empty. And do you not see the swaying and fluttering?'"

"Look at these plants and the water vapor on both sides. The plants sway with the wind, and the water droplets dance with it, just like the hollows and holes in hundred-circumference trees, like noses, like mouths, like ears, like brackets, like rings, like mortars, like hollows. The former sings and the latter echoes, roaring, hissing, shouting, sucking, crying, howling, murmuring. This is precisely the proof that a Dao master resides here!"

Shen Shuibi explained with great enthusiasm, regardless of whether Li Qi understood or not, and pointed directly into the depths of the canyon: "Niangniang must be up ahead! Let's go quickly."

"Be careful, take it slow. We're at the last moment; don't fall at the final step," Li Qi said, urging Shen Shuibi to slow down.

Fortunately, Shen Shuibi was very obedient. She suppressed her desire to dash forward, pricked up her ears, carefully listened to her surroundings, and slowly advanced while discerning the path.

Li Qi was right; it was the last step, and they absolutely could not afford any unexpected complications.

The two people and one horse continued forward, only to see the path ahead winding, with dark trees and stones, gnarled branches, and ancient vines intertwined around precarious rocks leaning on the cliffs. Flying springs cascaded down from the sky, scattering throughout the valley.

Looking up at the towering cliffs, mist dripped like rain, and rainbows were everywhere. Although the path was difficult, the beautiful scenery made people linger.

Fortunately, they had Old Ma. He could leap ten zhang and briefly fly by stepping on clouds, so even though the path was difficult, it didn't stop the two of them.

They traveled all the way to the end of the canyon, only to see that at the end of the canyon, there was actually a palace.

A proper palace!

Not far from the canyon, there was a large lake. Beside the large lake, there were dozens of palaces, with green tiles and flying eaves, stretching for six or seven li, like a city wall. The bright light was enchanting, with low-hanging forbidden curtains and skillfully protected vermilion railings, and the scent of incense filled the buildings.

The halls, pavilions, and towers were exquisitely beautiful, with lights illuminating the heavens and earth. The window curtains were all made of precious materials, and there was a tall building with a glazed floor, its entire body made of a hundred treasures, adorned with precious pearls, emitting a brilliant light, like eighty-four thousand colors combined into a dazzling glazed reflection, making it impossible for Li Qi to even look directly at it.

The building was eight stories high, its brilliance dissipating at the edges. The light points around it resembled stars and the moon, making the tall building appear to hang in the Void Realm, extremely solemn.

And eight kinds of clear breezes emanated from within it, dispelling the cold mist and making one feel refreshed.

The banners were adorned with patterns like heavenly paintings. In the paintings were ducks, wild geese, mandarin ducks, lotus flowers, carp, wisps of green smoke, mysterious apes offering fruits, deer carrying flowers, green Phoenixes dancing, colorful Phoenixes singing, spiritual lions presenting treasures, and immortal cranes holding ganoderma. All were lifelike, even moving, as if with a gentle touch, they could leap out of the painting and become real.

The entire palace was magnificent and resplendent, like molten gold gathered together. Li Qi was simply dumbfounded by the sight, unable to describe the magnificent scenery before him.

Even in his modern era, he had never seen such a grand building, so intricate and beautiful. It was truly a myriad of shimmering lights, a dazzling display of jade.

Just the scattered light points, to Li Qi, seemed like the Milky Way pouring down and then spilling out from the top of the building, possessing an incredible beauty.

The thousands of doors and ten thousand households he had seen before all seemed like humble dwellings.

Even the Azure Brilliance Palace in the Li River, which he had seen before, no longer seemed so shocking.

And this, surprisingly, was merely Empress Luofu's temporary residence during her escape?

My goodness, what in the world...

This... this.

Li Qi was so flustered that he couldn't even speak. Although there was still about two or three li between them and the large lake and palace, he couldn't move his feet.

He was too foolish, trying to scrutinize a true immortal with the eyes of an ant like himself... Now that he saw it for real, he realized he had severely underestimated Empress Luofu's prestige.

However, just as Li Qi stopped, awestruck, Shen Shuibi's expression instantly turned grim.

It was the first time Li Qi had seen Shen Shuibi reveal such an expression, even showing killing intent.

"Niangniang is in danger! Let's go quickly!" She pulled Li Qi, trying to rush forward.

Li Qi jolted, cold sweat immediately breaking out, and he quickly recovered from his shock.

He quickly hugged Shen Shuibi, holding her tightly, and then forcefully dragged her back.

Then, he roared in a low voice: "Are you crazy! If even Niangniang is in danger, aren't we just going there to die?!"

As soon as he finished shouting, Li Qi suddenly felt a tremor. His face flushed abnormally, and his heart ached as if it would burst.

It turned out that in front of the palace, there were layers of dark clouds, and the demonic aura was extremely dense, seemingly indicating some evil presence.

Previously, because the scene of the treasure banner was too grand and magnificent, Li Qi hadn't even noticed the scene behind it.

Damn it, Empress Luofu really was in danger!