Dashing Student Chapter 1374 1374: The Broken Jade Seal

A skeleton, deceased for a millennium, suddenly lifted its head. Its voice, devoid of emotion, resonated within the palace hall. The black dragon robe billowed as if stirred by an unseen wind, and a terrifying pressure emanated from the skeletal form.

The individuals who had been contemplating seizing the Jade Seal simultaneously halted their movements. Their expressions grew grave, none willing to make the first move.

"Still alive?"

The old beggar observed the skeleton with disbelief. However, tales of preserving soul remnants through secret techniques were not entirely unheard of, prompting him to remain intensely vigilant.

The other three were equally cautious. Yet, after raising its head, the skeleton remained utterly still.

"Just a long-dead specter putting on a charade!"

The Taoist priest, unable to contain himself, let out a furious cry. He thrust his sword forward; a flying sword imbued with spiritual energy hurtled towards the skeleton from above, its shimmering light intending to obliterate the remains.

The previously motionless skeleton turned its stiff head. The Jade Seal clutched in its hand emitted a faint golden luminescence, conjuring a delicate barrier that encircled the skeleton.

The strike of sword Qi impacted the barrier, scattering myriad sparks but failing to breach its defenses.

"The Master of the Immortal Dynasty shall not be defiled!"

The skeleton seemed to regain a semblance of lucidity. Its authoritative voice thundered through the hall. It abruptly raised the Jade Seal it held, and golden light flowed into the skeletal form.

The pale, bony hand rested upon the broken dragon head. The stone dragon head, now infused with golden light, sprang to life. It opened its immense maw, roared, and launched itself, lunging towards the four, including the old beggar.

"Join forces!"

Sensing the formidable pressure emanating from the stone dragon head, the old beggar shouted. He flung his Dog Beating Stick forward, whipping up a fierce gale.

The Taoist priest, the man in the black robe, the old beggar, and the long-haired elder unleashed their attacks in unison. They deployed their spiritual artifacts, directing them towards the airborne stone dragon head, though uncertainty gnawed at their hearts.

After all, the Immortal Dynasty was undoubtedly an incredibly powerful entity, and its sovereign must have been a figure of unparalleled might.

One must understand that in ancient times, the Nascent Soul Realm was not the ultimate limit; cultivators could ascend beyond it. However, in the present era, the Nascent Soul Realm represents the pinnacle.

In comparison, they felt like mere ants before the Master of the Immortal Dynasty.

With such thoughts, their confidence wavered, and some even began to prepare for an escape.

Boom!

An overwhelming surge of energy exploded within the hall. Yet, the anticipated scenario of utter destruction did not materialize. The stone dragon head disintegrated into fragments under the combined assault of the four.

Not only were the four astonished by this outcome, but Chen Nan, observing from the periphery, also knitted his brows. The remnants he had encountered previously possessed considerable strength.

This instance, however, seemed unexpectedly subdued.

Even the Master of the Immortal Dynasty appeared quite taken aback. Radiating a profound sense of desolation, the spectral figure gazed down at the Jade Seal, the emblem of the Immortal Dynasty's supreme authority.

Cracks rapidly spiderwebbed across the Jade Seal. The Master's solitary voice echoed through the hall.

"Too long, it has been too long..."

Chen Nan grasped the implication. Perhaps, at the time of the Immortal Dynasty's initial collapse, immediately following its master's demise, the lingering remnants could have vanquished subsequent intruders.

But the potency of time is formidable; even the once-omnipotent Master of the Immortal Dynasty eventually succumbed to the relentless march of years.

With such an immense passage of time, the residual power and lingering obsession harbored by the master had diminished significantly. Thus, it lamented the irreversible flow of time.

The old beggar and the other four experienced an overwhelming surge of elation. Their focus shifted intensely towards the Jade Seal itself – a treasure that once governed the Immortal Dynasty, remaining a supreme artifact even after its destruction.

Without delay, they surged forward, avarice gleaming in their eyes. A barrage of diverse magical techniques descended, compelling the skeleton to retreat repeatedly.

"The might of the Immortal Dynasty shall not be transgressed!"

The skeleton, now driven solely by obsession rather than complete consciousness, still exuded supreme authority. The Jade Seal ascended slowly, unleashing waves of golden light that repelled the old beggar and his companions.

It then rose, moving deliberately step by step towards the majestic throne. Finally, it settled upon it. Despite being merely a skeleton, Chen Nan still perceived the presence of the Immortal Dynasty's Master looking down upon them.

"Accompany the Immortal Dynasty in its entombment..."

The Jade Seal commenced a slow rotation, its golden radiance intensifying, resembling a miniature sun. Its imminent eruption appeared to activate the latent constraints within the Immortal Hall.

A golden barrier gradually materialized throughout the Immortal Hall, accompanied by a palpable spread of intense killing intent.

Chen Nan's expression shifted drastically. His heightened perception of danger immediately recognized the gravity of the situation the moment the array barrier manifested. This clearly signaled the Master's final, desperate countermeasure.

His body then transformed into a vibrant rainbow, an attempt to escape the Immortal Hall. However, despite his swift reaction, he collided forcefully with the barrier.

The array activated, trapping everyone within its confines.

It became apparent that the Master's pronouncements of burial were not mere bluster; he truly intended for all within the hall to perish with him.

"Damn it all, think of a solution!"

The long-haired elder relentlessly struck the array barrier, yet it remained unmoved, and a sense of despair began to creep in.

The Taoist expertly wielded his flying sword, ceaselessly assaulting the Jade Seal, recognizing it as the core of the array. He understood that the Master's lingering essence also depended on this Jade Seal for survival.

Despite their efforts, their attacks proved piddling against the formidable Jade Seal. Even unleashing their cultivation without reservation was in vain; their assaults remained utterly powerless.

Nevertheless, their unleashed cultivation realms began to destabilize the relic's Secret Realm, causing space itself to buckle and collapse. Other cultivators within the relic witnessed this catastrophic change, their faces paling as they scrambled to flee.

The very earth seemed to rupture, the sky tore open, as if the end of days had truly arrived!

A golden light, akin to the sun, reached its zenith and then unleashed itself with explosive force. An unparalleled murderous intent surged forth, permeating every corner of existence with an overwhelming momentum.

The old beggar, the Taoist, the man in the black robe, and the long-haired elder watched as the golden light advanced, their eyes wide, their hearts devoid of any will to resist.

All their defenses, their confidence in the face of this overwhelming golden radiance, were reduced to nothing but a foolish charade.

And then, a fleeting glimpse of the majesty of that once-powerful Immortal Dynasty, now long buried by the relentless river of time, was revealed.

Chen Nan offered a wry smile, turning his gaze toward the hall's exit. "Fortunate indeed that I had Zhong Ling depart earlier. I wonder how long my slumber will last this time..."

Confronting the golden light, he lacked the strength to fight back, pinning his hopes on the King of Ten Thousand Gu's legendary 'Nine Tribulations' to grant him a chance at revival. The King of Ten Thousand Gu sensed the encroaching murderous intent and began preparations for transcendence.

The old beggar and the others were enveloped by the golden light, vanishing instantly into dust, leaving not a single trace of their existence behind. Chen Nan closed his eyes, resigned to the descent of death.

However, after an extended period, so long that the killing intent had completely dissipated, he cautiously opened his eyes. Puzzled, he examined his own body, only to discover that he was entirely unharmed.

Before him, a token now floated serenely in the air.