Previously on I Can See Through All Things' Information...
Lu Qing arrives in his main body at the Immortal Palace and surprises the Old Cyan Dragon, Black Bull, and Ming Feng. He reveals his intention to refine the Immortal Palace, a powerful Dao Artifact left by their master. The Old Cyan Dragon explains that the Immortal Palace is the core of the Returning Ruins Secret Realm and that refining it requires accessing its control core deep within.
“Control core?” Lu Qing inquired.
Old Cyan Dragon affirmed, “Indeed, it is a Heaven-Reaching Jade Pillar, etched with a myriad of profound runes. The master stated it serves as the bedrock of the Immortal Palace, the nexus of the entire Dao Artifact. Once this pillar is refined, dominion over all within the Immortal Palace will be attained.”
It paused, its gaze fixing on Lu Qing with a newfound gravity.
“However, the refinement of this Jade Pillar demands an exceptionally robust Will of the Divine Soul.
The Jade Pillar itself harbors the inherent power of the Dao Artifact. Even a Divine Soul residing at the Unity Realm Stage would find it nearly impossible to approach its formidable presence due to the immense crushing force, let alone undertake its refinement.
Even seasoned cultivators within the Unity Realm Stage might not achieve success.”
“Therefore, Ah Qing, I cannot guarantee your success, but you must be mentally prepared.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Qing offered a subtle smile.
“Lead the way, Senior.”
Witnessing his unruffled composure, Old Cyan Dragon felt a flicker of renewed hope.
It turned, guiding Lu Qing deeper into the heart of the Immortal Palace.
The Black Bull and Ming Feng followed in their wake.
This time, Old Cyan Dragon eschewed walking, opting instead for instantaneous Space Shifting.
It transported Lu Qing through the intricate, layered dimensions of the Immortal Palace, navigating through successive realms and distinct pathways.
Lu Qing observed that the internal spatial architecture of the Immortal Palace was exceptionally intricate, characterized by multiple strata and complex interconnections.
Some dimensions appeared boundless, while others were minutely small; certain spaces teemed with diverse restrictions, whereas others remained utterly devoid of any.
Without the guidance of Old Cyan Dragon, even he would have expended considerable time in locating the core.
After traversing innumerable spatial layers, Old Cyan Dragon finally came to a halt.
Before them unfolded a vast expanse.
This space dwart itself surpassed the previous hall by leagues, its dimensions stretching for hundreds of miles.
The lofty ceiling ascended into the obscured heavens, vanishing from view.
The surrounding walls were adorned with an extensive array of ancient runes, emitting a faint luminescence.
These runes, densely packed and overlapping, coalesced to form a colossal Array.
And precisely at the center of this immense space stood the Heaven-Reaching Jade Pillar.
The Jade Pillar reached an approximate height of a hundred feet, with a girth of ten fathoms. Its surface was remarkably smooth and white, radiating a gentle effulgence.
Inscribed upon the pillar were countless enigmatic runes, some resembling written characters, others akin to pictograms, and still others like esoteric totems, forming dense, layered patterns that appeared to chronicle ancient secrets.
Around the perimeter of the Jade Pillar, light flowed subtly, generating ripples that propagated outward in all directions.
Nonetheless, Lu Qing had already obtained the entirety of Gui Xu Taoist’s inheritance.
Despite not having cultivated every facet to its apex, he could discern that these runes stemmed from the same fundamental lineage as Gui Xu’s teachings, albeit rendered with a greater depth and mysticism.
Standing before the Jade Pillar, Lu Qing could distinctly perceive an immense force emanating from it, exerting pressure upon every conceivable corner of the space.
The sheer might of this power was sufficient to instill profound dread in an ordinary cultivator of the Unity Realm Stage, compelling them to recoil from approaching.
“Is this the core of the Immortal Palace?” Lu Qing solicited.
Old Cyan Dragon offered another nod, its eyes betraying a trace of awe.
“Indeed, it is. The master once remarked that this pillar was meticulously constructed by countless progenitors of the Gui Xu lineage, meticulously encapsulating the profound mysteries of the Rune Path, Artifact Refining, and Array craftsmanship. Once refined, it bestows control over the entirety of the Immortal Palace.”
Turning its attention to Lu Qing, it issued a caution: “Exercise prudence, Ah Qing, for the power imbued within this Jade Pillar is truly extraordinary. Should your efforts prove unsuccessful, do not push yourself unduly.”
Lu Qing simply nodded, his words few.
He gazed upon the Heaven-Reaching Jade Pillar in silent contemplation, his eyes holding a depth of understanding.
Truly worthy of being a Dao Artifact.
Merely the latent power radiating from it was enough to overwhelm those in the Unity Realm Stage.
The pressure felt akin to a colossal mountain bearing down, weighing heavily on the spirit, making respiration a challenge.
For a typical cultivator in the Unity Realm Stage, let alone attempting refinement, their Divine Soul Power would struggle immensely to even approach the pillar under such oppressive force.
Even he, standing in proximity to the Jade Pillar, could sense a discernible pressure.
While the pressure was not overwhelming, its presence was undeniable.
This observation underscored that the caliber of this Jade Pillar surpassed even his initial estimations.
Nevertheless, Lu Qing displayed no inclination to retreat.
His Primordial Spirit had undergone a multitude of profound transformations.
From a nascent Primordial Spirit to a Perfect Primordial Spirit, it had surmounted the limit of the Nine Tribulations, ascended to twelve, and ultimately achieved Harmonization with nine Great Daos concurrently.
Each transformative phase elevated the intrinsic essence of his Primordial Spirit to unprecedented heights.
Presently, the essence of his Primordial Spirit had attained a state that others could scarcely comprehend.
Merely the latent pressure exerted by an un-hosted Dao Artifact would prove insufficient to subjugate him.
Lu Qing harbored no further hesitation, taking a deliberate step forward.
He drew nearer to the Heaven-Reaching Jade Pillar, advancing inch by inch.
With every single step he took, the immense pressure grew even more severe.
By the time he was merely three feet from the Jade Pillar, the pressure had become a palpable, tangible entity, forming an unseen force that relentlessly attempted to shove him backward.
However, Lu Qing's expression remained completely undisturbed as he pressed onward.
Two feet away. One foot away.
At long last, he stood directly before the majestic Jade Pillar.
He lifted his right hand, deliberately and slowly placing it against the surface of the pillar.
In that precise instant, an immense and potent force erupted from the pillar, coursing through his arm and surging deep into his very being.
This force was overwhelmingly dominant and savage, as if it intended to rip him utterly to shreds.
Despite this onslaught, Lu Qing's body remained resolutely firm, unyielding.
Shutting his eyes tightly, the Divine Soul Power residing within his Primordial Spirit surged forth like an unstoppable deluge, flowing directly into the depths of the pillar.
Bang!
Lu Qing's vision swam and blurred as his consciousness was abruptly transported into an extraordinary, surreal space.
It was a desolate realm of utter chaos.
An endless, boundless chaos, devoid of any sky, devoid of any earth, without any sense of up or down, and lacking the fundamental Eight Directions.
