Wait!
The Zi hour was approaching, and everyone was waiting.
The difference was that those standing below did not know what they were waiting for, nor how long they must wait, while those standing at the peak knew they were waiting for the immortal’s cave dwelling to open at the Zi hour.
The leaders of the three great powers were all filled with anticipation, constantly observing and surveying their surroundings.
The three martial brothers were nervous. It was still the same worry. What if the immortal’s cave dwelling did not open?
On the summit, a calibrated water clock had been brought over. The dripping sound was not loud, yet it was very clear, as if each drop struck upon the human heart.
The few of them glanced at the markings on the water clock from time to time, watching helplessly as the Hai hour was about to pass, and the slight deviation of the Zi hour was about to arrive.
The three martial brothers only felt their mouths go dry. The surroundings were still perfectly quiet, with only the occasional sound of wind passing through. The night sky was still filled with countless stars, showing no sign whatsoever of the moon emerging.
The crucial point was that there was no sign whatsoever that the immortal dwelling was about to open.
When the markings in the dripping water clock finally descended to the position of the Zi hour, the gazes of the six people on the summit abruptly left the markings and quickly surveyed the surroundings, searching for signs that the immortal dwelling was opening.
Yet after searching for quite a while, there was still no sign at all. Everyone observed cautiously.
Time passed bit by bit with the dripping sound. No one made any sound or movement. The markings on the water clock slowly descended another quarter, yet there was still no abnormality in the surroundings. The three martial brothers could not help but secretly complain, feeling they had been tricked by Yun Xi.
She said the cave dwelling would open when moonlight was seen, and also said it had to be the first new moon day of every year. These words were contradictory in the first place. Where would the moon be on a new moon day? There was not even a single cloud in the sky to block the view. If there were a moon, one could see it at a glance. Where was the moon? Conversely, the so-called conditions for opening the cave dwelling were simply unreliable.
Thinking of this, the three regretted it so much their intestines turned green. They had known Yun Xi’s words might be problematic, yet they could not understand why they had been bewitched into coming here. Were they not seeking death?
After the water clock markings descended to two quarters past the Zi hour, Tian Yu, who had been staring at the surroundings for a long while, finally could not endure it. He turned back and asked the three martial brothers, “Did you not say it would open at the Zi hour? Two quarters have already passed since the Zi hour, so why is it still not opening?”
Yu Qing sighed, “Third Cave Master, we are all in your hands. Would we dare to lie about this? The problem is that this is our first time here as well. You ask us, but we do not know what is going on either.”
Xiang Lanxuan added, “Then let us wait a bit longer and see.”
Meng Po said in a deep voice, “Completely calm. There is no sign of any formation about to activate. Let us hope this is not a wasted effort.”
The people below the peak were all staring up, waiting for a signal from above.
On the demon realm side, Long Xingyun muttered, “What are they waiting for up there?”
Qin Jue shook his head, staring up and saying, “Unclear. They must have a reason for doing this. Did they not set up a timing water clock up there? It should be that the hour has not yet arrived.”
In the dripping water clock sounds, very soon, the float gradually descended to three quarters, yet the surroundings were still perfectly quiet.
Did this look like something that would open at the Zi hour? The three martial brothers were very quiet, behaving as obediently as frightened little quails, only their eyes swaying about observing their surroundings from time to time, extremely guilty at heart, already secretly preparing for the worst.
Tian Yu, Xiang Lanxuan, and Meng Po had already lost their initial anticipation. Their sceptical gazes were also glancing at the three martial brothers from time to time.
If they did not feel that the three fellows would not dare to lie, and that it was also their first time here, they would probably have already grabbed the three martial brothers by the necks to question them.
They waited. The atmosphere at the scene was also enduring.
When the float descended to four quarters past the Zi hour, meaning half an hour had passed since the Zi hour, yet the mountain summit was still calm and waveless, Tian Yu could not help but speak again, “Are you certain you have not made some mistake?”
Yu Qing spread his hands, “Third Cave Master, I am also anxious. How are we supposed to answer that question?”
Just as he finished speaking, Mu Aotie suddenly raised his hand and pointed at the sky, “Quick, look, the moon!”
The moon? Yu Qing immediately ignored Tian Yu and also looked up in that direction. The others all followed his gaze toward the sky.
Where was the moon?
At first glance one truly could not see the moon, yet upon closer inspection one would discover that in the night sky there was a hazy, faintly visible thin crescent. Looking carefully, it was indeed the moon, an extremely thin crescent moon, so thin that one would not notice it if not paying attention.
As time passed, the crescent moon did become increasingly visible.
But for Tian Yu, Xiang Lanxuan, and Meng Po, so what if it was the moon? What was there to be excited about?
Yu Qing and his martial brothers were indeed a little excited, but then they discovered there was no change in the surroundings, and immediately half their hearts turned cold.
It would have been better if the moon had not come out. They could still use the “moon” as an excuse to retreat. Now that the moon had come out yet there was no reaction, what were they to do later?
Yet just at this moment, the six people on the summit suddenly looked toward that crescent moon in unison.
The gradually brightening crescent moon seemed to burst forth with an inexplicable aura, spraying precisely onto the six people on the summit.
What was happening?
The six people were alarmed and uncertain. Very soon they discovered that the inexplicable aura did not come from the crescent moon, but from the void slightly below the crescent moon, which was faintly distorting. Faintly, a crack seemed to appear, and the aura was spraying forth from within the crack. The crescent moon was like a sharp blade slicing through the void.
The crack was like a virtual wave, slowly tearing open, slowly expanding. Faintly, some scenery seemed to appear inside.
Tian Yu, Xiang Lanxuan, and Meng Po were all invigorated. All realised that the legendary Little Cloud Interval had opened. The immortal’s cave dwelling had truly opened.
The three martial brothers were dumbstruck, and simultaneously looked at one another. It was evident that all of them felt greatly relieved.
Xiang Lanxuan suddenly turned back and asked, “Why were your reactions to the moon just now so great? The moon emerged, and the void gate also opened. Are you hiding something from us?”
Tian Yu and Meng Po also subconsciously looked at the two of them.
Mu Aotie secretly regretted it, hating that he had just lost his composure. He explained, “The moon appeared out of nowhere. We were merely curious.”
Was that so? The three faction leaders were sceptical.
Xiang Lanxuan stared in the direction of the crescent moon and said, “I roughly understand now why it opens at the Zi hour on the new moon day. The Zi hour is precisely the moment when the new moon day alternates with the following day. The new moon day has no moon, but once the new moon day passes, the new moon begins. The Zi hour on the first new moon day of every year is the opportunity of old and new alternation, meaning the hidden power of heaven and earth’s operation has entered a new cycle of repetition. It is a restarting opportunity. The gate of this cave dwelling uses the power of heaven and earth to seal itself. For us, we also need the power of heaven and earth to open it. Ordinarily we cannot see it nor enter it.”
The other two nodded slightly. Meng Po pondered, “That is why when the new moon appears on the first day of the new year, it is the moment the cave dwelling opens.”
Tian Yu said, “No wonder we had to wait until the Zi hour on the first new moon day of every year.”
While the three were saying these words, their gazes still could not help but glance at the three martial brothers. Clearly, Mu Aotie’s overly great reaction made them unable to let it go. Fortunately, they had no mind to fuss over it now. They continued to watch the expanding void opening.
Yu Qing and his martial brothers were very helpless, but they also could not help their curiosity, staring intently at the void gap.
“They all seem to be staring at that new moon in the sky. Is there some problem? I cannot see anything at all. Have you seen anything?”
Below, Long Xingyun asked Qin Jue and Cui You, and received shaking heads in reply.
Qin Jue also noticed the abnormality of the six people above, but he likewise could not see anything.
The void gap, rippling like a virtual wave, stabilised. A relatively long ancient flight of stone steps appeared out of nowhere. At the end of the steps was an ancient memorial arch, upon which there were faintly three characters. Looking closely, they were precisely the three characters “Little Cloud Interval.”
What was behind the memorial arch was unclear, but one could see that inside was also a night starry sky, seemingly no different from the outside.
The six people on the summit were all excited. There was no doubt now. The legendary Little Cloud Interval had truly been found.
“Go, you three lead the way first.”
Tian Yu suddenly pushed Yu Qing.
Yu Qing, who staggered a step, turned back in astonishment and asked, “We are going in too?”
Meng Po said, “Who knows what else you lot are hiding from us? If you do not go in, how can we be at ease?”
Yu Qing immediately said, “This entrance clearly cannot remain open forever. How long do you want us to go in for?” He was not blind. He had naturally noticed the three groups of people carrying large packs on their backs. Clearly they had made preparations for a long stay.
Xiang Lanxuan smiled, “We will accompany you. What are you afraid of? When it is time to come out, we will naturally come out.”
Hearing this situation, Yu Qing immediately straightened his back, “We are willing to work hard for you, but we cannot work for nothing. We also want some benefits.”
Seeing that Little Cloud Interval had truly been found, he was no longer guilty and uncertain, and immediately had confidence. He began to bargain.
Tian Yu said in a deep voice, “Less nonsense, get in quickly.”
Yu Qing insisted, “Without us, you could not have found Little Cloud Interval. I do not mean anything else. At the very least we have worked hard even if we have no merit. You eat the meat, we also want to drink some soup. Is that too much to ask? If you will not even be reasonable about this, to be honest, we are very afraid. We are afraid you will tear down the bridge after crossing the river.”
“No time to waste on your nonsense. This entrance will not last long.” Tian Yu turned back and waved, “Someone come.”
The demon realm crowd below immediately swarmed up.
“Go.”
Meng Po and Xiang Lanxuan also waved to summon their people in succession.
The first ones to come up finally saw the entrance to Little Cloud Interval. All were shocked. They finally understood what the six people above had been looking at.
Just the difference between the peak top and below, the people below could not actually see the cave dwelling opening. Only from the angle of the mountain summit could one see the opening immortal dwelling mountain gate.
That scene was as if a mountain gate and long flight of steps were floating in the air. It was truly miraculous.
“Escort the three of them inside.”
Tian Yu gave the order, pointing at the floating Little Cloud Interval entrance.
Several demon cultivators immediately laid hands on them, twisting the arms of Yu Qing and his martial brothers, directly pushing them onto the floating stone steps.
The first ones to step on them were a bit worried and afraid, but once they stepped firmly they felt relieved and ascended the steps. In any case, they had Yu Qing and his martial brothers to scout the way.
This was precisely what the three faction leaders meant. If you know of any danger and do not speak of it, you three will die first.
Yu Qing and his martial brothers were not fools. They naturally understood these people’s intentions. Their hearts could not help but be filled with hatred. They had robbed their things and still wanted them to risk their lives. Yet what could they do? They were powerless to resist.
The three martial brothers had been looking forward to entering Little Cloud Interval to search for treasures along the way, yet they had never imagined they would enter Little Cloud Interval in this manner.