Perhaps that is the logic, but Iron Mask truly found it hard to open his mouth to his own people. Other things, his subordinates might listen to him, but this was clearly something that would harm his own men. How could he expect them to listen, to carry it out?
But Old Master Wu’s gaze, fixed upon him, grew increasingly cold and severe.
Iron Mask, filled with helplessness, had no choice but to face his own people and remind them, “You all heard what the old gentleman said. It is not as terrifying as you imagine. Who will go first?”
Bai Lan and the others were trembling with fear, wanting very much to ask him, if this was not terrifying, then what was? Was that old monster’s life, spent hiding in the shadows, pleasant? Even the old monster had longed to escape the consequences. How could he say it was not so bad?
No one responded. No one had the courage to be the first to step forward. All wore expressions of terror, a restless anxiety of wanting to flee yet not daring to.
Old Master Wu spoke, “It truly is not as frightening as you think. This Earth Spring affects people differently. My brother and I both immersed ourselves in it, yet our results differed. I am very curious to see what will become of each of you eight. You should also look forward to it. After being reborn through the Earth Spring, you will possess far greater strength.”
Hearing this, Iron Mask roughly understood. Beyond the so-called “unity of purpose,” this old fellow also intended to use these people as test subjects.
Previously, Old Master Wu had asked if he knew the whereabouts of Wu Hei and his son. Learning they had escaped the Immortal Palace and were likely sealed within the ice layer, Old Master Wu had ordered him to gather his men to break the ice and search for them.
He had thought they were truly just gathering people to chisel through the ice to capture Wu Hei and his son, who were sealed within. He had not expected there to be such an additional scheme. It really was treating them as tools to be used when needed, with no regard for them as human beings at all.
No matter what they said, still no one at the scene uttered a sound. Fear. They dared not.
Those who did not comply, there was usually only one outcome. First courtesy, then force.
Old Master Wu turned back and directly gave Iron Mask a meaningful look.
Iron Mask instantly felt the pressure. He clearly took a deep breath to compose himself. His gaze swept across the faces of Bai Lan and the four demons. After weighing his options, he turned to his four remaining subordinates, tilting his head to signal them to lead the way.
His four subordinates felt sudden panic, all instinctively showing signs of stepping back.
This reaction instead enraged Iron Mask. He simply raised his hand and pointed at one man, “You first!”
That man waved his hands in terror, saying, “I do not want eternal life…”
Before he could finish speaking, Iron Mask suddenly flashed forward. At such close range, he instantly crashed into the man. There was a thunderous boom, and the former was sent flying, crashing to the ground and coughing up blood. He kicked his legs several times but could not stand up, severely injured on the spot.
The gap in cultivation was considerable, and it was a close-range surprise attack. The victim was finished immediately.
Iron Mask’s figure flashed forward a second time to decisively deliver a finishing blow. He struck the man’s neck with a foot. The sound of the neck breaking was crisp, a sharp, explosive crack.
That man’s limbs twitched for a moment, then went still.
The moment the surprise attack was launched, Bai Lan and the others had already startled and leaped aside, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.
Wu Dao and Wu Heyun also flashed away. They were not dodging, however. One flashed to guard the rear entrance, the other to guard the passage leading to the pavilion atop the mountain.
As for the other exits outside the palace main gate, they were all sealed by ice. To try to break through such thick ice with one’s cultivation to escape, none of those present possessed the strength to do so. If they truly had such power, they would not need to flee in the first place.
Old Lady Rat could not help but speak, her tone somewhat sharp, “Mr. Iron Mask, things have gotten to this point. Do you not find it increasingly absurd? You even kill your own trusted confidants. How can we still believe your promises?”
Iron Mask said, “After entering the Golden Ruins, knowing that your actions involve the secrets of the Golden Ruins, have you not been constantly worried that I would go back on my word? I can tell you plainly, before this, I indeed would have. Not because I wanted to, but because I too was not my own master.
You should have sensed that I am also someone who takes orders, that the force behind me is very powerful. But all of you have weaknesses that are held, so you dare not disobey. Now it is different. I have a new backer. I can defy the will of the one behind the scenes. I can release the weaknesses you all have had held.”
At these words, Bai Lan, Old Lady Rat, Gao Yuan, and Jiang Shan all showed uncertain expressions. They indeed believed his words. But the prerequisite for releasing their weaknesses was clearly laid out, that they must enter the Earth Spring to be reborn.
Iron Mask looked at his three remaining subordinates and said, “The same logic applies to you. The secrets of the Golden Ruins will not be allowed to leak by you. The one behind the scenes will likewise silence you. You think I am harming you, but you do not know that I am saving you!”
Having said this much, and having already struck a deadly blow against his own people, he might as well go all the way. He pointed again at one of the subordinates who had leaped aside, “You go!”
The one pointed at wore a face of sorrow, and also indignation. But the corpse on the ground was a warning. The key point was that he lacked the strength to resist.
Forced by coercion, he had no choice but to brace himself and go. He walked step by step to the edge of the pool platform, stood upon it, and hesitated repeatedly. Then, sensing Iron Mask approaching from behind, he finally closed his eyes and jumped in of his own accord.
Water splashed everywhere, and the person instantly submerged into the pool.
Soon, large bubbles rose in the pool, drawing everyone’s close attention…
The great canyon where the golden beasts advanced had become an ice valley, the seawater that had poured in likewise frozen solid.
Beneath the slanting sun, a patch of ice suddenly became transparent. Then something moved beneath it, and the ice quickly melted into a hole. The old man holding the golden halberd was the first to emerge, standing on the ice and surveying his surroundings.
Yu Qing and the others also emerged one after another. With the old man present, everyone felt bolder, and there was less of a sneaking-about feeling.
The old man flew ashore, his gaze directed toward the pavilion atop the mountain ahead. He did not know if Old Master Wu and the others were still there. The golden halberd in his hand suddenly struck the ground with force.
Boom! The metallic clash was deafening, grand and resonant.
Yu Qing and the others were startled, not knowing what this grand, magnificent gesture from the old man meant. Were they afraid the enemy would not know you had arrived?
However, this old man truly had always carried an air of great presence. Standing there, he possessed a magnificent aura.
Inside the palace, large bubbles were still rising in the pool water when a sudden sound from outside caused everyone to turn and look back.
Iron Mask and the others were somewhat puzzled. Everyone who had entered the Immortal Palace should be here. Where had this noise come from? Were there others in the Immortal Palace as well?
Old Master Wu slowly turned around, his wrinkled face bunching up into a smile. “They have found us after all. It seems this time, we must settle the matter once and for all.”
His tone carried an inexplicable sense of melancholy, which surprised those nearby.
After all, in the eyes of others, this old fellow had always seemed to regard all living things as mere ants.
Iron Mask tried to ask, “Who?”
Old Master Wu chuckled, “Who else but that brother of mine who recognizes no kin? Such thick ice, to break through it so quietly and without violence in such a short time, only the Yellow Halberd in his hand could accomplish.”
Iron Mask was instantly dumbstruck, his eyes showing unbearable dismay.
He truly had not expected that the Immortal Palace hidden deep beneath the sea would be discovered so quickly by that old man. If he had known earlier that the other side could gain the old man’s protection so swiftly… In short, his guts were green with regret.
But then he felt something was wrong, and tried to ask, “Does Yellow Halberd refer to that golden halberd?”
Old Master Wu glanced at him, dismissively saying, “In your eyes, calling it a golden halberd is not wrong.”
Iron Mask said suspiciously, “Old gentleman, could you be misjudging? The golden halberd is in my possession.”
Old Master Wu was rarely dumbstruck, asking in shock, “Are you joking? How could the Yellow Halberd be in your hands?”
Iron Mask said, “I picked it up when I followed into the Golden Ruins. Fearing I might lose it along the way, I hid it on the road. If you do not believe me, you can ask the others beside me. They also witnessed it with their own eyes when I picked up the golden halberd.”
Old Master Wu’s reaction clearly showed he was truly stunned. He did not ask the others, and he believed this fellow had no reason to lie about such a matter. Could something have happened to his brother?
Boom…
The blue halberd in Old Master Wu’s hand suddenly struck the ground. The violent reverberation echoed throughout the palace, lingering long without fading.
Iron Mask and the others were also startled, staring blankly at him, sensing that this one seemed to be making some kind of response…
On the shore of the ice valley, hearing the movement from within the pavilion atop the mountain, Yu Qing and the others immediately guessed that Old Master Wu was inside.
The old man gazed for a moment, then turned back to look at his son, asking, “Did you not find the Human Spring in the palace?”
Wu Hei shook his head. “There were too many rooms of various forms inside. We did not search all of them, but there were not many left. It felt like neither the Heaven Spring nor the Human Spring were in the palace.”
The old man pointed toward the pavilion atop the mountain. “Go straight in the direction directly facing the main gate of the pavilion, and you will see a high mountain. It is the only earthen and stone high mountain in the Immortal Palace, very easy to distinguish. You will know it when you see it. I have not been there, but I heard the people of the Immortal Palace speak of it in the past. It is the location of the entire Immortal Palace’s array formation operation hub, and also the place where the Mystic Gold Immortal forged his artifacts. If it is not in the palace, the most likely place for it to exist should be there. Go.”
Wu Hei glanced at the pavilion, worried, “Father, you…”
The old man raised his hand to interrupt. “The matter between your uncle and me is not something you can intervene in. If you stay, you will only be a burden. Before he discovers where you are going, take your son and leave quickly. Remember, if you still cannot find it within the operation hub, then leave the Golden Ruins immediately. There is no room for negotiation on this matter. Understood?”
Wu Hei gave an “mm,” then resolutely departed with his sleeping son in his arms. The others immediately followed quickly.
The old man rose into the air, arcing across the sky and landing directly, then drifting into the pavilion.
Wu Heyun was reporting to Old Master Wu’s side. After hearing the noise, he had looked out from the window of the pavilion atop the mountain and seen Wu Hei and the others leaving, which he reported.
Seeing the old man flash to his side, and seeing the golden halberd in his hand, the corner of Old Master Wu’s mouth twitched fiercely. He slowly turned his head to stare at Iron Mask.
“…”
Iron Mask was not blind either. He was already dumbstruck.
He still wanted to explain something, but Old Master Wu did not pursue the matter for the moment. He snorted and turned his head, saying, “There is nothing more for you here. Eldest, second, take Iron Mask and the others to capture Big Black and his lot. If you cannot capture them alive… dead will do.”
The two estate masters immediately gestured and led Iron Mask and the others away quickly.
Bai Lan and the others were somewhat hesitant, but they did not know whether the old man’s side would accept them. Moreover, they did not know how the contest between these two old brothers would turn out. Without certainty, it was not easy to switch sides, so they had no choice but to follow along.