Chapter 465: Chapter 31: Four Seasons Path
The Dark Energy Wall crumbled in response, revealing the entrance to the Sky Dragon Palace before everyone.
Powerful Illusion Technique, lethal Arrow Technique.
Looking again at Feng Buhui and Qin Dongting, after their successful strike, they bowed to Jin Nuo and other Imperial Soldiers, saying, "Mission accomplished," and then unanimously stepped back behind Yue Jinghua.
All the Imperial Soldiers behind Jin Nuo were deathly silent; earlier, they had some reservations about contracting the Mercenary Team, thinking they would drag everyone down after entering the Heroic Tomb. But now, just witnessing the display of strength by Feng and Qin was enough to prove their formidable capabilities.
Jin Nuo, with a clear understanding, laughed heartily: "Little Brother Yue has brought two capable allies. Please, lend us your help after we enter the Dragon Palace."
Once the Dark Energy Wall shattered, everyone could freely enter the Sky Dragon Palace.
Sky Dragon Palace?!
Only after dismounting the dragon’s back and setting foot on the Sky Dragon Palace did everyone truly sense the majesty of the ancient hero’s tomb - the Sky Dragon Palace.
This dragon palace, set a hundred meters high in the sky, mimicked the shape of a giant dragon, its several feet perched on a Dark Array and hovering amidst the clouds.
Looking backward from the dragon’s head, one could only see the Dragon God maneuvering through the endless cloud qi, making it impossible to gauge the total area of the Dragon Palace.
The Dragon Slayer Hero Mo Kang, a prominent figure in the skies of Canglong Continent a thousand years ago, held a status that rivaled even the Ten Saints of today.
It was rumored that before Mo Kang slaughtered the Evil Jiao of Kalan Peak, he had killed ten thousand Dark Beasts and was a renowned Killing God across the continent.
After subduing the Evil Jiao, he advanced into a Dan Realm Expert, cementing his status as one of the top characters on the continent.
Yet, human power has its limits. After dominating the continent for centuries, Mo Kang still could not defy fate in the end.
He built the Sky Dragon Palace with the blood essence of his latter years to serve as his mausoleum, and what secrets it holds inside remain unknown even to his descendants.
The place where Yue Jinghua and others stood was the entrance to the Dragon Palace.
After shattering the obstructive Dark Energy Wall, a strangely shaped cave entrance appeared before everyone.
The cave resembled a giant open-mouthed dragon, with its sides lined with rugged stones and the ground completely barren.
Jin Nuo commanded two Imperial Soldiers to proceed first; he and Yue Jinghua along with others followed behind.
After everyone entered the dragon’s mouth, that peculiar Dark Energy Wall reappeared.
About half an hour later, four diverging paths appeared ahead.
All four paths were merely sheep trail size, winding paths that at most could accommodate two grown men side by side, each path featuring distinctly different landscapes.
The first one was brimming with spring vitality, entwined everywhere with vines and lush moss, unknown butterflies flitting about, emitting a captivating aroma, aptly named "Spring Path."
The second, in stark contrast, lacked any green grass or bird and flower fragrance. Instead, the ground was cracked open with stones, and flames spewed from unknown corners,
named "Fiery Fire Path."
The third path, with a refreshing autumn breeze, unknown leaves blowing over from the other end of the path, carrying the aroma of fruits, known as Autumn Walnut Avenue.
The fourth clause, when the harsh winter arrives, the ground is covered with an icy surface that resembles gemstones, and even from afar, one can feel the piercing chill, known henceforth as Frost Winter Origin.
"Four Seasons Path, leads directly to Dragon Court," at the entrance of these four paths, there stands a direction sign clearly indicating that only through these four paths can one enter the middle and rear parts of the Sky Dragon Palace.
The middle section of the Sky Dragon Palace is the Dragon Court as indicated on the sign.
Jin Nuo ordered soldiers to search along the four paths, but unfortunately, they couldn’t find any traces of the two forces that had entered the Sky Dragon earlier.
It is hard to guess which path is the most straightforward route to the Dragon Court.
After consulting briefly, Jin Nuo and Yue Jinghua quickly made up their minds.
It would be logical to send troops down each of the four paths, but in doing so, the forces would be dispersed, which would be disadvantageous in combat.
Moreover, once inside the Sky Dragon Palace, they would have to guard not only against potential traps inside the palace but also remain vigilant of attacks from other forces.
The Divine Court and the Mercenary Branch, each force is not to be taken lightly.
"Since the map indicates that each path should lead to the Dragon Court, why don’t we just randomly choose one? By the way, Brother Jin Nuo, which season is your favorite among the four?" Yue Jinghua asked playfully.
"Naturally, it’s spring, the season when everything flourishes," Jin Nuo had no major objections and simply camped and rested on the spot.
Although there were no attacks today, everyone was exhausted from riding the Black Dragon through the bitter cold winds at high altitude and passing the strange Dark Energy Wall at the entrance.
The Imperial Soldiers took out their dry rations, biting into them alternately with sips of water.
Meanwhile, not a single member of the July Mercenary Team took out any dry rations.
Qian Luo, unfazed, retrieved some ingredients on the spot and then used a Fire Storage Ring to ignite a Dark Fire Array.
Ever since the Fire Storage Ring was crafted, Yue Jinghua had extracted a fire seed from the Chaos Green Lotus Fire for Qian Luo’s use.
After some acclimatization, Qian Luo was now proficient in using the Chaos Green Lotus Fire.
Coupled with her superior skills and the fresh ingredients stored in the Desire Gourd, it wasn’t long before an enticing aroma began to drift toward the many Imperial Soldiers.
Seeing the members of July Team each holding a roasted rabbit, the soldiers suddenly found their rations hard to swallow, turning what was once tasty into something worse than a lump of stone.
Jin Nuo, standing nearby, was also swallowing his saliva hard. Just as Yue Jinghua distributed several bags of beer among the team members, Jin Nuo couldn’t hold back any longer, scratching his head and stepping forward.
"Little Brother Yue, could you share some of your food with us?"
"Brother Jin Nuo, even brothers settle accounts after a transaction. We can share our food, but you’ll have to pay first," Yue Jinghua licked his shiny fingertips, smacking his lips.
Pay?
Jin Nuo was surprised that Yue Jinghua would openly ask for money without regard for team solidarity, and his expression darkened.
"Brother Jin Nuo, if it were ordinary food, we would have shared it freely. However, Aunt Chi Xi from Four-star Mercenary, along with numerous ventures into the mountains, countless injuries big and small we endured—it’s all for these raw materials. Mind you, Aunt Chi Xi’s Spiritual Food, a single bite restores 20% of one’s strength, a second bite restores 50%, and eating a whole one lets you wake up fully replenished with Dark Power," Yue Jinghua explained as the Emperor Soldiers stared fixedly, their longing for the Spiritual Food palpable.