C2678 CHAPTER2678
C2678 CHAPTER2678
It seemed like a blatant act of discrimination.
But why? It was Peter's first visit to the Nameless Immortal Palace, and he had no prior dealings with the guard. There was no reason for this hostility.
"Humph! If I say it's ten immortal stones a day, then that's the price. If you're not willing to pay, then get lost!" The guard snorted dismissively, his aura flaring with the intimidating power of a half-step Golden Immortal.
Luo Wuji stepped up, shielding Peter from the guard's oppressive presence. He stared the guard down and retorted sharply, "It's common knowledge that the Nameless Immortal Palace charges one immortal stone per day. You're just a guard; what gives you the right to demand ten? Do you think we're pushovers?"
The guard's eyes narrowed as he watched Luo Wuji effortlessly counter his aura. Despite being an eighth-grade Heaven Immortal, Luo Wuji stood firm against the might of a half-step Golden Immortal—a feat not even common among the elite of Golden Immortal factions. The guard couldn't help but consider that Luo might be a prodigy from a prestigious Luo faction, someone even the Nameless Immortal Palace would hesitate to offend.
Internally, the guard cursed, "Damn that Wan Xinghan for putting me in this position!"
He had no personal vendetta against Peter Parker; they had never even met. The real instigator was Wan Xinghan, the talented disciple from Cangyun Immortal Palace, who had recently requested the guard to thwart Peter's entry into the palace by any means necessary.
At first, he had assumed it was a trivial issue that could be resolved with a favor from Wan Xinghan, so he had agreed without a second thought. But he hadn't anticipated what was to come.
Unbeknownst to him, Wan Xinghan had kept a significant detail under wraps: Peter Parker was a matchless prodigy, on par with a half-step Golden Immortal, despite being merely an Eighth Grade Heavenly Immortal.
"Both of you, I was only kidding earlier. The standard rate for the Nameless Immortal Palace is one immortal stone per day," the guard, who had reached the realm of a half-step Golden Immortal, said with a chuckle, his earlier domineering demeanor gone.
The individual before him might have been just an eighth-grade Heavenly Immortal, but his combat prowess could very well rival that of someone with a half-step Heavenly Immortal's cultivation. As a mere guard at the Nameless Immortal Palace, he knew stirring up trouble wouldn't end well for him.
Luo Wuji didn't hesitate. He promptly handed over two immortal stones, collected two tokens, and confidently walked into the Nameless Immortal Palace.
Inside, the palace seemed to exist in a realm apart from the outside world, a stark contrast to the mundane. A vast immortal array enveloped the area, and the air teemed with thick immortal essence, rivaling even the Great Luo Immortal Palace of the Supreme Cold Immortal Venerable. It was truly a sacred site for cultivation.
As Peter Parker surveyed the Nameless Immortal Palace, a clamor erupted not far off.
"Isn't that the Myriad Star Cold from Cangyun Immortal Palace?"
"It's Wan Xinghan indeed. Who would have thought he'd visit the Nameless Immortal Palace too!"
The buzz of the crowd caught Peter Parker's attention, and he narrowed his eyes in response. Lifting his gaze, he confirmed his suspicion: there in the crowd were Wan Xinghan and Lu Ding.
"So, he's come to the Nameless Immortal Palace as well," Peter mused, a glint of ice flashing in his eyes.
He had been puzzled as to why the palace guard had singled him out. But with Wan Xinghan's arrival, the pieces fell into place. Peter surmised that Wan Xinghan was likely the one pulling strings behind the scenes.
Only Azure Cloud Immortal City and Nameless Immortal Palace had the teleportation formations that linked Cangyun State with other provinces. Wan Xinghan had correctly assumed that they would avoid Azure Cloud Immortal City, so he and his allies had preemptively gathered at Nameless Immortal Palace, hoping to leverage its influence against their adversaries.
"This kid is like a persistent specter," Luo Wuji muttered, his eyes darkening as he observed Wan Xinghan encircled by his entourage.
Peter Parker responded with a nonchalant tone, "Ignore him. We just need to use Nameless Immortal Palace's teleportation formation to get out of Cangyun State." He knew that the palace's strict rules prohibited unsanctioned combat; Wan Xinghan wouldn't dare make a move against them there.
Once they were beyond Cangyun State's borders, what power would Wan Xinghan hold over them? Within the state, they had to tread carefully due to the influence of Cangyun Immortal Manor, but outside, they owed Wan Xinghan no such caution. If he persisted in his pursuit, they would not hold back.
The Cangyun Immortal Estate's reach was formidable but confined to Canglan State. Should they eliminate Wan Xinghan after their departure, it would be a challenge for the estate to pursue them.
"I've visited Nameless Immortal Palace before and became acquainted with one of its high-ranking officials. Let's find him and use the palace's teleportation formation to leave Cangyun State," Luo Wuji proposed, leading Peter Parker towards the heart of the palace.
Meanwhile, Lu Ding watched Peter Parker and Luo Wuji's retreating figures and leaned in to whisper to Wan Xinghan, "Junior brother Xinghan, Peter Parker and Luo Wuji have just entered Nameless Immortal Palace."
Wan Xinghan inwardly seethed with frustration. "A revered half-step Golden Immortal, and yet he's incapable of managing such a trivial issue!"
After his unsuccessful attempt to intercept Peter Parker, Wan Xinghan had anticipated that they would attempt to leave Cangyun State via the Nameless Immortal Palace.
Thus...
He sent Ji An back to the Cangyun Immortal Palace to summon reinforcements while he, along with Lu Dingxian, escorted Peter Parker to the Nameless Immortal Palace. There, he enlisted the help of a half-step Golden Immortal Realm guard to prevent Peter Parker from entering the palace.
If they could stop Peter Parker from gaining access to the Nameless Immortal Palace, Wan Xinghan could wait for the arrival of the Azure Cloud Immortal Palace's forces, kill Peter Parker, and claim the legacy of Immortal Sovereign Juhan for himself.
However...
Wan Xinghan had not anticipated the guard's incompetence, which led to both Peter Parker and himself being allowed entry into the Nameless Immortal Palace.
"Even though Luo Wuji is only at the cultivation level of an eighth-grade Heavenly Immortal, his power is nearly on par with a typical half-step Heavenly Immortal. It's understandable that the palace guard would hesitate to provoke Luo Wuji," Lu Ding remarked, shaking his head with a hint of uncertainty. "Junior brother Xinhan, the Nameless Immortal Palace prohibits unauthorized combat. If we wish to confront them, I'm afraid we'll have to venture beyond Cangyun State. Perhaps it's best to let this go."