As soon as the words left his mouth, the brocade-robed man issued a command, and nearly a hundred of his subordinates roared in unison, each producing magical artifacts of varying designs.
These artifacts — banners, discs, and the like — were clearly all formation-activating instruments. At the same time, chanting erupted from every throat.
In an instant, a shimmering yellow formation array materialized above their heads out of thin air. After spinning rapidly, over a dozen white pillars of light shot forth in succession, converging into a single line and slamming into the giant gate.
Thunderous rumbles filled the air. Countless white runes flashed and scattered wildly across the gate's surface, yet the colossal door remained utterly motionless, not budging an inch.
The others couldn't help but feel a chill of alarm.
The brocade-robed man, however, showed no anger. Instead, he laughed.
"Interesting. I didn't expect a mere gate to be so difficult to open. It seems I'll have to use some real effort."
With that, the brocade-robed man formed a single-handed incantation seal, murmuring an incantation as he pointed a finger toward the glowing formation in the sky.
A clanging sound rang out, and the formation abruptly shifted color, transforming into a shimmering silver. At the same time, a cold gleam flashed within, and countless silver miniature swords materialized — thousands upon first glance.
"Go!"
The man gave a low shout and flicked his sleeve toward the gate.
Piercing whistles erupted from the formation as all the silver swords surged forth like a tide, then eerily converged together in midair, coalescing into a single colossal silver sword a thousand zhang in length. With a flash, it cleaved downward toward the distant gate.
A piercing shriek!
A silver line blazed to life across the surface of the gate.
The entire sky trembled, and after golden and silver runes flickered across the gate's surface, a crack slowly split open along the silver line.
Though it didn't look very wide, it was more than enough for someone to slip through.
The brocade-robed man was overjoyed. A glow enveloped his body as he swept all his nearby subordinates into it, transforming into a streak of silver light that pierced through the air. With a single blur, he vanished through the gap into the gate.
At that very moment, Fairy Huaxi stamped her foot, then shot forward together with Wugou Ancestor beside her. The pair merged into a streak of green-and-red radiance, hurtling toward the gap as well.
A muffled boom!
The rainbow of light was repelled by an invisible force more than a hundred zhang from the gate.
Then, with a deep rumble, the gate slowly closed on its own. The golden and silver glow on its surface flashed once, and the gap vanished without a trace.
The repelled green-and-red radiance simply circled around once, and within it, the figures of Fairy Huaxi and Wugou Ancestor appeared.
The beautiful woman wore a look of surprise, while the man beside her maintained a wooden expression.
"It seems I was too hasty. I had hoped to save some effort by riding on Sect Master Feng's coattails directly inside. It seems that won't work — I suppose we'll have to do it ourselves after all. Husband, open this gate for me," the enchanting woman said with a light laugh, her captivating eyes sweeping with charm.
Beside her, Wugou Ancestor murmured a single "Very well," and his body was suddenly shrouded in a burst of purple light. A massive hand slowly pressed toward the gate.
With a soft thud, the seemingly ordinary palm suddenly swelled to the size of a pavilion, transforming into an enormous purple light-hand that crashed down upon the gate.
A muffled explosion. Ten thousand rays of light erupted from the gate, and a massive hole roughly a zhang in diameter materialized out of thin air.
A delighted smile crossed Fairy Huaxi's face. She and Wugou Ancestor immediately activated their escape lights, once again merging into a streak of green-and-red radiance that flashed through the hole and inside.
The gate hummed continuously, and the hole sealed itself shut at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"It seems only one group can enter at a time. In that case, us three old fellows won't stand on ceremony," one of the three gaunt elders said with an eerie cackle.
The three of them flickered simultaneously, reappearing before the gate. Each extended a palm and pushed toward the gate, and three massive waves of force surged forth.
Thunderous booms erupted at once. The previously sealed gate slowly swung open, and the three elders blurred as they slipped inside.
"Brother Han, would you like to go first?" Seeing that so many had already entered the gate, Xiao Ming suddenly smiled and posed the question to Han Li.
"Since Fellow Daoist Xiao is so gracious, I won't stand on ceremony. Fellow Daoist Xue Po, let's go in," Han Li replied evenly, then turned to give Xue Po an instruction.
"Yes, Senior." Xue Po bowed her head in acknowledgment.
Han Li flicked his sleeve, and a sweep of golden light enveloped his body, enveloping Xue Po as well. He then shifted his shoulders slightly and took a single step forward.
A soft whoosh. The space ahead rippled faintly.
Within the golden light, Han Li's figure blurred, and he and Xue Po vanished in a flash.