The Return of Stars to the Jianghu

Chapter 145 The Teleportation Altar Beneath the Ruins of Lanting

Three months later, everything was peaceful and quiet, and everything seemed to have returned to normal.

In the Western Shu Kingdom of the Floating World, the once bustling land of Lanting County has gradually returned to its former tranquility. The hustle and bustle of the past has gradually dissipated with the closure of the "Path to Immortality," as if it were just a distant dream.

At the entrance of Tongfu Inn, the owner warmly greeted every passing traveler. Seeing a man dressed as a wandering swordsman enter, he habitually asked, "Sir, are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"

The swordsman replied calmly, "I'll stay at an inn." His voice revealed a hint of composure and determination.

The other guests in the inn might not have noticed the swordsman's unusual nature, but the innkeeper was taken aback. He hadn't expected that this seemingly ordinary swordsman was actually Li Chao, the renowned leader of the Tang Clan. He secretly admired him, thinking, "As expected of the leader of the Tang Clan, his demeanor is truly extraordinary."

"Alright, please come in, sir." The owner immediately concealed his surprise and put on a warm smile. He personally led Li Chao to a fine guest room.

Just then, an elderly man with a refined and otherworldly air entered the inn. He had white hair but a youthful face, and his demeanor was otherworldly; it was clear at a glance that he was no ordinary person.

"Give me a superior room," the old man said calmly. His voice was soft, yet full of authority and confidence.

Upon seeing this, the innkeeper's waiter immediately went to greet him. He secretly guessed that this old man must be the patriarch of a powerful family or a martial arts master.

Li Chao heard the old man's voice from inside the room, and his heart stirred. He turned to look at the door and saw the venerable old man being led into the inn by a waiter. He immediately realized that this old man was none other than Shi Qingfeng, the head of the Shi family, who was as famous as himself.

"Old Shi, you've arrived quite early." Li Chao greeted Shi Qingfeng with a smile. His voice was soft, but full of respect and warmth.

Upon hearing this, Shi Qingfeng nodded to Li Chao. The two giants of the martial arts world met at this moment. Although they had not had much interaction, their names had already become legendary tales in the martial arts world.

"Yes, there are many things to do in the martial world, so it's best to come early and return early," Shi Qingfeng said calmly. His voice revealed a sense of composure and calmness, as if everything was under his control.

Li Chao nodded, inwardly admiring him. He knew that although Shi Qingfeng appeared calm, his inner world was as deep as the sea, far beyond the reach of ordinary people. The encounter between these two giants of the martial arts world, though only a brief exchange, revealed the tacit understanding and respect between them.

That afternoon, sunlight slanted across the ruins of the Lanting site. The two stepped over the scattered stones and arrived at this once bustling place. Three months ago, it was teeming with people, a gathering of martial arts practitioners and cultivators, a lively and vibrant scene. Now, only ruins and silence remained.

"Hmph, the path to immortality is a terrible curse!" Shi Qingfeng sighed as he looked at the desolate scene before him. A complex light flashed in his eyes, as if he were recalling the past.

“Yes, who could have imagined?” Li Chao sighed and continued, “Who could have imagined that each teleportation altar is just a step on the path to immortality? And the entire path to immortality requires traversing eighty-one different worlds. The difficulty and danger involved are truly unimaginable.”

The two continued exploring the ruins. Shi Qingfeng pointed to a collapsed stone pillar and bricks and said, "This teleportation altar must be completely destroyed." His tone carried a hint of regret, as if he were lamenting the end of an era.

“Perhaps,” Li Chao replied. “But who can say for sure? Maybe after twenty cycles of sixty years, it will reopen and once again lead people onto that mysterious path to immortality.”

Without another word, the two began to carefully examine every detail of the ruins. They passed through a collapsed hall and entered a cave beneath the ruins. The cave was dark and damp, but the two were fearless, exploring step by step.

Finally, they arrived at the teleportation altar. The altar was covered in dust and cobwebs, clearly indicating that no one had been there for a long time. The two walked around the altar, confirming that it was completely inoperable.

"Old Shi, do you think they still have a chance to come back?" Li Chao suddenly asked. His voice was full of expectation and unease.

Shi Qingfeng was silent for a while, then slowly shook his head: "I'm afraid it will be very difficult. This teleportation altar has been completely closed. Unless there are special means and methods, it will be very difficult for them to return to the Floating Life Continent."

After hearing this, Li Chao fell into deep thought. He knew that the path to immortality was a path full of unknowns and dangers, and those who embarked on this path might have already left this world forever. However, he was still unwilling to give up hope; he believed that one day, those who had left would return to this world and reunite with them.

……

Three months ago, delegations from various countries held heated discussions at the negotiating table in Lanting County regarding the issue of a universal ruler and territorial disputes, but no substantial progress was made. Faced with this stalemate, they began to turn their attention to another more mysterious and intriguing topic—the Path to Immortality, namely the teleportation altar hidden beneath the ruins.

The existence of this altar holds immense significance for all nations; it seems to connect to another unknown world, serving as the only path to a mystical realm. Therefore, delegations from various countries hope to uncover more secrets and resources through it.

However, due to limitations in technology and strength, most of the martial arts practitioners who entered the tunnel alone died in the battle between humans and demons on the other side of the tunnel. Those who managed to escape were all seriously injured, and some died not long after returning.

A few days later, a martial arts figure named Song Han arrived in Lanting County with his Tang Clan swordsmen and a group of martial arts practitioners. They claimed to have mastered the method to enter the teleportation altar and were willing to lead delegations from various countries to go there together.

However, the delegation didn't buy into his argument, because the Tang Clan ultimately represented the Tang Kingdom. Song Han had no choice but to enter the teleportation altar with the people he had brought.

Of course, the delegations from various countries did not give up on entering the legendary altar. After several days of preparation and discussion, they formed an expedition team. Since Lanting County ultimately belonged to the Western Shu Kingdom, disciples from the Shushan Sect of the Western Shu Kingdom led the group into the teleportation altar.

However, on the third day after they entered, an accident occurred. The light and mist that had been shrouding the altar suddenly vanished without a trace, leaving the entire altar deathly silent.

The representatives from various countries exchanged bewildered glances. They had originally hoped to resolve the issue of the Path to Immortality with the help of the expedition team, but unexpectedly, this turn of events had occurred. They didn't know what had happened to the teleportation altar, nor whether the martial artists and cultivators who had entered would return safely.

This sudden turn of events plunged the entire Lanting County into chaos. People began to speculate about the cause of the accident: Had the expedition team triggered some mechanism that caused the teleportation altar to close? Or had a fight broken out inside, causing the light mist to disappear? However, these were all just speculations, and no one could be certain of the real reason.

In the time that followed, delegations from various countries dispatched their experts and martial artists to attempt to cross the altar to another world. However, no matter how hard they tried, it was all in vain. The light and mist on the altar never reappeared, as if that mysterious world had been forever shut down.

As time passed, the martial artists and cultivators of the martial world gradually lost patience. They began to doubt whether this so-called path to immortality truly existed, or was merely an unattainable legend. Thus, they left Lanting County one after another, seeking other places of cultivation and adventures. And the teleportation altar that had once attracted so much attention was gradually forgotten in the dustbin of history.