Chapter 244 — The Star Plate
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 3 of 5
Yet this murderous, seething atmosphere, seemingly on the verge of erupting into a great battle, was suddenly calmed by a single sentence from Mr. Ghost at that most critical instant.
"Perhaps I might have some way with this magic treasure."
The Cold Ice Stone Chamber was a chamber the Nether King had specially built for Bi Li. Since it was where Bi Li resided, and given her particular circumstances, it was naturally an extremely secluded place within the caverns of the Nether King Sect's main hall, and the Nether King had long ago issued a strict order that ordinary Nether King Sect disciples must never approach it.
Within the Nether King Sect, those who could freely approach the Cold Ice Stone Chamber numbered no more than five, and both Ming Li and the ever-mysterious Mr. Ghost were among them. At this moment, the passage outside the Cold Ice Stone Chamber was empty and deserted, with only the two of them facing each other.
Ming Li's gaze still fixed sharply on Mr. Ghost, but the anger and killing intent that had just flared from him had slowly subsided. After a moment, he suddenly said, "You recognize this object?"
Mr. Ghost said indifferently, "I only caught a hurried glimpse just now—I couldn't even see the treasure's appearance clearly. I cannot say."
Ming Li pondered for a moment, then reached into his robes and took out the Qiankun Reincarnation Plate wrapped in black cloth. He untied the cloth and was about to hand it to Mr. Ghost when he suddenly hesitated again, drawing the plate back into his hand without extending it.
Mr. Ghost's gaze lingered for a moment on the warm, lustrous jade plate, then slowly rose to look at Ming Li. He neither spoke nor urged him. Ming Li's brows were tightly knit, and he was deeply hesitant. This mysterious Mr. Ghost before him, though at present counted as a fellow member of the Nether King Sect, clearly inspired not the slightest trust in Ming Li. Moreover, in the past campaign against the Beast Lord, in the mountains behind the Heaven-Reaching Peak of Mount Canglan, Mr. Ghost had suddenly launched a surprise attack while Ming Li dueled the mysterious old man in the ancestral shrine of the Canglan Sect—a matter that especially filled Ming Li with displeasure and disgust.
Yet disgust notwithstanding, this mysterious figure before him was one whose cultivation and insight Ming Li had never dared underestimate. After several hesitations in his heart, that most precious glimmer of hope deep within him finally overcame all else, and Ming Li slowly extended the jade plate in his hand.
Mr. Ghost said nothing; he carefully took the jade plate with both hands, held it before him, and through the black veil over his face began to examine it closely.
The warm, lustrous jade plate gave off a soft white radiance, like formless waves of light and flowing water drifting slowly through the air. The patterns carved along the plate's rim—some ancient and vigorous, some vivid and ingenious, some like the stars of the heavens, some like high mountains and flowing streams—were breathtaking. But the most striking feature was clearly the square area at the center of the plate, where countless tiny jade blocks slid silently, ceaselessly, each following its own mysterious and unique track without ever colliding—a sight to dazzle the eyes and bewilder the mind, leaving one faintly sensing that within the motion of these innumerable jade blocks there must be contained some supreme principle of heaven and earth.