Only three seconds? He's already the Lord of All Realms, so it doesn't matter.

Stopping a few miles from the solitary peak, Ye Xuan put away the remaining spiritual light of the travel talisman and stood in mid-air.

He took out the Imperial Visit Token, and on the landscape map on the back of the token, the light spot representing the Golden Phoenix Temple coincided with his location.

Upon closer inspection, one can see that the Taoist temple is surrounded by a pale golden barrier, with phoenix patterns flowing across its surface, exuding an ancient and majestic aura.

The gate was closed at the moment, and the stone steps in front of it were covered with moss, giving it a somewhat desolate feel.

"That's strange, wasn't there supposed to be an event?"

The Taoist temple in front of me was deserted, with only two young men standing under the archway, silently sweeping the floor. There was no sign of any consecration ceremony about to be held.

Just as Ye Xuan was pondering how to step forward and knock on the door, the Imperial Visiting Token in his bosom suddenly trembled.

The token floated up on its own, and the character "访" on its front began to glow, transforming into a beam of light that shot towards the outer barrier.

The moment the barrier came into contact with the beam of light, the patterns on the phoenix-shaped markings rippled out like waves, revealing a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.

Upon seeing this, the two Taoist priests who were sweeping the ground under the archway quickly stepped forward and bowed in respect.

"Welcome the Holy Ancestor's envoy."

Ye Xuan nodded slightly, took out the Holy Visit Token and the Dao Child Token, and handed them over together.

The slightly older Taoist priest took the token, examined it carefully, and then became even more respectful.

"So it is the Holy Ancestor Daozi. I have failed to greet you properly. I have failed to greet you properly."

The abbot had already given instructions that an envoy from the Holy Sect would be arriving today to witness this momentous occasion. Please, Daozi, follow me into the abbot's temple.

Thank you for your trouble.

Ye Xuan retrieved the token and followed the Taoist priest into the valley.

The moment he stepped into the valley, he felt a lightness all over his body, and his mind became calmer as well.

Looking around, the ancient trees reach for the sky, the springs murmur, and pavilions and towers are nestled among them. Although it is not as grand as the inner gate of the Holy Sect, it is quiet and elegant, a unique paradise.

Even more striking is the nine-story tower standing in the center of the valley, its body made of white jade, shimmering with a warm luster in the glow of the sunset.

At the top of the tower, a golden phantom could be faintly seen circling, shaped like a phoenix, exuding divine might.

"That is the Qita Pagoda, where the remains of the ancient golden phoenix are enshrined."

Seeing Ye Xuan's gaze fixed on the tower, the Taoist priest who was leading the way explained in a low voice.

Ye Xuan nodded and looked away.

The Taoist priest led him through a bamboo grove to a hermitage.

"This is a private room prepared especially for distinguished guests. Please stay inside and rest, Michiko. The consecration ceremony will be held the day after tomorrow."

Thank you.

Ye Xuan entered the hermitage and saw that the interior was simply furnished but spotless. There was a futon placed by the window, and sitting there, he could see the sound of the pine trees outside. It was indeed a good place for quiet meditation.

He sat down cross-legged, but did not immediately enter a meditative state. Instead, he released his perception, gradually covering the Taoist temple.

Apart from the protective array, there were no other restrictions inside the temple. Ye Xuan's senses quickly reached the edge of the white jade pagoda.

The golden phantom at the top of the tower was still slowly circling, but upon closer inspection, it seemed to have dimmed a bit compared to when it was first seen, and its circling trajectory was also slightly sluggish.

"The remains of an ancient golden phoenix?"

Ye Xuan recalled what the old man had said: although the Golden Phoenix Temple was in decline, it still enshrined this relic, which was said to possess divine power that reached the heavens? He wondered if it was true or not.

Before he could examine the situation more thoroughly, footsteps could be heard outside the door.

Ye Xuan concealed his aura and turned to look at the doorway. A young Taoist priest stood outside, holding a wooden tray with three vermilion fruits and a pot of tea.

"Michiko is well.

"Disciple Zhuxiao, on the orders of the Abbot, has delivered some food from the temple to the Daoist."

The young Taoist priest was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with delicate features and a cultivation level of around the Foundation Establishment stage. His demeanor was respectful but also somewhat reserved.

Thank you for your trouble.

Ye Xuan took the wooden tray, his gaze falling on Zhu Xiao's face. "Where is the Abbot?"

"Reply to Daozi, the festival is approaching, and the abbot is currently in seclusion."

The consecration ceremony is a grand event for the Golden Phoenix Temple, marking its centennial. The temple's abbot must undergo three days of secluded meditation before the ceremony to ensure the purity of his spiritual power and to preside over the rituals.

"I see."

Ye Xuan picked up a vermilion fruit. Its skin was crimson red, warm to the touch, and faintly contained a flow of spiritual energy.

"Are the remains of the golden phoenix in this pagoda open to outsiders for worship on a regular basis?"

Zhu Xiao's expression changed slightly, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

"The remains are enshrined on the top floor of the Qita Tower, and only the abbot and three elders are allowed to enter."

Ordinary disciples are not allowed to enter... If a Daoist disciple wishes to observe and worship, he will be able to see him when the consecration ceremony begins.

Ye Xuan nodded and asked no further questions.

The young Taoist priest bowed and withdrew, giving one last instruction before leaving:

"If the Daoist needs anything, he may call upon his disciple at any time."

In the northeast corner of the temple is a library. If you feel bored, you may go there to browse the books, but do not approach within a hundred feet of the Qita Pagoda, lest you trigger the restrictions.

"understood."

He got up and went outside, watching the young Taoist priest's figure disappear into the bamboo forest path before turning his gaze away.

Ye Xuan picked up the Vermilion Fruit and took a bite. The flesh was sweet and refreshing, and upon entering his stomach, it transformed into gentle spiritual energy that nourished his meridians.

This fruit is non-toxic and harmless; the only problem is that there are too few of them…

After finishing the three fruits, he walked to the futon, sat down, closed his eyes, and focused his mind, his senses quietly spreading out once again.

Still peering into the white jade pagoda, Ye Xuan this time extended his senses deep inside and encountered the restriction the Taoist had mentioned, though it wasn't very strong.

The image of the tower base appeared in my mind, where three old Taoists sat cross-legged in a triangular formation, protecting the array eye inside the tower in the center.

The three of them had deep, concentrated auras and were all at the late stage of the Golden Core realm. They were currently exchanging information.

"The divine power of the remains has weakened further... This ceremony may be the last one."

"Alas, only by finding a disciple with a pure Yang body, and taking advantage of the sacrificial ceremony to use bloodline as a catalyst, can the divine fire of the remnant bones be rekindled."

"The problem is, the festival is starting the day after tomorrow, but how many people have come so far?"

Moreover, a pure Yang body is extremely rare, occurring only once every hundred years; it's no easy feat.

The other two elders gave a wry smile. "There's nothing we can do. We can only do our best for this festival."

"That's what they say, but if we don't find it, and the divine power of the remains completely dissipates, the Golden Phoenix Temple will truly be a dead temple in name only."

The three remained silent for a moment, then closed their eyes again and continued to maintain the formation.

Ye Xuan's senses did not linger for long; after probing for information, he withdrew them and instead wandered around other parts of the Taoist temple.

He wandered around for a long time, exploring every nook and cranny of the Taoist temple, but he still didn't find anything rare or precious.

"They're not really asking me to steal someone's prized possession, are they?"

While Ye Xuan was still pondering the old man's instructions, the bronze mirror in his bosom began to move again.

The bronze mirror floated up, and the old man's familiar voice directly entered his sea of ​​consciousness:

"Has Daozi already arrived at the Golden Phoenix Temple?"

Ye Xuan's thoughts stirred slightly. Although somewhat displeased, he still responded with his divine sense:

"What are your instructions, senior?"

"Heh, it's not about giving orders. Does our relationship need to be so distant?"

The old man's voice was tinged with laughter, "I just wanted to remind Daozi to be careful in everything regarding the consecration ceremony of the Golden Phoenix Temple."

Ye Xuan, however, disagreed and instead pressed for details:

"What exactly did the senior send me to this Taoist temple to retrieve?"

"Oh, no rush, no rush. The festival is the day after tomorrow. You'll know when the time comes."

"Tonight, Daozi, you can go to the library first. There are some ancient books there that might help you understand the origins of the Golden Phoenix Temple."

After saying that, the light in the mirror quietly disappeared, and everything returned to calm.

"Has this old man really been here before?"

Ye Xuan reluctantly got up and pushed open the wooden door of the study.

The Jinluan Temple was quiet and secluded in the night, with only the faint golden light from the direction of the Qita Tower illuminating the winding stone path.

He followed Zhu Xiao's advice and headed towards the northeast corner.

The library inside the temple is a three-story wooden building. The door was unlocked, and the hall was filled with flickering candlelight, bookshelves, and a vast collection of books.

An old Taoist priest guarding the pavilion leaned against a bamboo chair by the door, seemingly fast asleep, completely unaware of Ye Xuan's arrival.

Ye Xuan didn't disturb them and went straight to the innermost bookshelf, activating his superpowers one after another, scanning the entire bookshelf.

He finally took down the thickest volume, "The Records of Jinluan Temple," walked to the candlestick by the window, and slowly unfolded it.