Li Yan knew that these people, like him, had come to the "Northern Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda" for training and treasure hunting. It seemed rather desolate with only these five people present. However, Li Yan knew that it was very difficult to enter the "Northern Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda" in the first place. Those who could come here had either spent a fortune or met certain conditions. Moreover, there were probably already many people inside the tower. What he was seeing was just a momentary scene. Among the five, apart from the middle-aged Confucian scholar, the rest were all at the Foundation Establishment stage, including the scholar's bookboy servant, who had reached the initial-stage of Foundation Establishment. The middle-aged scholar's aura was long and calm. Li Yan did not probe carefully with his Divine Sense, but he could roughly guess that the man should be a Golden Core cultivator.
No Jingtu Sect monks were seen entering here. The reason was simple: when monks from the Jingtu Sect entered for training, they could probably do so at any time as long as they met some of the sect's own conditions. After all, it was their own territory. It was likely that there were already many monks inside the tower at this moment.
Li Yan's appearance also attracted the attention of the five people. The two women who had already reached the tower entrance looked up at the descending Li Yan. Seeing that they didn't recognize him, they paid him no more mind. After handing over a storage bag and their tokens to a Buddha and listening to his solemn words, the two women gracefully entered the semi-circular archway.
As for the three people still behind the two rows of Chan Monks, the bookboy servant completely ignored Li Yan, not even sparing him a glance. After taking back the token from the Chan Monk, he quickly walked back to the scholar's side with his back basket, seemingly urging the middle-aged scholar in a low voice. The middle-aged scholar gave the descending Li Yan a faint glance. A sharp glint, and even a hint of surprise, flashed in his eyes, but it vanished quickly. He looked Li Yan up and down thoughtfully before being tugged by the bookboy's sleeve and leisurely walking through the two rows of Chan Monks.
The middle-aged woman standing at the back just glanced coldly, then, seeing that the scholar had finished talking with the Chan Monk, she moved her full hips and walked over. She also took out a token and handed it to the standing Chan Monk. At the same time, a pleasant female voice reached the ears of Li Yan, who had just landed.
"Chan Master, please take a look. This is my token!"
The Chan Monk smiled and took the token from the woman. After examining it carefully, he said, "Amitabha. This is an ordinary Copper Star Netherworld Order. There is no problem with entry, but it still requires ten thousand Spirit Stones."
Hearing the Chan Monk's words, a hesitant and deeply troubled look appeared on the woman's face. Others might not know how she got this Netherworld Order, but she had spent a great sum to acquire it. For this token, she had practically given her all. Although she had some Spirit Stones left, it wasn't much, and she still needed them for many other things.
She hesitated for a moment, then bit her red lip and bowed slightly to the Chan Monk. "Chan Master, could the Spirit Stones... could they be reduced a little?" Towards the end of her sentence, a look of shame appeared on her face. Of course, she had already inquired about the rules here before coming, but now that the time had come, she still wanted to try her luck.
The Chan Master who was speaking with her still had a smile on his face after hearing her words, but he gently shook his head. "Patron, this is the rule of our sect. I am just a humble Attendant Monk. The four people before you held Silver Star tokens, and they paid the required five thousand Spirit Stones without a single one missing. This is truly beyond my authority. If anyone has the power, it would be the two Martial Uncles behind me. You can ask them later. That's all, your token is fine. you may pass!" the Chan Monk said in a gentle and humble tone.
Li Yan had been observing ever since he landed. Although two rows of monks were sitting in front, it was clear that only one would come out to inspect the Netherworld Order. Only after his inspection was confirmed would he allow passage to the pagoda base entrance, where the token would be handed over. At first, Li Yan only saw the two women take out a storage bag in addition to their tokens and didn't know why. Now, of course, he understood.
'I didn't expect it would cost so many Spirit Stones to enter here. Ten thousand Spirit Stones is a massive fortune for an ordinary cultivator.' But then, on second thought, Li Yan felt it was reasonable. The Four Great Forbidden Zones, besides requiring specific conditions for entry, like needing a "Netherworld Order" to enter the "Northern Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda," allowed anyone, regardless of how they obtained their token, to leave with whatever heavenly materials and earthly treasures they found inside. Although they risked their lives for it, the resources were provided by the Jingtu Sect. No sect would be so generous.
Also, Li Yan had seen from the air that the tokens held by the two women seemed to be the same as his own, and the woman's token was also similar. But from what the Chan Master said, it seemed there were differences.
Li Yan's Divine Sense stirred, and the "Netherworld Order" appeared in his hand. After examining it carefully again, he finally noticed a very small star-shaped mark on the back of the Netherworld Order. This was the first time he had owned one. Even though he had looked at it many times before, he wouldn't have paid it any mind, as he didn't have a second Netherworld Order to compare it with.
After hearing the monk, the woman had no choice but to bow slightly, take back her token, and walk towards the entrance of the "Northern Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda." The Chan Monk then smiled and looked at the remaining Li Yan. Li Yan, of course, did not hesitate any longer. He walked straight up to the Chan Monk, gave a slight nod, and without waiting for the monk to speak, handed over his Netherworld Order.
The Chan Monk took Li Yan's Netherworld Order and glanced at the front and back. A look of surprise appeared on his face. "Patron, the token is correct. You may enter!" Hearing his words, Li Yan's heart stirred, but his expression remained unchanged. The monk hadn't mentioned anything about paying Spirit Stones.
'Could it be that the Huchen Family's token is of a high grade? Does it not require paying Spirit Stones? I saw earlier that the star on the back had a hint of a golden edge. He said the woman's was a Copper Star. Could it be that the grades are divided by gold, silver, and copper?' Li Yan thought to himself, but he simply smiled, took back the token, and followed the path of the others towards the archway at the base of the tower.
When Li Yan walked over, only the woman was left at the entrance of the tower; the two earlier groups had already disappeared. Just as Li Yan approached the tower entrance, he saw the woman, with a cold expression, hand over a storage bag along with the token in her hand. Li Yan's Netherworld Order was inspected very quickly; the Chan Monk simply confirmed it and let him pass. And since Li Yan had been facing the tower entrance the whole time, he saw the woman's actions clearly. The woman did not ask again to have the fee lowered. After reaching the entrance, she had only hesitated for a moment before taking out the storage bag and token.
'This woman is quite tactful, not asking again to lower the Spirit Stone fee. She must be a woman of strong character. Pleading once was already a loss of face for her. How could the rules of a major sect be broken? Otherwise, if everyone who got a Netherworld Order claimed to have difficulties and the Jingtu Sect let them in so easily, wouldn't that be true salvation for all beings?' Li Yan only glanced at her and guessed most of it correctly.
After the woman handed over the Spirit Stones and the token, she received a Jade Slip back from the monk. The Buddha whispered a few words to her, and the woman bowed in thanks. Without any further delay, she entered the tower entrance and disappeared.
Li Yan walked up a few steps and directly handed his Netherworld Order to the thin Buddha sitting cross-legged on the right, not the Buddha who had spoken with the others. Li Yan had no other intention; it was just more convenient for his right hand. The thin Buddha stretched out his dry, dark fingers, took the token, and then looked up at Li Yan, speaking for the first time. His voice was like the clash of metal and stone, causing one's eardrums to ring.
"Amitabha. A Gold Star Netherworld Order. You are from the Huchen Family? You've come several months late this year!"
Li Yan's mind reeled. He hurriedly took a breath to calm himself, inwardly horrified. 'This man has such a gaunt figure, yet his magic power follows a fierce and powerful path. It's unfathomably deep, truly impressive. Just his voice is enough to shake one's spirit.' But he quickly bowed and replied, "Senior's eyes are like torches. This junior is indeed a disciple of the Huchen Family. This time, due to the selection of the family's successor, some matters were arranged later."
Although Li Yan was surprised that this person could see the origin of his Netherworld Order at a glance, he dared not ask further. But he already knew that his token was indeed as he had guessed. It seemed that for the sake of long-term trade with the Huchen Family, the Jingtu Sect had given them a very high-grade token. He wondered if there were any other grades above the Gold Star Netherworld Order. There was just one thing Li Yan couldn't figure out. A sect would certainly not issue many such tokens, but it was impossible that only the Huchen Family had one. Yet this Buddha before him had recognized its origin at a glance.
'They must have made other marks in places unknown to outsiders, especially for these higher-grade tokens, to keep track of their whereabouts at all times!' Li Yan continued to think.
After Li Yan answered, the thin Buddha surprisingly did not ask him to show a token of faith from the Huchen Family. Instead, he put away the Netherworld Order and said to Li Yan, "Oh, I have heard something about this matter. I heard that the next generation's successor is called Huchen Wanli. A formidable junior indeed."
Hearing this, how could Li Yan not understand why the other party didn't ask him to show a token of faith? If he had snatched the Netherworld Order from someone from the Huchen Family, it wouldn't be a problem to get a token of faith from them as well, which he could naturally produce. It was just that the Huchen Family was very reclusive, and not much news about them spread to the outside world.
"Senior may have remembered incorrectly. It is Young Master Huchen Wuding!" Li Yan answered humbly.
"Oh, I have not heard of this person. Hmm, this is a map of the first three floors of the tower and some points of caution. However, with your cultivation, you cannot go to the third floor. Going there is basically suicide, so you must know what is best for you. The Jade Slip can only be viewed once and will self-destruct, so the first thing you do after entering is to look at the Jade Slip. Do not wander around. You need to firmly memorize the contents of the Jade Slip. How much you can remember is up to you. Even if you can re-inscribe a copy from memory, that is your own business." As he spoke, he turned his palm over, and a Jade Slip identical to the one he had given the woman appeared in his hand. It then floated towards Li Yan.
Li Yan snatched the Jade Slip. He knew that they would give out a map in a Jade Slip, but this was the first time he had heard that it could only be used once. This made him hesitate whether to read it here and understand the situation before entering.
At this moment, the thin Buddha's voice rang out again. "Alright, you may enter. I believe your family has already explained the situation inside the tower to you before you came. I will not say more. After you enter, life and death are up to fate. What you gain is your fortune, and what you may lose is your life. Amitabha, may this little patron have a smooth journey!"