After a moment of joyful aerial ballet, the pair of Phoenixes dipped low, seemingly about to descend to the ground, causing everyone to realize, with deep regret, that in their absorption with the Dragon-Phoenix confrontation, they had neglected the chance to rush into the Wuji Daozang citadel.

Just as the Phoenixes hovered level with the city ramparts, another surprise unfolded. A dragon's roar split the heavens. Everyone looked up in astonishment to see the Azure Dragon, which had appeared to retreat, winding its way back into the sky.

This time, the Azure Dragon radiated a faint, ethereal glow. With a divine manifestation in the air, it sped toward the place where the golden light shot into the sky.

The two Phoenixes, seeing the Azure Dragon’s determined return, let out sharp, urgent cries of "Qiang! Qiang!" and took flight once more, soaring into the clouds to intercept the Dragon directly before it.

The Azure Dragon did not opt for a head-on assault this time; it seemed better prepared. Opening its maw, it unleashed a torrent of blue water arrows aimed directly at the two Phoenixes. Caught completely off guard, the Phoenixes were struck hard by the dragon’s spray and flung far away, tumbling like lost kites, reeling several times in the air before managing to stabilize without crashing. The Azure Dragon shook its head and tail, letting out a triumphant roar, and seized the moment, whipping up a strong wind as it bolted toward the location of the shimmering gold light. The two Phoenixes responded with high-pitched cries, swallowing their pride to pursue, gripping the Dragon's tail.

At that moment, Scholar Jia suddenly shouted to the crowd, still mesmerized by the aerial battle: "Stop watching! Let's chase after it; perhaps that place radiating golden light is where what we seek resides."

Everyone snapped back to reality and rushed forward rapidly through the passages within the city.

Meanwhile, the Dragon and Phoenix in the sky neared the source of the golden radiance. The twin Phoenixes began emitting sounds like lamentations. The group, winding and turning along the path paved with rainbow crystals, also approached the golden light's origin. Before them materialized a small palace constructed of purple crystal, fronted by a square of about a hundred square meters. In the center of the plaza, atop a black dais, stood an incredibly lifelike statue of a person carved from white crystal. The golden light surging toward the sky pulsed out in waves, like ripples, from within this modest crystal palace. Just as the group reached the plaza before the palace, a fierce gust of wind descended from above. Looking up, they saw the Azure Dragon plunging downward, its head first, carrying a rank, fishy scent, its jaws wide open as if to swallow them all whole. Even more astonishingly, the twin Phoenixes following the Dragon’s tail began to blaze with roaring flames during their swift descent—whether from friction with the air or some other cause, their entire bodies were engulfed.

Just then, Scholar Jia's frantic shout cut through the air: "Everyone, rush into the palace!" The group scrambled forward desperately. The instant they burst inside, Young Master Liu glanced back. The Phoenixes, tailing the Dragon, unleashed two jets of crimson fire from their beaks just as the Dragon was about to land, striking the Dragon’s tail. The Dragon’s body writhed violently, as if caught in a tidal surge, letting out a piercing shriek before it spun around and violently sprayed a torrent of blue water at the two Phoenixes closing in on its tail.

The two Phoenixes seemed prepared for this counterattack. The moment the Dragon recoiled in pain, they unleashed their flames again, meeting the Dragon’s blue water head-on. A deafening explosion followed as the water and fire collided, creating a billowing mass of steam resembling an atomic mushroom cloud.

For a moment, the group felt the earth shake beneath them as the entire palace trembled.

As the steam cleared, the people stood inside the palace entrance, hearts pounding, looking out to see both the Azure Dragon and the twin Phoenixes fallen to the ground, apparently injured. The Azure Dragon’s horns were shattered into pieces scattered on the earth; its head rested on the ground, its eyes opening and closing slowly, its mouth clamped shut. The scales on its body had lost their luster, suggesting it was near death. The two Phoenixes lay huddled together on the ground, leaning on each other, struggling to rise. But the singed, ruined feathers and the dimness in their eyes revealed that these magnificent Kings of Birds were also running on empty.

For a moment, the group wasn't sure whether to feel joy or melancholy. Joy, because the mutual crippling of the Dragon and Phoenix would greatly ease their task. Melancholy, because these legendary divine beings, the Dragon and the Phoenix, could be wounded and were not immortal after all.

Scholar Jia let out a low sigh. "The struggle between the Dragon and Phoenix has left both crippled. Stop looking; our main business is at hand."

Young Master Liu quickly added, "Right, let’s first see what that golden light is!"

Young Master Liu’s reminder jolted everyone back to the objective, and they swiftly turned to locate the source of the shimmering gold.

At that moment, the golden radiance within the hall, combined with the purple glow emanating from the crystal palace itself, was so bright that the group could barely keep their eyes open. After a brief period of adjustment, they managed to peer through narrowed lids and take in the scene inside the hall.

Apart from a low, white stone platform about half a person's height directly opposite the main door, the hall was utterly bare, devoid of any other objects or ornamentation. The intense golden light was radiating from inside this white platform.

Curiously, they approached the white platform. The closer they got, the more the intense golden light stung their eyes, making it impossible to look directly. Finally, enduring the glare, they stood before the platform and realized it was not a platform at all, but a hollow, white casket containing a single, perfectly spherical golden orb. This orb seemed to pulse rhythmically, contracting and expanding like a living heart. With each contraction, waves of golden light expanded outward in circles from the sphere, a truly miraculous sight.

"What is this thing? It looks alive! Could it be some kind of freak?" asked Fan Debiao, his voice tinged with fear.

Scholar Jia shook his head, examined the sphere closely, and stated, "I believe there are two possibilities for what this orb is. One: it is the Phoenix’s embryo, which is why the Phoenixes fought so fiercely to stop the Azure Dragon from harming it. Two: this object is the Azure Dragon’s Dragon Core. You should recall that when we first saw the Dragon, it was encased in a layer of light within the blue lake. Whoever imprisoned it might have taken its inner core and placed it here. That would explain why the Azure Dragon lacked its great power and couldn't break through the confinement of the seven-colored light."

Young Master Liu questioned, "Then why did the Azure Dragon suddenly manage to break free?"

Scholar Jia pondered. "The Azure Dragon might have been imprisoned for countless years, perhaps since the Wuji Daozang was built. Over these millennia, it might have re-formed a smaller core by absorbing the essence of heaven and earth. Or perhaps the confinement had a thousand-year time limit, and today was the day it expired. In any case, I believe this object is connected to either the Phoenixes or the Azure Dragon."

Everyone nodded; Scholar Jia's speculation held merit, but what use was this object to them? They felt a degree of confusion.

Young Master Liu pondered for a moment, then said, "What this object is seems less important now. We have reached the Wuji Daozang; what should be our next step?"

His question cast a momentary silence over the group.

Suddenly, Cai Qingchong pulled out the detector left behind by the American from her backpack, began pressing its buttons, and walked around the hall. The red light on her detector, initially blinking with a steady rhythm, suddenly began flashing rapidly and irregularly. Cai Qingchong looked up sharply, her face alight with excitement, and addressed everyone: "The detector is showing a strong reaction! That thing should be inside this Celestial Palace, within five to ten meters."

Excitement flared through the group. Since entering the underground, their journey had been fraught with extreme peril and constant mystery. Now, they finally seemed to be approaching the final revelation. They quickly gathered around as Cai Qingchong stopped before the white casket containing the orb. She stared at the detector, then at the sphere in the box, her expression shifting strangely as she looked at the assembled crowd. "Could the thing we’re looking for be this orb?"

Everyone froze. Cai Qingchong's mouth twitched slightly, a mixture of excitement and bewilderment, and she added, "The detector’s red light is now solid, which means this thing is right under our noses."

Before anyone could react, Scholar Jia suddenly cried out: "Impossible! There is still another passage, and the 'Ninety-Nine Heavens'!"

His shout stunned everyone into silence within the hall.

After about ten seconds, Young Master Liu finally spoke, "Senior Jia, there are many unknowns in this world. We don't necessarily have to pursue absolute truth. Don't you agree?"

Scholar Jia looked at Young Master Liu, his expression strangely uncomprehending. Young Master Liu felt as if Jia suddenly didn't recognize him, as if he were looking at a stranger.