Chapter 1450: Great Fluctuations

At night, the moonlight shone brightly, casting a layer of holy light over the peaceful and harmonious land of Zhongzhou.

However, the deep silence of all things was shattered by a deafening boom that shook the heavens and earth.

People from all directions were startled. Whether they were cultivators in deep sleep or ancient elders in secluded meditation, they were all awakened in that instant. Each one ascended to the skies and gazed into the distance, toward the Honglian Yihai where the ancient ruins were located.

There, divine lights burst forth in every direction, with a massive pillar of light piercing straight into the heavens, tearing a huge hole in the sky. This was followed by a wave of radiance that swept across the Honglian Yihai, stirring up waves hundreds of meters high.

"The ancient ruins have undergone a major change, causing such a tremendous disturbance." Many ancient figures were already on the move, flying in from all sides. "The entire Zhongzhou land is shaking—this matter is surely no simple affair."

"My child, I hope nothing has happened to you." Too many sect saints set out personally, offering silent prayers in their hearts. Their divine heirs had all gone to the ruins in search of opportunities, and they might end up perishing there.

The once quiet night turned chaotic, with figures converging on the Honglian Yihai from every direction. It wasn't just Zhongzhou—people from Donghuang, Ximo, Nanyu, and Beiyue were also alarmed.

Across the heavens, streaks of divine rainbows blazed brightly, each one carrying a person. Their numbers were impossible to count, and the lineup of experts was unprecedentedly powerful, with no fewer than a hundred Zhundi-level figures alone.

When they arrived, they were met with the chaotic scene at the Honglian Yihai. Groups of people were fleeing, all bearing wounds, looking utterly disheveled, and with pale faces.

"What's going on?" The newcomers rushed forward to assist, staring in confusion at those escaping. Weren't they supposed to be inside searching for treasures and opportunities? Why did they look like they had just returned from a brutal battlefield?

"Don't ask—the entire ruins are full of evil spirits." Someone replied hastily before turning and fleeing at top speed. Among them were even Zhundi experts, all terrified from their experiences in the ruins.

"Evil spirits?" Watching the endless stream of escaping figures, the cultivators from all sides exchanged bewildered glances.

"The ancient ruins have collapsed!" Someone shouted suddenly, and everyone turned to look.

Indeed, the ruins were crumbling inch by inch, turning to ash and sinking into the Honglian Yihai.

Even from a great distance, they could hear the wails and howls of fierce ghosts, faintly seeing evil spirits formed from malicious and resentful thoughts roaring in fury, their voices filled with hatred that made one's blood run cold.

The cultivators from all directions frowned deeply. The events of this day were utterly shocking—the ancient ruins were filled with evil spirits, and the world had been kept in the dark all along. Clearly, this was no ordinary site but a massive tomb.

Now that the ancient ruins had collapsed, the evil spirits were buried in the Honglian Yihai, and the ruins themselves were gone forever. The so-called legends had vanished into the immortal tears of the Nüwa Emperor.

But everyone knew that the ancient ruins were far from as simple as the rumors suggested. Filled with evil spirits, it was obviously a tomb—an extremely ancient one at that.

Some wiser individuals had already linked this tomb to the primordial gods of the Honghuang era. Perhaps, thousands of years ago, the Honglian Nüwa Emperor had burned the gods of the eight desolate regions here, leaving it to persist into the present age.

The cultivators from all sides withdrew their gazes and took to the skies, searching for their juniors and elders.

Many had escaped from the ruins, but they numbered less than one in ten. Over ninety percent had perished inside, either in battles over treasures or devoured by the evil spirits.

Jiuxiao Zhenren's divine eyes were sharp, and he quickly located Xiao Jiuxian. With a wave of his hand, he drew her to him and, without a word, carried her away from the Honglian Yihai, vanishing in an instant.

"Grandfather, Ye Chen is still alive." Xiao Jiuxian swallowed a pill, her eyes sparkling with a big smile.

"Grandfather already knew that." Jiuxiao Zhenren smiled and gently raised his hand, channeling his vital essence into her. "Set that aside for now. Tell me, why were there so many evil spirits in the ruins?"

"Grandfather, if you already knew, why didn't you tell me?" Xiao Jiuxian pouted slightly, but still condensed all the events into a strand of divine sense and transmitted it to Jiuxiao Zhenren.

As Jiuxiao Zhenren read it, his aged eyes furrowed with surprise, emotion, shock, and doubt. After pondering, he took Xiao Jiuxian's hand and stepped out of the Honglian Yihai in a single stride.

Following him was an elder in purple robes, a Zhundi, who took Zhonghuang away from the crowd.

Right after, two elders—one in black and one in white—acted in quick succession, each carrying away Nandi and Beisheng. An old monk in a dazzling kasaya also appeared, taking Xizun away from the Honglian Yihai.

It was clear that whether it was the Jiuxian of the imperial clan, or Nandi, Beisheng, and Xizun, they all glanced back at the ancient ruins before leaving, their eyes filled with lingering fear.

Even now, the memory sent shivers down their spines. The ruins were teeming with evil spirits, countless in number and incredibly powerful. If not for their deep foundations, they would have likely met their end there.

After they left, representatives from the ancient nine clans arrived, precisely locating their own descendants.

The divine heirs and divine maidens of the ancient nine clans had survived, but barely, each clinging to half a life. Their elders quickly brought them to safety, their faces ashen from their brush with death.

"What rotten luck we've had for eight lifetimes." The Wuzu divine heir cursed loudly, spitting up blood. "I had to stumble into this once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. Didn't find any treasures, and nearly lost my life in there."

"My son, if I'm not mistaken, the weapon in your hand is the Houyi God Arrow, isn't it?" The Wuzu great god channeled vital essence into the Wuzu divine heir, his eyes fixed on the war spear he held.

"It has to be the Houyi God Arrow." The Wuzu divine heir grinned and condensed all the events into a divine sense, transmitting it to the Wuzu great god, who was stunned, his eyes bursting with brilliant divine light.

"The Balong Saber?" On another side, the Longzu Dragon Emperor was equally astonished, staring at the golden broken saber in the Longzu divine heir's hand—it was an artifact of their clan's ancestors, lost for countless ages.

"Though it was dangerous, it wasn't for nothing." The Longzu divine heir tore off his bloodstained robes and couldn't resist wiping the Balong broken saber. "This dragon saber handles like a dream."

"We barely escaped with our lives." The Manzu divine heir, Guzu divine maiden, and Lingzu divine maiden were all with their elders, using divine sense transmission to recount the strange events in the ruins.

"What? The Holy Body is still alive." Compared to them, the Shenzu divine heir and Yaozu side were in an uproar. Several divine heirs ignored their injuries and roared like madmen, while their elders' faces turned ice-cold, radiating killing intent.

"The Holy Body is still alive?" The Honglian Yihai erupted in an uproar. "This news is shocking—three years ago outside Donghuang Ancient City, wasn't Ye Chen already destroyed by the four directions?"

"Clearly, Ye Chen deceived everyone, hiding the truth." Someone sighed in amazement.

"This old one calculates that the ruins must have been quite lively earlier." Many ancient figures stroked their beards meaningfully, speaking with gravity.

"Since Ye Chen hasn't been seen coming out, he's probably buried in the ruins." Numerous great powers activated their heavenly eyes, scanning those who escaped, but found no sign of Ye Chen.

"Despicable." On one side of the Yihai, the Xianzu Zhundi snorted coldly, continuously channeling vital essence to heal the Xianzu divine heir, his old eyes filled with chilling killing intent. "Ye Chen, you have quite the nerve."

"Perishing in the ruins is too lenient for him." Another Xianzu Zhundi added coldly.

Listening to their elders' cold words, the Xianzu divine heir wore a fierce expression but said nothing. He knew Ye Chen was still alive, especially with the Six Paths Immortal Eyes—he wouldn't die so easily.

He didn't reveal that Ye Chen was alive, nor did he mention the Six Paths Immortal Eyes.

He had his own plans. The Six Paths Immortal Eyes were a heaven-defying treasure, and if his elders found out, he wouldn't get a share. To claim them for himself, he had to keep the secret.

The vast Honglian Yihai grew emptier as more people took to the skies and left.

Still, many shadows lingered, searching for their descendants, their faces dark with worry. For instance, Tianfa Shengdi, Yuhua Shenchao, and Cangling Dian had yet to find theirs.

The three clans' divine heirs hadn't been devoured by evil spirits—they had been slain by Ye Chen. Though no one knew it, it wasn't hard to guess. Since Ye Chen was in the ruins, how could he not settle old scores?

Besides them, Yaochi Shengdi was there too. The Yaochi Xianmu arrived but didn't see her divine maiden.

"Xianmu, the divine maiden..." The Yaochi great saints frowned and looked at Yaochi Xianmu.

"The primordial spirit jade token hasn't shattered, so she should be fine." Yaochi Xianmu smiled lightly and slowly turned, stepping out of the Honglian Yihai. "Let's return first and search for her gradually."