Chapter 2485: Debate at Huashan

This was a vast and boundless world, stretching endlessly in all directions.

Gazing into the distance, one could see towering mountain ranges, with one peak standing out as the most majestic and imposing, like a titan among mountains. It was enveloped in an ethereal aura, shrouded in mist, and brimming with vibrant life force.

Listening carefully, one could hear the heavenly sounds of the Great Dao echoing through it, spreading far and wide. Wherever the sounds reached, every flower, blade of grass, tree, and shrub gained a touch of spiritual energy.

That peak was Huashan, located in the Sanxian Realm.

Legend had it that a great emperor had once achieved enlightenment here, leaving behind remnants of Dao essence that fused with the mountain itself. Through endless cycles of change, it wove together a sacred scripture. Every hundred years, the sounds of the Great Dao would resound, transforming the bodies of mortals who heard them, granting them longevity; for immortals, it brought minor opportunities or major fortunes, leading countless cultivators to undergo nirvana and rebirth through these sounds.

Because of this, Huashan earned its fame throughout the heavens, earning the title of the world's Dao mountain. Whenever the heavenly sounds appeared, it drew experts from all corners, giving rise to the event known as Huashan Lun Dao.

However, Huashan's space was limited, and not everyone qualified to enter.

To address this, the Yu Di of the upper realms and the great powers of the lower realms established a rule: only those with an invitation could enter the mountain for enlightenment. Those without one had to listen from outside.

This was the law: the strong ruled supreme.

That day, before dawn broke, figures began arriving from all directions, from the four seas and eight wastelands. Some came from the Sanxian Realm, others from the Shangxian Realm; there were human cultivators, demon cultivators, and demon cultivators alike.

Yet, no matter who they were—regardless of their profound cultivation or esteemed status in the heavens—once they arrived here, they all had to behave properly. Even the Yu Di of the heavens or the great demons of the lower realms followed this, and no one dared cause trouble, lest they be branded enemies of the heavens.

"I've waited over eight hundred years and finally seized this chance."

"I gave up everything I had for one invitation—heck, I was this close to selling my wife."

"This heaven-defying fortune—I have to contemplate it deeply."

Hordes of people flocked in, all holders of invitations. It was not just a pass; it was a symbol of status. The heavens were immense, and people were countless, but only a select few could enter. Obtaining an invitation was the ultimate honor.

"What do we do? I want to get in too."

"Forget it. You've got no cultivation and no background. Just watch from here."

"While others feast on meat, we can't even get a sip of the soup."

Around Huashan, the surrounding peaks and hills were packed with people. The closer to Huashan, the denser the crowd; every mountain was teeming with figures.

These were minor immortals and demons, a complete mix. Without invitations, they could only stare longingly from outside, quietly listening to the heavenly sounds of the Great Dao. Seeing others enter Huashan filled them with envy.

As they spoke, a figure landed on a hilltop—it was Ye Chen.

From there, Huashan looked truly grand and awe-inspiring. The profound heavenly sounds seemed to hold an supreme power, stirring the Dao principles. Just listening to them evoked waves of Dao essence.

"Indeed extraordinary," Ye Chen said with a smile.

As he observed, more and more people arrived. Those with invitations walked with an air of arrogance—after all, they had the invitations! That glory shone brighter than the sun.

"Hey, little stone spirit, want an invitation?" While he was watching, a sleazy old man sidled up and poked Ye Chen. You couldn't miss his words, or you'd see his mouthful of yellowed teeth, his breath reeking like an old latrine.

Ye Chen focused on Huashan and ignored him.

"Look at you, underestimating this old Daoist, huh?" The sleazy old man chuckled, pulling an invitation from his sleeve and saying mysteriously,

"This one's real."

Ye Chen didn't even glance at it and headed down the hill. If you had a real invitation, why are you still hanging around? Do you think I'm a three-year-old kid? When it comes to swindling, I could outdo you by miles.

"These days, even stones are this hard to fool." The old Daoist sighed in disappointment.

As he was about to leave, he saw Ye Chen enter Huashan and froze.

Not just him—the surrounding minor demons froze too. Entering Huashan meant having an invitation, and here was a small stone spirit in the Lingxu Realm with one.

People who didn't understand exchanged glances, then collectively turned to the old Daoist. Could this guy's invitations actually pass as real?

In an instant, the old Daoist was surrounded. He hadn't sold a single fake invitation all day, but today, they sold out. Latecomers who missed out grumbled complaints.

And so, a crowd of minor demons clutched their invitations and headed over.

But they soon returned, flipped over by the force—Huashan had restrictions; without a real invitation, no one could enter.

Once again, the old Daoist was surrounded, but this time for a beating.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen, now inside Huashan, stood on the stone steps. Looking up, he saw a towering gate of light. Those with invitations had to pass through it to reach the Huashan Lun Dao.

"Surely I didn't see wrong? Lingxu Realm?"

"How did this little stone spirit get an invitation?"

"It must be stolen."

Ye Chen's presence drew countless stares. He was like a monkey in their midst; everyone who passed by sized him up. Who here wasn't a prominent figure in the heavens? Their cultivations were all at least Zhundi level, or at the very least, saints, even with realm suppressions. But this one was just in the Lingxu Realm—and a stone spirit at that.

Ye Chen paid them no mind, steadily climbing the steps while quietly listening to the Dao sounds. They were truly profound; in the haze, he could sense another power: emperor essence.

That was right—Huashan harbored emperor essence, undoubtedly from a Dao ancestor. The mountain's ability to nurture Dao scriptures and produce heavenly sounds was inseparable from this essence.

As he walked, he suddenly felt a surge of domineering energy.

Thumping sounds echoed nonstop behind him as someone approached—it wasn't a human cultivator, but a humanoid ox with massive horns, a robust build, and an overwhelmingly powerful bloodline. Everyone along the path seemed to recognize it and quickly made way.

Ye Chen was deep in enlightenment when he was abruptly shoved aside, nearly blinded by the ox's overwhelming presence. It strutted along like a lightning bolt, full of swagger!

After walking far, it glanced back subconsciously, giving Ye Chen a strange look, confirming it hadn't been mistaken—a stone spirit in the Lingxu Realm.

Watching it, Ye Chen couldn't help but think of the Kui Niu. Whenever he saw an ox, he felt an inexplicable itch to act.

"Niu Mo Wang, as domineering as ever!"

"The great demon of the Sanxian Realm, at the peak Zhundi level— even Yu Di shows him some respect."

"Why isn't his Iron Fan Princess with him this time?"

Passersby whispered among themselves, not daring to speak loudly for fear that the Niu Mo Wang ahead might turn back and thrash them. That ox was fiercely violent and could flatten a crowd with one swipe.

More people rushed up, as if hurrying to be reborn.

It was all because Huashan Lun Dao had a time limit, and invitations were incredibly hard to obtain—the opportunity too precious to waste. So, everyone on the steps was running faster than rabbits.

Ye Chen, however, took his time, strolling leisurely and glancing around. The roadside was planted with rare spiritual flowers and exotic grasses, all protected by restrictions and filled with Dao essence-laden spiritual energy.

Once the figures behind him thinned out, he continued up at a relaxed pace.

At the end of the steps, before the gate of light, guards checked the invitations—basically, ticket inspection. Seeing Ye Chen, the two old Daoists couldn't help but raise their eyebrows.

Ye Chen remained expressionless as he produced his invitation.

The two old Daoists huddled together, examining it from every angle to verify its authenticity. Once confirmed as real, their gazes at Ye Chen grew even stranger. What kind of world was this, where even a Lingxu Realm cultivator could get an invitation? No special bloodline, no high cultivation, no powerful background—where did it come from?

"May I go in now?" Ye Chen asked with a smile.

"Of course you may." The two old Daoists stepped aside, standing like door guardians.

Ye Chen stepped forward and entered. I've been low-key enough on this journey—if you dare stop me, I'll tear down your mountain gate.