Chapter 974: Entering the Mountains Again

Chapter 974: Reentering the Shiwan Dashan

The dawn of the new era bathed the entire Da Chu in light, inspiring beautiful aspirations while also bringing unknown anxieties.

Although Da Chu had been unified, matters were far from settled. The integration and division of new forces, along with the establishment of the new dynasty, kept the Tian Ting bustling with activity day after day.

Various forces from South Chu relocated to North Chu, returning to their ancestral lands to rebuild their homes, yet they remained under the Tian Ting's command. From this day forward, the distinction between South Chu and North Chu ceased to exist on this land.

That night, Ye Chen stood at the summit of the highest mountain in Da Chu, gazing down at the vast expanse below.

In a daze, he seemed to see numerous figures fading into the distant mist within his sight—Wu Changqing, Cheng Kun, Tongxuan Zhenren, Yin Zhiping, Ge Hong, Qingyang Zhenren, Lingzhen Shangren, and Shixue Yanluo.

All of them had been his enemies along the way, and it was by stepping over them that he had climbed step by step to this peak.

At Ye Chen's side were the descendants of the emperors, along with many veteran cultivators, all quietly observing the boundless world.

Da Chu was unified!

Da Chu Huang Yan smiled softly, breaking the silence, her beautiful eyes filled with a hint of distraction and shimmering tears.

Yes, it was unified!

Qian Shang Yue smiled wearily, and the other emperor descendants looked equally exhausted.

In the past, they had once stood on this very summit, behind their emperors, overlooking the world. Time had flowed on like the changing tides, transforming mountains and seas, with those glorious years feeling as if they were just yesterday.

Finally, they could rest properly!

Mo Yuan plopped down on the ground and took the wine flask that Da Chu Huang Xuan handed him.

Their faces were etched with weariness and the marks of time.

As they drank, they spilled wine onto the earth.

This land buried too many heroic souls and ancient bones, many of whom had been their former comrades. They had died long ago, and the group had lost track of how many years and changes had passed.

Yet, the land remained the same, but the people of the past were gone forever.

Let's go!

After one last look at the vast world, Ye Chen was the first to turn away.

The emperor descendants followed suit.

That night, they headed for the Shiwan Dashan, each with their own purposes. Nanming Yushu sought to recover the soul that had been taken from her in the past, while the other emperor descendants went to search for traces of their emperors.

As for Ye Chen, he too had a specific goal this time.

After the great battle, he and Dan Chen had thoroughly searched Shixue Yanluo's storage bag but found no sign of the other half of the Tianji Dan. Without it, he had no choice but to enter the Shiwan Dashan in search of a Qilin Jiao, hoping to gather enough materials to refine the Tianji Dan.

In the dead of night, a vast stretch of continuous mountain ranges appeared at the horizon's edge, entirely shrouded in gray mist that obscured the view within. Yet, eerie sounds like the wails of malevolent ghosts echoed in their ears.

Ye Chen sent a voice transmission to the group as he gazed at the Shiwan Dashan."Once we're inside, don't wander off."

The usually quiet Nanming Yushu spoke softly."It's a place of great danger."

The emperor descendants all took a deep breath."Understood."The notorious reputation of the Shiwan Dashan was on par with Da Chu's five forbidden areas, and their emperors had warned them about it when they were alive.

Taixu Gulong was the first to halt, speaking calmly."Stop."

In the distance, the group spotted a graceful figure in the darkness, dreamlike and ethereal, enveloped in a purple divine glow. Her hair flowed like rippling waves, swaying without any wind, like a fairy from Bibo.

She stood just outside the Shiwan Dashan, silently watching the mountains, as still as an ice sculpture.

Taixu Gulong murmured."Nüdi Yue Shang."

Ye Chen also murmured, recognizing her even from just her back."Zi Xuan."

The emperor descendants whispered, their eyes filled with deep wariness."What a concealed aura."

Ye Chen stepped forward, glanced at the Shiwan Dashan, then turned to Zi Xuan."Are you going in too?"Looking at her now, he still felt a sense of unreality. In the past, when he was just a minor cultivator, she had helped him immensely, saving him from peril more than once. Her true identity had shocked him.

Zi Xuan replied lightly, her voice as melodious as celestial music."I'm searching for what I seek."

Ye Chen took a deep breath and stepped in first, activating his Liudao Xianlun Eye."Let's go together!"

Taixu Gulong followed, his gaze lingering on Zi Xuan for a moment, revealing his own wariness.

The two were of a similar kind—he was a remnant soul of Taixu Longdi, and she was a remnant soul of Donghua Nüdi, both intricately linked to former great emperors, perhaps even sharing the same mindset.

The group entered one after another.

Instantly, the scene before them changed.

Gray mist blurred everything, making the path ahead unclear, and even Taixu Gulong and Zi Xuan furrowed their brows subconsciously.

Buzz! Buzz!

Two beams of divine light flew from Ye Chen's forehead, transforming into the Jiuzhou Shentu and the Xueling Shendao—these were two Tianjing artifacts that could protect them in times of danger.

Behind him, Zhou Tianyi summoned the Donghuang Zhong, Nanming Yushu called forth the Yuan Hong Shensword, Da Chu Huang Yan brought out the Tai'a Shensword, Xiao Chen wielded the Zhan Wang Ji, and Long Teng activated his Baota.

Nine Tianjing artifacts in total, each carrying the principles of Tianjing cultivators, intertwined to form a protective barrier.

Ye Chen scanned their surroundings and started walking.Let's move.

This entry was through the same entrance as before, but the scene was entirely different.

Ye Chen had anticipated this.

The Shiwan Dashan was an ancient battlefield, where the deathly auras of powerful beings created severe spatial distortions, making strange occurrences commonplace.

One thing remained constant, though: even with his cultivation at the peak of Zhun Tian, Ye Chen felt immense oppression here.

Taixu Gulong stroked his chin as he walked."It's truly an ancient battlefield."

He saw countless bones half-buried in the sand, and in many places, strange and weathered weapons were stuck at angles, remnants of ancient powerhouses who had fallen in battle.

Besides that, the ground was marked with massive handprints, and the rock walls bore scars from blades and swords.

Ye Chen led the way, his Xianlun Eye scanning every direction without a moment's negligence.

The Shiwan Dashan was as eerie as ever, with chaotic spaces in various areas. He occasionally glimpsed illusory soul figures flickering in and out—strange beasts or people, most wearing expressions of confusion, while others roared skyward with grotesque faces.

Dangers lurked everywhere!

Ye Chen took a deep breath and changed direction, as a blood pool lay ahead, radiating powerful killing intent. Approaching rashly could reduce them to ashes with just a wisp of that energy.

Zi Xuan spoke for the first time, not to Ye Chen and the others, but to Taixu Gulong."Have you noticed?"

Taixu Gulong stared intently into the depths of the Shiwan Dashan."The Jidao Dbing."

Long Teng and Xiao Chen were stunned, unsure what Taixu Gulong and Zi Xuan meant, and even less about what this Jidao Dbing was."The Jidao Dbing?"

They might not understand, but Ye Chen did. The so-called Jidao Dbing referred to imperial artifacts personally refined by great emperors, much like Tianjing artifacts refined by the highest cultivators in Da Chu—a supreme symbol.

Ye Chen transmitted to Taixu Gulong."Long Ye, do you know which great emperor's artifact it is?"

Taixu Gulong didn't specify, just glanced at Zi Xuan beside him."She knows best."

Ye Chen frowned, looking at Zi Xuan's dazed and hazy expression, then back at Taixu Gulong, and asked tentatively,"It couldn't be Donghua Nüdi's artifact, could it?"

Taixu Gulong replied calmly."Feng Huang Qin."

Ye Chen murmured the name."Feng Huang Qin.""Since it involves a phoenix, it must be an artifact related to the phoenix."

Taixu Gulong revealed an ancient secret."Nüdi Yue Shang was the divine maiden of the Feng Huang clan.""That Feng Huang Qin was forged from her phoenix jade bones, tempered with phoenix divine blood, and its strings woven from the emperor's principles. Her music is like an immortal melody from Jiuyou, something only emperors can withstand."

Ye Chen instinctively glanced at Zi Xuan again."No wonder."

Zi Xuan's expression remained dazed, her beautiful eyes filled with ancient sorrow as she stared in that direction, as if she could see through the mist to the zither glowing with purple divine light, suspended in the air."Feng Huang Qin."

Ye Chen withdrew his gaze and continued onward.Let's go.

Xiao Chen and the others looked puzzled at the somewhat distracted Zi Xuan before hurrying to catch up with Ye Chen."What are you looking at?"

As he passed, Taixu Gulong transmitted to Zi Xuan."We are no longer the supreme beings of the past."

Zi Xuan gave a self-mocking smile and withdrew her gaze."The seas have turned, and the world has changed."She was merely a remnant soul of the great emperor, her memories as incomplete as Taixu Gulong's. Her mind held no recollections of Da Chu, and she had no idea why the imperial artifact Feng Huang Qin was here.

Ye Chen transmitted to Taixu Gulong."Long Ye, keep an eye out for me. I've never seen a Qilin Jiao before."

"Don't worry, I'm watching."

Long Teng repeatedly scanned their surroundings warily."I keep feeling like a pair of cold eyes is fixed on us."

Qian Shang Yue smiled lightly."You've only just noticed?""That sensation has been following us like a shadow since we entered the Shiwan Dashan."

"Don't get separated."

As Ye Chen watched their surroundings, he transmitted to Zi Xuan."Is it true you've met Hong Chen?"

Zi Xuan replied calmly."Yes."

Ye Chen looked at her."Do you know his origins?"

"No."

Ye Chen glanced ahead into the misty fog."Then, did you and Hong Chen manage to kill that man in purple robes?"

Zi Xuan said softly."He escaped.""His cultivation is at least that of a Zhun Di. We only gravely injured him, not finished him off. He's far more elusive than we imagined."

"Can you tell me why you and Hong Chen are pursuing him?"

"My memories are incomplete. I only know that he carries an aura that fills me with extreme disgust and fear."

Ye Chen narrowed his eyes and looked toward Taixu Gulong."Disgust and fear."This description matched exactly what Taixu Gulong had said before, which surprised him.