Chapter 1921: Northern Domain Great Camp
Zhang Ruochen sent out a message light talisman, asking Zhen Yuan about the Five Elements Earth.
The divine stones were of great importance and had to be obtained as quickly as possible; any delay could lead to unforeseen changes.
After all, when the divine stones had appeared, many cultivators had seen them. The news could not be concealed and would soon spread.
Fortunately, the divine thought evil body was guarding the divine stones. Without the Five Elements Earth, anyone who tried to break in would be no different from courting death.
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "Brother Pei, you have quite the nerve, daring to snatch the Eon Sacred Medicine from the Crimson Star Divine Son."
"The Eon Sacred Medicine originally belonged to the Kunlun Realm; how could it fall into the hands of the Death Clan? That Crimson Star Divine Son is already a top-tier expert below the Great Saint realm. I've heard he can exchange a few moves with a Great Saint, making him extremely powerful. If he were to refine that Eon Sacred Medicine, there would be few below the Great Saint realm who could match him," Pei Yutian said solemnly.
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "Indeed. Those imperial sons and divine sons of the Hell Realm are no mediocrities. Letting them gain great opportunities in the Kunlun Realm will only make them harder to deal with."
"Refining the Eon Sacred Medicine, Brother Pei, your cultivation should soon reach the Nine-Step Saint King realm. That is truly cause for celebration."
With the potent medicinal power of the Eon Sacred Medicine, combined with Pei Yutian's exceptional talent, advancing a few minor realms would be an easy matter.
Moreover, the Eon Sacred Medicine possessed extraordinary effects that would have a profound impact on Pei Yutian's future cultivation.
A sacred medicine that had survived an Eon Calamity could hardly lack special qualities.
Fortunately, this Eon Sacred Medicine had no cultivation techniques or sacred arts to wield; otherwise, few below the Great Saint realm would be its match.
"Now that the Kunlun Realm is beset with dangers on all sides, without formidable strength, let alone protecting the Kunlun Realm, even surviving is a problem," Pei Yutian sighed.
He had once been one of the five peerless prodigies on the Hero List, basking in boundless glory. Many had said he would become the King of the Northern Domain.
But reality was too cruel. Before he could truly grow, the Hell Realm launched a fierce assault on the Kunlun Realm. The Heavenly Court Realm, in name, came to help the Kunlun Realm, but in truth, most were after the treasures and opportunities of the Kunlun Realm. Compared to the top-tier experts of the Heavenly Court and Hell Realms, his strength seemed far too weak.
That was why he desperately sought to become stronger, even if it meant taking great risks.
For instance, this time, he had charged into Linyang City and snatched the Eon Sacred Medicine from under the nose of the Crimson Star Divine Son's subordinates—a major gamble.
Though he had succeeded in seizing the Eon Sacred Medicine, if Zhang Ruochen and the other three hadn't arrived in time, he likely would not have escaped.
Everyone had their own opportunities. Pei Yutian's ability to cultivate to his current realm in such a short time, nearly catching up to Zhang Ruochen—who had the Sundial—was quite remarkable.
However, Zhang Ruochen's foundation was more solid, his sacred path cultivation deeper, and the number of sacred paths he practiced far greater. Pei Yutian, in contrast, only cultivated the Blade Dao, making him a pure blade master.
One was broad in knowledge, the other specialized.
Yet, every path Zhang Ruochen practiced was stronger than Pei Yutian's Blade Dao.
Just as Zhang Ruochen and Pei Yutian were speaking, a beam of sacred light flew in from beyond the sky. Zhang Ruochen reached out and caught it.
A look of joy appeared on Zhang Ruochen's face. He eagerly anticipated good news from Zhen Yuan.
The message light talisman bore only five words: "Come to the Northern Domain Great Camp."
So Zhen Yuan was indeed in the Northern Domain.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Pei Yutian and asked, "Where is the Northern Domain Great Camp?"
"The Northern Domain Great Camp was established by the Heavenly Court Realm, gathering countless Heavenly Court cultivators. It's located in the outer area of Mount Xianji. I'll take you there," Pei Yutian said.
Ever since the Kunlun Realm was attacked by the Hell Realm, he had returned from the Truth Heaven Domain and had been training in the Northern Domain ever since. He knew the situation there like the back of his hand.
"Then I'll trouble you, Brother Pei."
Zhang Ruochen nodded and waved his hand, taking out the black altar.
This place was 120,000 miles from Mount Xianji. Using the black altar to travel would undoubtedly be much faster.
With a flicker of movement, the five of them appeared on the black altar.
The black altar trembled, turning into a streak of light, and vanished from Life-and-Death Cliff in an instant.
After a while, some people finally climbed up from the base of Life-and-Death Cliff, all looking somewhat panicked.
The earth-shaking roars coming from the cave were too terrifying, making their souls tremble. They had nearly thought they would die at the bottom of the cliff.
Fortunately, they had fled far away early on; otherwise, the consequences would have been unpredictable.
"Why haven't Violet Yang Saint King, Black Flame General, and the others come up?"
"Earlier, extremely violent power fluctuations came from that cave. Were they fighting? I wonder what the outcome was."
"It's very likely that their battle disturbed some terrifying existence lurking in the cave. Maybe none of them managed to escape."
"Alas, what a pity about the Eon Sacred Medicine."
"Besides the Eon Sacred Medicine, there were also divine stones and divine blood in the cave."
Many of the cultivators who had escaped had gleaming eyes. The Eon Sacred Medicine, divine stones, and divine blood—any one of them was priceless and would tempt even a Great Saint.
They didn't know that Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin had also gone to the bottom of Life-and-Death Cliff.
Some couldn't resist and turned back to investigate the situation.
The result was that anyone who entered that cave never came out again, all vanishing like stones sinking into the sea.
Seeing this, the others dared not take any more risks. Some chose to stay at Life-and-Death Cliff, while others silently retreated, unwilling to continue wading into troubled waters.
One by one, message light talismans flew out from Life-and-Death Cliff. It wouldn't be long before the news of what had happened there spread.
Meanwhile, Zhang Ruochen and his four companions, riding the black altar, sped through the clouds and soon arrived at the Northern Domain Great Camp.
The Northern Domain Great Camp was built just outside Mount Xianji, vast in scale, consisting of sturdy war fortresses. From a distance, it looked like thousands of steel divine beasts crouching on the boundless land.
It was precisely because of these war fortresses that most of the Death Clan army was held back within Mount Xianji. Otherwise, the situation in the Northern Domain would have been even worse.
As soon as Zhang Ruochen and his group arrived at the Northern Domain Great Camp, a person came out to greet them. It was Zhang Ruochen's sworn second brother, Feng Yan.
"Big Brother, Third Brother, long time no see," Feng Yan said with a smile.
Xiang Chunan strode forward and gave Feng Yan a big bear hug. "Hahaha, Second Brother, I've missed you so much!"
Zhang Ruochen also smiled. He hadn't expected to meet Feng Yan at the Northern Domain Great Camp.
Since their parting in the Truth Heaven Domain, it had indeed been a long time.
"It's rare for us three brothers to be together. We must have a good drink," Feng Yan said, his face full of smiles.
"That's a must! Second Brother, don't be stingy. You have to bring out a few more jars of your finest wine," Xiang Chunan said.
Hearing this, Feng Yan said boldly, "Alright, drink as much as you want. There's plenty."
"Second Brother, first take me to see Senior Brother Zhen Yuan," Zhang Ruochen said.
Feng Yan nodded. "Mm, Senior Brother Zhen Yuan is already waiting inside."
With that, Zhang Ruochen and his four companions followed Feng Yan into the Northern Domain Great Camp.
With Feng Yan leading the way, everything went smoothly, and they encountered no obstacles.
Inside the Northern Domain Great Camp, there were countless buildings of various shapes and sizes. The number of Heavenly Court cultivators gathered there was immense, with even the weakest being at the Fish-Dragon realm, forming a massive army.
At this stage of the war in the Kunlun Realm, Fish-Dragon realm cultivators and Half-Saints could still play a role.
But once all cultivators below the Saint realm needed to be evacuated, it would mean the war had entered its most brutal phase, and the Kunlun Realm would be heading toward destruction.
That was something no cultivator from the Kunlun Realm wanted to see.
Under Feng Yan's guidance, Zhang Ruochen and his group entered a manor.
The manor was exquisitely arranged, with many flowers and plants planted in the garden, and a faint floral fragrance hung in the air.
"It seems only Senior Brother Zhen Yuan has such leisure and elegance, carrying a manor with him and setting it up inside the camp," someone remarked.
"Is this for fighting or for cultivating?" Xiang Chunan muttered.
As soon as he entered the manor, Zhang Ruochen's gaze locked onto Zhen Yuan.
Zhen Yuan was currently tending to the flowers and plants, looking utterly at ease, completely blending in with his surroundings.
Zhang Ruochen stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother Zhen Yuan."
Zhen Yuan turned around and smiled. "No need for formalities. I just heard that you annihilated hundreds of thousands of Undying Blood Clan troops in the Sword Grave of the Central Domain. I didn't expect you to appear in the Northern Domain so quickly."
"It seems my visit to the Merit General Relay Station has made this matter known to everyone," Zhang Ruochen said.
Zhen Yuan made a gesture of invitation. "Please, everyone, have a seat."
Zhang Ruochen and the others were not reserved and sat down on stone stools.
Seeming to know that Zhang Ruochen was anxious, Zhen Yuan began brewing tea as he spoke. "The Five Elements Temple does indeed have Five Elements Earth, but not in large quantities. Moreover, the Five Elements Earth is extremely important to the Five Elements Temple and cannot be easily taken."
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen quickly said, "I only need to borrow a small amount of Five Elements Earth. I will return it immediately after use. If there are any conditions, Senior Brother Zhen Yuan, please feel free to name them."
As long as he could borrow the Five Elements Earth and obtain the eleven divine stones at the bottom of Life-and-Death Cliff, paying some price would be well worth it.
Zhen Yuan smiled slightly. "Don't worry. Given my status, I can still take a small amount of Five Elements Earth. However, the Five Elements Temple is located in the Five Elements Heaven Domain, far from the Kunlun Realm. Sending the Five Elements Earth here will take some time."
"As long as I can borrow the Five Elements Earth, I don't mind waiting a bit longer," Zhang Ruochen said.
Zhen Yuan nodded. "Before you arrived, I had already sent a message back to the Five Elements Temple. At most, in seven days, the Five Elements Earth will be delivered."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Zhen Yuan." Zhang Ruochen's eyes showed joy.
Seven days was not long. Surely no one would be able to take the divine stones during that time.
That divine thought evil body was extremely terrifying. Even an ordinary Great Saint would be no match for it. Without the Five Elements Earth, anyone who tried to break in would be courting death.
For now, Zhang Ruochen and the others settled down in Zhen Yuan's manor, waiting for the Five Elements Earth to be sent from the Five Elements Temple.
When evening came, Zhang Ruochen left the camp alone, concealed his aura, and quietly slipped into Mount Xianji.
He needed to seize the divine stones, but he hadn't forgotten his main purpose in coming to the Northern Domain.
From Pei Yutian, Zhang Ruochen had learned that Mount Xianji was almost entirely occupied by the Death Clan, making it extremely difficult to enter.
He needed to scout the situation first, see the specifics, and then decide whether to go with Ji Fanxin to retrieve the trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree.
"Mount Xianji has indeed changed."
Looking at the towering mountain range ahead, Zhang Ruochen couldn't help but frown.
Compared to the past, Mount Xianji was now more than ten times larger, and its shape had undergone a tremendous transformation.
Most importantly, the blue palace that had once stood at the mountain's peak had disappeared.
The trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree had been stored in a special space within that blue palace. Now that the blue palace was gone, did it mean the trunk had already been taken by the Death Clan?