Chapter 2973: The Seventh Mountain
"Grandmaster truly said that?" Zhang Ruochen was somewhat surprised.
Xiao Hei removed the hood from his head, his demeanor majestic, and said, "That's right. The master said that the seventh mountain of Ancient God Mountain hides a great secret, and he wants us to go investigate together. This operation is under my command, all actions must follow my orders, and no one is to act on their own."
Seeing Xiao Hei's serious expression, Zhang Ruochen couldn't help but doubt the truth of this.
With Grandmaster's cultivation, what secrets of Kunlun Realm could he still not know? Would he need to send the two of them, mere juniors, to investigate?
Moreover, standing at the height of a Tai Shang, he wouldn't meddle in such trivial matters.
Unless the matter was not trivial.
However, Zhang Ruochen had already planned to visit the seventh mountain of Ancient God Mountain, and having Xiao Hei lead the charge was something he was happy to go along with.
He said, "Grandmaster truly said that you are in command of this operation?"
"Naturally." Xiao Hei said arrogantly.
Zhang Ruochen deliberately showed some dissatisfaction, saying, "Fine! I'll go with you."
Zhang Ruochen sent a telepathic message to Mo Yin, telling her to carefully watch Chi Kongle and Zhang Hongchen, to avoid any more conflicts like before, and that all matters would be resolved after his return.
Then, together with Xiao Hei, he flew toward Ancient God Mountain.
Chi Yao stood on the peak of the third mountain of Ancient God Mountain, beneath the Sword Pavilion. Seeing Zhang Ruochen and Xiao Hei, she said, "I never expected Kongle to change so much. She is completely different from when she was a child."
Xiao Hei, with the air of a royal leader, said, "Blame Xiu Chen Heavenly God for that. If you ever become a king or a venerable, just kill him. Come on, let's go to the seventh mountain."
Chi Yao said, "The seventh mountain is inaccessible. I've tried to investigate it before."
Xiao Hei, with unparalleled momentum, declared loudly, "That's because your cultivation was low back then. Now it's different. I am an Upper-Level God, and an exceptional formation grandmaster. There are few places in all of Kunlun Realm that I cannot go. If you want to come along, just follow behind and watch."
Xiao Hei spread his wings, burning with Undying Divine Fire, and passed through the layers of divine patterns and formations of the fourth, fifth, and sixth mountains, arriving at the foot of the seventh mountain.
Before them stood a thousand-ren cliff, shrouded in thick divine mist, looking like a chaotic expanse within, impossible to see clearly even with divine eyes.
A sacred spring flowed down the cliff like a waterfall, carrying the essence of divine spring water.
"Such mere divine mist dares to block me? Break!"
Xiao Hei summoned the Titan Ghost Axe, unleashing a surging supreme power that changed the color of heaven and earth, and swung the axe down.
"Boom!"
The divine mist turned purple, pressed inward and dented.
Suddenly, from within the purple mist, a sharp sword cry rang out. Dense sword qi flew out from the mist, striking the Titan Ghost Axe and Xiao Hei, forcing him to retreat repeatedly.
Xiao Hei fled in panic, barely avoiding injury thanks to the multiple formations protecting his body.
"Such powerful sword intent."
Xiao Hei's eyes were filled with fear. He turned to look at Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao, about to order them to clear the way ahead.
Chi Yao said, "We're following behind!"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Indeed, the cultivation of an Upper-Level God is extraordinary. To be able to retreat unscathed from the sword qi left by an Infinite Realm powerhouse. Xiao Hei, it seems with you leading the way, entering the seventh mountain will be no challenge at all."
"Naturally."
Xiao Hei then asked, "This sword qi was left by an Infinite Realm powerhouse?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Don't you know? Two hundred thousand years ago, Biluozi slew Shangqing, transforming into the seven mountains. This seventh mountain is very likely the corpse of Shangqing Patriarch."
Xiao Hei's face was already dark, but upon hearing this, it turned even darker.
"If you're afraid, I'll break through this sword qi," Chi Yao said.
"So what if it's sword qi left by Shangqing or Biluozi? It's been two hundred thousand years. I am an Upper-Level God, why would I be afraid? Neither of you make a move, just watch carefully."
Xiao Hei had finally made a breakthrough in cultivation and wanted to show off his skills. He wouldn't let Chi Yao steal his thunder.
He snorted coldly, looked again at the seventh mountain, his expression becoming extremely cautious. Then, he took out a stone compass and walked around the base of the mountain, carefully surveying.
Chi Yao raised her snow-white head to look at the top of the seventh mountain, communicating with Zhang Ruochen through spiritual power, "If the legend is true, that Biluozi killed Shangqing Patriarch, and the gods of Kunlun Realm at the time did not stop it, does that mean Shangqing Patriarch had a reason he had to die?"
"I'm more curious about where Taiqing Patriarch and Yuqing Patriarch went. If Shangqing Patriarch could break through to the Infinite Realm, the other two's cultivation wouldn't be weak. How could two such powerful figures simply disappear?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Then, Zhang Ruochen asked about the matter of Shenguchao.
The emergence of Shenguchao would inevitably cause a stir in both the Heavenly Court and Hell, affecting the current structure of the universe.
Chi Yao said, "Shenguchao emerged out of necessity, simply unwilling to wait for death."
"What do you mean?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Chi Yao said, "Since war has broken out, there must be an end. The reason Hell Realm is attacking the Heavenly Court Myriad Realms and the Ancient Civilization Factions is entirely to use war to rapidly increase their own strength."
"Exactly. Hell Realm has been avoiding large-scale divine wars with the Heavenly Court, instead using a method of gradual erosion to slowly consume the Ancient Civilization Factions and the Heavenly Court Myriad Realms."
"The Undying Blood Clan drinks blood, the Rakshasa eat flesh, and the Shura absorb battle qi and killing qi. The Middle Three Clans take corpses, bones, and ghosts, while the Death and Nether Clans evolve from the Middle Three Clans... In this way, as long as the war continues, Hell Realm will only grow stronger."
"Once the Heavenly Court is consumed, all the current neutral forces will be Hell Realm's next target. Xinghuantian, Shenguchao... even beings like the Undying Blood Clan and Rakshasa Clan—who can escape?"
"If Shenguchao did not emerge, by the time the Heavenly Court is nearly destroyed, they would be powerless to resist."
Zhang Ruochen naturally understood what Chi Yao was saying.
Not only he understood, but the gods of the Undying Blood Clan also understood.
Zhang Ruochen said, "So, Shenguchao emerged to help the Heavenly Court?"
"No!"
Chi Yao said, "Shenguchao emerged only to strengthen itself. To strengthen itself, it cannot take sides; it must remain neutral. By remaining neutral, it can benefit from both sides. Once it takes a side, it becomes the first to be destroyed."
"Even if it must take a side, it must choose the right timing."
In the distance, Xiao Hei's laughter rang out: "Haha! I've found the path! You two, come quickly, follow closely behind. If you take a wrong step, you might face eternal doom."
Xiao Hei took out a three-foot-long metal brush and began drawing formation inscriptions on the ground.
As the formation inscriptions rose from the ground, the purple divine mist automatically dispersed.
Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao exchanged a glance, gaining a new respect for Xiao Hei.
Xiao Hei continued forward, drawing formation inscriptions as he went, saying, "This seventh mountain is likely the head of Shangqing. And around the head should be the remnants of a divine realm world. Oh my, this is the divine realm world of an Infinite Realm powerhouse, it must be extremely dangerous. But with my exceptional formation skills and powerful spiritual power, I've already sensed a relatively safe path. Rest assured!"
The seventh mountain was filled with all kinds of powerful and strange forces.
Not only were there ten thousand swords flying together, but divine thunder continuously fell, and rivers of light connected heaven and earth. Each force was extraordinary.
Chi Yao didn't fully trust Xiao Hei. She took out the Time-Space Chaos Lotus and held it in her palm.
She said, "Shangqing Patriarch may have truly fallen. This place really does resemble the divine realm world of an Infinite Realm powerhouse."
"An Infinite Realm powerhouse, fallen for two hundred thousand years—not too long ago. The residual power is still very strong, enough to kill gods." Zhang Ruochen activated the Seven-Source Colorful Garment, ready to respond to any sudden crisis.
"You don't need to be so nervous. Even if an Infinite Realm god is powerful, they are already dead. I am an Upper-Level God, a formation grandmaster... Ah..."
A crimson fire cloud descended from the sky, pressing down on Xiao Hei.
Xiao Hei propped up his divine realm world, using all his strength to resist, but was still struck by dozens of fire dragons that surged out from the fire cloud. With a scream, he was sent flying, smoke billowing from his body.
"Hua!"
A chaotic lotus flower shadow appeared, protecting Chi Yao and Zhang Ruochen, clashing with the incoming fire dragons.
"Hold!"
Zhang Ruochen shouted. The Seven-Source Colorful Garment emitted dense formation inscriptions, forming a divine formation that stabilized the Time-Space Chaos Lotus, which was about to be knocked flying.
They could not be sent flying or land in another position.
Otherwise, their fate would be the same as Xiao Hei's at that moment.
Xiao Hei had just been sent flying by dozens of fire dragons. When he landed, he triggered divine patterns and was attacked by thousands of sword qi. His defensive formations finally couldn't hold, and more than a dozen bloody holes appeared on his body.
"Zhang Ruochen, save me..." Xiao Hei shouted.
In his panicked escape, Xiao Hei triggered more divine patterns. A river of lightning, like a five-colored waterfall, fell and engulfed him. Immediately, miserable screams rose and fell, utterly tragic.
Zhang Ruochen activated his Taiji circle, extending it from his Xuan Tai, enveloping Xiao Hei.
Then, he pressed his palm down, causing space to shake violently.
Xiao Hei, who had been more than ten li away, was shaken into space and then fell into the Time-Space Chaos Lotus, crashing heavily to the ground.
Xiao Hei had been beaten back to his original form, a charred black owl, smoke rising from his body. Some parts were like burning charcoal, glowing red and crackling.
Xiao Hei raised a burnt wing that smelled of roasted meat, and said weakly, "Quick, retreat... this place cannot be entered..."
Suddenly.
Chi Yao looked down at the ground, her expression changing. She grabbed Zhang Ruochen's shoulder and flew backward rapidly. Zhang Ruochen seized Xiao Hei's raised wing, pulling him along, but pulled too hard, nearly tearing off the cooked wing.
"Easy, it hurts..." Xiao Hei screamed again.
"Boom!"
The ground where they had been standing cracked and collapsed, forming a huge black hole with no visible bottom. The hole was wide, spreading into the distance.
Like a bottomless abyss.
"Hiss!"
Black light mist surged from the abyss.
Each wisp of mist was like a heaven-slashing divine sword, shooting straight into the sky, piercing the atmosphere and entering the universe.
Retreating to a distance, Zhang Ruochen watched the collapsing earth and the black light mist shooting into the sky, and said, "Such heavy killing intent and sword intent. If struck, even with our cultivation, we would be severely injured. What terrifying thing is underground?"
"Look, doesn't it resemble a pair of eyes?" Chi Yao said.
The ground had not sunk in just one place.
It was two places.
The shape of the abyss pits formed by the collapse indeed looked like human eyes.
...
There will be another chapter tonight.