# Chapter 3924: Saint Musician and Mountain Lord
Returning to the Abyss of Darkness defense line, Zhang Ruochen went to visit Feng Tian to inquire about the situation at Chaotianque.
Feng Tian had once ventured deep into Chaotianque and returned severely injured, but it still allowed Zhang Ruochen to learn more useful information.
Tianmu's advice of "Don't go" could not dispel Zhang Ruochen's determination to investigate further. Because he knew very well that if he wanted to break through to the middle stage of Indestructible Infinite as quickly as possible, he had to go to Chaotianque.
Following a step-by-step cultivation path, he didn't know how many tens of thousands of years it would take to strengthen his Xuantai to the point where it could withstand ten clusters of Yang-attributed Dao Light. The ever-deteriorating situation would not give Zhang Ruochen that much time.
Moreover, in the current universe, heavenly prodigies were as numerous as clouds, heroes were rising together, and everyone was advancing rapidly. As a pursuer, his cultivation speed had to be even faster if he wanted to contend with the older generation of titans for supremacy under heaven.
After leaving the Death God Palace, Zhang Ruochen ascended the Heavenly Book Great Wall and found Minggu.
Zhang Ruochen had long guessed that Minggu had secretly followed him to the Abyss of Darkness defense line. Earlier, at Feng Tian's place, he had learned that Minggu had gone to see her, wanting to borrow the Fate Ancestor Divine Source.
After being rejected, Minggu went to stroll on the Heavenly Book Great Wall, contemplating the fate patterns inscribed on the wall.
"I remember now, this is my Dao. The 'Fate Heavenly Book' was refined by me. Zhang Ruochen, tell me, if I take back the 'Fate Heavenly Book,' would that count as returning it to its rightful owner?"
Minggu's ten finger-like bone rods caressed the patterns on the wall, extremely excited. Zhang Ruochen said, "Senior, didn't you say you completely couldn't remember anything from your past life?"
"No, it's come back. I feel like everything has returned!" Minggu said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Senior, as a strong member of the Bone Clan, shouldn't you do something for the Hell Realm?"
"Of course! Isn't this old man here at the Abyss of Darkness defense line? Rest assured, when it comes to major matters of right and wrong, this old man will never be ambiguous." Minggu's figure became much more upright, fully displaying the demeanor of a master.
Zhang Ruochen said, "How about coming with me to the Abyss of Darkness?"
Minggu stared at Zhang Ruochen, paused for about the time of a single blink, then shook his head and said, "Impossible. This old man is determined to live and die with the defense line."
"If we go, it's to prevent war. I already have a complete plan. If senior is willing to accompany me on this trip, I'll speak with Feng Tian about the matter of observing the 'Fate Heavenly Book' and the Fate Divine Source," Zhang Ruochen said.
Seeing that Minggu was still hesitating, Zhang Ruochen transmitted his voice in a low tone: "Tianmu's true body has already left. The current Abyss of Darkness defense line is actually very dangerous, like a fixed target in the universe. But the Abyss of Darkness has no Half-Ancestors, the world is vast, and it's much safer instead."
"Hmph! Zhang Ruochen, do you think this old man is someone who fears death? For the Hell Realm, for the defense line, this old man will go to the Abyss of Darkness no matter what. Tell me your plan, and let's see if it's reliable," Minggu said.
Among the lower realm's Three Rivers and Seven Ridges, "Ba Ridge" and "Guangyan River" had been moved outside the Abyss of Darkness by Indestructible Infinite-level powerhouses among the Primordial Beings, forming two defense lines of their own.
Ba Ridge was the territory of the Gold Clan, one of the Twelve Primordial Clans. It was a metal mountain range with peaks standing tall, cliffs steep and dangerous, suspended in the void, giving an infinitely grand feeling.
Guangyan River was ten thousand zhang wide, flowing not with water but with luminous flames.
With one ridge and one river guarding it, the Abyss of Darkness was as secure as an iron fortress.
Zhang Ruochen and Minggu used Cang Jue to secretly infiltrate Ba Ridge.
With Cang Jue's cultivation level, his status in the lower realm was naturally not low, and he could easily pass through many checkpoints. With his cover, plus Zhang Ruochen and Minggu's cultivation, it was naturally not difficult to deceive the heavens and cross the sea.
"Young Lord... Saint Musician, are we going directly to the Primordial Path Clan camp?"
Cang Jue was well aware of Zhang Ruochen's relationship with Yuan Sheng, hence his question.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen was dressed in a moon-white divine robe, with sideburns reaching his chest, starlight dots on his brow, and holding a long flute refined from Hongmeng Radiant Divine Bamboo branches, giving him an ethereal, immortal aura.
The slight crow's feet at the corners of his eyes and his deep gaze added a sense of having weathered the baptism of time.
The white divine robe on his body had been carefully refined, inscribed with numerous talisman patterns that could conceal heavenly secrets and aura. Even cultivators with higher cultivation than him, unless they shattered his spiritual power defense, could not hope to probe his true nature.
Beside him, Minggu had changed his appearance, grown flesh and blood, looking identical to Gong Nanfeng, and wore a divine robe refined by Zhang Ruochen from the skin of the Moli Corpse Ancestor. To further hide himself, he wore a half-silver-white mask on his face.
Zhang Ruochen's voice was slightly hoarse: "No, not to the Primordial Path Clan. Go to the Chaos Clan camp."
All of the Twelve Primordial Clans had stationed troops at Ba Ridge.
As they advanced, they could see dragon and phoenix creatures with bodies that blotted out the sky and sun, flying overhead in flocks, exuding majestic divine might.
There were also humanoid Primordial Beings leading ghost-type Primordial Beings, setting up formations at some important city passes.
And various forms of jiao-type Primordial Beings were everywhere, their roars rising and falling. In the lower realm, humanoid Primordial Beings were the royal clan, naturally growing to adulthood and reaching the Infinite Realm in cultivation.
Ghost-type Primordial Beings were the heaven-handicapped among the royal clan, having washed away their physical bodies in the Black River beneath Da Ming Mountain, leaving only their soul bodies. There were also some ghost-type Primordial Beings who were ancient royal clan members buried in the Black River, returning in the form of soul spirits. Dragon and phoenix Primordial Beings were the nobility, reaching divine realm cultivation upon adulthood, with intelligence not inferior to humans.
Jiao-type Primordial Beings were generals, possessing partial intelligence, reaching Saint realm cultivation upon adulthood. Of course, this was only their minimum achievement; if they grew strong enough, they could transform into dragons and phoenixes, and their intelligence would increase accordingly.
The remaining Primordial Beings were commoners, the most numerous, but most had low intelligence, like beasts.
After the Chaos Ancestor perished together with Kong Yinxue, Yun Hunxuan truly became the ruler of the Chaos Clan.
But with the loss of the Chaos Ancestor, an overwhelmingly powerful figure, the Chaos Clan could no longer maintain the dignity of a two-star Primordial Race, and their territories were constantly being encroached upon by other clans.
How strong one's strength was determined how many resources one should occupy. Without self-awareness, calamity was inevitable.
In short, these years had been quite frustrating for Yun Hunxuan.
With war imminent, the Chaos Clan had almost emptied their entire clan, even moving Chaos Mountain to Ba Ridge. Chaos Mountain hovered in the sky west of Ba Ridge, wrapped in colorful chaotic qi, hard to distinguish clear from turbid, with time imprint light rain and space fragments flying everywhere.
Inside the main hall at the mountain's summit, Yun Hunxuan was in secret discussion with the Gold Clan's Clan Emperor.
The Gold Clan's Clan Emperor said indignantly, "Da Ming Mountain has gone too far, making our two clans deploy fully while leaving most of the members of the Taichu Clan, Zhenyi Clan, and Tianji Clan to guard the lower realm. On what basis?"
"The three upper clans of the Hell Realm have all gathered at the Abyss of Darkness. Once war breaks out, both sides will inevitably suffer heavy casualties. Our two clans will definitely have our vitality severely damaged. In my view, they intend to use us as cannon fodder, to mutually destroy the three upper clans of the Hell Realm."
Yun Hunxuan stroked his beard lightly, smiling slightly: "There's no helping it. Who says Ba Ridge is closest to the upper realm? And Ba Ridge's special geological structure makes it most suitable for constructing defense lines."
The Gold Clan's Clan Emperor said, "Fine, who says our Gold Clan has always been entrenched at Ba Ridge, always on the front line against upper realm cultivators? I accept that! But your Chaos Clan is a two-star Primordial Race, how noble! Now you've been mobilized with your entire clan. Does Emperor Yun not have any resentment?"
"Honestly, if Da Ming Mountain treated everyone equally, with each clan sending the same number of troops and equal division of labor, I wouldn't have any objection. Who doesn't want to avenge the shame of our ancestors? Who doesn't want to return to the vast universe? Who is willing to stay below the Abyss of Darkness?"
A cold glint flashed in Yun Hunxuan's eyes, then he smiled warmly: "There's no helping it. Who says the Chaos Clan cultivates the Wujian Method, most suitable for attacking solid defense lines, breaking space, and destroying formations? Ba Ridge is like a war chariot, able to clash head-on with the opposing Hell Realm defense line, while Chaos Clan cultivators must shoulder the heavy responsibility of destroying cities and breaking formations."
The Gold Clan's Clan Emperor's hair bristled with anger: "Emperor Yun doesn't really believe this rhetoric from the Divine Musician and the First Seven Sword Emperor, does he? Why does the Hongmeng Clan only send thirty percent of their cultivators to attack? What's the point of sending thirty percent to guard the Ancient Desolate Ruins City? I think the Divine Musician is just preserving his strength. Why does the Taichu Clan attack the weakest northern defense line? Isn't it because the First Seven Sword Emperor has the right to speak?"
"If the Ancestor were still here, would the troop deployment be like this? In the end, it's just because our cultivation isn't strong enough."
Yun Hunxuan said, "Clan Emperor, if you've only come to complain, please go back. With war imminent, make arrangements as early as possible to reduce casualties."
The Gold Clan's Clan Emperor stood up abruptly, coldly staring at Yun Hunxuan sitting there, and said: "After the Chaos Ancestor fell, you've lost all your spirit! In terms of combat power below Indestructible Infinite, the Chaos Clan surpasses any of the twelve clans. As long as you fight for it, they will definitely reconsider. Our two clans join forces, then bring in the Scholar Clan and Wood Clan, and we can definitely make them change their minds."
Yun Hunxuan closed his eyes, sinking into a long contemplation, seeming somewhat tempted.
At that moment, a sudden voice came from the entrance of the hall: "The Gold Clan's Clan Emperor makes a good point. Since the twelve clans share the same goal, they should treat everyone equally. How can they let you risk clan annihilation to launch an all-out war?"
The Gold Clan's Clan Emperor and Yun Hunxuan were both greatly shocked. Since they were in secret discussion, they had naturally activated the formation. At the same time, they had been constantly vigilant about the outside.
Yet someone had appeared at the hall entrance without their knowledge.
"Hua! Hua!"
Almost instantly, the two of them activated their protective divine light and rule divine patterns.
"Saint Musician?"
Yun Hunxuan looked at the figure at the hall entrance, feeling quite surprised in his heart.
The Saint Musician of Da Ming Mountain was the most mysterious of the three musicians. Even clan emperors like themselves rarely saw his true form.
The last time Yun Hunxuan had seen the Saint Musician's true form was three hundred thousand years ago.
But that long flute refined from Hongmeng Radiant Divine Bamboo couldn't be fake. It was the Saint Musician's token.
Zhang Ruochen said, "It's been three hundred thousand years. Doesn't Emperor Yun recognize this old man anymore?"
"Of course not, of course not. I just didn't expect the Saint Musician to visit Ba Ridge today." Yun Hunxuan knew that the Saint Musician had been lurking in the upper realm, just that he didn't know his identity there.
"With such a major matter concerning the rise and fall of the Primordial Beings, how could this old man not rush back? Returning with me is the Mountain Lord."
Zhang Ruochen stepped aside, and then Minggu's upright figure walked in from outside. Following their pre-arranged plan, as soon as he stepped through the hall door, Minggu immediately released the Hongmeng Divine Qi within him. A domineering, majestic might fell upon Yun Hunxuan and the Gold Clan's Clan Emperor.
The two exchanged glances, their hearts shaking violently. They immediately bowed and saluted: "Greetings, Mountain Lord!"
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