Chapter 699: The Heaven-Shaking Earth Altar
Sensing the aura of the Sword Soul Ice Soul, Zhang Ruochen’s Sword Heart of Intent trembled violently.
“Truly an extraordinary treasure.”
Zhang Ruochen suppressed his Sword Heart of Intent, closed the box containing the Sword Soul Ice Soul, and put it away.
The Sword Soul Ice Soul was indeed a fine treasure, but good steel must be used on the blade’s edge to maximize its value. Therefore, Zhang Ruochen decided to wait until he was ready to break through to the third layer of Sword Two before consuming the Sword Soul Ice Soul.
The third layer of Sword Two was called “Yin-Yang Separation.”
This was another hurdle, extremely difficult, and not something that could be crossed in a short time.
The young Zangyue Sword Saint was also a peerless sword prodigy of extraordinary talent, yet even he was stumped by this realm during the Fish-Dragon Realm, spending six years without breaking through.
Thus, Zhang Ruochen was not in a rush to attack the third layer of Sword Two now. Instead, he planned to prepare for the sixth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm. At the same time, he would spend some time consolidating the second layer of Sword Two.
Today, he and Qi Feiyu had only competed in swordsmanship, without using true qi or saint qi, which was why he had defeated her.
However, during the Sword Discussion Assembly, it would not be a simple test of swordsmanship but a true contest of real strength.
With Zhang Ruochen’s current cultivation at the fifth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm, even against Qi Feiyu, he would lose more often than win.
Moreover, during the Sword Discussion Assembly, he would have to face the most outstanding talents of the Kunlun Realm, some of whom could even rival Gai Tianjiao. If Zhang Ruochen could not raise his cultivation level, how could he contend with them?
Just as Zhang Ruochen was condensing true qi and preparing to break through to the sixth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm, news of his battle with Qi Feiyu spread like wildfire throughout the entire Liangyi Sect.
The name “Lin Yue” finally reached the ears of the half-saints and saintly ancestral masters of the Liangyi Sect.
At the same time, in a hidden cave dwelling, three half-saint ancestors of the Qi Clan and Qi Feiyu gathered together for a secret discussion.
Qi Hong revealed an angry expression, a flash of killing intent in his eyes. “Lin Yue’s sword talent is too terrifying. If we let him continue to grow, it will definitely affect the sect’s plans. It’s safest for me to act and eliminate him without a trace.”
Qi Feiyu shook her head. “Lin Yue is no longer the Lin Yue of before. He is likely a pawn placed in the Liangyi Sect by another force. He may not represent the Liangyi Sect in the Sword Discussion Assembly.”
“Feiyu means that this Lin Yue actually wants to use the resources of the Sword Pavilion to improve his sword cultivation and may not truly work for the Liangyi Sect?” asked a red-faced half-saint of the Qi Clan.
“I can’t say for sure.”
Qi Feiyu gently shook her head. “I just feel that a sword prodigy like him would be a pity to kill like this. If we could subdue him, he would definitely become a trump card for us in the future.”
Qi Hong snorted coldly, speaking with great force. “Feiyu, you are still too young and too indecisive. Anyone who cannot be used by us, the higher their talent, the more they deserve to die. Don’t interfere in this matter anymore. I will take full responsibility. Before the Sword Discussion Assembly, Lin Yue must die.”
Although Qi Feiyu, as a holy maiden, held significant power and could mobilize a large amount of manpower and resources, she did not have the authority to command half-saints.
Only when a holy maiden broke through to the half-saint realm could she command the half-saints of the sect.
Therefore, when Qi Hong decided to kill Lin Yue, Qi Feiyu, though she felt it was inappropriate, did not raise any objections.
Zhang Ruochen spent two full months in seclusion on the first floor of the Sword Pavilion, finally consolidating his cultivation at the fifth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
Then, he spent another half month successfully opening the third saint meridian, the “Yin Wei Saint Meridian,” and his cultivation broke through to the sixth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
Zhang Ruochen channeled the true qi from his qi sea to the meridians of his left arm.
Instantly, the true qi in the meridians surged into the Yin Wei Saint Meridian, transforming into saint qi, increasing the strength of his left arm several times over.
With his current cultivation, he had already entered the ranks of top-tier experts, enough to contend with a saintly body at the ninth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
“With my current cultivation, I should be able to handle the real business.”
Zhang Ruochen’s greatest purpose in coming to the Liangyi Sect was to investigate the secrets of the Earth Altar.
However, the timing had not been right before, and Zhang Ruochen dared not act rashly.
Now, things were different. Not only had a large number of cultivators entered the Sword Pavilion to train, making the once-quiet Sword Pavilion a mixed bag, but also, the sword bearers of the Sword Pavilion, represented by the Zangyue Sword Saint, had shifted most of their attention to the Qi Clan, likely neglecting their surveillance of the Sword Pavilion.
Now was the perfect time for Zhang Ruochen to act.
Zhang Ruochen released Xiao Hei from the Scroll World and whispered instructions. “There is an entrance beneath the altar outside the Sword Pavilion leading underground. Tonight, we will investigate what secrets lie beneath the altar.”
Donning the Meteor Invisibility Cloak, Zhang Ruochen’s body instantly vanished from its spot. He then left the meditation room and rushed toward the altar at the center of the square.
Xiao Hei’s body rapidly shrank until it was the size of an ant.
Like a black speck of light, it leaped quickly, reaching the top of the altar even before Zhang Ruochen.
Xiao Hei was highly skilled in formations and, without needing Zhang Ruochen’s instructions, began studying the formation inscriptions on the altar. Soon, it found a clue. “There is indeed a problem. The inscriptions on this altar share many similarities with those on the Earth Altars discovered on the Void Realm battlefield.”
“If this emperor’s guess is correct, the altar we see now is only the tip of the iceberg. The main body of the altar is likely hidden underground.”
“The main body of the altar is hidden underground?” Zhang Ruochen’s gaze shifted downward beneath the altar.
Zhang Ruochen released his Space Domain, covering the altar as he continuously probed.
About a quarter of an hour later, he finally discovered an entrance leading underground at the northeast corner.
The entrance was extremely well-hidden, sealed not only with massive jade stones but also protected by a formation, making it impossible for ordinary people to detect.
Zhang Ruochen pressed his palm against the jade wall, channeling the saint qi within his body, and pushed forward with force.
“Whoosh—”
A layer of white light surged from the surface of the jade wall, repelling Zhang Ruochen’s force.
Zhang Ruochen slid backward more than ten zhang before regaining his footing.
“How can brute force break through a formation? Let this emperor open it.”
Xiao Hei flew down to the base of the jade wall, its claws emitting black light as it carved into the jade, partially altering the formation inscriptions.
Xiao Hei clapped its claws together, chuckling. “Open!”
The jade wall slowly moved, sinking into the ground, revealing an entrance just wide enough for a single person to pass through.
Zhang Ruochen quickly slipped inside.
“Boom!”
The jade door closed again.
Zhang Ruochen and Xiao Hei advanced cautiously along a stone staircase leading underground, suppressing their auras to the utmost.
“One, two, three, four…”
With each step, Zhang Ruochen deliberately counted, trying to determine their position.
After descending roughly thirty thousand steps, Zhang Ruochen stopped. “We have descended nine thousand meters. Our current position should be at the peak of the second mountain. Could this altar extend all the way to the foot of the Ancient God Mountain?”
The seven mountains of the Ancient God Mountain each stood nine thousand meters tall, totaling sixty-three thousand meters in height.
If this altar truly extended from the foot of the Ancient God Mountain to the peak of the third mountain, wouldn’t it be twenty to thirty thousand meters tall?
Just the thought of an altar built to such an astonishing height was enough to make one’s heart tremble.
The deeper they went, the more alarmed Zhang Ruochen became.
Why had the Liangyi Sect hollowed out the first three mountains of the Ancient God Mountain to build such a massive altar? Could it really be that Empress Chi Yao had ordered the construction of an Earth Altar to refine the entire Kunlun Realm?
The walls of the passage were entirely made of piled jade, with spirit crystals embedded in key positions.
Xiao Hei continued studying the inscriptions on the jade, finally reaching a conclusion. Its expression grew extremely grave. “The Kunlun Realm is probably in for a major disaster.”
“What’s wrong?” Zhang Ruochen asked solemnly.
Xiao Hei said, “The inscriptions on this altar are identical to those on the altars of the Void Realm battlefield, but they are more complex and numerous, so the power they unleash will naturally be even more terrifying. It can be confirmed that this is related to the imperial court of the First Central Empire.”
“This altar is also connected to the saint meridians beneath the Liangyi Sect, allowing it to draw saint qi from the meridians at any time to provide energy.”
The saint meridians beneath the Liangyi Sect ran through the entire Eastern Domain.
Now that the Liangyi Sect had built this altar, once the ritual began, how terrifying would its power be?
The entire Eastern Domain would likely be swept into it.
Even more unsettling was that this altar was also connected to the Void Realm altars outside the Kunlun Realm, forming a grand heaven-and-earth formation.
It could be imagined that similar Earth Altars must exist in the Central Domain, Northern Domain, Southern Domain, and Western Domain of the Kunlun Realm.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen sensed something. He noticed someone approaching his direction, so he quickly grabbed Xiao Hei and pulled it into the Meteor Invisibility Cloak.
“Tap, tap!”
Footsteps grew closer.
A somewhat familiar voice came from the distant passage, growing nearer. “Sect Leader Ning, this Earth Altar has been under construction for five hundred years. Isn’t that too long?”
“How would I dare to slack off under the empress’s orders? However, I have never understood why Her Majesty the Empress wants to build this Earth Altar,” said a somewhat aged voice.
“It’s best not to ask about things you shouldn’t. You only need to know that a single word from Her Majesty the Empress can make the Liangyi Sect the foremost sect of the Eastern Domain within five hundred years. Similarly, a single word from Her Majesty can bring the Liangyi Sect to utter ruin.”
It was the voice of Shengshu Cainü.
At such close range, would Shengshu Cainü discover Zhang Ruochen hiding in the Meteor Invisibility Cloak?
Even Zhang Ruochen had no certainty.
Even if he wanted to escape now, he probably couldn’t.
The two figures grew closer, and Zhang Ruochen’s expression turned increasingly grim. He quickly controlled his heartbeat, held his breath, and suppressed his aura to the extreme. (To be continued.)