Chapter 380: Third Assault on Purple Mountain
The lingering bell sounds purified people's souls. Inside and outside the Divine City, there was first silence, then an earth-shaking uproar.
"Did it succeed or fail?"
"What was the result?"
These were the answers everyone desperately wanted to know. Emperor Wu Shi had shaken the ages, and his legacy had seized the hearts of all.
Such was the influence of a single person. Even though he had passed away for many years, any news about him would overwhelm everything else and become the sole focus.
Even the earlier cutting out of a Primeval Royal Clan member, witnessed by everyone, was not enough to compare with a single piece of news about him.
"Was Purple Mountain opened?"
"Have the secrets of the ancient Great Emperor surfaced?"
At this moment, people's hearts were tense with anticipation, all wanting to know the result.
The most nervous were the people from the various Holy Lands. They feared hearing bad news. In fact, many were already feeling uneasy.
Because only in a moment of crisis would the various Saint Lords flee here using the unique stone tokens of the Divine City. If Purple Mountain had truly been opened and the legacy obtained, they wouldn't have been so hasty.
"Could it be that it failed again?"
"Could a Saint Lord have fallen?"
Many disciples of the Holy Lands were torn between hope and fear, dreading the arrival of bad news. If a Saint Lord had fallen, it would be a calamity for the heavens.
At this moment, the various Holy Sons and Holy Maidens were the most nervous. If their own sect's Saint Lord had perished, it could very well affect their current status.
Half an hour later, the news spread, shaking the Divine City.
The Hundred Schools of Thought from the Central Province and the Holy Lands of the Eastern Wasteland had joined forces, using a total of five Extreme Weapons, exceeding the four that people had previously guessed.
The Jiang Family's Eternal Universe Furnace, the Ji Family's Void Mirror, and Yao Guang's Dragon-Pattern Cauldron—three Extreme Weapons—had appeared together. Adding two from the Central Province, it was a shock to the world.
Even in the darkest ages of human history, when blood flowed like rivers and bones piled like mountains across the land, the number of Extreme Weapons used would not have exceeded this.
With five Extreme Weapons unleashed together, their might was simply unimaginable. People believed it was enough to pierce the heavens, evaporate the oceans, and shatter the mountains and rivers—nothing could withstand it.
However, the result that came back left everyone stunned. Purple Mountain had not been leveled to the ground; it still stood there.
This time, the five Extreme Weapons had indeed opened Purple Mountain, allowing people to enter. But it had also triggered an even greater vibration from the Wu Shi Bell.
If they hadn't been sheltered within the Extreme Weapons, everyone would have been reduced to ashes. Not a single person could have survived.
In the words of one Saint Lord, it was almost as if a Great Emperor was controlling the Wu Shi Bell. Otherwise, how could it possibly overpower five Extreme Weapons?
"Is this true?"
When this news spread, everyone was shocked. Five Extreme Weapons combined, yet still suppressed by the Wu Shi Bell's waves—it was horrifying to hear.
"Could it be that this attempt has also failed, returning empty-handed?"
Everyone's heart skipped a beat. If this attempt failed, who knew how many years it would take to open Emperor Wu Shi's legacy? Perhaps only when a new Great Emperor was born could one enter and retrieve his supreme scriptures.
"It's not yet certain that it failed..."
The various Saint Lords had retreated, wounded. But the operation did not stop there. It was handed over to a group of elders whose lifespans were nearly exhausted.
These were retired Supreme Elders, with at most a few years left to live. But their strength was still formidable; some were no weaker than the Saint Lords. They took control of the Extreme Weapons and entered Purple Mountain for a final desperate gamble.
If they succeeded, there would be a tremendous opportunity. If they failed, they were destined to become ashes.
"Aren't they afraid of losing the Extreme Weapons inside Purple Mountain?"
"The Holy Lands have made thorough arrangements, ensuring they can recall the Extreme Weapons."
The arrangements of the Hundred Schools of Thought from the Central Province and the various Holy Lands of the Eastern Wasteland were almost identical. The leaders withdrew, handing over to the elders whose lifespans were nearly gone. Of course, all of this was voluntary.
"I believe there will be results soon..." The people of the Holy Lands were all waiting. This day was destined to be restless. They awaited earth-shattering news.
The assault on Purple Mountain was still ongoing. No one had expected such an outcome. The major powers were clearly determined to gain something, unwilling to leave empty-handed.
The biggest question on everyone's mind was: what force was controlling the Wu Shi Bell? Could it produce such terrifying bell waves on its own? That seemed unrealistic, given that it had overpowered five Extreme Weapons.
The Divine City was in an uproar, only slowly calming down after a long time.
People believed that, barring any accidents, news from Purple Mountain would definitely come out today! The third assault on Purple Mountain—whether it succeeded or failed—would have a clear result.
At the Ji Family Stone Workshop, most people had not dispersed. After learning about the Purple Mountain incident, they wanted to see how the source gambling battle would conclude.
"Wuwu..."
Heartbreaking cries of sorrow rang out, young and mournful. The Divine Silkworm woke from its coma, tears streaming down its large eyes in pairs.
It babbled and cried, searching constantly within the stone garden, wanting to see the girl sealed in the strange source. It kept weeping in sorrow.
"Little one, don't cry..." the White-Robed Little Nun gently comforted.
Ji Ziyue also tried to console it, placing a few grains of Divine Source beans near its mouth, softly telling it what had happened.
The golden little spirit ignored the Divine Source beans, sobbing as it listened, tears blurring its eyes. It murmured, softly calling the girl's name in an ancient language that no one could understand.
On the other side, Ye Fan's grief was no less than the Divine Silkworm's. All that Divine Source had been snatched away by the monkey. His heart was bleeding.
"Monkey, I'm not done with you!"
"Monkey, you owe me a huge debt!"
"Monkey, you've created a massive karmic bond with me!"
He was almost beside himself with rage. Divine Source large enough to wrap a human body was a world-shaking treasure, undoubtedly worth an astronomical sum.
At the same time, he felt a trace of doubt. Why did his blood accelerate when facing the Battle-Saint Ape? Was it like when facing a Divine Body, triggering a mysterious resonance?
Or perhaps the Battle-Saint Ape's Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art had an inexplicable attraction for the Sacred Body? He even thought of the Battle Character Art among the Nine Secrets. Could there be some evolutionary relationship?
Li Heishui was also furious, but he also felt a urge to laugh. "You've been tricking others all along, and today a monkey has tricked you badly. That monkey is such a damn thing! Someone should chain it up and make it perform."
On the other side, Nangong Qi and his group approached, pointing at Ye Fan with cold smiles.
Ye Fan was already burning with anger. "What are you pointing at me for?"
"The monkey you cut out stole my world-shaking divine treasure! The Divine Maiden, the fierce weapon, that huge piece of Divine Source... nothing was left. Can you afford to compensate for that?" Nangong Qi demanded.
Li Heishui was enraged upon hearing this. "We cut out a monkey, which means we won the source gambling battle. Everything is ours. If anything, it's our loss. What does it have to do with you?!"
"Black boy, what do you know? You cut out a monkey, but I also cut out a Divine Maiden, and I had an extra peerless fierce weapon. Their value is greater!" Nangong Qi said coldly.
"Clatter"
Ye Fan kicked aside the fragments of the Immortal Tomb and cut out a piece of Divine Source the size of a human head. It was a remnant left inside the Immortal Tomb, but it was still worth five hundred thousand catties of pure source.
This was a blessing in a misfortune. At least opening the Immortal Tomb hadn't been completely in vain, giving him some consolation.
"Your Ancient Insect Divine Source, Qilin Seed, and this piece of Divine Source are all ours!" Several young disciples of the Ancient Source Art Aristocratic Clan stepped forward, ready to seize them.
Li Heishui glared. "Have you no shame? You want to steal our treasures? Forget the monkey we cut out, even this Qilin Seed is priceless, far more valuable than your things!"
Nangong Qi sneered, approaching with three other old men. "You did lose. You must hand over all the treasures."
Ye Fan looked at him calmly. "The treasures I cut out are more valuable than yours."
"Far from it. What I cut out was a divine treasure, many times more precious than yours." Nangong Qi clasped his hands behind his back, shaking his head repeatedly.
"You cut out rare treasures, but you're still far behind Grandpa Nangong!"
Several young disciples of the Ancient Source Art Aristocratic Clan chimed in, their faces full of cold smiles.
"You lost the source art duel. You must accept the bet and pay up!"
"Your source art is no match for Grandpa Nangong. Are you going to renege on the deal?"
Li Heishui laughed in anger. "You're lying through your teeth, twisting black into white. What do you have to compare with us? What we cut out was a living Primeval Royal Clan member. Can you match that?"
"You cut out a monkey, but we cut out a Divine Maiden and an extra peerless fierce weapon. What do you have to compare?" the people of the Ancient Source Art Aristocratic Clan retorted, sneering repeatedly.
The vast majority of people had not left. They all crowded around, chattering and discussing.
Ye Fan spoke up. "Don't evade the issue. The Battle-Saint Ape I cut out is alive. Does the Divine Maiden you cut out have life?"
A young disciple of the Ancient Source Art Aristocratic Clan scoffed. "What value does a Battle-Saint Ape have? It's just a ferocious creature. How can it compare to that ancient spear? It's definitely one of the greatest weapons below the Extreme Weapons!"
"That's right. What use is a monkey? It only causes trouble. Accept your loss and hand over the Qilin Seed!" another disciple sneered.
Li Heishui was furious. "You have no shame! You want to call black white. You clearly lost, yet you're still making a fuss, trying to take our Qilin Seed. Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?"
"The Battle-Saint Ape is a Primeval Royal Clan member. Its future achievements could rival a Great Emperor. If it were tamed now, what do you think its value would be?" Ye Fan said coldly. He was also getting angry. The Ancient Source Art Aristocratic Clan was clearly refusing to honor the bet and trying to steal his treasures.
"Who can tame it? Even a Great Power can't do it. It's completely useless, just a fierce beast with no value," Nangong Qi himself declared.
"I respected you as a master, but you've lowered yourself. How can you say such things?" Ye Fan sneered. "As a source art master, don't you understand the value of a Primeval Royal Clan member?"
Li Heishui spoke to the surrounding crowd. "Everyone, be the judge. Aren't they going too far?"
At this moment, a group of old men had not left. They were extremely covetous of the Ancient Insect Divine Source and the Qilin Seed, all wanting to get their hands on them to extend their lives.
An Miaoyi, Xu Heng, Jin Chixiao, and the various Holy Sons and Holy Maidens had also not left, all watching the spectacle.
In truth, many were distracted, because perhaps in another hour or two, the final result of the assault on Purple Mountain would be clear.
"I think the divine treasure Brother Nangong cut out is priceless," said Li Yishui, the Supreme Elder of the Phantom Extinction Sect, stepping forward with a mocking glance at Ye Fan.