Chapter 2133: Immortal Mountain Leaves a Message

A sacred mountain vibrated. A crack spewed out blue light, giving birth to a wisp of Azure Spirit Qi. Min Zhuo’s gaze followed the Azure Spirit Qi as it drifted out from the depths of the crack. He then looked back into the depths, where the blue light was pure, and the mountain body resembled a piece of azure-green jade.

He attempted to approach the crack, the source of the Azure Spirit Qi, deducing that, by common sense, there should be treasures of a higher grade than the Qi itself. He didn’t know much about Mount Daiyu, recorded in ancient texts as one of the legendary ancient immortal mountains. However, there were no detailed accounts of its mystical properties.

He concluded that this mountain was extraordinary for two reasons: firstly, its connection to the Azure Spirit Qi; secondly, among the ancient immortal mountains, there was another mountain equally famous as Mount Daiyu, named Yuan Qiao! The Yuan Qiao Sea Market was the greatest grand gathering of the Outsider race, where all tribes assembled, and their sacred land would open at that time.

The shared name 'Yuan Qiao' was no coincidence. Legend had it that the sacred land and Mount Yuan Qiao were inextricably linked. Naming the Sea Market event 'Yuan Qiao' showed the extraordinary significance of Mount Yuan Qiao to the sacred land and the entire Outsider race. If the legend were true, one could imagine what dominating Mount Daiyu would mean for the Changyou tribe and for himself. At the very least, obtaining purer Azure Spirit Qi from it would significantly boost his and his tribesmen's cultivation.

However, the appearance of the immortal mountain before him differed greatly from Min Zhuo's previous imagination. In his mind, an ancient immortal mountain should be a sacred dwelling for immortals, filled with wondrous immortal trees, exotic treasures everywhere, and a myriad of spectacular sights, no less magnificent than any blessed land or grotto-heaven. Yet, Mount Daiyu before him was a barren stone mountain, devoid of even a single blade of grass. Its slopes were steep, but its height was barely a thousand zhang, merely a small hill in the eyes of a Void Refinement cultivator, making it difficult to associate with the legendary immortal mountains.

Upon his first sight of Mount Daiyu, Min Zhuo couldn't help but wonder if those individuals had been far-fetched in their claims, and this wasn't the true Mount Daiyu. However, the mysterious Azure Spirit Qi and the unusual fluctuations from the crack proved that this mountain was far from ordinary. And, of course, there was one crucial piece of evidence.

Min Zhuo moved to one side of the immortal mountain and saw a stone platform beneath the cliff. On the platform stood an inconspicuous stone tablet, upon which were boldly inscribed four ancient characters: 'Mount Daiyu Immortal Mountain.' The characters glowed with divine light, forceful and extraordinary! At the same time, Min Zhuo also found many chaotic traces here, clearly indicating he was not the first person to arrive. The cliff face was covered in restrictions, and these traces were scattered among layers of them. Some were markings of unclear meaning, while others were sections of writing left by different individuals.

In the distance, the Azure Luan Manifestation quietly arrived. Qin Sang soon noticed the stone tablet and the traces on the cliff face.

"It is indeed Mount Daiyu!"

Qin Sang recalled Mo Xingdao's words. There were some discrepancies between the mountain and his description, implying that the immortal mountain must have suffered an impact and undergone changes during the world's ascension. But it was certain that this was the Mount Daiyu Mo Xingdao had seen deep within the Guixu. Back then, when they reached Mount Daiyu, they recuperated on the stone platform where the tablet stood. Later, they repeatedly attempted to cross the 'Beacon Gate,' also using the platform for rest.

Mo Xingdao had said that in the depths of Guixu, this stone platform was the only truly safe place. The immortal mountain itself was fraught with dangers everywhere, and they dared not set foot on it. But now, the Beacon Gate no longer existed, and the most dangerous ancient restrictions had dissipated. The area around the immortal mountain was quiet; it was the mountain itself that was restless. Mo Xingdao had never mentioned this crack or the Azure Spirit Qi. It was likely that the world's ascension caused the mountain body to crack, and the Azure Spirit Qi appeared at that time.

Qin Sang's gaze shifted to the cliff face, where he saw the last writings of Mo Xingdao, the Azure Fox Saint King, and Saint Huiguang. When they last left the stone platform, they had resigned themselves to death. The traces on the cliff were chaotic, and there were many recently damaged areas, also ruined during the ascension process.

Qin Sang recognized some of the traces. Some were legacies of Dao techniques. These legacies were naturally very precious in the lower realms, but Qin Sang's horizons were now far broader. Unless they originated from the Ziwei Palace, most were unfortunately damaged and had lost their value. There were also experiences from previous explorers of Guixu, for posterity's reference. Unfortunately, Guixu was not static, and Mo Xingdao and his companions experienced various changes, making their journey far more arduous than those before them. Another part contained grand pronouncements made before ascension, and final writings left by those who failed at the last moment.

"Oh? Bao Gu!" Qin Sang's gaze swept over, and he immediately noticed a familiar name. Her writings were sandwiched between two layers of ancient restrictions, fortunately escaping destruction. Bao Gu stated that she had exerted her utmost effort to reach this point, specifically admonishing future generations that if they still had strength, they should try to return the way they came, break out of Guixu, and leave a guide for the descendants of Canglang Sea.

This was merely Bao Gu's hopeful vision; once inside, leaving was as difficult as ascending to heaven. Successive sages from Zhongzhou racked their brains to barely send out some messages, yet no one was able to return until the Storm Realm ascended, otherwise Guixu would not be so mysterious. It seemed Bao Gu had successfully ascended to the Grand Myriad back then. He wondered where she was now.

Qin Sang continued his search, trying to find traces of Xiao Xiangzi, but unfortunately found none. Not everyone left their name here, and too many places were damaged. No trace didn't mean Xiao Xiangzi hadn't been here. Given Xiao Xiangzi's talent, it was almost certain he would have ascended. It's worth noting that cultivators from Zhongzhou undoubtedly predominated among the names on the cliff face. More recent ones were mostly from sects like Eight Views and Ganlu Zen Temple; further back, one could see names from the Formless Immortal Sect, which showed how powerful the Formless Immortal Sect was back then.

As Qin Sang browsed the writings on the cliff, Min Zhuo also quickly scanned them, but unfortunately, there were no records related to Mount Daiyu. Shifting his gaze, Min Zhuo's eyes fell upon the stone tablet. The tablet was ancient and rustic, only knee-high, weathered by time, its surface dull and grey, as if covered in a layer of dust. The inconspicuous stone tablet had stood here for countless millennia, seemingly without any remarkable features. At least, that was how it appeared to the ascended cultivators from the Storm Realm.

The writings mentioned that some had tried to move the tablet. Despite appearing to be an ordinary stone slab, it remained unyielding; no magical artifact or Daoist art could leave the slightest mark on it. There were some deductions left on the cliff: some suggested its material was extraordinary, others that it held hidden mysteries. It was certain that everyone who tried to investigate the tablet and the immortal mountain returned empty-handed, ultimately giving up the idea of subduing the mountain and simply proceeding to challenge the Beacon Gate.

However, one particular conjecture was quite interesting: someone believed that since this mountain could stand in the depths of Guixu, it might itself be an exotic treasure. Viewing the entire mountain, the stone tablet bearing its name was the most unique element, likely the key to subduing this exotic treasure. Many years later, someone tried to follow this person's suggestion and, as expected, failed, adding a note of caution: even if this conjecture were true, no one from the lower realm would be able to achieve it, so future generations needn't waste their effort. Some people didn't believe in giving up, so a long series of attempts were appended below. Unfortunately, the lowest part of the cliff face had peeled off, losing its content, so it was unknown if anyone truly discovered anything.

Those who ascended in the past had a maximum cultivation level of Nascent Soul. The mysteries they couldn't decipher were not entirely without clues in the eyes of Qin Sang and Min Zhuo! Qin Sang gazed at the stone tablet, his eyes gleaming. He regretted not bringing the Sky Eye Butterfly, as it would have allowed him to see more clearly. In his perception, there was an inexplicable aura on the immortal mountain. These subtle energies were extremely reclusive and hard to detect; Qin Sang could only vaguely grasp some of their patterns. Coincidentally, all these energies flowed to the same place: where the stone tablet stood!

Undeniably, the stone tablet had a special function. Whether it was the key to subduing the immortal mountain remained to be verified. He glanced at Min Zhuo out of the corner of his eye. This person had come straight to Mount Daiyu, apparently knowing something. Was it true, as speculated on the cliff, that the immortal mountain itself was an exotic treasure?

Little did he know, Min Zhuo was also hesitating at this moment, unsure whether he should first force his way into the crack to find the source of the Azure Spirit Qi, or attempt to control the stone tablet and subdue Mount Daiyu. The receding of the murky aura was temporary; he had to leave before it surged back. He shifted his gaze from the stone tablet back to the crack. Forcing his way into the crack, only to find nothing but Azure Spirit Qi, would be a net loss. Subduing the immortal mountain was also not easy. He had previously thought the mountain had accidentally fallen here, hidden from daylight. Now, it appeared the mountain was bound by a certain power. Even if he controlled it, whether he could take it with him was uncertain. Furthermore, he still couldn't determine the source of that power, and he wondered if his actions would trigger unusual changes in the surrounding ancient restrictions. Time did not permit him to conduct a detailed investigation.

Thinking of the price he had paid and the effort he had expended, Min Zhuo steeled his resolve. With a flicker of his figure, he soared towards the stone tablet!

Seeing Min Zhuo's actions, a cold glint flashed in Qin Sang's eyes. He secretly thought, "The stone tablet is indeed the key to subduing the immortal mountain." He absolutely could not let Min Zhuo touch the tablet; if he were to take the mountain, who knew what consequences it would bring!

Qin Sang no longer hesitated. The Azure Luan Manifestation suddenly spread its wings, thunder roared, and blue light shimmered brilliantly. The moment Qin Sang appeared, Min Zhuo immediately felt an unusual fluctuation, prompting an intense alarm and his heart to pound. Fortunately, he was just about to make a move to subdue the immortal mountain. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, he had secretly prepared a divine ability. At this moment, he unconsciously unleashed it, and the sound of rushing water echoed around him. From the darkness, a mighty river materialized out of thin air. Its waters surged and twisted, coiling around Min Zhuo, transforming into a tall giant.

"Roar!" The giant roared, like a massive tide crashing against the shore, shaking one's very soul.

CRACK! A streak of blue lightning streaked across the void, arriving even faster. By the time the thunder echoed through the abyss, the Azure Luan Manifestation was already closing in on Min Zhuo. Looking at the giant Min Zhuo had transformed into, Qin Sang didn't hesitate in the slightest, charging forward fiercely with the body of the Azure Luan Manifestation!

In several previous battles, Min Zhuo had unleashed this divine ability more than once, and it was indeed formidable. In fact, the bloodline divine abilities of the Outsider race were all extraordinary. Qin Sang had not paid much attention to Min Zhuo before, nor had he specifically targeted him. However, when the same divine ability was used multiple times against a Void Refinement cultivator, it would always expose some weaknesses, unless the ability was already perfectly refined or concealed exceptionally well. Moreover, Min Zhuo had only recently broken through, so his divine ability was not fully polished. In Qin Sang's eyes, Min Zhuo's divine ability was far from perfect. He made a swift decision: spiritual light flashed on the Azure Luan Manifestation's chest, and a spirit tablet shot forth, smashing through the air towards the water giant.

"It's you!" Min Zhuo recognized the Azure Luan Manifestation, disbelief flooding him. Facing the powerful army of King Lu, with the Grand Revered personally engaged in battle, how could he, how dared he, manifest a form and come here to contend for Mount Daiyu!

Shock, fear, regret... He had no time to process these emotions as a strong gust of wind assailed him. Even though Min Zhuo reacted quickly, it was too rushed. The water giant hastily raised its arms to defend.

Boom! The spirit tablet, comparable to a small mountain, struck the water giant's forearms with astonishing force. Ripples spread through the void, and the water giant's arms suddenly became illusory, as if unable to bear the weight, and were forced back to their original form. The water giant's body violently trembled, and it was immediately knocked down, falling deeper into the abyss. Min Zhuo felt his internal energy abruptly stagnate. Although he wasn't injured, it was an uncomfortable sensation.

This attack was just the beginning. No sooner had the water giant been struck down than a blue light burst forth before it. The Azure Luan True Lightning Escape could be considered a top-tier escape technique in the entire Void Refinement realm. Min Zhuo had no way to evade, only watching helplessly as the Azure Luan Manifestation approached him.

Whoosh! The Azure Luan Manifestation extended a sharp claw, poised to strike the water giant's chest. What was terrifying was not the sharp claw itself, but the blue lightning shimmering on its surface—the Azure Luan True Lightning that Qin Sang had infused into the Azure Luan Manifestation's body beforehand! Even before the battle began, Min Zhuo had witnessed the power of the Azure Luan True Lightning, and now, his heart was filled with dread.

In the nick of time, the water giant, with nowhere to dodge, wrapped its entire body around itself, transforming into a massive water orb, enclosing Min Zhuo in its very center. The water orb was dense, its inner water shimmering with a silvery glow, like mercury.

Bang! The surface of the water orb was struck by a huge claw, water splashed everywhere, and it instantly caved in. The sharp claw, tearing through everything, pierced into the water orb's interior. Unexpectedly, the water orb possessed another miraculous property: its interior seemed to be able to continuously expand. As the Azure Luan Manifestation charged quickly, Min Zhuo retreated equally fast within the water orb. Although the distance between the claw and him was closing, it did so much more slowly.

Boom boom boom... The water orb violently churned, clearly indicating that this divine ability had its limits, but it had temporarily alleviated Min Zhuo's predicament, giving him a chance to employ other methods. However, Min Zhuo still underestimated the power of this strike.

Boom! Blue lightning erupted, and the interior of the water orb was instantly filled with threads of lightning. Min Zhuo's expression stiffened. If his protective treasure hadn't been destroyed, he might have been able to buy a little more time, but there were no "ifs."

***

Sacred Lake.

Ancestral Hall of the Changyou Tribe.

Min Shu sat cross-legged before the wax figure, diligently activating the formation. A faint layer of flames burned on the wax figure. The fire had been very stable, and the wax figure was thinner than before, seemingly able to last for some time.

Just then, Min Shu froze, then his face drained of color in alarm.

Whoosh! The flames on the wax figure suddenly flared up violently, and its melting speed accelerated dramatically. White wax flowed like water down its body, instantly spreading into a large puddle on the ground.