Chapter 289: Deep Earth Divine Vessel and Ten Thousand Mountains, Sons of the Three Sects?

Zhao Xing's main body was in the Lihuo Daoist Temple in Mingyue Prefecture City, feeling neither joy nor sorrow, completely emptying his mind.

Meanwhile, one of his seven primary soul-clones was still fleeing in Dang County.

If this clone were to be destroyed, he would lose one-seventh of his soul power.

He also wouldn't be able to separate 49,999 strands of divine sense, and his soul-based attacks would be significantly weakened.

Even with Soul Restoration Fluid, it would take at least a month to recover, not just a short while.

"I should have shaken off the pursuers by now," Zhao Xing thought, glancing behind him before landing in a forest.

He had already fled Dang County.

Even Ye Yukong hadn't managed to catch him!

Through a relay of 'Sky Reach' and 'Jungle Leaps,' he had escaped.

Ye Yukong had long lost his lock on Zhao Xing.

At the time, Zhao Xing's soul-clone was solely focused on escaping, not caring whether those behind him were allies or enemies.

Of course, he had heard Ye Yukong's shouts.

But both sides were high-ranking cultivators; what if he misidentified them or was tricked?

Therefore, it was best to rely on himself to escape if possible.

He couldn't offer much help anyway, so escaping was the greatest assistance he could give to his allies.

"King Tianyan hasn't yet notified the main body that the operation is over."

"I'll keep running."

Zhao Xing didn't dare stay long. He arrived in the county with the most forests in Mingyue Prefecture.

Here, his escape was more advantageous.

After all, 'Jungle Leaps' consumed the life force of plants.

This allowed him to recover some of his vital energy.

'Sky Reach' was quite draining.

"Everything should be based on King Tianyan's message; nothing else is reliable. How do I know it's not an illusion?"

Zhao Xing fully utilized his experience from previous escapes at this moment.

This forced Ye Yukong to turn back and assist King Shenluo and the others.

At this point, only one person remained in the assassination group, or rather, Yu Shanzi, who possessed two souls in one body.

He was surrounded by King Shenluo, the Dragon Abyss Prefect, and the Heavenly Food Palace Master.

When Ye Yukong arrived, he couldn't help but be surprised.

"The Dragon Abyss Prefect and the Heavenly Food Palace Master are trapped in mid-air. Have they fallen victim to a 'Ghost Wall' illusion?"

"Moonlight Illuminates My Heart, Open!" Ye Yukong swept his finger across his sword, and then a flash of moonlight gleamed in his eyes.

"Whoosh!"

Before him was practically a ghost domain!

The Heavenly Food Palace Master and the Dragon Abyss Prefect appeared to be crashing randomly in the air, fighting against the void.

In reality, they were surrounded by countless terrifying ghosts, preventing them from assisting King Shenluo.

"The bright moon sets behind the western mountains, ghosts illuminate the heart."

Yu Shanzi's voice appeared in Ye Yukong's ear. He noticed the moonlight in his eyes had vanished.

"Is this a Cultivator of Propriety's 'Words Become Law'?"

Ye Yukong felt the sky darken before his eyes, and his heart immediately tensed.

The Priest divine office was already powerful enough, but now he had also gained the abilities of a Cultivator of Propriety.

Yu Shanzi was terrifyingly strong!

"The Dao of a Cultivator of Propriety can inherently influence rules, and Yu Shanzi's own Dao has reached the level of 'influencing rules'."

"This is something even the True Intent of the Five Elements cannot shake, just like that wild monkey couldn't block my Moonlight Sword Art." Faced with a monster like Yu Shanzi, Ye Yukong didn't dare to charge recklessly.

He once again unleashed 'Moonlight Illuminates My Heart.'

"Whoosh."

Shortly after it rose, the light dissipated again.

"I illuminate!"

The light shone again.

"Whoosh~"

"I'll illuminate again!"

"Whoosh~"

Ye Yukong used this single move to constantly drain Yu Shanzi's energy.

The current situation was that Yu Shanzi was trapped within the Grand Shenluo Formation.

The Dragon Abyss Prefect and the Heavenly Food Palace Master were trapped within Yu Shan's ghostly domain.

Yu Shanzi, enhanced by Old Master Gu, was stronger than King Shenluo, but he couldn't kill King Shenluo or break out of the Grand Shenluo Formation.

Similarly, the Dragon Abyss Prefect and the Heavenly Food Palace Master couldn't enter the Grand Shenluo Formation and couldn't escape Yu Shan's ghosts.

This was because Yu Shanzi was now not only a priest but also a second-rank Cultivator of Propriety, a priest enhanced by the Scripture of Fate.

This was also why King Tianyan insisted that King Shenluo add more personnel.

Yu Shanzi still had a chance of winning when fighting three opponents.

If Ye Yukong, a sword cultivator, were to join, his chances of winning would completely disappear.

"Aha! You're afraid of me!"

Ye Yukong also keenly noticed this.

"Brother Ye, keep going!"

"Moonlight, don't stop!"

The Dragon Abyss Prefect and the Heavenly Food Palace Master also sensed Ye Yukong's arrival.

"Don't worry, I'm good at this!"

Ye Yukong continuously used the same technique.

In the past, he might not have had this patience and would probably have tried other methods.

But ever since he became a ruthless stamping machine, he found he could accept this repetitive work.

"Ghost domain illuminating the heart? Your ghost domain isn't even as terrifying as those official documents," Ye Yukong muttered.

Zhao Xing's clone couldn't participate in this level of combat at all.

His clone could only go around reporting.

Originally, Zhao Xing had also wanted to find Li Boqian and True Lord Tianyang.

But on second thought, it wasn't appropriate.

First, Li Boqian hadn't shown up yet, so Zhao Xing couldn't find him even if he wanted to.

He had already contacted Hu Yang, which was enough.

True Lord Tianyang was an underworld deity, not suited to overly interfere in the affairs of the living world.

Interfering in specific matters would infringe upon Li Boqian's authority as the Grand Minister of Agriculture in the living world.

Helping his grand-disciple in his stead was something Li Boqian had explicitly requested.

Of course, True Lord Tianyang's later promise to give Zhao Xing a gift was purely out of admiration for his ambitious grand-disciple.

"I'm unsure about the Geomancy Faction, but the Astrology Faction and the Self Faction definitely won't stand idly by," Zhao Xing mused.

After all, he hadn't contributed much to the Geomancy Faction previously.

Although 'The Theory of Innate Things - Geomancy Chapter' had some connection, its primary benefit was for the Self Faction.

That's why his clone at Kunyuan Academy only mentioned it briefly.

"Meng Kun and Gu Changqing probably can't do much," Zhao Xing thought.

However, this time, Zhao Xing had genuinely miscalculated.

He had no idea that Meng Kun and Gu Changqing were actually the first to act!

At Kunyuan Academy, on Mount Haishan, the foremost spiritual mountain in the world, was Haishan Mausoleum.

Haishan Mausoleum was where Meng Haishan, the fourth Grand Minister of Agriculture and Meng Kun's grandfather, was buried.

Meng Kun frantically flew into True Lord Haishan's Hall.

"Grandfather! Please manifest your divine presence!" Meng Kun's loud voice startled the temple priests guarding the hall.

"Who dares to make such a ruckus!" Meng Li, the temple guardian priest, appeared, but upon seeing who it was, he immediately retreated.

Oh, it's Big Brother; never mind then.

"Thump!" Meng Kun knelt on the prayer mat and quickly lit a thick stick of incense, as thick as an arm.

"Om!" The statue of True Lord Haishan on the altar instantly came to life, looking down at Meng Kun.

"Such a commotion! What propriety is this!" True Lord Haishan's low roar boomed in Meng Kun's ears.

"Grandfather, your grandson has a request!" Meng Kun kowtowed twice, then looked up at Meng Haishan.

"Speak!"

"Grandfather, there's a student in our academy named Zhao Xing," Meng Kun said. "He is currently in Pinghai Prefecture, his whereabouts unknown, his life or death uncertain. Please manifest your divine power, Grandfather, and command the underworld deities of the underground palace to search for his traces!"

Underworld deities were much faster at finding people than other methods. Meng Kun knew nothing right now and could only seek help from his grandfather.

Otherwise, he could only fret uselessly.

"Who is Zhao Xing, that you would ask me to go to such trouble to find him?"

"Grandfather," Meng Kun exclaimed, "He can be called the Saint Son of our Geomancy Faction, a genius rarely seen in Kunyuan Academy in ten thousand years!"

To persuade his grandfather to act, Meng Kun went all out, lavishing praise on Zhao Xing.

Meng Kun was so agitated purely because Zhao Xing hadn't yet written the treatise he promised him!

"Is he really that much of a genius?"

"Truly, incredibly so!" Meng Kun said, "Throughout history, those with exceptional talent in magic arts are as numerous as carp crossing a river, but how many have left behind treatises? He already has two!"

"He's a great talent who can fight, heal, and compose treatises!"

"Grandfather, please stop asking and get to work quickly! If we're late, I'm afraid he'll go down to meet you!"

"You scoundrel!"

True Lord Haishan swore a few words; Meng Kun didn't even want him to ask questions!

But scolding aside, True Lord Haishan still acted quickly.

This was where True Lord Haishan's main body resided; he took a deep breath of the incense smoke.

Subsequently, the two-meter-tall, arm-thick incense stick instantly turned to ash.

"Whoosh!"

At this moment, across Pinghai Prefecture's forty-five prefectures, over thirty thousand inland counties, and millions of smaller counties—every temple containing a statue of True Lord Haishan shook in unison.

In Dang County's temple, the statue of True Lord Haishan opened its eyes.

Then it jumped to the ground and leaned an ear to listen.

Waves of fluctuations entered its ears.

The Earth Listening Method!

"Catch him if you can."

"Run, can you really get away?"

"As expected of Liu Tianning's disciple."

"Escape!"

"Block? Can you block a sword strike with three centuries of cultivation?"

"Prefect of Mingyue?!"

"Yu Shanzi, I didn't expect you to become someone else's book puppet."

A moment later, the statue jumped back onto its pedestal.

Meanwhile, inside the divine hall of Haishan Mausoleum in Kunyuan Underground Palace.

"Zhao Xing was indeed pursued, in Dang County, Mingyue Prefecture, Pinghai Prefecture."

"There were several high-ranking cultivators, including third-rank and second-rank."

"Some wanted to kill him, while others wanted to save him."

"One of them was named Yu Shanzi."

Hearing True Lord Haishan's words, Meng Kun's expression immediately changed.

As expected!

"That scoundrel King Liang!!"

Meng Kun became furious upon hearing Yu Shanzi's name.

He immediately rushed out of True Lord Haishan's Hall.

"Unfilial grandson—"

True Lord Haishan grumbled curses.

Because Meng Kun had only invited the deity but forgotten to see him off.

"Grandfather, don't be angry."

Meng Li emerged from the side hall, arranged the three animal sacrifices and offerings, completing the farewell ritual for his elder brother.

After leaving the mausoleum, Meng Kun immediately contacted Gu Changqing.

"Changqing, it's been investigated and confirmed!"

"What's the situation?"

"Zhao Xing was indeed pursued by King Liang's people! Not only were there multiple third-rank cultivators, but there was even a second-rank participant!"

"What? Shameless!"

Meng Kun said, "King Liang's actions outrage both gods and men!"

"However, the immediate priority is to rush and rescue Zhao Xing! I need to immediately organize a thousand-person rescue team! You quickly gather people! I'll go request divine soldiers from the Saintly Academy!"

Gu Changqing said, "Wait!"

"What now? There's no time!"

Gu Changqing said, "How will it be quick enough to send people to Pinghai Prefecture now?"

"Then what do you suggest?"

Gu Changqing said, "Go to Lvliang Prefecture! Attack his stronghold and force King Liang to retract the assassination order."

"Going to Lvliang Prefecture will also take a lot of time," Meng Kun said.

"Old Meng, are you confused?" Gu Changqing said. "Have you forgotten the ancient underground passage we dug in the 192nd year of the Dingxin era?"

"Which one are you talking about?"

"The Tongming Ancient Path. Back then, we stopped work after digging three-quarters of it due to changes in the earth's veins. Later, His Majesty wanted to launch the great Pacification War, so our academy put the project on hold."

"Oh, I remember now!" Meng Kun suddenly realized. "It's the Tongming Ancient Path!"

"I've calculated it," Gu Changqing said. "Go invite the Thirteenth Sage and have him pilot the Earth-Penetrating Boat."

"Then, by deploying fifty Ninth-Rank Earth Dragon Drill Boats, we can excavate the ancient underground passage—the Tongming Ancient Path."

"This way, we can travel from the Kuntong Ancient Path, through the Tongming Ancient Path, to Mingwang Manor. Once we reach Mingwang Manor, it will only take one hour to reach King Liang's royal city!"

"Furthermore, Mingwang Manor's branch academy has enough heavy armaments and personnel for us to mobilize!"

"Right!" Meng Kun's eyes lit up. "You're still the clever one, Old Gu!"

"You quickly go to the Underground Palace Institute to find people and wait for me at the Kuntong Ancient Path. I'll go to the Dizang Institute to invite the Thirteenth Sage! We'll split up!" "Alright!"

Meng Kun was indeed the Dean of the Dizang Institute, and he truly possessed only a Third-Rank cultivation.

However, his power as a dean was immense.

This was because only one person in Kunyuan Academy held more power than him.

That person was Xuanyuan Qingtian, the leader of the Geomancy Faction, Dean of the Kunyuan General Academy, and Head of the Spiritual Mountain. He was also Meng Kun's grand-uncle, a sworn brother of his deceased father.

Meng Kun swiftly flew to a sacred mountain within Kunyuan Academy.

This mountain was named Mount Earth-Boat.

The entire mountain peak was crafted from mechanisms; from afar, it resembled an upright flying boat plunged into the earth.

The Thirteenth Sage, Xiao Zhe, was at the peak of the Second-Rank!

He commanded a treasure-grade divine weapon, the Earth-Penetrating Boat.

Xiao Zhe held no official rank or noble title, only an unofficial rank and a special title: Sage.

The barriers and restrictions of Boat Mountain had no effect on Meng Kun, as he was a vice dean.

He flew directly to the palace at the peak of the boat.

"Sage! Sage Xiao!" Meng Kun shouted.

The floor suddenly split open, and a figure slowly ascended.

"Don't shout so loud; this old man can hear you," said the white-haired Xiao Zhe, picking his ear. "Dean Meng, what brings you here?"

Meng Kun immediately took out a token from his robe, bearing the characters "Dizang."

"Sage, I am now, in my capacity as the Dean of the Dizang Institute, requesting you to undertake a confidential mission."

Xiao Zhe's expression immediately turned serious. Dropping his casual demeanor, he cupped his hands towards Meng Kun. "Please give your orders, Dean."

"The confidential mission is to open the Tongming Ancient Path and transport a batch of heavy armaments."

"Open an ancient underground passage? When do we start?"

"Now," Meng Kun said. "We must depart immediately. I've already dispatched fifty Ninth-Rank Earth Dragon Drill Boats to wait at the Kuntong Ancient Path, just for you, Sage, to arrive."

"Very well."

Fifteen minutes later.

Boat Mountain