Chapter 349: Tai Xu Divine King

The Jiang Family held an unshakable and supreme position in the hearts of the people of the Northern Region, revered as a divine lineage. This vast region contained countless kingdoms, both large and small. Remarkably, many ancient nations revered Emperor Hengyu as their deity. It was easy to imagine the immense influence the Jiang Family wielded in this area; they were practically deified.

The land was covered in pristine white snow, and a biting wind howled across it. Snowflakes danced in the air, creating a desolate chill. Exhaled breath instantly turned into ice shards. In such a harsh, freezing winter, travel was rare in towns, and even more so in the desolate wilderness.

Ye Fan, with the God-Beating Whip on his back, journeyed alone through the ice plain, braving the fierce north wind. He had traversed dozens of kingdoms and was now less than two thousand *li* from the Jiang Family's sacred land. There were small outposts scattered across this ice plain, but few ventured out in such severe winter conditions. Only occasionally would one spot a team of sled dogs.

Shortly after, Ye Fan located a cultivator in a remote village. Although the man was only at the Life Spring realm, he agreed to deliver a letter for Ye Fan after receiving ten *jin* of source. Ye Fan could not deliver the letter himself; approaching the Jiang Family directly would be suicidal, given the involvement of the Nine Secrets. Such an inheritance was far too significant. He had no way to explain his situation, nor could he reveal that he had entered the Purple Mountain. If he did, even with good intentions, he would surely be detained. He didn't want to perform a kind act only to suffer a miserable fate.

"The people of the Jiang Family possess divine blood flowing within them..."

Inside an old hunter's warm home, with its heated *kang*, Ye Fan drank aged wine and ate venison jerky while conversing with the old man. From him, Ye Fan gleaned a great deal of information about the Jiang Family. The firewood crackled in the stove, making the room pleasantly warm. After a few cups of aged wine, Ye Fan felt surprisingly relaxed as he watched the biting wind howl outside, swirling the white snow across the sky. Finally, he left a piece of source, then strode away, re-entering the wind and snow.

Throughout that day, Ye Fan located five low-realm cultivators and entrusted each of them with an identical letter. He took this precaution due to the critical nature of the matter, fearing unforeseen complications. The letter's content was simple: a rough partial map of Purple Mountain's interior, clearly indicating the precise location where Jiang Taixu was trapped, with his name explicitly written. Additionally, he imbued a wisp of the Battle Sacred Law's imprint into each of five jade stones. He believed that upon seeing these, the Jiang Family would have no choice but to believe his message.

After completing these tasks, Ye Fan turned and departed without a moment's delay, using the "Mysterious Jade Platform" repeatedly. This allowed him to traverse the void, crossing dozens of kingdoms. However, he did not leave the region, instead settling in a city. There, he quietly cultivated and simultaneously studied the *Source Heaven Book*.

Over the next few days, the region grew incredibly tense. Experts from the Jiang Family were dispatched in full force, seemingly searching for something, which unsettled many. Ye Fan knew the letters must have been delivered and that the Jiang Family had received the news. He finally breathed a sigh of relief; his part was done. Whether God-King Jiang could be rescued now depended entirely on the Jiang Family's power.

A few days later, a startling piece of news began to circulate in the Northern Region: God-King Jiang Taixu might still be alive! This earth-shattering revelation shook the entire land, spreading like wildfire as if it had grown wings. Subsequently, the entire Eastern Desolate was stirred. All the major sects and holy lands learned of the news, leaving many prominent figures utterly dumbfounded.

God-King Jiang Taixu was a legend, hailed as the most formidable attacker in the Northern Region for five millennia, unrivaled by anyone. In his prime, when he rose to renown, he was not particularly old. In the eyes of many elder figures, he was still a youth, yet he had already cultivated his God-King Body to the realm of Great Perfection. Many speculated that given time, his future potential would be limitless! Despite his relatively young age, he was at the zenith of his power. Any action he took would cause a stir across the land. Yet, at the very peak of his burgeoning fame and power, he suddenly vanished without a trace, never to be seen again, disappearing forever from the world's sight.

At the time, many speculated that he might be in secluded cultivation, striving to break through to higher realms. However, as time stretched on—a thousand years, two thousand, and more—people eventually came to believe that this extraordinary God-King had indeed met with an unfortunate accident and was no longer among the living. The Jiang Family was undoubtedly the most devastated. The emergence of a God-King Body was a sure sign of a family's rise to prominence, yet just as Jiang Taixu had begun to ascend, misfortune struck.

In those earlier years, the Jiang Family launched extensive investigations, suspecting that certain Holy Lands had conspired, with peerless masters colluding to secretly harm God-King Jiang Taixu. Over four thousand years ago, tensions mounted, nearly igniting a world-shattering war between the Holy Lands. Fortunately, explanations were eventually provided, and the turmoil subsided.

The years passed serenely. In the blink of an eye, over four millennia had elapsed, and the name Jiang Taixu had almost faded from memory. It was truly unexpected for it to surface again. Everyone was stunned; the God-King, once so valiant and astonishingly charismatic, was still alive! Many found it almost impossible to believe. "If one were to have a son, he should be like Jiang Taixu!" This was a lament from ancestral figures who had passed away four millennia ago.

"What exactly happened?" Over four millennia ago, Jiang Taixu was as splendid as jade, and his combat prowess shook the world. He commanded attention wherever he went, a truly peerless hero. "Why has he remained silent for such a long time?" This was a question on many people's minds. Under normal circumstances, a God-King could live for four or five thousand years. With so many years having passed, the God-King, once in his prime, would now surely be nearing five thousand years of age. He would logically be in his late years, nearing the natural end of his life, with his life essence depleted. How then, at this very moment, could news of his survival surface? His prime years had flowed away like water, and the once valiant God-King had entered his twilight years. Could an aged God-King, with little life left, still accomplish great deeds?

The accidental leak of the news enraged the Jiang Family's high command, but despite their efforts, they found no answers. Shortly thereafter, new information emerged: God-King Jiang Taixu was trapped within Purple Mountain. This revelation proved even more world-shaking. All was now revealed: the God-King, missing for four millennia, was actually inside Purple Mountain. The world was utterly astonished. A historical enigma was finally solved, yet it only sparked more speculation: How did the news of God-King Jiang Taixu being trapped for four millennia, yet still alive, manage to get out? Had someone already obtained the inheritance of Emperor Wu Shi? This extraordinary God-King, nearing five thousand years old yet still alive, must have gained something within Purple Mountain. How many more years could he possibly live? Was the "Dou Zi Jue," one of the Nine Secrets, finally about to reappear?

Not only was the Eastern Desolate shaken, but even the myriad schools of thought in Central State were astonished. They had long encircled Purple Mountain, never imagining that a living God-King might reside within. Upon hearing these reports, Ye Fan couldn't help but frown. The fact that the Jiang Family's information had leaked suggested it was absolutely intentional.

Ten days later, the Jiang Family brought forth their Extreme Dao Holy Weapon and hastened towards Purple Mountain. The Sun God Furnace, also known as the Hengyu Cauldron, was forged from the sacred material Phoenix Blood Red Gold and refined with the supreme immortal fire from the Fallen Sun Ridge within the Primordial Restricted Zone. Its power was such that it could shatter heaven and earth and incinerate all creation. The might of this sacred artifact was beyond imagination. Whether it was the Peacock King, whose roar could shatter mountains and rivers, or the Red Dragon Daoist, whose divine power shook the world, a single strike from it would undoubtedly reduce them to dust.

The Jiang Family was the first to unveil an Extreme Dao Holy Weapon, the Hengyu Cauldron. Simultaneously, they urged the Ji Family to bring forth the Void Mirror and the Yaoguang Holy Land to produce the Dragon-Patterned Cauldron. This confirmed the news that the God-King was indeed trapped within Purple Mountain, instantly stirring up a storm of rumors and speculation. The third assault on Purple Mountain was now rapidly underway.

The Jiang Family possessed partial schematics of Purple Mountain's interior, drawing various major powers to their doors, all eager to see for themselves. To this, the Jiang Family's high command offered only one response: joint entry into Purple Mountain and shared access to the schematics. They sought to leverage the combined might of the Holy Lands and Central State's myriad schools of thought to rescue Jiang Taixu. Even without considering Emperor Wu Shi's inheritance, the "Dou Zi Jue" alone, one of the Nine Secrets, was enough to compel the Jiang Family to exert every effort. The immeasurable value of such a peerless secret art was truly incalculable!

Over the course of half a month, all the major powers converged upon Purple Mountain, transforming it into a hub of activity. Numerous prominent figures from both the Eastern Desolate and Central State now jointly encircled the mountain. Their inaction implied quiet, but any movement was destined to astound the entire world. This was their last chance; all Extreme Dao Holy Weapons were being deployed. If they still failed to breach it, it would signify permanent defeat.

The region around the Jiang Family's domain had grown quiet. Ye Fan pressed on through the wind and snow, finally spotting a faint outline in the distance. From dozens of *li* away, he observed it using his Source Heaven Divine Sense. It was indeed a sacred pure land. While the outside world was a frozen, barren expanse covered in heavy snowfall, ahead lay a lush green landscape, veiled in swirling clouds and glowing mists. Auspicious clouds rose, and colorful mists drifted, creating a dazzling spectacle. Grand peaks, each exuding a majestic aura, hung suspended in the sky, defying gravity. They seemed to have existed since the dawn of creation, imbued with an ancient, primordial essence. Some peaks were encircled by colorful mists, their scenery picturesque, with thousands of *zhang*-tall waterfalls cascading down like silver ribbons, resembling the inverted Milky Way pouring from the Nine Heavens. Other peaks stood majestically and somberly, wreathed in ominous clouds that struck awe into the heart.

Yet, these sights were merely the tip of the iceberg. The innermost reaches remained unseen, rumored to harbor numerous ancient temples predating the Desolate Era. Furthermore, it was certain that the Jiang Family possessed an immortal divine city, perpetually suspended among the clouds. Though not comparable in scale to the Northern Region Holy City, it was nonetheless astonishing, having endured and remained imperishable throughout the Desolate Era.

"Rumor has it that several Holy Lands also possess floating divine cities," Ye Fan mused. "Could there be some connection?" He couldn't help but sigh, acknowledging that such a formidable power, with its imposing aura, could indeed reign supreme over the Eastern Desolate, its foundations unfathomably deep.

"Legend has it," he thought, "that the Four Extremities Scroll from the *Hengyu Sutra*, much like the Wheel Sea Scroll from the *Dao Sutra* or the Dao Palace Scroll from the *Western Emperor Sutra*, is considered the pinnacle in the Eastern Desolate." Ye Fan shook his head. While he yearned for it, witnessing the Jiang Family's grandeur, he knew acquiring it would be virtually impossible. He recalled his past boasts about obtaining the Jade Lake cultivation method and felt a pang of shame. Had it not been for the Black Emperor guiding him to the Jade Lake's ancient site, he never would have acquired it. Capturing disciples from Holy Lands and searching their divine consciousness was hardly a successful method; he had attempted it several times with Ji Family disciples, only for their Sea of Consciousness to shatter instantly. The more he learned, the greater his awe for these immortal great powers. To contend against them with a single strike seemed almost impossible, unless one embarked on the path of a Great Emperor.

"It seems almost impossible to see Little Tingting now," Ye Fan murmured to himself. After one last look, he turned and departed. There was no need to linger; if his cultivation ever reached its peak, he could simply walk right in, instead of observing from a distance.

Ye Fan continued his journey across the ice plain, rapidly moving on until he reached a small town a thousand *li* away. As he looked at its narrow streets, a sense of déjà vu washed over him. "That's..." He paused, staring blankly for a moment. Ahead, a small, rather dilapidated tavern stood. An elderly man with a heavily wrinkled face, clad in patched clothing, slowly and meticulously wiped down the tables and chairs.