Chapter 124: An Unexpected Turn!
As the two conversed, time slowly slipped by.
Then, one day, Jiang Yun, who had kept his eyes closed, slowly opened them. Medusa beside him also looked toward the surface of the blood pool.
"Finally ready!"
Sensing the skyrocketing aura at the bottom of the pool, Jiang Yun chuckled softly.
"Roar—"
A resonant, sonorous dragon roar rang out. Powerful spiritual energy fluctuations surged from the pool's depths. In the next instant, a dragon silhouette burst from the water's surface, bathed in crimson-red clouds.
The entire great hall also grew exceptionally scorching and dry at that moment—all caused by the heat radiating from within Zi Yan's body.
As Zi Yan's body surface reddened, fine, dense beads of blood actually seeped out from within her, then trickled down her scalding-hot dragon scales, producing sizzling sounds. A faint white mist rose into the air.
Tch tch!
This sizzling sound grew increasingly dense. On the surface of Zi Yan's body, bead after bead of blood continuously seeped out, then evaporated. Wave after wave of white mist nearly completely shrouded Zi Yan's form.
"A bit forced," Medusa frowned, watching Zi Yan thrashing madly, forcibly enduring the pain. She spoke quietly, her tone carrying a faint hint of worry.
"She did rush it a bit. But luckily, we've gained quite a lot this time, or this girl would really be suffering!"
Jiang Yun glanced at Zi Yan with a touch of reproach. Zi Yan's cultivation was still somewhat behind Medusa's. Forcing the Fleshly Tribulation now was indeed a little strained.
What's more, the Taixu Ancient Dragon's physical body was extremely powerful. The agony she endured surpassed even Medusa's. This time, Zi Yan had truly been a bit reckless.
But seeing the stubbornness in her eyes, Jiang Yun's heart clenched. His palm clenched, and an emerald-green pill appeared in his hand.
The pill radiated an endless, subtle fragrance, and flickering lights shone from it. A pure, refined power fluctuation emanated outward.
This was a pill obtained from the pill chamber—the Immortal Spirit Pill. It could provide some auxiliary aid when crossing the Fleshly Tribulation.
Jiang Yun gauged the right moment and, with a flick of his wrist, cast the pill accurately into Zi Yan's mouth. As the pill entered her mouth, threads of strange power swiftly transmitted into her flesh and blood.
With the pill's aid, Zi Yan's condition immediately stabilized. Although she still had to endure inhuman agony, she was now on the correct path. Success would come before long.
Seeing this, Jiang Yun and Medusa both finally relaxed, quietly awaiting the completion of Zi Yan's breakthrough.
The Saint-Fallen Mountain!
It was said that in the ancient era, countless immensely powerful experts had fallen here on this battlefield—among them, a Saint whose strength surpassed the ordinary. Because of this, these cliffs still faintly emanated a strange, oppressive might. And it was precisely this oppressive might that had prevented intelligent life from being born in this realm over tens of thousands of years.
This legendary mountain range lay right behind the great hall. By now, Jiang Yun's trio had arrived at this central region described on the map.
Zi Yan had now successfully advanced to the Fleshly Tribulation. Although she couldn't avoid a lecture from Jiang Yun, Zi Yan just grinned foolishly, leaving Jiang Yun with no choice but helplessness.
He could only pat her forehead and warn her: no next time!
Afterward, the three hurried without pause toward the Saint-Fallen Mountain. Along the way, they naturally encountered other groups. But in this place, where friend and foe were indistinguishable, no one had any intention of making acquaintances.
After passing each other by, they continued rushing toward the Saint-Fallen Mountain!
It was a desolate mountain range. Not a single blade of grass grew within it. It was as if some destructive force had once swept through—even after tens of thousands of years, it remained utterly lifeless.
Sweeping their gazes around, with their sharp spiritual senses, they could faintly feel, within the earth of this desolate range, the remnants of an exceedingly terrifying power.
It seemed to be two distinctly different, mutually opposed forces.
"What terrifying power. It seems what they said about a Heavenly Sovereign's inheritance being here might not be an unfounded rumor!"
Gazing at the mountain range before them, Medusa's expression immediately turned solemn. She spoke with grave seriousness.
This was merely some residual power, and it had already endured the erosion of countless passing years. To think it was still so terrifying—it seemed a Heavenly Sovereign's might far exceeded her imagination.
"Next, we'll encounter the peak experts of this ruin. Both of you, protect yourselves as best you can. The inheritance is secondary—don't get yourselves hurt!" Jiang Yun looked at the two women with equal solemnity.
After receiving their replies, the three quickly headed deeper inside. Countless powerful auras had already gathered there.
"Be careful."
Drawing closer and sensing the fierce spiritual energy fluctuations—among them, over ten thousand were at the Heaven-Connecting Realm alone—all the experts of this hidden realm were now likely gathered here.
One could well imagine just what a mix of dragons and snakes this gathering point now held.
As they approached, Jiang Yun transmitted a warning to the two women.
Medusa and Zi Yan both nodded. Those who had endured to the very end were no simple lamps. Should conflict erupt, it would inevitably be troublesome and thorny.
At the trio's speed, they arrived at the outskirts of the gathering in the blink of an eye, descending. Their arrival drew some gazes, but these quickly shifted away. Squads and experts were arriving here constantly at this time—there was nothing unusual to see.
Moreover, two at the Fleshly Tribulation, one at the Heaven-Connecting Realm—not exactly top-tier powerhouses!
But Zi Yan and Medusa's ethereal, exquisite features and graceful, enchanting figures still drew quite a few strange stares.
Every forest has its motley assortment of birds. Most of the squads that made it here possessed considerable strength and still retained a few shreds of reason. Otherwise, someone likely would have already approached them, unable to resist.
Yet even so, some brazen, unrestrained gazes still made the two women's cheeks turn somewhat icy cold.
"It's them!" Seeing the trio, especially Jiang Yun, Huo Du revealed a surprised expression. He had clearly recalled this youth who gave him such an odd sensation.
"Brother Huo Du knows them?" Wu Ming had been at Huo Du's side the whole time. Noticing the other's unusual reaction, he followed his gaze and spotted Jiang Yun's trio. He asked, somewhat puzzled.
To be remembered by Huo Du—they were clearly no ordinary figures. Yet, no matter how he looked, apart from their appearances, nothing seemed outstanding about them.
"We've met once, in passing!" Huo Du said indifferently, saying no more. At this moment, waves of doubt surged within his heart. Seeing this youth who could stir the flames within him once again, the strange sensation from last time did not reappear. It was as if everything had been his own illusion.
Was it truly just a fluke?
Sharp fellow! Sweeping his gaze around casually, when it passed Huo Du, Jiang Yun muttered inwardly.
This man from the ancient Flame Spirit Clan was, barring any surprises, the most terrifying person here. If his senses weren't mistaken, the other's strength was suppressed to the triple Divine Soul Tribulation. Combined with a body of formidable divine abilities and spirit treasures—this guy was indeed a troublesome opponent.
The arrival of Jiang Yun's trio caused no ripples. Everyone continued resting as they had been, trading as they had been.
Though this place was merely a fragment of a continent, it was still vast. A single person simply couldn't explore its entirety in a short time. Furthermore, quite a few experts had fallen here.
Sovereigns, Earthly Sovereigns—both had perished. Thus, the treasures preserved were also quite abundant. Inevitably, some obtained items they didn't need, while others hadn't yet found what they sought. Out of this, a temporary trading zone had spontaneously arisen.
People gathered here both to rest and reorganize, and for the convenience of trading.
Jiang Yun led Zi Yan and Medusa as they walked through the trading zone. Quite a few people ambled back and forth in this area, lending it a bustling, lively atmosphere.
Zi Yan and Medusa looked around with keen interest. Everywhere they looked, figures sat cross-legged on the ground. On the stalls before them, all sorts of seemingly inexplicable items were laid out in bits and pieces.
These items all bore an ancient aura, their surfaces covered in the mottled traces of passing years. The feeling of age was more than sufficient.
A dazzling array of goods—many treasures faintly emanated traces of spiritual energy fluctuations.
The three shuttled through this lively trading zone. All along the way, they saw a full spectrum of all sorts of ancient treasures. But one had to admit, the vast majority were junk passed off as valuable.
Zi Yan looked around in all directions, but in the end, turned back curling her lip, her eyes full of disdain.
"All worthless junk!" Her low mutter naturally couldn't escape Jiang Yun's and Medusa's ears.
Jiang Yun chuckled ruefully. True treasures, these people naturally wouldn't bring out to trade. They only displayed some passable items to see if they could fool anyone!
There were a few items whose stallholders had misjudged, but Jiang Yun had no intention of trading for them. That kind of thing, even if obtained, would require effort to explore and restore. Jiang Yun simply didn't have that kind of time.
Exiting the trading zone, Jiang Yun's trio was completely empty-handed, having seen nothing that satisfied them. This left them all feeling a little regretful.
Seems I don't have the protagonist's fate—can't stumble upon any hidden treasures!
Hm... or perhaps, items that could catch my eye and be picked up for a steal simply don't exist here!
The next day.
Jiang Yun's trio came to scout the Saint-Fallen Mountain Range. Looking at the mountain peak before them, Jiang Yun finally understood why those groups, clearly knowing the treasure lay right before them, still had to wait gathered down below.
Because the mountain range here was filled with countless energy storms. The space at the peak was in a shattered, broken state. Moreover, the entire realm was shrouded beneath two terrifying, oppressive auras.
Under that kind of pressure, even heaven and earth themselves trembled.
If things remained like this, they might not be able to approach even a little for their entire lives.
"What should we do next?" Medusa looked at the scene before her, her expression rather grim. Although their attitude toward this inheritance was one of taking it or leaving it...
Still, they had come full of anticipation, only to face this situation before even starting. It really was infuriating!
"Let's wait a bit longer. If it's still like this after a few days, we'll leave. The gains from this trip are already sufficient!"
After waiting like this for seven days and seeing the energy ripples showing absolutely no signs of dissipating, Jiang Yun ultimately chose to give up. On the Dou Qi Continent, there were plenty of visible, tangible opportunities waiting for him. There was no need to waste time here for an inheritance that might only exist in theory.
"Let's go. Seems we're not the fated ones."
Looking at the somewhat disappointed Medusa and Zi Yan behind him, Jiang Yun smiled as he teased lightly.
Boom boom!
Rampaging, incomparably violent spiritual energy fluctuations swept madly across heaven and earth. The air grew thick with the heavy scent of blood, mixed with killing intent, permeating the sky. At this moment, the very color of the sky seemed to be tinged a dark, murky red.
"What's going on?!"
The sudden upheaval immediately startled the three. Medusa and Zi Yan swiftly drew close to Jiang Yun's side, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.
A flash of purple light streaked through Jiang Yun's pitch-black eyes. Startled, he said, "The commotion is coming from the gathering point. Something's happened there!"
Hearing Jiang Yun's words, the two women were instantly alarmed. That place had gathered all the experts of the entire ruin—and such an upheaval could occur?
The three exchanged glances and immediately sped rapidly toward the gathering point.
The plain that had been cleared out days earlier was now in utter chaos. Countless figures collided against one another. No unnecessary words. Spiritual energy circulated. Divine art after divine art was unleashed. Then, with reddened eyes, they blasted viciously at the enemies right before them.
Such chaotic, frenzied battle could only be described with two words: utterly brutal.
Yet Jiang Yun's trio watched utterly baffled. These people had been perfectly fine just days ago. What was this? A sudden collective madness?
"Something's off. Be careful!" Where there's something abnormal, there's a demon behind it. Jiang Yun cautiously pulled Zi Yan and Medusa back, retreating rearward. His terrifying soul power vigilantly monitored every stir and rustle within earshot.
"Mm!" No need for Jiang Yun's reminder—Zi Yan and Medusa had already noticed. This abnormal situation absolutely spelled trouble.
Jiang Yun watched the people in the field, trying to glean the reason from their figures!
In the field, Wu Ming was bathed in thunderbolts, manipulating terrifying blue-violet lightning like a thunder god. With each thunderbolt's descent, someone was gravely wounded—terrifying beyond compare.
And Jiang Yun had already recognized it: this was the same Divine Art as Wu Tong's, currently lying idle in his storage ring—Thunder Path, Nine Heavens!
It seemed those two truly did come from the same place!
On the other side, Li Yan gripped his long spear, domineering and peerless, like a war god. No one under his hands could withstand a single spear strike!
Of course, the most terrifying was still Huo Du. He manipulated an unknown crimson flame. With a wave of his hand, a sea of flames descended. Wherever it passed, all turned to scorched earth. Even corpses were burned clean away!
If this continued, the people here would sooner or later be slaughtered down to one in ten by these few!
"Jie jie, the Heart Demon Clan's divine abilities truly are formidable. These people of the Great Thousand World are all useless trash. Brother Xin Kui only had to employ a tiny trick, and they've started slaughtering each other. Scum like this actually deserves to be enemies with our Sacred Clan?"
Within a patch of black mist, several Flame Demon clansmen watched the scene in the field and let out cold, sinister laughs.
Then, looking toward the calm-faced man at the center, they spoke with flattery.
Hearing the surrounding Flame Demon clansmen's fawning praise, the Heart Demon Clan's Xin Kui also showed a look of arrogant pride on his face.
Within the Thirty-Two Clans, the Second Greatest Clan—who else but us?