This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 438 King Mu of Zhou

The land of white light is hidden far away in the small grotto heaven. At first glance, there are only a few palaces and pavilions, but upon closer inspection, it is discovered that there are hundreds of buildings of all sizes, comparable to a small city.

Golden Palace.

The place where the golden god Ru Shou lived before his birth.

This ancient Western god possessed immense supernatural powers in life, wielding the golden energy of heaven and earth, and his might was unimaginable. Even after his death and the dissipation of his divine power, the divine power emanating from his blood still distorted the laws of the lower realm, creating the current state of heaven and earth filled with turbid energy.

Furthermore, because it was so powerful in life, its residual divine power did not dissipate after death, forming a small grotto-heaven around the Golden Palace and affecting the surrounding environment, causing the life forms in the vicinity to mutate, giving birth to the ancient gods with strong physical bodies, as well as a group of giant beasts that grew at will.

The bloodline of the ancient gods awakened, and they worshipped and created their own gods. Centered on the small grotto-heaven, they collectively called the continuous mountain range Youshan.

Five figures in black robes moved in. Although they were new to the area, they were well-prepared. Looking at the dilapidated Golden Palace before them, they showed no sign of anything amiss.

"As expected of an ancient divine abode, even after countless years, it still retains a terrifying divine power."

One of them spoke slowly, the dilapidated palace exuding a sharp pressure, as if a god or demon were facing him. If it weren't for the extraterrestrial demon bestowing divine power upon him beforehand, he probably wouldn't have had the courage to face this place directly.

"If this were truly the ancient Golden God's Daoist temple, how could we so easily set foot here? In my opinion, what is called the Golden Palace is actually a distortion of the laws of heaven and earth, turning illusion into reality..."

"not necessarily."

"If it were just an illusion, why would Lord Heavenly Demon go to such lengths to summon us all here?"

The five men in black robes engaged in a heated discussion about whether the golden palace before them was real or fake. What seemed like pointless chatter was actually a way of testing each other, hoping to lure out a stubborn fool to go ahead and scout the way if possible.

These five men in black robes came from all corners of the Lower Abyss Realm. They were unaware of each other's true identities. They had received benefits from the extraterrestrial demons and were willing to serve them, but they did not trust their temporary teammate. They were wary of each other and never revealed their true faces.

That being said, the circle of those in the Tongyou stage is only so big, and they all have some guesses about each other's identities.

However, all four men in black robes looked at the last one.

Who are you? x4
This mysterious figure in black robes had remained silent since the group was formed. His form beneath the robes was indistinct, and even his aura was elusive. Whenever someone tried to approach and investigate, they felt a chilling pressure that forced them to retreat.

A person stands quietly to the side, their intention to play the role of the hidden predator is obvious.

The four men in black robes racked their brains but still couldn't guess his identity. They were wary of him. The mysterious man wanted to be the mantis stalking the cicada, but the four of them didn't want to be the mantis. The Golden Palace, a place of opportunity, was within reach. It was time to be open and honest and solidify their not-so-strong teamwork.

The four men in black robes exchanged a glance, then suddenly raised their hands in unison and removed the hoods that were covering their faces.

As the concealment technique was lifted, the distorted mist that had enveloped their faces dissipated like smoke, revealing four faces that were either aged and dignified or righteous and awe-inspiring.

He looks like he comes from a prestigious and respectable family!
"Old Bai, it really is you!" An old man with white hair and a youthful face pointed at the emaciated old man opposite him and laughed heartily.

"Brother Wang, it's been a long time. How have you been?" The gaunt old man, known as 'Old White Ghost,' sneered.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Qin, you still look as youthful as ever. Your age-preserving techniques are truly the envy of others." The burly man Zhao Jiegang greeted him warmly, his voice booming and his smile honest and simple.

"It's actually Sect Leader Zhao! I haven't heard from you in years, I thought..."

Across from him, Qin Lie, a middle-aged man with a refined appearance, stroked his long beard, paused, and bowed apologetically: "Please forgive me, please forgive me. I only heard it from others. Please forgive me."

The four men looked at each other and smiled, as if they were old friends reunited after many years, addressing each other as brothers, and the atmosphere immediately became warm.

Old Bai stroked his sparse beard, squinted, and said, "Since everyone has revealed their identities and we've all been old friends for years, in my opinion..."

"Wait a minute, you old devil, I think you're really getting senile."

Wang Liu raised his hand to interrupt, turning his gaze to the mysterious black-robed man who had remained silent all along: "Your Excellency, now that we have come this far, why are you still hiding things? You should know that dangers coexist. If we do not work together, we may perish and become nothing more than a handful of dust in the land left behind by the ancient god of the Golden Palace!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the four of them stopped laughing and their gazes locked onto the mysterious person.

You've been pretending the whole way, why don't you hurry up and reveal your identity!

The mysterious man pondered for a moment, then slowly removed his hood, revealing a rather dignified face.

This person has distinct facial features, thick eyebrows like swords, eyes like cold stars, and a strong jawline. He exudes an air of authority even without anger, and it is clear that he has long held a high position.

So it was you...

Who are you? x4
The four of them stared at each other, racking their brains for a long time, going through all the experts they had ever met in their lives at the Tongyou stage, but still couldn't find the corresponding person.

"It's not surprising that you people of the martial world don't know my true appearance."

The man's indifferent voice rang out, carrying an innate majesty. He raised his hand and with a flick of his wrist, his black robe disappeared like flowing water, revealing a magnificent dark robe underneath.

The magnificent robe was embroidered with dark patterns in gold thread, and a purple-gold jade belt was tied around the waist, with ferocious beasts coiled around it, lifelike in appearance.

"My solitary name is Ji Ao."

The four words exploded like a thunderclap!

The four men, including Bai Laogui, remained outwardly calm, but inwardly they were in turmoil. If they remembered correctly, the current Zhou emperor was named Ji Ao.

But that's not right!

Last week, the emperor was clearly a foolish ruler who indulged in wine and women and wasted his time. He couldn't control the powerful ministers in the court, nor could he subdue the feudal lords in the four directions. He couldn't even sit still. When did he acquire such unfathomable cultivation?

"It is indeed the Emperor himself. We, a commoner from the Jianghu, are ignorant of etiquette and have offended Your Majesty. We beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

The four bowed in unison, marveling at how well Ji Ao had concealed his true intentions, managing to deceive everyone.

The appearance of an emperor in the temporary team instantly created a strange atmosphere. More than exploring the Golden Palace, Bai Laogui and his companions were curious about why Ji Ao was here, why he also submitted to the Heavenly Demon, and whether his cultivation was bestowed upon him by the Heavenly Demon.
What's even more intriguing is that, according to legend, after King Mu of Zhou, the Ji clan had never given up searching for West Kunlun. Now that Ji Ao has personally arrived at Youshan, does this mean...?

The secret of West Kunlun is hidden in this golden palace.
Ji Ao took in the reactions of the four people without saying a word. He looked at the dilapidated golden palace in front of him and said, "Let's go in. The three elders of the ancient clan have arrived. Their supernatural powers and cultivation are all extraordinary. If we don't leave now, it will be difficult to leave once they arrive."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of Bai Laogui and the other three changed drastically.

The terrifying power of the Ancient Gods is common knowledge in the Lower Abyss Realm. Apart from their ugly appearance and lack of intelligence, they have virtually no weaknesses. What's even more frightening is that this race's strength increases with age. If they hadn't remained steadfastly in You Mountain for generations, never venturing into the world, the world would no longer belong to the Ji family.

The strength of the three elders of the ancient god race...

Old Ghost Bai only needed a moment to think it over before his scalp tingled. The three old monsters possessed unfathomable strength and indestructible bodies; even magic weapons at the Tongyou stage couldn't harm them in the slightest. If they attacked together, they might be able to defeat one of them, but with three coming at once, they had no advantage in numbers whatsoever.

However, despite the impending crisis, the four remained firmly rooted to the spot, none of them willing to take the lead in exploring the path.

Rumble————

A deafening sonic boom suddenly came from the distant horizon. Three white shockwaves ripped through the sky like swords, tearing apart the clouds and howling the winds as they passed, approaching the Golden Palace at an alarming speed.

The three elders of the ancient gods have arrived!
Before they even arrived, a terrifying aura had already descended. The four members of the White Ghost Clan sensed the overwhelming rage and killing intent. They closed their eyes and focused their minds, calmly competing in their ability to cultivate their inner strength.

Whoever can't resist first will go and scout ahead.

Soon, the angry expressions of the three elders of the Ancient God Clan became clear. The elder in the lead roared angrily, and the sound waves rolled down like thunder, causing his black robe to flutter. Zhao Jiegang, the sect leader, followed the path of body cultivation and knew better than anyone how terrifying the three elders of the Ancient God Clan were. He was the first to back down and turned to rush towards the Golden Palace.

With him taking the initiative to protect his teammates behind him, the remaining four took the lead and followed.

boom! x3
Three deafening explosions rang out in succession, and three aged figures fell to the ground like meteors, shattering solid rocks and raising huge shockwaves.

As the dust settled, three elderly men with white hair and beards were revealed.

Compared to the muscular young men in the clan who are often two or three meters tall, the three elders are noticeably 'thin and weak', yet they are full of energy, making one think of the proverbs "old but vigorous," "old but still strong," "old oxen pulling a broken cart," "old trees with deep roots," and "never underestimate the poor in old age."

The three elders all had white pupils, appearing at first glance to be blind, but their inner energy surged with golden energy, and every punch and kick possessed terrifying destructive power. If the burly man Xiang Yuan encountered was merely a rough sword blank, these three elders had been forged through countless trials and tribulations, making them veritable deadly weapons.

Seeing the five dark figures disappear at the entrance of the Golden Palace, the three elders' faces were so gloomy they could drip water. They had rushed over at full speed after receiving the news, but they were still a step too late.

"The Zhou people are despicable and habitually use tricks! Today, they have disturbed the gods..."

"Today they have desecrated the holy site!"

"Those who enter this place will die! Not one of them will leave alive!"

The three elders gritted their teeth, filled with deep-seated hatred.

As they were talking, the three elders heard a scream; one of the intruders had already died.

The ancient gods have guarded Youshan for generations, calling the Golden Palace their sacred origin. Some clansmen, with hearts full of pilgrimage, would kneel every three steps and kowtow every nine steps to enter the Golden Palace, but all of them never returned.

The sharp aura within the palace was so intense that even the powerful bodies of these descendants of ancient gods could hardly withstand it, let alone the Zhou people who did not have the bloodline of ancient gods.

Dead!
That being said, allowing outsiders to trespass into the sacred site is ultimately a dereliction of duty.

The three elders immediately knelt down and kowtowed heavily towards the direction of the Golden Palace. The muffled sound of their foreheads hitting the ground was like the beating of a drum, creating three large craters in the ground.

Soon, a large number of ancient gods arrived upon hearing the news. Hundreds of muscular giants, averaging two and a half meters tall, knelt down in a flurry, their faces showing childlike fear, repeatedly kowtowing and begging for forgiveness alongside the three elders. The drums thundered, creating a magnificent scene; one might mistake them for building a house, laying down the foundation there!

One person did not kneel down.

This was a two-meter-tall ugly man with a horse-like face, dark skin, thick lips, thick eyebrows, protruding ears, and a bulbous nose. He was a unique figure even among the ancient gods, whose people were generally grotesque in appearance.

It's ugly in a unique way, not just your average ugly.

He looks exactly like Xu Jixian!
"It doesn't make sense! It doesn't make sense!"

The burly man stepped forward, cursing and swearing, denouncing the Zhou people for their despicable and shameless act of using a trick to lure the tiger away from the mountain. In his rage, he pounded his chest and stamped his feet, his eyes bulging with fury.

I know you're angry, but now is not the time to be angry. Quickly kneel down and apologize! xN
The ancient gods kneeling around him tried to dissuade him, but the big man ignored them and continued to fly into a rage, jumping up and down and cursing. After a few steps, he passed by the three kneeling elders and said with a tragic expression, "Today, the Zhou people have desecrated the sacred land. I have an inescapable responsibility for this. I offer up my flesh and blood to appease the gods."

Having said that, amidst the astonished and self-conscious gazes of the ancient gods, he strode confidently toward the forbidden area of ​​the Golden Palace.

The wind howled, and that broad, imposing figure appeared incredibly tall in everyone's eyes.

A blinding white light swept in, instantly engulfing the burly man's figure, causing grief in everyone's hearts, and many shed tears.

"I am far inferior to him in such devotion..."

An elder couldn't help but sigh, tears welling in his cloudy old eyes. He stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing something was amiss, and tilted his head to ask the person next to him in a low voice, "Who is this clansman? My old eyes are failing, I don't recognize him."

"..." x3
The three elders fell silent, exchanging bewildered glances.

A moment later, a barrage of curses erupted.

"The Zhou people are despicable and shameless!"

"Another person has broken in..."

……

As soon as Xiang Yuan stepped into the forbidden area of ​​the Golden Palace, an awe-inspiring divine might enveloped his entire body like Mount Tai pressing down, forcibly returning him to his original state.

Although Ru Shou was dead, his will remained. Countless golden auras came from all directions, fine as cow hair yet incomparably sharp, striking his body protected by his sword sheath, producing dense metallic clangs and sparks.

The scene looked somewhat familiar, very similar to the Thousand Machine Sword Tomb in the Desolate Ancient Realm, but Ru Shou is Ru Shou and the Heavenly Emperor is the Heavenly Emperor. They are two completely different gods. Xiang Yuan could use the Heavenly Emperor's Dao Seed to refine the golden energy contained in the Thousand Machine Sword Tomb, but it wouldn't work here.

Thinking this to himself, Xiang Yuan gave it a try, and sure enough...

guessed wrong!
With a slight activation of the Formless Seal Technique, the violent golden energy became as docile as a lamb, obediently being refined and absorbed, and integrated into the five elements cycle within the body.

"..."

So why?
Xiang Yuan dispelled the protective sword sheath, allowing the golden energy to surge into his body. He multitasked, having Palu fully activate the Formless Seal Technique while falling into deep thought.

According to the intelligence he had, the Heavenly Emperor was the eldest brother of the innate gods, with a supreme position. Ru Shou was the god of the Five Elements and the Western Golden God. Upon seeing the eldest brother's Dao seed, he would bow down and offer his family's wealth with both hands.

Logically speaking, this argument seems to make sense, but Xiang Yuan knows a case that can refute it.

In the Qianyuan Realm, the Dragon Fortress is home to a fallen god whose will still exists, filled with deep resentment. No one can change his mind, not even Xiang Yuan, who possesses the Heavenly Emperor's Dao Seed. He must first erase the resentment before he can use his legacy for his own purposes.

This unknown deity showed no respect whatsoever to the Heavenly Emperor's seed.

"There are differences among gods; some are not loyal to the Heavenly Emperor..."

Xiang Yuan stared at the dilapidated ruins ahead, muttering to himself, "Or is it that my inner world has grown powerful enough to disregard the will of these gods?"

The thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly remembered it.

Verification is quite simple; once you return to the Qianyuan Realm, go to the Earth Dragon Fortress and find a blood pool to test it out.

It's okay if you can't find it, there's still the White House!
As long as he asks, the rich woman will definitely not refuse him.

Although the rich woman was being unreasonable and throwing a tantrum today, Xiang Yuan generously forgave her because she wasn't a riddle teller, and decided to give her another chance to vomit blood.

A few steps later, the golden aura surrounding Xiang Yuan became increasingly gentle, even fawning. Seeing that Xiang Yuan liked it, it cautiously approached him to curry favor, letting him take whatever he wanted without any complaints.

loyalty!

In an instant, Xiang Yuan felt as if he had returned home, suddenly gaining a home-field advantage.

A few more steps, and around a crumbling wall, a corpse pierced by golden energy leaned against a broken pillar. The primordial spirit within the body had long been annihilated, but the flesh was filled with a destructive white light; to even look at it was excruciatingly painful, let alone touch it.

Xiang Yuan squatted down and examined him carefully.

Seeing that the man under the black robe was a burly, strong man, but with an honest and kind appearance, and not ugly, they guessed that he was one of the intruders and not a local.

"Let me guess, you were the first one to come in, and your teammates were protecting you in front of you..."

Xiang Yuan raised his hand and swept away the remaining golden energy. Just as he was about to make the most of it by planting a spider lily, the corpse, now deprived of the golden energy, instantly turned to ashes and vanished into a handful of fine dust in the air.

The opportunities left behind by the innate deities are not something everyone is qualified to enjoy.

Xiang Yuan frowned, and what bothered him even more was that in the instant the corpse dissipated, he keenly sensed a trace of incongruous demonic energy.

"An extraterrestrial demon?"

……

After losing Zhao Jiegang, the sect leader, the remaining four figures groped their way forward in the Golden Palace, the atmosphere so heavy it could be squeezed out of water.

They were enveloped in a thin black aura, a divine power bestowed upon them by extraterrestrial demons, which allowed them to barely survive in this murderous golden palace.

As long as they don't act rashly, the rampant and raging metal energy will ignore them.

The consequences of acting rashly...

Zhao Jiegang risked his life, setting a textbook example of what not to do. Relying on his protective supernatural powers, he insisted on testing the power of the metal energy, fantasizing about gaining an opportunity to acquire an invulnerable body like that of the ancient gods.

The four walked and stopped, gradually noticing some clues.

This Youshan is not that Youshan, and this Golden Palace is not that Golden Palace. If it were truly the Daoist temple of a primordial deity, none of them would be able to have a good time. Even the supernatural powers bestowed upon them by extraterrestrial demons would be useless.

They each had their own guesses, believing that although this place was the Golden Palace, it was not the complete Golden Palace, but only a fragment.

More likely, it's just a projection.

Ji Ao did not participate in the discussion. He walked silently at the back, looking around as if searching for something.

"found it!"

Old Ghost Bai let out an excited whisper, which drew Ji Ao's attention. In the center of the dilapidated ruins, golden energy and white light liquefied, forming a calm, waveless pool of water. Ji Ao immediately became alert.

Wang Liu and Qin Lie looked in the direction of the sound and, upon seeing such a terrifying creature, instinctively retreated.

Are you crazy, you old geezer? Don't you want to see what you've found? Is this an opportunity... is this an opportunity we can enjoy?

The pure, unadulterated golden energy was so sharp that only the Golden Palace could bear it. Not to mention a cultivator's physical body, even a magical artifact capable of carrying people and objects would find it difficult to bear this boundless weight.

Contact with it means certain death, mere touch means certain annihilation!

Old Ghost Bai realized something and shook his head repeatedly, saying it was a pity that he had entered the treasure mountain and returned empty-handed, which was truly heartbreaking.

Just as the four were about to head elsewhere, they suddenly heard footsteps behind them, neither too loud nor too soft, like those of someone strolling leisurely on a picnic. They were all startled, thinking that the three elders of the ancient god clan had caught up with them. They quickly stepped forward and stood in front of Ji Ao, the emperor.

"Hey, I found it!"

Xiang Yuan stared at the white pool of water ahead with shining eyes. He took off his black robe, folded it neatly, and put it aside. Wearing only a pair of shorts, he tested the temperature with his toes and then soaked in the water with a hissing sound.

()
He acted as if no one else was around, treating Ji Ao and the other three as if they were invisible.

The three of them, including Bai Laogui, were horrified as they looked at the pretty boy who completely ignored the golden energy and even managed to turn the great opportunity into his own. After a brief moment of shock, their eyes turned bloodshot, filled with extreme envy, jealousy, and hatred.

At the same time, a sense of doubt arose.

And who are you? x3
"..."

The most shocked was Ji Ao, who recognized the face from a picture book depicting past emperors.

King Mu of Zhou!
(End of this chapter)