From a martial arts disciple to a god through countless trials and tribulations

Chapter 231 The Phoenix Sutra

"Wow..."

A page of yellowed paper floated in the golden light in Chen Xuan's hand. On the paper was a landscape painting in ink wash, with a beautiful divine peak in the center, resembling the shape of Guyao.

"Is this the 'Guyao' chapter of the Classic of Mountains and Seas?"

Hua Liuli moved closer to Chen Xuan, very curious, and examined the fragments of the Classic of Mountains and Seas up close, feeling an aura of endless vastness.

Legend has it that in the beginning of time, the world of mountains and seas was born from a book called the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

But later, at the end of the Shan Hai era, the first person to emerge, Xin Zhai, found the Shan Hai Jing and broke it... Some of the fallen Shan Hai Jing fragments disappeared into the shadows, while others were obtained by humans and demons.

Thus, the ancient immortals and sages began to take the fragments of the Classic of Mountains and Seas and, following the clues, began to push them one by one towards those innate gods and strange beasts of the mountains and seas.

However, this event is so ancient that it is only mentioned in a few ancient temples.

Chen Xuan obtained a fragment of the Classic of Mountains and Seas and had ten days to study it. During this time, apart from practicing the "Great Stamp-Smashing Hand Seal," he spent the rest of his time researching this spiritual artifact from the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

“There are rumors in Yunmeng that the True Lord Taixuan entered Yaoguang Prefecture several times in the past in order to find the ‘Classic of Mountains and Seas: Guyao’ and reopen the Mountain and Sea,” Hua Liuli said in a low voice.

The two Zhangs from the Qingnang Dojo were also on the Two Realms Jade Boat at this moment, but they were elsewhere, not in this nine-story teahouse.

"Rumors? The 'Classic of Mountains and Seas: Guyao' has always been in the hands of the Mountain Spirit Goddess," Chen Xuan said.

“Who knows…” Hua Liuli shook her head and said, “I’ve interrogated Lao Zhang several times in the past two days, and I’ve used torture, but he doesn’t remember anything.”

“…Be nicer to him.” Chen Xuan said in a low voice, “This old Zhang is most likely connected to immortals.”

Emperor Jiang made it very clear: the Mountain Spirit Goddess suggested that he follow Tai Xuan and venture into Yunmeng Prefecture...

Leaving the Southern Wilderness of the Mountain Demon Goddess, heading to the unfamiliar Yunmeng, to the territory of other powerful forces?
Chen Xuan now strongly suspects that it might be a celestial being, whose level is too high... so high that even if True Monarch Baicao were face to face, he would not be able to detect anything unusual.

"Who cares? The old man is absolutely despicable anyway." Hua Liuli puffed out her cheeks and said angrily, "Actually, I noticed something was wrong a long time ago. No matter how cruel the torture, his tattered soul body just keeps him clinging to his last breath and he can't die..."

"..."

As the two talked, the Jade Boat of Two Realms passed through the entrance of Guyao Mountain, and a dark and gloomy space appeared before them.

“We’ve entered the Great Ruins,” Hua Liuli murmured.

The Great Void is omnipresent, connecting all the heavens and myriad realms. In theory, as long as one has enough strength, one can find any place through the Great Void... the hidden Shangyang Cave Heaven, the Peach Blossom Spring Secret Realm... the blessed lands of the two realm lords... even the Destiny Space.

But to achieve this requires unimaginable skill or special methods.

For example, the Guyao Mountain Secret Realm was of extremely high status, but it has fallen and is gradually drying up.

However, the powerful beings from Qingqiu and Xiaolong Palace still need to enter Yaoguang Prefecture and take a detour through the Southern Wilderness of the present world to find the exact location of Guyao Mountain... rather than descending directly from the void.

Only the Venerable One of Ten Thousand Generations was an inconceivable accident.

"Buzz!"

Chen Xuan turned around, raised his palm, and the fragment of the Classic of Mountains and Seas trembled and roared, with a dazzling golden light emanating from it.

"rumble……"

The entrance to Guyao Mountain slowly closed, obscuring all the scenery within.

Immediately afterwards, a huge transparent outline appeared in the chaotic and dark space, rapidly shrinking until it transformed into a golden bead, the size of a longan, which fell straight into the "Classic of Mountains and Seas: Guyao".

"You've hidden away the secret realm of Guyao Mountain!" Hua Liuli exclaimed in astonishment; the scene before her was utterly shocking.

No wonder Chen Xuan wanted to kick all the outsiders out!

"What happened? The entrance to Guyao Mountain has disappeared! And a terrifying energy fluctuation has entered the Jade Boat!" Everyone in the Two Realms Jade Boat noticed the anomaly and was filled with surprise and doubt.

The human cultivators and the ghosts of the Southern Wilderness were horrified, unable to see what was happening.

Only the two Zhangs from the Qingnang Dojo looked up at the nine-tiered teahouse.

Zhang Dongxuan couldn't help but turn his head and whisper to Old Zhang, "Master, the Qingnang Dojo originally planned to reopen the Mountain and Sea Sect, starting from Guyao Mountain... Later, you failed to become an immortal, and the matter came to nothing. Now..."

Old Zhang was like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment. He immediately rebuked:

"You ask me about everything? Am I your ancestor?! The new Qingnang Daoist is capable, just tell him to reopen the Mountain and Sea!"

He didn't understand why everyone believed he was the Supreme Mysterious Lord, as if he were truly omnipotent and omniscient.

“Master is the ancestor of the Zhang family of Qingnang. Otherwise, how could I, a mere child, be qualified to look like you?”

Zhang Dongxuan muttered to himself, shrank his neck, and sighed, "Guyao Mountain, the number one place in the world for ascending to godhood... has fallen into Chen Xuan's hands."

What kind of place is the Guyao Mountain Secret Realm?

An entire ancient mountain and sea renowned throughout the nine heavens and ten earths, an unparalleled immortal realm, was obtained by Chen Xuan alone.

It should be known that all the myriad realms and blessed lands were formed from the fragmented ancient mountains and seas.

For example, the blessed lands ruled by the two realm lords, and the hidden grotto heavens of the Shangyang Immortal... all originated from fragments of the broken ancient mountains and seas.

but now.

The entire Guyao Mountain, now containing fragments of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, is in Chen Xuan's hands alone.

"If one were to monopolize Mount Guyao as the place to ascend to godhood, the position of True Lord would be within easy reach... If Mount Guyao had the chance to revive as an ancient divine place, one could even seek to become an immortal."

Hua Liuli was breathing rapidly, staring at Chen Xuan with her eyes shining.

During the Shan Hai era, there was a naturally born deity named "Yao" who was buried in Guyao Mountain, which became the place where she ascended to godhood and eventually became a mythical figure.

In this era, after the mountain spirit awoke from her slumber, she also used Guyao Mountain as her place of ascension to godhood and erected the Goddess Shrine... Now, she has begun to seek immortality.

"I'll just temporarily safeguard Mount Guyao for the Mountain Spirit Goddess," Chen Xuan said casually.

"What she left for you, she must have specifically left for you Guyao Mountain!"

Hua Liuli shook her head and said decisively, "Even if it weren't for me and Shan Jun, you would still enter Guyao Mountain in the future, and Guyao Mountain would be yours to keep!"

Whether it's finding fragments of the Classic of Mountains and Seas or searching for the Earth Virtue Immortal Qi, Chen Xuan has too many reasons to enter the secret realm of Guyao Mountain.

Hua Liuli sighed, saying that the Mountain Spirit Goddess was too good to Chen Xuan, making everyone envious.

It is known that many people believe that once the Lord of the Two Realms ascends to godhood, she will be reborn and her fortunes will turn around, because she occupies a blessed land that is not subject to anyone's control.

Now, Chen Xuan owns a mountain with an even higher status, Guyao Mountain.

Even though this Guyao Mountain has deteriorated beyond recognition, it is still far superior to any ordinary blessed land.

"I am only at the first level of the Cauldron Realm, and it is still too early for me to leave the mortal world. It is not yet time for me to seek the land of ascension to godhood," Chen Xuan said.

He took charge of Guyao Mountain through the "Guyao" section of the Classic of Mountains and Seas. This was the first use he found after many days of research... More mysteries, such as the connection with Xinzhai, are currently beyond our reach.

When Chen Xuan was fighting Zhao Shenhu, he used the power of Guyao Mountain to repel a trace of Qingqiu's will.

Soon after.

Using an item from the Southern Wilderness as an "anchor point," Hua Liuli unleashed the secrets of the Green Bag, and instantly, countless strands of mysterious yellow light shone forth, bursting forth with numerous secret Feng Shui paths.

“Go left, and you’ll reach Tiger Mountain.” Chen Xuan scanned the surrounding area and, among the many feng shui secret paths, finally found a familiar spot.

About half an hour later.

Sweating profusely, Hua Liuli exhaled and said weakly, "We've finally arrived."

The location of the Guyao Mountain Secret Realm was once in the central region of the Southern Wilderness, a distance of tens of thousands of miles from Tiger Mountain.

If it were a fully-fledged expert traveling at full speed, it would take several days, but now, Hua Liuli used the lesser-complete Qingnang Secret Technique and only took half an hour.

As soon as it hits the ground.

Hua Liuli said nervously, "The Chilong God must have noticed Gu Yao's unusual behavior, and soon the Golden Crow God will also notice."

Once they leave Guyao Mountain, unless they flee far away immediately, they will likely face the mountain god.

"Well, it better find out soon."

Chen Xuan nodded slightly and said, "The Southern Wilderness will be quite busy from now on."

"You really want to go head-to-head with... the mountain god?"

Hua Liuli was astonished. Chen Xuan clearly intended to stay in the Southern Wilderness for a long time, which she found unbelievable.

She had fought against some Divine Travelers, but in the end, they almost always fled in a sorry state... Even the Martial Glutton, who ranked in the first tier of combat, had not gained much advantage against Divine Travelers.

“If it leaves the southern land of ascension and dares to cross the border to the north.”

Chen Xuan laughed and said, "I'll wait for it at Tiger Mountain." The Golden-Winged Roc and the Azure-Feathered Luan Bird, who had defected, knew where the Golden Crow God's ascension site was.

But that region stretches for tens of thousands of miles, and finding the true hiding place of the Golden Crow God is like finding a needle in a haystack.

"You're really bold..." Hua Liuli thought to herself, waiting for the Golden Crow God to come and die? This kind of thing is too exciting, making her heart pound like a deer.

This matter should be written into a storybook.

Hua Liuli thought to herself, but at this moment, she truly empathized with Zhao Shenhu's past feelings. This Chen Xuan, having become a furnace overnight, dares to touch anyone.

"You won't be coming to Yunmeng Prefecture with me anytime soon?" Hua Liuli asked immediately.

"It would be better to split up into two groups. I will only consider heading to Yunmeng Prefecture after Master Baigan has mastered his treasure."

Chen Xuan replied that cultivating to the Cauldron Realm requires a large amount of spiritual resources, let alone for a Qi cultivator like him who cultivates multiple true scriptures and consumes even more resources.

Now, with the southern wilderness in chaos and the Chu Kingdom engaged in endless wars, it is a good time to seize the opportunity and forge ahead.

Although Yunmeng Prefecture is a superior prefecture, its opportunities for advancement may not be as plentiful as those in Yaoguang Prefecture, which has just lost several True Lords and is currently experiencing a turbulent period.

Moreover, the matter of the Qingnang Dojo was not particularly important to Chen Xuan.

“If the Golden Crow God appears, immediately use the Two Realms Ship, and I will come from Yunmeng,” Hua Liuli said.

Then, she led the two remaining members of the Qingnang Dojo into the teleportation array in the nine-story teahouse and disappeared.

Preparing to reopen the Qingnang Dojo involves a lot of complicated work in the early stages... Just redeeming the old Qingnang land will probably take several months of planning, and there's no guarantee of success.

These tedious matters are better suited for someone like Hua Liuli, who runs a large business.

Even if Chen Xuan went, he wouldn't be of much use for the time being. It would be better for him to cultivate in the Southern Wilderness while waiting for the Golden Crow God to rely on his strength and forcefully cross over.

"Buzz!"

Chen Xuan put away the empty Two Realms Jade Boat, while the mountain lords and great demons left Tiger Mountain one after another, each returning to their own homes to search for their descendants.

"I wonder if Little White Fox has grown up yet," White Gantan murmured, turning and hurrying towards the depths of Fox Mountain.

"Woof!" In a secluded corner of Tiger Mountain, the little mountain dog dug out his "coffin." The false body inside had melted away, and he was a little stunned.

"Ah? Mountain Lord, your child is holding a godhood funeral for you. You truly share the same bloodline and are of one mind." The six-tusked white elephant exclaimed, "You are going to become the mountain god of the northern part of the southern wilderness!"

The mountain lord frowned, and then began to manipulate the white qi within a range of hundreds of miles to search for traces of Hu Da and his descendants.

Chen Xuan climbed to the top of Tiger Mountain and looked south.

Hundreds of thousands of miles away, there is a golden raven that will soon learn of his return to the Southern Wilderness.

"Does the Golden Crow God dare to leave the Ascension Ground like the White Fox God? Don't let me, a mere cauldron, underestimate you."

Chen Xuan thought to himself, and then he touched the storage treasure with his finger. There was a drop of Golden Crow Blood in the scroll... This was a congratulatory gift brought to him by Ao Guanglong God, who had issued a decree in advance that violated regulations.

If Hua Liuli were to use the secrets of the Green Bag, she might be able to trace the origins of the Golden Crow God through this drop of Golden Crow blood.

"Before heading to Yunmeng Prefecture, continue cultivating the True Scripture until you've exhausted your spiritual essence pills, then learn the Xing Tian Secret Manual, and also..."

"The Secret of the Green Bag".

Chen Xuan thought to himself, "In the Southern Wilderness left behind by the Mountain Spirit Goddess, there can only be one voice."

"If the Golden Crow God, this divine being, dares not come..."

“Take the initiative to go to its place of ascension and settle things once and for all.”

Then, Chen Xuan took out a high-level talisman from the landscape painting and sent his thoughts to the land tens of thousands of miles away.

……

The setting sun was like blood, amidst the clash of swords and the thunder of horses.

Outside Luoyue City, corpses lay strewn across the land, and the black bird banner of the Jiang family of Chu lay fallen by the roadside, stained with blood.

After half an hour, the large-scale battle finally came to an end, leaving behind the corpses of Qi practitioners with blood flowing in a winding stream.

The city walls were draped in white mourning.

"Princess, Luoyue City cannot be defended. The plant demons of Zhi Kingdom have gone mad." The head of the Pei family, dressed in scarlet demon-suppressing armor, climbed onto the city wall, covered in blood, and said in a solemn tone.

"The true ruler of Zhi Kingdom is dead, so of course they hate Chu Kingdom to the extreme."

Jiang Qinghuang spoke softly. Dressed in white, she was mourning Emperor Jiang, like a delicate white flower. But her expression was firm, and her phoenix eyes burned with a fierce flame like a phoenix.

Nearly a year later, she was still at the fifth level of the Daoist Canon.

When Chen Xuan parted ways with her, he smiled and said to her... "Princess, you are very talented. You should spend more time cultivating... so that you can become a cauldron as soon as possible and do more things."

However, Jiang Qinghuang was constantly preoccupied with the battles and did not achieve much in her cultivation.

"If His Majesty the Fire Emperor could... Alas." The Pei family head sighed. Just yesterday, the crimson glow dissipated, and the strange phenomenon of the True Monarch's fall had completely disappeared.

"The Chu Kingdom has a Fire Emperor and the Jiang Clan, and the Zhi Kingdom also has a True Lord behind it, as well as a powerful demon clan." Jiang Qinghuang shook her head and said, "The affairs of the mortal world can only be handled by the people of the mortal world themselves. The True Lord will not easily interfere in the mortal world."

If Emperor Jiang were to lower himself to attack the Qi practitioners of Zhi Kingdom, wouldn't the True Lord of Zhi Kingdom retaliate against Jiang Qinghuang and other mortals?

It's just a matter of mutual checks and balances!

Just as powerful figures like the Heaven-Mending True Lord and the White Grass True Lord would not intervene without reason, they would not target Chen Xuan, who was protected by the Mountain Spirit.

Therefore, when Baicao Zhenjun left Guyao Mountain, she did not rescue the demons such as Baihu'er Shen and Zhao Shenhu... She would not interfere in the affairs of her descendants.

Of course, if a True Lord is unburdened, or if the benefits of taking action far outweigh the drawbacks, or if the opponent has no True Lord to protect them, then the situation is entirely different...

"Princess, the royal city has issued an order that we must abandon Luoyue City and shrink our battle lines," the Pei family head said in a low voice.

"The territories and people we've abandoned cannot be recovered in a short time..."

Jiang Qinghuang looked sorrowful. She could see the situation clearly and knew that after the True Lord's fall, the stalemate on the battlefield would inevitably lead to turmoil.

Not only was the Kingdom of Zhi furious, but the Kingdom of Yu also seized the opportunity to cause trouble, and even the Kingdom of Ancient Ape, which was further away, was also stirring up trouble... The True Lord of the Kingdom of Ape also died at the hands of Emperor Jiang.

Jiang Qinghuang unconsciously rubbed some communication talismans in her sleeve with her fingertips. Among them, one high-level talisman was dull and had long been disconnected.

Occasionally, in the dead of night, she would speak to someone her age on the other end of the communication talisman, but never received a response.

The world is tough. That person probably went out to make a living and died somewhere.

But at that moment, the advanced communication talisman in Jiang Qinghuang's hand suddenly trembled slightly.

"Come to the Southern Wilderness and let's have a talk."

Jiang Qinghuang was slightly taken aback when a familiar male voice, steady and clear, landed in her heart.

Like a gentle breeze, it stirred up ripples.

……

……

Southern Wilderness, on Tiger Mountain.

Chen Xuan remained calm as he re-established contact with Jiang Qinghuang, discussed some matters, and arranged a time to meet.

Afterwards, he gazed at the brilliant sunset in the distance and pondered his next training plan.

A moment later, Chen Xuan sat cross-legged on the cliff and swallowed a Fire Virtue Pill that he had traded from Hua Liuli.

There are many things that can upset us, but only by making the most of every moment and constantly improving our abilities can we better resolve the problems we encounter.

"Buzz!"

Chen Xuan's spirit and body separated, drawing upon the immortal energy, which transformed into pure fire-element immortal energy, outlining a qi circulation diagram resembling a phoenix.

Fire element.

The Phoenix Sutra!

The Sun Spirit Essence of the Martial Glutton is still in the alchemy furnace under the control of the two realm masters, and the Martial Dao True Scripture cannot be deeply cultivated yet.

Thus, Chen Xuan officially began cultivating the first chapter of the Mountain and Sea Scripture!

Start with the sage's "Phoenix True Scripture".

(End of this chapter)