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

Chapter 277 The alchemy furnace is lit, refining an entire generation of prodigies.
The sky above and below was bathed in soft, gentle light, like clear mountain water.

Chen Xuan looked up, trying to see the scene in the radiance, but that gentle ray of light left too quickly, appearing only briefly before disappearing like a stunning rainbow, as if Shangyang Cave had never existed.

Did the Mountain Spirit Goddess's gaze truly appear?

In those gentle, watery eyes, there seemed to be a hint of approval.

"..." Chen Xuan turned around, and the immortal energy and mist surged beneath his feet, their bright light as serene and peaceful as a moonlit night.

He felt lost and desolate, surrounded by nothing but emptiness.

Surely the goddess seeking immortality alone wouldn't appear over such a trivial matter? Chen Xuan thought to himself, after all, it was only a minor achievement...

Everyone on Qingnang Mountain was in a daze and didn't make a sound.

Chen Xuanrong mastered the Eight Qi True Scripture, accomplishing something unprecedented in history? Those with higher cultivation levels remained silent, utterly astonished.

At the foot of the mountain, the stunned black horse suddenly spoke, breaking the silence: "Sword Fairy, you always think that martial arts kid is no good, and you always underestimate him!"

Then, it spoke quite seriously: "His comprehension and talent are rare throughout history. In ancient times, only the ancient immortals and sages who pioneered various paths of Qi cultivation possessed such abilities. This martial arts lad has the potential to open up new paths!"

Su Fuyao was lost in thought. Chen Xuan's comprehension and talent had repeatedly exceeded her expectations, seemingly reaching an inexhaustible level. Moreover, she strongly suspected that Chen Xuan had consulted her immortal seed golden elixir treasure while practicing the Eight Immortal Qi True Scriptures in reverse.

The dark horse spoke again: "Sword Fairy, you stand too high. You need to put down your arrogant attitude... It's no longer the time when a mere immortal seed prodigy can dominate the world!"

The Sword Fairy finally came to her senses. The golden light she had just seen on Chen Xuan had been incredibly shocking.

In the sky, Chen Xuan floated down. Old Zhang, who had regained his position as the leader of the Qingnang Sect, immediately circled around him and stared with his turbid old eyes as if he were looking at a monster.

"Young Chen, the problems with your cultivation are numerous and leaky on all sides," Old Zhang said, adopting the air of a wise elder.

"I don't have a better way, so I can only make do with this for now," Chen Xuan said helplessly, spreading his hands.

All the necessary conditions—time, resources, knowledge, and so on—were met. If we still couldn't extract the Plague Department's "Human Emperor's True Scripture," there would probably be no chance of accomplishing this in the future... Fortunately, we succeeded by sheer luck.

“Your hasty and reckless cultivation will inevitably lead to serious problems sooner or later… There must be a deeper reason why the ancient immortals and sages never tried to create or practice this path.”

As Old Zhang spoke, he suddenly changed the subject and muttered, "Is enlightenment really simpler than drinking water and eating? ... Some of the young people of this generation are all like demons and monsters."

Comprehension, among all the so-called talents, is the most mysterious and special. A timely moment of enlightenment can extend a path that has reached its end a little further.

The Heart Fasting Immortal Technique was originally impossible to master, but after some haphazard modifications, it was forcibly mastered.

Chen Xuan had no chance of continuing to study the Shangyang Secret Manual, but he managed to piece it together and patch it up, and forcibly mastered it.

“One event might be an unexpected moment of enlightenment, but two in a row can’t be explained by chance,” Old Zhang murmured. He was deeply shaken, but he didn’t want to show it to Chen Xuan, the little guy.

Not long after, Chen Xuan walked down Qingnang Mountain, where Hua Liuli was calling to him.

"I knew you could do it, you never disappoint!" Hua Liuli praised with shining eyes and a joyful tone.

The stronger Chen Xuan becomes, the stronger she becomes.

The chosen ones [Two Realms Masters] tend to focus on development and leveraging their strengths to gang up on enemies. Their individual combat abilities are inferior to those of the more battle-hardened chosen ones [Martial Glutton] and [Eternal Venerable]. Although it is rumored that the Two Realms Masters will experience a turnaround after reaching the level of "Conquering the Mortal World," other chosen ones should also undergo dramatic changes.

"This time it was really a stroke of luck," Chen Xuan explained. When he first cultivated the Shangyang Secret Technique on Guyao Mountain, he had a premonition that he would succeed, so he was able to move forward with unwavering determination.

But this time, in order to melt down the "Human Emperor's True Scripture", he almost went all in and nearly failed.

Chen Xuan immediately fell into deep thought. What were the people from the Heaven-Mending Dojo up to? Resources from the Plague Tribe were scarce in the eastern part of the Southern Region, so they sent [Mysterious Plague Netherworld Qi]. Apart from him, no one else in Qingnang Mountain had any use for this item.

"How do you feel?" Su Fuyao walked over and asked, her eyes like sharp swords, openly scrutinizing Chen Xuan's unparalleled immortal body, seemingly searching for a weakness.

But not much could be discerned; Chen Xuan's physical body seemed flawless.

"Not bad!" Chen Xuan nodded truthfully. This time he had gained a lot. His Eight Qi were perfected and transformed into a golden light. He felt that if he could unleash it, he might be able to go head-to-head with the Sword Fairy's golden egg.

"Sword embryo, shall we spar?" he said directly.

“Heh…” Su Fuyao smiled, her jade-like fingers gently stroking the hilt of the sword.

"Why don't you use a sword instead of pressing your limits?" Chen Xuan continued. He knew that the Sword Fairy possessed a certain supreme sword technique, but she couldn't use it at a lower level.

Hua Liuli was shocked to hear this. Chen Xuan was going to challenge the Sword Fairy? The Immortal Seed Sword Embryo was the number one young person in Yunmeng Shangzhou, and was a level higher than other geniuses such as Han Shuangjiang.

Su Fuyao, alone with her sword, even forced the young [Eternal Venerable], who had just awakened his destiny and entered the cauldron, to go to the Central Divine Continent.

of course.

The progress of most chosen ones follows an increasingly rapid curve, with a stamina far exceeding that of those born with immortal seeds. Several years later, when [Eternal Venerable] first entered the pantheon of immortals, he ranked ahead of the Sword Fairy.
"You want to take this opportunity to spy on my sword embryo and golden core!" Su Fuyao raised an eyebrow, displeased.

"Is that alright?" Chen Xuan asked directly. He really wanted to use the battle to carefully study Su Fuyao's golden core and learn from her experience.

"Of course not!" Su Fuyao immediately shook her head and refused: "In a simple duel, I'm probably no match for you!"

She may seem foolish, but she's actually incredibly smart. It's impossible for her to reveal her biggest secret to him while being beaten up; their relationship isn't that close.

Moreover, she is ultimately a sword immortal who values ​​killing most, and is not good at sparring with room for maneuver. Facing Chen Xuan now, only a life-or-death sword duel without holding back can give her the confidence to win.

But she had no grudge against Chen Xuan, so there was no need for her to do this.

During their first sparring session, they almost lost control at the last moment, nearly resulting in a bloodbath.

"So you're already feeling guilty and avoiding the fight?" The black horse looked at the sword fairy in surprise. It knew that Su Fuyao really wanted to get revenge on the martial arts kid, but now, she had given up on that idea.

Su Fuyao immediately glared at the black horse, thinking to herself, "Does she really want to take another beating from this martial arts brat and make a fool of herself? Besides, I reckon my body can't withstand more than a few punches from him now..."

It's a pity that all that martial arts she recently learned was for nothing... She really isn't good at martial arts.

"Alright," Chen Xuan said regretfully. The silly Sword Fairy was working behind closed doors and was a bit petty.

Immediately, he changed the subject and asked curiously, "Sword Embryo, are you going to the Dark Region to attend that Mountain and Sea Banquet, and then open up a new state to ascend to godhood?"

In the world of Qi cultivation, apart from the disciples of powerful forces who occupy auspicious locations, most other "unaffiliated" cultivators choose to ascend to godhood in places like Taixu or the desolate, broken, and dark regions.

Safe states where humans, demons, and other creatures dwell.

It was gradually opened up by one after another wandering cultivators, who bravely and single-handedly suppressed evil spirits.

This was a great achievement, so a temple was built for him and he was deified.

"Of course! The White Cloud Sword Master originally chose an ordinary ascension site for me in Yunmeng Prefecture, but the old sword master and the others went to Qingming Prefecture last time and suddenly changed their minds and were willing to let me leave the mountain gate."

Su Fuyao chuckled softly, "Whether we can escape the control of the True Monarchs and our masters depends on this Mountain and Sea Banquet."

According to the hidden rules of the cultivation world, almost all immortal geniuses will be severely cut off when they travel in spirit, sometimes even multiple times.

Otherwise, if the immortal seeds are allowed to grow wildly and unruly, how can the veteran True Monarchs sleep peacefully?
This is also one of the important reasons why some of the most talented immortals in certain eras lost to others of their generation when they finally became True Monarchs.

In a terrifying environment where there is no hope of advancement in the lower realms, some immortal beings attempted to resist, only to be ruthlessly wiped out by the True Lord...

Those destined for godhood will also encounter similar situations. When they ascend to godhood, various alchemy forces that are secretly lurking and spying will make some moves in the process of mutual competition.

"Is the Sword Inquiry Dojo wary of you?" Chen Xuan asked doubtfully. He had thought that the Old Sword Lord and other True Lords were righteous Qi practitioners who hated evil.

In the world of Qi cultivation, the reputation of military swordsmen has always been quite positive, with very few vicious individuals among them... At the very least, when sword cultivators do bad things, they usually do it in person.

"The Great Dao is ruthless, it has always been so." Su Fuyao said softly, "After all, if it weren't for the twelve Golden Core Immortals of the [Immortal Palace] suppressing things in the heavens, every immortal seed could become an immortal."

"So confident?" Chen Xuan was surprised.

The Sword Fairy's tone is always so arrogantly presumptuous; do the other immortals know this?
But upon closer examination, it seems to make some sense, since the Immortal Seed is the seed of the Immortal Rank. If one cannot become an Immortal Rank, why not call it the seed of the True Lord?
"Do you know why, in the past, only one immortal seed was usually born in each of the five realms?" Su Fuyao asked, sensing that the martial arts boy seemed to be questioning her.

"Why?" Chen Xuan asked.

"Someone wants to ask the question again, so the rest of you should stay away for the time being."

The Sword Fairy's explanation was calm and even.

She then told Chen Xuan a secret: after the Immortal Seeds were forced by the True Lord to cut themselves, they gradually lost the opportunity to seek enlightenment. Cracks would appear in the Immortal Seed Golden Core, and in some severe cases, the Immortal Seed Golden Core would even disappear.

Some Immortal True Monarchs in the Qi Cultivation Realm have actually lost their Immortal Golden Core.

Chen Xuan immediately recalled Zhao Zhenjun's golden core, which seemed to be covered in cracks and had a dim light, as if it would collapse at any moment... The Sword Fairy's young golden core was not actually that new either.

"Among the Celestial Palace and the True Lords of the present world, there are hardly any truly good people." Chen Xuan thought to himself. Of all the True Lords he had met so far, only Emperor Jiang was a True Lord whose character could be considered good.

Not long after, Su Fuyao led his black horse and took his leave: "Gentlemen, the Mountain and Sea Banquet is about to begin, so I will not stay at Qingnang Mountain any longer. See you another day!"

She put on her veil, the curtain fell, obscuring her exquisite and perfect face. She turned and left, her white robes fluttering, exuding a heroic and dashing air.

This is Su Fuyao's last journey in the mortal world. With her black and white swords, she will speak out against injustice and fight her way to the dark region of the central Southern Domain.

Chen Xuan turned to look at Hua Liuli and asked in confusion, "What is the Mountain and Sea Banquet?"

“Su Fuyao said that during the cataclysmic era 100,000 years ago, a banquet of mountains and seas seemed to have been held... The attendees were all outstanding figures of the time, including the later deity and immortal,” Hua Liuli replied.

This is a magnificent event that affects the entire world and is related to the immortals. It is only possible to hold such an event in a world where there is a great struggle for the emergence of countless immortal beings.

After all, the current backdrop of the Great War of True Lords Seeking Immortality already bears some of the characteristics of those "catastrophe" and chaotic times recorded in history books.

"Why didn't you go with Su Fuyao?" Chen Xuan asked, as Hua Liuli had also been "invited".

The Mountain and Sea Banquet is bound to be an opportunity that even ancient Taoist temples and powerful True Lords would covet.

“I don’t like joining in the fun.” Hua Liuli shook her head, then sighed, “The [Immortal Palace] fell into that area, and many True Lords and great figures disappeared. I’d better stay in Yunmeng Prefecture and obediently ascend to the position of Goddess!”

Those destined for greatness are often targeted, unlike the Sword Fairy Su Fuyao who can freely venture into areas frequented by many True Lords—it's simply too unsafe.

Chen Xuan wanted to join in the fun and see the magnificent world, but the "Mountain and Sea Banquet" completely ignored him.

While silently observing the direction and trajectory of the Sword Fairy's movements within his field of vision, he casually asked Hua Liuli:
"What's the situation in Yunmeng Marsh lately? Have all the Demon True Monarchs of Taiyi Forbidden Land gone missing?"

Hua Liuli said, "Someone saw the True Lord riding the snail fish in the Taiyi Forbidden Land. He appeared in the Dark Region and should have disappeared with the Immortal Palace."

Unless a True Monarch reveals itself, it is difficult for lower-level cultivators to observe a True Monarch. They can only infer the True Monarch's condition through subtle clues.

"Great!" Chen Xuan immediately perked up and turned to go up the mountain to find Zhang Dongxuan.

In the central Daze region of Yunmeng Prefecture, there is a cave dwelling left by the Shangyang Immortal, which is most likely still undiscovered... Moreover, the Supreme God Ye Kui seems to be hiding in that region as well.

……

At this moment, Zhang Dongxuan sat in the temple, extending one palm as if holding a book. He was examining the world in his palm, a geomantic map formed by condensed immortal energy, radiating a mysterious light.

"Senior Zhang, what are you looking at?" Chen Xuan asked as soon as he entered the temple.

"To spy on the current situation of Yunmeng Academy, tens of thousands of miles away," Zhang Dongxuan replied, as he was using a feng shui technique for spying.
"Hmm?" Chen Xuan asked, puzzled.

Zhang Dongxuan glanced at Chen Xuan and explained calmly, "That old fellow, [Five Laws True Lord], has entered the Dark Region. As soon as bad news about him spreads, I will immediately take action and wipe out all his disciples and followers."

“…Impressive.” Chen Xuan’s eyes darted around. Zhang Dongxuan was truly filled with boundless hatred and incredibly vengeful.

No wonder it is said that the rise and fall of a True Monarch-level power depends entirely on the True Monarch himself. If he falls, the power will immediately decline, or even collapse and perish.

"It's just a despicable act... I'm not capable enough, so all I can do in this life are these shameful things."

Zhang Dongxuan spoke frankly and without any hesitation, then raised his eyes and asked, "What do you want with me?"

Chen Xuan then explained his purpose: "Is this matter safe?"

Zhang Dongxuan pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "There is more than one demon lord in the Taiyi Forbidden Land. They will definitely arrange for one lord to stay behind... The Shangyang Cave is in their territory. Once it is opened, it will be discovered. It is only natural that they want to share the benefits."

The logic is simple: if an outsider discovers a treasure trove at the foot of Qingnang Mountain, the Qingnang Dojo will definitely want to get involved.

There's no way around it; the secluded cave of the Immortal Shangyang must be an excellent feng shui location. And the world's best feng shui locations have long been divided up by powerful forces.

"In this cultivation world, it's so difficult to do anything..." Chen Xuan sighed. He was unlucky. Unlike the reclusive masters in supernatural tales, the Shangyang Immortal didn't like to open caves in barren lands.

There's no need to get into a conflict with a behemoth like the Taiyi Forbidden Land over some chance encounter... We can only wait until after we've cleared the dust of the mortal world.
But a few days later.

Chen Xuan was consolidating his immortal body, which was blessed by the "Eight Qi Heavenly Fate True Scripture," and digesting the unstable realm he had been advancing in a short period of time.

They heard the shocking news that the Demon True Lord of the Forbidden Land of Taiyi had encountered an unexpected accident.

……

Darkness shrouds the land, amidst decaying ruins, ancient buildings crumble, and withered blood stains the land for miles.

Rumble!
In this ruin, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and the True Lord passed through, creating a terrifying scene. They made no attempt to conceal themselves, illuminating the entire night sky.

Some of them were like stars streaking across the sky, leaving trails of blood; some rode black scorpions at breakneck speed, their hair disheveled; some displayed towering figures that stretched for tens of thousands of miles, their blood-stained footprints leaving trails that stretched for thousands of miles with each step…

The missing True Lords have reappeared, as if they were on the run?

"The celestial palace wasn't destroyed; it descended to the mortal realm on its own! A trap?!"

"Mountain and Sea Banquet..."

"There are immortals who are alive, but decayed!"

There were five or six True Lords fleeing, but Taixu was sealed off by a mysterious force and could not be opened. They were immediately discovered by the Immortal Palace.

"Crack!"

From the depths of darkness came the terrifying sound of chains grinding together. A withered hand reached out, its wrist wrapped with a broken bronze chain. The aged hand, carrying a mysterious yellow light, shattered the space around it.

In an instant, the entire Nine Netherworld was turned upside down, and the directions of heaven and earth were completely disordered. All the fleeing True Monarchs and great beings seemed to be standing still, and then they were all sent flying backward, falling into that huge hand like dust.

"The universe is in your sleeves!"

"It's that ancient Taoist temple where people once ascended to immortality..."

Under these circumstances, some True Lords roared, recognizing the origin of these immortal techniques, but their voices stopped abruptly. They could no longer escape; even if such an opponent was decaying, they were still invincible.

In an instant, all the True Lords vanished, the light extinguished, space collapsed, and darkness surged down once more like a tidal wave.

"What's going on?" In a very distant place, some Qi practitioners who had traveled a long way to search for their missing True Monarch were trembling with fear upon seeing this scene.

Soon after, news of this scene spread, causing great panic. Subsequently, the news flew like snowflakes to the three thousand states of the Southern Region and even further afield.

The whole world was in uproar and shocked.

……

“A Qi practitioner saw a True Lord in the Taiyi Forbidden Land being grabbed into the Immortal Palace by a large hand that appeared to be extended by the immortals.”

Hua Liuli recounted the latest information about the Qi Refining World, then said with lingering fear, "They said that place is off-limits... 'Sleeve Universe'? Sounds like some kind of ancient Earth Virtue Immortal Technique? I need to investigate its origins carefully."

Yunmeng Shangzhou is one of the most prosperous states in the Southern Region, where news travels very quickly.

"This is unexpected, and the situation is quite serious," Chen Xuan muttered to himself.

Originally, the Celestial Palace only occasionally interfered with the mortal world, but about half a month ago, it was suspected that a certain True Lord used the foundation of the ancient Daoist temple to specifically destroy it, which greatly excited the world.

But at this moment, the situation has undergone a dramatic change, and the amount of information contained within is truly despairing.

The mortal lords of the world joined forces to attack the Immortal Palace, but in reality, the Immortal Palace completely ignored the mortal lords, treating them like mosquitoes.

Everyone was stunned when they heard the news, and then their minds were shaken, causing widespread panic.

There may still be living immortals in the celestial palace!
"What's the panic? Isn't it expected that there are immortals, or similar immortals, in the Earth element?"

"There's still no news of my lord..."

"It is said that many young people who have been listed in the list of immortals have been conscripted and sent to the dark area in the center of the Southern Region."

"Could it be that the Celestial Palace fell because of the Mountain and Sea Banquet?"

Various speculations spread like wildfire. It is said that many True Lords who had originally secluded themselves in ancient Daoist temples and "did not want to get too involved" in the battle for immortality felt intense doubt and unease. The last recorded Mountain and Sea Banquet was 100,000 years ago.

This spans such a long period of time that even the oldest and most powerful being in the world of immortals and ghosts—the Nine-Life True Monarch—did not experience that era.

On Qingnang Mountain, Old Zhang murmured, "Having guessed there was a conspiracy, the Immortal Palace will not be easily destroyed."

Zhang Dongxuan wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "Yes, even Master has fallen from grace beneath the Immortal Palace. Only a thousand years have passed in the world, so the Immortal Palace is far from being so weak as to be defeated."

Tai Xuan Zhenjun once dominated the Southern Region for six thousand years, and many people believed that Tai Xuan was the number one Zhenjun in the Southern Region.

In this world, there are very few Great True Monarchs who can rival Tai Xuan of yesteryear... What Tai Xuan couldn't do, no one else should be able to do either.

A few days later.

Chen Xuan stabilized his cultivation level and continued to cultivate the Wood Virtue "Xi Qu True Scripture" of Yunmeng Academy.

He possessed a nine-headed white jade lion's head as a trophy. After asking the Little Black True Monarch of the Heart-Purifying Heaven to refine and purify its energy, he obtained a Tao Hongchen-quality spiritual pill to aid in cultivation.

This is a Lion's Head Elixir of the Tao Hongchen level, with intense medicinal power, pure white like jade, and nine layers of cinnabar patterns.

“Cultivating one true scripture is more than enough; a few licks each day will be sufficient to sustain my energy.” Chen Xuan planned meticulously.

Moreover, the cyan peaches and the slightly inferior [Mysterious Plague Netherworld Qi] still retain some medicinal power within the body and have not been completely refined by the immortal body.

Therefore, Chen Xuan was not in a hurry to swallow the Wood Virtue Elixir.

"Brother Chen!" But soon, Wang Chengjian, a direct disciple of the Tianhe Sword Sect, came to visit.

Wang Chengjian was a peak-level cultivator who had been listed at the end of the Immortal Register. He was also a few years older than Chen Xuan, but out of respect for Qingnang and recognition of Chen Xuan's strength, he spoke with great respect.

"The Mountain and Sea Banquet is being held. My second grandfather and I received invitations today and will be attending!" Wang Chengjian announced.

His second grandfather was none other than Wang Linyuan, the renowned swordsman of Yunmeng Prefecture, who was about sixty years old.

The scale of the Mountain and Sea Banquet's invitations gradually expanded from the most outstanding immortals to a wider range, even including those who had previously been listed in the immortal register.

"This is good news! I wish you all the best, Brother Wang." Chen Xuan said, clasping his hands in a fist salute, his eyes filled with sincerity.

“This…” Wang Chengjian returned the greeting, hesitated for a moment, and carefully chose his tone before saying, “Brother Chen, have you been summoned to the Mountain and Sea Banquet? We can travel together.”

The Mountain and Sea Banquet is a grand affair, attended by true heroes from all five directions. In this region, Qingnang is revered, and Wang Chengjian hopes to band together with Chen Xuan, Hua Liuli, and other noble figures to witness the truly grand spectacle.

"My cultivation level is still too low, and I have never been listed in the Immortal Register, so I was not invited," Chen Xuan said calmly.

"Ah? How could this be!"

Wang Chengjian was immediately taken aback and said, "With your strength and status, how could you miss such a great opportunity? This Mountain and Sea Banquet is truly blind to recognize a true hero!"

He didn't understand and felt indignant... The Immortal Palace had fallen for more than a month, and there was no latest version of the Immortal Register in the world recently. Could it be that Chen Xuan was not listed in the Immortal Register because of this absurdity?

Not long after, Wang Linyuan, who had visited Zhang Dongxuan, descended the mountain and left with Wang Chengjian.

Chen Xuan watched their spirited backs as they walked away, then observed the various points of light drifting in his field of vision.

“A few days ago, Tianyandao, that scoundrel, left the area of ​​the Heaven-Mending Dao Field.”

The Heavenly Evolution Path's destiny is terrifyingly strong. A few months ago, it first appeared at the end of the Southern Region's Immortal Ranking, but by the time the final version of the Immortal Ranking was published, it had already entered the top ten.

"The grand gathering of all geniuses in the Immortal and Ghost World is being held... but I cannot attend."

Chen Xuan sighed. If he had awakened in this world and immediately started cultivating, he might have been at the peak of cultivation by now, having saved those three wasted years.

Instead of feeling lost, she quickly adjusted her mood and continued her practice step by step.

……

More than half a month later.

Chen Xuan cultivated the Wood Virtue Rhinoceros Qu True Scripture to the Cauldron level and began to complete the last missing piece of the Five Elements in the Mountain and Sea True Scripture. Because of his experience, this was not too difficult and progressed quickly.

But soon, something happened that greatly annoyed him.

"You were also invited to the Mountain and Sea Banquet?!" Chen Xuan stared wide-eyed at Emperor Yan Ming Xiaohou, who had just finished dealing with the three-year agreement, and asked incredulously.

"There are others?" Xiao Hou looked shocked, his teacup trembled slightly, and the tea rippled.

He was still in a weak, rising stage and had not had much contact with high-status geniuses, so he was unaware of the specifics of the Mountain and Sea Banquet.

Most of those destined for greatness come from humble backgrounds and are still far removed from the truly significant events in the Qi cultivation world. It will take many years for them to gradually close the gap with figures like the Sword Fairy and Nanmian.

Xiao Hou still needs a few more years to mature.

"These guys... they've gone too far in bullying me." Chen Xuan thought angrily.

Because Xiao Hou's cultivation level was similar to his, and neither of them had ever been listed in the Immortal Register!

Emperor Yan Ming cultivated fire magic alone, practicing only the "Emperor Yan True Scripture." The resources he needed for cultivation were many times less than those needed for Chen Xuan, so his advancement was equally rapid, no slower than Chen Xuan's.

"I was also planning to invite you to join me in exploring opportunities..." Xiao Hou said regretfully.

He originally thought that the Mountain and Sea Banquet was an opportunity exclusively for him, so he specially invited Chen Xuan, who cultivated the Qingnang Technique, to explore and rise together. However, he did not expect this result, which caused quite a joke.

"I appreciate your kind offer, but I won't go. There are other opportunities." Chen Xuan shook his head and refused.

Immediately, he asked, "How's your three-year agreement going? No unexpected issues?"

He noticed that Xiao Hou was injured, indicating that he had likely been in a dangerous battle.

"It's all resolved," Xiao Hou replied. Relying on his own strength and with the help of his master Xuan Jie, he successfully fulfilled the three-year agreement and repelled an enraged Shenyou in one fell swoop, displaying his divine power and ending the old grudge.

He is already famous throughout Huoling Prefecture. Now, he has left his impoverished hometown and is about to step onto a bigger stage in the future.

Xiao Hou was originally worried that revealing his strength might be noticed by powerful beings, so he devised a detailed escape plan with his master from the Xuan Realm.

Surprisingly, despite the current turmoil in the world of immortals and ghosts, not a single True Lord has shown up to target him.

Two days later, after resting, Emperor Yan Ming Xiao Hou set off alone to embrace a wider world.

"Brother Xiao, please be careful on the road!" Chen Xuan said goodbye to an acquaintance once again.

As he watched Xiao Hou's departing figure, he speculated in his heart: "Perhaps the Mountain and Sea Banquet is not based on the list of immortals... but simply because most of the geniuses have been listed in the list of immortals, thus creating an overlap."

He had learned that each of the immortal registers came from the [Immortal Palace].

The mysterious force that hosted the Mountain and Sea Banquet should be at the same level as the [Immortal Palace], but not in the same faction.

"It's just a chance encounter. So many people are vying for it. How much will they actually get in the end?" Chen Xuan commented nonchalantly.

He has been paying close attention to the situation in the Yunmeng Great Swamp area recently, waiting for the right opportunity... Shangyang Cave Mansion is also an opportunity for immortals!
It is said that the powerful demon lord who stayed behind in the Taiyi Forbidden Land once secretly set off to the Dark Region to investigate the situation of the [Immortal Palace] from afar, but on his return, he was surrounded and attacked by some unruly "petty" lords.

The demon lord was seriously injured. Upon returning to the Taiyi Forbidden Land, he immediately closed the Great Swamp area and halted the activities of outside Qi cultivators.

……

time flies.

That night, Chen Xuanrong fused with the Cauldron Chapter of the Rhinoceros Qu True Scripture, his entire body was enveloped in azure clouds, and a jade rhinoceros horn grew from his forehead. The Rhinoceros Qu Divine Body perfectly merged into the Shangyang Immortal Body.

"The Five Elements Classic of the Mountain and Seas version has finally been completed, and my strength has been greatly enhanced."

"Hoo!" Chen Xuan slowly exhaled, muttering to himself, "My Five Hidden Treasures Martial Immortal Body is now close to completion. It will be difficult to make significant improvements in the next stage."

For the past three years, he has devoted more than half of his energy and resources to this so-called "limitless" Immortal Ascension Technique.

The Heavenly Mandate Sequence, Yin-Yang and Five Elements Plague, totaling eight true scriptures.

The Mountain and Sea Sequence comprises nine true scriptures in total, representing the Five Elements.

Among them, the two sacred scriptures, the "White Tiger True Scripture" of the Metal element and the "Phoenix True Scripture" of the Fire element, govern all the scriptures and can temporarily suppress the conflict of various mountain and sea beasts' powers, but they are about to reach their limit.

"The first half of the common Shan Hai Zhen Jing is relatively easy to collect, but the Sage Scripture is a secret passed down only by the major ancient Taoist temples."

Those direct descendants of ancient Daoist temples all have special restrictions set up by the True Lords. After death, some traces of them will turn into ashes, which are used to guard against the underworld and prevent the leakage of sage scriptures, immortal techniques, etc.

The night sky is deep, the sun hangs high, and the moonlight, like clear frost, spreads across the ground, creating a sense of lonely chill.

Chen Xuan walked out of the Glazed Tea Room and strolled along the bluestone path, pondering a solution to merge the Heavenly Mandate and the Immortal Body of Mountains and Seas into one.

This is troublesome because even if we solve the immediate problem, once another powerful method is added in the future, the hard-won balance will likely collapse completely again... We need a thorough and permanent solution.

"The Secret of Shangyang is indeed not something that humans can learn... There are just too many difficult problems, one after another."

Chen Xuan sighed inwardly, and then he ran into Hua Liuli.

“The summons for the Mountain and Sea Banquet has become very clear recently… it’s calling me to attend.” Hua Liuli said, her whole body shrouded in a hazy moonlight, making her breathtakingly beautiful.

“…Hmm.” Chen Xuan didn’t comment. Everyone could hear the voice, but he was the only one excluded.

But the next moment, something unexpected happened.

"This is..." Hua Liuli suddenly floated up, and strands of golden seal script emerged from her body. These were the scriptures of the Qingnang "Dangkang True Scripture" and various Feng Shui secrets, which were resonating with some mysterious will. The scriptures were transformed into strands of sacred light rain, covering her body.

Then, without giving her any time to react, Guangyu forcibly carried her and flew towards the dark sky in the distance.

Chen Xuan arrived instantly, activating his nearly perfected Five Treasures Martial Immortal Body, intending to give chase. However, Hua Liuli left too quickly. In an instant, she tore through the sky, traversed the Great Void, and disappeared as if she were a flying immortal.

At this moment, she seemed to have become a true deity, traveling thousands of miles in an instant.

"Buzz!" Chen Xuan immediately used the [Mysterious Wind Spirit Water Concealing True Chapter] to try to lock onto Hua Liuli with the Green Bag Technique, but the Feng Shui Dao kept changing its position and still could not capture Hua Liuli. Her movement speed was just too fast!
"Boom!" On Qingnang Mountain, Zhang Dongxuan awoke instantly, unleashing his supreme divine travel power. His perfected Qingnang Secret Technique erupted, and a dazzling golden heavenly path stretched for thousands of miles, but he still couldn't catch up with Hua Liuli.

"Was she captured by the Mountain and Sea Banquet?" Chen Xuan asked.

This is like being forced to attend a banquet; you have to seize the opportunity whether you want it or not.
"Hua Xuan Nu is blessed with great fortune and extraordinary talent... Some of the karma from the Qing Nang inheritance has descended, bringing with it great terror and great opportunity."

Zhang Dongxuan pondered for a moment, then turned to look at Chen Xuan, who was standing still, his eyes filled with great doubt: "Why isn't Xiao Chen going to the banquet?"

We always talk about cause and effect, and tonight, finally, a trace of cause and effect, as legendary as it is said, has appeared out of nowhere and cannot be stopped.

But Chen Xuan had received numerous Qingnang Daoist teachings and many karmic connections from those destined for heaven... yet there was no reaction whatsoever.

"..."

Chen Xuan blinked, his expression unchanged, and said, "I don't know either... I've been paying attention to the Shangyang Cave recently."

Perhaps Xinzhai's status was too high, obscuring the perception of the organizers of the Mountain and Sea Banquet... This explanation seems quite reasonable, doesn't it?

That's not reasonable.

Although it is difficult for great cultivators to directly observe Chen Xuan of Xinzhai, Chen Xuan's reputation is now quite high, and he is known in many places. There are many ways to sense him indirectly, so they should not overlook him.

Unless the mysterious force that convened the Mountain and Sea Banquet does not belong to the world of immortals and ghosts?

"Old Zhai, it seems like everyone looks down on you, yet you just can't live up to their expectations," Chen Xuan sighed inwardly.

Xinzhai and Tianming Xianzhong are both evil entities.

However, if one always practices fasting, one will be treated differently and targeted by more people.

Chen Xuan gazed at the star-studded night sky. One by one, the familiar faces around him had all departed to attend a grand event that would impact the entire world.

I have no friends around me.

It felt rather bleak.

The night wind swept up the maple leaves on the ground, passing through Chen Xuan's field of vision. He returned to continue his cultivation. His will to seek the Dao was as firm as a rock, and he would not be shaken by a few trivial matters. He would move forward steadfastly.

……

Late at night, Chen Xuan, who was meditating, suddenly heard a series of celestial music. Jade tables were gradually set up, and celestial mist surged. Then, ancient trees such as peaches and crabapple trees rose into the sky, and divine scenes appeared. In a daze, he saw countless star-like figures falling down, as if a celestial banquet was being held.

"What happened?" His heart pounded. Was he daydreaming, secretly attending the Mountain and Sea Banquet in his dream?

Is Xinzai making its move?
Chen Xuan was momentarily stunned. In an instant, the scene before him changed drastically. The sounds of fighting were deafening, smoke filled the air, and flames soared into the sky. The Mountain and Sea Immortal Banquet had turned into a bloody battlefield, and blood-stained stars fell from the sky.

"boom!"

The boundless flashes of swords and the surge of immortal arts were like a dream of a thousand armies. Then, his pupils contracted as he saw some familiar figures!

"Wow!"

In the center of the boundless battlefield, a tall figure in a cyan-gold robe, wearing a blue crown, was fleeing on a beam of light, seemingly escaping the pursuit of enemies. Was that the Southern Emperor, the Immortal of the Imperial Palace, who always fled at the first sign of trouble...?

Chen Xuan shifted his gaze, and more scenes came into view.

Inside a massive three-legged alchemy furnace, Emperor Yan Ming Xiaohou seemed to have become the alchemy material. Burning in the divine fire, he lay on the edge of the furnace, cautiously peeking out with a blank stare.

"boom!"

In the distance, in another alchemy furnace, there was an incomparably domineering and heroic figure, holding a golden sword embryo with a coiled azure dragon. With a dazzling sword strike, he overturned the furnace, and divine fire poured out like a lake.

He emerged from the Thunder Pool, his body stained with blood, his long hair wildly dancing. Then, like an unparalleled god or demon, he soared into the sky, seemingly attacking an enemy in the heavens...

"Eternal Venerable One..."

Chen Xuan was astonished and felt awe and wonder, but then he saw that the two realm masters Hua Liuli, Tianyan Dao Fanxianzhi, Jidao Shen Ye Kui, Liuyu Tianyan Yushu... were all being refined by the divine fire in the furnace.

There were also several other figures with dazzling presence, some dressed in imperial robes and others in nine-colored jade armor, but they all looked rather miserable at the moment... Were they the chosen ones from other places?

The immortal seed is being hunted down, and destiny is being refined into elixirs?
A scene of madness, chaos, and bloodshed—this is the truth behind the Mountain and Sea Feast, a spectacle that occurs only once every 100,000 years!
"Are all the geniuses and outstanding individuals in the Immortal Ancient World just ingredients, to be used as delicacies at a banquet?"

Chen Xuan tensed up. The Mountain and Sea Banquet, which he had been quite interested in, turned out to be such a terrifying sight!

At the same time, he was worried. Hua Liuli and Yan Yushu were his good friends, Xiao Hou was a decent person, and Fan Xianzhi deserved to die, but at this moment, the chosen ones were all facing dangerous situations.

Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. He turned around and saw something terrifying staring at him!

within sight.

The clouds flowed silently, and a pure golden vertical pupil dripped a large amount of scarlet blood like a waterfall. The dragon's eye hung in the sky, looking down at the scene below the clouds.

The Eye of the Candle Dragon!

Millions of bronze chains intertwine, extending into the depths of the clouds. Thick, sticky blood of the Candle Dragon drips down the chains like a curtain of rain, obscuring the sky and creating a scene of utter desolation.

Chen Xuan was originally prepared to fight, or to immediately sever the Xinzhai.

But at this moment, what was behind them was actually the Eye of the Candle Dragon, an ancient behemoth that stood at a much higher and more distant level than the [Immortal Palace].

The secret behind the Mountain and Sea Banquet is the Candle Dragon!

"Whoosh!"

In a daze, Chen Xuan saw dazzling, crimson-gold scales sliding by, outlining the body of a colossal creature.

He was unable to move, and the Candle Dragon's Eye filled the sky dome, staring at him intently.

Countless whispers and frenzied voices filled Chen Xuan's mind, instantly filling his soul with thousands of thoughts.

"The most vicious, the most wicked, the most evil—Xinzhai has arrived—"

Who made the choice?

"..."

(End of this chapter)