The Ancient Saint Emperor of the Heaven-shading

Chapter 120 Ying Huo Xing

A divine land from beyond the heavens fell, and the celestial bell of Mars tolled.

The changes in the past few days have been endless. The major events that have happened in the Big Dipper are puzzling. Even the sages from beyond the realm who have flocked to it are speechless. This ancient star is too strange!
The Celestial Venerable established his temple here, leaving behind a contingency plan; the ancient emperors came from afar and passed away here; peerless holy spirits also continuously perished here; forbidden zones of life stand in abundance, filled with mystery.

Now, people from all walks of life have gathered in Tianfang. Saints from different ancient star regions have come together to finally piece together many fragmented ancient secrets, making the outline of what happened back then gradually clear.

The moment the words "immortal artifact" were uttered, the scene erupted in chaos. Not only did the beings of the Big Dipper know very little about it, but beings from other star fields were also extremely interested, looking at the Great Sage who had spoken, hoping he could reveal more.

“This thing is even rarer than the Desolate Tower and the Immortal Cauldron.” Wang Hongwu inexplicably thought of the Desolate Tower, which he had seen twice. Compared to it, the Immortal Bell was truly elusive, and even the Emperor had not obtained it back then. Duan De, on the other hand, was very interested in this news. He moved a stool over and pushed the two men’s arms aside to make room for them.

"The Immortal Bell was born in Kunlun. It was the first artifact nurtured by the immortal mountain and contained the secret of an ancient destiny. When the Emperor attacked this mountain, the Immortal Bell flew away and was not obtained by him. Only then did the Immortal Cauldron come into being."

"Legend has it that the sound of the bell can restore a person to a youthful state, and the sound of the bell can cause a person to die of old age in an instant. Some people once believed that the time law contained within it could make people immortal and achieve the nirvana of time."

The group of sages spoke up, mentioning the terrifying power of the Immortal Bell, which had frozen the battlefield after Mars descended, causing widespread horror.

Of course, what makes people even more eager to pursue it is its power to reverse aging, because it is rumored that some people have been lucky enough to touch it and have actually been restored to their youth, which seems unimaginable.

However, some Great Sages shook their heads slightly, clearly not believing that the power of the Immortal Bell could truly achieve this. Otherwise, those who had attained enlightenment throughout history would have already pursued it, grasped it in their hands, and used it to achieve immortality. It wasn't that they didn't want to take it, but rather that they couldn't.

"Looking at it this way, Kunlun is quite a heaven-defying place, having given birth to two immortal artifacts in succession."

"That's right. Kunlun not only has the Immortal Bell and the Immortal Ascension Cauldron, but also the Kunlun Clan. It is said that their ancestors were also Dao Proving Masters, extremely powerful, and could be called royalty."

"Hey, speaking of the Kunlun descendants, those guys have been quite restless lately. Someone saw them come out of the Ancestral Dragon River in the Central Plains and linger in front of the Ziwei Sect's mountain gate for a while, but then they slunk away. If you ask me, these guys are really out of their minds, daring to go looking for trouble with the Sun King. They really have no eyes."

"Haha, they really don't know anything. The Ziwei Sect is at its peak right now. Who knows, even that deity might be watching. How dare they provoke them? Aren't they afraid that the Sun King will lead the Great Sage and the Imperial Army to wipe them out?"

As they talked, the group mentioned the Kunlun remnants again. When they learned that these guys had also wandered around the Ziwei Sect's mountain gate, a cold glint flashed in Wang Hongwu's eyes, and he had the idea of ​​making a big move to kill them.

Ultimately, these guys were at odds with the Emperor and everything in the Heavenly Court, determined to fight to the death. They even went so far as to cooperate with the Undying Emperor, handing him the Immortal Bell stained with Kunlun blood for temporary use, so that they could assassinate the Emperor at the moment of their sect's ascension.

Whether it's the entanglements with the ancient Heavenly Court or the struggle for the Taiyin Human Emperor Seal, he will inevitably clash with this lineage, leading to a major battle. It's better to weaken it early to avoid future troubles.

"In the end, it all comes down to fate. If you want to go to Mars, you can't hesitate. Many saints have already embarked on this journey, as have the young beings who came out of the forbidden zone back then. None of them wanted to miss it."

"It's not just that. Many of the royal ancestors have gone there, the divine organization and the Kunlun descendants have also made moves, and there's also the underworld and the Holy Spirit lineage. Nobody is at peace. I think it's going to be another bloody storm."

"Who says otherwise? Strictly speaking, it is a site of divine war ruins, and there must be a lot of good things left behind. Think about it, the weakest participant was a quasi-emperor, so wouldn't that mean that the scriptures, materials and corpses there are very precious?"
Even a mere fragment of a weapon is a profit, let alone the possibility of finding a near-royal weapon, or even a true weapon for proving one's Dao!

Clearly, the Immortal Bell is captivating, and many beings yearn for it, even rushing there to try their luck. Even Duan De is tempted; for him, it might be a vast treasure trove.

However, many cultivators were still shaken, shaking their heads with wry smiles. "This... I'm still very worried. The Divine Land Killing Scheme is still in sight, and then another Immortal Bell appears. It's hard to believe."

"Yes, yes." "What if it's another trap? There are many opportunities, but a human life is only once."

As soon as these words were spoken, voices of agreement immediately arose from all sides. Clearly, the Chaos Divine Land had wronged them terribly back then, and they were still feeling lingering fear.

"Shall we go explore Mars?" The unscrupulous Taoist priest was intrigued and looked eager to try. He even thought that there might be some of his memories left there.

"No need," Wang Hongwu thought, realizing he had no particular need, and was about to refuse when his gaze suddenly sharpened. He saw a Taoist priest riding on a blue lotus rising into the sky, heading towards Mars. He immediately changed his mind, "Let's go! Let's go see Mars too!"

Huh? What's going on? Duan De was taken aback. Just as he was about to ask why he had suddenly changed his mind, he also noticed the figure and blurted out, "Damn it, it's that old guy! He's going to Yinghuo too?!"

As if connected by breath, the Taoist also saw Duan De, smiled slightly, and bowed with his whisk, as if greeting an old friend he hadn't seen for many years.

When he saw Wang Hongwu, he sensed the presence of the elixir of immortality and the sword, and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, his expression somewhat subtle.

"Amitabha." When the young Taoist looked over, it was as if two muffled thunderclaps struck the heavens and earth. They were two solidified bolts of lightning that shot up into the sky in an instant, their power reaching the heavens.

"What 'Boundless Heavenly Venerable'? I'm the Bright Venerable!" Wang Hongwu also opened his Sun and Moon Heavenly Eyes to meet his gaze. His eyes were a million times brighter than a divine lamp, like two suns condensed and burning fiercely.

With a deafening roar, thunder roared in the sky. The shockwaves caused by their eye contact shot straight into the heavens, shattering the meteorite and startling many people who stared in bewilderment.

At the same time, stimulated by the power of the Boundless Heavenly Venerable, Wang Hongwu's Pre-Word Secret began to operate, and he saw a series of chaotic scenes of the future. Just as this disordered observation was about to end, the bronze wheel in his body trembled slightly, making one of the scenes clear.

It seemed that deep within Mars, there existed an ancient cave overflowing with chaotic light, like a node on some road. Within it, another broken bronze wheel emerged, drifting amidst a patch of dark bloodstains.

"What exactly does this Boundless Heavenly Venerable want to do?" Wang Hongwu took a deep breath, feeling a little puzzled. He hadn't expected the wheel to guide him towards Mars.

As far as he knew, there was also a section of the path to immortality there, which later became the place where the Immortal Emperor underwent his transformation.

"Fellow Daoists, Yinghuo is not a safe place; it will inevitably lead to bloodshed. It's best not to get involved."

Withdrawing his gaze, the Taoist priest floated up into the sky, a precious wheel formed by the fusion of the five elements of divine light hanging high behind his head, and chaotic energy overflowing beneath his feet. He was truly extraordinary, leaving behind only a single sentence before disappearing without a trace.

"Hey?! Daoist Master has such a temper. The more that fox tries to stop him from going, the more Daoist Master insists on going. Damn it, let's go, let's do him a job, we have to give him a good beating!" Duan De couldn't stand his unfathomable demeanor, and was so angry that smoke was snorting from his nostrils. He rolled up his sleeves and was about to rush over.

Wang Hongwu's eyes flickered, but he already had a plan in mind. Since the other party had said so, he would find some helpers to keep things under control.

He wanted to see what kind of treacherous place could possibly harm the powerful backer behind him!

In an instant, the two headed straight for Sunset Ridge in the Southern Region.

Meanwhile, in the northern region of the Eastern Wilderness, outside the Ancient Emperor Mountain.

The Kunlun descendants arrived and gazed at this extraordinary terrain. The leading Saint King narrowed his eyes and said, "What an incredible terrain! It ranks among the top in the universe. It gathers the essence of nine dragon veins and contains it within the Dragon Pearl. The nine dragons guard the pearl, and all creation is contained within it. The scheme laid out by the Heavenly Emperor in the past is indeed extraordinary. The nine mountain ranges are merely green leaves; the most important thing is this Ancient Emperor Mountain."

As he spoke, he led his people down to the entrance of the ancient Huangshan Mountain.

As the sacred land of the eight divine descendants, this place is naturally guarded by powerful figures day and night. Upon seeing a group of saints descend, they naturally became vigilant. Soon, an ancestral king appeared and coldly blocked their way, saying, "Forbidden land of the gods ahead, those who come must stop!"

"Hmph, no need to put on airs. Not to mention your ancestors' divine generals, even the Undying Emperor treated us with respect. If it weren't for our help back then, how could he have ended the mythical era and created a golden age where all races were revered!" However, the remnant clan sage didn't care and spoke in a condescending tone, lecturing them.

Hearing these arrogant words, many of the Eight Divine Descendants felt very uncomfortable, their faces showing a dangerous expression. In their eyes, the immortal gods were supreme, so why would they need any help? These so-called Kunlun descendants were truly too arrogant!

"The Kunlun Remnants? Why aren't you searching for the Immortal Bell at Yinghuo Mountain? What are you doing here at Ancient Emperor Mountain?" another ancestral king of the Sun and Moon Tribe questioned, harboring no goodwill towards these fellows. Although they were also enemies of the Heavenly Court, the two sides had no real relationship. However, this back-and-forth questioning made the remnant clan's sage impatient, and he immediately shouted, "I came to Ancient Emperor Mountain to search for the Immortal Bell. If you've forgotten our past ties, then find someone who can speak on your behalf!"

Just then, a voice rang out from the depths of the Ancient Emperor Mountain. It belonged to the Great Sage: "Guests from afar, bring them in. The events of that year will be explained. As for the Immortal Bell, we still have something to discuss."

Seeing this, the Eight Divine Descendants welcomed the group inside.

They went straight to the center of the clan's territory and met the elder saint and a magnificent high platform.

On that high platform, a figure sat cross-legged, noble and sacred, his entire body shrouded in five-colored light, making it impossible to see or discern, only a profound majesty permeated the air.

After explaining their purpose and exchanging words, the scene quieted down. The Great Sage did not speak, but instead stood with his head bowed at the feet of the descendant of the god, seemingly waiting for that person to make the decision.

"Since that's the case, let's go to Yinghuo. It just so happens that I have an opportunity there."

Finally, on the highest platform in the center, the noble figure sitting cross-legged spoke. His entire body was shrouded in a divine halo, making it impossible to see clearly. Only his purplish-red hair hung down, giving all the Kunlun descendants a sense of horror, as if the other party's bloodline was terrifying.

“I never expected that the Immortal Emperor would have descendants, but according to the records, that one should be…” The leading Saint King had a strange expression, then, as if he had thought of something, he silently closed his eyes.

"Such a bloodline is probably no less than that of the Emperor's own son, right?" The other remnant saints were also quite shocked, feeling that this matter was extraordinary. One was the master of the ancient Heavenly Court, and the other was the master of the Undying Divine Dynasty. Both were great figures who had shaken the world.

However, the events of that year are shrouded in mystery. After establishing the divine dynasty, that emperor seemed to have changed, as if he had become a different person.

Looking at the bewildered Kunlun descendants, the Great Sage of Ancient Emperor Mountain also showed a smug expression. This was the true bloodline of the gods. He just didn't know what path they had chosen.

As if sensing the Great Sage's thoughts, the figure on the high platform looked over indifferently and said coldly, "Only the weak make choices; the strong are born to possess everything! My path is to have it all."

The cold voice echoed, silencing the mountains. The nine dragons bowed their heads, and the Kunlun descendants and the eight divine lineages all lowered their bodies in awe.

While the Big Dipper is gaining momentum, the journey to the stars has already begun.

As early as the time of the ancient Heavenly Court, Mars and the Big Dipper were connected by an ancient star road and communicated with each other through a five-colored altar. Therefore, there was no need for slow flight, which saved a lot of time. Otherwise, a round trip would take years.

Urged by Duan De, Wang Hongwu, who had found helpers, ascended the Five-Colored Altar from Zhongzhou. As for the star map coordinates there, they were provided by the Divine Organization. They also sent people there, led by another main god named 'Tianluo', determined to obtain certain things.

"Old Duan, how long will it take to go back and forth?" "Yinghuo is not far away. Using the Five-Colored Altar to travel, it will take at most half a year to go back and forth."

Within the passageway constructed by the five-colored altar, the two figures appeared very unstable, constantly leaping through the void, seemingly bored and having nothing to do except cultivate.

The cold universe was silent and dark, and the desolate starry sky was occasionally illuminated by starlight, which was fleeting. They saw many stars along the way, but very few of them were alive, let alone had developed into a cultivation civilization. In the vast universe, life-bearing star fields were extremely rare.

Although sages can traverse the stars and survive in the universe, they still need coordinates and five-colored altars to save travel time. Otherwise, how could they traverse so many ancient star regions? The distances are too far, and no one can bear losing hundreds of years of lifespan just by going out.

Three months later, on the ancient starry road, a spatial node trembled and flashed with a brilliant light, and they finally arrived at the other end of the five-colored altar.

Below them, a dark red star appeared, growing larger and larger in their eyes.

In the surrounding void, streaks of light could still be seen piercing the darkness; these were the other saints who had arrived, and there were quite a few of them.

Yinghuo, an eerie and malevolent star, welcomed the arrival of the two.

The moment they landed, they heard shouts of men and roars of beasts, a deafening battle cry. Looking into the distance, they saw an ancient battlefield, with clashing swords and flashing blades, and a murderous aura soaring to the sky.

"Is the scene from the past reappearing? Is it the war of the gods from back then?" With their divine eyes, Wang Hongwu and Duan De were naturally not intimidated by the scene. Instead, they looked around with great interest. Ancient trees towered nearby, full of vitality, and various ferocious birds and beasts appeared, as if they had come to a wild and desolate land.

The five-colored altar beneath their feet sat atop a majestic mountain. On that battlefield, banners fluttered, and powerful warriors filled the air. Each one possessed extraordinary abilities, capable of moving mountains and filling seas. Their clothing was not ancient; it could be said to be from the Primordial Era, only a considerable period of time ago.

"Kill! Protect Mars, drive out the demons!" "The path to immortality, the chance for eternal life, charge in!"

Their mounts were galloping through the void, and magical treasures were flying everywhere. All of them were saints fighting each other, and this was only the lowest level of the battlefield.

The real battle was in the sky, where great saints gathered, and even on the outer perimeter, quasi-emperors were fighting, while in the center there was unimaginable terror.

"This battle was deliberately provoked by someone, causing a bloodbath in the forbidden zone. Please calm down!" Nine enormous azure dragons swept across the sky, pulling an ancient war chariot into the battlefield. The terrifying pressure surged, stirring the hearts of those who had lived for countless ages. The powerful figure on the chariot, dressed in ancient imperial robes and wearing an emperor's crown, tried his best to stop the chaotic battle, roaring and shaking the heavens.

"The path to immortality is here, what is there to remain calm about?" "Everything is for the sake of longevity, those who obstruct my path, kill!"

"Only a blood sacrifice can open the way forward, so let's slaughter all the living beings in the entire planet Yinghuo!"

However, the responses were mostly cold and frenzied; everyone's eyes were bloodshot, and they went on a killing spree, driven mad by the legendary 'immortal'.

"That was a quasi-emperor of the human race, perhaps a powerful figure from the native land of Yinghuo," Duan De judged. However, the illusory memories of this battlefield had their limits; the Dao traces of a quasi-emperor were already the limit, and the figures fighting in the center were completely invisible.

Wang Hongwu, however, was taken aback. After carefully examining the chariot, he said, "It is indeed a remnant of the War of Gods. The owner of that ancient chariot was originally from Yinghuo? The Primordial Dragon Chariot was indeed left behind by a quasi-emperor who participated in the War of Gods."

Without lingering, the two walked straight out and immediately saw a huge rock not far from the Five-Colored Altar, with two ancient characters carved on it: Yinghuo.

Upon seeing this giant rock, the deafening shouts of battle ceased, the strange phenomena dissipated, and the ancient star before them underwent a dramatic transformation.

As the wind rises, the ancient star Mars turns crimson, covered in sand and gravel, and the arid Gobi Desert is devoid of any life.

This place was once vibrant with life, teeming with powerful beings, but for some unknown reason, it triggered a war of the gods, which wiped out all civilization and extinct all living beings.

"I suddenly realized something was really serious. All life on the ancient star had died out, but where were their bodies? They've all disappeared!" Duan De suddenly felt a chill run down his spine as he realized an important question.

Wang Hongwu also felt immense pressure here. Mars was definitely extraordinary and could not be judged by ordinary standards. Too much was buried here, recording a heavy and terrifying history. It involved a great battle at the level of emperors, which was sealed in the dust of time, but has not yet dissipated.

At this moment, the saints who had arrived from all over the world also appeared. Exploring downwards from the five-colored altar, they discovered a huge ancient star. Apart from the battlefield covered in red earth, only the giant sea eye on the north side of the star remained, as if it had buried everything and covered the outside world.

"Was this the work of the victors of the ancient war? To prevent the entire ancient star from turning into zombies, they sealed the battlefield inside the sea eye?"

The saints were filled with astonishment and doubt, for the space was vast! There was nothing else left on the entire surface of the star, leaving them completely bewildered and at a loss for what to do.

"Quick! Follow them! The forces of the Underworld have opened the Sea Eye! They must have discovered something else." Just then, a shout came from afar, attracting everyone's attention.

Wang Hongwu and Duan De looked over and saw the figures of the underworld's forces appearing at the eye of the fire. They had opened the eye of the fire using an unknown secret method!
(End of this chapter)