The Ancient Saint Emperor of the Heaven-shading

Chapter 98 The Ancestral Vein of Central China, Lingtai Conjecture

Zulongchuan is located in the most central area of ​​Zhongzhou. It is vast and boundless, and has existed for a long time since the various races migrated to this land.

This is a mysterious and fertile land, rich in legends.

Some say that in the years before the rise of the Primitive Lake, there was a giant who was invincible and could travel through the five major regions without encountering a worthy opponent. However, after arriving at Zulong Mountain, he mysteriously perished and his life was extinguished.

Some say that after Wanlongchao migrated to Beidou, a prince once strolled through Zhongzhou and by chance entered Zulong Mountain. When he returned, his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, but he remained silent about the secrets behind it.

Even in recent times, a similar event occurred 20,000 years ago. Eight ancestral kings joined forces to search for ancient sites at Zulong Mountain, only to be suppressed by a corpse that appeared out of nowhere. They were trapped there for 500 years before they were able to return.

Zulongchuan, as the core area of ​​Zhongzhou, has its own unique ecology, which is mysterious to outsiders and shrouded in a layer of mist.

"The forces from the underworld have arrived so quickly, which means they have quite a few nodes in Zhongzhou as well." Wang Hongwu's expression turned cold as he looked at the group of ghost soldiers in the distance. Zhongzhou was their stronghold, yet it had been infiltrated so deeply by the underworld without them even realizing it.

After we get back, we must carry out a thorough cleanup.

"How strange! There are so many tombs in this mountainous region? The burial practices of your various races are really unconventional. You don't even use coffins; you just bury people on the spot in pits." Duan De had made a discovery, digging out some skeletal remains. Zulongchuan is full of mountains, and there are many wild tombs underground. He had already dug out twelve in a short time.

Wang Hongwu, who was familiar with this matter, pondered. There were many and varied rumors about this region. Some people said that it was a place where immortals could ascend to heaven, and according to the old folks, they had seen people ascend to heaven on clouds.

Some even say that this is an incomprehensible place, with many burial mounds underground, where people are practicing cultivation in order to prove their Tao through their corpses, unknown to the outside world.

Some people also say that when the rift in the Immortal Realm appeared in the past, an Immortal Lotus fell here.

This leads to some powerful figures of certain races trying to bury themselves in the underground of the Ancestral Dragon Mountain when their time is up, hoping to make a final stand by using the essence of dragon energy and the yin energy of the earth veins. However, very few succeed. The most recent example is an ancestral king who successfully transformed tens of thousands of years ago and shone brightly for a period of time.

At this moment, they had already approached the Underworld's forces and discovered that these people were watching a battlefield where rare and precious treasures had appeared, causing a dispute.

It was night, and a silver disc hung high in the sky, its bright moonlight bathing the earth. A waterfall cascaded down in the distance, shimmering around a mountain cave.

Ahead, as the underworld officials watched, three powerful beings were lingering, facing each other.

In the east, a powerful three-headed lion roared, its golden wings shimmering. Its body resembled a roc, but its lion head was ferocious, with gleaming white teeth, and its four limbs gripped tightly onto a cliff.

In the west, a giant, human-faced monkey, hundreds of feet tall, pounded its chest and roared, shaking the mountains and rivers. Each breath it exhaled was like a surging tide, and its fur shimmered and shone.

In the north, a colorful centipede with thousands of legs crawled in. It was as long as a river and its body was covered with a layer of five-colored jade stones that shimmered and sparkled. This was a strange insect king with terrifying venom.

Wang Hongwu opened his Sun and Moon Heavenly Eyes and could clearly sense that these three beings had all reached the Holy Realm. Each of them possessed profound cultivation and had been hiding in the Ancestral Dragon River for countless years.

The small mountain they were surrounding was shaking violently, with silver waterfalls cascading into the sky, encircling the azure clouds, and stirring the starlight and moonlight, connecting together like a great dragon soaring. The source of this strange phenomenon was the cave, which was also the place that the people of the underworld were seeking.

"I understand now. The ancestral root of Zulongchuan is alive and can move around. This place is where it stayed, and the dragon energy it left behind naturally formed a treasure!" Duan De suddenly realized something and his eyes lit up. He urged Wang Hongwu, "Little Fire Dragon, we can't miss this opportunity. If the Underworld takes it, it will be aiding the enemy. What a loss!"

Wang Hongwu nodded in deep agreement. He used his Heavenly Eye to look through the five kinds of divine light at the dragon cave and saw a green light flashing. The cave was like a green stone basin with six drops of agate-like divine liquid inside, which smelled fragrant.

Each one was as big as a lychee, without a single impurity, its emerald green color captivating, and it emitted a sound like a tsunami. The true dragon blood within his body rippled, emitting a longing murmur. Clearly, the essence nurtured by this dragon vein would greatly benefit him, enhancing his strength. There was no reason not to miss it.

Just as they were observing, the underworld forces made their move, throwing out an array diagram that the Ghost Saint had personally crafted. It instantly enveloped the area, trapping the three strange beasts. Taking advantage of this moment, they swarmed forward and snatched the six clumps of ancestral dragon marrow, their fragrance intense and penetrating to the very bones.

"Go!" The leader of the Yin generals showed joy on his face. He turned around and threw out a Saint-level array pattern that concealed his figure and merged into the void as he fled. Without stopping, he led the group to join up with Yan Luozi's main force. However, Wang Hongwu and his men suddenly appeared halfway and shouted repeatedly, "Attack! Attack!"
He took the lead, charging straight ahead like a true dragon soaring through the sky. In the instant he raised his leg, his magical power shattered the void, reaching the extreme of speed.

As he evolved the incomplete form of the character, he regarded the Saint-level magic array in front of him as nothing. His blood energy surged like a sea, and with one foot, he shattered the defense of the leading Yin general and destroyed the protective light barrier.

This person possessed profound cultivation and was originally hidden in the void, but he had nowhere to hide in front of him. Terrified, he attacked with a semi-saintly weapon, but he still couldn't defend against it with this kick. The weapon shattered and was crushed to pieces by Wang Hongwu.

Then, a burst of blood-red light erupted, terrifying the people of the underworld. This Sun King was extremely violent; one of his feet pierced through the chest from the underworld, and the moment his knee bent, it smashed the boy's forehead bone and crushed his primordial spirit.

It was too fast and too urgent. It rushed past without stopping at all, and a powerful man was blown to pieces and killed, with blood splattering everywhere.

"It's the Sun King? We can't fight him, run! Run!"

"Go and report to Lord Yama, the target he is looking for has appeared!"

The underworld crowd in the arena was immediately thrown into chaos. Some stayed behind to block Wang Hongwu, while others fled to try and send out a message.

Seeing this, Duan De threw out an array flag, and the source techniques and Dao patterns directly trapped this area, preventing anyone from escaping.

"Yanluozi? He's here too, that's perfect!" The golden crow's cry shook the heavens and the earth, crimson clouds and divine patterns filled the sky, Wang Hongwu was like a phoenix reborn from the ashes, his hair flying, his eyes flashing with cold lightning, he swept away the many underworld soldiers with the ease of a wave of his hand.

Some people exclaimed in surprise and couldn't help but turn their heads to see his unparalleled combat power. He had actually made great strides in the Dao-Slaying Realm and reached the sixth level. If this continued, wouldn't he soon achieve mastery?

He crossed his hands and grabbed, and blood-red chains of divine order emanated from every pore of his body. Like a phoenix spreading its wings, a huge firebird appeared on his back and disappeared into the front.

Ah! A scream suddenly rang out. He melted a meteorite from outer space, turning it into magma that poured down, burning the creatures of the underworld. Even the primordial spirits within their foreheads were burning, emitting heart-wrenching screams.

In an instant, flames burst forth, and he single-handedly wiped out the local forces. He obtained all six dragon marrows and quickly retrieved the sacred map that the Underworld had thrown out. He then grabbed a Yin soldier and, with Wang Hongwu, turned around and arrived at another area, avoiding the sacred beast that had charged out in a frenzy.

Then, eager to try, he grabbed the Yin soldier and began to probe its soul. He quickly learned, "There really is such a thing as the Immortal Transformation Pool? How did those guys in the Underworld know its location?"

"The ancestral vein of Zhongzhou is in that pool?" Wang Hongwu asked in surprise. He knew about the Immortal Transformation Pool, but he did not expect that it had a deep connection with the ancestral vein of Zhongzhou before it was severed.

Duan De glanced at him, somewhat speechless, and said, "You, a person from Zhongzhou, are asking me? I'd like to ask you the same thing."

However, judging from these guys' memories, it's most likely true. That Immortal Transformation Pool seems to have some interesting aspects. Some say that immortal lotuses fell into it, others say that immortal corpses were buried there, while the Underworld speculates that there are fragments of the Immortal Ascension Cauldron inside, and perhaps even the legendary Dream Essence.

After hearing what he said, Wang Hongwu couldn't help but ponder. There was indeed a legend in Zhongzhou that there was a pool of immortal transformation deep in the ancestral vein, but how it was formed was hard to say.

However, Wang Hongwu had a vague guess: since the Five Domains of the Big Dipper were essentially the physical bodies of the Chaos Body, and the Central Plains Ancestral Vein evolved from its Dragon Transformation Secret Realm, could the Immortal Transformation Pool, which is connected to the Ancestral Root, possibly be its Immortal Platform?

With this conjecture in mind, he decided to continue his journey with Duan De and quickened his pace. If he wanted to set up an array to attract dragon energy, he naturally couldn't be slower than those guys from the underworld.

During their journey, the two also observed the terrain and searched for rare and precious artifacts. Duan De also passed on some of his Origin Techniques to him, which, combined with the Myriad Dragon Nest Secret Technique, evolved into a Dragon-Seeking Technique more suitable for the Central Plains. In the past half month, they had already discovered eight ancient coffins in the earth's veins, all containing the corpses of Saint-level beings. Under the ravages of countless ages, they had lost their divine power, and even their weapons had rotted away.

“A colossal dragon lies prostrate in this vast Ancestral Dragon River, which must contain unparalleled divine essence. However, this region is simply too vast. I suspect that over the years, it may have even developed sentience.” Duan De exclaimed in amazement. Wang Hongwu also frowned, standing in the sky, looking down at the boundless Ancestral Dragon River, where the awe-inspiring dragon energy could be seen gathering.

This aura is very special; only those who cultivate the Origin Technique and the Dragon-Seeking Technique can see it. It is actually a great dragon that runs across the Central Plains. It is too magnificent, containing endless vitality and the mystery of life and death. Perhaps people in ancient times glimpsed this secret and thus came here to perish.

However, the dragon vein is too large, making it difficult to determine where the precious marrow it contains is located. Moreover, there are many false dragons involved, making it difficult to distinguish the real from the fake. Even Wang Hongwu, using his dragon-seeking technique in conjunction with his Heavenly Eye, found it difficult to pinpoint the exact location, limiting his search to this area.

"It must contain a dream-level divine essence, comparable to an elixir of immortality, and it has most likely already transformed into a living being." In the end, Duan De made a judgment, indicating that they should be careful, because if they really saw a holy spirit emerge here, it would be a big mess.

Upon hearing this, Wang Hongwu felt a chill run down his spine. He had genuinely killed a Holy Spirit, making him a natural enemy in the eyes of other Holy Spirits. This was not a good sign.

Boom!

As they were talking, half of a majestic mountain in the distance collapsed, and a dilapidated bronze chariot rushed out, pulled by three decaying celestial horses, which looked quite strange.

Behind them, a king dressed in an old dragon robe and wearing a rusty dragon crown drove a carriage. His face was ashen and lifeless, but he was chasing after a group of underworld servants who had somehow provoked the big guy.

"An ancestral king has transformed into a corpse king and is driving a carriage for people. I know, these guys must have wanted to subdue this sacred corpse through spiritual means, but they didn't expect to run into someone who already has an owner!" Duan De laughed gleefully. Wang Hongwu also looked over and, sure enough, inside the dilapidated bronze carriage, there was a jade figure more than ten feet tall, with a purple body and flowing light, which was very peculiar.

That is a Holy Spirit! He attained enlightenment as the Purple Jade King and has existed for at least several thousand years, far surpassing the Ancestral King.

"Don't be too happy yet. Let's follow those people from the underworld and take advantage of their momentum." After a moment's thought, Wang Hongwu decided to follow them to find a way, which would also help them avoid the Holy Spirit. This guy was clearly a Saint King-level being.

Upon hearing this, Duan De used his Source Technique to conceal himself, and the two of them directly entered the underground dragon vein. Following the underworld's troops, they traveled through many twists and turns for three days and three nights before finally stopping.

They arrived at a pristine place, before which lay a vast lake, its waters shrouded in mist.

Nestled among the mountains lies a vast lake, its blue waves stretching for thousands of acres, boundless and vast, like a sea.

The surrounding ancient trees are gnarled and twisted, some even taller than the mountains. The grass is lush and the air is filled with the fragrance of medicinal herbs. Many old vines are so thick they seem frightening, winding from one mountain to another.

"Is this the Immortal Transformation Pool? Are you sure it's not the Immortal Transformation Lake?" Duan De began to question the professionalism of the Underworld; their ability to explore was truly inferior to his.

Wang Hongwu was also unsure, because over the years, people had seen many Immortal Transformation Pools in Zulongchuan, some as small as a well, others with vast expanses of blue water, and it was impossible to know which one was the real one.

At this time, the underworld forces stopped here, waiting to regroup. Soon, someone led a large force to arrive and began to set up formations and explore the entrance to the Immortal Transformation Pool.

The leader was none other than Yama, who had appeared once in the Extreme Emperor City. He was still a half-saint, and he seemed to be intentionally suppressing his cultivation, keeping himself in a state where he could attract a tribulation to break through at any time, which he regarded as a means.

"This guy shouldn't be underestimated. The corpse that nurtured him contains the bloodline of an ancient emperor who has passed away, not to mention the advantage of his cultivation level." Duan De clicked his tongue in amazement. Such an existence should have been a saint from birth, but Wang Hongwu interrupted it and directly killed a seed, causing the evolution to deviate. The Yama lineage is really unlucky.

Wang Hongwu remained silent, a dangerous glint in his eyes, clearly harboring the intention to eliminate Yama, the King of Hell, on this journey.

"In Zhongzhou, there are two famous treasure lands beyond the borders: one is the Immortal Transformation Pool, and the other is the Ancient Dragon Cave. It is said that one can attain enlightenment by obtaining either one. Although there is much exaggeration, it is enough to prove how great the opportunity is."

There are many legends about the Immortal Transformation Pool. In ancient times, immortals ascended to heaven amidst the clouds. It is also said that a celestial lotus fell from the celestial realm and landed here. But that's all just speculation. If there really were any cracks in the celestial realm, my Underworld would naturally be the first to know.

"The Ancient Dragon Cave—that seems much more plausible. Everyone wants to be buried there, hoping to one day become a Corpse Immortal, existing eternally in the mortal world. Perhaps it can become a resource for my further advancement, allowing me to refine the Dragon Cave and achieve a transcendent transformation from death to life."

Yan Luozi's eyes flashed as he plotted what he needed. He was not only after the spirit of the ancestral vein, but more importantly, he had discovered that there was a treasure marrow here, and that a supreme treasure had been nurtured within the Ancient Dragon Cave.

This is yet another astonishing piece of news. The precious marrow produced by the Eternal Dragon must be a top-tier divine object. If it were to take human form, it would be comparable to the elixir of immortality!
There have always been legends that a dream-level divine essence truly exists, possessing its own life and likely extremely powerful, but no one has ever seen it.

"I have a feeling that something earth-shattering is about to emerge from Zhongzhou this time. Perhaps the Dream-grade Dragon Marrow alone will be enough to make the Five Domains boil over." Duan De was very envious and couldn't wait to get his hands on it now. His intuition told him that there was indeed something in the Ancient Dragon Cave.

Wang Hongwu said helplessly, "It may not all be a good thing. It might cause a big mess. So many years have passed. It wouldn't be surprising if the Dream-level Dragon Marrow turned into a Holy Spirit. Although it may not be perfect, if it is disturbed by our battle and is born prematurely, this feud will become very serious."

Thump! Just as they were talking, the underworld acted quickly. Before long, it opened a passage, forcibly creating a path in the very center of the lake.

"Attack!" Wang Hongwu immediately sprang into action, the Immortal-Slaying Gourd carrying the two of them as it rushed past. The chaotic light surged and was unstoppable, instantly carving a path through the Netherworld's forces and rushing into the passage. He then turned around and destroyed the entire formation with a single strike, just in time to meet Yama's eyes. Yama waved at him and revealed a bright smile.

Wang! Hong! Wu!
As the formation crumbled, a furious roar echoed throughout the mountains.

Yan Luozi's face darkened. He was very unhappy to be tricked by this descendant of the ancient Heavenly Court on their first meeting.

The formation he had painstakingly built was destroyed, and someone else seized the initiative. This was a disgrace to him. All the work of the underworld officials had gone to waste, only to benefit the Heavenly Court.
"Rebuild the formation for me, and be quick!" He quickly composed himself, turned to instruct his subordinates, and then took out a white bone horn, staring at the many corpses in the mountains and rivers, saying, "Since this is a clash between the Heavenly Court and the Underworld, I must show you the characteristics of the Underworld. There are quite a few sacred corpses here!"

Meanwhile, at the other end of the passage.

Wang Hongwu and Duan De passed directly through the barrier and arrived at a new world.

This place is filled with Dao traces and abundant with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, making it even more extraordinary than the outside world. It is simply a divine land for cultivation.

The sunset ahead was like blood, staining the sky red, while also tinged with a faint golden hue.

The terrain they set foot on was extraordinary. The valley was wide open, and dragon energy swirled around the mountains. The view was magnificent and ever-changing. Many giant ridges soared into the clouds, tens of thousands of feet high, and were shrouded in chaotic energy, like a primordial land. The sound of the Great Dao resounded from there.

Wang Hongwu gazed at the entire terrain from the sky. It was an irregular curve, which actually resembled the back of a dragon's spine.

“It is truly a divine land. Cultivating in such a place is twice as effective with half the effort. If a race were to multiply here, there would probably be no shortage of sages.” Duan De also sighed. The terrain resembled a head, and the protruding peaks in front looked just like the forehead of this head, which is the location of the human body’s immortal platform. It was an extremely important place.

"If this is the head, the Immortal Transformation Pool should be the Immortal Platform area, which is most likely to contain immortal essence," Wang Hongwu guessed, and pulled Duan De to start digging a pit, wanting to go underground to study it.

Unfortunately, no matter how deep they drilled, they found no clues, and the entire area lacked bone, which was very different from what they had imagined.

However, as Duan De muttered to himself, he vaguely sensed something deep underground, something that seemed to be a vigorous life force, full of powerful energy.

(End of this chapter)