Perfect: Many children, many blessings! Join the chat group!

Several days later, Shi Hao arrived at Tian Shen Mountain, travel-worn.

However, this place was not as grand and prosperous as he had imagined.

The Heavenly God Mountain in front of us looks rather desolate. The mountain's protective array is damaged in many places, and there are few people on the mountain path. Only the main peak area still has some activity, but the guards are obviously much sparser.

"It seems this place, like the Immortal Mountain, has already been visited by Brother Zhu Chen before..."

Shi Hao walked all the way to the top of the mountain.

However, just as Shi Hao stepped into the area of ​​the main peak, several figures emerged from behind the surrounding rocks and trees and surrounded him.

These people were mostly at the Inscription Realm and the early stage of the Array Formation Realm, and they all looked wary and hostile.

"Halt! Who goes there? How dare you trespass on the sacred grounds of Tian Shen Mountain!"

The middle-aged cultivator at the head of the group shouted sternly, his magical artifact already glowing.

Shi Hao stopped and glanced at the tense guards.

At this moment, he remembered that Zhu Chen had mentioned in the chat group that Yun Xi, the granddaughter of Yun Canghai of Tianshen Mountain, was now his Daoist partner.

Thinking of this, the slight impatience in Shi Hao's heart dissipated.

He didn't want to make things difficult for the clansmen of these "elder sisters-in-law".

"Please do not be nervous, everyone. My name is Shi Hao. I am not here to cause trouble, but to pay a visit to Chief Yun Canghai at someone's request."

Shi Hao clasped his hands in a fist salute and explained his purpose.

The middle-aged cultivator frowned deeply.

He was unfamiliar with the name 'Shi Hao', but the fact that the other party mentioned his clan leader's name and said that he was entrusted by someone made him hesitant to drive him away immediately.

"Who entrusted you with this? What business do you have with the clan chief?"

"At the request of my elder brother, Zhu Chen."

Shi Hao said frankly.

"Zhu Chen?"

The name struck like a thunderbolt, instantly changing the expressions of the guards surrounding Shi Hao. They instinctively took a half-step back, their hostility replaced by a deeper fear.

The name Zhu Chen is now a taboo within their Celestial Race; no one dares to mention it.

"You...you are that person's brother?"

The middle-aged cultivator's voice trembled slightly at this moment.

If this person in front of them is indeed that lord's brother, then they absolutely cannot afford to offend him!
"Exactly."

Shi Hao nodded and said calmly, "Please inform Yun Canghai that Shi Hao has come to find someone and has important matters to discuss."

The middle-aged cultivator dared not delay and quickly whispered a few instructions to the person beside him.

The man immediately turned around and ran swiftly towards the palace on the mountaintop.

The others remained surrounding the area, but their weapons were now lowered, and their postures were much more respectful, though the wariness in their eyes had not completely dissipated.

Not long after.

A figure flew in from the direction of the palace, his aura deep and imposing; it was none other than Yun Canghai, the current patriarch of Tianshen Mountain.

He looked a few years older than before, with a lingering worry and weariness between his brows, but his eyes remained sharp.

Yun Canghai landed a few feet in front of Shi Hao and then began to carefully examine the young man.

"You're Zhu Chen's brother?"

Yun Canghai asked with a flicker in his eyes, his expression becoming complicated when he mentioned Zhu Chen's name.

"Correct."

Shi Hao bowed respectfully, then said to Yun Canghai, "My elder brother asked me to convey his greetings to you. He also asked me to tell you that Sister-in-law Yunxi is doing well in the Upper Realm, so you don't need to worry about her."

He specifically mentioned Yun Xi, which was a way of showing a relatively friendly stance towards Yun Canghai. Upon hearing this, Yun Canghai's expression softened slightly, and he waved his hand, saying, "No need for formalities. May I ask what brings you here, young friend?"

Shi Hao said directly, "My elder brother asked me to come here to find someone."

Yun Canghai's gaze sharpened: "Whom are you looking for? As long as this person is still on my Heavenly God Mountain, I will certainly help you."

"This man's name is Kong Qiuji."

"Kong Qiuji?"

Upon hearing this name, Yun Canghai's expression immediately turned extremely strange, as if he had recalled some unbearable past events, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily: "What do you want with that bastard?"

Shi Hao keenly noticed Yun Canghai's unusual behavior and truthfully said, "My elder brother said he has something important to discuss with him, but he didn't specify what it is. Does Grandpa Yun know where this person is?"

Yun Canghai took a deep breath, suppressing the old grievances churning in his heart, and shook his head, saying, "That guy's whereabouts are elusive, like a dragon whose head is seen but not its tail. I don't even know when he last appeared. I have no idea where he is now..."

Shi Hao frowned slightly.

It seems this matter is indeed not as simple as he imagined.

On a whim, he immediately asked Zhu Chen for help in the chat group.

[Shi Hao: @Zhu Chen, Brother Zhu Chen, I've arrived at Tian Shen Mountain and met Yun Canghai, but he said he doesn't know where Kong Qiuji is.]

[Zhu Chen: Of course he doesn't know. That guy is very cunning and has suffered serious injuries. He's definitely hiding. Go look for the place where Yun Menglan used to cultivate in seclusion. That place is secluded and has residual Daoist energy and restrictions. If he wants to hide and recover, that's the most suitable place.]

Based on his understanding of the original work, Zhu Chen quickly pointed Shi Hao in a direction.

Upon seeing this, Shi Hao immediately turned to Yun Canghai and asked, "Grandpa Yun, my elder brother said that we can go to the place where Senior Yun Menglan used to cultivate in seclusion to look for clues. I wonder if you could lead the way?"

"Menglan's place of seclusion?"

Yun Canghai's face darkened slightly.

He didn't expect that this kid would even know this.

Could it be that the peacock clan member is really hiding there?

"Alright, I'll take you there now."

Yun Canghai considered a possibility, his expression shifted, but he ultimately agreed.

He waved away the surrounding guards and personally led Shi Hao to a secluded valley behind the Heavenly God Mountain.

That was the very place where Yun Menglan had secluded herself in seclusion years ago.

Yun Canghai led Shi Hao to the outside of the valley. He did not disturb Yun Menglan, but turned to Shi Hao and said, "This is the place you are looking for."

Shi Hao thanked him and walked into the valley alone.

This valley is devoid of spiritual energy and doesn't resemble a secluded place at all.

Shi Hao walked to the center of the valley, spread his divine sense, and began to carefully search every inch of the valley.

At first, he found nothing, but when he probed the inside of the valley, in front of a seemingly ordinary stone wall, a very faint life fluctuation immediately came into his perception.

This fluctuation also carried a certain avian aura, but the aura felt somewhat weak.

Shi Hao walked quickly to the stone wall, then gently pressed his hand on a certain spot on the stone wall.

With a soft "click," the stone wall slid open inward, revealing a narrow, dark chamber that could only accommodate one person at a time.

The room was dimly lit. Shi Hao looked closely and saw a chicken perched on a pile of hay in the corner.

This chicken was not much bigger than an ordinary rooster. Its feathers were sparse and mostly bald, revealing pink skin underneath. The few remaining long feathers were dull and drooped crookedly.

If it weren't for the extremely faint rise and fall of the other's chest, Shi Hao would have thought it was already dead.

Is this what Confucius sought in himself?

The person Brother Zhu Chen asked me to find... turns out to be this thing?

...(End of chapter)