C2673 Dark Undercurrents Surged
C2673 Dark Undercurrents Surged
"Master! You've broken through!"
Gu Xie looked a bit weary, but there was a new brightness in her eyes and an aura about her that hadn't been there before. She nodded at Xiao Mo, not hiding the truth.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Mo was overjoyed and immediately offered her congratulations. "Congratulations, Master!"
Gu Xie asked, "While I was away, did anything happen? What's the current situation with the leader?"
"The leader hasn't come out yet, so I can't be sure of his situation. There's been a lot of change, with many sects appearing, and some of them have powerful figures. Although they aren't as strong as those in the highest realms yet, it's only a matter of time. Someone did come looking for trouble, but I managed to scare them off. Everything has been peaceful since then, and at least no one from the Heaven Pavilion dares to cause trouble."
Gu Xie was about to say more when her aura suddenly fluctuated, and a surge of powerful energy erupted, causing the surrounding space to ripple as if it might collapse at any moment.
Xiao Mo's expression changed, recognizing the power for what it was—the power of a transcendent realm!
The Natural Aura enveloped Gu Xie, enhancing her presence, and it was astonishing.
"This power can't be wielded here; it's beyond what the natural order of this realm can handle."
As soon as the words were spoken, the wind around them suddenly stopped, and time seemed to stand still, though Xiao Mo and Gu Xie remained unaffected.
A figure appeared not far away—it was Old Man Shen Ji. He looked at Gu Xie in disbelief and quickly spoke up, "How could you possibly break through here?"
Shen Mu interjected, "Shen Ji, she's one of us."
Gu Xie glanced at Old Man Shen Ji calmly and said, "I broke through outside and came back. You should leave now and not waste my time in seclusion. I'll find a way to suppress my power."
Clearly, she didn't regard Old Man Shen Ji with much concern. At her current level, she could easily discern his identity.
Old Man Shen Ji was evidently wary of Gu Xie. The power she wielded posed a significant threat to the realm.
"If you can't control your power, I'll use my means to send you out of here," he warned before vanishing.
Gu Xie wasted no time and went directly beneath the Divine Wood. She set up a barrier to prevent any disturbances, then sat down to stabilize her state, choosing to remain in seclusion by the Divine Wood.
The earlier fluctuations in energy were due to her unstable state. Her progress was astonishingly rapid, even surpassing Jiang Fann's, which led to such instability.
Once Gu Xie's energy settled, the Heaven Supporting Divine Wood finally spoke.
"I never expected her to reach such a high level in such a short time! Even at my peak, I couldn't break through to that stage."
Xiao Mo remarked, "Well, that's five bodies at the celestial level, and with all five elements in harmony, it's definitely a rare opportunity. But it's only because of her powerful bloodline. If any other practitioner tried to advance like that, they'd likely end up self-destructing..."
She glanced at Shenmu and asked, "Do you know how my master is doing now? It's been three years since he secluded himself; it should be about time, right?"
Shenmu replied, "Not long after he began his seclusion, he entered a state of enlightenment. I don't know how far he's progressed; we'll have to wait for him to finish his training and awaken."
"Let's hope everything goes smoothly..."
...
In the blink of an eye, another three years passed.
Early one morning, at the teleportation array of Myriad Clouds Mountain, a figure appeared, wounds still fresh and looking quite disheveled. It was Wan Chengfeng. Upon arriving, he sighed in relief and rushed into the mountain gate.
Moments later, several figures emerged from the teleportation array, tense and ready for confrontation. Leading them was a middle-aged man, glaring angrily at Wan Chengfeng.
"Wan, don't think running back to the Pavilion will save you. I doubt you'll hide in Myriad Clouds Mountain forever."
The disciples of the Pavilion frowned at the sight of these pursuers. Anyone bold enough to chase someone here must hold significant status. If not for Xiao Mo's deterrence, relying solely on the Heaven Supporting Divine Wood wouldn't be enough to protect Myriad Clouds Mountain.
Among the group, the middle-aged man leading them had reached the fourth level of the Reincarnation Stage. Everyone around him was clearly an expert, and they seemed to be working together.
Tao Zhen appeared at the mountain gate, having reached the eighth level of the Mortal Separating Stage. However, compared to these cultivators, he was still far behind. Yet, with the support of Myriad Clouds Mountain, Tao Zhen couldn't afford to lose his momentum. He clearly recognized these people.
"If you're here to visit Myriad Clouds Mountain, we'll be sure to treat you as guests. But if you're here to cause trouble, know that our Heaven Pavilion isn't easily bullied."
The middle-aged man glanced at Tao Zhen, clearly impatient. "Your level is too low to negotiate with me. Get someone in charge."
Tao Zhen replied, "You're just a manager in the Heavenly Palace. In terms of rank, you're not even half as high as I am. By rights, I should send a manager to talk to you..."
The middle-aged man was about to retort when a powerful aura suddenly enveloped them from the direction of the Back Mountain. It was Xiao Mo's aura, directly imposing on them.
"Leave!"
Though these individuals were skilled, they were no match for a cultivator at the peak of the Reincarnation Stage. However, they didn't leave immediately. The middle-aged man glared at Wan Chengfeng inside the mountain gate and said coldly, "This isn't over. We'll see about this!"
With that, he whispered to the others, "Let's go!"
Without lingering any longer, the group vanished from the teleportation array, and Mo withdrew his presence. Over the years, Wan Chengfeng had reached the fourth level of the Reincarnation Realm. His rapid progress was due to his extensive adventures, during which he acquired numerous treasures.
Despite being ambushed this time, Tao Zhen checked his injuries and asked, "What's going on? Why is the Celestial Palace targeting you? We've had a peaceful relationship with them for years, so they shouldn't be giving you trouble."
Wan Chengfeng seemed excited as he explained, "It's nothing much. I just snatched their inheritance. They guarded it for three months, and I swooped in at the last moment."
Even though he was pursued, Wan Chengfeng didn't seem too worried. "Be careful next time you go out," Tao Zhen advised. "Things are chaotic out there, and I've heard that many powerful figures have emerged. It's not like it was a few years ago. You need to stay alert."
Wan Chengfeng nodded. "Don't worry. I only got hurt because I took that inheritance. Otherwise, those guys wouldn't have been able to trouble me. I'll head over to the Divine Wood to heal and catch up with you for a drink later."
Tao Zhen nodded and didn't say more. At the Divine Wood, Wan Chengfeng paid his respects. Over the years, he had returned here many times to heal. Although he made a name for himself during his adventures, he also got injured frequently. Fortunately, his combat skills and survival tactics were strong, allowing him to escape danger each time. By using the Natural Aura of the Heaven Supporting Divine Wood, even severe injuries could gradually heal, making the Divine Wood a great benefactor to him.
This is also why he holds such deep respect for the Divine Wood.
"This injury doesn't seem too severe."
Wan Chengfeng chuckled, "If it weren't for those people chasing me, I wouldn't have needed to come back. But it's good to be back; I can lay low for a while."
He then asked, "What's going on with that guy, Jiang Fann? It's been years, and he still hasn't shown up. Did he oversleep or something? If he doesn't come out soon, all the good stuff that appears after the world's upgrade will be snatched up."
The Divine Wood replied, "I can't answer that for you. He still hasn't woken up."
Wan Chengfeng smiled and said no more, sitting down cross-legged to begin his recovery. For him, as long as he could train, the location didn't matter. After all, he chose to come to this place with Jiang Fann to experience a new environment. Moreover, the upgraded world didn't hinder his training and was full of opportunities.
Meanwhile, the group of cultivators who had just left Myriad Clouds Mountain quickly distanced themselves from the influence of the Heaven Pavilion. Their faces were grim, eyes filled with anger.
Once they were far enough away, one of the men next to the middle-aged cultivator spoke up, "Sir, are we really going to swallow this? The people from the Heaven Pavilion are way too arrogant. Do they really think we're afraid of them?"
"You think I want to hold back? It's just not the right time yet. We'll deal with them sooner or later."
Upon hearing his words, a hint of anticipation appeared on their faces.
"Could it be that those in charge are already planning something? Is the Grandmaster about to make a move?"
"Not just the Grandmaster! Once everything is ready, our first target will be them. That little Heaven Pavilion, with just one expert, dares to act up. The higher-ups have already studied the situation over there; we're just waiting for the right moment. Otherwise, I wouldn't have pursued them this time."
The cultivator nearby said, "I heard they have a very talented young person, even more remarkable than Wan Chengfeng, but there hasn't been any news about him for years."
"What level is that young talent at? A few years ago, he was just entering the Mortal Separating Stage. No matter how unique he is, in the face of absolute strength, talent is useless!"
...
The vast world no longer opens the passage to the Nine Desolations. However, the already chaotic Nine Desolations is now teeming with hidden currents, with each faction having its own plans.
Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
News came from Myriad Herbs Valley that they welcomed an enigmatic old herbalist, whom the Valley Lord held in high regard, treating him as an honored guest. The old herbalist, using the channels of Myriad Herbs Valley, claimed the title of Immortal Herbalist, offering to solve the world's most challenging ailments without charge, requiring only that materials be provided. He would see only one cultivator per week.
The appearance of the Immortal Herbalist instantly drew the attention of all the world's powers. Even in these chaotic times, Myriad Herbs Valley, with its herbalist's influence, not only remained unaffected by the turmoil but was also protected by various factions, elevating its status significantly.
With the blessing of the revered alchemist, everyone had to take things seriously. Many cultivators with hidden ailments were eager to make their way to the Myriad Herbs Valley, hoping for a chance to meet the legendary alchemist.