Chapter 240: 155. Ai’a Sword has not been unsheathed for seven hundred years, this time it will protect you on your one hundred-year journey (5K Chapters)_2
In the Great Abyss, which spanned tens of thousands of feet, exquisitely crafted Flying Boats and Cloud Pavilions floated in the air. Among the ordinary Sea-Crossing Flying Boats, the Cloudbreaker Flying Boat stood out. Although its specifications were half that of a Sea-Crossing Flying Boat, its jade carving-like base and its vermilion eaves and green-tiled pavilion were far more exquisite than those of the Sea-Crossing Flying Boats.
As the time approached, layers of Prohibitions began to emerge on the Cloudbreaker Flying Boat.
A total of eighty-three people were entering the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm this time: forty-seven True disciples from the Family Line and thirty-six True disciples from the Master and Disciple Lineage.
"Gong Yuzhen, Fourth Miss of the Gong Family Third Branch, 76 years old, Eighth Realm of Immortal Foundations."
Occasionally, Cloud Carriages, drawn by exotic birds and beasts, gathered from all directions towards Shangze Abyss. Beside the canopy of each Cloud Carriage, Gold Armor warriors held banners representing the family names or the designations of the various lines within the Master and Disciple Lineage.
Beside Xu Xing, a man in a golden robe glanced at a young woman in a red dress who had just stepped down from the Gong Family’s Cloud Carriage and sent Xu Xing a sound transmission via divine sense. This golden-robed man, nicknamed Kui Qi, was the seventh disciple of Kuimen Daoist Lord.
Kuimen Daoist Lord and Giant Sword Daoist Monarch both belonged to the Sealed Demon Pan Palace and were good friends. Consequently, the successors of their two lines were closer to each other than to the other True disciples of the Master and Disciple Lineage.
For this trip to the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm, following Kuimen Daoist Lord’s instructions, Kui Qi took extra care of Xu Xing.
The Gong Family Third Branch and Fifth Branch, part of the Five Temple Surnames, and the Ruan Family Thirteenth Branch, one of the Nine Mountain Great Halls, held grievances against Giant Sword Daoist Monarch. This was common knowledge, so upon seeing Gong Yuzhen’s arrival, Kui Qi immediately alerted Xu Xing.
"That’s Gong Shibai of the Gong Family Fifth Branch, at the Immortal Foundation Seventh Layer of cultivation, 56 years old. I heard he harbors affection for Gong Yuzhen. However, although their two branches are not of the same main lineage, they share the same surname. If ordinary people with the same surname were to marry, it would be acceptable. But since he and Gong Yuzhen are both leaders of their respective branches, the established social order cannot be lightly disturbed."
Kui Qi then indicated a handsome young man who appeared behind Gong Yuzhen’s Cloud Carriage.
This man had sharp, sword-like eyebrows and star-bright eyes. He wore a gold crown and embroidered clothes, adorned with many ornaments such as jade thumb rings and a gold-inlaid folding fan, appearing every bit the young nobleman.
While Kui Qi was speaking, Gong Shibai approached Gong Yuzhen, and the two exchanged a few quiet words. Gong Yuzhen, however, frowned slightly, a look of impatience on her face.
"Ruan Baimei..."
"A Pride of Heaven from the Family Line. He once went to the southern Sea Area to train under the alias Yuan Mu, where he killed three True disciples of the Mingquan Sect and a Returning Core realm Protector. Though he used an Artifact bestowed by his elders, no one doubts he now possesses strength equivalent to the early stage of the Returning Core realm."
"The Taibai Immortal Body, appearing once every one thousand four hundred years, is far superior to ordinary Immortal Geniuses."
As more Cloud Carriages arrived, Kui Qi’s enthusiasm for introductions waned. However, when the Cloud Carriage bearing the banner of the Ruan Family Main Branch appeared, Kui Qi’s interest was instantly rekindled, and he began to lavishly praise the person within.
"The Ruan Family Main Branch, Ruan Baimei?"
"Possesses the strength of the Returning Core realm..."
Xu Xing’s eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed up towards the clouds.
He saw a Cloud Carriage with a flag bearing the character "Ruan" appear before him, drawn by a Vermilion Bird Spirit Beast wreathed in flames. Moments later, a young man with white eyebrows stepped out of the Cloud Carriage.
If one overlooked the two distinct white eyebrows that set this young man apart, his demeanor and attire were utterly plain, lacking any remarkable features.
Although the various branches within the Family Line compete, they ultimately share the same surname. Ruan Chang of the Ruan Family Thirteenth Branch has Ruan Baimei as his backer; I must be cautious.
Xu Xing mentally classified Ruan Baimei as a top-tier threat.
Through Kui Qi’s introductions, he learned who from both the Family Line and the Master and Disciple Lineage was most likely to compete with him for the three Top-grade Light Sealing Talismans.
From the Family Line, besides Ruan Baimei, there was Yan Yu, the direct descendant of the Yan Family Third Branch. The Yan Family was also one of the Five Temple Surnames.
From the Master and Disciple Lineage, there were Shui Jun of the Yunhua Lineage, Lu Dong of the Duling Lineage, Xin Yi of the Zhongtai Lineage, and Wan Tong of the Cassia Seed Line.
Although the Master and Disciple Lineage had slightly fewer members entering the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm than the Family Line.
However, the Master and Disciple Lineage boasted quite a few powerful individuals.
"Board the Cloudbreaker Flying Boat."
The True disciples did not wait long before an aged voice resonated in their minds, urging them to ascend the gangway lowered from the Cloudbreaker Flying Boat.
Xu Xing did not hesitate and boarded the Flying Boat with Kui Qi.
...
The Hangu Mountain Secret Realm was located somewhere among the Tianyun Peaks.
The territory of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace generally encompassed the mortal countries, the Tianyun Mountain Range, and part of the Wangchuan Sea. Its External Cultivators were divided into those stationed in the mountain peaks and island stationed cultivators.
The Hangu Mountain Secret Realm was said to be the Cave Mansion of the Divine Illusion Saint Monarch. In reality, the Divine Illusion Saint Monarch had not originated from the Flying Feather Immortal Palace but from the Heavenly Saint Sect, the First Great Sect of East Huangzhou ten thousand three hundred years ago.
However, for some unknown reason, the Heavenly Saint Sect declined from its zenith. Now, its power was such that it no longer ranked among the Ten Major Sects. Within the Sect, there was not even a single Nascent Soul Saint Monarch.
The journey to the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm was long.
In his cabin, Xu Xing awaited the foretold crisis.
Just as the King of Might had predicted, on the third day, the Cloudbreaker Flying Boat, while traveling through the air, suddenly shuddered and was forced to land on a Nameless Peak.
Elder Liu, who was in charge of the Flying Boat, announced that it had been damaged. He then distributed maps to the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm to each True disciple, instructing them to proceed on their own.
"Rest assured," Elder Liu continued, "with us House Elders protecting you from the shadows, although the Tianyun Peaks are fraught with peril, including second and third-level demonic beasts, your journey will be absolutely safe. You will not encounter any second or third-level demonic beasts..."