Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Qu Luoning’s Whereabouts
"Chen’er, your Daoist injury..."
Ji Xiaotian finally couldn’t help but ask. When he learned of this back then, he had been quite disheartened, worried about Ji Chen.
Ye Jinglan felt the same, and not long after Ji Chen entered the Immortal Burial Forest, she led many Ye family experts there, attempting to trace Ji Chen’s whereabouts in the mountains.
Unfortunately, the Immortal Burial Forest, which had existed since the Desolate Ancient Era, was too perilous. Even the Ye Family dared not probe too deeply. Ultimately, they had to abandon the idea.
Ji Chen briefly recounted his experiences over the years in the Immortal Burial Forest to them.
Including the Hongmeng Body, the Heavenly Scripture of the Night Emperor, and how he found the Dao Heart Fruit in that ancient cave.
Everyone couldn’t help but be amazed. Upon learning that Ji Chen had gained so many opportunities in the mountain, they were happy for him.
"Emperor Scripture, Hongmeng Body, and the Nine Spirit Veins..."
Fang Qingyao couldn’t help but speak, "Junior Brother, isn’t this somewhat frightening?"
It’s hard to imagine what astounding achievements Ji Chen would have with such opportunities in the future.
"Great misfortune brings great fortune, the ancients’ words do not deceive me!" Zhuang Miao and others exclaimed in surprise.
Apart from his own experiences, Ji Chen inquired more about the many things that had occurred over the past four years.
"The Young Master killed some Demon Race individuals today; could this cause any trouble?" Lu Daoyi asked, having learned from Fang Qingyao about today’s events.
Ji Chen calmly replied, "It doesn’t matter; the Demon Race is located in the West Desert. It’s not that easy for them to reach Beiyou. Besides, with Elder Ao here, unless a Saint arrives in person, who dares say they can do anything to our Lingyun Sect?"
Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but nod.
Now that Nangong Ao had recovered to his peak, with Ninth Layer Void Realm strength, no one under heaven dared claim to be his opponent, other than a Saint.
After all, beyond the Ninth Layer, only a single step leads to Nirvana, and Nirvana naturally means the so-called Saint Realm.
"Speaking of the Demon Race, in recent years, the Ancient Race has frequently appeared, and is now fully integrated into our Human Race. Not to mention distant areas, even within Yang City, the streets are full of Ancient Race cultivators." Zhuang Miao said.
Two years ago, a great demon under the Demon Beast Mountain Range, sleeping within the Divine Source, also emerged. It was said to be an Ancestral King from the Primordial Peng Race, later taken back by the Peng Race.
Speaking of this Ancestral King, when he emerged two years ago, it caused quite a stir in Beiyou.
Ultimately, a Saint from the Void Sacred Land appeared to deter him, bringing peace.
It was only after this event that the world learned there was still a living Saint within Taixu.
Of course, some speculated that the Saint of Taixu had also attained his path in the Ancient Era, self-sealing within the Divine Source, thus surviving to this era.
Upon learning these things, Ji Chen couldn’t help but frown, "The Ancestral Kings of the Ancient Race and the sages of the Human Race have revived in this era. Why?"
Ye Jinglan said, "I heard my father mention that years ago, a Human Saint Master speculated that an Emperor’s opportunity might emerge in this era. The sages of the Human Race and the Ancestral Kings of the Ancient Race emerging now are surely to compete for that Emperor’s opportunity!"
"Emperor’s opportunity..."
Ji Chen squinted his eyes. No wonder these Ancient Saints have emerged; aside from the opportunity to become an Emperor, what else in the world could tempt them?
"Besides the Void Sacred Land, it’s said that in Kunlun and Dao Inference, aged Saints have also awakened. It’s as if a chaotic era of the Desolate Ancient times has reemerged. If true conflict breaks out between the two races and Saints become angry, it would surely result in millions of corpses." Lu Daoyi frowned.
Ji Chen remained silent; indeed, the power of a Saint is terrifying, beyond ordinary imagination.
In his previous life, he was at the Saint Realm.
Without exaggeration, reaching that level means having transcended the Dao, able to easily destroy a domain or wipe out millions of lives with a flick of the finger!
"Right, Junior Brother, about the Kunlun Profound Lady... have you heard anything?" Fang Qingyao suddenly asked.
"Kunlun Profound Lady?"
Ji Chen was taken aback, and the image of a stunning figure surfaced in his mind.
Back then, in Kunlun, he severed past ties with Qu Luoning, becoming strangers thereafter, and then he went into the Immortal Burial Forest. Now, having just returned, he hadn’t heard anyone mention Qu Luoning.
"What happened?" He curiously asked.
All those present exchanged glances, evidently aware of Ji Chen and Qu Luoning’s past.
"It’s said three years ago, Qu Luoning left Kunlun..."
Fang Qingyao organized her thoughts and then detailed the events to Ji Chen.
After hearing it, Ji Chen immediately frowned.
It turned out that about a year after he entered the Immortal Burial Forest, Qu Luoning resigned from her position as the Kunlun Profound Lady. Not only that, she also cut off her own cultivation, returning to an ordinary life as a mortal.
"Three years ago, she visited the Chu Kingdom once more, then left again, never to be heard from since. Even Kunlun knows not of her whereabouts, and to this day, no one knows why she severed her own cultivation." Zhuang Miao spoke, revealing what he knew.
He was once Qu Luoning’s mentor, guiding her onto the Alchemy Dao. Three years ago, when Qu Luoning returned to the Chu Kingdom, she sought him out.
Ji Chen frowned, unable to fathom why Qu Luoning would act this way. What could have happened?
...
Time passed, and seven days went by in a flash.
During Ji Chen’s time back at Lingyun Sect, apart from a few people like Fang Qingyao, no one else knew of his return.
Ji Chen also hadn’t shown up at the Sect but remained in the Drunken Ink Residence to cultivate.
On this day, he left Lingyun Sect alone, departing from the Chu Kingdom, traveling across to the north.
The impending duel between the Dao Inference Saint Heir and the Dragon Heir on Celestial Venerable Mountain was already widely known. Cultivators from the Eastern Desolation, Southern Region, and West Desert were flocking to Beiyou, gathering near Celestial Venerable Mountain to witness the outcome of this pinnacle battle.
Ji Chen was likewise keenly interested and naturally set out to witness it personally.
On the sixth day after leaving Lingyun Sect, Ji Chen arrived in the Spirit Realm. Celestial Venerable Mountain is located in the northwest of Beiyou, within the Nether Realm, an endless mountain range. Traveling from the Profound Domain to the Nether Realm, the Spirit Realm was a necessary passage.
At that moment, not far ahead of Ji Chen, a massive mountain rose into the sky, suspended above the horizon—it was the Kunlun Sacred Land.
He hesitated for a moment and eventually descended to the mountain’s base, then ascended the Seven-Colored Rainbow Bridge on foot, intending to pay a visit.