A Traitor Within, Preparations Laid in Advance
A Traitor Within, Preparations Laid in Advance
Among the Hidden An Clan’s forces rushing into Kun Mountain, An Yan’s figure drew An Xi’s attention in particular, and her expression couldn’t help but darken.
She had been waiting to settle matters here at Kun Mountain, then return to the clan and demand back that drop of True Blood of the Hidden Celestial from An Yan.
In the past, she had never taken An Yan seriously. Even knowing that everything about her on the surface was a facade, she had never paid it any mind.
And this time, it was precisely because of her carelessness that the drop of True Blood of the Hidden Celestial—so extremely important to her—had been intercepted and snatched away by An Yan halfway.
All the many efforts she had made before had gone down the drain, rendered completely void.
“Big sister.”
While An Xi’s expression shifted between gloom and uncertainty, An Yan’s figure had already landed right in front of her.
That lovely, charming little face wore an innocent, carefree smile as she opened her mouth in greeting.
If an outsider who didn’t know the relationship between the two of them saw this scene, they might even think that An Xi and An Yan, this pair of sisters, shared a wonderful bond.
“You little wretch, you’ve got some tricks up your sleeve, catching me off guard like that.”
At this moment, An Xi’s expression returned to normal as she spoke indifferently, carrying her innate arrogance and casual air.
In front of outsiders, she would not lower her own status to argue with An Yan. After all, she had plenty of time and means to deal with her.
“Thanks to big sister’s gracious concession. Speaking of which, if it weren’t for big sister’s help, it would have been very difficult for me to obtain that drop of True Blood of the Hidden Celestial.”
An Yan wore an innocent smile, revealing a pair of shallow dimples, as she spoke words that struck straight at the heart.
An Xi’s expression grew a few shades uglier. She hadn’t expected An Yan to now dare provoke her in front of all their clansmen.
“Little girl, your tricks are still too green. Do you really think that snatching away that drop of True Blood means you’ve beaten me, and you’ve come to show off in front of me?
How laughable. And do you think Kun Mountain is such an easy place to come to? Worry about keeping your life in there first.”
An Xi couldn’t help but sneer, appearing thoroughly disdainful.
Seeing the two of them at such irreconcilable odds, the many An Clan members around them didn’t dare casually interject, fearing they would be dragged into this internal strife of the An Clan.
“Big sister, are you perhaps misunderstanding something?”
Hearing this, An Yan suddenly laughed, as if she had just heard some particularly hilarious joke.
“What do you mean?” An Xi frowned.
“I didn’t come to Kun Mountain to look for you, big sister.” An Yan smiled with some contempt. And just as she spoke, a commotion arose not far away, as the gazes of the True Daoists of the various Dao lineages and powers in the sky all turned over in unison.
Over there, many figures were walking toward this place, and the one leading them was none other than Gu Changge.
“Young Master Gu...”
An Yan’s eyes lit up, and a happy, excited smile couldn’t help but appear on her face as she headed in that direction, seemingly not noticing An Xi behind her, whose expression had become incomparably ugly.
When did she get so close to Gu Changge...
Seeing An Yan take the initiative to go toward Gu Changge, an ominous premonition couldn’t help but rise in An Xi’s heart. Connecting this with An Yan intercepting and snatching away her True Blood of the Hidden Celestial halfway...
This trip to Kun Mountain would likely not go as smoothly as she had imagined.
Jiang Chen...
Niu Tian, who had been silently following behind An Xi and the others, also noticed Jiang Chen at this moment, being watched over by people sent by Gu Changge.
Seeing that he was unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief, figuring that Xiao Ruoyin must have played a role in this matter.
“Greetings, Young Master Gu.”
An Yan came before Gu Changge and spoke respectfully, carrying a measure of excitement.
She had always kept in mind the task Gu Changge had entrusted to her, and now that the drop of True Blood of the Hidden Celestial was in her hands, she had completed Gu Changge’s test and proven her worth.
“It seems you’ve obtained that drop of True Blood.”
Gu Changge hadn’t expected An Yan to actually come to Kun Mountain, though he didn’t particularly care about it.
To him, An Yan was nothing more than a dispensable chess piece.
If she could prove her usefulness, then Gu Changge naturally wouldn’t be stingy about giving her a hand.
If she couldn’t, then he naturally had no need to waste his time.
“Mm-hm, I didn’t let down Young Master Gu’s expectations.”
An Yan’s face carried a smile of relief as she nodded. Then, as if claiming credit, she handed a bronze box flickering with various ancient runes over to Gu Changge.
“That drop of True Blood of the Hidden Celestial is sealed inside,” she said, her gaze full of anticipation. “I will find a way to obtain the remaining drops of True Blood of the Hidden Celestial in the An Clan for Young Master Gu as well.”
Gu Changge smiled and casually glanced at the bronze box, with no intention of opening it.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
He didn’t think An Yan would have the guts to deceive him.
“An Yan actually handed that thing over to Gu Changge!”
Watching this scene from not far away, An Xi’s eyes reddened somewhat, her teeth clenched tight. That was one of the An Clan’s only three remaining drops of True Blood of the Hidden Celestial.
If one fused with that drop of True Blood, one could even recreate a fraction of the Founding Ancestor’s glory in a short time.
With that help, her position as the An Clan’s family head would have been secured.
“When did that girl establish such a connection with Gu Changge, to actually hand that drop of blood over to an outsider...
To curry favor with Gu Changge, she betrays her own clan!”
That grand-uncle of An Xi’s had an equally ugly expression.
Although according to the An Clan’s rules, once An Yan obtained this drop of True Blood of the Hidden Celestial, she naturally had the right to dispose of it—even if she threw it away, it would be no one else’s business.
But seeing with their own eyes her using this item to curry favor with Gu Changge filled many An Clan members with resentment and bitter unwillingness.
Before long, a great many Cultivators had gathered outside Kun Mountain. Blurred figures stood on all sides, and after deliberation, the various great Dao lineages and powers began to act, preparing to assault Kun Mountain.
Weng—
In the sky, Dao Artifacts rose and fell one after another, cascading down terrifying divine light as they began to revive. That matchless aura spread out, suppressing heaven and earth, leaving all Cultivators and living beings unable to breathe.
A furnace like crimson flowing fire emerged there, like a sun, its radiance blazing, spewing forth hundreds of millions of crimson rays that descended toward Kun Mountain ahead.
Besides that, the other Dao Artifacts also revived, blasting out matchless divine light from within, accompanied by Chaos Energy and divine chains of order. The sound of the Great Dao even began to permeate heaven and earth.
Boom!
The void exploded, cracks spreading for over ten thousand li, and endless astral winds surged out, sweeping in all directions—enough to grind ordinary Cultivators into dust.
This was already aftershock surpassing the Sacred Emperor Realm level, causing the beings in the many ancient cities near Kun Mountain to tremble, their very souls nearly frozen.
“The ancient existences of the great Dao lineages will clear the way; we need only follow behind.”
A sect master of a great orthodoxy spoke, waving his large hand and leading the disciples and elders behind him deeper forward, directly transforming into divine light and vanishing into Kun Mountain, which was shrouded in boundless heavy fog.
Seeing this, the people of the other powers and Dao lineages didn’t pause in the slightest either, all following after—though the directions they took each differed.
The terrain within Kun Mountain was complex, its dangers beyond words, but its fortuitous opportunities were equally numerous.
Now, with the great Dao Artifacts clearing the way ahead, the pressure enveloping Kun Mountain was countless times weaker than usual, so the chances of obtaining opportunities were naturally much greater.
Many Young Prodigies harbored such thoughts at this time. Although they had been forced here by Gu Changge, since they were entering Kun Mountain anyway, they would naturally seize as many benefits as possible—on the premise of keeping their lives.
“We’re going this way.”
The Hidden An Clan and the War Immortal Mansion’s people traveled together. The two True Daoists exchanged a glance, then entered from another direction.
An Xi and the Young War Immortal looked back at Gu Changge not far away, remaining very wary of him all along.
Seeing that he still hadn’t moved, seemingly observing all along, an ominous premonition couldn’t help but rise in their hearts.
However, at this moment, they didn’t believe Gu Changge would be so bold as to make a move against them right in front of two True Daoists.
“We’re going this way.”
Only when the figures of the many Dao lineages and powers had nearly all disappeared did Gu Changge withdraw his gaze and speak casually.
He did not follow behind An Xi and the others. He surveyed the terrain of Kun Mountain, then chose a more desolate-looking path to venture deeper.
Behind him followed the Ji Family’s people, and of course, Jiang Chen, who was being brought along.
Around Jiang Chen, many people kept a close watch on him, guarding against his escape.
“Father, it was all thanks to Jiang Chen before that I was able to hear the Founding Ancestor’s cry for help. He possesses the inheritance of a Divine Source Master and can be of great help to us in rescuing the Founding Ancestor this time.”
Ji Chuyue was still very worried about Jiang Chen’s safety. Fearing that the Ji Family would burn the bridge after crossing it, she kept trying to explain on his behalf.
Ji Hao, the Head of the Ji Family, had actually heard of Jiang Chen before. Back at the Purple Mountains, the siblings Ji Yaoxing and Ji Chuyue had nearly obtained the Tower of World Domination because of Jiang Chen.
Hearing these words now, he couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh, “Chuyue, rest assured, your father is not one who fails to repay kindness. I have always remembered Jiang Chen’s kindness to the Ji Family.
If we can rescue the Founding Ancestor this time, his rewards will absolutely not be lacking.”
He was no fool. Since Jiang Chen was still of use now, he naturally had to promise benefits to keep him placated.
Jiang Chen was someone who had offended Gu Changge—how would the Ji Family dare shelter him? As for how to deal with Jiang Chen after rescuing the Founding Ancestor, that could be discussed later.
Ji Chuyue’s eyes dimmed somewhat. She knew her father was just going through the motions, not truly agreeing to her plea.
Right now, she could only pray that Gu Changge would keep his word and spare Jiang Chen once the matter was done.
Boom, rumble—
In the following days, terrifying commotions erupted in this place. Radiance surged into the sky, and auspicious light illuminated a million li.
Supreme experts roared, clashing with the Array Patterns’ aura within Kun Mountain, erupting into matchless great battles.
In the end, this place descended into chaos, incomparably blurred, with Chaos Energy scattering and rushing toward the four seas and Eight Wastelands.
Dao Artifacts smashed down from the sky, as if a corner of heaven and earth had collapsed.
The affected range was incomparably vast—the aftershocks alone shook down many stars beyond the domain.
Some even witnessed with their own eyes a blood-red storm sweeping across the flat ground, blotting out the sky and sun, utterly horrifying.
Within it, ancient ferocious beasts seemed to revive—True Dragon, Celestial Phoenix, Black Tortoise, Vermilion Bird, Taotie, Bifang, Qiongqi... these peerless great fiends reappeared in the world, incomparably powerful. A single roar shook heaven and earth as they battled the True Daoists, five-colored crystalline blood splashing out.
Many Cultivators and living beings died. Swept by this aura, they directly and soundlessly burst apart, not even leaving a trace behind.
The Ji Family’s rescue of their Founding Ancestor attracted the attention of many in the Beyond.
As the great Dao lineages began their assault, countless Cultivators and living beings across the heavens of the Beyond turned their attention over, closely watching the changes here from billions of li away.
If the Ji Family could rescue the Ji Family’s Founding Ancestor, it would be an enormous change to the current situation of the Beyond.
The magnitude of the upheaval here alarmed far too many people—describing it as the focus of the entire world would be no exaggeration.
Those Dao lineages and powers that had grudges with the Ji Family naturally did not wish for them to rescue the Ji Family’s Founding Ancestor at this time. They wished nothing more than for all the forces entering Kun Mountain this time to be completely wiped out, buried within.
And while the matter of Kun Mountain stirred up a storm throughout the Beyond, the calamity of the Absolute Yin Heaven that had erupted before once again swept in.
This time, the momentum of its arrival was even more terrifying, like a breached celestial river.
All the heavens of the Beyond were affected, suffering tremendous impact.
In this descent of the Absolute Yin Heaven, many Cultivators even noticed living beings appearing within it, like Humans living inside the Absolute Yin Heaven.
Those of the older generation who knew much about the Absolute Yin Heaven immediately guessed that this was very likely because the Eternal Overcast Kingdom was about to emerge into the world.
Since ancient times, the number of times the Eternal Overcast Kingdom had emerged could be counted on one’s fingers.
This appearance of the Eternal Overcast Kingdom gave many powers and Dao lineages a sense of crisis. They could only hope that after rescuing the Ji Family’s Founding Ancestor, Ji Shengchu, he could quell the calamity of the Absolute Yin Heaven.
Within Kun Mountain, the terrain was complex, with mountain ranges stretching in sheets, boundless fog, and pervasive miasma. Many ancient vines and spirit herbs grew all over the land.
But no Cultivator dared touch them at this time. Earlier, someone had tried to pick a spirit herb over a million years old.
The result was that they instantly turned into a pool of pus and blood, and no one knew what had happened.
Even the Young Prodigies protected by experts were cautious, not daring to act rashly.
Weng—
The sky trembled, the void split open, and heaven and earth shook under the pressure. A giant cauldron condensed from golden runes flew out of the royal capital, cascading down boundless black-and-yellow energy, shaking a terrifying blurred creature to death, its body collapsing and splitting apart.
“These are all formed from the lingering will of Cultivators who once entered Kun Mountain and died within, but their cultivation is even more terrifying than at their peak.”
Seeing Gu Changge’s expression remain unchanged as he so easily suppressed and killed a blurred figure at the first level of the Quasi-Emperor Realm, an elderly True Daoist of the Ji Family spoke with some lingering fear.
This was already the third day since they entered Kun Mountain. Although they had encountered quite a few dangers along the way, all had been resolved—though naturally, quite a few people had died.
Jiang Chen had more or less played his role as a Child of Fortuity. With his help, the Ji Family’s losses had been much smaller.
Because of this, many Ji Family members’ attitudes toward Jiang Chen had improved considerably.
“This place is probably still some distance from the depths of Kun Mountain.”
Gu Changge shook his head lightly. With a casual flick of his hand, the golden giant cauldron in the sky exploded, transforming into a sky full of brilliant runes that dispersed the heavy fog in this area.
As he spoke, his gaze carried a strange gleam. Although these past few days Jiang Chen had led the way and unraveled those strange Array Patterns, in reality, it was he who had been guiding the Ji Family’s people toward a certain direction.
Earlier, to avoid alerting the enemy, he had deliberately waited until the Young War Immortal, An Xi, and the others entered Kun Mountain before choosing another path in.
But after entering, he could faintly sense Niu Tian’s existence, and so he had been closing in on that location all along.
Back when Niu Tian escaped his predicament within the Ancient Battleship, the Fruit of Knowledge Gu Changge had bestowed upon him was not so easily eaten.
Gu Changge had prepared his means in advance precisely to guard against a day like this.
And now, in his perception, Niu Tian and the others were actually not far from him at all.
Within Kun Mountain, shrouded by Array Patterns, the aura was incomparably chaotic and blurred. Even True Daoists found it difficult to sense the situation nearby.
As a result, everyone who entered this place became as if blind, needing to carefully grope their way deeper.