Taking the Blame as a Matter of Course, the Old Daoist in the Mysterious Jade
Taking the Blame as a Matter of Course, the Old Daoist in the Mysterious Jade
Hearing Jiang Chen’s words, the several ancient existences present exchanged glances, a thoughtful look flashing through their eyes. They did not agree right away.
This place was fraught with danger, and truth be told, they did not really trust Jiang Chen.
What if he tampered with something along the way and got them all killed?
At any time, one must always guard against others.
“Since you have a way, Jiang Chen, then what harm is there in us old fellows trusting you this once? As long as you can help us rescue our Founding Ancestor, name whatever conditions you want.”
At this point, several Ancestors of the Ji Family stepped forward and spoke, their expressions very solemn.
On the way here, they had already witnessed Jiang Chen’s methods and were fairly at ease with him.
Now that the path lay right before them and they would soon be able to rescue their Founding Ancestor, they naturally cast aside all concerns about consequences and agreed on the spot.
“I hope you will keep your word.”
Jiang Chen nodded, his expression calm.
He saw through these Ji Family Ancestors perfectly clearly.
They were nothing but a bunch of old opportunists who latched onto whoever held power. Never mind how readily they agreed now—the moment they no longer needed him, they would absolutely kick him to death.
Therefore, Jiang Chen had a detailed plan in mind, and he would not spare a single person present.
Seeing that the Ji Family Ancestors had agreed, the ancient existences of Sky Emperor Mountain and the Ancient Ye Family also nodded their assent one after another.
Then, a cold smile suddenly flitted across Jiang Chen’s lips as he turned to look at Gu Changge behind him. “Young Master Changge’s methods reach the heavens, and his strength is unfathomable—even True Daoists are no match for you. I imagine that if Young Master Changge were willing to lend a hand, the chances of successfully rescuing the Ji Family’s Founding Ancestor this time would be much greater. I wonder what Young Master Changge thinks?”
Hearing this, everyone’s expressions shifted slightly, and they looked at Jiang Chen in shock.
They had not expected that at this moment he would actually try to get Gu Changge to act and help him.
Just how bold was he?
Several True Daoists were not enough—he wanted to drag Gu Changge down with them too?
Ji Yaoxing and Ji Chuyue’s expressions changed slightly, worry rising in their hearts. They feared Gu Changge would slap Jiang Chen to death on the spot.
“Oh? Since there is something I can help with, then I naturally will not be stingy with my efforts.”
Gu Changge withdrew his gaze from surveying Kun Mountain. Hearing this, he smiled faintly and did not fly into a rage as everyone had expected, appearing completely nonchalant.
Jiang Chen snorted coldly in his heart, unable to stand Gu Changge’s calm and composed demeanor, as if everything were under his control.
You’ll suffer and regret it soon enough.
He sneered inwardly, though on the surface he revealed nothing unusual.
Then, after examining the area, he began explaining to the ancient existences what they needed to do to avoid encountering the Dragon Breath.
Everyone listened very carefully, afraid of missing half a word, worried they would invite a life-and-death crisis upon themselves.
Soon, the several True Daoists followed Jiang Chen’s instructions, bringing out their respective Dao Artifacts and striking at a specific spot ahead.
Amid a series of rumbles, radiant light shot into the sky, as if a True Dragon were rolling beneath their feet, and the surrounding mountain ridges trembled.
“Move!”
Jiang Chen gazed at the entrance where a crack had split open and said in a deep voice, taking the lead at the very front.
Seeing this, no one dared to linger. They all followed behind him, not daring to stray too far.
This guy is already at death’s door, yet he’s still scheming to plot against me.
Gu Changge shook his head lightly, a strange gleam flickering in his eyes as he stared at Jiang Chen.
How could he not know Jiang Chen’s little schemes?
However, at this point, he still needed Jiang Chen to locate Ji Shengchu for him, so he was in no hurry to act.
After that, they walked several dozen miles without encountering the slightest danger. Instead, a strange fragrance suddenly wafted through the air.
“What is this smell? It’s so fragrant!”
A Young Prodigy from Sky Emperor Mountain asked, his face showing surprise.
“Most likely some heavenly treasure of this place is about to ripen.”
An old man’s face tensed as he surveyed the surroundings, also revealing a surprised expression.
Hearing that it might be some heavenly treasure, everyone present grew eager and began scanning the area.
Even the several True Daoists could not hold back, sending out their divine senses to instruct their clansmen, unwilling to miss out on the treasures of this place.
Finally, at a cold pool ahead, a rich, intense fragrance drifted over.
What astonished everyone even more was that wisps of dragon energy coiled around the cold pool.
By the pool’s edge grew many strange spirit herbs, radiating a faint purple glow, each bearing a single fruit.
“These are Earth Dragon Fruits! Legend says they can only grow when nourished by dragon energy, and they ripen only once every thirty million years. To think there are actually nine fruits here!”
An ancient existence exclaimed in delight, recognizing these strange fruits.
“It is said that Earth Dragon Fruits contain a trace of True Dragon essence, and can even help beings with dragon bloodlines transform. Their value is beyond description.”
“Our several forces will split these fruits together.”
At once, the ancient existence of Sky Emperor Mountain spoke up and moved to pick them.
But just as he prepared to approach the cold pool, a terrifying cold aura suddenly burst forth, instantly surging toward him.
This scene startled everyone, causing the many Young Prodigies to retreat in unison, not daring to approach.
An incomparably ferocious Water Dragon poked its head out of the pool, its eyes crimson, exuding a bloodthirsty air. It opened its mouth and spat out a vast expanse of chaotic cold air that swept down upon everyone like a blanket covering the sky.
“A Water Dragon at the True Daoist level, having existed for over ten million years!”
One of the Ji Family Ancestors sucked in a cold breath, utterly shocked, and hastily brought out his Dao Artifact in an attempt to resist.
The other True Daoists also struck out one after another, seeking to suppress it.
However, this Water Dragon had long since developed intelligence. Seeing so many experts present, it let out an unwilling roar, then transformed into a streak of light and fled straight into the deeper reaches of Kun Mountain, vanishing in an instant.
“Quite clever. Otherwise, a Water Dragon at the True Daoist level would be a treasure from head to toe.”
The many True Daoists shook their heads with some regret, then began picking the Earth Dragon Fruits.
Gu Changge did nothing at all, yet still received two of them.
Honestly, these things were not of much use to him.
He gazed in the direction the Water Dragon had fled, somewhat lost in thought.
Since a True Daoist-level creature can survive here, doesn’t that mean other living beings might exist as well?
If so, that gives me an idea—perhaps I can stage an “accident” where the creatures of Kun Mountain riot...
Over the following days, the group continued deeper. The further they went, the more clearly they could hear that strange, muffled sound coming from the depths.
It was as if an incomparably ancient heart was beating.
But up until now, none of them had sensed the location of the Ji Family’s Founding Ancestor—they had not even heard the slightest movement.
This made the Ji Family members begin to doubt whether the summons Ji Chuyue had heard back then was real or fake.
Or perhaps the Ji Family’s Founding Ancestor was now like a lamp running out of oil, barely able to send out any more signs of life.
“What is that?”
Finally, deep within the mountain’s belly, everyone saw a strange place radiating a hazy glow, and all were utterly shocked.
It looked like a vast waterfall cascading down from the heavens, yet also like a great devilish well of a hole, leading straight into the depths of the earth.
As if it connected to the legendary Nine Netherworlds.
But at the mouth of the cave, a piece of azure-blue Mysterious Jade sealed it shut, as if it had existed for tens of millions of years.
Within that Mysterious Jade, everyone could faintly make out a figure sitting cross-legged inside.
It was a Daoist, dressed in feathered robes and a star crown, meditating with closed eyes, lifelike—who knew how many ages he had existed.
Even separated by the Mysterious Jade, everyone could still feel the extraordinariness of this Daoist. It was an aura of the Great Dao.
As if he had merged with heaven and earth itself, making it impossible to tell whether he was alive or dead.
“Could this Daoist’s strength in life have surpassed the True Daoist realm and reached the Celestial Realm?”
The many True Daoists exclaimed in shock, carefully examining the Daoist. They felt the aura emanating from within was enough to make one tremble, their very souls shuddering.
This was absolutely an indescribably peerless powerhouse, sealed here for who knew what reason.
“Little Brother Jiang, do we have no choice but to break through the Mysterious Jade ahead to get in?”
At this point, no one dared to act rashly and shatter the Mysterious Jade, so they had to ask Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen was also quite puzzled. He was conversing with the Artifact Spirit of the Celestial Boat of Creation, wanting to know how to get past.
A piece of Mysterious Jade blocking the way had completely caught him off guard.
Moreover, at this moment, no one knew if it was just their imagination, but they all felt as though the Daoist within the Mysterious Jade was watching them.
Even though the Daoist sat meditating with closed eyes, they still felt a gaze falling upon them from within.
“Do not move him...”
Just as everyone hesitated, unable to decide, a faint and ethereal voice suddenly came from beneath the waterfall directly ahead.
“Th-this is...”
“It’s the Founding Ancestor’s voice!”
The Ji Family members were stunned at first, then became incomparably excited and overjoyed. They felt a throbbing from deep within their bloodlines.
Without a doubt, this was absolutely their Founding Ancestor—the one who had founded the entire Ji Family and had once been titled Human Ancestor.
Ji Shengchu!
He had not died. He still survived within this Kun Mountain.
“It seems it really is Senior Ji Shengchu’s voice. He told us not to touch this Mysterious Jade. Then how are we supposed to go rescue him?”
The several True Daoists exchanged shocked glances, then furrowed their brows and began pondering countermeasures.
Someone tried to communicate with Ji Shengchu beneath the waterfall, but once their words were sent over, they sank like a clay ox into the sea, unable to stir even a ripple before falling silent.
No movement or sound came back from the other side either.
“Right now, the only path is blocked by this Mysterious Jade. Unless we move it aside, we cannot get in.”
Jiang Chen said. After conversing with the Artifact Spirit of the Celestial Boat of Creation for a while, he understood what was special about this place.
It could perhaps be called a Dragon Cavern, or a dragon’s nest.
This Daoist may have offended the True Dragon of this place during his lifetime. After death, he was sealed in Mysterious Jade and used to suppress the Dragon Cavern, preventing anyone else from entering.
If the layout of the Dragon Cavern were carelessly altered, the Daoist within the Mysterious Jade would very likely break free of his seal.
By then, he would be no different from a puppet, with heaven-defying strength. Everyone present would likely be unable to suppress him.
This inevitably stirred some temptation in his heart—after all, the way back had already been sealed off by him when they entered.
When the time came, if everyone tried to flee back the way they came amid the chaos, they would discover that all the paths had changed, becoming dead ends.
If he now found a way to release this Daoist, how many people here would escape alive?
“You are the ones who are heartless—don’t blame me for being ruthless...”
Jiang Chen sneered inwardly. He already had a way out; he could have the Artifact Spirit of the Celestial Boat of Creation take him away at any time.
The others would not be so lucky.
“Then does Little Brother Jiang have any ideas?”
A True Daoist asked, feeling that as the Successor of a Divine Source Master, Jiang Chen might have some other method at this moment.
“As things stand, we must either shatter it or move it aside. Otherwise, there is no way to get inside.”
Jiang Chen shook his head, his tone very firm.
“Senior Ji Shengchu said not to touch this Mysterious Jade, so there must be another way. Yet you insist it can only be shattered—what are your intentions?”
At this moment, Gu Changge, who had been examining the Mysterious Jade all along, suddenly had a strange gleam flash through his eyes. He walked over and asked with some interest.
As he spoke, his gaze fixed intently on Jiang Chen’s face, seemingly carrying scrutiny and disbelief.
Hearing this, everyone’s hearts also tightened. Compared to Jiang Chen, they were naturally more willing to believe the words of the Ji Family’s Founding Ancestor.
With Jiang Chen saying this, who knew whether he harbored ill intentions?
Even the Ji siblings frowned, knowing there was considerable enmity between Jiang Chen and Gu Changge.
If Jiang Chen laid a trap at this moment, what could they do?
At once, the expressions of the several True Daoists also darkened, and they stared at Jiang Chen somewhat unkindly, demanding an explanation.
Jiang Chen had not expected Gu Changge to suddenly ask this, and his heart tightened as well.
However, on the surface he maintained a calm expression and said, “I have said what I have to say. Believe it or not, as you like. Whether the Ji Family’s Founding Ancestor is rescued or not means little to me.”
He insisted this matter had little to do with him. After all, rescuing the Ji Family’s Founding Ancestor was the Ji Family’s affair, and that of the entire Upper Realm.
He had merely been swept up in it against his will.
Seeing Jiang Chen’s demeanor, everyone frowned and began weighing whether to believe his words or not.
The Ji Family’s Founding Ancestor was clearly at the point of his lamp running out of oil, yet he still went to the trouble of sending out such a warning.
The Daoist sealed within this Mysterious Jade was no trivial matter.
Even though he had been dead for countless years, his corpse alone could plunge everyone present into a life-and-death crisis.
But if they did not move the Mysterious Jade aside or shatter it, they could not get through either.
This was clearly a dilemma.
“Then how can we trust that you won’t harm us? As the only Source Master here, if you tamper with something in secret, how would we know?”
The True Daoist of Sky Emperor Mountain was still uneasy, feeling that Jiang Chen was hiding something from them.
Jiang Chen said indifferently, “If you have any other ideas, then by all means, try them.”
He was already certain there was no other entrance here; they had to find a way to deal with that Mysterious Jade.
“Let’s not touch this Mysterious Jade for now. Let’s first see if there are any other entrances nearby.”
Gu Changge sighed softly at this point, seeming somewhat helpless.
His words won everyone’s agreement. After casting a cold glance at Jiang Chen, they all began carefully examining the surroundings, not rashly approaching the Mysterious Jade.
Gu Changge also put on an appearance of carefully surveying the area, but from the corner of his eye, he was actually examining that Mysterious Jade.
More precisely, the Daoist sealed within the Mysterious Jade.
He had a plan in mind.
“I can get you out, but you must agree to one condition of mine.”
Then, with an utterly calm expression, Gu Changge transmitted his voice over via divine sense.
All of a sudden, the Daoist sealed within the Mysterious Jade seemed to stir slightly, though the movement was extremely subtle.
Without careful observation, it would be impossible to notice at all.
Gu Changge was in no hurry. He knew the Daoist within was dead, yet a new will was gestating inside.
In other words, over these years, this corpse had once again birthed intelligence.
He could completely make use of this intelligence to do some things for him.
“Do you mean that?”
After what seemed like a full half-moment of silence, a voice finally came from within the Mysterious Jade, extremely hoarse.
“If you want to get out, then you’d best obediently do as I say,” Gu Changge replied casually, unsurprised.
“Hehe, actually threatening this old Daoist. And what if this old Daoist doesn’t keep the agreement?”
The Daoist within the Mysterious Jade seemed to sneer.
“I naturally have the means to kill you all over again,” Gu Changge said, still nonchalant.
Although this Daoist’s cultivation at his peak had been heaven-defying, very likely a true Celestial Realm being...
In the current environment of heaven and earth, Gu Changge did not need to take it too seriously. Besides, this was merely an intelligence birthed from a corpse.
“I hope you will keep your word.” The Daoist in the Mysterious Jade was no fool; he could naturally sense that among everyone present, Gu Changge’s strength was the most terrifying, unfathomable.
“Then do as I say.”
Gu Changge spoke indifferently, transmitting his plan over.
At the same time, he looked up toward the back of the waterfall. If his guess was right, there should be a sealed underground palace there.
The Ji Family’s Founding Ancestor was very likely trapped within it.
After devouring and absorbing the Ji Family’s Founding Ancestor, he should be able to achieve Nirvana and step into the ranks of True Daoists.
Jiang Chen’s last light and heat should burn out here as well.
The demonic seed planted in his body back then should come in handy now.
Successor of Demonic Arts and Successor of a Divine Source Master—these two identities don’t conflict. And Jiang Chen happens to be skilled at disguise. This black pot sits on his back as a matter of course.
“Junior, get this old Daoist out, and I can help you kill this group of people.”
Then, an ethereal voice suddenly rang out, very ancient and weathered.
This voice abruptly exploded in Jiang Chen’s mind, causing his whole body to jolt. He was somewhat alarmed, but still desperately maintained his composure.
“Who are you? Where are you?”
He carefully scanned his surroundings, trying to communicate with the voice in his mind.
“You should know where this old Daoist is,” the ethereal voice sounded again.
But at this, Jiang Chen instead calmed down. He took a deep breath and cautiously looked toward the Mysterious Jade sealing the Daoist.
This Daoist, whom he had believed dead for who knew how long, was actually taking the initiative to transmit his voice to him.
Could it be that this person was not dead—like the Ji Family’s Founding Ancestor, trapped here for countless years?
“How do you know I want to kill these people?” Jiang Chen asked in a deep voice, still very cautious, not agreeing directly.
“Hehe, such dense killing intent—do you really think this old Daoist can’t sense it? Rest assured, as long as you can get this old Daoist out, what harm is there in me slaughtering all these people for you?”
That ethereal voice carried a cold laugh.