Chapter 49: Signs and Wonders

"This has happened deep within the Nanling Mountains, and it concerns the entire Tianwu Realm. Our Ziyan Sacred Land must shoulder our share of responsibility!" Ziyang Sovereign continued, "In the past, even if our two great sacred lands joined forces, we might still have been unable to contend with this calamity. But things are different now. We have an immortal working behind the scenes on our behalf. I believe this time, our chances are abundant..."

"Sacred Lord, please reconsider!" another Sovereign interjected. "I think the intentions of this immortal are unclear. We cannot yet trust whether he means to help us or simply use us for his own ends!"

Ziyang Sovereign merely smiled and raised two fingers. "You need only remember two things. First: that elder is mightier even than an immortal. What do you think Sovereigns like us amount to before such a figure? We are not even worthy of being used by him!"

"Second! With the crisis in the Nanling Mountains, even without this elder, we would have no choice but to take up our blades and step forward. Now, with the elder's painting in our possession, whether or not he seeks to manipulate us, we must go!"

"Moreover, if this elder bore us ill will, then the path to Sovereignty within Xieming and Hongxi's bodies would still be broken to this day!"

Ziyang Sacred Lord’s words resounded with unshakable resolve.

"I trust that the elder's deeds are not those of a villain!"

The other Sovereigns present all nodded their heads in agreement.

Xieming and Hongxi were even more convinced, their eyes brimming with admiration and gratitude. "Such strength and bearing as the elder possesses are not things an ordinary person could ever hope to attain. If even a dragon among men like him were a villain, then there would be no justice left in this world!"

The two of them had only met the elder once, yet had already been utterly won over by the presence that Zhu Xiaoyuan exuded.

"Well said!" Ziyang Sovereign slapped the table.

"Enough talk. Let's begin our preparations at once!"

Lingji Sovereign also spoke in support. "We must immediately organize a group to go to the Nanling Mountains and investigate. At the same time, we should spread word of this throughout the Tianwu Realm!"

"What is happening in Nanling now is beyond our ability to withstand alone!"

Everyone nodded in response.

"In addition, should we not also contact... our ancestors in the Immortal Realm? This matter now involves those from the Immortal Realm, so naturally, we must inform our venerable ancestors!"

At these words, the gathering grew solemn.

...

That very day, turmoil erupted in Nanling!

Not only earthquakes and landslides struck, but countless wild beasts and birds fled the mountains, and the surrounding nations once again suffered attacks.

Above the Nanling Mountains, the scene was even more terrifying: dark clouds blanketed the sky, demonic sounds echoed unceasingly...

The entire Tianwu Realm was shaken.

The Nanling Mountains.

In the span of a single night, the once lush, verdant peaks had been utterly transformed.

From above, one could see all the mountain ranges fractured and collapsed, the ground riddled with fissures that continued to spread. In just a few breaths, the cracks had stretched over a mile...

The earth was shrouded in black clouds, beasts roared in panic.

It was a true asura’s field.

Countless mighty cultivators rode their magical artifacts swiftly toward the Nanling Mountains.

News from Nanling stirred the emotions of all.

Ancient arrays activated, teleporting group after group of talents to the scene.

These ancient teleportation arrays were left between the major sacred lands long ago, meant to be activated only when the survival of the Tianwu Realm itself was at stake.

At such times, all sacred-level factions would send their people through the arrays to give aid.

...

At this moment.

Zhu Xiaoyuan awoke from his bed, having passed a dreamless night.

Little Red Moon the white kitten was still curled in his arms; he smiled and stroked her head a few times.

On the table lay two brocade boxes, the monetary gifts from Hongxi and Xieming.

"I still don’t know how much they actually gave me! They’re so heavy!"

Zhu Xiaoyuan walked to the table and picked up the boxes. If they were filled with gold or silver, he would be rich!

But when he opened the boxes, he was stunned. They contained neither gold nor silver.

Instead, they were filled with stones—transparent stones.

A white mist swirled around these stones.

What could these be? Zhu Xiaoyuan was a bit bewildered; they certainly didn’t look like jewels...

Could it be... A bold idea flashed through Zhu Xiaoyuan’s mind!

Were these the currency of cultivators—spirit stones?

In an instant, Zhu Xiaoyuan understood.

Clearly, both Xieming and Hongxi were cultivators as well.

So what they had given him was not gold or precious gems, but spirit stones.

After a moment of surprise, Zhu Xiaoyuan burst out laughing with joy. As a mortal, these were incredibly valuable in his hands.

But since spirit stones were so important to cultivators, these didn’t seem to be of particularly high grade, most likely of the lowest quality.

But even the lowest grade was enough!

Red Moon stretched lazily on the bed, then hopped onto the table, stopping beside Zhu Xiaoyuan’s hand. Her feline eyes happened to catch sight of the spirit stones in the box, and she was instantly awestruck!

Meow meow, what’s going on here? Why are there so many immortal stones? Even she, born of the White Tiger clan and nobility among tigers, had never seen so many!

These were prepared for the path to immortality.

If word got out, only the great sacred lands of the Tianwu Realm would possess such treasures!

"Oh? Little one, you’re interested in these stones?" Zhu Xiaoyuan noticed the white kitten staring intently and couldn’t help but laugh.

He closed the box.

Better to put them away for now; once he had completed the system’s task and become a cultivator, he could put them to use!

"Master!"

No sooner had Zhu Xiaoyuan stepped out of his room than he heard Huan Yue and Ruo Feng calling out in greeting.

He nodded in acknowledgment.

"We... we wanted to fetch some water to wash our faces..." Ruo Feng began, but her words trailed off. When they went to draw water from the courtyard well, who could have known it was a holy spring! As soon as they approached, they were filled with reverence and awe.

How could they dare draw water after that?

So they retreated from the well, at a loss as to what water to use.

Zhu Xiaoyuan, thinking it was nothing serious, immediately offered, "I’ll do it!"

The well in his courtyard was indeed quite deep.

With the two girls looking so delicate, it was only natural they would struggle to draw water.