Chapter 60: Calamity
Beside Zhu Xiaoyuan, Huan Yue had already fallen into the realm contained within the calligraphy and painting. Zhu Xiaoyuan reached out, rolled up the scroll, and handed it casually to An Yue’er at his side. Since An Yue’er was to attend the exhibition this time, and it would certainly be a grand occasion with many people present, judging by the demeanor of Xie Ming and the other, it was likely that all the renowned scholars and elegant gentlemen of the entire Tianwu World would participate! This would be a moment to show oneself before the whole world! Naturally, Zhu Xiaoyuan was determined to demonstrate to all what true calligraphy and painting were!
…
At this very moment.
Within the northern region of the Anluan Kingdom, in the blazing Crimson Flame Mountains.
Numerous figures from Sun and Moon-level factions had gathered here. Though they were once all arrogant and overbearing, now only a heavy silence remained.
Inside a certain secret chamber.
Yin Shihang had been here for a long time.
No one dared utter a sound to disturb him.
At this moment, he was prostrated before a statue that bore eight arms upon its back, its entire form radiating a dazzling, multicolored light.
Yin Shihang’s heart surged with excitement, for not long ago, the High God had sent word—an emissary was dispatched to descend to the mortal world, promising to aid him in eliminating any who dared obstruct them.
Yin Shihang was elated. If this were so, they would have every chance to dominate the entire Anluan Kingdom; at long last, Crimson Flame Mountain’s day of glory had arrived!
Yet, before that day could come, he heard that the divine envoy sent by the High God had mysteriously perished.
Since then, there had been no further word from the High God.
It was as if everything had sunk into a deathly stillness.
Yin Shihang was suddenly seized by an inexplicable panic, utterly at a loss. He didn’t even know what hidden power might reside behind the Fire Moon Sect, what secret that little village harbored—so formidable that even the divine envoy sent by the High God was utterly powerless against it.
He was terrified. If the other party harbored ill intentions, would Crimson Flame Mountain not be easily destroyed?
Only by remaining before this radiant, sinister statue could Yin Shihang maintain his inner composure.
“O God… why have you not stirred? The Southern Ridge Mountains have already opened. Should you not issue your command…” Yin Shihang murmured softly.
Could it be that the people of that unremarkable little mountain village possessed such terrifying strength that even the Lord of Evil dared not appear lightly?
As he was thinking this, a deep, hoarse voice suddenly sounded in his ear: “The time is almost upon us.”
Instantly, Yin Shihang grew excited—at last, the High God had spoken again!
Did this mean his anxieties could be laid to rest?
“My Lord, you finally speak!” he exclaimed, barely containing his excitement.
Excitement surged within him. The eyes of the idol, addressed as “my Lord,” suddenly blazed with green light, as if it had come alive!
“Now is the time to ascend to immortality! I will bestow fortune upon you now—see that you seize it with all your might.” The voice of the evil god echoed above.
Yin Shihang trembled with anticipation!
Was fortune about to descend upon him? This was simply too wonderful!
“My Lord, what would you have me do? Please, command me!” Yin Shihang managed, barely restraining his elation.
A chilling, guttural laugh emerged. “Of course, you can help me. Offer your body to me, unconditionally.”
As the evil god finished speaking, a wisp of black mist floated out from the multicolored idol.
“No—!”
In that instant, Yin Shihang was seized by overwhelming terror!
But it was already too late. The black mist billowed around him, and in the blink of an eye, devoured his soul.
“Ah… the taste of souls. It’s been so long since I’ve savored it. Exquisite…”
“Yin Shihang” slowly rose from the ground, twisting his neck with a series of cracks.
He no longer possessed the same aura as before.
He strode from the secret chamber…
“Sect Master, how are things now?”
“Did the High God speak with you within?”
The elders all questioned him.
“Yes,” Yin Shihang replied, a wicked smile upon his lips. “Would you like to hear what was said?”
With that, he waved his hand, and black mist surged from his palm.
Enveloped by the black mist, everyone present immediately began to convulse, collapsing to the ground and writhing in agony, piteous cries escaping their lips.
Very soon, every elder present rose to their feet, green light flickering within their eyes.
“We greet the Lord of Evil!” they chorused, kneeling in unison.
“Yin Shihang” turned, his gaze directed toward the Southern Ridge Mountains. “Heh… the Immortal Ascension Platform? Interesting. Wait for me!”
With a grand wave of his hand, both he and the elders vanished from the spot.
…
Cold air shrouded the land, the lake water frozen solid.
The temperature seemed to have reached its absolute limit.
The lake was filled with inky blackness, the dark water churning, and one could vaguely make out colossal ice boulders at the bottom.
Blackwater Mystic Ice!
Atop one such boulder sat a solitary figure.
Looking closer, the one seated in meditation atop the frigid ice was a woman.
Her hair was snowy white, and her presence was formidable.
Suddenly, the woman atop the ice opened her eyes, and instantly all the frozen ice at the lake’s bottom shattered in an explosion.
The lake’s surface roiled, as if disturbed by some tremendous force.
The next moment, the woman took a single step and floated above the lake.
“The time has come. In this life, I will seize the chance to ascend to immortality! I am off…”
As she spoke, she instantly appeared in another place.
…
Supreme Lord Hongxi and Supreme Lord Xieming, leading their armies, had arrived at the Southern Ridge Mountains.
Boom!
It was only the third day, and already they encountered danger.
A fiendish beast radiating a deadly aura!
No—not a fiendish beast, but the lingering soul of a beast from thousands of years ago!
It had endured until now!
The aura of supremacy radiating from its entire being was astonishing!
With one swipe of its claw, many cultivators perished beneath its talons.
Hongxi and Xieming joined forces to subdue the beast.
Another day passed.
They encountered a set of extremely dilapidated arrays. Thinking nothing of it at first, as soon as they stepped in, disaster struck again, and many more lives were lost.
In the blink of an eye, it was the fifth day.
This time, even the sub-supreme experts weren’t spared, many were swallowed up by the earth.
On the sixth day.
A spirit-forged artifact appeared, and none could resist its might. This artifact was almost at the level of an immortal weapon! In the end, the Holy Land of Jixing lost two supreme lords and a quasi-immortal weapon before they managed to subdue the awakened artifact.
Even though the Southern Ridge Mountains had already collapsed to such a state, with many arrays and other things vanishing along with the crumbling mountains, the place was still rife with danger.
…