The emergence of Mysterious Divine City sparked an uproar comparable to the Demon Calamity of old. Legends and rumors about the city spread like wildfire, captivating the cultivation world and common folk alike.
"Mysterious Divine City hides immortals!"
"Mysterious Divine City holds the Elixir of Immortality!"
"Mysterious Divine City contains portals to other worlds!"
The stories were endless, so strange and varied that even Gu An found them intriguing.
In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed. That year's Spring Festival was quieter than usual, as many disciples of Tai Xuan Sect had ventured out to seek opportunities. Fortunately, the Third Medicine Valley and Xuan Valley remained unaffected.
Mysterious Divine City still stood, continuing to draw cultivators from across the land. Even the Nine-Fingered Divine Sovereign, temporarily residing in Tai Xuan Sect, had gone to the city, taking Chu Jingfeng along.
Thus far, only accounts of those entering the city had surfaced; no one had yet emerged bearing treasures or tales of success.
In late spring, Gu An rode Blood Prison Saint to Tianya Valley.
Li Xuandao was there—a rare occurrence, as he hadn't returned to Tianya Valley in many years.
Gu An approached and respectfully bowed to thank him for the golden pill he had bestowed.
"It seems Tai Xuan Sect has treated you well. Someone helped you form your golden core. I was planning to send someone to assist you myself," Li Xuandao said with a smile, stroking his beard.
Gu An simply expressed his gratitude without elaborating on Tai Xuan Sect.
Years had passed since their last meeting, and Li Xuandao's cultivation had reached the second level of the Body Fusion Realm. At just 314 years old, this was astonishing. Gu An suspected he might reach the Mahayana Realm before 500.
In terms of talent on this continent, only An Hao and Xuan Tianyi could compare to Li Xuandao. His lifespan was also exceptional, exceeding 6,000 years, making Nirvana Realm almost guaranteed for him in this lifetime.
Li Xuandao summoned Ji Ruolai, Luo Hun, and Lu Xian to join him. The four sat together and began discussing Mysterious Divine City.
"I've gathered some intelligence. Mysterious Divine City itself is an Immortal Treasure. Inside are countless small worlds filled with opportunities. Who among you wishes to join me?" Li Xuandao asked.
All three expressed their eagerness, and then Li Xuandao's gaze fell on Gu An.
Gu An hadn't expected Li Xuandao to invite him. He quickly declined, saying, "I'll pass. With my current cultivation, tagging along would only drag you down. Besides, I'm not interested in so-called immortal fortunes. I know my limits. Such opportunities aren't meant for someone like me."
Li Xuandao chuckled. "I'm merely at the Golden Core Realm. Are you saying I shouldn't go either?"
Feigning to be at the Golden Core Realm when clearly at the Body Fusion Realm—how bold!
Gu An sighed inwardly and replied, "Even among those in the Golden Core Realm, there's a difference. My strength pales in comparison to yours."
Li Xuandao pointed at him with a wry smile but didn't press further.
Lu Xian, watching this exchange, had to stifle his urge to call out their act. Both men were obviously far stronger than they claimed, yet neither wanted to admit it.
The group continued discussing Mysterious Divine City. Ji Ruolai shared information he had obtained, revealing that even the Seven Stars Spirit Realm couldn't fully control the city. The Immortal Spirit within the city was elusive, prompting them to open the city to all cultivators, hoping someone might draw it out.
Ji Ruolai also disclosed that more cultivators from overseas were on their way, likely to disrupt the continent's cultivation world.
"Seven Stars Spirit Realm is supposed to be a Sacred Land, yet they care nothing for the rest of us. They've dragged the Three Dynasties' cultivation world into unnecessary trouble," Lu Xian grumbled.
Luo Hun nodded in agreement. He held a long-standing disdain for the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.
During the Demon Calamity, the Seven Stars Spirit Realm had done nothing to help. Only after Sword Master of Dao defeated the Demon Ancestor did they emerge as supposed saviors, reaping glory. Now, not long after the calamity's end, they had attracted hordes of overseas cultivators. Could such a faction truly be called a Sacred Land?
Li Xuandao remained silent on the matter, as did Ji Ruolai.
Gu An pondered the motives behind the Seven Stars Spirit Realm. This was no longer just about the Three Dynasties' cultivation world. If all these overseas cultivators perished, the ramifications would be immense.
An hour later, Li Xuandao led Ji Ruolai, Luo Hun, and Lu Xian away. As they departed, Tianya Valley became lively once more. Three monkey demons approached Gu An, chattering non-stop, acting as though they ruled the mountain in the absence of its tiger.
Blood Prison Saint, too, grew more talkative, engaging in a heated argument with Sun San.
After Gu An finished harvesting herbs, he mounted Blood Prison Saint and left at a leisurely pace. Only then did peace return to Tianya Valley.
At dusk, Mysterious Divine City stood on the barren plains, majestic and imposing. Crowds of cultivators and demons gathered at its four gates, with some flying directly into the city. As they passed through the barriers above the walls, they vanished without a trace.
From the horizon, two figures approached—Jiang Qiong and the Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother.
From a distance, they stared at the city, awe evident in their eyes.
Before arriving, they had heard many legends about Mysterious Divine City. However, witnessing it firsthand, they felt an overwhelming sense of reverence.
The city was more than a visual marvel; it exuded an indescribable, ancient aura that seemed to transcend time.
"Mysterious Divine City… It is said to grant the power to summon divine spirits and ghostly apparitions, capable of sweeping across the heavens and earth. I never thought I'd see this legendary Immortal Treasure in my lifetime," the Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother murmured, deeply moved.
Jiang Qiong frowned. "Why hasn't anyone emerged from the city?"
The Ephemeral Blossom Ghost Mother answered calmly, "Mysterious Divine City contains countless small worlds. It's difficult to emerge without spending several years inside."
Jiang Qiong fell silent, her sharp gaze fixed on the distant Mysterious Divine City.
At that moment, a deafening, bell-like resonance echoed across the land, shaking the very souls of those who heard it. Startled, Jiang Qiong and the Ghost Mother instinctively turned their heads toward the source. From the horizon, a streak of golden light shot forward, moving at an extraordinary speed as it crossed the barren plains and entered the city. The figure vanished into the city without revealing its form to any onlookers.
Jiang Qiong muttered, "What cultivation realm does that being belong to?"
The Ghost Mother didn't reply, her silence indicating she couldn't discern it either.
Meanwhile, Gu An, still in the Third Medicine Valley, also gazed toward Mysterious Divine City.
"Even wandering immortals are coming now. Are we going to see Heaven and Earth Immortals next?" he mused aloud.
Standing at the wooden fence of his herb garden, Gu An's expression was pensive. Originally indifferent to the city, he now found himself paying closer attention as more and more acquaintances ventured into its depths.
If the city truly harbored hidden dangers, he feared that half the people he cared about might perish. The thought alone left a bitter taste in his mouth.
After a while, he turned away and resumed his routine, inspecting the various garden plots.
Within one of Mysterious Divine City's desolate small worlds, An Hao and Chi Jiuxiao sat cross-legged in front of a crumbling wall. Their faces were pale, indicating they had sustained injuries.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar reverberated through the air, shaking the already fragile wall behind them.
An Hao opened his eyes, frowning deeply. "Senior, does this place really hold any immortal fortunes? Should we move somewhere else?"
This small world within the city had been their base for several months. Yet, aside from finding a few treasures, they were constantly ambushed by powerful creatures of immortal-level strength. Even Chi Jiuxiao, formidable as he was, bore the marks of these relentless encounters.
Chi Jiuxiao remained still, his eyes closed. "The presence of such fierce beasts only confirms the existence of supreme treasures here. The desolation is just a facade. If we find the immortal spirit of this city, we will ascend to the heavens and become rulers of this world."
An Hao laughed bitterly. "Even if we do find the immortal spirit, do you think we have the strength to keep Mysterious Divine City under control?"
He acknowledged Chi Jiuxiao's strength, but his time in the city had revealed the elder's limitations. Chi Jiuxiao often ended up cornered by enemies. Though Chi claimed they were all at the Wandering Immortal level, it was clear he wasn't among the top-tier combatants within the city. How could such strength contend for the immortal spirit?
Chi Jiuxiao replied nonchalantly, "The immortal spirit chooses its master. Once chosen, one can borrow the full power of Mysterious Divine City. Even you would wield strength comparable to immortals. With the city's power, rising to dominance is only a matter of time."
Hearing this, An Hao's eyes lit up with excitement.
Before he could speak, the ground shook violently. Without hesitation, Chi Jiuxiao appeared in front of him, grabbed him by the shoulder, and disappeared from their spot.
Boom!
The ground where they had just been sitting collapsed into a massive pit, sending clouds of dust spiraling skyward. The crumbling cityscape seemed on the verge of complete collapse.
High in the air, Chi Jiuxiao and An Hao looked down. The massive waves of dust consumed the ruined city below, swallowing everything in their path.
Suddenly, a cold, mocking voice echoed through the air. "Chi Jiuxiao, it's been a while!"
Chi Jiuxiao's brows furrowed deeply as he responded, his tone low and cautious. "Qin Xunying, so you've come too."
As his words faded, the dust below parted like a curtain, revealing a group of figures stepping forward. Leading them was a man in blue robes, his demeanor strikingly elegant yet exuding an oppressive arrogance.
Qin Xunying sneered, "You dare step into our Six-Star Cavern's territory alone? Have you grown tired of living?"
Holding An Hao by the shoulder with his right hand, Chi Jiuxiao summoned his Dragon-Slaying Spear with his left, pointing it directly at Qin Xunying. His voice was laced with disdain. "What, brought a few lackeys and now think you can take me on? Have you forgotten the cowardly way you knelt before me a hundred years ago?"
Qin Xunying's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. Behind him, the swirling dust scattered abruptly, revealing an enormous creature—a terrifying elephant demon. Its head was as large as a mountain, its skin black as ink, and its blood-red eyes glowed ominously. Its trunk was scarred with ancient battle marks, and its massive tusks jutted out like twin ridges, cutting through the dust below.
Meanwhile, in another small world within Mysterious Divine City…
Under a cloudless sky, Zhang Buku and Li Ya tread cautiously through a sprawling monastery. Statues of Buddhas lined their path, some depicted trampling demons in fierce combat, others seated serenely on lotus thrones, their expressions kind and peaceful.
"Li Bro, ever read Journey to the West?" Zhang Buku asked abruptly.
Walking ahead, Li Ya scoffed, "I don't have time for idle books."
His sharp gaze scanned the path ahead, his brows furrowed. Ever since entering this place, he had felt an unseen force watching them, its oppressive gaze making his skin crawl.
Zhang Buku grinned. "Well, in Journey to the West, there's a lot about Buddhist deities. They're insanely powerful. Even the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, couldn't escape Buddha's Five Finger Mountain…"
Though his tone was light, Zhang Buku wasn't merely indulging in idle chatter. His senses were sharper than Li Ya's, and from the moment they stepped into this monastery, he had felt the danger surrounding them.
What unnerved him further was that despite circling the area multiple times, they had found no exit.
The two men didn't speak openly of their shared unease but continued to wander the monastery, all the while remaining on high alert.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of a stone falling broke the silence. Both men turned to see a small rock rolling along the path behind them. Yet, the monastery's walls remained empty—no signs of life, human or otherwise.
Zhang Buku extended his spiritual sense, searching for anomalies, but found nothing.
As he turned back to speak, his eyes widened in shock. The path ahead was empty. Li Ya had vanished.