The Tianyan Mountains lay sprawled along the edge of Yancheng, stretching to the borders of two neighboring cities. Vast and formidable, the range spans nearly half of Tiandu County, making it the largest and most treacherous mountain range in the region.
Within its dense, mist-veiled forests lurk countless ferocious beasts. It's said that even a cultivator at the third stage of the Creation Realm would find survival uncertain if they wandered too deep. But recently, that danger has been ignored—overshadowed by the allure of one rumor.
An ancient tomb said to belong to a Nirvana Realm powerhouse is buried somewhere in these mountains. Once that rumor spread, greed overtook caution. Thousands swarmed the area, blind to the looming threats.
In just half a month, the Tianyan Mountains had transformed from a forbidden zone to a chaotic hotspot. Human shadows darted through the trees. The cries of beasts mingled with the chatter of excited cultivators.
"Damn this seal on the ancient tomb! I've been here ten days and it still won't open!"
"You think that's bad? I've been here eleven!"
"This is ridiculous. More people keep arriving. If they open it with all these people around, we won't even get a whiff of treasure!"
Annoyed voices echoed across the slopes. Tensions were high. The longer they waited, the greater the crowd—and the slimmer the chances of leaving with anything worthwhile.
Suddenly, a thunderous laugh rumbled from the distant sky.
A golden light blazed across the horizon, splitting the air with sheer force. Yuan Energy stirred wildly between heaven and earth as a massive golden spear—dozens of feet long—pierced through the sky. Atop it stood a figure draped in golden robes, his loose hair fluttering like wild flame. His presence alone radiated a supreme arrogance.
But no one dared question him.
"That's Wang Yan from the Wang family!"
The Great Yan Dynasty was ruled not only by its imperial house but also by four major families: the Wang, Lin, Huangpu, and Qin clans.
"The Wang family has two peerless geniuses. Wang Yan is one, the other is his brother, Wang Zhong."
"Are they stronger than Lin Dong and Lin Qingtan from the Lin family?"
"Lin Dong?" one cultivator scoffed. "You must be new."
"It's true," another replied. "They say Lin Dong stormed the Lei and Xie families' compounds alone and annihilated them."
"No way…"
"It's fact. On the night of the massacre, two white lights exploded in Qingyang Town. The ground shook. When it was over, both families were gone. Some say Lin Dong's strength can already rival those in the Nirvana Realm."
"Hiss... The Nirvana Realm? Then what about Lin Qingtan?"
"No one knows her true strength. But they say she's the most terrifying one in the Lin family."
As murmurs spread, a sharp gust of wind swept through the sky, carrying a majestic red light. A massive Feng Luan—dozens of feet in length—descended from the clouds. Riding upon it was a man in blue, his features delicate to the point of seeming demonic. He held a dark-blue feather fan, which he gently waved, exuding a calm and noble air.
"That's Qin Shi, genius of the Qin family."
"The Qin family's here too? Then the Huangpu and Lin families must be close behind."
Just as the words left his mouth, a green glow bloomed in the distance, eventually coalescing into a lotus of emerald light. Atop it stood a young woman draped in a light, flowing skirt. Though a veil hid her face, her eyes gleamed like ice crystals, dimming the world around her.
Her presence was ethereal—breathtaking.
"She's stunning..."
"Is she from the Huangpu family?"
"No, that's Ling Qingzhu. She's not one of them. The Huangpu family invited her as a guest."
At last, the final ripple came—not through the sky, but space itself.
Four figures stepped out of the void, as though reality had bent around them.
Three men, one woman.
The first wore a green robe, his long hair swaying in the breeze. With hands behind his back and a quiet, effortless poise, he radiated superiority.
He was Lin Langtian.
The second man stood with a firm, calm presence—his purple-black robe and deep eyes giving off the impression of a mountain: immovable and eternal.
He was Lin Dong.
The third youth appeared ordinary—gray hair, gray eyes, no discernible aura. He was the least noticeable of the group, and yet...
He was Ye Feng.
And finally, there was the girl. She wore elegant green robes, her figure slender yet full of vitality. Her skin gleamed like jade, and her sharp eyes swept the field with unshakable confidence.
Lin Qingtan.
"She's beautiful…"
"The Lin family's here too. But what martial art was that? They stepped out of thin air!"
"That's at least Death Profound Realm!"
Ling Qingzhu narrowed her eyes as she stared at Ye Feng.
"Death Profound Realm?" a Huangpu cultivator echoed in disbelief.
"You're saying that ordinary-looking guy has that kind of cultivation?"
"No doubt," Ling Qingzhu replied firmly. "When he appeared... the pressure reminded me of my master. His strength is at least in the Death Profound Realm."
She turned to the Huangpu disciples and added quietly, "Since I have some ties with your family, I'll give you a word of advice: don't provoke him."
The Huangpu crowd fell silent, stunned by the warning.
At that moment, Qin Shi stepped forward, smiling as he addressed Lin Langtian.
"You're here. Perfect timing. Shall we work together to break the tomb's barrier?"
But Lin Langtian didn't answer.
Instead, his gaze remained fixed on Ye Feng.
This puzzled both Qin Shi and Wang Yan. Since when did Lin Langtian—the pride of the Lin family—look to someone else for permission?
In the original timeline, Lin Langtian, Wang Yan, and Qin Shi had all failed to open the tomb. It had been Ling Qingzhu who finally succeeded.
But now, with Ye Feng present, everything had changed.
"There's no need," Ye Feng said calmly.
"I'll do it."
He took a step forward.
"Break."
His voice was soft, but the moment it rang out, the very air trembled.
A ripple appeared in space. The barrier that had resisted countless cultivators—something that had remained unbroken for days—shattered like glass.
Gasps filled the mountainside.
The ancient tomb had been opened.
By a single word.
By Ye Feng.
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