"With Elder Huang personally taking action, that girl will never escape your grasp!"
"Naturally! Elder Huang is a Void Transformation Realm expert. With spiritual power fading in the Divine State Continent, who can oppose you?"
"Anyone who shelters that girl will learn the might of the Sacred Clan from the Manggu Continent!"
...
The black-robed demon cultivators on the pavilion ship laughed wildly, filled with superiority toward the Divine State Continent, where spiritual power had waned due to demon incursions. Though they bore obvious demon traits, they mostly resembled humans. These demon cultivators from the Manggu Continent were half-human, their origins tied to a war that nearly destroyed the Canglan Domain.
Long ago, the continents of the Canglan Domain were a single landmass until a collision with the Myriad Demon Domain triggered a millennium-long war. To survive, many demon tribes intermarried with humans, giving birth to half-demons. These half-demons, combining demon talent and human wisdom, called themselves the Sacred Clan and formed the Five Great Sacred Mountains. At the war's critical juncture, they joined the human camp, defeating the demons. The collision ended, the domains separated, and peace returned.
This collision split the Canglan Domain into continents isolated by the Tempest Sea, with the Sacred Clan—led by the Five Great Sacred Mountains—occupying the Manggu Continent. Even the Tempest Sea itself formed from spiritual power fluctuations caused by battles between human and demon powerhouses.
Elder Huang wore a triumphant look. With a light wave, the demon cultivators fell silent. He took out a残破的灯盏 (broken lamp) from his Sumeru Ring. The lamp had a one-inch wick, and within the oil壶 (oil reservoir), hundreds of living souls wandered and wailed. The Soul-Locking Lamp drew power from souls—demon beast souls, human souls, or even demon and half-demon souls. Purer souls worked better; if none, quantity sufficed. Currently, it held only demon beast souls.
As the lamp ignited, the beast souls within showed agony, emitting silent howls. Elder Huang placed the white fox's molted fur on the ghostly green flame. A green ray—visible only to the lamp's holder—leapt across the void, extending toward the horizon until it vanished.
"Let's go!"
Chuckling, Elder Huang收起 (stowed) the pavilion ship and followed the green ray.
In Moonlight Palace, Lin Yu glanced at the white fox under the eaves, its complexion much improved. The healing pill he'd left was gone, clearly swallowed. He placed another pill before the fox, stretched, and reclined to continue comprehending sword intent.
"Third Brother..."
The Second Prince's voice sounded outside. Dressed in imperial regalia, he entered the courtyard beaming.
"Second Brother, what has you so delighted?" Lin Yu rose to greet him, smiling.
"Third Brother, Spirit Mountain is about to open!" the Second Prince exclaimed excitedly.
"Spirit Mountain?"
Legend said Spirit Mountain was a vast blessed land independent of the Canglan Domain, opening at uncertain intervals—sometimes twice in a few hundred years, sometimes not for millennia. To think it would open in their era. Each continent had a portal to Spirit Mountain, open to all. The mountain itself tested challengers' spiritual roots, age, talent—failing any criterion meant expulsion.
Lin Yu paused, recalling what Spirit Mountain entailed: a dream cultivation paradise for prodigies. For other continents, it was important but not life-or-death; their abundant spiritual power allowed normal advancement to Myriad Phenomena and Void Transformation. The Divine State, however, suffered fading spiritual power, making Void Transformation all but impossible for Myriad Phenomena warriors. Spirit Mountain offered hope.
Myriad Phenomena or even Purple Mansion Realm warriors from the Divine State could thrive in Spirit Mountain's dense spiritual power. Some entered as Purple Mansion and emerged as Void Transformation—such cases were not unheard of. Moreover, dense spiritual power was the least of Spirit Mountain's opportunities. It teemed with rare treasures, spiritual herbs, and immortal fruits. Even a trivial find could alter one's destiny.
Legend told of someone who found a palm-sized piece of alien meteorite, forging it into a sword of infinite might that later slew a Condensed Spirit Realm expert at Myriad Phenomena—hence the name "God-Slaying." Another, mediocre among prodigies, ate an immortal fruit, underwent rebirth, and advanced from Purple Mansion to Condensed Spirit.
This was why Spirit Mountain drew warriors from across the Canglan Domain: it offered a chance to defy fate. Mocked and ridiculed? Enter Spirit Mountain, emerge to trample your detractors. Carrying血海 vengeance? Exit strong enough to wipe out enemies. An unknown youth might return a feared overlord. Spirit Mountain held all possibilities.
Years ago, when demons invaded the Divine State, they were driven back to the Myriad Demon Domain and the portal sealed. This was thanks to Spirit Mountain's prior opening, which allowed Divine State prodigies to seize opportunities, creating a new generation of强者 (powerhouses) who could resist the demon horde.
"After successive demon invasions and demon cultivator rampages, our Divine State warriors are weakened, spiritual power faded, and new强者 are scarce. Spirit Mountain's opening benefits our entire continent—especially the Great Han. We must seize this chance to gain more opportunities!"
The Second Prince grinned, his gaze falling on Lin Yu.