"Such ruthless methods! According to the Fengshui Dao, the Dragon Vein is the source of Donghua's destiny. By severing it, hasn't he cut off our nation's very roots?"
Zhou Baiwei felt her scalp tingle. The image of that massive, soaring phoenix having its heart gouged out and filled with water was so overwhelming that she still felt a sense of suffocation.
'To butcher dragons and slay phoenixes with a mere human body, gouging out hearts, tearing out sinews, and breaking bones... what kind of ruthless monster is this?'
"No, this person is truly a once-in-a-generation figure. His methods are brilliant, and his ambition reaches the heavens. Not even the ancient Liu Bo Wen could compare. Liu Bo Wen severed Dragon Veins to cut off the Dragon Qi and bring the world under a single family. That was an act that wounded Tianhe, a catastrophe for the world."
"But this person is different. He severed the Dragon Vein to bless all of humanity. A person like this... I must meet him for myself."
A sharp glint flashed in Yi Beidou's eyes.
"Sir, what do you mean by that?"
Confusion also showed in Meng Qianyuan's eyes.
He had originally thought this was done by someone fearing chaos in the world, their intentions exactly the same as those of Ming Taizu long ago.
Sever all the Dragon Veins, and no true dragon will rise, ensuring peace throughout the land.
"Look. This person butchered the dragon and slew the phoenix. But what did he build in all the key locations? Reservoirs, power plants, and signal towers."
Yi Beidou had Meng Qianyuan bring up the image of the great "spreading-wings phoenix" vein again.
"The heart of the phoenix must be where the Earth Vein Qi converges. A reservoir was built there. Water has the effect of Gathering Spirit. So where does this concentrated Earth Vein Qi flow?"
"Power plants, electrical towers, and signal towers were built atop the earth vein's nodes. They gather the Earth Vein Spirit. So where are the electricity and signals sent?"
Yi Beidou said in a low voice.
In that moment, it was as if a bomb had gone off in Meng Qianyuan's and Zhou Baiwei's minds. Their scalps went numb.
"The reservoir's water flows to thousands upon thousands of households. The electricity and signals are supplied to the masses. This person didn't butcher the dragon and slay the phoenix to sever Donghua's roots, nor for the sake of a single family's rule. He wants to bless every household, to let all the world's people share in the Dragon Vein, so that everyone can be like a dragon."
Though Yi Beidou had never met this person, he could sense his immense spirit even across a vast distance.
Those who achieve Body Ascension are no ordinary mortals.
Feng Hua Chuan sacrificed his body to feed the tiger, forging his true form in raging flames. Wei Cheng possessed the mien of a Buddha but the heart of an assassin, a pillar of the nation. Fang Xiuyuan butchered dragons and slew phoenixes to bring blessings to all the world's people...
"Prepare at once. I'm leaving for Cloud Prison Mountain."
Yi Beidou stood up, his expression calm as he spoke.
「The next day.」
「Yunhai Province, Cloud Prison Mountain.」
Cloud Prison Mountain was a stretch of primeval jungle, a place rarely touched by humans. The vegetation was exceedingly dense, teeming with venomous insects and wild beasts. The terrain had drastic vertical changes, and the weather was unpredictable. One moment it might be sunny, and the next, a mountain squall could begin, making it impossible to take precautions.
Anyone with hiking experience would know just how dangerous such a primeval forest is. One careless moment could lead to an attack by venomous insects or wild beasts. Alternatively, a sudden mountain downpour could cause a person to die of hypothermia in a short amount of time. Even fully-equipped professionals had to tread with extreme caution here.
Nevertheless, there were always adventurers who came here to challenge the might of nature. Consequently, a significant number of people went missing or were confirmed dead in Cloud Prison Mountain every year.
Yi Beidou's group of three arrived at the foot of Cloud Prison Mountain.
Before they had even entered the mountain, they spotted a campsite of fellow hikers preparing for the ascent. These hikers were all fully kitted out in heavy gear, with each person's equipment weighing at least twenty to thirty kilograms.
All of them cast astonished glances at Yi Beidou.
Zhou Baiwei and Meng Qianyuan were at least wearing some gear, but Yi Beidou was still in the same tracksuit one might wear for a morning jog.
'Is he going into the mountains dressed like that? Does he have a death wish? If a mountain squall hits, is there any chance he'd survive?'
The hikers were all astonished.
"I'm going on ahead. Keep up if you can."
Yi Beidou said to Zhou Baiwei and Meng Qianyuan behind him, ignoring the stares.
"Yes, Sir."
They both nodded.
Zhou Baiwei certainly wanted to see for herself the person capable of butchering dragons and slaying phoenixes, but she was self-aware enough to know her limits. In this terrain, she couldn't possibly keep up with Yi Beidou's speed. All she could do was enter the mountain and try her luck.
As for Meng Qianyuan, he was still bearing the effects of the Demon-Suppressing Seven-Star Needle and currently had only the Physical Ability of a normal person, making it even more impossible for him to keep up with Yi Beidou. He had only come along to challenge nature with his mortal body and temper his own will; he held out no hope of witnessing the meeting between the Saint Experts.
'Are these people really going into the mountains like this?!'
The hikers overheard their conversation, their eyes filled with astonishment. One of them was about to offer a word of caution when they saw Yi Beidou tap his foot lightly on the ground. His figure shot out like a phantom, vanishing from sight after just a few flickers among the trees.
'What the hell...?'
The group's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. They figured that even in a hundred-meter dash on flat ground, they probably couldn't reach that speed, let alone in a mountain forest with such complex terrain.
'Just what kind of person was that?!'
「Meanwhile.」
Across the ocean, inside an important, secret laboratory of the Pioneer Group.
"Doctor, there's news from Donghua. A disciple of the Wandering Immortal has emerged, an individual who has already achieved Body Ascension."
A staff member reported in a low voice to a tall man wearing a white lab coat.
"Oh?"
The tall man turned around, taking the report from the staff member's hands.
This man had black hair, and his features were a blend of multiple ethnicities. His sky-blue eyes were as placid as an iceberg, making him instantly memorable.
"It seems this is the heir the Wandering Immortal left behind. Obscure for twenty years, only to achieve Body Ascension overnight. He must be cultivating the Free Heart Technique. This Dharma Gate is crucial; it involves the development of the Brain Realm and will be of great help to our research. It is one of the greatest treasures the Wandering Immortal left."
"Report this to the committee. We need to get this person under our control. If necessary, we can reactivate the Body Ascension Hunting Program. It is also time to show the world the fruits of our research."
The man known as the Doctor said calmly.
"Understood."
The staff member nodded and turned to leave the laboratory.
The man known as the Doctor turned back around, clicked open a file on his computer.
Inside were passages of text and numerous photos, all related to an individual named "Wandering Immortal."
'Although we've already found your body, I refuse to believe that someone on the path of a Corpse Dissolving Immortal would perish so easily and abandon so many years of Cultivation. You're just like those old fossils in the Group, hidden deep behind the scenes. They would love nothing more than to live as long as heaven and earth, to eternally enjoy their authority and power right up to the end of human civilization.'
A mocking smile touched the corners of the Doctor's lips.
'So, Wandering Immortal... are you truly dead, or did you discover a way to break the fetters of Corpse Dissolution?'