Zhong Shan, Nine-Tails, and Su Afo flew towards the inner area.
"Something's wrong. Everyone from all directions knows about the whereabouts of the Sage King and is gathering here," said Princess Nine-Tails, her face filled with worry.
"The whereabouts of the Sage King Tai Chu? How did they find out?" Zhong Shan raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not sure. The Sage King was staying at a square mountain, but somehow the information leaked. Now, because of this damaged Heaven and Earth Cauldron, strong cultivators are gathering in droves. There are too many: Grand Immortals, Heavenly Immortals, Earthly Immortals, Mystic Immortals, Human Immortals, and even mortals at the Heavenly Extreme Realm. Anyone who dreams of the Sage's treasure has gone mad and is rushing over!" Princess Nine-Tails shook her head.
Beside her, Su Afo looked speechless. Was Princess Nine-Tails broadcasting live? How did she know so much?
"So many strong cultivators have arrived, what about the Ancient Immortals? Can't the three Ancient Immortals, Sage King Tai Chu, Demon Chess Sage, and Sima Yuan, handle it?" Zhong Shan asked gravely.
"Ancient Immortals? Fifteen of them. Do you think that's a lot?" replied Princess Nine-Tails.
Su Afo was at a loss for words. Fifteen Ancient Immortals? Where did they come from? How did so many appear so suddenly?
Zhong Shan, however, furrowed his brows. Fifteen Ancient Immortals? That was no small number. Even with his current strength, it was impossible to face fifteen Ancient Immortals alone.
Dealing with Tai Yi and Yan Hui was only possible because they didn't understand his full capabilities. In essence, those two Ancient Immortals were taken down through trickery. But here? These fifteen Ancient Immortals knew about the existence of the Eight Extreme Heavenly Tail. Would they still fall for it?
The Eight Extreme Heavenly Tail's power could suppress one Ancient Immortal at most. Dealing with several Ancient Immortals was out of the question.
"Zhong Shan, you're not planning to back out, are you?" Princess Nine-Tails' eyes sparkled with hope.
After over a century of interaction, Princess Nine-Tails had developed a sense of reliance on Zhong Shan. It seemed there was nothing he couldn't accomplish.
Indeed, everyone who knew Zhong Shan believed in his capabilities.
Looking at Zhong Shan with anticipation, they had come this far. Could they really give up on the Heaven and Earth Cauldron? It was a Sage's treasure.
Taking a deep breath, Zhong Shan said in a deep voice, "After the opening of the world, Da Zhen only survived because of the protection of Sage King Tai Chu. Otherwise, it would have been destroyed that day. I, Zhong Shan, will repay this great favor. I will go this time, but after this battle, my debt with Tai Chu will be settled!"
Princess Nine-Tails' face immediately turned into a smile.
The debt may be settled, but the friendship remained. Over the past century, she and Zhong Shan had built a deep bond. Nothing else mattered.
The three continued flying inward.
As they moved deeper, more and more strong cultivators gathered, quickly heading towards Zhong Shan's target.
Reaching out, Zhong Shan grabbed someone, a mortal at the Heavenly Extreme Realm.
"Z-Zhong Sage King?" The man was initially terrified, then recognized Zhong Shan.
"Where are you headed?" Zhong Shan asked sternly.
Seeing it was Zhong Shan, the man dared not be disrespectful and quickly said, "I heard that Sage King Tai Chu obtained the Heaven and Earth Cauldron and is a million miles east, so I was going to try my luck!"
"Heard? Who told you?" Zhong Shan frowned.
"A person from the Tai Chu Sacred Court accidentally let it slip. It happened on a mountain surrounded by a dense crowd. After the person let it slip, they disappeared!"
Upon hearing this, Princess Nine-Tails' face changed.
Leaked by someone from the Tai Chu Sacred Court?
Zhong Shan casually threw the man away, sending him flying out of their group.
The three continued flying quickly towards the east.
"Zhong Shan, are you saying there's a traitor among Tai Chu's people?" Princess Nine-Tails frowned.
"What do you think?" Zhong Shan shook his head.
"It's obvious. It has to be someone close to the Sage King!" Su Afo interjected.
"Someone close? There are six people who know the Sage King's whereabouts. Besides the Demon Chess Sage and Sima Yuan, there are four others tasked with leading the strong cultivators away. They've all disappeared. Could it be one of them?" Princess Nine-Tails looked worried.
Su Afo fell silent again. This situation was too bizarre, like a live broadcast of the events.
"Let's hurry. We'll discuss it when we get there!" Zhong Shan frowned.
The three of them sped towards their destination, seeing more and more strong cultivators converging. They headed directly towards an extraordinarily bright mountain peak in the distance.
A large number of strong cultivators had gathered, standing on the peaks of various surrounding mountains. Each peak was occupied by numerous powerful beings.
These strong cultivators were all taking their chances, and the closer they were to the central peak, the higher their cultivation.
The central peak was a trapezoid mountain, its top seemingly cut off, creating a flat surface hastily filled with numerous palaces.
In front of the palaces, on a large plaza, stood two individuals.
The masked Sage King Tai Chu and the solemn Demon Chess Sage. Behind them stood a large cauldron, three zhang high.
The cauldron was bronze in color, with a large character for "Qian" (乾) protruding on the outside and "Kun" (坤) on the inside.
This was the Heaven and Earth Cauldron. The cauldron was covered in rust and numerous cracks, resembling a spider web, making it look extremely worn.
However, inside the cauldron swirled a peach-colored energy, slowly rotating, endless and eternal.
This was the treasured cauldron of the goddess Nüwa, the Heaven and Earth Cauldron.
Sage King Tai Chu and the Demon Chess Sage were guarding this Heaven and Earth Cauldron.
In front of them, a large glowing sphere hung in midair, like a small sun, emitting a rainbow of colors.
On the other side of the glowing sphere stood fourteen powerful figures.
These fourteen strong cultivators stood in midair, and those rushing to try their luck dared not approach, indicating the formidable power of these fourteen.
Among the fourteen, Zhong Shan recognized one: the ancient Buddha of the Randelight Dojo, whom he had seen outside the Nüwa Realm.
The ancient Buddha Randelight gazed at the glowing sphere, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Despite being enemies of the Sage King Tai Chu, the fourteen cultivators kept a cautious distance from each other, aware that there was only one Heaven and Earth Cauldron, and the final winner would be one of them.
With no alliances, they were all on guard against each other.
"Boom!!!"
A loud explosion erupted as the rainbow-colored sphere shattered, causing the surrounding space to tremble and sending turbulent air currents in all directions.
As the sphere dissipated, two figures suddenly appeared in the air.
One was a man in a purple robe, his hair slightly disheveled. He was the Purple Heaven Dojo's Purple Heaven Lord.
The Purple Heaven Lord seemed extremely wary, staring at the man across from him, who was spitting blood.
That man was Sima Yuan, the patriarch of the Sima family, whom Zhong Shan had seen in the Star Palace.
Sima Yuan clutched his chest, his clothes torn and his body surrounded by strands of lightning. His hair stood on end, and though he spat blood, his eyes remained fierce as he glared at the Purple Heaven Lord.
Sima Yuan slowly descended to the square on the square mountain.
"Sage King, I have done my best. I am severely injured and can no longer fight, but the Purple Heaven Lord surely can't continue fighting either," Sima Yuan said bitterly as he stood before Sage King Tai Chu.
"Good," Sage King Tai Chu nodded.
He acknowledged Sima Yuan's withdrawal from the battle. In the sky, the fifteen Ancient Immortals were now reduced to fourteen, while his own side had also lost one Ancient Immortal.
The Demon Chess Sage frowned even more deeply.
Suddenly, the Demon Chess Sage's eyes widened in realization. Across the sky, while the Purple Heaven Lord retreated, another Ancient Immortal appeared.
Sixteen Ancient Immortals?
If this continued, more and more Ancient Immortals would arrive. If they alarmed the Ancestor Immortals, the Heaven and Earth Cauldron would be impossible to take away. What to do?
In the distance, the spectators also noticed this scene.
"Sixteen Ancient Immortals? There's no point in competing anymore; it's not ours to take!" complained one of the spectators.
"Not necessarily. The sixteen Ancient Immortals are not united; we still have a chance!"
"Chance? You can't even handle one Ancient Immortal, what chance do you have?"
"Sage King Tai Chu is taking a gamble; why can't I?"
"If Sage King Tai Chu doesn't hand over the Heaven and Earth Cauldron, he's doomed. Don't you see how many people are here? Is anyone willing to help him?"
"Help? How? Every Ancient Immortal wants the Heaven and Earth Cauldron. Who else would dare to help? There are already sixteen Ancient Immortals; there might be more soon. Helping him is a death wish!"
"Right, unless someone is a fool, no one will help Sage King Tai Chu now!"
People chattered on. This was the stage of the Ancient Immortals. No one would help Sage King Tai Chu. Unless he handed over the Heaven and Earth Cauldron, today would end in disaster for him.
But, the world is always full of surprises.
Just as the number of Ancient Immortals reached sixteen, three figures descended onto the square mountain.
Seeing this, everyone fell silent.
"There are really fools coming?"
"Are they courting death?"
The three figures were Zhong Shan, Su Afo, and Princess Nine-Tails. They landed beside Sage King Tai Chu.
Seeing Zhong Shan and his companions arrive, Sima Yuan frowned, the Demon Chess Sage looked worriedly at Princess Nine-Tails, while Sage King Tai Chu seemed unsurprised, as if he had known they would come.
The sixteen Ancient Immortals across from them quickly assessed the trio's cultivation.
"Humph!"
Several of them simultaneously showed disdain. All three were at the Heavenly Immortal realm. Did these three Heavenly Immortals intend to block their way?
A few, however, were slightly puzzled. They had noticed the trio outside the Nüwa Realm, where Su Afo and Princess Nine-Tails were Grand Immortals. How had they now become Heavenly Immortals?
"Princess, why are you here?" the Demon Chess Sage asked worriedly.
"I asked her to come," Sage King Tai Chu said calmly.
Frowning, the Demon Chess Sage looked at Sage King Tai Chu and then nodded.
The sixteen Ancient Immortals in the sky didn't rush forward all at once, wary of each other. This gave Sage King Tai Chu a relatively manageable battle environment.
The Purple Heaven Lord had retreated, and another Ancient Immortal stepped forward.
It was the ancient Buddha from the Randelight Dojo.
"Sage King Tai Chu, the Heaven and Earth Cauldron behind you is destined for my sect. You should give up your obsession," said the ancient Buddha Randelight.
His words drew scorn from the surrounding strong cultivators. Destined for your sect? I could say the same for myself. This Randelight fellow is shameless!