Chương 284: Chapter 284: Gathering of the Strong
"Demonic calamity, suppressed by a step, sects gathered, prosperous era?"
For someone like Zhong Shan, the closer he got to excitement and the brink of success, the more he maintained his composure and exercised caution.
The phrase "suppressed by a step" referred to the stone slab with a woman's footprint. Was it this woman who suppressed something with just a step? But the previous phrase mentioned a "demonic calamity."
This suggested that beneath this footprint, there might be a demon or some other malevolent entity. The historical record dated back 18,000 years. Had the demon perished in that time? Zhong Shan wasn't sure, so he knew he had to proceed with utmost caution.
"Sir, should we break it open?" Ah Da asked eagerly.
"Not yet. First, clear all the soil, stones, and trees around the footprint," Zhong Shan instructed.
"Yes!" Ah Da replied.
With meticulous care, Ah Da used spells to clear away the soil, stones, and trees around the footprint. Together with Nian Youyou, they even removed the surrounding mountains of the valley.
After a massive effort, they retreated to a distant mountaintop. The valley was gone, and the surrounding mountains had been cleared, leaving only a giant nine-colored footprint in the center. The footprint, nearly 300 meters long, was that of a woman.
Surrounding the footprint were countless cracks, extending like a spiderweb across a large area, glowing faintly red.
"Did she create a seal with one step?" Nian Youyou remarked in awe.
The numerous cracks seemed to interconnect intricately, not loosening the ground below but instead making it as solid as steel.
Focusing his thoughts, Zhong Shan's eyes transformed into a fragmented world where countless cosmic rules flickered intermittently. In no time, he was shocked to find that the cracks radiating from the footprint were perfectly aligned with the cosmic rules, as if written deliberately by a pen. But in this case, it was a footprint that caused the cracks.
"An immortal? Is this the power of an immortal? This is insane." Zhong Shan thought, amazed.
"Zhong Shan, are you worried that there might be a 'demonic calamity' as recorded in history?" Nian Youyou asked.
"Yes," Zhong Shan nodded.
"It's been over ten thousand years. If there was a demon, it would likely be dead by now. Even if it's not, the fact that it was previously sealed means that someone on the Divine Land could seal it again. We shouldn't worry too much. The key is to open this seal," Nian Youyou argued.
"No matter what, we need to investigate thoroughly first. If we break the seal, the spiritual energy will inevitably leak out, drawing many people here," Zhong Shan cautioned.
"Alright!" Nian Youyou and Ah Da agreed.
The three of them then descended the mountain and began a meticulous inspection around the giant footprint. The footprint and the eerie cracks had blocked their spiritual senses, so they had to rely on their own eyes for examination.
They split up, and Zhong Shan followed a thin crack to the edge of the valley.
Suddenly, Zhong Shan's senses screamed danger. His hair stood on end, and an immense sense of peril enveloped him. His protective shield activated reflexively, and he drew his large blade in an instant.
A sudden, intense sense of crisis gripped Zhong Shan. It might have been a sixth sense, but in that moment, Zhong Shan felt an impending threat of death.
Instinctively, he activated his protective shield. What was happening? How could there be danger here? A sneak attack, it must be a sneak attack. But who was behind it?
In an instant, Zhong Shan saw a hand. A hand emerged suddenly from a short distance away and was now right in front of him.
Wu An! It was Wu An.
The hand carried a deadly intent, as if it meant to kill Zhong Shan with a single blow.
There was no time. The hand was already upon him. Ah Da and Nian Youyou noticed, but it was too late for them to intervene. The hand was about to strike Zhong Shan.
Death? Zhong Shan was unwilling to accept it. He couldn't believe he would die, especially since he had a jade talisman for protection.
"Boom!!!"
The sound of the blow echoed, a massive burst of energy radiated outwards, shattering the surrounding mountains.
Zhong Shan was unharmed, while Wu An was sent flying back in frustration.
"Boom, boom, boom!!!"
Wu An crashed through a mountain but quickly rose again, looking at Zhong Shan and the person who had blocked his attack with a face full of hatred.
Standing beside Zhong Shan was a woman in a flowing purple dress, her hand still raised in the air before she slowly lowered it.
It was Zi Xun!
Zi Xun had blocked the lethal blow meant for Zhong Shan.
Ah Da quickly rushed to Zhong Shan's side, his heart filled with regret. It had been a close call, too close. Zhong Shan had almost been seriously injured.
Nian Youyou also flew over, surprised to see Zi Xun beside Zhong Shan.
Zhong Shan turned to look at Zi Xun, whose expression remained as cold as ever. Zhong Shan didn't say thank you. Given their complicated relationship and his own feelings, he found himself unable to express his gratitude. Nor did Zi Xun expect any thanks from him; everything felt as if it was meant to be, a matter of course.
"Sir, are you alright?" Ah Da asked urgently.
"I'm fine," Zhong Shan took a deep breath.
The group turned to look towards Wu An, who was now joined by another figure: Ju Lu Wang (King of the Giant Deer).
"Ju Lu Wang, have you been following me?" Zhong Shan raised an eyebrow, quickly understanding the situation.
"Hahaha, when Wu An told me, I didn't believe it. But it seems he was right. By following you, we can indeed find mystical treasures. You really are hard to kill," Ju Lu Wang laughed.
"Hahaha, Ju Lu Wang of the Great Yu Empire reduced to staking out at Yu Heng Sect? I should feel honored, as it shows you've admitted in your heart that you are inferior to me. And you are indeed inferior, always will be. Failing to recruit me, you now resort to assassination? Hmph, I survived today, and tomorrow I will repay you a hundredfold!" Zhong Shan shouted angrily.
"Hmph!" Ju Lu Wang snorted, angered by Zhong Shan's taunts.
"Ah Da, stop searching. Blast it open," Zhong Shan turned to Ah Da.
"Sir?" Ah Da was puzzled. Wouldn't this attract more people?
"Hurry!" Zhong Shan commanded.
"Yes!" Ah Da responded promptly.
Zhong Shan and Nian Youyou then flew to a nearby mountaintop, with Zi Xun naturally following Zhong Shan.
"Staking out? It seems Ju Lu Wang and Wu An aren't the only ones watching," Nian Youyou teased Zi Xun.
"Silence!" Zhong Shan shouted at Nian Youyou.
"You!" Nian Youyou was infuriated, seeing Zhong Shan stand up for Zi Xun.
Zhong Shan understood that Zi Xun was not there to stake out but to help him, despite her not knowing about his abilities or his potential to find the mystical treasure.
Ah Da struck the footprint with a powerful blow. From a distance, Ju Lu Wang and Wu An were both furious but powerless to intervene.
"Boom!!!"
The colorful footprint shattered instantly. Then, the red glow from the surrounding cracks suddenly dispersed.
For a moment, it seemed like nothing had changed, but after a few seconds...
"Rumble, rumble..."
The ground began to shake violently, with soil rolling and rumbling from all directions. The mountain on which Zhong Shan and the two women stood trembled uncontrollably.
Retreat, retreat further!
Zhong Shan, Nian Youyou, and Zi Xun retreated to a safer distance.
"Boom!!!"
The ground erupted skyward.
An immense fireball shot into the sky!
A volcanic eruption. A colossal volcano burst forth as if it had been suppressed for millennia, suddenly released. Thick lava surged skyward, scattering clouds in its path.
As the lava rained down, it ignited surrounding areas, setting forests ablaze in a massive inferno.
Animals fled in terror as a raging firestorm swept the landscape.
The sky turned red from the blazing fire.
Such is the power of nature—a massive volcano, previously sealed by the celestial footprint, had erupted!
Ah Da flew to Zhong Shan's side to protect him.
The others watched, taking deep breaths.
They could feel wisps of strange spiritual energy emerging from the lava, which then dispersed, causing the surrounding spiritual energy to become chaotic.
Celestial energy—it was celestial energy.
Everyone held their breath, eager to see what the celestial artifact might be.
Within the time it took for the volcano to erupt, a few powerful figures had already arrived.
"Whoosh!"
On a distant mountaintop, a bald figure appeared—Huiguang Arhat. Surprisingly, he was present as well.
Shortly after, two more figures appeared on another mountaintop. Both were known to Zhong Shan.
Jin Chan—the writer of the brilliant essay during the imperial exam.
Behind Jin Chan stood a man who commanded everyone's attention and caution.
Dawei Tianlong Bodhisattva!
Among those present, Dawei Tianlong Bodhisattva was the most powerful. The arrival of the celestial artifact would be complicated with him around.
Everyone was wary of the three powerful figures who had arrived first.
"Greetings, Bodhisattva!" Huiguang Arhat greeted Dawei Tianlong Bodhisattva with respect.
Dawei Tianlong Bodhisattva merely nodded, not paying much attention to him, but instead looked towards Zhong Shan on a nearby mountaintop.
"Thank you, Mr. Zhong Shan!" Dawei Tianlong Bodhisattva said to Zhong Shan.
Upon hearing Dawei Tianlong Bodhisattva's tone, Zhong Shan immediately understood the reason. The Bodhisattva knew it was Zhong Shan who had someone write on the mountain wall, saving his life.
"Bodhisattva, you're too kind," Zhong Shan responded.
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