Chương 500: Chapter 500: Youming Heaven
Passing through the black clouds, Zhong Shan, along with Jian Ao and Chujiu, found themselves in a strange new realm. It resembled the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, an entirely different space.
In front of them stretched a vast expanse of land. Beneath their feet lay a massive pool with a diameter of ten thousand meters. The pool wasn't filled with water but with black mist, similar to the clouds they had passed through. However, unlike the previous clouds in the sky, this mist filled the enormous pool, marking the entrance to Youming Heaven.
Surrounding the pool were numerous buildings and a significant number of Youming Heaven's demon cultivators guarding the area. Recognizing Jian Ao, the guards did not dare to intercept them.
The space was dimly lit. There were no stars or sun, only countless black clouds from which faint silvery beams of moonlight occasionally shone through. Despite the dimness, everything was still visible.
The landscape was filled with endless forests and rivers, much like the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, with an incredibly vast area.
Entering Youming Heaven, the three followed Jian Ao towards its central region. Flying over mountain ranges, they saw numerous ferocious beasts, poisonous insects, and endless miasma, presenting extreme dangers.
From a distance, Zhong Shan could see that the black clouds above a particular region were filled with lightning, with bolts frequently striking the mountain ranges below.
Even from afar, Zhong Shan noticed something peculiar: the area seemed to form a perfect circle, with a large river encircling the distant region. This area was vast, about half the size of Tianlang Island.
Tianlang Island was roughly the size of the Earth Zhong Shan remembered from his youth. This region alone was half that size, which was enormous.
From afar, it appeared as a massive circle. Up close, the exact details were harder to discern. What seemed like a straight, rushing river was actually slightly curved from a distance but appeared straight up close.
Zhong Shan took a deep breath.
"This is the Yin-Yang Two Realms Mountain, shaped like a perfect circle. The central mountain range divides it into two, like a Yin-Yang symbol, separating it into Yin and Yang sides," Jian Ao explained as they flew.
"Understood," Zhong Shan and Chujiu nodded.
The saying "looking at the mountains, the horse's legs break" indicated the distance was quite significant. Even for three Imperial Extreme Realm experts, it took nearly half a day to reach their destination.
The river appeared straight now, and the previously seen mountains rose majestically into the clouds, forcing one to crane their neck to see even halfway up.
On the other side of the river lay the Yin-Yang Two Realms Mountain, while this side was filled with countless buildings, some constructed on steep mountain cliffs, adding a unique charm.
There were numerous mountain peaks, some already occupied by others awaiting the start of the torch passing ceremony.
Each peak housed different individuals, primarily demon lords or young demon seeds of Youming Heaven, accompanied by their chosen helpers.
Demon lords were mostly Imperial Extreme Realm experts, and the young demon seeds were often reincarnations of demon lords or Tianzhu, the epitome of excellence.
Jian Ao and his companions were the last to arrive, with only three days remaining until the torch passing ceremony began.
As the trio arrived at the resting area, a man in yellow robes flew over to greet them.
"Elder, Mo Luo, these peaks are still unoccupied," the yellow-robed man said, pointing to a few mountain peaks.
"Elder" was a respectful term used for Jian Ao, acknowledging his status as a reincarnated being.
"How many people have arrived?" Jian Ao asked.
"There are ten demon lords and ten elders participating in this torch-passing ceremony," the yellow-robed man replied.
"So, twenty groups in total?" Jian Ao nodded.
Without further conversation, Jian Ao led Zhong Shan and Chujiu to an unoccupied mountain peak. They flew to the buildings on the peak and entered.
Their arrival did not go unnoticed. Not far from the mountain peak where Zhong Shan and his companions settled, another peak housed a grand hall. Inside, a black-robed man watched the newcomers. This man was also invited to the ceremony.
Sitting in the grand hall, he sipped tea while observing the trio. He showed no particular reaction to Jian Ao and Chujiu, remaining confident. However, when he saw Zhong Shan, his hand trembled involuntarily.
"Y...," the black-robed man almost exclaimed in surprise.
His trembling hand spilled tea on his clothes.
"Mr. Xuan, what's wrong?" a purple-robed man beside him asked, frowning in confusion.
The black-robed man stood up abruptly, his emotions clearly agitated. After a moment of trembling, he calmed himself.
"Sorry, I can't help you this time," the black-robed man shook his head.
"What? We had an agreement! How can you back out now?"
"I don't need the item anymore. For special reasons, I must leave immediately," the black-robed man explained.
"Leave? Mr. Xuan, are you trying to make a fool of me?" the purple-robed man said coldly.
The black-robed man turned to look at him, his eyes flashing with a chilling, terrifying coldness. The purple-robed man involuntarily took a step back.
Taking a deep breath, Mr. Xuan said, "I can tell you solemnly that you have no hope of winning the torch-passing ceremony. I wish you well."
With that, Mr. Xuan pulled up the hood of his robe, covering his head and shrouding himself in darkness. He walked out of the hall and, without looking back, quickly made his way towards the exit of Youming Heaven.
The purple-robed man did not attempt to stop him, his face twisted in anger. He watched coldly as Mr. Xuan left, letting out a bitter snort.
Zhong Shan was recognized by many, not just Mr. Xuan. His fame from his time in the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty had spread far and wide. Practitioners who sought merit knew of him, and since becoming the nemesis of the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, even more had heard of him.
Although Zhong Shan knew few people here, there were a few who knew him.
In another grand hall on a different peak, a group of people sat together. Among them was a monk in robes with a bald head. Had Zhong Shan been present, he would have immediately recognized the monk as Sekong, whom he had met in the Ten Thousand Mountains of the Buddhist Prohibition.
Sekong watched the newcomers with keen interest. He too had been drawn to this place by the promise of the torch-passing ceremony. The air was thick with anticipation and intrigue, as the greatest talents and the most ambitious figures gathered for the upcoming trials.
One of the outer members of the Demon Army.
Sekong saw Zhong Shan, and his heart tightened instantly. Zhong Shan? Is it really him?
Seeing Zhong Shan, Sekong felt an involuntary fear. The impression Zhong Shan had left on him was too deep. After all, even his uncle, a peak Imperial Extreme Realm expert, had died at Zhong Shan's hands. What could be more terrifying?
"Uncle!" Sekong quickly bowed to a red-robed man beside him.
"Hmm?" The red-robed man looked slightly puzzled.
"Uncle, that man is Zhong Shan. Did you see him?"
"Hmm," the red-robed man nodded.
Noticing Sekong's slight nervousness, the red-robed man felt a bit impatient.
"Uncle, let's leave. It's best not to provoke this person," Sekong suggested.
After Sekong spoke, another young demon seed nearby raised an eyebrow. Leave?
"Don't worry, I have a way to deal with him. Didn't you want to see the world? Are you scared now?" the red-robed man mocked.
"It's just that Zhong Shan is too strange! I'm worried!" Sekong shook his head.
Seeing Sekong's fear, the red-robed man's face showed displeasure.
"If you want to leave, go by yourself!" the red-robed man said sternly.
"Yes, Uncle. I will leave now. I wish you the best of luck," Sekong said, showing no backbone.
With that, Sekong left quickly, as if afraid his life would be at risk if he stayed a moment longer.
Seeing his cowardly nephew, the red-robed man felt deeply embarrassed, his face turning red and white.
"Don't worry, my friend. Perhaps Sekong has some psychological shadow," the young demon seed nearby comforted.
The red-robed man's expression softened considerably. He nodded and said, "Pardon me."
"Not at all!" the young demon seed shook his head.
While the red-robed man felt humiliated, Sekong, who had left quickly, felt relieved. Losing face was nothing; as long as he kept his life, what was face worth? He had lost face several times before but had saved his life each time.
Another acquaintance of Zhong Shan was in a different hall, accompanying another young demon seed.
This person was none other than Shen Qitian, formerly known as Marquis Qitian Gulin, who had been stripped of his title and surname by Gu Shentong.
Shen Qitian, the reincarnation of the supreme monkey.
At this moment, Shen Qitian squinted his eyes as he watched Zhong Shan leave.
Zhong Shan—this person—Shen Qitian would never forget him. It was Zhong Shan who had ruined so many of his plans, even causing him to be expelled from the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty. Because of him, he was forbidden to step foot in the Great Luo Heavenly Dynasty during Gu Shentong's reign. But that wasn't the most important thing. The most important thing was Gu Qianyou, the only woman he had ever loved...
Thinking of this, Shen Qitian clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with intense malice.
"Brother Shen, are you okay?" the young demon seed beside him asked.
"I'm fine!" Shen Qitian shook his head, suppressing his anger.
The next few days would be a period of quiet waiting for the torch-passing ceremony to begin.
All participants in this ceremony were exceptional. The young demon seeds were the reincarnations of demon lords or even Tianzhu, their talents extraordinarily high, much like Jian Ao. Some even had higher cultivation levels than Jian Ao.
As for the demon lords, they were even more powerful, almost all at the Imperial Extreme Realm. Ten demon lords were participating, and the individuals they invited were certainly not ordinary.
Thus, Zhong Shan's group didn't seem to have a significant advantage.
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