Chapter 711: The Saint Emerges from Seclusion

After receiving two piercing thrusts, there was no response from Shuangshi Valley, so Ji Xinguan could only remain respectfully in place and wait.

Ding Huan opened his eyes; he had touched the Law of Descent.

At this moment, he had a completely new understanding of the Law of Descent.

Moreover, he gained a new perception of the Law of Emptiness.

On the path up Yongshen Peak, a spatial law permeated the air—this spatial law was the Law of Emptiness.

The Law of Descent makes every step you take feel as if you are dragging the entire universe, excruciatingly difficult.

And when you take that step, if you do not comprehend the Law of Emptiness within this space, the next moment you might find yourself fallen from halfway up the mountain to its base.

This is not teleportation—it is a void space.

The Law of Emptiness not only renders you unable to sense any existence within Yongshen Deep Ravine; all space becomes hollow.

It also causes you to step into the hollow and directly traverse space.

This may be the key reason why no one can climb Yongshen Peak.

Ding Huan's perception and understanding of the Law of Descent and the Law of Emptiness in this space greatly boosted his confidence.

Within at most one month, he could leave here and begin climbing Yongshen Peak.

Ji Xinguan's actions outside Shuangshi Valley had disturbed Ding Huan.

Seeing Ji Xinguan in the surveillance array, Ding Huan felt deeply puzzled.

Could Ji Xinguan really be searching for a Saint because of a beast companion?

Ding Huan did not know which Saint this was, but whoever it was, closing off in Shuangshi Valley now must be to deduce the laws of heaven and earth before ascending Yongshen Peak.

To disturb a Saint at this moment—wouldn't that be suicide?

Whether he understood it or not, he still had to pay attention to the Saint.

During his subsequent deduction and comprehension of the spatial laws, he kept part of his attention fixed on Ji Xinguan's side.

This slowed Ding Huan's rate of perceiving the laws of heaven and earth.

One day later, Ding Huan decided to stop dividing his focus.

It brought him no benefit; it was better to climb Yongshen Peak while comprehending the laws of heaven and earth here.

Otherwise, it was simply wasting time.

"Old Hou, Old Ji, Yi Jie, let's go." Ding Huan stood up, dismantled all protective arrays, and laid down surveillance array patterns around him.

Ding Huan knew the Saint here might possess even stronger array skills than he did, but no matter how powerful the Saint's array skills were, sensing his surveillance array patterns would not be easy.

His surveillance array patterns were entirely based on his own comprehension of cosmic laws, carved into space as void array patterns.

If one did not understand his Great Cosmic Art, they should not be able to perceive them.

The void array patterns he now carved were also seventh-grade divine array patterns.

Emperor Hou Hen laughed heartily: "Brother Ding Huan, you're truly incredible—my divine sense has strengthened more than tenfold; though I still cannot sense higher regions, dealing with Ji Xinguan won't be a problem."

To Emperor Hou Hen, Ji Xinguan had merely stayed on Yongshen Peak a few extra years.

Staying on Yongshen Peak a few extra years meant a clearer understanding of the laws of heaven and earth here.

Having received Ding Huan's jade slip containing his understanding of the laws of heaven and earth here, his comprehension of this space's cosmic laws had strengthened, and so had his strength.

By comparison, he might very well be able to eliminate Ji Xinguan.

As for the Saint—that was not his concern; that was Ding Huan's concern.

"When we climb the mountain from now on, everyone must stay within my domain and carefully observe where I step. Otherwise, if you accidentally step into the void space, you might end up anywhere."

Ding Huan warned solemnly.

Emperor Hou Hen and Ji Luo nodded; they did not need Ding Huan's reminder—they knew the laws here were extraordinary.

By staying close to Ding Huan, all the obscure heavenly and earthly Dao principles were handled by him.

If one truly stepped into the void space, they should recall the white bones they had seen in Yongshen Deep Ravine.

Seeing Yi Jie still looking around curiously, Ding Huan said coldly: "Yi Jie, don't think I'm just joking."

If you accidentally step into the void space, you might be teleported to the bottom of Yongshen Deep Ravine—or straight to Ji Xinguan's side."

That Ji Xinguan wants to take you away—you know why, right? Haven't you seen the drool dripping from his mouth when he looks at you? I think this guy loves braised pork."

"Brother, is Yi Jie tasty?" Ji Luo couldn't help asking.

"What do you think?"

Yi Jie shrank his head in fright, then glared at Ji Luo and cursed: "You old bastard better step on dog shit and fall flat—dare to think of eating me, you old dog!"

"Thud!" Ji Luo involuntarily stumbled and collapsed to the ground.

"Which Wang Ba left dog shit here…"

Ji Luo had barely finished speaking when he sensed something was wrong.

This was Yongshen Peak—there were no dogs here, and even if there were, how could they leave dog shit?

Even cultivators who haven't become immortals can metabolize through Zhou Tian circulation—how much more so in the divine realm's Yongshen Deep Ravine?

Ding Huan stared in shock at Yi Jie; Yi Jie's voice had been low, but Ding Huan had heard every word clearly.

Ji Luo was currently at Divine King Sixth Layer, just one step away from entering the late Divine King realm.

How could such a powerful cultivator stumble and fall just because he stepped on dog shit?

Ding Huan was about to ask Yi Jie what exactly had happened when a black shadow flickered at the edge of his divine sense.

Ding Huan's divine sense was powerful—he saw clearly: it was truly a dog. There really was a dog on Yongshen Peak.

"Let's go—leave this place first." Ding Huan decided to question Yi Jie alone later.

Whether or not there were dogs here, Ji Luo falling because of Yi Jie's words was abnormal in itself.

Seeing that Ding Huan could truly ascend, Emperor Hou Hen's eyes brightened, his heart growing even more excited.

Ding Huan was giving him more and more surprises.

He had also tried ascending Yongshen Peak, but never more than ten steps.

Beyond ten steps, he would feel a void, emptiness—not only would lifting his foot become difficult, but he would unconsciously believe the next step would fall into nothingness, leaving him unsure where he would land.

Now, Ding Huan ascended step by step; under Ding Huan's domain, the oppressive force that had once blocked his ascent vanished.

Moreover, he could clearly perceive the exact position of each of Ding Huan's steps.

The three men and the pig had walked only half a day when Hou Hen, the Divine Emperor, looked back again—he saw only an empty void.

Please... collect... 6... 9... Books...!

Even as a quasi-Sage, he felt that if he stepped into that void, he would be shattered into fragments.

He knew it was an illusion, caused by the spatial laws here, yet Hou Hen, the Divine Emperor, still did not wish to step into that void.

……

Shuangshi Valley.

The array gate suddenly opened.

A man of medium build, with drooping eyes, appeared before Ji Xingguan.

Ji Xingguan's heart leapt; at that moment, he felt a pressure so immense it threatened to tear his soul apart, and he quickly bowed deeply:

"Ji Xingguan bows before the Heavenly Soul Sage. May the Sage be ever at peace!"

The man said nothing, merely stared coldly at Ji Xingguan for a moment before speaking slowly: "Speak. What is it that triggered my prohibition?"

Though the man showed no intent to kill, Ji Xingguan still shuddered.

If he failed to give a satisfactory answer, today would be his last day alive.

"Great Sage, I have encountered something of great importance and wish to report it to you."

"Speak."

"Yes."

Ji Xingguan forced himself to calm his emotions before speaking:

"Your Holiness knows I am the sect master of the Sacred Beast Sect, and I enjoy collecting various divine beasts. Several months ago, I saw several newcomers at the foot of Yongshen Peak..."

"Newcomers arrived at Yongshen Peak?" The Heavenly Soul Sage interrupted Ji Xingguan.

Ji Xingguan bowed and replied: "Yes. The newcomers were three men and a divine beast with Shan Gao bloodline. I was delighted by that Shan Gao bloodline beast and wished to purchase it.

Yet that young man, upon arriving at Yongshen Peak, used his domain to directly repel me.

I have cultivated my Dao for over a hundred thousand years on Yongshen Peak and have listened to your discourses—I believed I understood the spatial laws of this realm reasonably well.

Yet I was repelled by a domain from a cultivator no higher than a Divine King. I was not merely frightened—I was stunned.

That Divine King's domain was extraordinarily powerful; only one who had deeply comprehended the spatial laws of this realm could manifest such a domain.

After they left, I realized: how could a cultivator at the Divine King realm, and one who had just arrived at Yongshen Peak, repel me with such a powerful domain?"

Here, Ji Xingguan fell silent.

He knew he had said enough.

First, he stated his desire—the Shan Gao. Second, he gave the Heavenly Soul Sage a reason to pursue Ding Huan.

Indeed, upon hearing Ji Xingguan's words, the Heavenly Soul Sage frowned.

This was impossible.

He was a Sage, and it had taken him nearly two hundred thousand years to gradually comprehend seven-tenths of this realm's spatial laws.

Yet at his level, further comprehension would accelerate.

He expected to fully comprehend all the spatial laws of this realm within a thousand years.

If Ji Xingguan spoke truthfully, a Divine King who could repel him must comprehend the spatial laws of this realm far better than Ji Xingguan.

He knew better than anyone how difficult these laws were to understand.

Divine King? Ha. They lack even the qualifications to touch these spatial laws—how could they comprehend them?

Yet this one not only repelled Ji Xingguan with his domain—he had just arrived here...

The Heavenly Soul Sage's gaze settled on Ji Xingguan; he was certain Ji Xingguan had not lied, and dared not lie.

Thus, the young man concealed a great secret.

"Where did they go?" The Heavenly Soul Sage softened his tone.

"They went that way. I followed for a while, but he sensed my spiritual sense—I dared not follow too closely." Ji Xingguan pointed cautiously in one direction.

"Good. The Shan Gao shall be your reward." The Heavenly Soul Sage's spiritual sense swept outward, then vanished from the spot.

When he reappeared, it was in the basin where Ding Huan had previously cultivated.

Even Ding Huan had not anticipated that the place he had spent two days finding would be reached by the Heavenly Soul Sage in an instant.

(End of Chapter)