Chapter 3: Shenghuang Abyss

Hasn’t Huanhuan Sect always been a demonic sect!

The moral fabric of society has truly deteriorated; even a demonic sect that has caused countless deaths can now become a righteous immortal sect.

Xu Xing walked to the bookshelf and reached out to take down a copy of “Newly Compiled World History.”

Shenghuang Yuan first emerged a thousand years ago, already possessing a realm no lower than the leaders of the major immortal sects.

In just two centuries, his realm soared to match that of the Supreme Elders of the immortal sects.

Afterward, Shenghuang Yuan allied with several righteous great sects just below the major immortal sects, driving a transformation of the age.

He enlightened the people and spread immortal arts.

Countless mortals who had long been stranded outside the immortal path thus embarked on cultivation.

The number of cultivators across the world experienced explosive growth.

Moreover, under the guidance of Shenghuang Yuan and the righteous great sects, the rapid increase in cultivators did not trigger chaos.

The social structure of the entire world gradually changed during this process.

After five hundred years, the social structure of the Central Continent of Taixuan Realm ultimately evolved into its current form.

The Seven Immortal Sects and the Righteous Alliance jointly rule the world.

But one thing was strange: during this process, neither the major immortal sects nor the demonic sects intervened, for reasons unknown.

Shenghuang Yuan, who played the most crucial role in this series of events, mysteriously vanished fifty years ago and has not been heard from since.

Some suspect the culprit behind this is one of the ancestral elders of the Seven Immortal Sects or the demonic sects.

Neither the major immortal sects nor the demonic sects ever responded to these rumors, and eventually, the matter was quietly dropped.

Xu Xing closed the book and returned it to the shelf.

This “Newly Compiled World History,” and indeed all the books on this floor of the library, are incomplete, filled with extensive speculation and conjecture; the truly reliable content is minimal.

There is no mention at all of how Shenghuang Yuan convinced the righteous great sects, or why Huanhuan Sect became a righteous immortal sect, and details about Shenghuang Yuan’s personal life are extremely scarce.

But the latter is understandable—most cultivators, once reaching a certain realm, strive to conceal their origins.

“Shenghuang Yuan...”

If nothing unexpected, this should be a fellow transmigrator—but further confirmation is still needed.

“I can ask an old friend for help later, but there’s no rush now.”

Xu Xing walked out of the library, just as he had come—completely unnoticed by anyone.

Many years ago, he too had wanted to change something and had done many things—but the more he tried, the more chaotic it became, until he realized he was unsuited for such a role.

Now, after a single cultivation retreat, someone has actually accomplished what they once sought to do—he must take a proper look.

But before that, he must first let this farce come to an end.

…………

In a classroom, Zhang Yunlu sat in the corner, one hand propping up her cheek.

Her other hand held a phone, but the screen kept spinning with no image appearing.

Not just her—everyone else in the classroom was the same.

The city’s protective array must have been activated, causing poor signal reception.

With nothing else to do, those who knew each other gathered and began discussing the event three years ago when Cang Jiezi slaughtered a city to refine his art.

“My uncle told me that although Cang Jiezi is dead, he had an older brother whose realm surpassed his, and who has spent these past years secretly hunting the prodigies of the great sects, seeking to resurrect his younger brother.”

The speaker was a gray-eyed boy at Qi Refining Ninth Layer; his pale gray irises occasionally flickered with spiritual light.

This was the sign of abundant spiritual power, heralding the foundation of his Dao path.

The teenagers around him, upon hearing this news, each voiced their own opinions.

When the city’s protective array first activated, they had indeed been tense—but they were still youths, and had never witnessed the methods of demonic cultivators, so their anxiety had eased considerably.

Zhang Yunlu paid no attention to their conversation. There were countless stories about Cang Jiezi online, but how many were true?

She shrugged and looked back at her phone screen.

The image finally refreshed—but before she could even look, someone sat down in the seat in front of her.

“Little girl, we meet again.”

She looked up—it was the man from the school gate!

“You? How come you vanished the moment you came in?”

“I’ve never been here before, so I just wandered around to take a look.”

“...” Zhang Yunlu was speechless—what kind of time was this? “You’re really fearless; you actually stood on the road to stare just now.”

“It’s fine. If a True Void cultivator really attacked, this array wouldn’t hold long anyway—hiding here is just a matter of dying sooner or later.”

“Hey! Don’t say such bad luck!”

She was still young—what nonsense about dying! “Hehe, but it should be over soon.”

“It’s not that simple.” She had deeply researched the Cang Jiezi massacre three years ago. “If it’s a cultivator from a righteous sect, his sect will explain things—but if it’s a lone cultivator, just finding him will take a long time.”

And demonic cultivators? Their movements are elusive; they routinely slaughter cities to refine their arts, viewing all living beings as mere materials.

“By the way, let me introduce myself—I’m Zhang Yunlu, a student here. You... aren’t one, are you?”

Though he looked young, he clearly wasn’t a Qi Refining cultivator like her.

“Indeed not. I’m Xu Xing, a cultivator of Jianzong.” Xu Xing smiled.

Upon hearing the name, Zhang Yunlu felt no unease—only greater surprise at his identity.

“One of the Seven Immortal Sects—Jianzong?!”

Although the modern world differs greatly from the ancient cultivation realm, one thing remains unchanged.

The Seven Immortal Sects are still the world’s dominant powers, the dream destination of countless cultivators.

For an ordinary cultivator, joining one is incredibly difficult.

“You’re amazing—if I could pass the entrance exam for Jianzong after graduation, that’d be perfect.” Her tone carried a hint of longing.

But sadly, too many people want to join the immortal sects; even if she were judged solely by her school’s standards, her talent was decent.

But among such massive competition, she was merely average.

In last year’s entrance exam, the top scorer was about her age—but already at Golden Core peak, capable of knocking her older brother to his knees with a single punch.

Rumor had it he was born with extraordinary signs: he could walk and speak as a baby, and began cultivation in infancy—truly terrifying! Her real goal was one of the academies founded by the immortal sects; she planned to first enter an academy, then gradually prepare to join an immortal sect.

“Your roots are excellent. With diligent cultivation, you still have a chance. I look forward to the day we become fellow sect members.”

“I hope so.”

Sects select disciples—but prodigies can also choose their sects.

Since everyone can cultivate, prodigies emerge endlessly.

To maintain competitiveness among the new generation, although the admission threshold has been lowered, the examinations have become far stricter.

Of course, no one objects—after all, before the great transformation, many couldn’t even qualify for the selection.

Xu Xing said nothing more, but looked out the window.

“It seems to be ending.”

Zhang Yunlu froze, then followed his gaze.

Above the city, the crimson array patterns began to fade.

What Xu Xing saw was more: as the city’s protective array shut down, space subtly warped, and figures appeared out of thin air.

The leader’s body radiated terrifying magic power, clad in a dark red battle armor woven from one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred tiny plates.

A True Void cultivator! Please vote, please support! (End of Chapter)