Chapter 245

The Taiqing Sacred Realm now belongs to Yang Zhu; for him, finding these two guys is as easy as it gets.

"On a mountain."

After locking onto the location, Yang Zhu and the Yaochi Holy Maiden rushed over, finally ascending a massive, solemn mountain, only to discover there was more to it.

The mountain, several thousand zhang high, is towering and magnificent, lush and verdant, with spiritual energy suffusing the air; its peak, hidden above the clouds, looks as if it has been sheared flat.

Before them lies a fairy pool, with milky-white mist rising and rich essence circulating.

The fairy lake is clear as spiritual fluid, crystalline and translucent, and its surface is entwined with threads of a special aura, quite remarkable.

On the lake, a person and a dog circle a stone slab about a person's height, repeatedly examining and rubbing it, hoping to study it thoroughly.

That stone slab is no different from ordinary rock, appearing unremarkable; its weathered surface still shows a hint of moss.

But that ordinary-looking stone skin continuously absorbs the surrounding essence, as if something is being nurtured within.

Just half a month ago, the Big Black Dog discovered this fairy lake and likewise found this stone slab.

Given these two fellows' experience and knowledge, they knew there must be great secrets inside; they also tried to probe it, but their divine sense was completely blocked by the runes on the stone skin.

"Shall we smash it open? Let's see what treasure lies inside."

The Big Black Dog, with its square head and big ears, brought its huge head close, examining it meticulously, missing no spot.

"What if inside is a rare treasure? What if we accidentally break it?"

Hearing this, Duan De disagreed, fearing it would damage the treasure inside, leaving him nowhere to cry.

"What should we do? I don't know if the Yaochi Holy Maiden has left her seclusion; maybe we could ask her to take a look..."

Just as the two were at a loss, the former inadvertently turned his head and saw Yang Zhu and the Yaochi Holy Maiden approaching.

"Prince!"

The Big Black Dog turned into a black streak, charging toward Yang Zhu; not having seen him in half a year, it excitedly shouted.

"Have you eradicated the curse seal? Also, we've found a special stone..."

His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he stared at Yang Zhu, then he roughly recounted how they discovered the stone.

"Not too bad."

Yang Zhu nodded, but did not mention his father's intervention, lest the Big Black Dog go berserk again.

"Whoo~ Now there's nowhere we can't go!"

The Big Black Dog's emotions surged; it howled like ghosts and wolves, darting out in a flash and running wildly around the fairy lake.

"Inside... is a divine beast."

Yang Zhu opened his divine eye; the runes on the stone skin were seen through inch by inch, unable to block even a bit.

Within the stone, there is a horse-shaped spirit, its whole body brilliant, as if carved from flawless divine jade, flowing with light, extraordinarily sacred.

Moreover, its appearance is extremely imposing, possessing an indescribable martial majesty, as if it could look down upon the vast earth.

"What divine beast?"

The Big Black Dog perked up at the words; if it truly is a divine beast's embryonic form, that would truly be a supreme treasure!

If it could be tamed from youth, once it grows it might become an excellent companion or a formidable combat force.

"It seems to be a dragon horse, only I don't know why it's sealed within divine source."

Beneath the stone skin lies a huge chunk of divine source; the dragon horse is dust-sealed inside, leaving Yang Zhu puzzled. Could it be that a great emperor sealed it away?

"Dragon horse? Is it the legendary mount exclusive to great emperors?"

The Boundless Daoist drew near, rubbing his plump white hands, knowing they had truly encountered a treasure! Legend says the dragon horse is a divine creature that only ancient great emperors could tame, or one possessing the bearing of a great emperor, a peerless heavenly pride.

Otherwise, given this creature's nature, it would rather die than submit; it is extremely proud, equally disdainful of all.

Moreover, like the dragon cat, a mount exclusive to great emperors, its cultivation aptitude is certainly not weak; when cultivated, its speed is extremely rapid, and whether it can be tamed is another matter.

"So what should we do?"

The Big Black Dog drooled, naturally wanting to nurture and hatch the dragon horse, then make it Yang Zhu's mount.

"The stone clearly isn't from here; it should have been obtained proudly by Yin Tian De, and he's been carefully nurturing it; if we encounter it again, we should return it to him."

After a moment's thought, Yang Zhu decided to return the dragon horse: first, he has no interest in mounts; second, having already taken the Taiqing Sacred Realm, he ought to leave something for Yin Tian De.

After all, he and Yin Tian De have no great grudge; everything he did was merely to add experience on the path to proving the Dao.

On the road to proving the Dao lie countless bones; myriad heavenly pride emerge, fearsome physiques abound, yet ultimately only one can tower above all heavenly pride and claim the throne.

Other heavenly pride can only become accompaniments to the transcendent and the golden age.

This is the path of cultivation, endlessly alluring, with glory and desolation coexisting; the temptation of immortality drives countless heroes throughout history to madness.

They pursued immortality and eternal life, exhausting their lives in exploration and pursuit, yet the result...

To this day it remains unknown; no one has verified whether 'immortals' truly exist, yet even ancient great emperors longed for them and strove tirelessly.

"Well then..."

The Big Black Dog was slightly disappointed, but knowing Yang Zhu's nature and breadth of mind, it said nothing more, merely nodding gratefully.

"Venerable Boundless, Elder Brother Yang truly has magnanimity; facing such a divine beast, he can still let go."

The Boundless Daoist saying he wasn't moved is false, yet he wouldn't be so heartbroken as to die suddenly from returning it.

"I wonder where our next journey will take us?"

Since this is settled, it's time to continue onward on the starry path; staying here half a year has nearly suffocated the Big Black Dog.

"Hum!"

The Beginningless Immortal Platform operates, a ray of immortal light envelops everyone, finally carrying several people across...

Half a month later, they finally reached their destination; as several people appeared in the void, a red planet came into view.

From a height of ten thousand meters looking down, the red planet is immensely vast, boundless and limitless, its territorial borders unknown.

However, this planet is not a life-bearing ancient star; everywhere is bare ground, some resembling ruins, appearing entirely red.

Such a place obviously lacks any sign of life.

"Alas, it's not the Gu Xing region, otherwise I could fully display my talents…"

"The big black dog, feeling a bit nostalgic, if it were to reach another Gu Xing region again, could return to its 'old line of work'."

"Exploring ancient ruins and looting everywhere…"

"Several people descended from an altitude of ten thousand meters, landing on a ruin; it looks like there were once signs of life here."

"But later, for unknown reasons, it was buried in the dust of history."

"(End of chapter)"