Chapter 36: and translation of title

Many were invited to this gathering; after only a brief sit, several dozen strong monsters had arrived at the tribe, most of them sect elders.

Yang Zhu drank fine wine, tasted various fruits, and quietly waited for the gathering to begin.

After half an hour, nearly everyone had gathered; Yang Zhu glanced around and saw over a hundred people.

"Fellow Daoists, you've waited long; the gathering will now begin."

Then, an old jiao clasped fists in salute, walked from behind the hall, and politely greeted everyone.

He was a middle-aged man whose body was covered in fine pale-blue scales, with jiao horns on his head, and carrying a trace of true dragon bloodline, he bore an air of dignity.

This person was the Old Jiao King; aside from his stature being no different from a human's, he retained no other human traits.

He had lived for several hundred years, his cultivation at the Four Extremes, threefold; he had made a name for himself centuries ago, his reputation among monsters was considerable, and many gave him face.

"Old Jiao King, you're too polite; we've just arrived as well."

The one called the Western Elder waved his hand indifferently, being quite courteous.

"Since everyone's here, Old Jiao King, can you finally tell us why you summoned us?"

The invitees were all curious about the purpose of this gathering; no hint was given, as if it were a major matter lest it leak out—"Today... I invited you all here because there is a great matter that requires your effort."

As the words fell, a figure cloaked in black emerged from behind the hall.

"Indeed, it's them."

After that figure appeared, Yang Zhu sensed a familiar aura from them, exactly as he had anticipated.

Under everyone's gaze, that person removed the cloak, revealing their true appearance.

"The ancient tribe?"

Upon seeing the person's appearance clearly, someone exclaimed in surprise.

Beneath the cloak was a primordial being with four arms, a head of thick purple hair that was vivid, the upper body bare, and the skin marked with several strange patterns.

He was taller than a normal cultivator by a head, not particularly sturdy, yet his aura was extraordinarily terrifying, giving a sense of immense power.

"As you thought, I am a member of the ancient tribe, Luo Chen."

The ancient tribe member did not conceal it, slightly raising his chin as he stated the facts.

"Today I have brought two items; for certain reasons, I need to ask for your guidance."

Hearing this, the monsters exchanged glances; although the ancient tribe is said to be in slumber, everyone knows their might—during their peak, even humanity could not match them, and at times were reduced to food.

What exactly are these items, that even they cannot resolve, prompting them to travel a thousand miles to come to the Southern Ridge?

For a moment, everyone was curious.

Luo Chen also, under the gaze of over a hundred eyes, took out two ancient scrolls.

He unfurled one of them, its surface covered in strange monster script, densely packed, amounting to over a thousand characters.

Due to regional differences, monster script varies; the script on this scroll was completed by combining several dozen different variants.

"This was obtained by chance by my tribe, but we cannot decipher its content; I wish to ask you all to translate it."

It turned out that Luo Chen's tribe had recently found this item in a fairy pool, brought it back for study, and discovered it seemed to be a complete top-tier heart method.

However, they did not understand monster patterns, so they came specially from the Eastern Wasteland to find someone to crack the content.

"Our monster tribe's heart method?"

Upon hearing it was their own tribe's heart method, the Western Elder obviously froze for a moment; from his expression, a hint of displeasure could be seen.

After all, it was their race's property; now that the ancient tribe had obtained it, anyone would find it hard to accept.

But constrained by the ancient tribe's strength, they could only stay silent, daring not to say much.

Luo Chen knew their reservations, and immediately said generously: "If you can decipher it, my tribe is willing to share the results with you." "In that case, we will surely do our utmost."

Hearing this, the people only then slightly relaxed their breath.

Afterward, everyone began studying the content; from time to time someone interpreted a sentence or two, piecing together east and west, and soon it was fully deciphered.

"It actually comes from the hand of an ancient monster sage!"

"Compared to our tribe's heart method, it is far more profound; they are not even on the same level!"

When the content was complete, everyone marveled at it, feeling they had picked up a treasure, their joy evident.

"Just one heart method?"

Yang Zhu inevitably felt disappointed; having sneaked into the gathering, he had thought they were plotting some great matter, never expecting it to be merely deciphering monster script.

"Thank you all."

After Luo Chen obtained the complete heart method, he too felt some surprise; as for why they valued it so highly, he did not explicitly say.

"The heart method has been deciphered; what about the other scroll?"

After everyone obtained the heart method, they all looked forward with anticipation to the content of the other scroll.

Upon hearing this, Luo Chen merely gripped the unopened scroll, his expression very solemn.

"My tribe's ancestral king, at the cost of his life, entered Purple Mountain; when he finally emerged, he was already gravely wounded, and on his last breath he etched this diagram."

As soon as these words were spoken, the just‑pleasant atmosphere instantly solidified.

Everyone knows Purple Mountain; all beings in the world change color at its mention.

It was once the Ancient Imperial Mountain, the mausoleum of the Undying Heavenly Emperor, later forcefully seized by the Emperor Wushi, and thus possesses endless legends.

"Purple Mountain?"

Upon hearing those two words, Yang Zhu's interest rose a little; this trip was indeed not in vain! "Our tribe's ancestral king was originally a sage‑level cultivator; upon entering, his vitality was abundant, surely he had at least a thousand years of lifespan, yet after emerging he hovered on the brink of death."

The monsters, upon hearing, only felt a chill run down their backs; the ancient sages of the heyday, after entering, could only meet a fallen fate.

They could scarcely imagine what terrifying ordeal that ancestral king had endured inside.

"To be frank, my tribe will soon emerge into the world; at that time the mighty ancient kings will all awaken, and this may very well be the key to whether we can enter Purple Mountain."

Luo Chen spoke while slowly unfurling the scroll, revealing its content.

"Is this a formation pattern?"

On the scroll drawer lies a corner of an array pattern, infinitely profound and mysterious; every stroke seems able to outline heaven and earth, driving the operation of the Great Dao—the complexity is simply horrifying! Even though the array pattern is merely fragmented and only a copy, a trace of endless killing intent seeps out, making everyone present feel as if their scalps are exploding.

"How terrifying the array pattern is..."

"My magic treasure is actually trembling in fear, unable to stop!"

Inside the Jade Hall, no one could remain calm; everyone was shocked, and no one could discern any clue.

However, only Yang Zhu remained very calm; looking at that array pattern, one could say he was extremely familiar with it.

"This should be an extremely powerful killing formation; its profundity is such that even my clan's ancient king cannot fathom even a fraction."

Luo Chen seemed to have anticipated the result, not feeling disappointed, and was about to put it away when he was interrupted by a voice.

"I know what this is."

Yang Zhu spoke, and in an instant everyone's gazes snapped to him, not quite believing his words.

"Are these words true?"

Luo Chen was equally shocked; he had not held any hope, yet unexpectedly he gained something!

(End of chapter)