Chapter 23: The Undying Mountain That Steals Life

When Luo Bingyao led the massive army of human cultivators,

and rushed to the Zang Tian Ancient Land,

what they saw was an even more shocking sight.

The Zang Tian Ancient Land, originally riddled with pits and hollows,

was now completely turned upside down.

A bottomless, earth‑core‑reaching giant pit,

appeared where the forbidden zone had once been.

At the rim of the giant pit,

mountains of various divine materials, immortal bones, and ancient treasures were piled, with myriad rosy rays and thousands of auspicious qi,

almost dazzling people's eyes to the point of blindness.

And that inscrutably profound young master Gu Yuan,

was idly sitting on a chair forged from Divine Gold,

at his feet lay the creature that had fully resigned,

a dark kirin that was as obedient as a big black dog.

"Young master, the manpower you requested, I have brought."

Luo Bingyao forced herself forward and performed a bow.

Behind her,

tens of thousands of human cultivators led by the old saint lord and newly ascended saint Zhang Cheng,

were collectively speechless when they saw the scene.

They felt their hearts were about to stop beating.

The mountain‑piled holy medicines, Divine Gold, Dao bones… any single item,

could stir a storm of blood and carnage across the Profound Heaven Continent,

yet here it was treated like trash, carelessly piled on the ground.

Especially Zhang Cheng,

who had just attained sainthood, at the height of his vigor,

but upon seeing those golden‑armored knights,

each one's aura was no less than his own,

and many exuded a pressure that made his heart race,

that newly‑sprouted pride,

was instantly extinguished completely.

It was then he understood that the holy realm he was proud of,

might truly mean nothing to these people.

Gu Yuan lazily lifted his eyelids,

glanced at the ragtag troops Luo Bingyao had brought,

the highest cultivator among them was merely Zhang Cheng, who had just entered the holy realm,

and an old saint whose qi and blood were dried up,

the rest scarcely even reached the Divine King realm.

He curled his lips in slight disgust,

but considering the world had already been battered,

gathering even this few people was not easy, so he said nothing more.

"Fine, as long as you're here, it's enough."

He pointed to the small hills of piled treasures beside him.

"See? Those items are a reward for you."

"What?!"

Luo Bingyao and the human cultivators behind her were once again collectively stunned.

Reward… they're rewarding us?

Those are mountain‑piled priceless treasures!

Among them are some divine artifacts that exist only in legend!

So… all of it is given to us?

"Young… young master, this… this is too valuable! We feel unworthy!"

The old saint lord said tremblingly.

"Enough chatter, just take it."

Gu Yuan waved his hand impatiently,

"I, this young master, have no use for this junk; keeping it just takes up space. Take it, quickly regain your strength, manage this world properly, and stop giving me trouble all day."

"This…"

The crowd looked at each other, at a loss for words.

This young master is incredibly generous!

A warm current rose in Luo Bingyao's heart,

she knew the young master was supporting her, and the entire human race.

She did not refuse further and gave Gu Yuan a deep bow.

"Bing Yao, on behalf of the billions of living beings of the Profound Heaven Continent, thank you, Young Master Xie, for your generous bestowal!"

"Young Master Xie, thank you for the generous bestowal!"

Behind them, tens of thousands of people knelt in unison,

Their voices were filled with heartfelt gratitude and fervor.

"Alright, alright, get up quickly and start working."

Gu Yuan waved his hand,

"Sort and pack all the remaining items, then deliver them onto my carriage."

"Yes, sir!"

With the encouragement of those treasure mountains, the human cultivators instantly became full of vigor,

each one like they'd been injected with adrenaline, rushing forward to become cheerful movers.

Watching the bustling scene, Gu Yuan nodded with satisfaction.

"Free labor is just useful."

"Third Uncle, is the investigation complete? Where is the next forbidden zone? Let's go."

Gu Yuan rose from his chair and stretched lazily.

"The next is Undying Mountain!"

Gu Xue Dao flew out of the massive pit, excitement on his face,

"Yuan'er, I just interrogated the lingering soul of that black qilin. I heard that within Undying Mountain lies an Immortal Elixir, rumored to grant instant ascension to immortality!"

"Immortal Elixir?"

Gu Yuan showed a hint of interest.

He himself possesses an immortal body, and is especially sensitive to anything related to 'immortal'.

"Then why doesn't he just go in and eat it, and instead stir up dark turmoil?"

"It is said that the being inside makes his heart flutter, and he intends to wait until he breaks through to the celestial realm—our Supreme Realm of the 18th Stage—before entering to search."

"Let's go and take a look."

At Gu Yuan's command, the Nine‑Dragon Agarwood Carriage activated once more,

and the dark qilin dutifully followed as a guard,

the party surged forward toward Undying Mountain.

Only Luo Bing Yao and a group of human cultivators remained,

gazing at the completely emptied Zang Tian Ancient Land,

they exchanged looks, their hearts a mixture of emotions.

A life‑forbidden zone that had been passed down for several epochs, causing countless saints to turn pale at its mention, was just… gone?

Undying Mountain,

another equally renowned life‑forbidden zone on the Profound Heaven Continent.

Legend says that within this mountain lies an ageless divine spring and an Immortal Elixir, yet also harbors forbidden beings,

any trespasser, regardless of cultivation level,

will ultimately have their life essence stripped, turning into piles of withered bones within the mountain.

When the Nine‑Dragon Agarwood Carriage descended on the outskirts of Undying Mountain,

everyone sensed an aura completely different from that of Zang Tian Ancient Land.

If Zang Tian Ancient Land was deathly silence and uncertainty,

then Undying Mountain is a strange vitality.

Here ancient trees tower, vines coil like dragons, and myriad exotic flowers and herbs, long extinct elsewhere, are everywhere,

the dense life essence almost solidifies into mist, flowing through the mountains.

Yet beneath this vibrant scenery,

lies a deathly intent that makes the heart flutter.

As if all life

were merely nourishment for this mountain.

"Interesting."

Gu Yuan stepped out of the carriage; he could feel his immortal body

develop a faint, almost imperceptible repulsion toward the aura here.

It was as if he had met a kindred spirit,

but one that had taken a crooked path.

"Everyone, pull yourselves together!"

Gu Xue Dao shouted at the soldiers of the Heaven Spear Army behind him,

"This place is a bit sinister, don't get stuck on the path!"

"Understood!"

Thousands of Heaven Spear soldiers answered in unison, each exuding murderous aura sky‑high,

the golden qi‑blood power like a furnace,

dispersed the surrounding strange life‑mist completely.

They marched in step, following the Nine‑Dragon Agarwood Carriage, and entered Undying Mountain.

The moment they entered the mountain, an anomaly erupted!

The seemingly ordinary ancient trees and vines around them seemed to come alive.

Turning into many extremely thick and powerful tentacles, they madly whipped toward the Heavenly Halberd Army's camp!

On each vine, Holy Dao runes shimmered, their power enough to easily strangle an ordinary Saint!

"Hmph! Trivial tricks!"

A Colonel of the Heavenly Halberd Army gave a cold snort, sweeping his Heavenly Halberd!

A golden halberd aura stretching a thousand zhang swept out sideways,

In an instant, it cut tens of thousands of vines into powder!

However, the severed vines, at the moment they hit the ground,

Again turning into life essence, merging into the earth, immediately after,

More vines burst from the ground, as if endless!

At the same time, eerie howls echoed from deep in the mountains and forests.

Stone men and tree demons formed from mountain rocks and ancient trees awakened from slumber, their eyes blood-red, exuding a terrifying aura comparable to a Saint, as they fearlessly charged at the Heavenly Halberd Army.

"Kill!"

The soldiers of the Heavenly Halberd Army showed no panic.

They formed a battle formation, their qi and blood connected, becoming an indestructible whole.

The golden battle halberd waved, tearing the monsters that leapt up into pieces.

But these monsters, like the vines, after being shattered, quickly recondense, as if impossible to kill.

"Third Uncle, this place is a bit strange."

Gu Yuan watched this scene, slightly frowning.

"Indeed, it's eerie."

Gu Xue Dao also looked solemn,

"These monsters seem to be one with the entire Undying Mountain; as long as the mountain's source is not destroyed, they can endlessly regenerate. Moreover, I feel they are continuously absorbing the life force emitted by our soldiers."

He pointed at the seemingly thick life mist.

"This mist is problematic! It's stealing vitality!"