Chapter 244: Auspicious Clouds

What exactly was it that caused the Four Great Sects and the Five Great Demon Mountains to cease their fighting?

One could see that in the originally azure sky, many five-colored rays of light had suddenly appeared; these rays of light were like great rivers, flowing endlessly as they blanketed the entire sky.

The rays of light contained dense Spiritual Qi, and even with Nanxuan Laozu's cultivation, he could feel the presence of Yin and Yang Qi. Having lived for such a long age, this was the first time he had ever seen such a celestial phenomenon.

The Demon Emperor standing opposite him was equally astonished, his brows lightly furrowed as he wondered to himself what this could be. Suddenly, Nanxuan Laozu's figure shot violently toward the high sky, his eyes slightly closed to let himself feel the changes in the surrounding Spiritual Qi as much as possible.

The Demon Emperor likewise flew into the high sky, sensing the changes in the surrounding Demonic Qi! These two people had the highest cultivation, and their every move directly influenced the perceptions of the other cultivators.

One of them was a master of the righteous path, whose sense for Spiritual Qi was extremely profound; even if there was the slightest ripple of Spirit Power in the surroundings, he could feel it. The Demon Emperor was a master of the Demon Sect, and before he fell, his cultivation was even more unfathomable; his comprehension of Demonic Qi was also nothing short of miraculous.

But besides these two, there were two others who felt an aura other than Demonic Qi and Spiritual Qi! That was Yin Qi! The first to sense that Yin Qi was contained within the five-colored rays of light in the sky was Qin Xiaofeng.

He was a cultivator who hailed from the Great Underworld Mansion and had excellent spiritual perception regarding Yin Qi! The moment the rays of light appeared, he had sensed the scent of Yin Qi within them.

As for the other person, it was Zhang Nuo; he had practiced a bit of the Immovable Underworld King technique, and although it could not even be considered small success, his sensitivity to Yin Qi was much stronger than others. Furthermore, the Hell Butterfly within his body had sensed the existence of the Yin Qi even earlier than Qin Xiaofeng.

"What happened?"

"What is going on here?"

"Could it be that the world is about to perish?"

"Such a bizarre celestial phenomenon, I have never even heard of it!"

Many cultivators began to discuss it in hushed tones, and unease and fear spread rapidly like a plague. Zhang Nuo listened to what these people were saying and his eyelids twitched slightly; although he did not know exactly what had happened, his spiritual sense told him that the changes in the sky would not pose any danger to them.

"Nanxuan Laozu, you are skilled in the art of divination; in your view, what has happened?"

The Demon Emperor was the first to break the silence between the two. Upon hearing this, Nanxuan Laozu gently opened his aged eyes, a flash of sharp light passing through his pupils, and a look of uncertainty appeared on his face.

"Why does the Demon Emperor ask me? Even if I didn't say it, you have probably already guessed a few points, haven't you!"

With a faint smile, Nanxuan Laozu revealed a look of disdain; the other party asking like this was clearly trying to fish for words, wanting to further confirm his own conjectures.

"Indeed! But I still want to verify whether your conjecture is consistent with mine?"

At this moment, for some reason, the life-and-death relationship between the two suddenly became much more relaxed, as if two very familiar friends were chatting.

"Looking at the direction of the five-colored rays of light, they should be heading toward the Mist Sea!"

As soon as Nanxuan Laozu finished speaking, the Demon Emperor nodded immediately, as if he had reached some kind of consensus with him.

"If this old man is not mistaken, in a few days, the rays of light in the sky will turn into five-colored auspicious clouds! When that time comes, a major event will occur!"

As if muttering to himself, Nanxuan Laozu was deeply intoxicated by it, as if a beautiful painting were gradually unfolding before his eyes.

"As expected of Nanxuan Laozu! I just want to know, did you see these things in the ancient texts, or did you calculate them?"

For the first time ever, the Demon Emperor gave a thumbs-up to Nanxuan Laozu, which left the cultivators below extremely puzzled. What on earth had happened to make two people who were originally like fire and water act like this?

"This old man only knows a little about the art of divination; how could I possibly pry into such a significant heavenly secret! Demon Emperor, shall our battle continue?"

With a wry smile, he shook his head. When he asked this question, the Demon Emperor let out a loud laugh, and then said with an excited face:

"Being able to come back to life is already a great blessing, and now that I have encountered such a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity, other things are no longer important!"

Nanxuan Laozu also nodded slightly, fully agreeing with the Demon Emperor's view!

"And that Black Book...?"

Before he finished speaking, Nanxuan Laozu's gaze was already fixed on the Demon Emperor!

"I think that no matter how important the Black Book is, it will not be more important than the major event that is about to happen. The people of the Great Underworld Mansion will temporarily put this matter aside, but Nanxuan Laozu, the matter is not over! You must find out who took that book!"

The atmosphere, which had just improved a little, was made tense again by the Demon Emperor's last few sentences.

"Demon Emperor, now that you have calmed down, think about it: which of our Foundation Establishment Stage disciples from the Four Great Sects could break into your Fenzhong?"

"That is not for me to worry about!"

After coldly dropping this sentence, the Demon Emperor was the first to descend among the many demonic cultivators. When he turned his head to look for Qin Xiaofeng, he found that Qin Xiaofeng and Shi Liang had both disappeared together.

"Hmph! I figured you wouldn't be able to sit still either!"

After muttering to himself, he turned his head and said to Wang Ji and the others:

"Return to the Five Great Demon Mountains!"

Upon hearing this, a very troubled look appeared on Wang Ji's face. The great battle between the Five Great Demon Mountains and the Four Great Sects had been so grand and spectacular, how could it end just like that in the blink of an eye?

Among the many demonic cultivators, many began to discuss it in hushed tones for a time, and some even developed feelings of dissatisfaction toward the Demon Emperor! However, such a major matter was not for them to decide, so they could only helplessly follow behind the Demon Emperor and fly toward the direction of the Five Great Demon Mountains.

Nanxuan Laozu also landed in front of Zhuge An at this time. Looking at the departing cultivators of the Five Great Demon Mountains, he let out a long breath in his heart; a catastrophe had been averted just like that.

"Laozu, what is going on here?"

Zhuge An was left completely confused. At this time, the Sect Masters of the other three sects had also arrived at Nanxuan Laozu's side.

"Let's go back first! Also, tell the other disciples that there is no need to guard against sneak attacks from the Demon Mountains!"

The words were shocking! Nanxuan Laozu's remarks caused almost everyone's jaws to drop to the ground! How could a war that had lasted for ten years suddenly subside? And looking at his appearance, he was full of confidence, as if he knew the cause and effect.

"Just do as I say!"

After speaking, Nanxuan Laozu was the first to fly toward the direction of the Nanxuan Sect. Everyone was helpless and could only follow behind him. Except for the Nanxuan Sect disciples, the disciples of the other three sects returned to their respective sects; only Xiao Zhengxing, Zhuo Zhiyan, and Leng Xinghun went to the Nanxuan Sect.

Zhang Nuo followed behind Zhuge An and also silently returned to the Nanxuan Sect. As soon as they entered the sect, Nanxuan Laozu turned back and said:

"Qing'er, Zhang Nuo, and the Sect Masters of the Four Great Sects, come with me; the others should go back and rest first!"

After hearing this, the few people knew that the Laozu had major matters to discuss, so they nodded in unison. Before long, Zhang Nuo and the others arrived at Nanxuan Laozu's residence. After they were seated as host and guests, Nanxuan Laozu then said:

"Do you know what the five-colored rays of light in the sky are?"

The few people shook their heads together, but judging by their power, they should not be ordinary objects!

"That is the collective body of all the Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth, and the direction in which these rays of light are flowing is precisely the Mist Sea!"

Upon hearing this term, the others were fine, but Zhang Nuo felt a shock in his heart, and a look of astonishment appeared on his face, though the expression flashed by and did not attract the attention of the others.

What kind of place the Mist Sea was, Zhang Nuo had only heard of it slightly. At the edge of the Tianyuan Continent was the coast of the Mist Sea. In fact, there was no real fog inside the Mist Sea; the reason it was called that was because this sea area was too vast, and those who were not familiar with its routes could easily get lost inside, which was how it got such a name.

And in the deepest part of the Mist Sea was the place where the legendary Immortal Illusion Continent had disappeared. With Nanxuan Laozu saying this, the celestial phenomenon was very likely related to the Immortal Illusion Continent!

From Chunyangzi, Zhang Nuo learned that the Immortal Illusion Continent of that year was lush with Spiritual Qi and possessed the peerless Thirty-Six Xian Mountains and Seventy-Two Purple Mansion Immortal Caves! Even cultivators from the Immortal World would covet them upon seeing them.

Sure enough, as Zhang Nuo had expected, Nanxuan Laozu's subsequent words left everyone astonished.

"In a few more days, the rosy clouds in the sky will turn into five-colored auspicious clouds. When that time comes, the Immortal Illusion Continent within the Mist Sea may reappear in the light of day!"

Upon hearing the name of the Immortal Illusion Continent, everyone's eyes shone with a brilliant light, especially cultivators like Zhuge An who were at the Golden Core stage; they had been trapped at the Golden Core stage for decades, and if they could not achieve a breakthrough, they would only be able to wait for their lifespan to run out and pass away.

It is rumored that on the Immortal Illusion Continent, Nascent Soul cultivators walk everywhere, and Golden Cores are as common as dogs! One can imagine how lush the Spiritual Qi is there; if one could reach that place, their cultivation would soar to the clouds, and breaking the shackles of the Golden Core stage would be as easy as turning over one's hand!

"Is that the reason why the Five Great Demon Mountains have ceased hostilities with us?"

The expression of excitement on Zhuge An's face had still not faded!

"Correct! Who could resist the temptation of the Immortal Illusion Continent? Besides, when the Immortal Illusion Continent disappeared from the world for no reason back then, many cultivators on the continent did not have time to escape. Any Magic Treasure found within their Cave Abodes would be something we could only hope for but never obtain! The Demon Emperor is naturally not foolish enough to get entangled with us on this mere Tianjiang Plain!"

"Is Laozu planning to head to the Immortal Illusion Continent?"

Zhuo Zhiyan's expression softened somewhat; who wouldn't want to try their luck in such a treasure land? However, since Nanxuan Laozu knew about this matter, other Nascent Soul stage cultivators on the Tianyuan Continent must have guessed it as well. Therefore, to go to the Immortal Illusion Continent, one must find a powerful cultivator to lead the way, and Nanxuan Laozu naturally became the only choice!

"Correct! Such a heaven-sent opportunity—if I were to miss it, I would regret it for the rest of my life!"

With a faint smile, Nanxuan Laozu's lifespan was also nearing its end; if he did not think of a way to break through, he could only wait for death!

"Since Laozu is going, could you take us few along?"

Zhuo Zhiyan finally could not hold back and asked the most crucial question! Facing the temptation of the Immortal Illusion Continent, who could possibly resist?