Chapter 745

From the frontier prefectural seat where the demon's lair of Wuguo lies, heading south there stretches a primeval forest hundreds of millions of li long.

The environment here is harsher than the barbaric wild mountains on the northern border's route to the snowy plains, with poisonous insects and ferocious beasts everywhere, miasmic swamps everywhere, and strange spiritual monsters everywhere.

With the warlike madness of the Great Martial Divine State, their main force corps tasked with expanding territory spent tens of thousands of years yet could not advance even a step southward, nor open a new prefectural seat to the south.

If one has the cultivation of the fifth or sixth heavenly layer of the Divine Manifestation Realm, and luck is good enough not to be eaten by the forest's poisonous insects and ferocious beasts, not killed by miasma, not swallowed by the swamp, and not transformed by the strange spiritual monsters into some weird existence, it takes about two years to traverse this primeval forest.

To the south of this primeval forest lies the Wujin Manghuang.

Vast lakes, grasslands, giant marshes, towering isolated peaks with no connections between them, strange rifts, abrupt and perilous sinkholes, unfathomably complex underground passages……

Myriad strange terrains constitute the Wujin Manghuang.

It is a place teeming with life, fiercely wild, survival extremely hard, yet with a bit of effort one can still get by in this godforsaken place.

The wild beasts here are on average five times larger than their counterparts in the Three Kingdoms' territories, and some such as tigers, elephants, and giant pythons can be over ten times larger.

Thus the tribes that survive here are all mighty and sturdy, all fierce by nature, all warlike as madness, and all accustomed to settling disputes with fists and reasoning with swords, spears, and halberds.

The mightiest Chiyang Shen Shan naturally became the supreme ruler of this wilderness.

When the three thousand strongest tribal chieftains gather for a council, the lord of Chiyang Shen Shan undoubtedly sits on the divine throne at the center, while the other chieftains sit around the four sides, bowing in worship toward the throne.

At the exact center of the Wujin Manghuang, within a million-li stretch of mulberry forest, rivers crisscross; the water is clear, the soil fertile, countless birds and beasts gather, and various rare medicinal herbs are everywhere—this can be called a cave paradise.

At the heart of the mulberry forest, a perilous ten-thousand-zhang high mountain rises abruptly.

On its wholly crimson mountain side grow vigorous, sturdy anomalous mulberry trees; between their massive trunks can be vaguely seen pavilions and towers rising, many surrounded by green trees, constantly exhaling red-light smoke from their mouths, with people continually entering and exiting various-sized openings.

This is Chiyang Shen Shan; at its summit stands a giant ancient mulberry 3,600 zhang tall, its wholly jade-green mulberry emits soft green light shooting straight into the sky; from time to time clear green water droplets fall from the air, evenly sprinkling over the million-li radius mulberry forest, nourishing it so that spiritual energy overflows and the soil becomes ever more fertile.

Above this towering ancient mulberry, a ring of red light envelops a semi-transparent three-legged Golden Crow phantom.

This massive three-legged Golden Crow is divine and peerless; it perches on the highest branch, occasionally letting out a low 'ya ya' sound, its gaze flashing with divine light, wave after wave of immense magical power radiating from its body, stirring the winds and clouds around Chiyang Shen Shan.

Within the million-li mulberry forest at the mountain's base lies an inconspicuous small valley where twelve giant mulberry trees grow.

The twelve mulberry trees form an ancient grand formation; the surrounding space twists, silken mist permeates, and even if an outsider reaches the valley's entrance, they would hardly notice that such a valley actually exists here.

Dozens of men in black tight-fitting clothes, wearing red masks, their bodies radiating heat, sit cross-legged beneath the twelve giant mulberries, their eyes gleaming with alert vigilance as they survey the surroundings.

They sit there year‑round without rest, merely absorbing the essence emitted by the giant mulberries to cultivate, earnestly maintaining the giant teleportation formation of up to a thousand zhang in diameter that surrounds the mulberries.

A low rumbling sound came; the hundreds of huge prime crystals embedded in the formation slowly rose, spewing vast heaven‑earth primal energy; the giant divine sigils on the formation lit up one after another, accompanied by a piercing hiss, as immense energy forcibly twisted space, tearing open a spatial gate a hundred zhang wide in the air.

Wu Tie strode out of the spatial gate with his hands behind his back.

The dozens of black‑clad men sprang up, reverse‑gripping the strange‑shaped straight swords strapped to their backs.

Gan Xiao gave a light cough, followed Wu Tie out of the gate, waved his hand, and barked in a mighty voice: "What are you doing? This venerable one's honored guest—remember the appearance of His Majesty the Martial King; from now on, when you see His Majesty the Martial King, treat it as seeing this venerable one, and be respectful."

The dozens of black‑clad men released their sword hilts, answered in unison, and heavily knelt on the ground.

Gan Xiao smiled at Wu Tie with a hint of pride: "They are the Golden Crow Guard, the most elite and loyal sentinels of Chiyang Shen Shan. They possess Golden Crow blood, able to unleash Golden Crow heavenly fire that ordinary innate spiritual weapons cannot withstand—their power to incinerate all things."

Gan Xiao proudly raised his eyebrows at Wu Tie and said: "Their greatest advantage is their mastery of the Golden Crow evasion technique—like the sun moving across the heavens, their speed is extreme, worthy of being called the finest evasion art between heaven and earth."

Wu Tie glanced interestedly at those black‑clad, red‑masked men, nodded slowly: "Running fast is actually useless; I don't need swift warriors… but Golden Crow heavenly fire is good, very good… it just happens to be their bane."

He drew a deep breath, feeling strands of extremely pure and surging azure‑wood spiritual energy continually flowing into his body, and Wu Tie exclaimed: "What a cave paradise! Nourishing one's fire power with azure‑wood essence, this place is truly an excellent spot for you fire cultivators."

Gan Xiao laughed ever more proudly: "Of course it's a good place… moreover, this place is protected by the essence of the primordial Golden Crow; those evil gods would never dare approach even a step. My Chiyang Shen Shan lineage has dwelled here in peace and prosperity for countless years."

The Yin‑Yang Daoist and the Canghai Daoist also stepped out of the spatial gate, followed by three hundred Divine Manifestation Realm experts.

Wu Tie waved his hand; among those Divine Manifestation Realm experts, several patriarchs of the Li clan of Great Wei, the Yuan clan, and the Mo School sprang into action, producing various strange instruments to quickly survey the surrounding terrain and ley lines, while simultaneously comparing the position of that red sun in the high sky to calculate and determine the spatial coordinates here.

In the distant Heavenly Martial City to the north, the Five Elements Daoist also issued successive orders, and Li Xuan Gui, Yuan Qilin, etc., began to busy themselves.

They continually followed the data provided here by the Five Elements Daoist, starting to calculate one novel spatial coordinate point after another; at the same time, in a valley outside Heavenly Martial City, a gigantic ultra‑long‑distance teleportation formation began excavating its foundation, commencing tense preparations.

"Infatuation truly is something that cannot be reasoned with," Wu Tie said with hands behind his back, standing beneath a giant mulberry, gazing at the massive teleportation formation before him.

Gan Xiao expended great effort to set up this massive teleportation formation, solely so he could more easily stay beside Wa Zhao… so that, when Wa Zhao needed him to act, he could mobilize troops and dispatch generals, using the power of Chiyang Shen Shan to assist Wa Zhao.

Such a super‑large, ultra‑long‑distance teleportation formation—what an immensely precious strategic resource!

Yet he uses it to chase women.

Moreover, that woman is married, and feels nothing for him.

Wu Tie saw through it: Wa Zhao is merely keeping Gan Xiao on a string, deliberately exploiting his power.

But who made Gan Xiao happy?

Being happy is enough.

After another day and two hours, a new spatial gate opened on the formation, accompanied by low footsteps; dozens of colossal divine warriors emerged from the gate, Wu Tie nodded and quickly sent word to the Five Elements Daoist that the formation was operating normally.

In the next moment, Lao Tie led a vast host of Divine Manifestation Realm experts marching out of the teleportation formation.

Mo Yun, Mo Wu and other Mo School patriarchs led large numbers of Mo School disciples into swift action, producing portable military citadels which they swiftly emplaced around the valley; grand war‑grade formations were laid on the ground, mobile giant cannon emplacements nested with formations, and in little time the valley's defenses became sufficient to withstand a joint assault by hundreds of Divine Manifestation Realm experts.

According to Gan Xiao's account, the total number of Divine Manifestation Realm patriarchs in the entire Wujin Manghuang is no more than about four thousand; among the three thousand strongest tribes, the vast majority have merely a single Divine Manifestation Realm patriarch holding the fort.

That is to say, setting aside the huge number of tribes and the countless billions of ordinary tribespeople, judging solely by top‑tier combat strength, the overall power of the Wujin Manghuang is at most comparable to that of Qingqiu, Great Wei, or Great Martial from back then, and actually somewhat weaker.

While Mo Yun and others were busy constructing the defensive system, Gan Xiao had already led Wu Tie and the others onto Chiyang Shen Shan.

With Gan Xiao leading the way, the passage was naturally unimpeded; although Wu Tie, the Yin‑Yang Daoist, the Canghai Daoist, and Lao Tie were unfamiliar faces, no one stopped Gan Xiao to ask about Wu Tie's group's origins.

"Is Chiyang Shen Shan's clan‑treasure hidden within the mountain?" Wu Tie lifted his gaze to the huge ancient mulberry on the summit and murmured, "I originally thought it was that big fellow."

"That giant mulberry—our ancestors all believed it was some tremendous divine object, yet every generation poured immense effort into communing with it, to no avail." Gan Xiao snorted dismissively: "In the end, it's merely a tool for the primordial Golden Crow's spirit to rest."

The Yin‑Yang Daoist shook his head, smiled, his body flickered and blurred, and he instantly flashed back to the side of the Five Elements Daoist in Heavenly Martial City.

Then the Five Elements Daoist appeared directly at the spot where the Yin‑Yang Daoist had just been.

Upon appearing, the Five Elements Daoist drew a deep breath.

Five‑colored divine light surged rapidly in his eyes; the Five Elements Daoist gazed at the giant mulberry and murmured, "Perhaps your ancestors were mistaken. This mulberry is not that simple—but wait, first let us see what your Chiyang Shen Shan's clan‑treasure really is before we talk further."

Under Gan Xiao's lead, the party continued until they reached the vicinity of the summit.

Less than three hundred zhang from the giant mulberry, here there is a mountain cliff bearing an opening about ten zhang in diameter, from which vast clouds of fire constantly spew; before the mouth stand hundreds of Golden Crow Guard stationed.

Gan Xiao strode forward head high and chest out, leading Wu Tie and the others straight into the cave.

Here, this is our clan's holy ground; except for the current Mountain Lord, no one else may enter, not even the eldest few old-timers. This is the rule…… I, the venerable one, really like this rule." Gan Xie laughed brightly.

Wu Tie let out a soft hum: "Of course…… otherwise, if a few meddling old coots got in here, I don't know what would happen to you…… but your Zhao Mei, and Zhao Mei's child……"

Gan Xie's face twitched violently, and he forced a laugh: "Martial King, everything is my fault; I am willing to bear any cost…… as long as Zhao Mei isn't harmed, we can talk about anything, anything at all."

After a few dry laughs, Gan Xie lowered his voice; though he originally had thick brows and big eyes, looking rather valiant, he suddenly seemed to acquire a few sly, slippery airs: "However, speaking frankly, thinking of that little brat—he's actually Zhao Mei and that bastard's child…… I, the venerable one, feel uneasy…… Martial King, if you want to help me, let that Xi Yao meet with some mishap……"

Gan Xie rubbed his neck with both hands, making a gesture of twisting and breaking it: "For example, with a snap, he could trip and break his neck while walking?"

Wu Tie, the Five Elements Daoist, and the Vast Sea Daoist all stared at Gan Xie, and began to laugh with a meaningless "hehehe."

This guy…… hehe.

After going to such extremes against himself, willingly becoming a eunuch by Wa Zhao's side…… he still harbors such great jealousy? Unable to deal with someone's father, he goes after their child—this scoundrel's integrity seems nearly gone.

Shaking his head, Wu Tie refused Gan Xie's proposal: "We must never speak of this again…… how to put it, I am friends with Bai Ying and Zhu Lu as well; their uncle, though somewhat useless, I could not possibly……"

Gan Xie coughed a few times; Wu Tie, looking at his disappointed face, said softly: "However, if the Mountain Lord can offer me satisfactory compensation…… well, I don't mind sending Xi Yao to the northern battlefield to cross blades with those Xuanming old monsters."

Wu Tie said solemnly and deeply: "To resist the northern snowplain barbarians and protect the people of Wuguo…… everyone bears responsibility."

Gan Xie laughed until his teeth showed: "Isn't that right? Everyone bears responsibility, everyone bears responsibility…… isn't he trying to have his two nieces restore the throne? All the people under heaven are his subjects; he should go all out, should die on the battlefield. I, the venerable one, understand—Martial King, rest assured."

Clenching his teeth, Gan Xie said in a low voice: "I, the venerable one, recall that a few old-timers still have some good stuff on hand—heirlooms passed down from our ancestors. If the Martial King is interested…… I, the venerable one, will fetch them for you."

Lifting his head, Gan Xie said confidently: "No matter what, I, the venerable one, am the Mountain Lord; Chiyang Shen Shan is a place with rules…… the Mountain Lord's command outweighs heaven itself!"

Under Gan Xie's leadership, the very satisfied Wu Tie party arrived deep within the body of Chiyang Shen Shan.

Here, inside a huge stone cavern, fire clouds surged and firelight radiated in all directions.

Amidst the fire clouds and firelight, a massive object hovered silently there, majestic in all directions, with a mighty aura; wave after wave of the primordial, ancient aura unique to the primeval wilderness surged forth, staggering even Wu Tie.

Merely the emanating aura was already a bit too much for Wu Tie to bear.

Such a great treasure, Wu Tie murmured: "Seems sufficient to counter what they call the supreme divine artifact, right?"