Chapter 742: Dinglong Mountains

A few days passed.

After following Xiong Ba Tian and the others to clear the nearby demonic beasts, they soon arrived at the designated spot.

The Dinglong Mountains lay like a winding giant dragon coiled in the heart of Luohuang Zhou, their majestic form dividing the vast land into north and south. Their continuous, undulating peaks towered into the clouds, as if they would pierce the heavens; intertwined, making it hard to estimate their length.

Peaks rose densely in the mountains, some like swords piercing the clouds, others like giant serpents coiling and winding. Lush forests covered every inch of the mountainside, dense and verdant, blocking out the sky. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light and shadow, adding a touch of mystery to the woods. Meanwhile, the colorful exotic flowers and grasses were like splendid brocade woven by the earth, dotted throughout, beautiful beyond measure.

However, do not be deceived by the beautiful scenery before you. Although the scenery is picturesque, this place is actually the most dangerous in all of Luohuang Zhou. For this mountain range is where countless demonic beasts dwell and breed, numerous in variety, strong in power, and fierce in nature. From huge beasts capable of uprooting mountains to tiny, lethally poisonous insects, everything is present. Here, a moment's carelessness could make one become food in the beasts' bellies, with no guarantee of survival. Thus, for ordinary people and low-level cultivators, the Dinglong Mountains are absolutely a forbidden place that inspires dread.

"This is the Dinglong Mountains." Xiong Ba Tian also rarely grew solemn, looking at the distant mountain range where faint roars could be heard, and the other cultivators also wore grave expressions.

Yan Buji said softly: "In that case, Xiong Dao Friend intends to clear those demonic beasts over there."

"Certainly the northern part; we'll clear as much as we can." Xiong Ba Tian said.

It seems the Bear Clan hasn't yet decided where to settle, but they will surely be near the Dinglong Mountains.

Could there be some secret hidden here?

Yan Buji wasn't entirely clear; it's a simple matter: would you rather build your home in a safe place or a dangerous one?

If we say the Dinglong Mountains, aside from being the demonic beasts' main base, are actually a very good settlement, backed by mountains and water, with flourishing flora; but Xiong Ba Tian's ultimate purpose in this trip is to clear the demonic beasts of the Dinglong Mountains, so it's naturally not merely preparation for the Bear Clan's settlement.

"It looks like he plans to do some preliminary reconnaissance, then go to the Dinglong Mountains to search for something."

Upon thinking this, Yan Buji suddenly understood why Xiong Ba Tian had a guarded attitude toward him.

He might have news of a treasure, but he doesn't want to reveal it.

After Yan Buji knew this, he didn't say much, just helped them clear the demonic beasts together.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye a month had passed.

That day.

Xiong Ba Tian looked around; there was no trace of demonic beasts running rampant anymore, and he smiled: "Friends, the time is about up, thank you all for coming to help me clear the demonic beasts; Xiong Ba Tian thanks everyone here."

"Lao Xiong, what are you doing?"

"Yeah, we're not your friends, why be so polite?"

"Good, good, good; after we go back I'll treat you to drinks—no returning until drunk!"

"Good!!"

Xiong Ba Tian smiled: "Then today we'll rest on the spot, and tomorrow we'll return the same way."

Night fell.

Yan Buji was sitting with those demon clan cultivators by the fire, chatting, exchanging cups, and drinking happily.

"By the way, where is Xiong Dao Friend? Why don't I see him?" Yan Buji looked around and asked.

"Lao Xiong said he was going to patrol nearby to prevent any hidden demonic beasts from attacking the camp."

Yan Buji raised his eyebrows, but didn't say much more.

Deep into the night.

Everyone was still chatting when suddenly a pillar of light shot up from within the Dinglong Mountains!

At that moment, an incredibly splendid light suddenly burst forth, instantly illuminating the entire sky! This light, like a giant dragon, rose from the ground and shot into the clouds at astonishing speed.

That light pillar shooting straight to the sky seemed to possess endless power, its force unstoppable as it directly pierced through layer upon layer of thick clouds. As the light pillar struck, those originally dense, dark clouds, as if torn by an invisible hand, quickly dissipated.

Gradually, as the dark clouds cleared, the sky revealed itself to people: countless twinkling stars like glittering jewels inlaid on the night curtain, emitting charming, soft light. The whole night sky became dreamlike and illusory, beautiful beyond words!

"What is this?" Yan Buji widened his eyes, looking at the surrounding demon clan cultivators.

After all, this is demon clan territory; they might know what happened.

"Where did this light pillar come from?"

"I don't know; could there be some secret realm within the Dinglong Mountains?"

"Everyone!"

Before they could figure out the situation, Xiong Ba Tian came running in a panic, with a large horde of demonic beasts behind him.

Xiong Ba Tian, terrified, shouted at everyone: "Run! There's a Heavenly Unity Stage demonic beast!"

Yan Buji's face changed drastically; sensing an invisible pressure in the surrounding spiritual qi, he immediately activated the Heaven Gate Law to flee.

A few days passed.

When Yan Buji again saw Xiong Ba Tian in the Garrisoned Royal City, seeing that he was injured all over, he immediately went up to support him, anxiously asking: "Xiong Dao Friend, are you all right?"

Xiong Ba Tian widened his eyes, looking at Yan Buji: "My friend, you ran really fast."

Yan Buji gave an embarrassed smile: "Wasn't it you who told us to run fast?"

Xiong Ba Tian wanted to speak but held back, thinking: "If you can run that fast, you should at least have brought me along!"

Yan Buji saw the meaning in his eyes and immediately said: "My secret art can only let me escape alone; I can't bring anyone."

"Sigh." Xiong Ba Tian sighed: "This time I've really had bloody bad luck."

"What happened?"

"Didn't you see the light pillar shooting out from the Dinglong Mountains earlier?"

"Hmm." Yan Buji was somewhat doubtful; he had previously asked those demon clan cultivators, but they didn't know how that light pillar formed.

Yan Buji had also not sensed any power hidden within that light pillar before; it merely changed the celestial phenomena, like a place where spiritual qi had accumulated for years suddenly bursting out, creating that scene.

Therefore Yan Buji guessed that the Dinglong Mountains might indeed contain some extraordinary secret realm.

Xiong Ba Tian, also feeling lingering fear, said: "Earlier, while patrolling near the camp, I suddenly sensed a tremendous power reviving; if I'm not mistaken, it could be the awakening of an emperor from ages past in Luohuang Zhou."

"Emperor awakening?"

Yan Buji's face changed.

The demon clan emperor is equivalent to the human clan's Great Vehicle Stage, and moreover from ages ago.

Back then, I recall that the relationship between the human clan and the demon clan was not very friendly.