Chapter 470: Gentle Rise with the Times

Along the way, he saw only precipitous peaks, towering and jagged, piercing the clouds.

After being clutched in the giant eagle’s talons and spending several minutes in terrified silence, Ge Ji suddenly felt his weight lighten, then plummeted rapidly from high above.

Fortunately, he possessed some minor cultivation, and swiftly summoned a faint gray cloud beneath him midair, preventing him from tumbling helplessly upon landing and becoming even more humiliated.

The Gangfeng howled, while the pale white clouds overhead drifted soft as cotton, seemingly within reach, tumbling wildly with the wind.

Ge Ji, heart pounding, glanced around in alarm and realized he had been brought to a peak a thousand zhang high; all around, he saw countless emerald mountains rising, sheer cliffs like carved blades, and even the cries of apes and birds deep in the forest barely reached his ears. When he peered down, thick mists loomed, making his hair stand on end.

He had no idea why the giant eagle had brought him to such an isolated height.

He knew that ordinary raptors, after capturing prey, often carried it high into the sky and dropped it to shatter, then slowly pecked at the fragments to conserve energy.

But that was merely the behavior of mundane hawks and falcons.

This eagle, however, had effortlessly slain Feng Lian, and with a single wingbeat could shatter wrought iron—it was clearly a powerful great demon, perhaps even of noble lineage, and had no need for such tedious methods.

In truth, Feng Lian had died because of his own arrogance; had he not drawn his bow to fire that arrow, he might have preserved his life and avoided trouble.

Yet, merely because his hand itched, he had tragically squandered his fortune and life—a truly absurd ending that Ge Ji had never imagined.

As Ge Ji’s mind raced, desperately searching for a way to save himself,

the giant eagle in the sky suddenly spun, and from nowhere appeared a dark-robed Daoist, elegant and radiant, who descended gracefully to the peak, hands clasped behind his back.

Around him swirled luminous auroras and misty clouds, his form glowing from within, like a celestial attendant of the Heavenly Palace, his aura overwhelming.

Seeing this, Ge Ji first tensed as if facing a mortal enemy, then immediately felt ashamed of his own insignificance.

“Not a great demon—but a cultivator of the Immortal Dao? Across the Four Continents, only the Tianchi Sect could produce such a figure. But the Tianchi Sect’s Daozi doesn’t look like this. And isn’t Liyang Continent currently at war with the Southern Void Demon Kingdom? If this truly is a Tianchi Sect cultivator…”

Though a flood of doubts surged through his mind, Ge Ji moved without hesitation, pushing himself up with both hands and prostrating deeply, his demeanor reverent.

Chen Hang glanced at him and said:

“So you’ve guessed something?”

Ge Ji did not raise his head. After carefully weighing his words, he ventured cautiously:

“Master, since you are no demon or monster, and have mercy enough to spare my life, though I am dull-witted, I still understand something of this situation.

Not to hide it from you, Master, my name is Ge Ji, son of the Marquis of Yu Cang Demon Kingdom. Though I’ve never been favored by the Marquis’s household, I am still of noble birth and privy to many secrets. If you have any questions, I swear I will answer fully and without reservation!”

After declaring his loyalty without hesitation, Ge Ji hesitated briefly, then reluctantly spoke the truth:

“But if it concerns the war between the Tianchi Sect and the Southern Void Demon Kingdom, I am powerless.

Matters of such magnitude—though a few families on Mo Wu Continent surely know the truth and stir the waters behind the scenes—my family’s position is far too low to even enter the game. We can only watch from afar…”

After speaking, Ge Ji swallowed hard, his nerves still tense.

Chen Hang pointed a finger, and in Ge Ji’s horrified gaze, Anbi instantly shrank into a crimson thread, vanishing into the sea of clouds, vigilant on all sides.

“Exactly, exactly! Though this is a desolate place where few would find us, we should still remain cautious!”

Ge Ji trembled as he touched his neck, relieved to find his head still attached, and broke into a wide grin, exhaling deeply.

“First, tell me about the major powers on Mo Wu Continent—and this Yu Cang Demon Kingdom.”

Chen Hang sat cross-legged on a flat green stone and spoke to Ge Ji.

Chen Hang found a flat green stone, sat cross-legged upon it, and said to Ge Ji.

…

Yu Cang Demon Kingdom, Qiao Mountain Sect, Panming Palace.

After enduring countless calamities, Mo Wu Continent is now jointly ruled by these three great powers.

Whether it be countless living beings or boundless mountains, rivers, and lakes—all lie under their dominion!

The founding monarch of Yu Cang Demon Kingdom was an ape demon who attained the Dao; its nobility is largely composed of true demons. Though demons, ghosts, and monsters are mixed within, several rebellions have erupted due to resentment over the demons’ privileged status, spilling rivers of blood.

Yet the ruling clan has always been the Ape Clan, never shaken—calling it a demon kingdom is indeed fitting.

The core nobility of Qiao Mountain Sect are a host of corpse monsters. These beings not only pledged allegiance to the Pona Temple of Wu Xiang Heaven, gaining a powerful patron, but also absorbed numerous demonic cultivators and heretical sects during several celestial invasions, enriching their foundation.

This sect’s doctrines are a chaotic fusion, a riot of schools, and its internal factional struggles are fiercer than those in Yu Cang Demon Kingdom.

As for Panming Palace, it is ruled by heavenly demons.

Legend says its several palace lords were born as heavenly demons, their ancestors once glorious on Fa Xi Continent, but after losing a power struggle, they crossed vast oceans to settle permanently on Mo Wu Continent.

In terms of strength, Qiao Mountain Sect is by far the most powerful among the three.

Since allying with Pona Temple, its power has surged; within just a hundred years, its territory has expanded nearly thirty percent, forcing Yu Cang Demon Kingdom and Panming Palace to surrender much of their gains.

Later, under pressure, the demon kingdom and Panming Palace reluctantly set aside old grudges and formed an alliance.

The latter even brought a demonic god from Fa Xi Continent to bolster their position, finally curbing Qiao Mountain Sect’s arrogance and forcing it to retreat.

This clearly proves Panming Palace’s deep ties to the heavenly demon clan of Fa Xi Continent—indeed, they were once one and the same…

After speaking at length, Ge Ji saw Chen Hang nod slightly and felt as if released from a death sentence.

But the next moment, when Chen Hang asked about his family background, Ge Ji’s expression turned awkward.

“To be honest, my father was once a disciple of Qiao Mountain Sect. Disliked by his masters and seeing no hope in cultivation, he risked stealing a Dao scripture and fled with several companions to Yu Cang Demon Kingdom.

Later, he earned great merit in the military and was granted a marquis title as a human—an unprecedented exception—enjoying wealth and honor.

As for me… Master has surely noticed: I am not purely human. I carry half heavenly demon blood.” Ge Ji shook his head and spoke.

From Ge Ji’s words, it was clear his father, Marquis Ge, had risen from a mortal body to prominence in this demon kingdom—a true anomaly.

Ge Ji, though the marquis’s son, was never favored, and the root lay in his mother.

“So your mother is a heavenly demon. She was drawn to your father’s talent and appearance, abducted him, kept him by her side for years until she bore a child, then released him, leaving you to be raised by him alone, ignoring you entirely?”

“Hah! Such demonic behavior is truly capricious and bizarre!”

After Ge Ji finished speaking, Chen Hang raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

The Wuqi Qiankun Ring, which had been watching silently nearby, could no longer contain itself and leapt up, shouting loudly.

Ge Ji was startled by the sudden appearance of the spirit, then, seeing the Ring speak so boldly, panicked instinctively.

Glancing around and seeing they were in a remote place, with no risk of being overheard, he finally relaxed slightly.

“It’s not that she ignored me entirely—I have an older sister. When she was young, her full heavenly demon blood awakened, shedding her human form, and she was swiftly taken away by her mother’s household guards, even my father unable to stop her.

As for me… I was not so fortunate…” Ge Ji sighed in resignation.

Chen Hang said nothing, his thoughts turning elsewhere.

Yu Cang Demon Kingdom, Qiao Mountain Sect, Panming Palace—

Though he did not know whether Kongkong Daoist’s Huiying Mountain lay on Mo Wu Continent,

if any of these three powers might know of it, it would be these very three.

“To obtain the geographical maps of these three powers is not impossible, but it requires careful planning to ensure absolute success.

My identity must be altered again…” Chen Hang mused.

Seeing Chen Hang fall into silent thought, Ge Ji, who had been carefully managing the Wuqi Qiankun Ring, sensed danger and his heart lurched.

Due to his lowly birth, he had never been favored by his father since childhood; though protected by relatives, he had grown timid.

Previously, during a beast fight, he had accidentally offended Feng Lian. Knowing Feng Lian’s invitation to hunt was malicious, and aware no one would defend him, Ge Ji had still come—and was captured by Chen Hang.

Now, in fear, he believed Chen Hang intended to kill him. He was about to kowtow and beg for mercy when a gaze settled upon him.

“Have you ever heard of Huiying Mountain?” Chen Hang asked.

In his terror, he felt Chen Hang intended to kill him to silence him; just as he was about to kowtow and beg for mercy, a gaze settled upon him.

Ge Ji racked his brain for a long while but found no such name.

Just as he was about to nervously shake his head, a sudden insight struck him—he slapped his palm hard, nearly leaping up.

“So that’s it! Isn’t that the old name of Fish Lake Mountain? Its name has changed several times; even ‘Fish Lake’ has only been used for a few thousand years. Had I not spent most of my time holed up in the library, no one else would recognize it!”

As soon as Ge Ji finished speaking triumphantly, he seemed to recall something and fell silent.

Chen Hang had specifically asked about Huiying Mountain—he must intend to enter it.

But times have changed: Huiying Mountain—or Fish Lake Mountain—is now the fief of Duke Yong of Yu Cang Demon Kingdom. Due to its abundance of a rare herb called Yuanzuo, Duke Yong has sealed the mountain to preserve its qi.

Outsiders attempting to intrude would first struggle to break the mountain’s great array, and even a minor disturbance would draw the attention of the patrolling demon cultivators.

After carefully voicing these concerns, fearing Chen Hang might be displeased, Ge Ji hurriedly added:

“But this seal applies only to ordinary cultivators. If Duke Yong’s close friends or truly powerful figures arrive, the seal is meaningless.

Yuanzuo herbs are rare external medicines. In the past, the Duke’s imperial favor was strong enough to deter all interference. But since the palace coup, the Duke’s influence has waned. To reduce resentment, every hundred years, he orders his stewards to lift the seal, allowing outside cultivators to pay fees to enter and harvest the herbs.”

As he spoke, Ge Ji counted on his fingers—until the next opening, forty-seven years remained.

Yuan Zuo Zhi is a rare external herb; in earlier times, this would have been easy to manage, for the Yong Wang’s imperial favor was at its height and could deter both inside and outside threats, but since that palace coup, the Yong Wang’s influence has greatly declined; to reduce envy, every hundred years or so, the Yong Wang orders his subordinates to open the array’s prohibitions, allowing external cultivators to pay and enter the mountains to harvest the herb.

Chen Hang merely shook his head inwardly—he would not wait forty-seven years on Mo Wu Continent. If so, he must act through the former.

“Though my cultivation is shallow, before coming to Hongjing, I divined several hexagrams and barely obtained a favorable one: ‘Wind moves upon earth, gently rising with time.’”

Chen Hang pointed, and a radiant glow appeared in midair, descending toward Ge Ji. He smiled:

“And now, having just arrived on Mo Wu Continent, I meet Master Ge to guide me—does this not fulfill the auspicious hexagram?”

Ge Ji was flustered.

As Chen Hang gestured for him to reach out, he grasped the glowing orb—and saw it was a magnificent brocade pouch, filled to bursting with radiant light.

“I have only just arrived on Mo Wu Lu Zhou, and already I meet Brother Ge to clarify my doubts—could this not be a sign of auspicious fortune?”

Ge Ji trembled, nearly dropping the pouch, his mind blank for an instant.

Chen Hang’s voice came at once: “A small token of thanks—do not refuse it. But this matter concerns my grand plan; I must ask you to endure some hardship.”

After a long pause, Ge Ji regained his composure. Chen Hang’s courtesy unexpectedly filled him with a sense of being honored.

Seeing he could not refuse, and recalling the cold treatment and mockery he endured in the Marquis’s household, he finally hardened his heart and signed the magical covenant.

Chen Hang’s voice came at just the right moment: “A small token of thanks; I hope you won’t find it offensive, but this matter concerns my grand plan, so I must ask for your patience, Master Ge.”

After staring in silence for a long while, Ge Ji regained his composure; seeing Chen Hang’s courtesy, he unexpectedly felt a sense of being deeply honored.

Seeing that refusal was now impossible, and recalling the cold treatment and mockery he had endured at the Marquis’s mansion, he finally hardened his heart and signed the magical contract.

After signing the magical contract, though bound by Chen Hang’s control, he at least preserved his life.

At this moment, Ge Ji felt as if a great burden had been lifted; his thoughts instantly sharpened, and he began pondering Chen Hang’s intentions.

“If we wish to enter Huiying Mountain swiftly, whom should we seek out? Prince Jing or Duke Leyang?”

Ge Ji fell into thought.

Several days later, in the Yu Cang Demon Kingdom, Gongyan Commandery.

Mountains encircled like screens, mist and waves drifted gently—

Before them stretched a vast emerald lake, so expansive that its edges were invisible at a glance; this was a famed lake of Gongyan Commandery, long renowned for its breathtaking scenery. Along its shores stood countless tents, large and small, everywhere guarded by towering armored warriors.

Demon qi rolled in waves, evil qi surged like dragons and serpents into the sky; even from afar, one could sense the murderous malice within the tents, sending chills down the spine.

“...”

On a mountain shaped like a sharp cone, though he himself had proposed coming here to Chen Hang, Ge Ji now felt his legs trembling at the sight of this display, nearly turning back to flee.

“Elder, permit me to explain—those within the tents must be the seventh son of Duke Leyang; we—”

Before Ge Ji could finish speaking, Chen Hang’s gaze suddenly hardened, fixing on a certain spot, pausing briefly, then speaking calmly:

“I never expected to encounter fellow cultivators from the Eight Sects and Six Clans in such a place.”

“Yet you have trailed us since yesterday, and now dare to draw near—since I have not exposed your concealment, do you truly believe you can evade my perception?”

“Someone else is here?!” Ge Ji’s heart lurched in terror.

He followed Chen Hang’s gaze, straining his spiritual sense, yet saw only empty air.

Chen Hang flicked his finger lightly; a sharp sword light shot out with sudden ferocity, and at that instant, a

Tuan of deep crimson blood leapt forth, instantly split in two.

After being severed, the blood showed no sign of damage, hissing and reeking, continuing its assault from left and right, only to be intercepted mid-flight by the splitting sword light and cut again.

Two became four, four became eight, eight became sixteen…

The blood showed no sign of exhaustion or decay, soon multiplying into hundreds; the sword light did the same, adapting its form and momentum in perfect symmetry.

In the blink of an eye, the sky seemed filled with swirling blood shadows and chaotic sword beams, leaving Ge Ji awestruck and speechless.

Soon, the two seemed to share an unspoken accord and simultaneously ceased.

The sword light vanished instantly; the hundred-odd blood shadows recombined into a single fist-sized clot of blood, silently suspended in midair, motionless.

“No wonder you are a true heir of Yuchen—truly, you possess real skill. So your slaying of Master Gan’s divine projection in the Ganliu Herb Garden was no mere stroke of luck?”

After a moment, a voice drifted slowly from within the blood glow:

“I am Lü Rong, true heir of the Blood River Sect and lord of Rongheshan. Chen Hang, True Person—I have long heard your name.”