Chapter 232

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Protagonist:

Jiang Xuan

Jiang Xuan's heart suddenly became clear, and he muttered to himself: "Since stepping into this place, variables have already arisen, beyond what my eyes can reach or my mind can fully know."

Thinking of his various connections with the Zhenwu Dadi, he couldn't help but smile bitterly and shake his head: "The hidden mysteries of this world are deep and unfathomable. I originally thought it was a fairyland Pure Land, but now it seems more like a treacherous realm hiding terrifying undercurrents."

Chonghe beside him wore a puzzled expression; in his eyes, it was merely that the treasures lacked subsequent forbidden restrictions. Though he found it strange, he did not know that behind it lay such a complex situation.

Meng Qi remained silent, his face full of worry. Something that could trouble the Zhetian Dadi was no simple matter.

Meng Qi wanted to speak but stopped himself. He had just called out "Great Emperor..." when Jiang Xuan raised a hand and cut him off.

Only by using Heavenly Will to counter Heavenly Will is there a path to break the deadlock.

The three were just about to set off when, in an instant, the surrounding air seemed to freeze into ice. Bone-piercing cold intent surged, ice crystals flickered, and purple lightning crisscrossed in all directions.

Seeing this, Meng Qi's face showed helplessness: "Truly, there is a road to heaven but you refuse to walk it; hell has no gate yet you come knocking on your own."

Chonghe's face also darkened. Ever since discovering the anomaly of the Zhenwu treasures, this mysterious Qian Sui's mood had been fairly poor. Now someone with no eyes had come bumping into them.

Jiang Xuan lifted his gaze into the distance. Not far away, two Earth Immortal Remains emitting ancient auras stood silently. Behind them, shadowy and indistinct, several human figures lurked...

"Where did these wild cultivators come from?!"

The Cao Family's Outer Scene Grandmaster strode forward, his voice like thunder, rolling outward. His gaze swept across Jiang Xuan and the other two.

"This kid looks somewhat familiar?" When his sight touched Jiang Xuan's face, that Grandmaster couldn't help but freeze slightly, muttering inwardly. He only felt this face seemed to have flashed by like a startled swan at some time and place not long ago, yet for a moment he could not recall exactly where.

But immediately after, the Tianzun Masks worn on Meng Qi and the other's faces emitted a profound light, instantly locking his gaze firmly.

In that instant, his heart surged with turbulent thoughts, ideas racing through his mind. He already had a vague guess as to these people's identities.

And finally, his gaze seemed drawn by a magnet, sticking tightly to the treasures in the hands of Jiang Xuan's trio. A flash of greed flickered in his eyes.

"Put down the items in your hands! This place is my Cao Family Treasure Vault."

Relying on the majestic pressure emitted by the two Earth Immortal Remains behind him, the solid protection of the Cao Family Grand Array, and the home-field advantage of being in the Cao Family Main Base, he felt he had nothing to fear. Thus he shouted angrily. Even if the people opposite might come from that rumored mysterious organization, it could not diminish his arrogance in the slightest.

"Scram!"

Jiang Xuan's face was like frost. He spat out a single word, like a thunderclap from flat ground.

In an instant, the wind and clouds of heaven and earth changed color. Lightning roamed through the cloud layers. The entire world was instantly shrouded in gloomy haze.

And those Cao Family people instantly felt a mountain-crushing, sea-overturning pressure surge toward them. Their bodies swayed unceasingly. Their feet seemed nailed in place, unable to stand firm. Their faces instantly turned pale as paper, utterly bloodless.

The Cao Family members looked at each other, each seeing deep unease and fear in the other's eyes.

"Second Uncle, this person seems to be the one who killed the Great Asura Meng Nan with a single palm strike in the Yu Hai?"

A young man looked at Jiang Xuan in horror. The color drained from his face in an instant, replaced by a deathly grayish-white. His voice trembled with fear.

The Cao Family's Outer Scene Grandmaster froze instantly. His eyes stared straight at Jiang Xuan's face. In his mind flashed the family's prohibition. This face had long been listed as an object that must not be provoked.

In an instant, cold sweat poured down like rain. Just moments ago his heart and eyes were full of treasures. Only now did he realize that great calamity had descended upon him.

Suddenly, purple lightning erupted around the Purple Lightning Earth Immortal. It stared dead at the palace gate ahead, muttering "The gate opened," and charged madly toward Jiang Xuan's trio.

The Cao Family people showed astonishment. Clearly this situation was beyond their expectations. Each was panic-stricken, deeply aware that this time great disaster had arrived.

Meng Qi thought to himself: "As expected. Even dead they still covet treasures. Nature is hard to change."

Jiang Xuan's expression was calm. He extended a finger and lightly pointed at the charging Earth Immortal Remains. For a moment, the air seemed to freeze. Then with a "Crack!" the Earth Immortal Remains instantly shattered, turning into powder that drifted down, sprinkling onto the Cao Family people's faces. Everyone was scared pale.

Jiang Xuan calmly watched the Cao Family crowd. Their faces were bloodless, terror fully displayed. Jiang Xuan spoke indifferently: "Still want the treasures?"

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly entered every person's ears.

That Cao Family Outer Scene Grandmaster was so frightened his voice trembled. He hurriedly replied: "No, don't want them anymore." His body trembled slightly. "Those are Senior's things."

These treasures were originally not fated for the Cao Family. If not for Jiang Xuan, following the original plot, they would also belong to Meng Qi and Chonghe.

"Let's go." Jiang Xuan said softly to the two behind him. Meng Qi and Chonghe nodded, following Jiang Xuan outward.

Passing the Cao Family people, Chonghe sighed lightly. A complex look flashed across his face. He waved a hand, and the Cao Family crowd was sent out of this place.

Just stepping out the Cao Family Gate, Jiang Xuan stopped. With a peaceful expression, he handed all treasures except the Seven Severing Heaven Swords to Meng Qi: "You take these."

Jiang Xuan laughed: "The Tathagata God Palm's general outline and first form, plus the Dao Transmission Universe — when I leave, I'll give you all of it."

Jiang Xuan received guidance from the Moral Heavenly Lord. He could not possibly snatch Meng Qi's opportunity.

If Jiang Xuan really took all these things away, he might turn to flying ash immediately.

Hearing Jiang Xuan's words, Chonghe's heart couldn't help but stir.

It wasn't that he harbored ulterior motives. He simply felt deep admiration for this Yuan Shi Tianzun's behavior.

This expert before him not only protected them all the way, but also gifted divine arts!

Such a precious peerless divine art — Jiang Xuan said give and gave. This gave him a guess. The more he thought, the more it made sense. Could it be a powerhouse searching for his son?

"Great Emperor, you..."

Meng Qi was somewhat moved. This Great Emperor senior helped him so much that even someone with face as thick as his felt a bit embarrassed.

"I won't see you off. With Chonghe here, you shouldn't encounter any danger."

After bidding farewell to the two, Jiang Xuan's figure flashed. In an instant, he vanished before their eyes.

"Senior is truly carefree and unrestrained!"

Chonghe couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Originally he thought he already stood at the peak in this world. He never expected there would be a Jiang Xuan so unfathomably deep.

"This Great Emperor's departure will surely be earth-shattering..." Meng Qi gazed in the direction Jiang Xuan disappeared, muttering to himself.

"Hmm? Earth-shattering?" Chonghe pondered these words, roughly guessing Meng Qi's meaning.

"This Great Emperor senior's current cultivation realm — even the Jie Tian Ru Lai probably couldn't make him achieve a qualitative leap immediately, right?"

In truth, Chonghe had already spoken quite tactfully; with his cultivation level, even Jie Tian Ru Lai could only slowly comprehend and draw that sliver of Dao rhyme and inspiration from it to make any progress.

"Great Emperors are not the same as us."

Meng Qi shook his head, not explaining to Chonghe, because the reasons behind this were far too complex, and also inconvenient to speak of.

Meng Qi thought secretly in his heart: "Once Jie Tian Ru Lai is in hand, whether it is breaking through and transforming, or cultivating further, the Great Emperor will possess extremely powerful capital."

"This time, first thoroughly integrate the true meaning of these three divine arts, then immediately leave this world. If without sufficient self-protection ability, do not come here again."

Jiang Xuan pondered in his heart, then his silhouette moved, flashing out from the Void.

"Hm?" Jiang Xuan let out a sound of surprise and doubt; the scene before his eyes was completely not as he had expected.

Palaces stood in orderly rows, stretching on without end; a group of youths and young men dressed in uniform attire moved back and forth among the palace complexes, orderly and well-organized.

Grand formations all around loomed sternly, emitting a strong sense of oppression that made even Jiang Xuan shiver slightly.

Jiang Xuan closed his eyes and concentrated, carefully sensing the spiritual opportunities of this place; a moment later, his heart suddenly became clear and open, and he had already understood the key.

"Xuantian Sect..."

Jiang Xuan enunciated each word, pondering in his heart: first inexplicably drawn into Taishang Laojun Palace, now arriving at this Xuantian Sect — truly everything going wrong, trouble unceasing.

Xuantian Sect, renowned far and wide, inherits the Heavenly Emperor's Dao lineage; within the sect there is even the peerless divine weapon Light and Time Blade sitting in guard, its might illustrious, intimidating all directions.

Even more crucial is that the Heavenly Emperor, this Other Shore realm great power, has not yet fallen.

"Why would that Heavenly Emperor draw me to this place?"

Jiang Xuan's heart was full of doubts; he had been inexplicably drawn into Taishang Laojun Palace twice, the hidden circumstances of which any discerning person could see clues of.

By normal reasoning, the Heavenly Emperor ought to be concealing his form now, lying dormant and awaiting opportunity, until the final calamity arrives to scheme for "revival"; how would he draw him to Xuantian Sect at this time?

If one says this visit has nothing to do with the Heavenly Emperor, nor is it the Light and Time Blade secretly making trouble, Jiang Xuan would absolutely not believe it.

"Could it be my mouth has been blessed?"

Jiang Xuan suddenly gave a cold laugh.

When first entering this world, he originally thought those Great Divine Ability Users were all slumbering; who would have thought that upon arrival he would immediately be probed by forces like the Liu Dao Hui Lun Zhi Zhu.

And then he firmly asserted the Heavenly Emperor would not easily act, would certainly stay hidden; who would have thought that now he would be drawn by the Heavenly Emperor to Xuantian Sect.

"This trajectory, completely messed up!"

Jiang Xuan let out a long sigh; he originally planned to comprehend the three divine arts and then leave peacefully, but did not expect plans would always be disturbed by changes.

Jiang Xuan slowly descended to the ground, then stepped toward Xuantian Sect's Sect Gate, walking slowly. Just like when he was previously in Taishang Laojun Palace, now standing at Xuantian Sect's entrance.

"Wanting to leave is by no means easy, unless Moral Heavenly Venerable intervenes. But what connection, if any, exists between these two? Could it be they have long since reached some tacit understanding in private?"

"Who comes!"

Before long, someone discovered Jiang Xuan, hurriedly running over to block the way. Upon seeing Jiang Xuan's face clearly, his expression changed drastically. This person before him was precisely the mysterious expert who had recently been talked about fervently throughout the world, who killed the Great Asura Meng Nan with a single palm.

"I have business to attend to, please trouble yourself to announce me."

Jiang Xuan cupped his fists toward the gate-guarding disciple and spoke; he always conducted himself according to propriety, since he came to visit, naturally he must act according to ritual.

Jiang Xuan absolutely would not admit it was because he feared the Light and Time Blade's might.

"Qian Sui, please enter!"

A voice came from the sky, then an old man appeared, saluting Jiang Xuan in greeting.

"Are you Shou Jing Daoist?"

Jiang Xuan sensed the aura on the old man, understanding his identity.

This Shou Jing Daoist is Earth List number two, Xuantian Sect's pillar, yet also constantly occupying the Earth List's number two position for ten thousand years.

"Precisely, old Daoist."

Shou Jing Daoist nodded in response, then turned sideways to invite Jiang Xuan into the sect. In his heart he understood: with Jiang Xuan's strength, blocking would be futile; better to directly invite him in.

"Disturbing you."

Jiang Xuan returned the salute, entering Xuantian Sect shoulder to shoulder with Shou Jing Daoist.

In the quiet room, Jiang Xuan and Shou Jing Daoist sat facing each other.

Shou Jing Daoist spoke first: "I wonder what matter brings Qian Sui to my Xuantian Sect this time?"

Jiang Xuan's gaze was calm, slowly uttering a sentence: "Want to see the Light and Time Blade."

As these words fell, the surrounding space seemed to freeze in an instant.

In this Xiang Guang fantasy world, the implication of these words was no different from open provocation, coming to the door to pick a fight.

That is their sect-guarding divine weapon, how could it allow outsiders to lightly request an audience?

"Qian Sui, the Light and Time Blade is our sect's town-guarding heavy treasure, there have always been strict rules, it cannot be lightly shown to others."

Shou Jing Daoist said, forcefully suppressing the surging waves in his heart. Don't look at his title having a "Shou Jing", but at this moment, no one could truly remain calm.

Seeing this, Jiang Xuan wore a helpless expression, waving his hand: "I really didn't come to make trouble."

He indeed only came to answer the Light and Time Blade's summons for a meeting, but this matter couldn't be openly stated.

Shou Jing Daoist abruptly stood up, just about to speak, but suddenly his expression changed slightly, light flickering in his eyes, complex emotions flashing past, then he gazed deeply at Jiang Xuan, changing the subject: "Qian Sui, come with me."

Jiang Xuan saw the clues; probably the Light and Time Blade transmitted a message to Shou Jing Daoist, so he followed along.

Shou Jing Daoist brought Jiang Xuan to another room, then silently turned and left; at his departure, he looked deeply at Jiang Xuan once more, and spoke no further words.

Jiang Xuan surveyed the surroundings, his gaze landing on the Light and Time Blade atop the offering table, flashing with strange light, as if hiding the River of Time's mysteries, and said softly: "I've come."

Heaven and Earth chaotic, Great Dao hazy.

Jiang Xuan slowly opened his eyes, a trace of confusion flashing through, quickly recovering his composure and calm.

"The body has no traces of being manipulated." Jiang Xuan circulated his magic power, introspected himself, confirming his body was intact and unharmed.

"What is the Light and Time Blade's intention with this move?"

Jiang Xuan's heart was shrouded in doubt. He was knocked unconscious by the Light and Time Blade for no reason, yet could wake peacefully, and his memory was not probed in the slightest — truly baffling.

Jiang Xuan immediately released his Divine Sense, probing the surroundings. Soon he detected something unusual.

"Strange! The laws of heaven and earth here are completely different from before; it seems the upper limit of the rules is higher, and that oppressive sense of constraint from Meng Qi's era is gone."

Jiang Xuan pondered inwardly: could the Light and Time Blade have sent me to another universe?

Jiang Xuan's expression was heavy as he walked toward a place where living beings gathered, as sensed by his Divine Sense.

"This battle between the Overlord and the Demon Lord — who knows who will die in the end? They're both top-tier Heavenly Immortals!"

"The Overlord's might shakes past and present; he will surely win!"

"Not necessarily; the Demon Lord's demonic arts are unfathomably deep! Though I hope the Overlord wins, I also dare not underestimate the Demon Lord."

"Hmph, no matter how strong his demonic arts, how could they withstand the Overlord's peerless single blade!"

The moment Jiang Xuan stepped into this city, he heard everyone heatedly discussing this great battle.

Jiang Xuan's face was calm as water, yet inwardly he pondered: "What is the Light and Time Blade's Intention, to send me to the Middle Ancient era for no reason?"

Shaking his head inwardly, he felt this matter was too suspicious; could it be that he was meant to come here to watch the struggle between the Overlord and the Demon Lord?

This thought was truly absurd and groundless.

After entering the city, Jiang Xuan stopped an Earth Immortal and asked about the present situation.

Upon learning that the war between the Overlord and the Demon Lord had already lasted for quite some time and had most likely already ended.

Jiang Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly, using his spiritual perception to sense the flow of Mysterious Qi between heaven and earth.

A moment later, he caught the direction where the laws of heaven and earth were fluctuating violently — that was the place where the two Heavenly Immortals were fighting.

"Since I've come, I'll make the best of it. Since I'm here, going to investigate is no harm."

Jiang Xuan's expression was composed; the Light and Time Blade's action this time was by no means accidental — it surely has a close connection with the Overlord.

However, thinking of this, he couldn't help but reveal a bitter smile: "It shouldn't go so far as to make me save the Overlord, right? This isn't something I can easily get involved in; the slightest mishap would likely endanger my own safety..." (Chapter End)