Chapter 139: The Eldest Senior Brother of Luodi Mountain (Part 4) (4,000 words)

The lineage of Luodi Mountain dates back to the ancient era, to a time when multiple emperors coexisted.
A great emperor named Huangxu fought his nemesis here, leaving behind his legacy: the Emperor Scripture [Huangxu Immortal Scripture].
Su Chen gazed at the dilapidated scene before him, looking out into the boundless void.
"This... is this the place where the Huangxu Emperor once attained enlightenment?"
Su Chen was astonished.
Tens of millions of years had passed, yet the place where the Huangxu Emperor once attained enlightenment remained so well preserved.
"Surprised, aren't you?"
"This is the true lineage of my Luodi Mountain, the secret that has never been severed, even after tens of millions of years and countless declines."
The old man in hemp robes chuckled.
Shortly after Su Chen returned to Luodi Mountain from the Zixiao Dao Sect, the old man sought him out.
Su Chen had met this elusive master of Luodi Mountain, his master in this life, a few times, but none of them had been pleasant encounters.
Su Chen remained wary.
He was terrified he'd have to go down the mountain again to clean up his junior brothers' and sisters' messes.
Or maybe the old man had made another bet, sending him out for a stroll.
If he lost, he might have to go back to the Nangong family to get resources to cover for the old man's mess—another hassle.
But Su Chen hadn't expected this.
The old man's first words to Su Chen were:
"Little Chen, would you like to see the true depths of my Fallen Emperor Mountain?"
Su Chen was surprised, and his wariness increased. Unsolicited kindness always seemed suspicious.
Nangong Chen had coveted the true depths of Fallen Emperor Mountain for a long time, decades without making a move. The old man always refused, using excuses like the time wasn't right or the heavens weren't in his favor.
However, in the end, Su Chen couldn't resist the temptation of an Emperor's inheritance. His curiosity made him feel that nothing in the world was more important than an Emperor's inheritance.
So, he followed the old man to a place on Fallen Emperor Mountain he had never been before.
The place where the Great Emperor of the Desolate Ruins once attained enlightenment!
"In the past, the Great Emperor of the Desolate Ruins attained enlightenment here. Heaven and earth were shattered, endless heaven and earth turned into nothingness. From this nothingness, the Great Emperor of the Desolate Ruins comprehended the Dao of destruction and rebirth, reshaping the universe amidst destruction, and leaping to become the master of heaven and earth, a Great Emperor revered by all races."
Speaking of the Great Emperor of the Desolate Ruins, the old man's face showed admiration.
Su Chen was amazed.
Reshaping the universe amidst destruction—it sounds simple, but this Great Emperor of the Desolate Ruins must have mastered at least two Dao paths, both top-tier ones. Among all the emperors, he could be considered a powerful figure.
Tens of millions of years later, traces of his enlightenment still remain in the world.
Indeed, for every Great Emperor to attain enlightenment, talent, comprehension, and fortune are indispensable. Even in the ancient era when multiple emperors coexisted, this was already so; let alone in this era where one emperor reigns supreme, how much more difficult is it to achieve enlightenment?
The old man said, "You possess the innate Supreme Sword Body and the bloodline of the Nangong family, while that little girl from the Lin family has the Azure Wood Sacred Body and the bloodline of the Lin family. Your child will possess both the Dao of Destruction and Rebirth, perhaps becoming the second Great Emperor of the Desolate Ruins. Are you really not going to consider it?"
Su Chen's face darkened.
He finally understood why the Nangong and Lin families were so eager for their marriage alliance.
So it was this old man who was interfering!
Su Chen shook his head and refused, saying, "I am already invincible on the path of cultivation; why would I need a successor?"
The old man nodded in satisfaction, "This is why I brought you here. Your talent and aptitude are unparalleled in the Qingming Dao Domain for ten thousand years. Perhaps you will gain some insights here."
"Of course, if you change your mind, I will always be ready to go to the Zixiao Dao Sect to re-propose marriage for you."
Su Chen: "..."
The old man remained preoccupied.
Su Chen began to comprehend the legacy left behind by the Great Emperor of the Desolate Ruins.
The place where a Great Emperor attained enlightenment—this was a legacy countless cultivators dreamed of.
Su Chen began cultivating the Desolate Ruins Undying Scripture.
He seemed to see the scene of the supreme Great Emperor's enlightenment.
The old man watched this scene, unsure whether his decision was right or wrong.
There was still something he hadn't explained to Su Chen about this place.
Although this was the place where the Great Emperor of the Desolate Ruins attained enlightenment,
it could assist in the cultivation of the Desolate Ruins Undying Scripture.
However, the Dao traces left by the former Great Emperor of the Desolate Ruins will gradually diminish with cultivation, until they disappear completely.
The remaining resources should have been used to cultivate a supreme ruler, one who could follow the same path as the Great Emperor of the Desolate Ruins, to maintain the glory of Fallen Emperor Mountain.
But...
He ultimately softened his heart.
......
Su Chen cultivated on Fallen Emperor Mountain.
Time flew by.
Ten years passed.
A major event occurred in the Azure Nether Dao Domain.
The seal on the Xuanming Demon Domain, a great domain formerly sealed by the Azure Nether Dao Domain, loosened.
This attracted the attention of many forces within the Azure Nether Dao Domain.
Three hundred thousand years ago, the Great Emperor of the Azure Nether Dao Domain personally sealed the Xuanming Demon Domain. Now that the seal has loosened, they are bound to return with a vengeance, impacting the entire Azure Nether Dao Domain, inevitably causing widespread devastation.
Su Chen emerged from seclusion at the place where the Great Emperor of the Desolate Ruins had attained enlightenment.
In ten years, he had already grasped the basics of the Desolate Ruins Emperor Scripture.
Ji Changkong said with a mournful face, "Senior Brother, something terrible has happened! Third Senior Brother has been suppressed by a prodigy from the Xuanming Demon Realm!"
The third brother's name was Su Yanbai. He possessed the Innate Righteous Body, and his strength and talent were not to be underestimated; he was a genius at the Saint Son level.
Su Chen was slightly surprised.
Su Chen acknowledged Su Yanbai's strength.
Su Chen asked, "Where is Junior Sister Ye? She should have returned from the Northern Plains."
The second brother's name was Ye Jinghong. He was born with the destiny of a Gun God, and his personality was eccentric and ruthless.
Ji Changkong said helplessly, "Senior Sister Ye went to rescue Senior Brother Su, but a small accident happened."
Su Chen frowned. "Could it be that Junior Sister Ye was also suppressed by that prodigy from the Xuanming Demon Realm?"
Ji Changkong shook his head. "Senior Sister Ye... she didn't see Senior Brother Su or the prodigy from the Xuanming Demon Realm. She went to rescue Senior Brother Su, but accidentally wandered into the forbidden area and got trapped inside. She contacted me, needing your help, Senior Brother."
Su Chen: "..."
Su Chen sighed. "My foolish junior brothers and sisters!"
Ji Changkong suspected that his senior brother had also included him in the insult.
He hesitated, feeling a little guilty. "Senior Brother, should we offer incense to Second Senior Sister and Third Senior Brother?"
Su Chen glanced at him sideways and slapped him on the head. "Offer incense? They are your senior brothers and sisters. How can I, as their senior brother, turn a blind eye when they are in danger?"
Ji Changkong was surprised.
This wasn't like his senior brother.
"I'd like to see who dares to touch the people of Fallen Emperor Mountain!"
Su Chen was intrigued. Having recently emerged from seclusion, he had made significant progress in cultivating the Undying Scripture of the Desolate Ruins and was looking for someone to test it.
These people from the Xuanming Demon Realm had delivered themselves to his doorstep.
Ji Changkong said, "The prodigies of the small Xuanming Demon Realm are naturally no match for Senior Brother. With Senior Brother's intervention, they will surely be captured easily."
Su Chen lifted Ji Changkong up.
"Senior Brother, I haven't broken through to the Nirvana Realm yet! I can't leave the mountain!"
Ji Changkong's expression changed, and he struggled desperately.
Su Chen calmly said, "Except for training..."
..............
Outer Heaven Pass
The demonic energy of the Xuanming Demon Realm leaked out, leaving the surrounding area barren for tens of thousands of miles.
Many lineages of the Qingming Dao Domain immediately began to establish defensive lines.
Some powerful lineages also formed exploration teams to enter the perilous Xuanming Demon Realm.
The Xuanming Demon Realm, as a vast domain, is both perilous and offers immense opportunities.
The demonic crystals, formed from the remains of the dead, can temper the body and are priceless in the Qingming Dao Domain. Many of Qingming Dao Domain's supreme geniuses have been drawn to this, leading their respective lineages to invade the Xuanming Demon Realm.
However, as a domain that once rivaled the Qingming Dao Domain for supremacy, even after being banished by the Great Emperor for 300,000 years, it still possesses a powerful foundation, producing countless geniuses. While the Qingming Dao Domain's geniuses seek to kill the beings of the Xuanming Demon Realm for demonic crystals, the beings of the Xuanming Demon Realm also yearn to devour the bodies of Qingming Dao Domain's geniuses to compensate for their own deficiencies and advance their path.
This is an inevitable struggle.
Especially in this era where the path of cultivation is becoming increasingly difficult, and we are approaching the end of the Dharma era, the most crucial element for survival, to live to see the next great age, is resources... This will inevitably make this an incredibly cruel era.
Su Chen brought Ji Changkong to the Outer Heaven Pass.
Su Chen's appearance instantly attracted the attention of numerous sects within the Heavenly Pass.
"It's Nangong Chen from Luodi Mountain! It's him! He's finally emerged from seclusion!"
"The number one genius of our Qingming Dao Domain has finally arrived! Let's see how those beasts from the Xuanming Demon Domain can act so arrogantly, thinking our Qingming Dao Domain has no one to rely on!"
"Please, Young Master Nangong, save my family's heir! He's fallen into the cunning trap of the Xuanming Demon Domain thieves and been captured!"
"..."
Su Chen's appearance filled the numerous sects with immense excitement.
They saw a glimmer of hope.
Faced with a barrage of fervent gazes,
Ji Changkong, being carried by Su Chen, looked utterly hopeless.
He covered his face, trying to distract the crowd.
"Young Master, it's Young Master Ji! Something terrible has happened!"
An elderly man in a purple robe recognized the carried Ji Changkong, his expression filled with elation, and rushed forward.
Ji Changkong waved his hand: "Old man, you've mistaken me for someone else. My surname isn't Ji, and my name isn't Changkong."
The old man said firmly: "Your name is Ji Changkong, the young master of my Ancient Ji family. Only the young master calls me 'old man,' everyone else calls me 'senior.'"
Ji Changkong: "..."
The old man cried out in panic, "Young Master, Miss has been captured by the people of the Xuanming Demon Realm! She fell into the trap of the cunning geniuses of the Xuanming Demon Realm and was captured along with many heirs of ancient aristocratic families. The demons of the Xuanming Demon Realm are all ferocious and ruthless. Miss's skin is delicate; she's in a demon's lair, and every second she's in danger could be disastrous!"
Ji Changkong's face instantly changed color, turning ashen. "What did you say? My little sister has been captured by the people of the Xuanming Demon Realm?"
Ji Changkong was no longer calm. He looked up at his senior brother.
"Senior Brother, something terrible has happened!"
Su Chen glanced at him. "I know something terrible has happened."
Ji Changkong smiled awkwardly. "Senior Brother, my little sister is still young and beautiful. She can't die like this. Please, Senior Brother, help her. She will surely fall for you, serving you like a slave, even as a tea-serving maid, to repay you."
Su Chen was shocked.
The seemingly honest and simple-minded Ji Changkong was actually this kind of person.
Su Chen refused: "I am single-mindedly devoted to the Dao."
"However... since you, Junior Brother Ji, have asked me, if your sister has good fortune, I will help her once."
As for her not having good fortune and being eaten...
He had no way to bring her back to life.
Ji Changkong was overjoyed: "Thank you, Senior Brother!"
With Senior Brother's help, what are the geniuses and prodigies of the Xuanming Demon Realm? They're no match for him!
The Ji family elder, beaming with delight, bowed and said: "Thank you, Divine Son Nangong, for your help. Our Ji family will certainly visit with gifts of gratitude another day."
Saving one is the same as saving two.
For Su Chen, it made little difference.
Su Chen then began to learn about the situation in the Xuanming Demon Realm.
The Xuanming Demon Realm has seen the emergence of prodigies, including a particularly powerful one named Mo Qianren, hailed as the reincarnation of the Demon Ancestor. He possesses the remains of a demon god within him and has the potential to become an Emperor, making him incredibly terrifying. He has challenged numerous monstrous talents from the Qingming Dao Realm without a single defeat.
"Could it be that my little sister and Senior Brother Su were captured by this Mo Qianren?" Ji Changkong asked.
The Ji family elder shook his head: "Mo Qianren only challenges the strongest geniuses from each lineage within the Qingming Dao Realm."
Ji Changkong was relieved.
He knew his little sister's limitations.
She wouldn't even be worthy of such a prodigy's attention.
"Could it be that the Xuanming Demon Realm has other incredibly terrifying prodigies who have wiped out so many geniuses from the Qingming Dao Realm?"
Ji Changkong's expression grew slightly grave.
The Ji family elder took a deep breath and, somewhat embarrassed, explained the situation.
It turns out that the geniuses of the Azure Nether Dao Domain, after a decisive victory over the geniuses of the Profound Nether Demon Domain, became arrogant and overconfident, believing the Profound Nether Demon Domain to be easily defeated. They then proceeded to relentlessly pursue and hunt down the geniuses of the Profound Nether Demon Domain.
In the end, they were defeated one by one.
Some died, others were imprisoned.
If all these people were to die, the Azure Nether Dao Domain would undoubtedly suffer a severe blow.
Ji Changkong: "..."
"Many monstrous talents from various Dao lineages awakened and ventured deep into the Profound Nether Demon Domain, intending to rescue those people, but they were all defeated by Mo Qianren and never returned."
The Ji family elder smiled bitterly: "Now, only you, Divine Child Nangong, can save the Azure Nether Dao Domain from this dire situation."
Elders from various Dao lineages at Tianwai Pass also looked at Su Chen.
Facing the gazes of the crowd, Su Chen said, "I will personally challenge Mo Qianren to a duel; the rest are yours."
Saving one is one thing, saving two is another.
But saving a group
is a very troublesome matter.
However, this is enough for the various Dao lineages.
With Su Chen leading the way to eliminate the strongest,
their successors are second to none!
Su Chen left Tianwai Pass and entered the territory of the Xuanming Demon Realm.
Here, everything was shrouded in a gray haze.
The gray gas could cause slight changes in one's mind, and the vital energy within one's body would gradually weaken over time.
Su Chen repelled this gray gas.
He began to lead the various forces deeper into the Xuanming Demon Realm.
Before long, they arrived at the foot of an ancient city wall. The wall was built of black stone, stretching as far as the eye could see, like a heavenly gate standing there, covered with dense runes. Clearly, the beings of the Xuanming Demon Realm were also on guard against the Qingming Dao Realm.
As Su Chen and his group arrived, the creatures of the Xuanming Demon Realm also noticed the movement.
At the border of the Xuanming Demon Realm, a demon prodigy with eight arms, resembling a spider, stood with many other demon prodigies, overlooking the numerous creatures of the Qingming Dao Realm.
PS: Meow Meow spent the whole night on the high-speed train to go home for the holiday, leaving 2,000 words unfinished. I worked until 4 AM to finally finish it 〒▽〒. Getting perfect attendance is truly difficult. If any readers didn't find the connection, please rewrite it and read Meow Meow's version. As compensation, there will be three updates on June 2nd. This time, I swear on my life, there will be no shortage of words.