Chapter 450: The Sun and Moon Illuminate Mountains and Rivers (Part 9)

"Hiccup~"
Even Ling Jiuxiao, a 'big eater,' felt 'stuffed' to the point of bursting at this moment.
A Saint King, even the weakest Saint King, was still incredibly nourishing.
However… fragmented images flashed through Ling Jiuxiao's mind, making his expression strange.
"Elder, I know the cause of that Phoenix King's death."
"Oh?"
"It seems the Phoenix King only insulted that Sword Dao True Person by calling him a 'pretentious' person, and less than a month later, all its feathers were stripped off, and its soul was imprisoned here."
"Elder, did you speak ill of that Sword Dao True Person?"
The elder, residing in Ling Jiuxiao's mind, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
What a joke! He wasn't even a soul; how could he feel a chill?
"What nonsense are you spouting, brat? I don't even know that Sword Dao True Person, so how could I speak ill of him?"
That must be it.
Ling Jiuxiao sensed something strange about the elder's demeanor... he seemed rather guilty.
But that was probably just his imagination.
........
In the back mountains of the Mountain and River Sect
"Interesting..."
Su Chen raised his head, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the distance.
That was precisely the direction of the Myriad Demon Realm.
"Sect Master, the Sun and Moon Palace is holding a grand competition for the younger generation of the Sun and Moon Continent."
"This is an invitation from an envoy of the Sun and Moon Palace. Should we attend?"
Han Xiyue bowed respectfully, presenting an invitation made of some kind of divine beast hide. A domineering aura seemed to condense in the void; ordinary people couldn't even withstand the power of the invitation.
Suddenly, the invitation manifested as the sun and moon, transforming into a spectacular phenomenon that swept towards Su Chen's direction.
This was the domineering power of the number one force on the Sun and Moon Continent; only those who could withstand its pressure could gain the Sun and Moon Palace's approval.
The astonishing phenomenon converged on Su Chen, yet not a single strand of his hair stirred.
Su Chen casually waved his hand, and Han Xiyue felt her palm light and empty; the invitation had somehow appeared in Su Chen's hand.
"The Sun and Moon Continent's Young Prodigies Grand Competition?"
"Well, consider it taking the younger generation out to broaden their horizons."
Hearing this, Han Xiyue muttered to herself, "It's as if you've been to the Sun and Moon Palace."
However, she only dared to say this in her heart, not aloud.
"Han Xiyue, what are you thinking about?"
Han Xiyue was startled by Su Chen's sudden words. She said somewhat guiltily, "Sect Master, of course I'm thinking about what level our Mountain and River Sect disciples can achieve in the Sun and Moon Continent's Young Prodigies Grand Competition. After all... our Mountain and River Sect has only risen to prominence for a short time, and there's still a significant gap between us and those powerful forces."
All told, it's only been three short years since the Mountain and River Sect rose to power in the Great Yan Dynasty.
Su Chen's lips curled slightly, and he said calmly, "Is that even a question? Since my Mountain and River Sect is involved, the first place will naturally be easily secured, and our fame will spread throughout the Sun and Moon Continent."
Han Xiyue asked curiously, "Does Sect Master intend to personally handle this?"
Su Chen shook his head: "No, how could such a trivial matter require my personal intervention? An outer disciple is sufficient."
Han Xiyue: "..."
Her sudden change in opinion of Su Chen shattered completely.
......
Ling Jiuxiao finally concluded his thrilling journey.
Looking at the tree branch in his hand,
this tree branch played a crucial role in his safe exit from the Demon Realm. A single branch had terrified all the great demons of the Demon Realm, causing them to flee in panic, allowing him to calmly escape the gazes of numerous demon saints.
Ling Jiuxiao felt incredibly cool. He and the tree branch were truly amazing; this experience could easily be written into a legend.
However, right now, his immediate priority was to change his clothes, as they were quite wet.
"Before entering the Demon Realm, I was merely a minor cultivator who had just entered the Spirit Pattern Realm."
"But now, having left the Demon Realm, I am a peak Transcendent King. If it weren't for my explosive growth and unstable foundation, I might have directly broken through to the Void Realm, becoming a Royal Realm expert on par with the ruler of the Great Yan Dynasty!"
Ling Jiuxiao reflected on how his life had been completely transformed in less than two years. The young kings he once envied could now be suppressed with a mere wave of his hand!
"Young man, your current cultivation level is sufficient to venture into a far more expansive world."
Ling Jiuxiao asked curiously, "Elder, are we not returning to the Mountain and River Sect?"
Elder: "Nonsense! The Mountain and River Sect definitely needs to return. You, young man, also need to help me retrieve the Seven-Leaf Divine Tree. Otherwise, in a few years, the Mountain and River Sect will surely suffer a backlash from the Seven-Leaf Divine Tree, bringing about a great calamity."
"I will tell you the location I sensed. You only need to use your methods to approach and help me retrieve the Seven-Leaf Divine Tree."
Ling Jiuxiao nodded.
Back at the Mountain and River Sect
The Mountain and River Sect has changed drastically. Countless islands float in the air, shrouded in ethereal mist, with numerous palaces and pavilions, displaying the grandeur of a sacred land.
"Ling Jiuxiao, he's still alive?"
"He ranked first in the outer sect test two years ago, and then completely disappeared without a trace."
"Could he have returned for the inner sect assessment?"
"..."
Speaking of the inner sect assessment, many disciples looked on with longing.
"Inner Sect?"
Ling Jiuxiao felt it was time to start showing off.
The rewards for entering the inner sect seemed pretty good.
Standing on the platform, Ling Jiuxiao stood with his hands behind his back, feeling quite lonely in the howling wind.
"No one can withstand a single blow."
Two years ago, he had to look up to this being; now, he could only defeat him and look up to him!
And so, Ling Jiuxiao successfully entered the inner sect.
The inner sect's space was much more vast than the outer sect's, and the concentration of cultivation energy was much higher.
Ling Jiuxiao's figure appeared in the inner sect's library.
"The first floor...it's all Venerable-level cultivation techniques and divine abilities!"
Ling Jiuxiao was very surprised.
The inner sect's library also had three floors.
The first floor contained Venerable-level cultivation techniques and divine abilities.
Could the second floor be Saint-level?
What level is the third floor?
However, his thoughts were quickly dismissed by the elders.
"Young man, each sage's inheritance can create a colossal entity on the Sun and Moon Continent that lasts for thousands or even tens of thousands of years. The appearance of such a technique or supernatural power always causes a great upheaval."
"The Mountain and River Sect, as it stands today, is likely only able to continue because it has preserved the inheritance of that little fellow from the past. If you wish to obtain a sage's technique or supernatural power, you must become the successor of the Mountain and River Sect."
"However...to possess such a wealth of Venerable-level resources is rare indeed. Given time, regaining the glory of the Holy Land wouldn't be difficult."
Ling Jiuxiao said with considerable regret.
Although he also couldn't access the upper two floors of the library.
"Elder...look over there, don't those items look familiar?"
In the corner of the library, a black, incomplete book was propped up under the table.
The second fragment of the Devouring Heaven and Earth Divine Art!