Chapter 575: The Dragon Nirvana, A Glimmer Of Hope For Revenge
The tragic news of the Hidden An Clan and the War Immortal Mansion spread swiftly even though it occurred on Kun Mountain, sending shockwaves through other Forces participating in the expedition.
Many thought that their alliance would render them invincible and impervious to harm, so their sudden annihilation left many Ancient Beings and Sect Masters feeling anxious.
Kun Mountain's terrain was ominous, where even a seemingly harmless puddle could pose a grave threat, capable of causing casualties. Throughout their journey, they encountered many challenges, each more menacing than the last. Many Forces also faced significant losses, and nearly even lost their young prodigies. Nevertheless, they considered themselves fortunate enough to escape the fate that befell the An Clan and War Immortal Mansion.
"According to the news, the War Immortal Mansion and the Hidden An Clan encountered a mysterious gray fog that claimed the lives of many of their members."
The person who spoke was an Ancient Being hailing from Sky Emperor Mountain. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, as he gazed upon the majestic mountain before him.
At depths of the majestic Kun Mountain were shrouded in a mysterious mist that was filled with Chaos Qi. Hazy lights surrounded the mountain range, illuminating the sky above. At this moment, various Forces, which had taken different routes upon entering the mountain, had now converged at this very location.
The misty radiance ahead of them outshone the moon above, emitting an overwhelming aura. Many heard a deep rumble among the radiance from time to time, as if something was on the verge of awakening.
"The Prime Ancestor of the Ji Family is probably trapped there. At present, there are no representatives of the Ji Family present. We should wait for their arrival before proceeding with any further discussions?" another Ancient Being from the Sky Demon Tower asked. Behind him stood the Sky Demon Sovereign and their entourage.
Meanwhile, cultivators from the Buddhist Mountain, the Immortal Wang Family, the Ancient Ye Family, and the Endless Fire Kingdom also showed up. Despite facing numerous obstacles and setbacks, they all managed to arrive at their destination unscathed. As they surveyed their surroundings, they marveled at the strange blood-red plants that thrived on steep cliffs among the mist.
The thick mist ahead made it challenging to determine the correct path forward. The peaks within a 5,000 kilometer radius pierced through the clouds, often shrouded in snowstorms, fog, or sandstorms, creating an otherworldly landscape. There seemed to be a unique domain here, which created a stark contrast between the climate here and the outside world.
Atop the peaks, some noticed Sky Pools among the wispy clouds and mist. They seemed to have existed since the dawn of time and occasionally released bursts of Chaos Qi.
"The peaks resembled the long spine of a dragon. Could there be something of great importance buried beneath it? Perhaps a Divine Source Master could discover a way to access it," an old man with a profound knowledge of mountainous and riverine terrains said.
He held a compass that emitted a radiant light, illuminating the surroundings. The others nodded in agreement. From the moment of their arrival, they could hear faint echoes of dragon roars, as if there was a mighty dragon imprisoned deep within the earth.
"This is a dragon nirvana, rumored to be a dragon's lair. It may be true that a True Dragon was born here in the past." A voice suddenly rang out from the Ji Family group that had just arrived on the scene. It belonged to none other than Jiang Chen, who overheard the conversations of the Ancient Beings.
He knew that in order to make an impact and increase his chances of survival, he needed to assert his significance. And so, he spoke up confidently, hoping to capture the attention of those around him.
The people who were studying the mountain range ahead were taken aback by the unexpected appearance of Jiang Chen. It was no secret that he was a Divine Source Master, and his presence in Kun Mountain held even greater significance than in the Divine Rock Conference. As a result, the gazes fixed on him burned with intensity.
"It seems like Gu Changge requested his presence on Kun Mountain after seizing him at the Starcatching Pavilion." Many young prodigies noticed Gu Changge among the members of the Ji Family behind Jiang Chen, who was also gazing at the mountain range.
From their perspective, Jiang Chen's status as a Divine Source Master granted him access to a variety of mysterious techniques that could prove invaluable in the current situation at Kun Mountain.
Given his bad blood with Gu Changge, it was likely that he was coerced into working for the Ji Family.
All eyes were now on Jiang Chen, curious to find out how he would handle the situation. In Gu Changge's presence, it seemed unlikely that they could get Jiang Chen work for them.
"Brother Jiang, what's your perspective on this matter? Kun Mountain poses a great danger, and we have already suffered significant losses. Venturing further into its depths may result in even more casualties before we reach Senior Ji Shengchu." A few Ancient Beings expressed their concerns, feeling somewhat helpless in the face of such adversity.
The rescue of Ji Shengchu was a significant occurrence in the Upper Realm, but they were not foolish enough to endanger their own lives. Even if they decided against further exploration of the mountain, their efforts thus far were commendable.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen did not disappoint everyone and surveyed the surroundings before returning with an analysis. His words flowed eloquently as he spoke, "We stand upon the first ridge of the Dragon's Spine Ridge, which is the gateway to the heart of Kun Mountain. The mist up ahead is none other than the dragon's breath..."
"This place is extremely dangerous. Should we fail to steer clear of the dragon's breath, it will reduce us to those unfortunate pools of pus and blood," Jiang Chen warned, gesturing toward the dark blood pools emitting a putrid odor that was both repulsive and unsettling.
The expression on everyone's face immediately changed. They could sense the overwhelming aura from the dark blood pools and none of them dared to get any closer. Even the Ancient Beings couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts because they could tell that the blood probably belonged to cultivators who were just as powerful as them when they were still alive.
"Brother Jiang, do you have any idea how we can gain entry into it?" one of True Daoists asked. Despite his status, he appeared to be humble and friendly.
Venturing into the depths of Kun Mountain to secure opportunities was a thrilling endeavor, separate from the noble mission of rescuing the Prime Ancestor of the Ji Family. Despite the perilous journey, everyone had reaped bountiful rewards and sensed that even greater prospects lay ahead. Surely, the Prime Ancestor of the Ji Family had compelling reasons for coming to this place in the first place and ended up getting trapped here.
The heart of Kun Mountain presented great opportunities within, and after venturing this far, they were unwilling to give up so easily.
"As long as we avoid the dragon breath and keep a keen eye on the direction of the spine, we will be able to reach the heart of the mountain, but I will need the cooperation of the True Daoists in this, as the path ahead may be treacherous." Upon hearing those words, Jiang Chen let out a sigh of relief. He intentionally put on a thoughtful expression as he silently communicated with the Artifact Spirit of the Celestial Boat of Creation in his mind for a moment before relaying the message.
As he spoke, he cast a glance toward Gu Changge, who appeared to be gazing at the mountain ridge.
Despite his composed exterior, Jiang Chen's fists were tightly clenched inside his sleeves. In that moment, he saw a glimmer of hope for his own survival. If his plan succeeded, he could even utilize the natural terrain to bury Gu Changge and finally avenge his fallen comrades!
The terrain here was truly unique, there was even a strange domain in the heart of Kun Mountain. Jiang Chen called upon the Artifact Spirit of the Celestial Boat of Creation to survey the place, and discovered a looming threat, potentially a True Dragon!
A True Dragon! A creature of unparalleled strength that surpassed even the immortals in the ancient legends. With the right strategy, it may be possible for him to trap Gu Changge and bring about his downfall.