Chapter 693: Chapter 15: Ghost Cry Ridge
Chen Tang led the members of One Plum away from Black Water Country that day, entering the Three Thousand Snow Ridges. The boundless snowstorm soon covered their tracks.
He did not hurry to leave.
Mei Yingxue and the others were all injured, which made him a little uneasy.
It was just as well he stayed for a while, offering pointers on everyone’s cultivation.
With his current cultivation realm, not only could he guide Mei Yingxue and Meng Liangyu, but even Zong Zhulan and Yan Qi, who were in the third grade, would occasionally come to seek his advice.
Chen Tang and the others lay low at Three Thousand Snow Ridges, disappearing from sight, yet the news from Black Water Country quickly spread everywhere, causing an uproar across the land!
Wanren Peak stood tall amidst the Extreme North Cold Domain, its towering body seeming to pierce the heavens, as if reaching the end of the sky.
The snow-covered peaks remained frozen throughout the year, and the Cold Domain Blade Emperor’s place of cultivation—the Ice Palace—sat quietly midway up Wanren Peak.
On this day, the Six Kings of the Seven Cold Domain Countries arrived.
"Greetings, Blade Emperor."
Led by an envoy, the Six Kings entered the Ice Palace’s grand hall and bowed in salute.
"Here for the Black Water Country matter?"
The Cold Domain Blade Emperor sat high above, with blazing silver hair and narrow eyes sharp as blades, looking down at the Six Kings.
Gu Feng King said gravely, "The death of the Black Water King is truly a disgrace unheard of for many years in the Cold Domain."
"Indeed."
Floating Snow King said, "The Demon Monarch of Xiling is too domineering, entering the realm and slaughtering kings, how arrogant."
Ice Crystal King added, "It’s not just the Demon Monarch of Xiling; the Xiling Death Demon also went on a rampage in the Black Water Capital, acting as if there were no one worthy of note."
The Six Kings protested loudly.
"We hope the Blade Emperor will emerge to uphold justice for the Cold Domain!"
The Six Kings said in unison.
"This matter is not so simple, you should return for now."
The Cold Domain Blade Emperor’s tone was indifferent.
"This..."
The Six Kings exchanged glances, stunned on the spot.
Could such a major issue in the Cold Domain be so easily dismissed?
The Cold Domain Blade Emperor spoke slowly, "This Demon Monarch of Xiling, three months ago, even killed two Grandmasters from the Barbarian Land, and routed an army of a hundred thousand barbarians, with heavy losses. Has there been any movement in the Barbarian Land?"
The Six Kings shook their heads.
They were puzzled by this aspect too.
Despite suffering such a major setback, the Barbarian Land surprisingly remained quiet.
Frost Fall King frowned and asked, "Could it be that fear of this Demon Monarch reaches even the Barbarian Lord and... others fear him?"
"You are still naive,"
The Cold Domain Blade Emperor shook his head, "The Barbarian Lord is not afraid of the Demon Venerable, but someone else entirely."
If Emperor Wu were still alive, neither he nor the Barbarian Lord would dare act rashly or step easily into the Divine Land.
For now, they should wait and observe the changes quietly.
If Emperor Wu were still alive, the most nervous and anxious party should be Daqian, the Profound Celestial Sect!
He had a premonition that Beiqian might be thrown into chaos.
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Daqian Capital City, Profound Celestial Temple.
The Profound Celestial Sect Leader sat within the grand hall, flanked by both left and right Protectors.
"You must have received the news about Black Water Country."
The Profound Celestial Sect Leader asked, "What is the origin of this Demon Monarch of Xiling?"
Yue Wuxin shook his head, "All we’ve heard are rumors, supposedly this person stands at a height of a zhang, wielding two golden hammers with immense strength, reportedly capable of taming fierce tigers and white apes. One wonders where the Demon Venerable found such a person."
Lu Li inquired, "Should we send some people to investigate him?"
The Profound Celestial Sect Leader pondered for a long time, then shook his head, "No need, the priority now is to quickly find Emperor Wu’s whereabouts, he is our greatest threat!"
"Emperor Wu might have long been dead."
Lu Li suggested, "After all these years, no one has seen him, it’s likely just a rumor."
The Profound Celestial Sect Leader spoke slowly, "Even if it’s a rumor, it must be investigated thoroughly! Is there any news of Chen Tang?"
"None."
Yue Wuxin replied, "After he claimed the top of the three rankings in Nanxia, he suddenly vanished, probably hiding in the Sword Pavilion this whole time."
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Within a dark chamber of a palace, the light was dim.
"Your heir is quite the troublemaker, just now stirred up another chaos in Black Water Country, killing two Grandmasters, and incidentally killed the Black Water King, and the Observatory Master of Profound Celestial Temple."
In the dark chamber, a sudden voice echoed.
"Isn’t he also your disciple?" another voice responded.
The first person snorted coldly, "I brought him into the sect, yet he remains unwilling, causing trouble as he flaunts the name of the Demon Sect everywhere."
"Should we expel him from the sect?"
"No need, let him be, I don’t care."
Calmness returned once more in the dark chamber.
After a while, the first person spoke again, "After recovering from this injury, are you planning to compete for dominance in the Divine Land, vying for the throne? I’ve heard your son is raising a righteous banner in Beiqian, gaining quite a momentum."
"I don’t wish him to live like that."
"Oh?"
"Life passes by in a hundred years, a mere blink of an eye; imperial schemes decay like smoke. What of being a ruler of the world, in the end it’s nothing but dust. Throughout life, trapped within this cage, unable to see another world, what a misfortune, what a sorrow."
"Do you want to break this cage?"
"I cannot do it."
"What about including me?"
Silence lasted for a long time, before the person replied, "I don’t know. Perhaps we can let future generations glimpse a ray of light, see the path beyond."
"That would be enough."
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The matter of the Demon Monarch of Xiling caused a stir among all parties, with much commotion.
Chen Tang stayed in Three Thousand Snow Ridges for half a month, quite peacefully, without any disturbance.
Mei Zhenyu and Zhu Lingxue left first, returning to Nanxia.
Under Chen Tang’s guidance, Mei Yingxue and Meng Liangyu practiced the Ice Soul Scripture, both reaching the Fifth Grade Inner Core Realm.
On this day, Chen Tang, Wei Qun, and others set out, departing the Three Thousand Snow Ridges, coming to the outskirts of Wu’an County, where they combined Tan Wujiu’s corpse with Cai’s sword and Qin Xiaomei for burial, paying their respects.
Many from One Plum were still recovering from injuries, and Wei Qun, Wang Yanli, and others temporarily remained with the One Plum army.
Chen Tang, Mei Yingxue, Meng Liangyu, Zong Zhulan, and Yan Qi headed south, journeying to Yan State.
The five were all adept in lightweight skill, avoiding main roads, detouring around cities, crossing ridges, dining on wind, and sleeping in dew; within a few days, they entered the borders of Yan State.
That day, they passed by a mountain ridge named Ghost Cry Ridge.
The terrain here was treacherous, and the landscape was complex and unpredictable.
If not traveling by main road, they certainly had to traverse this area.
However, supposedly ghosts had haunted Ghost Cry Ridge for the past year; even those walking Jianghu went missing mysteriously without a trace.
As time passed, rumors about Ghost Cry Ridge grew increasingly fantastical.
Some said that many previous dynasty soldiers’ remains lay buried here, fierce ghosts rampaged, snatching lives.
Chen Tang and the others, skilled and fearless, paid no heed to such matters.
Matters of ghosts were nothing but theatrics meant to scare people.
With Little Golden Roc guiding from above, Chen Tang and the others weren’t likely to lose their way.
Before long, Little Golden Roc suddenly emitted a long cry from the sky!
This was Little Golden Roc signaling a warning.
The White Ape agilely climbed a nearby tree, surveying from above.
Xue Tuan’Er was alert, eyes wide, emitting an extremely dangerous aura, and stood ready.
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