Chapter 580: The Demon Realm, A Missing Record |
Chen Changsheng said, “I have heard that Tianji Mountain possesses some records of events throughout the ages. Master Zhong, are you acquainted with places where the Heavenly Dao is weak?”
“Places where the Heavenly Dao is weak?”
“Exactly.”
Zhong Zhengyuan paused after hearing this and asked, “Is Mr. Chen planning to…”
Chen Changsheng nodded without hiding his intention regarding the Underworld.
Zhong Zhengyuan opened his mouth slightly, saying, “Mr. Chen, this matter is no trifle. It requires the utmost preparation.”
Chen Changsheng said, “I have prepared sufficiently.”
Zhong Zhengyuan heard this and then asked, “Mr. Chen, what percentage of confidence do you possess?”
Chen Changsheng said, “To establish the Underworld, I am ninety percent confident. But to completely isolate it from the Heavenly Dao, I have only thirty percent confidence.”
“Thirty percent is a dangerous path. Ninety percent is a path of retreat. I can only decide when the time comes. This time, I am just betting on it.”
Zhong Zhengyuan found it rather incomprehensible and asked, “Why must Mr. Chen defy heaven?”
This was simply courting death.
Chen Changsheng said, “I just seek a way out, Master Zhong, please ask no more.”
Zhong Zhengyuan sighed. He lowered his head and remained silent for a long while.
A moment later,
He spoke, “Since its founding, Tianji Mountain has maintained the candle flame of the Heavenly Dao. Naturally, we have records of those places where the Heavenly Dao is weak. However, there are not many places that remained long-lasting.”
Chen Changsheng sat up straight and listened as Zhong Zhengyuan continued, “The first site was the Great Wall of antiquity. For thousands of years, the Heavenly Dao rarely looked upon it. Unfortunately, it has since perished and no longer qualifies.”
“The second site is Tianji Mountain itself, where you stand now, sir.”
“According to our ancestors, the founder established a Heaven-Veiling Formation Array surrounding Tianji Mountain to better observe the Heavenly Secrets. However, over time, the formation’s power has faded greatly. Though it still holds some effect, it is far from what it once was.”
“Is there another?” Chen Changsheng asked.
Zhong Zhengyuan replied, “In our records, there is another place that remained unseen by heaven and earth for ages.”
“Where?”
“The Demon Realm.”
Chen Changsheng was stunned upon hearing these words.
He frowned, asking, “Such a place exists within Heaven and Earth?”
Why had he never heard of it?
Zhong Zhengyuan explained, “Our records tell of an unparalleled Demon Cultivator thousands of years ago, known as the Summoning Demon Divine Monarch. With his demonic powers, he roamed across realms, wreaking havoc and disturbing the order of Heaven and Earth. Later, in a land of extreme Yin, he established the Demon Realm, carving out a territory for demon cultivators of the world. To this very day, the Demon Realm still endures. Yet, it has always been sealed away, inaccessible to all.”
“Sir, have you ever heard whispers of this?”
Chen Changsheng hadn’t expected to hear a familiar name here.
“I did hear of the Summoning Demon Divine Monarch, but this is the first time anyone has spoken to me of the Demon Realm.”
Chen Changsheng asked, “Then where is this Demon Realm located?”
Zhong Zhengyuan shook his head. “Its location remains unknown.”
“Over the centuries, many Cultivators have sought it. Tianji Mountain’s records state that the ancient entrance to the Demon Realm was an old well. But this was no fixed well. It seemed to wander the vastness of Heaven and Earth, appearing one moment and vanishing the next. That is why, to this day, no one has found it.”
Chen Changsheng paused, then asked, “Did Tianji Mountain never attempt to deduce the location of the Demon Realm?”
“Our ancestors did cast a divination, but the result was unsatisfactory. The Demon Realm itself lies outside the grasp of the Heavenly Secrets.”
“Is that so…”
Chen Changsheng then pressed further, “Were any clues left behind?”
Zhong Zhengyuan shook his head once more. “No accounts survive detailing the demise of the Summoning Demon Divine Monarch. As for the location of the Demon Realm’s entrance or the method to enter it, there are no records whatsoever. This should have been a major event. Curiously, however, the historical records merely touched upon it.”
Within the annals of Tianji Mountain’s predecessors, many details remain unfathomable to later generations, leaving behind numerous puzzles and mysteries.
Chen Changsheng frowned slightly, murmuring, “So finding the Demon Realm depends solely on luck?”
Zhong Zhengyuan nodded. That was indeed the truth.
It depended entirely on luck.
Chen Changsheng emitted a light sigh, then asked again, “Are there any other places?”
Zhong Zhengyuan hesitated. “Well, yes, some obscure corners and nooks. But sir, your aim is to establish the Underworld. These scattered places likely won’t suffice.”
“What am I to do then?”
Chen Changsheng pondered briefly before asking, “Master Zhong, earlier you mentioned Tianji Mountain’s Heaven-Veiling Formation?”
Zhong Zhengyuan answered, “It is indeed a potential method. However, I fear the formation might not meet your requirements, Mr. Chen. The resilience of the Heaven-Veiling Formation depends entirely on the magnitude of Karma it shields. As for the Underworld… it likely would not bear the load.”
Chen Changsheng, upon hearing this, inquired, “Do you possess the Formation Diagram?”
“We do.”
With a flick of his wrist, Zhong Zhengyuan produced the diagram.
Chen Changsheng took a moment to look it over and understood at once.
This formation truly wasn’t viable for the Underworld.
To escape the notice of the Heavenly Secrets was to evade Karma itself. It is much like one who bears the heaviest burdens of Karma finds it most difficult to hide from the scrutiny of Heaven and Earth.
The Spirit Cage was now destroyed.
That left only the Demon Realm as a possible choice.
But having this choice was akin to having none at all.
‘Could it be… must I truly confront the Heavenly Dao head-on?…’
Chen Changsheng recalled the heavenly Lightning Tribulation he witnessed within Yu Xuan’s memories.
At the very least, he knew he couldn’t endure thousands of Heavenly Tribulations and survive. Even Yu Xuan herself, back in those days, had failed utterly.
Chen Changsheng sighed and said, “Thank you, Master Zhong.”
Zhong Zhengyuan replied, “You are too polite, Mr. Chen. I fear I haven’t been much help.”
Chen Changsheng then snapped back to the present and asked, “By the way, when I entered the mountain, I saw Tianji Mountain sealed quite strictly. Has something happened?”
Zhong Zhengyuan said, “You arrived here at the opportune moment, Mr. Chen.”
“Opportune?”
“Indeed.”
“You mentioned your desire to meet the Mountain Lord. Well, one month ago, the Mountain Lord awakened. To err on the side of caution, we instructed the disciples to patrol the mountain perimeter strictly, permitting no one to enter.”
Zhong Zhengyuan smiled wryly. “It still failed to stop you, Mr. Chen.”
“Just a little Illusionary Trick,” Chen Changsheng said.
Zhong Zhengyuan accepted this simple explanation, yet inwardly he knew it was no common Illusionary Trick.
He didn’t press the point. Instead, he returned to the main topic. “Speaking of which, Mr. Chen, it might be worth asking the Mountain Lord about this matter. Given the Mountain Lord’s great Lifespan, he might hold some insight regarding places where the Heavenly Dao is faint.”
This reminded Chen Changsheng.
He nodded. “I must meet him.”
Likewise, he himself had questions to ask.
Concerning what transpired during his first visit to Tianji Mountain.
And about that Fate Stone holding Yu Xuan’s memories. What exactly was its story?