"It is indeed time."
"And the space behind those two stone pillars is vast," Lu Yuan said, nodding.
Although his Martial Dao Heavenly Eye could not peer through the entirety of Mount Kunlun, it could still discern certain details; otherwise, it would not be hailed as one of the greatest human body treasuries. In his perception, he even seemed to sense some lurking danger within.
It felt completely different from the mythological secret realm at Mount Kongtong. In his previous life, he had never visited Kunlun, yet he knew danger lay inside. Many extraterrestrial beings had perished here—not from slaughtering one another over opportunities, but because they had run into a massive crisis. Though some ultimately escaped, it had been agonizingly difficult, claiming countless lives, including many of Earth's Awakened.
This was precisely why Lu Yuan had chosen not to bring Zhu Qingyu and the others along. The perils within had already exceeded what they could handle. And what that danger truly was remained unknown.
Without pondering any further, Lu Yuan turned toward Jiang Ningxian beside him and smiled. "Miss Jiang, in your view, how much longer until this place opens?"
"Hard to say. It could be an hour, two hours, or perhaps a day." Jiang Ningxian shook her head, explaining that the worldly laws governing this space were exceedingly profound. Unless one reached the eighth stage of the evolutionary path—the Great Saint Realm—not even a Demi-Saint could touch them. Although she had many methods at her disposal, they were secrets she could not disclose.
"Is that so?" Lu Yuan nodded with a smile. "Then we'll just wait patiently. We have plenty of time."
With that, he gazed at the light radiating from the two stone pillars and the two characters that faintly manifested now and then: Heavenly Gate.
Both possessed their own means to probe the finer details, and exchanging words was merely a way to glean more information. Naturally, there was also the intent to gauge what the other was capable of; in a sense, it was a subtle contest of skill.
Some of Earth's Awakened and mutated beasts occasionally approached to greet Lu Yuan with great courtesy. However, they chose not to disturb him too much, offering only their utmost reverence.
The extraterrestrial beings, on the other hand, kept an even lower profile, remaining silent from beginning to end.
Lu Yuan and Jiang Ningxian, meanwhile, watched the changes at Mount Kunlun from time to time. Observing for so long had not been in vain; ultimately, they perceived quite a lot. A powerful aura emanated from the mountain mass behind the two white jade pillars. It was quite intriguing.
Toward the rear, the Spirit Monkey came up beside the Nine-Tailed Fox King, gestured toward Lu Yuan and Jiang Ningxian, and remarked with a sigh, "Look at that. Both of them are human—that's a true match. You've been tailing along the whole way, so did you get anything out of it?"
Possessing a special bloodline and great strength of its own, the monkey naturally saw that the young woman surnamed Jiang was extraordinarily powerful, firmly among the ranks of those not to be provoked. Thinking the Nine-Tailed Fox King was trying to vie with her in jealousy, it offered this word of caution.
Hearing this, the Nine-Tailed Fox King flared with anger and snapped, "What does a monkey like you know? Scram!"
In truth, she had no special designs; she was simply curious about Lu Yuan. Yet she, too, was utterly helpless about the situation.
"Yeah, if you don't know what to say, keep your mouth shut!"
Seeing this display, the Peacock King felt slightly helpless, but said nothing. Let them bicker; he was used to it anyway.
Meanwhile, in a secluded corner, a group appeared, keeping an exceptionally low profile as though deliberately avoiding notice. A mysterious power shrouded them, masking their presence.
"Lu Yuan, is this your reason for ignoring me? You truly have someone to rely on."
"Young Miss, our Zhou family has no information or records regarding that woman beside Lu Yuan," Uncle You spoke up, gazing into the distance at Jiang Ningxian's back, deep in thought. "However, in my perception, that young woman seems quite ordinary, with nothing particularly special about her."
Zhou Yunqiong shook her head, her gaze chilling as she replied, "That woman is extraordinarily remarkable. That is only because your bloodline isn't powerful enough."
For some reason, seeing a maiden beside Lu Yuan whose poise and beauty surpassed her own stirred a twinge of resentment in her heart, making her deeply uncomfortable.
Furthermore, she knew that she was indeed inferior to Jiang Ningxian; the gap between them was immense. Especially having sensed how formidable the bloodline within that maiden was—so deep that even she could not fathom its limits—that bitterness grew all the more intense.
*Is she of Earth's human race, or does she hail from beyond the domain? And if from beyond, what clan does she belong to?* she wondered, looking at Jiang Ningxian and continuing to speculate. But no one knew.
Time ticked steadily by.
*Rumble—*
At that very moment, a tremendous roar surged between heaven and earth.
Beside her, Uncle You said nothing at first, merely continuing to watch Mount Kunlun in the distance. Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly. "Young Miss, it seems to be opening."
Hearing this, Zhou Yunqiong snapped back to reality. Putting Jiang Ningxian out of her mind, she issued orders for her subordinates to prepare.
"Brother Peacock, Fox King, Brother Monkey, it's about to open," Lu Yuan called out. "Remember, this secret realm is very bizarre and its internal space is immense. Even if we enter together, we may be transported to different locations. Once inside, do nothing else—first find a way to regroup."
This folded space was peculiar and exceedingly unstable. Each person might arrive at a different place, so he had to remind them.
"Understood," the Three Great Beast Kings and the Golden-Winged Garuda replied solemnly, nodding in agreement.
And so it began.
Everyone watched as the mountain mass seemed to come alive, like a primeval behemoth slowly opening its bloody maw to swallow everyone whole. The power radiating from within the mountain was overwhelmingly mighty.
Stunned, the onlookers watched as the brilliant radiant clouds vanished entirely, revealing a vast expanse of space behind the two stone pillars.
And that space was entirely blood-red—the heavens and earth alike—strewn with piles of bleached white bones.
"Th-that... what on earth is in there?!" someone cried out in a trembling voice, never having witnessed such a spectacle.
People broke into clamorous discussions, voicing all sorts of speculations.
"The part enveloped in divine light... I seem to have seen it somewhere before. That's right—Mount Tai! It's Mount Tai!"
"The ruins at Mount Tai are said to be the legendary Heavenly Court of the Immortal Realm. Then what about the other half?"
"To me, it looks a bit like the Nether Palace, the City of the Wrongfully Dead..."
"Are you joking? How could a place of the dead appear in Kunlun? Have you lost your mind?!"
Yet those words, falling upon Lu Yuan's ears, offered a fresh train of thought. Could the interior truly be the mythological convergence of the Immortal Realm and the Netherworld?
In the very center of that space stood a colossal city. One half was bathed in divine light, its walls pristine and flawless; the other half was washed by a river of blood, its walls scarred and weathered, with what appeared to be wronged souls clawing their way up. A single city, yet conveying two completely diametric impressions.
Across its many districts, one could faintly make out the words: Heavenly Court, Heavenly Gate, Nether Palace...
Yet within Kunlun, there was only a single city. Mount Tai also had one, but prefixed with the word "South." They were two completely different places.
Meanwhile, the eyes of Lu Yuan and Jiang Ningxian, who had remained standing in the sky, shifted slightly. Exchanging a glance with Jiang Ningxian, he prepared to step forward...
Chapter 175