Lu Yuan had encountered the Nine-Color Altar in several crucial locations, making it impossible not to ponder its significance. Knowing it was of extraordinary importance, he naturally wanted to understand it clearly.
As a prominent member of the Jiang clan, Jiang Ningxian surely knew many secrets. He hoped to glean information from her and piece it together with what he already knew. Perhaps he might truly uncover the ultimate secret.
Beside him, Jiang Ningxian fell into thought upon hearing his question.
In the end, she shook her head and spoke: "In truth, our clan's records regarding the Nine-Color Altar are scarce. We only know it was used for expeditions of war. Yet against whom they waged war remains unknown. The ancestors surmised that all the answers would only be found in this world."
She had actually come here bearing questions of her own. Her forebears had departed, traversing stellar domains, originally to wage war. But after so many years, the supposed war had never broken out, which was why she had finally come herself—hoping to uncover the secrets behind it all.
"Is that so?" Lu Yuan could not help feeling a bit disappointed. He had thought he might learn more, never expecting this outcome.
Yet he wondered: why hadn't Shennong passed down the truth regarding this matter? Or had someone deliberately erased all traces of it?
He did not dwell on it further. Now that he had obtained the Yongzhou Cauldron, he was in no hurry to decipher its functions.
For now, the priority was to leave the Kunlun Secret Realm.
Lu Yuan looked up toward the distance ahead. That distance was virtually nothing to them, and before long, they made their way out.
Outside, as before, many people had gathered in the basin. Among them were those who had entered the secret realm and those who had not.
The flow of time inside was different from the outside world; Lu Yuan had already anticipated this. It was only now that he realized more than three months had passed since he entered the Kunlun Secret Realm.
When the crowd saw Lu Yuan's group, the Earth Awakened did not hesitate to step forward eagerly to greet him. The extraterrestrial beings, on the other hand, instinctively backed away, wanting no trouble with this terrifying harbinger of slaughter.
"Now that we're out, rest and attend to your injuries first," Lu Yuan said, finding a relatively secluded spot. He looked toward the Peacock King and the Nine-Tailed Fox King. Both had suffered wounds in their battle against Zhou Yunqiong.
"Very well." The Beast Kings all nodded in agreement. There was no rush to return immediately; it was better to heal their injuries first, which would not take long anyway.
As for Jiang Ningxian, she seemed to pick up on something and proactively suggested taking a walk around Mount Kunlun.
Lu Yuan offered her a smile, and then called the Golden-Winged Great Peng aside.
To be safe, man and beast flew a hundred li, arriving at a secluded mountain valley.
Here, beasts were scarce, and human footprints were rare; they would not be disturbed.
"Master." The Golden-Winged Great Peng bowed its head slightly. To it, Lu Yuan's command was everything. It knew its master had called it over for something important.
"You have followed me for some time now. I once said that serving as my mount would also be a great fortune for you. Today, I give you two choices: a great fortune, or your freedom." Lu Yuan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the distance with a calm expression.
Although a Blood Contract bound them, some matters required genuine willingness. That was why he offered two choices; no matter what the peng chose, he would not force it.
Regaining its freedom was indeed enticing. But at this moment, the Golden-Winged Great Peng did not hesitate in the slightest, its tone exceptionally sincere.
"Following Master is my honor. Without Master, I could never have reached this stage. I beg Master to bestow upon me this fortune."
The Golden-Winged Great Peng knew very well that without its master, it could never have purified its bloodline so quickly. The benefits it had gained since becoming his mount were simply astonishing.
More importantly, in its heart, this meant an opportunity to evolve toward supreme heights.
"I understand what you mean. However, you must think this through thoroughly," Lu Yuan said plainly.
"I obey Master's will." For this was truly its heartfelt desire.
Seeing that the peng had made up its mind, Lu Yuan nodded. Having clarified its intention, he was satisfied.
The Investiture Decree within the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Token could enfeoff gods and immortals. Those who left their true names upon it would undoubtedly receive immense benefits.
It had not been easy to gather all three Ancient Heavenly Emperor Tokens. Now that they had finally undergone a change and could be used, he naturally had to test them.
When the Investiture Decree first appeared, he had already learned how to use it: by writing a true name upon it.
He had confirmed this point back in the Kunlun Secret Realm; all that was left now was to try it.
At the same time, Lu Yuan felt the Golden-Winged Great Peng's strength was still somewhat lacking. It was not that it was incapable, but simply that it had had too little time to grow.
Now, as time passed and the grand era descended, the changes in the outside world would only grow more violent. Soon, the powerhouses from all the stellar domains would arrive.
Leaving aside Lu Yuan's own strength, while the three Beast Kings and Jiang Ningxian were trustworthy in his heart, when compared to the Golden-Winged Great Peng, their bond was different.
He could no longer simply proceed step by step at a leisurely pace.
Lu Yuan pondered for a moment, then opened his eyes without hesitation.
"Draw out a drop of your essence blood."
"Yes, Master!" The Golden-Winged Great Peng responded, forcing out a drop of essence blood from within its body.
Lu Yuan merged this drop of essence blood into his sea of consciousness.
Then, he sat down cross-legged.
Calming his mind, Lu Yuan used his innate spirit to communicate with the decree and the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Token.
Activating his innate spirit, the Investiture Decree manifested before him. Aside from the words "Di Yuan," there was room to write more names.
In the next instant—
Boom!
An unprecedented aura erupted directly from his body.
That power was so extraordinary that it seemed to transcend all things.
Before him, the Golden-Winged Great Peng trembled violently. It prostrated on the ground, the light on its plumage dimming.
It was too strong!
The peng could not fathom why such terrifying power would suddenly surge from its master.
It was a suppression stemming directly from the soul. Far from resisting, it could not even look directly at him.
Because of the contract between them, Lu Yuan was not surprised to see this. He knew this power originated from the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Token.
And what did the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Token represent? The Human Sovereign and Heavenly Emperor—the supreme beings of the myriad universes! Even if he only unleashed a sliver of its aura, it was not something an ordinary creature could withstand.
At that moment, with the essence blood, he began writing upon the Investiture Decree.
At the same time, words chanted from his lips: "I, Lu Yuan, by the will of the Emperor, decree and appoint the Golden-Winged Great Peng as the Emperor's Mount. I inscribe its true name, proclaiming it to the cosmos and the myriad heavens!"
A profound, wondrous sensation arose.
Was this... the feeling of enfeoffing immortals and gods?
He felt as though he had become the Heavenly Emperor reigning above the Nine Heavens.
Chapter 190