In truth, mutations had already begun cropping up in many places prior to this.
Such shifts were at their most intense within the famous mountains and great rivers.
However, because the process was still in its early stages, many people had simply failed to notice.
Yet now, Mount Huang was practically leading the front.
The spectacle unfolding there was truly breathtaking.
Deep in the heart of the mountains, an immortal cave slowly emerged, radiating thousands of brilliant rays of light, while an inexplicably powerful aura seeped out from within.
In a short span of time, it drew the attention of all beings, including extraterrestrials. They all believed that immense fortune and opportunity must lie inside, and each wished to stake their claim.
Online, the news spread like wildfire, capturing everyone's attention.
Countless people wanted to see it for themselves, eager to know if it truly held the grand fortunes spoken of in legends.
Yet others felt differently.
Now that even extraterrestrial beings were watching it closely, any fortune inside would have nothing to do with them anyway.
A considerable amount of time had passed since the path of evolution opened.
Some had made extraordinary progress and possessed immense strength.
Yet there were also those who remained stranded at the starting line.
For such people, merely surviving in this current era was already an arduous struggle; they held no luxury of dreaming about anything else.
Though much had changed between the old era and the new, one thing remained constant: the law of the jungle still held absolute sway, differing only in the form it took.
Fortunes were reserved for those with ambition—and the power to back it up.
***
Meanwhile, at the Mount Tai Trial Academy.
Lu Yuan had likewise received word of the disturbance deep within Mount Huang at the first opportunity.
Zhu Qingyu and the others promptly brought out the video recordings and data they had compiled.
After analyzing the evidence, everyone agreed that a folded space had indeed surfaced there.
No, to be precise, it was a mythological secret realm.
Ordinary folded spaces held nothing within.
Yet the one at Mount Huang was clearly different; judging from the footage, it was bound to be extraordinary.
"Folded spaces have actually been discovered all across the land, and many are quite remarkable. It's just that they have yet to fully reveal themselves," Zhu Qingyu said at that moment, her tone grave and her thoughts precise. "The one in Mount Huang is the very first. Regardless of what lies inside, I believe we must go and investigate."
After joining the Heavenly Court, she had become the commander of a major division.
Her strength and mental fortitude had both matured immensely.
In fact, the same was true for the Ice Fairy, Young Heavenly Master Chunyang, and the rest.
They had previously taken part in the battle of the Three Immortal Islands. At the time, their youth and lack of experience had nearly precipitated catastrophe.
Over this period, however, the younger generation had developed rapidly on all fronts, demonstrating exceptional talent and already bearing the poise of true leaders.
"Qingyu is right. Amid this global mutation, we must gather as much intelligence as possible to understand what lies ahead. Only then will we avoid constantly trailing behind others," the Ice Fairy agreed.
Her reasoning was simple: acquire sufficient knowledge.
Just like during the first mutation, seizing the initiative depended on mastering such intelligence.
Through this change at Mount Huang, they could deduce what might follow across the other famous mountains and great rivers.
"Well said, all of you." A smile crept into Lu Yuan's eyes as he listened.
He was genuinely pleased, as this meant he would not have to oversee every single detail personally.
That Zhu Qingyu and the others could perceive this much proved that many matters could soon be entrusted to them.
"In that case, once preparations are complete, we will head straight to Mount Huang. Speak up if you have any thoughts," Lu Yuan said. His motive was equally straightforward: he intended to use this occasion to test the Heavenly Court's strength.
"Before we go, we should also gain a general idea of what that sudden folded space actually is," Young Heavenly Master Chunyang mused, continuing, "Mount Huang is steeped in mythology. This mythological secret realm surely has historical roots we can trace."
"Amitabha," Monk Huikong intoned the Buddha's name, continuing, "In my view, it likely relates to the immortal Guangchengzi."
His words left the others exchanging glances of slight bewilderment.
Lu Yuan, however, gave a nod of agreement.
The immortal Guangchengzi was known for far more than his sanctuary on Mount Kongtong.
Legends spoke of an Immortal Cave on Mount Huang, and that was the true place where Guangchengzi attained the Dao.
Though these were mere myths, the fact that Chunyang and Huikong could deduce this meant they had consulted vast amounts of records.
Sure enough, after stating their deduction, the two began drafting plans. For instance, those chosen to travel to Mount Huang this time had to be practitioners of the Daoist visualization method, and they would also review further legends regarding the immortal Guangchengzi.
Even if such measures yielded limited practical benefit, being prepared was always preferable to going in blind.
After all, no one could predict what awaited them inside.
Lu Yuan granted his full approval, declaring that they could take the lead in this operation.
Zhu Qingyu and the others were taken aback before realizing this was meant to be a true trial for them.
At once, each nodded solemnly and accepted the task.
Departure was set for three days later.
Once everything was settled, the gathering dispersed.
Lu Yuan returned to his quarters.
He did not begin cultivating immediately.
Instead, he delved into his memories from his previous life, searching for details regarding Mount Huang.
Regrettably, he had been far too weak back then, constantly fighting merely to survive on the razor's edge of life and death, so he possessed very little information.
He could only vaguely recall that an anomaly had indeed erupted at Mount Huang after the third mutation.
In the end, it seemed that an extraordinarily momentous treasure had emerged.
Thus, no matter what, this was a trip he had to make.
Yet unlike before, the extraterrestrials would never let such an opportunity slip by.
Moreover, the figures they sent would certainly not be simple.
Lu Yuan could afford to ignore the rest, but if sequence prodigies—or even those ranked among the top ten—intervened, he would have to treat them with utter seriousness.
While he feared nothing, once inside the mythological secret realm of Mount Huang, many variables would slip beyond his control.
*If I had a helper, things would be much easier,* Lu Yuan contemplated, his brow furrowing. Such a helper was difficult to find; they needed sufficient strength, or else how could they stand against those extraterrestrials?
The dilemma was that no such candidate existed by his side.
In the end, Earth's revival had simply begun too recently.
No one had grown to that stage yet.
He could hardly trouble Jiang Ningxian, either; she had been entering seclusion every few days lately, making her unavailable.
*Boom!—*
Just at that moment, a powerful aura abruptly surged outside.
A youthful figure appeared in the courtyard, shouting casually toward the interior:
"Lu Yuan! Come out, come out—let's have another match!"
Inside the room, Lu Yuan's eyes instantly lit up. "Found him!"
Chapter 260