Chapter Thirty-Two
In the over sixty thousand years of the Post-Ancient Realm, there have only been two Celestial Emperors.
One was the Golden Dragon Mu Guang, the ruler of the Three Realms selected by the Ancient True God, who governed the Three Realms and Eight Wastelands for more than sixty millennia with both authority and virtue. The other was the Fire Phoenix Feng Ran, who inherited the throne before the previous Celestial Emperor transformed into a stone dragon. Though her fate was fraught with hardship, she ultimately achieved Nirvana Rebirth and became the supreme ruler of the Immortal Realm.
As for Feng Ran, there is little need to elaborate—she is known for her eccentric and protective nature, with formidable strength. After her Nirvana Rebirth, she brought the Immortal Tribe firmly under control. In recent years, she has been in seclusion on Phoenix Tree Island, entrusting the governance of the Immortal Tribe to Lanfeng Supreme Lord and the four old High Lords of Wind, Fire, Thunder, and Lightning. Since Lanfeng was originally in charge of the Emperor Star Constellation, he holds the highest authority among the five High Lords.
As for the former Celestial Emperor’s family, the second prince Jing Jian died in battle. After Mu Guang transformed into a stone dragon, the eldest prince Jing Yang was stationed at Rakshasa Land, never to return. The Celestial Empress was exiled to the Three Realms under the Divine Punishment of the Ancient True God, while the only princess of the Immortal Tribe, Jing Zhao, also vanished without a trace.
The once-mighty clan that ruled the Immortal Tribe for sixty thousand years scattered and declined overnight. With the Celestial Emperor transformed into a stone dragon, the Immortal Tribe lost its sovereign, marking one of the greatest tragedies in the Immortal Realm over the past tens of thousands of years.
On the way to Guixu Mountain, Gu Jin recounted these events from centuries past to Ayin, who listened with rapt attention, completely unaware that the young man beside her had also been part of that tragic history.
Gu Jin sighed inwardly. Back then, due to the selfish actions of the Celestial Empress Wuhuan, countless members of the Ancient Divine Tribe perished, the Ancient Realm was sealed, and even his father was forced to sacrifice himself to resolve the Chaos Tribulation. He should have harbored deep hatred for Wuhuan, but centuries later, reflecting on those events and considering the fate of Wuhuan’s family, he could only feel a profound sense of melancholy.
The cycle of cause and effect is inevitable. When the cause is unwholesome, the fruit is bound to be bitter, and no one can escape it.
“Does no one know where the Celestial Empress and that Princess Jing Zhao went?” Ayin asked, sitting cross-legged on the Immortal Cloud, holding the little fox in her arms and looking up with curiosity and gossipy interest.
Gu Jin glanced at the little fox in her arms, his hands clasped behind his back, his tone indifferent. “No one knows. Ever since the previous Celestial Emperor transformed into a stone dragon, the Celestial Empress and Jing Zhao disappeared without a trace. No one has seen them since.”
“Then who governs Guixu Mountain now?” Ayin, oblivious to Gu Jin’s gaze, pinched the back of the little fox’s neck with ease.
“Even though Mu Guang has transformed into a stone dragon, the authority of the Celestial Emperor remains inviolable. A century ago, Guixu Mountain was jointly sealed by the four most revered old High Lords of the Immortal Tribe. Even though it is a Paradise Grotto, no one in the Immortal Tribe dares to trespass.”
The little fox let out two comfortable hums.
Gu Jin’s gaze swept over the little fox, his expression thoughtful as he recalled the white fox that had transformed into a towering figure in the Nine Nether Purgatory. He narrowed his eyes slightly.
Was this fox forced to transform in a moment of crisis, or was it already an adult? It had hidden in Ayin’s Cosmic Bag and secretly left Purple Moon Mountain with them, returning to the Immortal Realm via the Fox race. Its intentions remained unclear. If it weren’t for A Jiu risking his life to rescue him and Ayin in the Nine Nether Purgatory, Gu Jin would never have kept a demon fox of unknown origins by his side.
“With the old High Lords’ seal in place, how do we get into Guixu Mountain?” Ayin asked, resting her chin on her hand.
“Before my master ascended to the Divine Realm, he told me how to break the seal on Guixu Mountain. However, even he didn’t know what lay inside.” As Gu Jin spoke, he raised his gaze. “Ayin, we’ve arrived at Guixu Mountain. Let’s go down.”The majestic Thousand-Mile Guixu Mountain loomed faintly beneath the clouds, possessing a weighty solemnity compared to the magnificent wildness of Great Marsh Mountain.
The two humans and one fox landed at the mountain’s base, where a thick sealing Divine Power surged forth from the mountain gate. On a whim, Ayin tossed a stone inside, which was immediately repelled by the seal, spinning in the air before landing steadily on the ground.
“Huh? This seal is quite gentle, much kinder than the one that trapped us in the valley back then!” Ayin muttered softly.
Gu Jin raised an eyebrow, pulling a spirit pearl from his robe and tossing it toward the seal. As the pearl touched the mountain’s seal, a gap half a zhang wide split open, revealing a scene of singing birds, fragrant flowers, mountains, rivers, and valleys before them.
“This is a Realm-Breaking Pearl, a treasure from Master. It can break any seal below the level of a Demigod.”
“Then why didn’t you use it back then to break Master and the Phoenix Sovereign’s seal in the Forbidden Valley? I was bullied and tormented by those fleshy wings for years,” Ayin pouted, grumbling.
“I already said it only works on seals below the Demigod level. Master gave me the Realm-Breaking Pearl before his Ascension, and this is the first time I’ve used it.” Gu Jin patted Ayin’s head. Having been bullied by Feng Ran’s seal for over a decade, he understood Ayin’s desire to utterly defeat those fleshy wings.
“Ayin, have A Jiu enter the Cosmic Bag. Guixu Mountain is, after all, a sacred place for the Immortal Tribe. The enmity between the Immortal and Demon Tribes has lasted for ages. If there are still senior Immortal Tribe members living and cultivating within Guixu Mountain, they might suspect we’re colluding with the Demon Tribe. We’re here to ask for help, so let’s not stir up unnecessary trouble,” Gu Jin instructed, turning his head.
Upon hearing this, A Jiu looked utterly unwilling, ears perked up as he glared at Gu Jin.
Given his nature, if it weren’t for sneaking out of Purple Moon Mountain undetected, he would never have hidden in a place like the Cosmic Bag.
“Alright.” Ayin understood the gravity of the situation and lifted the little fox. “A Jiu, we’re here for Feng Yin’s Soul. We’re asking for a favor, so please don’t cause trouble, or A Jin won’t let me bring you along anymore!”
The little fox’s eyes darted around, still reluctant.
Gu Jin was naturally easygoing and indifferent to the distinctions between Immortals and Demons. However, the bloody war between the two tribes had ended less than a century ago, and Jing Jian had died at the hands of the Demon Tribe. Guixu Mountain was the former Celestial Emperor’s residence; if any family members or old acquaintances still lived here, it could easily reopen old wounds and stir up grief.
He shot a warning look at A Jiu, transmitting his voice directly.
“The rift between Immortals and Demons has always existed. This is Guixu Mountain, and the appearance of a Demon Tribe member here will bring trouble for Ayin. I don’t know why you insist on following us, but if you want to continue, don’t act willfully.”
A Jiu and Gu Jin locked eyes. Unable to withstand the resolve in Gu Jin’s gaze, A Jiu snorted and darted into the Cosmic Bag at Ayin’s waist.
Relieved, Gu Jin took Ayin’s hand without hesitation and walked through the seal.
Since the little fox had stubbornly followed them, this was the first time Gu Jin felt justified and utterly comfortable holding his Little Immortal Beast’s paw.
His eyebrows lifted slightly, a hint of joy in his heart, his proud nature unmistakably on display.
Ayin, whose hand was held, was momentarily taken aback. Feeling the warmth in her palm, she couldn’t help but let the corners of her mouth curl up secretly, her smile as sly as the little fox she raised.
Inside the seal, the scenery within the mountain left them both stunned.Mount Guixu was the former Heavenly Emperor Mu Guang's cultivation site. During his reign as Celestial Emperor, his authority was deeply entrenched, and aside from his family, few had ever entered the mountain. Thus, no one knew that the renowned former residence of the Celestial Emperor throughout the Three Realms was merely a solitary mountain range, devoid of even a single palace.
Within the winding, dragon-like ridges of Mount Guixu, Immortal Qi drifted ethereally. Not a soul was in sight, and the vast, tranquil scenery felt as if it belonged to another world.
"A Jin, look!" As if sensing something, Ayin's gaze immediately fixed on a spot at the mountain peak, and she pointed. "There's a phoenix tree there."
A faint golden light shimmered at the peak, where a tall phoenix tree stood radiantly.
Gu Jin took Ayin's hand and flew toward the mountain peak. In moments, the two landed amidst a sea of flowers.
Golden dragon flowers swayed across the mountaintop, and within the floral expanse stood a quiet bamboo cottage. At the far end of the cottage was the phoenix tree Gu Jin and Ayin had been seeking.
However, before the phoenix tree stood a woman in the distance.
Clad in plain white robes, her black hair elegantly tied high, even from just her back, one could tell she was extraordinary.
Mount Guixu indeed had an owner.
Exchanging a glance, the two walked toward the end of the sea of flowers.
"Which junior of the Immortal Tribe dares to enter my Mount Guixu?" A cool voice suddenly rang out. The woman waved her slender hand, and a surge of pure white Immortal Power swept toward them. Though not harmful, it was exceptionally refined.
This was a Female Immortal Lord with the peak strength of a High Lord. Gu Jin frowned, gazing at the female immortal beneath the phoenix tree, remaining silent for a long while.
Mount Guixu belonged to the former Heavenly Emperor Mu Guang. Among the Three Realms, there was only one Female Immortal Lord who could reside here after he transformed into a stone dragon.
"Esteemed senior, we are disciples of High Lord Dong Hua from Great Marsh Mountain. We have come to visit Mount Guixu for a purpose. Believing the mountain to be unoccupied after His Majesty Mu Guang transformed into a stone dragon, we entered without prior notice. We ask for your forgiveness."
Seeing Gu Jin remain silent, Ayin felt puzzled but promptly answered the inquiring Female Immortal Lord on his behalf.
"Dong Hua? No wonder you could breach the Barrier of my Mount Guixu effortlessly. You must have entered using the Boundary-Breaking Pearl. Back then, my father played chess with him on Green Luan Mountain for three years, lost by half a move, and the wager was that Boundary-Breaking Pearl." The Female Immortal Lord's voice wavered slightly upon hearing Dong Hua's name. "High Lord Dong Hua has only two disciples: Xian Shan and Xian Zhu. I met both of them in the past. The old High Lord once said he would take no more disciples. Who would have thought that in just a mere hundred years, he would accept two more young apprentices?"
As the Female Immortal Lord's words reached their ears, Gu Jin's expression remained calm, but Ayin couldn't help showing surprise.
Father? Within the Immortal Tribe, only one could address their father in such a manner... She abruptly looked up toward the Female Immortal Lord not far away, just as the Lady turned around.
With elegant features and phoenix-like eyes, devoid of makeup, though dressed in plain attire, her noble and dignified aura remained unmistakable.
This Princess Jing Zhao of the Immortal Tribe from a century ago truly lived up to her reputation as the most renowned beauty across the Three Realms.
Only upon meeting her did Ayin finally understand why Princess Hua Shu of the Peacock Clan, though long since of age, had only risen to prominence in the past hundred years.
It was simply because, with Jing Zhao present, in terms of beauty and immortal grace, Hua Shu could only be overshadowed.
"Ayin of Great Marsh Mountain pays her respects to Princess Jing Zhao."
After all, she was a legendary figure. Regardless of what happened in the past, it was a matter of the previous generation, long settled. Jing Zhao was now the master of Mount Guixu, and if they wished to retrieve Feng Yin's Soul, they could not afford to offend her.Ayin, unusually so sensible, clasped her hands in greeting, yet still saw no movement from Gu Jin beside her. Puzzled, she glanced toward him and was slightly taken aback.
Gu Jin stood ramrod straight, quietly watching Jing Zhao as she turned around. His dark pupils were cold and somber; not a trace of warmth could be seen in his usually gentle and broad eyes.
As for Jing Zhao, gazing at the young man not far away, a flicker of unconcealed surprise passed through her eyes, which had remained unmoved for a century.
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