Chapter Eighty-One
"Our Great Marsh Mountain of the Immortal Realm is gone."
These words jolted the High Immortals of the Immortal Realm who stood hesitantly outside Great Marsh Mountain. Yu Feng gazed into the distance at the Hall of Eternal Life, his expression grave as he said, "Let us first enter the mountain and collect the remains of Elder Xianshan and our fellow immortals of Great Marsh Mountain."
With that, he took the lead and flew toward Great Marsh Mountain. But after advancing only a few meters, he was halted in place. He let out a soft exclamation of surprise, his face showing astonishment.
The High Immortals following him stopped as well, looking at the scene before them with identical expressions.
The immortals had assumed that Great Marsh Mountain was destroyed and its Mountain Protection Array extinguished. Yet as they approached, they discovered a nearly transparent halo of light forming an Immortal Formation that connected the shattered fragments of the Mountain Protection Array. This formation array possessed no offensive capabilities, yet it was perfectly integrated, with profound Spiritual Power. Though everything within Great Marsh Mountain was clearly visible, the immortals could not cross this Immortal Formation to enter the mountain.
"Yu Feng, what is happening here?"
Mountain Protection Arrays were typically linked to the sect leader and the spiritual veins of the mountain. Clearly, the spiritual veins of Great Marsh Mountain were destroyed, and the sect leader had perished—so why did the Mountain Protection Array still exist?
Yu Feng remained silent for a long time before letting out a deep sigh. "This Immortal Formation is likely formed from the immortal souls of the immortals of Great Marsh Mountain after their deaths."
Upon hearing this, all the immortals were stunned.
The immortal soul is the spirit of an immortal. After death, immortals still must enter the Ghost Realm and undergo reincarnation through the Six Paths, with their next life determined entirely by fate. However, if an immortal soul refuses to enter the Ghost Realm for rebirth, it will dissipate within three days at most, losing even the chance to enter the Six Paths of reincarnation.
Who could have imagined that the immortals of Great Marsh Mountain, to protect their mountain sect, transformed their immortal souls into a Mountain Protection Array after death, forsaking the opportunity for reincarnation and rebirth as humans.
"They likely did not want the nine-tailed fox to return and ravage Great Marsh Mountain again, so after death, they used their immortal souls to reactivate the Mountain Protection Array."
Yu Feng observed the immense Immortal Power within the Mountain Protection Array. "Judging by the Immortal Power of this formation, I fear not a single disciple of Great Marsh Mountain allowed their soul to enter the Ghost Realm."
Hearing this, the group of High Immortals fell into silent contemplation.
No wonder Great Marsh Mountain had stood tall in the Immortal Realm for sixty thousand years, renowned for its virtue and integrity. This level of loyalty and devotion to their mountain sect was something not just anyone could achieve.
"Yu Feng, what should we do now?" Jing Lei hesitated. "We cannot enter the Immortal Formation of Great Marsh Mountain. We cannot simply leave the remains of Elder Xianshan and the others unattended, can we?"
Once the Mountain Protection Array is activated, unless one knows the method to enter, the only option is to break through by force. But if they forced their way in, they would destroy the immortal souls that formed the Immortal Formation, causing them to vanish completely.
"Immortal souls can only last three days. After that, this formation will dissolve on its own," Yu Feng said. "We will enter the mountain after the formation disperses."
"Alright, then we shall wait outside the mountain for three more days," Jing Lei nodded. "Great Marsh Mountain has suddenly suffered this calamity, and many fellow immortals are still unaware of the deaths of Xianshan and Taoist Xianzhu. Since we have three days, I will have the Immortal Generals visit various grotto abodes to inform our senior fellow immortals, so they may come to bid farewell to these two."
Yu Feng nodded in agreement, then added, "Warn all sects about the disaster at Great Marsh Mountain, instructing them to strictly guard their mountain gates and be vigilant against attacks from the Demon Tribe. For now, with His Majesty yet to return, we must not act rashly. All decisions will be made after His Majesty returns to the palace."
"Understood, I will arrange it immediately." Before Jing Lei finished speaking, Lian Xi, standing nearby, suddenly spoke up. "Venerable Yu Feng, Supreme Venerable Jing Lei, look outside the Hall of Eternal Life—are Immortal Lord Gu Jin and Lady Ayin not there?"Lianxi and Gu Jin shared a deep friendship. Worried all the way, upon entering Great Marsh Mountain, although grieving over the deaths of the disciples, he had been searching for Gu Jin's remains but found nothing.
Upon hearing this, Yu Feng and Jing Lei looked outside the Hall of Eternal Life for a long while and indeed saw no sign of Gu Jin or Ayin. They nodded in agreement, "Indeed, Immortal Lord Gu Jin is not here."
A flicker of joy appeared on Lianxi's face as he said, "Immortal Lord Gu Jin is one of the Three Venerables, and Lady Ayin is a disciple of the old divine lord Dong Hua. With Great Marsh Mountain suddenly struck by such a calamity, it's impossible for them not to stay by Elder Xianshan and Immortal Lord Xianzhu's side. Could it be that they were away from the mountain and thus avoided this disaster?"
Yu Feng found this reasoning plausible and immediately ordered the Immortal General, "Immediately sound the Celestial Emperor's Bell, summoning Immortal Lord Gu Jin and Lady Ayin to return to Great Marsh Mountain at once."
The Celestial Emperor's Bell belonged to successive Celestial Emperors. Though it could not be used for defense, it served as a summoning order. During Mu Guang's reign, an immortal decree was issued: whenever the Celestial Emperor's Bell tolled, any member of the Immortal Tribe whose name appeared on the bell must rush to the location where it was sounded.
Feng Ran left this bell to Lan Feng when she departed, and it had now been passed into Yu Feng's hands.
Upon receiving the order, the Immortal General tolled the Celestial Emperor's Bell and simultaneously issued a decree summoning Gu Jin and Ayin to Great Marsh Mountain. This immortal decree originated from Great Marsh Mountain, resounding across the skies of the Immortal Realm and spreading rapidly throughout the Three Realms.
Seeing that the Celestial Emperor's Bell had been sounded, Yu Feng breathed a sigh of relief, showing the first hint of relief since entering the mountain. "If Immortal Lord Gu Jin and Lady Ayin happened to be away from the mountain and did not perish in this disaster, it would indeed be a blessing for Great Marsh Mountain."
He turned and noticed that Lianxi seemed even more sorrowful than before, prompting him to ask, "Upper Lord Lianxi, what is the matter?"
Lianxi sighed, gazing at the devastated Great Marsh Mountain and the hall filled with bones within the immortal spirit formation array.
"I was just thinking, if Immortal Lord Gu Jin is still alive, what scene would he face upon returning to Great Marsh Mountain and witnessing this?"
At his words, everyone fell silent, unable to speak.
Indeed, with the entire mountain destroyed and his sect wiped out, how would he confront all this upon his return?
Purple Moon Mountain, Demon Realm.
Gu Jin stood outside the Nine Nether Purgatory, his expression as still as water. Bi Bo circled endlessly around the vanished light pillar, hands clasped together, muttering prayers.
"Ancient True God Bai Jue, True God Blazing Sun, True God Tian Qi, show your divine power, show your divine power. Protect San Huo, keep him safe and sound. I promise I'll never bully him again. I'll give him half of my hidden divine pills—no, I'll give them all to him, as long as he returns alive."
Before Bi Bo's murmurs could finish, a purple light pillar suddenly appeared in the courtyard. Within the light pillar, the roars of demonic beasts could faintly be heard. Just as Bi Bo was about to rush forward, he was knocked to the ground by someone charging out of the light pillar.
The purple light pillar vanished the moment that person emerged. Bi Bo stared blankly at the figure before him, blinking in disbelief, unable to speak.
"Here, the Divine Transformation Pill. Give it to that little Water Condensation Beast to eat. There's still time to save her life." A soft, sweet yet resolute voice rang out. A hand as white and tender as a lotus root stretched toward Gu Jin's direction. The delicate and adorable little face was filled with an air of arrogance, creating a striking contrast.
"You... you... you... you..." Bi Bo pointed a trembling finger at the five- or six-year-old child in his arms, stammering, "San Huo?"
"Dragon Lord, you...?" Gu Jin looked at the Divine Transformation Pill brimming with divine power in San Huo's hand, full of astonishment. "You refined the Divine Transformation Pill?"The transformed little San Huo nodded, "With demi-god power, three hours is enough. Stop dawdling, go save her quickly. We can talk about the rest later."
"Thank you, Dragon Lord, for saving her. If there is ever an opportunity in the future, Yuan Qi will repay you heavily."
Even though San Huo was a Demigod, refining the Divine Transformation Pill so quickly required expending immense Divine Power. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been unable to even maintain his adult form.
Thinking of Ayin, whose life hung in the balance in the rear hall, Gu Jin bowed deeply to San Huo, took the Divine Transformation Pill from his hand, and hurried toward the rear hall.
Only San Huo and Bi Bo remained in the courtyard, staring wide-eyed at each other. After a long moment, San Huo coughed and struggled to stand up, only to be effortlessly scooped into a tight embrace by the youthful Bi Bo.
"Wah wah wah wah, I thought you were dead, eaten by the God-Slaying Flower, wah wah wah, I thought you couldn't get out, that I'd gotten you killed."
The Water Condensation Beast wailed, smearing snot and tears all over the little one's collar. San Huo shot him a look of disgust but still didn't push him away, clumsily patting his back with a small hand.
"Alright, alright, you're tens of thousands of years old, yet you still cry like a baby." A precociously solemn expression appeared on San Huo's childish little face.
"What about you?" Bi Bo rubbed his eyes, crying with heartache and guilt. "You finally cultivated to become a Demigod, and now you've sacrificed half your Divine Power. You can't even shape-shift anymore."
"What can I do? Cultivate again, that's all. As long as I'm not dead, there will always be a time to cultivate into a god." San Huo said carelessly. Before he could finish, he saw Bi Bo pull out a handful of Divine Pills from his embrace and offer them to him, along with the phoenix tree heart that Bi Bo had taken in a fit of pique.
"Here, take them all. From now on, all my Divine Pills are yours." Bi Bo looked at San Huo carefully, speaking between sobs.
A smile flickered in San Huo's eyes. He unceremoniously accepted the Divine Pills offered by the Water Condensation Beast, wrapped a small arm around Bi Bo's neck, yawned, and showed a weary expression. "Bi Bo, I'm so sleepy. Let me sleep for a while."
Seeing his pale face, Bi Bo quickly picked him up and headed toward the rear hall.
In the rear hall, Ayin's face was devoid of color. Gu Jin transferred the Divine Transformation Pill into her body. Half a quarter-hour later, a beam of Divine Light shot up from within her, soaring into the sky. She slowly rose from the bed and then gently descended to the floor. Her shoulder-length hair instantly grew down to her waist. As her eyes opened, it was as if a myriad of radiant lights swept past.
Gu Jin let out a soft sound of surprise, somewhat taken aback. This Divine Transformation Pill, refined with the rare treasure of the Three Realms—the God-Slaying Flower seed—and half of San Huo's Divine Power, had saved Ayin's life, but it hadn't directly triggered her Divine Transformation. Her Immortal Power had actually only stabilized at the peak of the High Lord level.
"Ayin?" Gu Jin called out, his voice trembling slightly, his eyes slightly red.
Ayin stared blankly at Gu Jin, then suddenly ran toward him and hugged him tightly.
"I'm still alive." Ayin's voice choked with sobs. "I thought I was dead."
That final glance in the Forbidden Valley of Great Marsh Mountain—Ayin had thought she would die alone and forgotten. She never imagined she could open her eyes again and see Gu Jin.
Gu Jin, caught in her tight embrace, flushed red. Just as he was about to offer some words of comfort, a series of bell chimes rang out from beyond Purple Moon Mountain, resounding across the heavens.
Along with the bell chimes came the Heavenly Summons Decree. Upon hearing his own and Ayin's names, Gu Jin was stunned. He and Ayin walked toward the hall's entrance, just in time to run into Bi Bo carrying San Huo back to the rear hall. Bi Bo was also curiously looking toward the mountains beyond.San Huo rubbed his eyes, looking annoyed at being woken up. After hearing the bell and the celestial summons, his expression darkened, and he exclaimed in surprise, "The Celestial Emperor's Bell, the Heavenly Summons? A Jin, Ayin, the Immortal Realm is calling you back."
"It's from Great Marsh Mountain. The direction of the Celestial Emperor's Bell is from Great Marsh Mountain in the Immortal Realm."
Gu Jin listened to the direction of the bell and recalled the inexplicable palpitations he had felt a few hours earlier. His heart sank. "When I came, my two senior brothers were at a critical moment lighting the Nine Star Lantern. Could it be that something has happened to the mountain sect?"
What could be so important that a High Immortal from the Heavenly Palace would ring the Celestial Emperor's Bell at Great Marsh Mountain to summon them back?
What about his two senior brothers? What about the disciples of Great Marsh Mountain?
A deep unease welled up in Gu Jin's heart. Ayin also showed concern. "A Jin, something must have happened at the mountain sect. I'm fine now. Let's go back immediately."
Gu Jin nodded and said to San Huo, "Dragon Lord, your great kindness today will be remembered by Ayin and me." He then looked at Bi Bo. "Bi Bo, the Dragon Lord's Divine Power is greatly depleted. Take good care of him."
"Don't worry, don't worry. He'll definitely take good care of him. We'll stay here at Purple Moon Mountain. It's very safe with the grand formation and Divine Seals set up by Divine Lord Tian Qi."
San Huo looked at Gu Jin as if wanting to say something but held back. Seeing his anxious expression, he didn't press further and simply waved his hand, his clear voice ringing out, "A Jin, hurry back. With the Celestial Emperor's Bell ringing, something must have happened at Great Marsh Mountain."
Gu Jin nodded and said no more. Summoning his Primordial Spirit Sword, he and Ayin took to Sword Flight, heading toward Great Marsh Mountain.
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