Chapter Eighty-Two
Outside the Purple Moon Hall, Bi Bo saw San Huo staring silently in the direction where Gu Jin had disappeared and couldn’t help asking, “San Huo, what’s wrong?”
San Huo shook his head, sighed as he recalled the strange scenes in the Nine Nether Purgatory.
Something must have happened at Great Marsh Mountain. The matter of the Nine Nether Purgatory could wait for another opportunity. Now that he had lost half of his divine power, he wasn’t sure if he could still suppress the demonic beasts and God-Slaying Flowers in the Purgatory relying solely on Divine Lord Tian Qi’s divine seal.
Gu Jin and Ayin left Purple Moon Mountain and headed straight for the Immortal Realm.
Along the way, Gu Jin’s expression was cold and somber, his eyes filled with worry. Ayin was anxious but dared not say much, holding his hand the entire time.
The two traveled in silence until they neared the territory of Great Marsh Mountain.
The Nine Star Lantern and Heavenly Thunder had already vanished. From afar, the sky above Great Marsh Mountain was unnervingly calm and undisturbed.
It was precisely this tranquility that deepened the unease in Gu Jin and Ayin’s hearts. They continued their sword flight without pause until the peak of Great Marsh Mountain came into view.
The Primordial Spirit Sword’s immortal qi suddenly halted, stopping abruptly in mid-air.
The Immortal Tribe favored tranquility, and some elder High Immortals had secluded themselves from the world, rarely seen in recent years. The last time so many High Immortals had gathered was over a century ago when Feng Ran ascended to the position of Celestial Emperor.
But Gu Jin did not notice these rarely seen elder High Immortals, nor did he see the solemn expressions of Yu Feng and Jing Lei, the silent and sorrowful faces of the mountain full of Immortal Generals, the profound meaning behind Hua Mo’s speechless demeanor, Hua Shu’s seemingly reluctant sympathy, or even Lian Xi’s mixed expression of joy and sorrow as he approached them.
He only saw the once-perennial green mountains of Great Marsh Mountain, which had stood for sixty thousand years, now shattered into ruins.
He only saw the mountain drenched in blood and the hall filled with bones.
He only saw all the living people who had accompanied him as he grew up, their bones gone without a trace overnight.
He could only see that immortal spirit formation array, still shimmering with faint immortal light.
Only he could hear the choked, fervent anticipation of those who had died within the formation array.
All his masters and all his comrades—not a single one had left.
They were waiting for him.
Waiting for him to return to Great Marsh Mountain, waiting to personally entrust the mountain to him, waiting for him to protect this sect.
Even though everyone had already perished.
Outside Great Marsh Mountain, the mountain was filled with High Immortals, yet no one made a sound. Everyone could feel the immense silence and grief emanating from Gu Jin and Ayin.
In the end, it was Yu Feng who spoke first.
“High Lord Gu Jin, we saw divine light descending upon Great Marsh Mountain from the Heavenly Palace—a sign of ascension to godhood. We suspected that Elder Xianshan and the others of Great Marsh Mountain might have been deceived by that Nine-Tailed Fox Demon, so we came to investigate. Unexpectedly, we encountered Hong Yi, who had ascended to Demigod, pursuing Princess Yan Shuang and Daoist Qing Yi. I and ten High Immortals cast an immortal net to subdue him in the Immortal Locking Pagoda, saving Princess Yan Shuang and Qing Yi. However, both were severely injured and remain unconscious to this day. When we arrived at Great Marsh Mountain…” Yu Feng paused, looking at the tragic scene within the immortal spirit formation array, and said heavily, “It was too late. We arrived too late. Elder Xianshan, High Venerable Xian Zhu, and everyone else at Great Marsh Mountain…” He sighed deeply. “We couldn’t save any of them.”
As his words fell, Ayin beside Gu Jin showed an incredulous expression and blurted out, “High Venerable Yu Feng, are you saying A Jiu destroyed the mountain sect and killed my senior brothers and Qing Yun?” She shook her head. “Impossible. A Jiu couldn’t have done this.”"How is that impossible?" Hua Shu snapped angrily from the side. "Every High Immortal in the Heavenly Palace witnessed him chasing down Yan Shuang and Qing Yi. If Venerable Yu Feng and the others hadn't arrived in time, even Yan Shuang and Qing Yi would have died by his hands. I've long said that Nine-Tailed Fox Demon was suspicious. How could he ascend to Demigod with only the Demonic Power of a Lower Lord? Clearly, he infiltrated the Heavenly Palace, killed Lan Feng, then concealed his true strength to deceive everyone. It was you who refused to believe me, stubbornly protecting him, that led to Great Marsh Mountain's current state!"
"Lady Hua Shu!" Seeing Ayin's pale face, Yu Feng's stern voice cut Hua Shu off.
"Even Elder Xianshan and Venerable Xianzhu failed to detect Hong Yi's hidden Demonic Power back then. How could Lady Ayin have discovered it? No one wished for the tragedy of High Lord Lan Feng and Great Marsh Mountain."
Hua Shu snorted coldly. Before the assembled High Immortals, she ultimately refrained from venting her fury further upon Ayin.
Ayin's face was deathly pale. No matter how much she trusted A Jiu, she could not deny the facts witnessed by Venerable Yu Feng or the mountain of corpses before her. Who but Hong Yi, now ascended to Demigod, could have slaughtered the entire lineage of Great Marsh Mountain? Her lips trembling, Ayin turned her gaze toward Gu Jin.
That figure had remained silent since entering Great Marsh Mountain, his eyes fixed upon the direction of the Hall of Eternal Life.
Wordless, no one could discern the young man's emotions from those pitch-black depths.
"A Jin..."
That back was too sorrowful, too silent. Unease stirred in Ayin's heart as she reached out to grasp Gu Jin's sleeve.
But Gu Jin moved.
Ayin's hand brushed past his fingertips, catching only the chill of his skin and the edge of his sleeve.
Staring at her empty palm, a cold, desperate panic suddenly seized her—as if something had been lost forever.
She watched as Gu Jin walked toward the mountain gate. In silence, everyone parted to make way for him.
Step by step, Gu Jin passed through the gathered High Immortals, crossed the immortal formation array, and stood atop Great Marsh Mountain, above the Hall of Eternal Life.
He looked toward the hall, his gaze falling upon those who lay dead within.
No one knew what Gu Jin intended to do. This silent, unusual behavior did not seem like quiet mourning. Yet everyone keenly sensed an extraordinary aura.
Hua Mo, watching Gu Jin from a distance, felt a sudden jolt in his heart as a memory surfaced.
It was rumored in the Immortal Realm that a century ago, Divine Lord Donghua of Great Marsh Mountain had taken in a personal disciple. None knew his origins, only that the old divine lord had doted on him exceptionally, imparting all his knowledge without reserve. Upon his Ascension, the old lord had even established a sect rule: regardless of who became Sect Leader in the future, Gu Jin would never need to bow or kneel.
Everyone had treated it as a jest, but now, pondering it slowly, it carried a deeper meaning.
Great Marsh Mountain placed utmost importance on sect rules. Even if the old divine lord doted on his young disciple, why would he establish such a rule that defied master-disciple propriety? Unless...
Hua Mo's gaze snapped toward Gu Jin, a wildly absurd thought rising in his heart.
Unless that person's status had, from the very beginning, stood above the Sect Leader of Great Marsh Mountain. Thus, no matter who assumed the position, for millennia to come, no one could surpass him.
Then who was he? Who exactly? In the Immortal Realm, whose destiny could be nobler than that of the Sect Leader of Great Marsh Mountain, a titan of the realm? Moreover, a century ago, he was merely a child.
At that very moment, a faint, slender white Divine Light appeared at Gu Jin's fingertip. That light was but a minuscule speck of starlight, yet it evoked an involuntary tremor in those outside the formation.That... that... The High Immortals outside the immortal spirit formation array felt an absurd sensation rising in their hearts.
The Primordial Spirit Sword beside Gu Jin emitted a clear and joyful hum as the wisp of white Divine Light appeared between his fingers, as if reborn. It flew before Gu Jin, its blade trembling uncontrollably.
Subtle white Divine Light extended upward from Gu Jin's fingers and wrists until it enveloped his entire body. A purple seal flickered faintly within the Divine Light.
"A Divine Seal? That's the Divine Seal of a True God?"
The Kunlun Patriarch, catching sight of the seal on Gu Jin from afar, drew a sharp breath—a rare reaction from an old deity who had remained unperturbed for tens of thousands of years. Trembling, he stared at Gu Jin within the Divine Light, unable to speak.
The Immortal Tribe nearby heard this and wore expressions of astonishment. The sorrow and anger on Hua Shu's face were somewhat dispelled by the Divine Light emanating from Gu Jin.
Only Ayin remained. She stared blankly at Gu Jin in the distance, a wave of desolation surging in her heart.
Within the Divine Light, the young man gazed down at the main hall of Great Marsh Mountain beneath his feet, his eyes devoid of joy or sorrow.
The Primordial Spirit Sword hummed by his ear, and the exclamations of the Immortal Tribe drifted faintly. Yet, he suddenly recalled that day over a hundred years ago.
That day had been bright and sunny, and Great Marsh Mountain was still peaceful and serene.
He had tugged at Tian Qi's robe, standing on tiptoe to ask him:
"Purple-Haired Uncle, when will the Primordial Chaos Power within me be unsealed?"
Back then, how had Tian Qi answered him?
"All living beings in this world exist between heaven and earth. Whether gods, buddhas, immortals, or demons, what they receive must be returned to the world in equal measure. A Qi, when you encounter the unbearable weight in your life, the Primordial Chaos Power will naturally return to you."
"I only hope that day will come a little later."
A century later, Gu Jin suddenly understood the stillness and desolation that filled Tian Qi's eyes, weathered by the world's trials.
But in this lifetime, how much better would it have been if he had never understood?
He had never imagined that the clarity and awakening of this lifetime, the understanding of responsibility and endurance, would be paid for with the lives of an entire mountain—Great Marsh Mountain.
How heavy was this burden? How could he bear it?
A low roar, as if the anger, sorrow, and despair in his heart had been shattered and reborn through Nirvana, echoed across heaven and earth. The purple seal suddenly shattered, and white Divine Light surged upward, piercing the sky, even surpassing the firmament of the Three Realms and reaching directly into the Ancient Divine Realm.
Almost simultaneously, rolling Heavenly Thunder suddenly gathered above the peak of Great Marsh Mountain. As the purple seal shattered, the thunder descended toward Gu Jin within the white light.
The ferocity of the Heavenly Thunder far exceeded what Hong Yi had summoned a few days earlier. Even the first bolt carried the peak power of a High Lord.
"This... this is Divine Transformation?" The High Immortals outside the immortal spirit formation array stared wide-eyed, looking at the gathering Heavenly Thunder with disbelief.
Gu Jin wasn't even a High Lord. How could he directly undergo Divine Transformation upon advancing in rank?
"A Jin!" Seeing the lightning strike toward Gu Jin, Ayin rushed worriedly toward the formation array but was stopped by High Lord Yu Feng.
"Lady Ayin, this is the Heavenly Thunder of Divine Transformation and rank advancement. Do not recklessly intrude, lest you disrupt Immortal Lord Gu Jin's advancement."
"Divine Transformation?" Ayin murmured, "How could A Jin undergo Divine Transformation?"
"Water Condensation Beast, what exactly is Immortal Lord Gu Jin's origin?" Hua Shu, who had remained silent for a long time nearby, finally couldn't help but ask.
"He is a disciple of Great Marsh Mountain, my senior brother," Ayin replied with a frown."A disciple of Great Marsh Mountain?" Hua Shu glanced at her with a mocking expression. "With such Divine Power, how could you possibly be an ordinary disciple of Great Marsh Mountain? It seems my question was in vain—you wouldn't know anyway."
Ayin clenched her fists, her lips pale, a shadow of anguish flickering in her eyes. Yet she offered no rebuttal, merely joining the others in their anxious gaze toward Gu Jin within the Immortal Spirit formation array.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One after another, bolts of Heavenly Thunder struck down, yet the figure within the Divine Light did not retreat. Grasping his Primordial Spirit Sword, he met the Thunder Tribulation head-on, shattering the descending Heavenly Thunder into fragments.
Such Divine Power, such defiance of the tribulation—it was truly unheard of.
One bolt after another, a full nine times nine in total.
Only after the final Thunder Tribulation had descended did the dazzling and majestic Divine Light dissipate from the figure atop Great Marsh Mountain’s peak.
A silver, ancient-looking divine sword appeared before the eyes of the assembled immortals. Following the hand that held the sword upward, the crowd fell into a hushed silence.
The refined features had shed the youthful innocence of the silver-robed young man. His eyes were as deep as the stars, and between his brows, the fleeting mark of a water droplet Divine Seal appeared.
The pure and majestic Primordial Chaos Power emanating from Gu Jin enveloped the entirety of Great Marsh Mountain, his divine aura innate and awe-inspiring, strikingly reminiscent of that True God who had stood beneath the Pillar of Heaven a century ago.
Everyone speculated, yet no one dared to speak.
Could it be that for the past century, that Divine Lord, whose status was exalted enough to reach the Ancient Realm, had truly existed within the Lower Three Realms under the guise of a mere disciple of Great Marsh Mountain?
A surge of Immortal Power swept past, and a figure appeared unexpectedly before the assembled immortals. Dressed in dark immortal robes, scholarly in appearance, he was elegant and refined.
Some of the old deities recognized his identity and gasped in astonishment.
Sure enough, the dark-robed scholar closed the folding fan in his hand and bowed slightly toward the young man within the Immortal Spirit formation array, offering a respectful salute.
"Chang Que of Clear Pond Palace has come specially to welcome the Divine Lord back to the palace."
Chang Que of Clear Pond Palace, disciple of High God Gu Jun. Since the Ancient True God returned to the Ancient Divine Realm, Clear Pond Palace had been entrusted to his care. For nearly a century, Clear Pond Palace had remained secluded, and over time, some had forgotten its existence.
Among all the Divine Lords, including those of the Ancient Divine Realm, there was only one whom Chang Que would personally come to receive.
Yuan Qi, the Divine Lord born as a god two centuries ago, son of Shang Gu and Bai Jue.
As Chang Que’s voice fell, everyone waited for the young man within the formation array to speak. Yet he lifted his gaze and walked toward Yu Feng outside the Immortal Spirit formation array.
Step by step, his Divine Power vast and majestic, he halted before the assembled High Immortals.
"What exactly happened at Great Marsh Mountain?"
The young man’s voice rang out, cold and indifferent, with just that single sentence.
Three steps away, Ayin watched as his gaze swept over her, but in that fleeting moment, she felt as though she had turned to dust in Gu Jin’s eyes.
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