Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 509A – A Great Play

Zhao Qianyuan’s dragon spear was like lightning. As he struck down a pack of monster tree puppet soldiers he turned around and saw the people who had gone insane. A dignified expression came across his face.

“Demonic energy invading the mind!”

This small world was overflowing with demonic energy. But, cultivators couldn’t directly absorb it and refine it, otherwise the demonic energy would eat away at their intelligence until they eventually degenerated into demonic creatures that knew nothing but slaughter.

But everyone knew this. As long as a person had the qualifications to enter the Demonic Ascension Gate, they would be repeatedly cautioned of it. So, why would these people be overcome by demonic energy?

As Zhao Qianyuan frowned in thought, Xu Guzi fluttered down beside him like a falling leaf. “Scion Zhao, these people have gone mad with demonic energy!”

His expression revealed shock, but also a little excitement.

These people that had gone mad with demonic energy would lose their intelligence. They were the perfect scapegoat to clear out a channel ahead for them.

Whoosh –

Whoosh –

Dong Hanzhu, Zhou Fenghuang, Li Mingxuan, and Mu Qingluan flew back. As for Sun Zifu who was generally protected within the group, he naturally fled faster than the others.

Everyone here was smart; they could see the present situation. If these people had undergone demonization, why should they continue risking their lives? Falling back and maintaining their strength to deal with any incidents was the best choice.

Zhao Qianyuan persistently felt that something was wrong with the situation. But, he couldn’t think of what the exact problem was.

He hesitated for a moment and then said, “We are drawing back a little. Stay vigilant.”

Seeing Scion Zhao’s dignified expression, everyone felt their hearts chill. They nodded, not daring to underestimate the situation.

With Leng Feng and Han Sheng in the lead, the squad of crazed cultivators had erupted with a shocking strength. A common-looking female cultivator unexpectedly awakened her demonic bloodline and it was an extremely rare curse variation bloodline. A dark gray mist lingered around her body, and any monster tree puppet soldier that touched this mist would wither away to nothing and die. The prestige of this power was terrifying.

The cruel and ferocious Dong Hanzhu also rejoiced in his heart. If these people hadn’t gone mad with demonic energy, a battle would have been unavoidable. If not for Zhao Qianyuan, they might not have been at much of an advantage.

Those people were strong to begin with. But after being demonized, their minds fell into illusion and they would be controlled by a wild killing intent, completely unable to preserve their own strength. Thus, Leng Feng, Han Sheng, and the others all erupted with a horrifying destructive capability.

Xu Guzi used the power of his spells to cautiously guide them forward. Like a massive torrential wave, the monster tree puppet soldiers and generals all perished in their wake. A channel was forcefully opened, leading straight to the ancient tree monster!

…

Qin Yu kept his eyes closed. His face was completely expressionless. With the help of the Cosmic Seacross Bell, he could clearly feel every change occurring within the battle.

When Leng Feng, Han Sheng, and the others in that squad underwent demonization, he opened his eyes and looked somewhere front and to the left, a cold intent in his eyes.

As expected, a person couldn’t be judged by their appearance. Beneath the veneer of warmth and kindness, that white lotus was actually ruthless and vicious within. If there was a chance, Qin Yu didn’t mind crushing that flower in his hands and personally delivering her to hell.

As for whether or not these people collectively demonizing was truly the work of Blue Cloud, there was no need to consider that topic even if it were placed on the table.

At this time, Qin Yu’s complexion changed. Within his soul space, the Cosmic Seacross Bell began to ring rapidly, its cry sharp and high.

“Qin Yu! Qin Yu! Hurry and leave! Hurry and leave!” Meimei screamed out loud, her face filled with panic.

…

Zhao Qianyuan paused. He looked up, his eyes flashing with electricity. As he looked towards the distant ancient tree monster, a blue light flashed in his eyes.

In the next moment, space twisted in his field of vision and what he saw changed.

What he could see was within the crown of the ancient tree monster. Countless roots had gathered together, forming something similar to an embryo.

Thump – action

Thump –

An invisible beating spread out from it, like countless peals of thunder roaring out together, diving straight into the depths of the soul.

Zhao Qianyuan’s pupils fiercely shrank, “Rebirth!”

A deep roar instantly entered into everyone’s ears. As everyone saw his perilous expression, their complexions all changed.

Xu Guzi hurriedly said, “Scion Zhao, what did you discover?”

Zhao Qianyuan was about to open his mouth when he stuffily coughed and blood flowed out from the corners of his lips.

…

Beneath the ancient tree monster, the Sage had a surprised expression. “I never thought that even from such a distance, you would be able to discover this secret.” He shook his head, “It looks like I can only start things ahead of time. Although things aren’t perfect yet, I expect it to be more than enough.”

He looked up at the ancient tree monster that seemed to support the heavens. His lips began to move as simple, boundless, and ancient syllables poured forth from his mouth, causing the unimaginably thick tree trunk to tremble.

As a result, the entire ancient tree monster shook with it.

Then, the entire small world began to shiver!

Rumble rumble –

In the skies up above, winds and clouds changed color. Endless black clouds gushed out from nothingness, weaving together and forming into a vast black curtain that blocked out the skies. Blood-colored thunder arrived and its roars billowed out as it formed fierce demonic faces.

The Sage stopped chanting. His eyes were feverish with heat, “Return, my race’s deeply slumbering Great Emperor!”

His voice was drowned out by thunder. But, he had actually managed to awaken the ancient tree monster’s deeply sleeping will.

Within the crown, where countless roots formed a giant ‘embryo’, a pair of eyes opened.

…

Qin Yu froze. His soul instinctually screamed. He didn’t doubt that this ‘big fellow’ who just awoke would be able to grind him to dust with a single finger!

Without a doubt, running away was the best possible choice, and the further he ran the better. But, Qin Yu didn’t dare to move.

Because he realized that while this ‘big fellow’ woke up, changes had begun to appear in this stretch of the world.

If he were to really run away, he would likely receive a heaven-shaking strike…Qin Yu didn’t have faith he could block it!

Sweat streamed down his body, soon drenching his black robes. At this moment, Qin Yu couldn’t help but feel regret.

But as soon as it appeared it was suppressed deep into his heart. Because after coming this far, regret was simply useless to him.

He couldn’t run…or at least he couldn’t be the first to run. Luckily, there were still many people in front of him. These people might not be able to kill that ‘big fellow’, but dispersing its attention and drawing away some of its strength shouldn’t be too difficult.

At that time, Qin Yu would have a chance.

As for Zhao Qianyuan…I’m sorry, but mister ‘number one junior of the demonic path’ and ‘great powerhouse of the younger generation’, we actually aren’t that familiar at all.

Although there was an agreement between them, it was only an agreement; there were no vows made. So, Qin Yu didn’t feel any guilt at all.

His only thought was to preserve his own life!

…

Zhao Qianyuan took a deep breath, his voice hoarse, “Everyone, we are in grave trouble!” Without him needing to waste his breath explaining further, they were all shocked by the scene that happened next.

Space warped and scattered in front of them. It was like a picture peeling away, and after the picture disappeared, the true image of the world was presented before them.

The ancient tree monster stood proud between the heavens and earth, with the ‘embryo’ woven from roots in its crown. As the rules shrank and contracted, heartbeats came from this ‘embryo’, growing stronger and stronger with time.

Xu Guzi finally realized what Zhao Qianyuan had meant by ‘rebirth’. His face turned deathly pale with fear. “In the land of the dead, return to rebirth, reverse yin and yang and chaos, rewriting one’s destiny…”

This was rebirth!

As everyone heard this, their bodies froze and all the blood drained from their faces.

In the ancient fables, it was said that when some almighty beings perished, their souls might scatter but they weren’t eradicated.

After experiencing endless years, they could condense their souls from nothingness, breaking through the barrier of yin and yang to arrive in the world once more.

What Xu Guzi said was a general description of this process.

But the reason a fable was called a fable was because people had only ever heard of it; they had never seen it for themselves.

Throughout the countless years, none of them had ever heard of a dead almighty being that was able to return from death.

But now, they seemed to be witnessing history in the making.

To witness history should have been something that thrilled the heart.

However, everyone was shivering and no one felt thrilled at all. Rather, they felt nothing but infinite fear.

The ancient tree monster…came back to life…

To be more accurate, it was the ancient Monster Race Great Emperor who had been hunted and killed by the almighty being from the Demonic Path, and whose remnant body had been used to construct this small world, who had returned from death!

How could they still go on?

What nonsensical hunting? What nonsensical distribution of demon blood crystals? What nonsensical turning point of destiny?

This was clearly seeking death on their own initiative!

Although they only had themselves to blame for what was happening right now, everyone couldn’t help but curse out Xu Guzi’s entire ancestral bloodline.

You bastard and your ridiculous little game, if you wanted to die then you should have gone and died by yourself; why did you turn on the watchstone to drag us all in?

Zhao Qianyuan knew that for some unknown reason, he had already been targeted.

This wasn’t intuition, but an extremely clear judgment. The slight changes in the world’s rules were forming an invisible cage around him.

To put things simply, he had nowhere to run!

But he had to maintain a calm expression. It wasn’t that he wasn’t panicking, but that he couldn’t panic. Otherwise, these people that were closely surrounding him would flee without a trace.

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Qianyuan said, “The situation is truly terrifying, but that doesn’t mean we have no chance of survival.” He lifted a finger and said, “Within rebirth, there is also a great tribulation. Breaking through the barrier of yin and yang cannot be a simple matter. Even if the Monster Race Great Emperor has returned, he is still in his weakest and lowest state. His aura might be terrifying, but that doesn’t mean that his true level of strength is any higher than when he was nothing but a remnant body. If we all fall into fear and panic here, then we will die without a doubt. But if we join hands and fight, we won’t know who the final victor will be!”

Xu Guzi’s eyes brightened. “That’s right. I also remember that when I was reading through some ancient books, I saw similar records before. To break through the barrier of yin and yang, one must pay a steep price. Perhaps the current ancient tree monster is weaker than it was before!” He swept his eyes around the massive number of monster tree puppets and said, “These are sufficient evidence. If it was powerful enough to face us, why would it have these puppets recklessly try to stop us?”

Everyone was suddenly inspired.

Dong Hanzhu licked the corners of his lips. “Whether it is strong or weak, I won’t give up here without a fight. Today, we will see just who lives and dies!”

Li Mingxuan roared out, “Let’s fight!”

Zhou Fenghuang said, “Now is not the time for us to go all out. There are still some people ahead of us.”

Shua –

Everyone turned to look at Leng Feng, Han Sheng, and the others.

But accidents were always unexpected and came just as suddenly. The ‘embryo’ atop the ancient tree monster suddenly roared out loud.

Broad, vast, and powerful, an invisible pressure and aura instantly swept across the world.