Chapter 102

Chapter 102: Comparing People Invites Anger

The faces of the three kings of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom were grim. Yue Ruyi, Ao Bing, and Long Tuo were all familiar faces, but they didn’t recognize either Lin Qianmo or Lan Youruo.

When had two peak quasi-emperors appeared in the Yuan Realm?

"Sissy, the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain emerged only because we paid a hefty price for the information from the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. Thinking you could just swoop in and share the opportunity with a single word is wishful thinking," Ao Bing snarled with mock courtesy.

His implication was clear: he had no intention of letting the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom take any share of the prize.

Ye Hongchen, Yang Xuanzhan, and the others profoundly agreed.

Those two Quasi-Emperor divine weapons could serve as the foundation treasures of a first-rate sect even in the Yuan Realm. That price was indeed steep.

"The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?"

Lian Jiuyou instantly seized upon the key name. A subtle shift occurred in his gaze, a flicker of sharp light crossing his eyes.

With the release of the Hidden Dragon List, Heaven’s Secret Pavilion had become renowned throughout the world. Lu Ming of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom was one of the proud prodigies on that very list. As the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom’s demon emperor, Lian Jiuyou naturally knew of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s existence.

"The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion possesses such incredible abilities, enough to calculate the whereabouts of even the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain?" The Golden Crow King voiced his doubt.

Ao Bing laughed. "That senior is an immortal walking this world, transcending creation itself. A mere Unsurpassed Divine Mountain is naturally no challenge for him."

"Sissy, if you want to share this opportunity with us, just bring out two Quasi-Emperor divine weapons, and we won’t trouble the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom."

"Otherwise, forget about getting your wish."

"Old Dragon King, if you insult me again, don’t blame me for turning hostile." Lian Jiuyou’s eyes turned shadowy; he despised being called "Sissy" more than anything in his life.

"You think I fear you?" Ao Bing flared his nostrils, an overwhelming presence erupting from him as they locked in confrontation.

"There’s no need for aggression between you two, Daoist friends," Lin Qianmo interjected lightly. "We have all come to the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain seeking fortune. To fight now, before even seeing any treasure, would only hand an advantage to others."

"You should both be aware that the Poison Emperor is still lurking here."

Lian Jiuyou’s expression sharpened instantly, though he smiled. "Daoist friend’s long-term perspective is admirable. I feel inadequate in comparison."

"Might I inquire as to how you are addressed?"

"Red Dust Demon Sect of the Southern Wilderness," Lin Qianmo stated.

Lian Jiuyou silently repeated the words ‘Red Dust Demon Sect’, his brow deeply furrowed.

He had heard of the Red Dust Demon Sect, but that was all. The Southern Wilderness was barren, poor… how had it suddenly produced two peak quasi-emperors?

"I must thoroughly investigate this Red Dust Demon Sect after leaving the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain," Lian Jiuyou thought, his eyes flickering. "And I must pay a visit to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

The existence of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was already influencing the situation in the Yuan Realm. Lian Jiuyou absolutely had to go. Besides, he also carried a personal grievance he wanted to seek advice on from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Hmph." Ao Bing snorted coldly. "Since Daoist Friend Lin doesn’t make an issue of it, we won’t hold it against you either."

"Best that way."

Lian Jiuyou laughed lightly.

"We’ll take our leave first. Farewell." Lin Qianmo bid farewell and led the Red Dust Demon Sect members eastward.

Four Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillars supported the four corners of heaven and earth.

Ao Bing, Yue Ruyi, and the others also set off toward the south.

"Your Majesty, their target seems to be those four pillars," said the White Tiger King, his gaze piercing and body radiating fierce energy.

"These should be the legendary Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillars; there are four in total. It’s said that at the beginning of creation, four pillars held up heaven and earth. The Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillars are merely replicas of those."

"The Unsurpassed Divine Mountain holds many wonders; no need to compete with them."

Lian Jiuyou spoke solemnly.

"What a pity." The Golden Crow King sighed with profound regret. Even as replicas, they were four imperial weapons, embodying the profound mysteries to become an emperor, holding immeasurable value.

"We know." Lian Jiuyou said, "It is nearly impossible for them to obtain the Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillars."

"Once the Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillars are removed, the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain will collapse into the primordial chaos, bringing utter annihilation. They lack such capability."

"Your Majesty is wise."

The three kings’ eyes brightened.

"That rainbow bridge looks peculiar. Let’s investigate." Lian Jiuyou’s gaze rested on the seven-colored rainbow bridge, which seemed to be a void passage leading to an unknown place.

The group immediately flew towards the rainbow bridge.

—

On the other side.

After half a day, Lin Qianmo and the others arrived beneath the eastern Heaven-supporting Pillar.

The Unsurpassed Divine Mountain was vast and draped with residual supernatural powers, fraught with deadly hazards. Even cultivators like Lin Qianmo and her party tread as if walking on thin ice, forced to proceed with extreme caution.

Yang Xuanzhan gazed at the Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillar, utterly awestruck as if seeing Heaven and Man.

The Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillar rose directly from the earth into the clouds. Mysterious divine patterns were carved onto its surface, exuding a vast and ancient aura that was profoundly daunting.

It truly seemed to be holding up heaven and earth.

"If Emperor Venerable Buzhou could forge the Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillars, does it mean he witnessed the legendary Four Heavenly Pillars?" Lan Youruo asked, her beautiful eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Impossible."

Lin Qianmo’s tone was decisive. "The Four Heavenly Pillars are treasures from the creation of the heavens themselves, destroyed in calamities many epochs ago. They no longer exist in this world."

Nangong Zhandao looked at Lin Qianmo with surprise.

From his first meeting with Lin Qianmo to this day, she had always shown an air of profound mystery, seeming to know everything. This breadth of knowledge was clearly beyond something an ordinary cultivator could possess.

In Nangong Zhandao’s heart, she stood second only to Ye Xu.

"Master," Ye Hongchen asked, "does this Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillar hold some great opportunity? I can’t perceive its secret."

"Your cultivation level is too low to sense the presence of the Dao within it."

Lin Qianmo smiled. "This is an imperial weapon. It has endured heavenly tribulation and embodies profound mysteries of the great Dao."

"However, its spirit of the furnace was extinguished, and its supreme Dao was shattered; it scarcely qualifies as a complete imperial weapon."

Lan Youruo nodded. "The four Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillars should form a complete set of imperial weapons. Since this Eastern Heavenly Pillar is shattered, the other three Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillars are surely damaged too."

"Emperor Venerable Buzhou’s final battle must have been extraordinarily brutal."

"It’s a pity the Master didn’t reveal the truth behind Emperor Venerable Buzhou’s fall."

An Emperor Venerable possessed a lifespan spanning millions of years, even approaching ten million.

In the mortal realm, such a title signified near-invincibility.

Yet Emperor Venerable Buzhou perished, his Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillars stripped of their Dao and spirit of the furnace; the sheer terror of that battle was unimaginable.

"You may attempt to comprehend its essence, see if you can gain insight," Lin Qianmo said, addressing Nangong Zhandao and the others.

"Can I try as well?" Yang Xuanzhan asked cautiously.

Lin Qianmo nodded.

Though only a saint realm beginner, with weak cultivation, Yang Xuanzhan was Ye Xu’s servant. Ye Xu specifically named him to enter the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain, clearly conveying an intent to nurture him. The jade slip recording the mountain’s secrets was Ye Xu’s gift.

"Thank you, Seniors."

Yang Xuanzhan bowed deeply with utmost respect. After thanking them, he sat cross-legged, extending his Divine Sense to begin comprehending the profound mysteries of the Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillar.

Ye Hongchen also sat in the lotus position.

Nangong Zhandao activated the Xuan Du Forgetting Emotions Heaven Book, immediately entering a state of profound emptiness, shedding all worldly concerns to probe its secrets.

"The top name on the Hidden Dragon List is indeed extraordinary."

Lin Qianmo offered praise.

To effortlessly enter a state of transcendent clarity and enlightenment at any moment required monstrous talent. Even Lan Youruo couldn’t achieve this.

"Sister, after the great change, within three centuries at most, he can prove his Dao," Lin Qianmo stated solemnly.

Lan Youruo wore a complex expression.

"By then, would he grasp the Profound Forgetfulness, forsaking mere sentiment? Like he forgot Mo Nansu, would he forget me too?"

The tragedy of Mo Nansu upon the Penitence Cliff was seared into Lan Youruo’s memory.

She was overwhelmed by conflicting emotions.

"The longer you stay with him, the deeper your wounds will be," Lin Qianmo said. "Profound Forgetfulness is a state akin to the Heavenly Dao."

"All living beings are equal; all creation possesses spirit."

"In his heart, you would hold no distinction from any other person."

"I advised you before. How you proceed from here is your choice to make."

Lan Youruo smiled bitterly.

Qi Ruyu, standing beside them, was also entangled in complex feelings.

Nangong Zhandao’s affection was readily given, yet what he truly sought remained forever out of reach.

"Indeed, differences exist between people."

Woo!

Abruptly.

A chanting sound emanated from the Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillars. Waves of divine patterns materialized, the once-scattered symbols seemingly coalescing into characters.

Countless characters formed themselves into a scripture.

Yang Xuanzhan and Ye Hongchen were both startled awake.

The two looked towards Nangong Zhandao.

The recent disturbance had been caused by Nangong Zhandao.

They had been deep in comprehension when they were suddenly repelled; their Divine Senses forcibly expelled from the Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillars, instantly jolting them back to full awareness.

"Nangong Zhandao has comprehended the mysteries of the Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillars, so the pillar’s residual consciousness expelled our Divine Senses?" Ye Hongchen, sharp and intelligent, immediately guessed the answer.

"Is this the power of the number one on the Hidden Dragon List?" Yang Xuanzhan held not a trace of jealousy, only admiration shining in his eyes.

"A good guess," Lin Qianmo stated. "He comprehended its core mystery."

"This scripture must be the technique concealed within the Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillars."

Character after character shimmered and flew directly into Nangong Zhandao’s mind.

As the divine patterns flowed out, a faint crack suddenly appeared on the Unsurpassed Heavenly Pillars, gradually spreading wider.

It was as if its vital essence was being drained.

Nangong Zhandao’s aura surged ceaselessly.

He rose from the early-stage saint realm to the peak of early-stage saint realm.

Then, with a distinct pop, he advanced into the mid-stage saint realm.

But his advancement didn’t stop there.

Ye Hongchen and Yang Xuanzhan watched with immense envy.

It must be noted, just days prior, Nangong Zhandao had barely broken through into sainthood.

A mere few days later, he had reached the mid-stage saint realm.

He truly lived up to being a favored child of heaven.

The elder hadn’t deceived them.

Lan Youruo witnessed this, finding little cause for joy.

The more powerful Nangong Zhandao became, the closer he moved to the state of supreme indifference.

The love between them would grow ever paler.

Lan Youruo couldn’t bear to sever this bond.

She could only wish for that day to arrive a little later.

A stick of incense passed.

Nangong Zhandao’s aura gradually stabilized; his cultivation had reached the peak of the mid-stage saint realm, yet there wasn’t a single trace of instability in his presence.

His foundation was far too profound. Even consecutive breakthroughs through multiple realms failed to affect his base.

"This scripture is somewhat interesting," Nangong Zhandao opened his eyes. He had already committed the scripture to memory.

"This seems to be only one quarter," Lin Qianmo observed.

"Correct," Nangong Zhandao nodded. "It’s called the Heaven’s Ultimate Four Symbols Scripture, an Emperor Venerable-level heart technique. Only by gathering the other three manuals would it be considered complete."

"I surmise the complete method constitutes an Emperor Venerable-level heart technique."

"Sadly, this technique is useless to me."

"……."

Ye Hongchen, Yang Xuanzhan, and Qi Ruyu wore expressions utterly drained of hope.

An Emperor Venerable-level heart technique, placed within the entire Yuan Realm, was counted among the very pinnacle of techniques. Yet Nangong Zhandao could nonchalantly declare "useless to me" – it was the ultimate in humblebragging.

Comparisons really are murderous.

At this moment, Yang Xuanzhan truly understood the meaning of those words.

Nangong Zhandao remained completely indifferent.

His Xuan Du Forgetting Emotions Heaven Book surpassed the Heaven’s Ultimate Four Symbols Scripture by incalculable degrees. With his vision, a mere Emperor Venerable level technique was naturally beneath his notice.

"If any of you desire it," Nangong Zhandao smiled, "I can pass it to you."

"This is an Emperor Venerable-level technique!" Yang Xuanzhan stared, utterly incredulous.

"Merely a cultivation technique," Nangong Zhandao dismissed it casually. "If mastering an Emperor Venerable-level technique guaranteed reaching the Emperor Venerable realm, the all realms would be swarming with Emperor Venerables long ago."

"……."

The three of them couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry.

His intention was clearly kind, yet Nangong Zhandao’s words somehow sounded incredibly awkward.