Chapter 188

Chapter 188: Destiny’s Opportunity

In the area where the Blood Forest had once stood, delicate, fragmented strands of blood-red sword energy began to emerge.

Each strand was as fine as a hair, clearly shattered, leaving behind only remnants.

Yet, their numbers were overwhelming.

When fully revealed, they densely stained the void of this region in a deep blood-red hue.

Even the faintest strand of sword energy howled with a terrifying sharpness.

Now, these blood-red sword energies surged as if finding an outlet, converging like rivers toward the west.

There stood a pure white crane, unblemished and extraordinary, radiating a divine aura…

The white crane stretched its wings and let out a long, resonant cry, resembling an unmatched divine sword being drawn from its sheath, its brilliance sending ripples through the surrounding space.

Its feathers stood upright—each one resembling a blade.

This crane was demonstrating an unparalleled sword path.

The sword path was mysterious and profound, drawing the fragmented blood-red sword energy from the void and directing it toward itself.

“This, this is—!” Flower Phantom gasped in astonishment.

It had taken her considerable time to integrate even a single trace of blood-red sword energy into her Hell Slayer Sword Path.

In stark contrast, the white crane forcibly extracted the energy, gathering all the swirling blood-red sword energy, merging it into its upright feathers, which now bore intricate blood-red sword patterns.

This was true assimilation.

Without question, in terms of the sword path, the white crane had reached an astonishing level.

Even Zhang Yang couldn’t help but regard it with newfound admiration.

So powerful. So extraordinary.

In the white crane’s eyes, a dazzling light shone. Upon closer inspection, countless strands of blood-red sword energy boiled within its pupils, simultaneously being purified.

It was using its own sword path to purify the blood-red sword energy, completely transforming it into its own sword path while refining itself.

This vast amount of blood-red sword energy lasted only a moment before the white crane completely absorbed it.

“Zzzz~~”

The white crane let out a long, resonant cry, causing ripples in the void, as if an unrivaled sword had been unsheathed—it had grown even more powerful.

Having completed its absorption, the white crane cast a glance at Zhang Yang before soaring high into the sky.

Flower Phantom murmured, “Such a formidable sword path… it might not even be inferior to Ye Kuanglan’s.”

Until now, the only individuals from this generation who had earned Zhang Yang’s respect were the Seventh Prince and Ye Kuanglan—and now, a miraculous white crane had joined their ranks.

“The Daybreak Phoenix Ruins truly is a turning point of destiny,” Zhang Yang reflected.

Many would undergo profound changes because of the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, while others would die in battle and be buried here.

Everything depended on one’s fortune.

They continued forward.

After traveling over fifty miles, the sound of a flute caught their attention.

The melody was ethereal, distant, and otherworldly, instilling a sense of peace within the heart. It felt as if the soul were being cleansed, bringing an overwhelming sensation of tranquility—almost as though one were on the verge of transcending to immortality.

It was truly miraculous.

They altered their path and moved toward the source of the flute’s music.

Soon, they came upon a softly glowing rock, above which hovered a verdant flute.

No one was playing it; the flute seemed to play on its own.

“The Holy Flute!”

Zhang Yang, well-acquainted with holy weapons, instantly recognized it as the Holy Flute, which likely contained the Saint Path inheritance.

As the Holy Flute played, its enchanting notes caused the surrounding flora to grow at a visible rate—blossoming, only to wither shortly thereafter.

The flute’s melody orchestrated the blooming and fading of flowers, as if it were enacting some profound aspect of the Saint’s Path.

“Many are approaching,” murmured Flower Phantom.

Zhang Yang had already noticed and paid no heed.

The Holy Flute, containing the Saint Path inheritance, could only remain here if there were guardians of the saint’s path nearby—akin to the path of the dead saint and the seven-colored soil. Otherwise, how could it have endured?

Yet, Zhang Yang was intrigued. Why had the Holy Flute suddenly begun to play on its own?

At a certain moment, the flute’s melody turned low and mournful, like echoes from distant ancient times. It gently rotated, casting threads of green light that coalesced into green paths, each extending toward seventeen individuals in seventeen different directions.

Each person stood before a path.

"It is selecting its inheritors!"

"Years ago, someone discovered the Holy Flute but could not approach it. This year, it is actively choosing inheritors."

"Who cares? Let’s try our luck. Perhaps we will be favored by destiny and receive the Saint Path inheritance."

Excitement surged as many stepped onto the green paths, their hearts filled with hope.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

A series of crisp shattering sounds rang out.

Almost everyone who stepped onto the green paths found them breaking beneath their feet—without exception.

This was clearly the Holy Flute’s rejection, an undeniable sign that they were unrecognized.

Flower Phantom stepped forward and tried—but her path shattered as well.

Though she felt a twinge of frustration, she remained composed. She had never truly believed the Saint Path inheritance would be so easily attainable.

Zhang Yang also made an attempt.

Crack!

Unsurprisingly, his path also shattered.

He chuckled and shrugged. This refined path of the saint did not suit him. Even if it were offered to him, it would be like the inheritance of the Soaring Saint—destined for those in the Vast Forest, not for him.

Through his Insights into the Baxiang Roaring Picture, he had long grasped the principle of giving and receiving, and so his heart remained tranquil.

Not every path of the saint was meant for a single person to possess.

There would always be things beyond one’s reach.

There would always be one person who was the most suitable.

For instance—the only unbroken green path, the Great Path, was now being traversed by a young man who appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old.

Dressed in black, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he walked step by step toward the Holy Flute.

As the black-clothed man approached within ten meters of the Holy Flute, the melody transformed into a serene tune. Strands of holy aura emanated from it, settling upon him.

His bones resonated with energy, and his flesh glowed as he underwent refinement.

With every three steps, he achieved a breakthrough, continuously ascending in realm.

By the time he reached the Holy Flute, he had already broken through three times, attaining the fifth level of the Ascending to Heaven realm.

He extended his hand and grasped the Holy Flute.

A surge of holy light erupted from within, enveloping him completely.

In mere moments, the black-clothed man let out a triumphant laugh, his gaze lifting toward the sky.

"Today, I have received the Saint Path inheritance and laid the foundation for the path of a saint! In the future, I shall become a saint!"

With the Holy Flute in hand, the black-clothed man soared into the heavens, disappearing into the distance.

Some, unwilling to let him go, gathered into a group and pursued him.

Zhang Yang and Flower Phantom continued their journey.

Along the way, Flower Phantom’s Qian Kun Spirit Plate chimed repeatedly.

“So that’s how it is,” she murmured to herself.

Zhang Yang cast a questioning glance her way.

Flower Phantom explained, “Master, many holy treasures and Saint Path inheritances have been claimed by others in the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins recently. According to the joint analysis of the Great Xia Empire and the Ghostly Divine Platform, this is likely due to the destruction caused by your tribulation. The tribulation has made the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins no longer as pure as it once was. As a result, many opportunities that were previously only observable but untouchable have now emerged.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yang couldn’t help but look up at the sky.

Above, dark spots and lines marked the remnants of the black lightning tribulation.

Indeed, the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins were no longer pure.

But this also meant the ruins would now offer more opportunities to alter one’s destiny.

Such as the white crane.

Such as the young man in black.

Such as the great opportunity of the green mountain ahead—one that even the combined efforts of the Shura Specters could not unravel.

As they traveled, Flower Phantom continuously received messages and sent out beams of light to gather information.

Eventually, she effortlessly uncovered the identity of the black-clothed man.

"He actually hails from the Golden Cauldron Sacred Land!"

"He is Mo Ding Tian, one of the Seven Little Cauldrons secretly cultivated by the Golden Cauldron Sacred Land!"

"The Seven Little Cauldrons are seven unparalleled geniuses who, since birth, have been placed within the Immortal Artifact Golden Cauldron to bathe in Immortal Light."

As Flower Phantom peeled back the layers of his identity, even Zhang Yang couldn’t help but marvel at the profound heritage of the Golden Cauldron Sacred Land, a legacy spanning over ten thousand years.

This was the source of their strength.

Talents emerged in waves, unceasingly.

But Zhang Yang and Flower Phantom had no intention of concerning themselves with Mo Ding Tian.

Now was the time to seize opportunities.

In due time, as everyone refined their respective gains, a fierce battle would surely ensue.

When they approached the green mountain, they were forced to halt in their tracks.

The green mountain was bleeding.

And it was holy blood!