Chapter 99

Chapter 99: The Divine Mountain Descends, the Ancient Tree

Boom!

The ground abruptly shattered piece by piece. Thick black mist surged up from beneath, transforming into a vast shadow that continuously writhed, dense enough to block out the sunlight.

It emitted a piercing roar, the black mist churning, annihilating all life force.

Long Tuo immediately activated his magical power. Two divine beams of light rose from his eyes, allowing him to penetrate the black mist.

Hidden within the black mist was an enormous insect resembling a mountain of flesh, its entire body covered in black scales. It had six legs and a pair of purple, fleshy wings.

The beast’s roar was like that of a lion, piercing through the void to directly assail the soul.

This was a sonic attack.

"Is this the true form of the Poison Emperor?" Long Tuo was both alarmed and awestruck. The strength of this flesh-worm was on par with his own. Even he would not dare rush recklessly into that writhing black mist.

"No."

Yue Ruyi said: "The Poison Emperor possesses such formidable strength that he could contend with a Great Emperor. This venomous creature only has mid quasi-emperor level cultivation. Furthermore, it has no spirit, merely an empty shell."

"The one controlling it is likely the Poison Emperor himself."

"An empty shell?"

Qi Ruyu and the others were astonished.

Such a powerful venomous creature was actually just a puppet?

The Poison Emperor was truly formidable!

"Venerable Poison, I am the Eastern Sea Dragon King. Along with our dear friends, we wish to accomplish something within the Poisonous Forest. We request that you accommodate us," Ao Bing declared loudly.

"What matter?" a strange, genderless voice emerged from the flesh-worm’s body.

"The Unsurpassed Divine Mountain is hidden within the Poisonous Forest. We intend to draw forth the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain for its descent into the world," Ao Bing continued.

"The Unsurpassed Divine Mountain?"

A bizarre laugh came from within the flesh-worm, accompanied by a rumbling sound as the insect burrowed into the ground. A pale, ghostly light drifted out from its empty shell.

The glow condensed into a human figure – a young girl draped in sheer black gauze with a perfectly proportioned figure.

"I detest the sun."

The Poison Emperor’s voice was like tinkling silver bells. A delicate hand waved, and suddenly, a dense forest materialized, stretching for hundreds of miles. Layer upon layer of branches and leaves blocked out the sunlight.

Her beauty was extraordinary, every movement radiating an indescribable allure. Enchantment danced within the curve of her eyes and brows.

"The more beautiful the woman, the more poisonous," Yang Xuanzhan thought silently, a wave of alertness washing over him. That saying truly held water.

"Legend states the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain, a relic of the Emperor Venerable, drifts between the Star Realm, the Spirit Realm, and the Yuan Realm. Without the Unsurpassed Divine Seal, locating it is practically impossible."

The black-shrouded girl’s gaze drifted over the assembled group. "How did you pinpoint its location in the Poisonous Forest?"

Confusion flickered in her eyes.

As the Poison Emperor who had ruled the Poisonous Forest for millions of years, nothing within its bounds escaped her notice.

If the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain truly resided here, she would have known.

The Unsurpassed Divine Mountain hid in the depths of the void, so ordinary people naturally could not perceive its existence. Lin Qianmo said lightly.

I remember you.

Poison Emperor’s eyes were dark and profound, he suddenly changed his voice to hoarse and unpleasant, and his body transformed into a tall man in black.

It was transformed from the kidney of the primordial creature, with no fixed form, and could change freely.

Lin Qianmo smiled slightly and didn’t care.

Ao Bing, Yue Ruyi, and Long Tuo looked slightly changed in expression.

They had long known that Lin Qianmo’s origin was unusual, and at this moment, they were not surprised.

However, judging from Poison Emperor’s expression, it seemed he also greatly feared Lin Qianmo, which surprised them.

After all, Poison Emperor was part of the primordial creature, possessing an immortal body.

How did Lin Qianmo have the ability to make Poison Emperor fear her?

Poison Emperor did not persist with her, he stared at Ao Bing and said, "Did you find the Unsurpassed Divine Seal?"

Hundreds of thousands of years passed, and no one could find the complete Unsurpassed Divine Seal, so naturally we couldn’t find it either.

Ao Bing was too lazy to hide it from him and stated bluntly, To be honest, it was deduced by a master expert.

Old Poison, we did not intend to be enemies with you, I hope you don’t cause trouble for us.

Master?

Poison Emperor sneered mockingly and asked, Does Yuan Realm have masters?

If you don’t believe it, you can personally go to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion in Linglong City to verify it.

Ao Bing showed an impatient expression and urged, Cut the nonsense, give us a clear answer.

Poison Emperor secretly noted it down, he turned around and reverted to the appearance of a girl in black gauze, she giggled and said, The Eastern Sea Dragon King has commanded, so how dare I not comply?

Ao Bing felt his scalp tingle with unease.

If not for the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain, he really did not want to deal with Poison Emperor.

But, while you search for treasure on my turf, what benefit do I get?

Poison Emperor’s gaze was watery, as if it could melt all the steel in the world.

Naturally.

Lin Qianmo made the decision and stated, If you clear a path, we will welcome the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain to descend, and you can enter it without offending each other.

Good.

Poison Emperor looked at Lin Qianmo, transformed back into the man in black, and spoke in a hoarse voice.

Divine Seal fragment!

Lin Qianmo shouted sharply.

Swish!

A purple crystal fragment flew from Ao Lie’s hand towards Lin Qianmo.

Lin Qianmo’s magic power surged into the fragment, and a burst of imperial might erupted violently, sweeping across heaven and earth.

Whoosh!

The next instant, a purple divine light shot upwards into the sky, shattered the void, and flew toward the depths of the void.

Everyone’s Divine Sense closely locked onto the divine light.

Boom!

After a loud roar, everyone witnessed a magnificent scene.

In the deepest part of the void, the outline of a vast Unsurpassed Divine Mountain manifested; it seemed to form a small world of its own, radiating a grand aura.

That purple crystal divine light fell upon the divine mountain, and a purple crystal barrier slowly emerged.

Symbols flowed one by one, like a giant machine, beginning to run constantly; the barrier opened at one corner, revealing a gap.

Rumble!

After a few breaths, under the magic power pull of Lin Qianmo, the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain began moving, slowly flying out from the void depth, crushing chaotic energy, with immense momentum.

"The Unsurpassed Divine Mountain is about to land."

Ao Bing and the others felt both excitement and nervousness.

"Old Poison, your Poisonous Forest likely won’t survive."

Poison Emperor remained unaffected; even if a hundred such Poisonous Forests were destroyed, it would not cause the slightest pain.

Rumble!

The Unsurpassed Divine Mountain descended faster and faster; within about an hour, space was shattered, and it broke free from the void, floating above the Poisonous Forest.

Its terrifying aura instantly evaporated the million-mile ancient forest, turning the Poisonous Forest into a barren wasteland; countless poisonous insects and beasts disintegrated without a trace before they could escape.

This divine mountain was the mountain gate of the Unsurpassed Sacred Ground; after continuous refining, it became a powerful magic treasure, its aura strong enough to kill God Kings or even Saints.

"Is this the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain?"

Qi Ruyu gazed at the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain and marveled at it in awe.

The Unsurpassed Divine Mountain floated between heaven and earth, under the cover of the purple crystal barrier; only a faint outline was visible, but its vast area stretched for tens of thousands of miles.

The entire divine mountain flowed with an ancient and simple Dao rhythm.

"The Unsurpassed Sacred Ground has over seven million years of foundation; this Unsurpassed Divine Mountain, refined over those years, has become a top-tier magic treasure."

Lan Youruo said: "No wonder it could drift in chaotic energy for tens of thousands of years."

"No time to delay, we must enter immediately."

Ao Bing was eager.

The aura of the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain was too terrifying to withstand; at most within an hour, the nearest Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom would detect the commotion from the Poisonous Forest.

Before long, the entire Yuan Realm would be startled.

Whoosh!

Poison Emperor moved first; it transformed into a wisp of dark light, dashing into the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain through the missing barrier corner, while Symbols flowed but failed to stop it.

With one corner missing, for quasi-emperor-level experts, the barrier was full of flaws.

Poison Emperor was a top-level expert, entering the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain as easily as taking a step.

"We can’t let Old Poison get ahead!"

Ao Bing followed right after, also charging toward the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain.

Boom!

At this very moment.

The Poison Emperor whirled around. He sneered coldly, and an ink-like black mist erupted around him. In an instant, the mist obscured one corner of the barrier, blocking Ao Bing’s path.

"Old Poison, you have no honor." Ao Bing flew into a rage and halted abruptly.

"Little reptile, I existed long before your time."

The Poison Emperor’s expression darkened. "Daring to call me ‘Old Poison’ at every turn—do you truly think I won’t lose my temper?"

"This is simply your lesson to learn."

Having spoken, the Poison Emperor vanished.

"The Poison Emperor’s toxins are unparalleled and exceedingly difficult to unravel. What should we do?" Yue Ruyi’s dark brows furrowed slightly, a trace of solemnity in her eyes.

This bridge-burning tactic was truly ruthless.

"Leave it to me."

Lin Qianmo approached the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain. She plucked a wooden hairpin from her hair and flicked it with her finger. The hairpin shot into the black mist.

Hum!

In an instant, the mist churned violently.

The wooden hairpin underwent a startling transformation.

Divine patterns rippled across its surface. The plain hairpin took root and bloomed into a towering ancient tree, bursting with lush foliage. Surging vitality pulsed from it, casting a vibrant emerald glow that pierced through the black mist. The haze dissipated visibly under the light.

Within mere moments, the Poison Emperor’s toxic mist dissolved completely, countered by Lin Qianmo’s artifact.

"As I expected, that woman remains troublesome."

Sensing the disturbance, the Poison Emperor glanced back. He had assumed the form of a man in black, the muscle at the corner of his eye twitching faintly.

He sneered once before vanishing completely.

With the poison dispelled, the wooden hairpin reverted to its original form and dropped into Lin Qianmo’s palm.

Yue Ruyi’s gaze rested on the hairpin. "Daoist friend, is this the Divine Wood of Destiny?"

Lin Qianmo glanced at her in surprise. "Indeed it is," she acknowledged with a smile, "though only a branch."

The Divine Wood of Destiny, also known as the Ancient Tree, was a supreme treasure of life within the world.

Existing since the creation of the heavens and the earth, it was virtually eternal, earning it the title Immortal Tree.

"Truly a remarkable treasure."

Ao Bing couldn’t hide his envy.

This artifact naturally suppressed the Poison Emperor completely. No wonder Lin Qianmo had claimed in the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion that she possessed a countermeasure.

"Let’s proceed."

With a mere thought, Lin Qianmo drew Qi Ruyu and Ye Hongchen into her Purple Palace and soared into the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain.

Lan Youruo walked alongside Nangong Zhandao.

"Yang Xuanzhan, stay close to me. The Eastern Sea Dragon Palace shall shelter you," Ao Lie instructed gravely.

"My thanks, Ninth Prince."

Yang Xuanzhan and Elder Huang tread cautiously as if crossing thin ice.

Within a quarter-hour, they all entered the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain.

Viewed from outside, the mountain stood majestic, magnificent, and beautiful beyond compare—a veritable celestial realm.

The instant they crossed its threshold, however, that impression shattered.

The very landscape inverted.

Charred earth stretched endlessly beneath their feet. Deep fissures spiderwebbed across the fractured void. Colossal bones—belonging to humans, divine clans, the demon clan, and the ancient demon clan—littered the blasted ground, while others drifted weightlessly between jagged peaks.

Above, the heavens wept ash. Star after star burned with faded light; dying suns pulsed sluggishly overhead like wounded gods. A burning star broke free, plummeting toward the earth in a meteor shroud. Firestorms bloomed across the horizon where it fell, painting entire continents molten red.

A scorched, shattered hellscape—the Unsurpassed Divine Mountain was truly purgatory made manifest.