Chapter 246 Heaven's Spine Mountains (Location)

This mountain range spanned over 5 million li in breadth.

Its peaks rose and fell in an undulating rhythm, formed by the joining of countless mountain ranges.

Within its harsh environment, venomous insects and demonic beasts run rampant, while the terrain remains incredibly complex, making it nearly impossible for ordinary mortals to survive.

However, due to its abundant spiritual veins and numerous high-tier resources, it had become a treasure land where rogue cultivators and demon clans entrenched themselves.

Here, 1 could find quite a few rogue cultivators at the Purple Mansion or even Golden Core stage, as well as secluded Nascent Soul True Monarchs. Deep within the mountain range, there even lurked several Nascent Soul Demon Emperors.

What truly made Eldrin wary was the Ridge of the Black Fiend, for it was a territory controlled by demonic cultivators.

Legend has it that the Ji Immortal Clan (Person Name) has assaulted the Ridge of the Black Fiend (Location) numerous times over thousands of years, vanquishing it again and again in ancient eras. Yet, every millennium, the Ridge of the Black Fiend (Location) would resurge, giving birth to new Nascent Soul demonic cultivators.

The current master of the Ridge of the Black Fiend is the Black Fiend Ancestor, a formidable demonic cultivator who has reached the late Nascent Soul stage. This fiend practices the sinister art of Black Fiend Demonic Qi, wielding power that places him among the most feared entities in the cultivation world.

After the Black Fiend Elder Demon occupied the Ridge of the Black Fiend (Location) 3 100 years ago, the Ji Clan launched 2 consecutive assaults on the Ridge of the Black Fiend (Location), yet they ultimately failed to eradicate the Ridge of the Black Fiend (Location).

What sent chills down 1’s spine was that in the Eastern Wastelands (Location), there were many forbidden zones for demonic cultivators similar to the Ridge of the Black Fiend (Location). Even if righteous cultivators paid a bloody price to eradicate them completely, they would always resurge after a 1000 years.

Moreover, new forbidden lands for demonic cultivators emerge periodically. For instance, the Demonic Abyss Cavern came into existence 1,300 years ago and has since continuously attracted countless demonic cultivators to practice cultivation within its depths.

It serves as a sanctuary for demonic cultivators, yet also a terrifying den of bloodshed. Its environment is often exceptionally peculiar—righteous cultivators who enter may find their spiritual power corrupted and their strength diminished by a significant margin.

Even if the righteous path experts completely eradicated the demonic cultivation forbidden lands with their Pure Yang Dao techniques, they still found themselves somewhat powerless against the rampant proliferation of these forbidden lands throughout the Eastern Wastelands.

For Eldrin (Person Name), neither the Demon Emperor's territory nor the Ridge of the Black Fiend (Location) were to be provoked.

For the sake of safety, he deliberately detoured for several 100 1000 miles, traversing a 100 1000 miles of untamed wilderness through the territory of Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name).

It is said that Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name), originally named Jiang Haoran, was a renowned Nascent Soul True Monarch in the Eastern Wastelands (Location). He cultivated a righteous aura of unyielding virtue, which made him the natural bane of all demons and evil spirits in the world.

2 1000 years ago, this individual relied on his formidable power to venture deep into Heaven's Spine Mountains, slaying a demon emperor and claiming the majestic Haoran Peak. He carved out a passage for humanity across Jizhou and the Heavenly Abode Continent.

Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) possessed unfathomably profound magical power, striking such awe that even demonic beings of the Nascent Soul realm dared not provoke him lightly. Within his dominion, no demonic entity could exist beyond the Purple Mansion realm.

It was precisely for this reason that Eldrin dared to traverse the vast expanse of the Heaven's Spine Mountains.

He soared all the way from the Heaven's Spine Mountains, flying approximately over 2 million li, only to find the terrain growing increasingly precipitous. The energy expenditure for flight had multiplied severalfold at the very least.

"The altitude here must be nearly 1 100 1000 li."

Gazing at the distant peak piercing the heavens, Eldrin let out a sharp exhale.

Throughout past and present lives, a mountain of such majestic grandeur could truly be considered a rarity seldom witnessed in this world.

At the mountain's peak, the astral winds had grown truly formidable. At this height, even an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator would likely find it difficult to take another step forward.

Only cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage or above could barely manage to fly across by sword, though their spiritual energy consumption would increase dramatically.

Eldrin realized this place must be nearing the highest point of Heaven's Spine Mountains, and urged his flying sword forward.

After flying approximately a 100 1000 miles, Eldrin spotted a majestic city at the edge of a vast expanse of snow-capped mountains.

Haoran Peak.

The Verdant Summit was the sacred abode of Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name). Most human cultivators passing through the Heaven's Spine Mountains (Location) would stop here to rest.

Moved by the achievements of Magnus the Virtuous Lord, most cultivators would pay homage to him and offer a sum of spirit stones as support.

Eldrin soared into Haoran City, only to discover that while cultivators were not numerous here, every single 1 was at least at the Foundation Establishment realm.

There were approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cultivators gathered here, most being Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Purple Manor. Among them, a dozen or so radiated exceptionally powerful auras—evidently all were Golden Core Realm Zhenren.

"As expected of a True Lord's Daoist sanctum."

A fifth-level Dao Sanctuary possessed power far surpassing that of the Chu Kingdom.

He felt a shock within his heart, yet upon careful reflection, it seemed utterly justified.

The Chu Kingdom (Location) spanned less than 1,000,000 li in any direction—utterly incomparable to the sprawling 30,000,000-li expanse of the Heaven's Spine Mountains (Location).

After paying due respect and offering 5,000 spirit stones, Eldrin did not take his leave immediately.

Having journeyed over a million li, he was utterly exhausted in both body and mind. Ahead lay the even more treacherous Shadowgale Mountains to traverse, and he knew he must fully restore his condition before setting out again.

He rented a cave abode in Haoran City and began circulating his primal qi.

After 2 months of rest, Eldrin felt his spirit had eased somewhat when suddenly, an ancient, drawn-out bell toll echoed from the mountain peak.

Eldrin’s brow twitched slightly. As he stepped out of the cave abode, he saw a crowd of people flying ecstatically toward the source of the bell chimes.

He hesitated for a moment before stopping a Foundation Establishment cultivator to ask, "Young friend, what does the tolling of the bell signify? Has something happened?"

The man, initially displeased at being stopped, immediately put on a respectful smile upon realizing the interceptor was a Zifu cultivator.

"You must be new here, Elder?"

Once every 60 years, Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) would hold a grand sermon, where all cultivators under heaven were welcome to attend and listen.

Eldrin was inwardly astonished. For a Nascent Soul True Monarch to elucidate the Dao and expound upon techniques for low-level cultivators—such an opportunity was truly rare.

Most cultivators in Heaven's Spine Mountains (Location) had no ties to Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name), yet this human True Lord intended to preach the Dao for them, guiding them toward their path ahead.

For 2 1000 years, Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) had held a sermon every 60 years, illuminating the doubts of countless cultivators.

With such breadth of vision and indomitable spirit alone, he was fully worthy of the title Magnus the Virtuous Lord. It came as no surprise that Magnus the Virtuous Lord commanded such towering prestige, earning profound respect from every human cultivator he encountered along his path.

With a touch of astonishment, Eldrin soared alongside the crowd to the summit of the Vastrange Mountain.

Atop the snow-capped mountain peak, 3 1000 meditation cushions were arranged in orderly rows upon a training ground.

At the very front were merely a dozen or so seats, each occupied by Golden Core stage cultivators. These revered Golden Core Ancestors, who commanded awe across entire regions, now sat with lowered gazes and subdued demeanor, respectfully awaiting the arrival of Magnus the Virtuous Lord.

Beyond lay over 3 100 futons, each occupied by a Purple Mansion cultivator seated in meditation, while the vast majority at the rear were claimed by Foundation Establishment practitioners.

Eldrin casually selected a prayer mat among the Zifu cultivators and settled upon it, his gaze discreetly sweeping the surroundings as he assessed the area with practiced subtlety.

Among these cultivators, there was not a single familiar face. Seeing him as a new presence with unparalleled grace and features rarely seen in the world, many nodded at him with a faint smile.

A green-robed fairy sat beside him, her gaze fixed on Eldrin as a flicker of surprise passed through her eyes. "Though your cultivation appears profound, your face is unfamiliar to me," she remarked. "You must have come from beyond the Heaven's Spine Mountains."

"Hmm."

He nodded in agreement and said with a smile, "You have a keen eye, Fairy."

Chapter 1: The Discarded Prodigy Mount Azure Summit, Outer Sect Trial Grounds. A young man in blue robes was sent flying, crashing heavily against the cold stone platform. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, yet his eyes burned with unwavering defiance. "Lin Xuan! With your shattered dantian, how dare you linger in the Azure Summit Sect?" A haughty youth in brocade robes stood over him, his tone dripping with mockery. "A mere cripple, and you still dream of participating in the Outer Sect Examination? Know your place!" Lin Xuan struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from his lips. "The sect rules state: any disciple may challenge the trial. Since when does a dog like you make the rules?" "You!" The brocade-robed youth's face flushed with rage. "Fine! Since you seek death, I'll grant your wish!" A surge of spiritual power gathered in his palm, forming a swirling vortex of energy. The surrounding disciples gasped and stepped back. "That's the mid-grade Yellow Tier technique, 'Raging Tiger Palm'! Brother Wang is serious!" "Lin Xuan is done for. His cultivation's already destroyed—how can he withstand this?" Just as the attack was about to land, a cold light flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes. His seemingly broken meridians suddenly surged with an immense, ancient power. Boom! A deafening explosion echoed across the platform. To everyone's astonishment, the brocade-robed youth was sent flying backward, his arm bent at an unnatural angle. Lin Xuan stood tall at the center of the trial ground, his blue robes fluttering despite the absence of wind. "How is this possible?!" The crowd stared in disbelief. Lin Xuan glanced indifferently at his defeated opponent. "3 years ago, I could crush you like an ant. Did you truly believe a sneak attack could destroy me?" He raised his head, his gaze piercing through the clouds toward the distant main peak. "Tell your master that everything taken from me, I will reclaim with my own hands." With that, he turned and descended the mountain, his figure gradually disappearing into the swirling mist. At that moment, deep within a forbidden area of the sect, an ancient jade slip suddenly glowed with a faint light. Lines of text appeared on its surface: [Heir of the Heavenly Dao has awakened] [Target: Lin Xuan] [Cultivation: First Layer of Qi Refining] [Inheritance: Primordial Chaos Codex] An elderly figure shrouded in mist slowly opened his eyes, murmuring to himself, "Finally... the chosen 1 has appeared." Far away, Lin Xuan suddenly shuddered, sensing that some profound change had just occurred within him. He tightened his grip on a strange black ring on his finger—the very inheritance his parents had left him before their disappearance. Little did he know that this ring contained a secret that would shake the entire cultivation world to its core.