Chapter 194: A Marriage Alliance?!
This was a vast, boundless, endless grassland. Lush, verdant green filled the eyes, releasing an exceedingly dense, rich, thriving life force. At one spot on this grassland, a grand, magnificent, towering stone plaza stood erect.
This stone plaza was about a hundred zhang above the ground, supported by countless enormous stone pillars. Seen from afar, it looked like a giant standing between heaven and earth, giving one a sense of spectacular grandeur.
Above this stone plaza, space was warped and distorted in hue. From time to time, silver light flickered and flashed. Figure after figure darted out from within, landing lightly and softly upon the plaza.
And at this moment, this exceedingly enormous plaza was already completely packed and filled with figures. The clamorous, noisy din of voices converged and gathered together, shooting straight into the clouds. This was the Ancient Stone Plaza, extremely close to Ancient Sacred City. Because of the major event in the near future, it was currently exceptionally bustling and lively.
"Fizz, fizz..."
The space in midair once again warped and twisted violently. From within a spatial wormhole, two figures darted out and steadily, firmly landed upon the giant stone platform.
"We're finally about to arrive, huh..."
Gazing at the enormous Ancient Sacred City in the distance, Xiao Yan also gently exhaled a breath. Yet within his heart, a blazing, burning fervor quietly, silently crept upward. That devastatingly beautiful, heart-stoppingly lovely, alluring face grew increasingly, ever more vivid and clear within his mind.
"Heh heh... Xiao Yanzi, from here on out, it's all up to you!" Yao Chen gazed at the distant city, sensing the auras of the arriving people all around. Looking at Xiao Yan with a face full of smiles, he spoke.
"Mm!" Hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded with a resolute, unwavering expression. Everything stemmed from strength. To the Xiao Yan of back then—weak as an ant, a mere Da Dou Shi at the Yun Lan Sect—the Gu clan had been an endless, bottomless abyss, its end utterly beyond sight. But to the Xiao Yan of today—he already had the qualifications to say with confidence that he could stand by Gu Xun'er's side.
The powerful, formidable strength within him filled him with boundless confidence for this trip.
"Let's go!"
Watching the brimming-with-confidence Xiao Yan, Yao Chen nodded. Without further delay, the two figures moved, shooting up into the sky and flying swiftly toward the distant outline of the city.
In the four directions of the void surrounding Ancient Sacred City, figure after figure rapidly closed in like blazing meteors. Among them were no shortage of Dou Zong and even Dou Zun experts.
The Central Plains was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers—this was never, ever an empty phrase. Among these people heading to Ancient Sacred City, there were many experts, no small number of whom were in no way inferior to the elders of some first-rate powers. Yet on ordinary days, they never showed themselves, never revealed their abilities—low-key to a terrifying, uncanny degree.
Among the crowd were not a few who recognized Xiao Yan and Yao Chen. Upon seeing them, quite a number of people offered kind, benevolent smiles.
Alchemists were respected and revered everywhere on the continent—let alone Yao Chen, a ninth-tier Treasure Pill Grandmaster.
Though the grassland was vast and expansive, to people like Xiao Yan and the others, it amounted to nothing at all. In under a short, brief ten minutes, that faintly, indistinctly visible enormous city clearly and distinctly appeared within Xiao Yan and the others' field of vision.
The city was rather ancient and unadorned, built from pale-cyan giant rock. An exceptionally ancient, primordial aura spread forth from within the city, allowing one to faintly, slightly perceive and appreciate that flavor of distant, remote antiquity.
This ancient city was wrapped and enveloped within a layer of somewhat faintly, slightly transparent light barrier. The light barrier seemed thin and fragile on the surface—yet it gave everyone a sense of oppressive might that seemed to originate from the very soul itself.
This oppressive might made the complexions of quite a few people change. Some experts familiar with the origins of this city had expressions tinged with even more reverence and awe.
"The living spaces of the eight ancient clans were all personally carved out and opened up by the Dou Di. The buildings within were also constructed by Dou Di experts. This light barrier—it contains a single trace of the power of a Dou Di. With this light barrier protecting them, the various clans can be said to be as secure and impenetrable as a fortress of solid metal."
Yao Chen spoke in a low voice to Xiao Yan beside him. Regarding these cities, his understanding was quite deep and profound.
After all, the Yao clan of the past had also been the same.
"Let's go. Once we're here, we can no longer fly. All the clans have this rule—within a thousand zhang of the Sacred City, flying is forbidden, as a sign of reverence and awe toward the Dou Di experts."
Yao Chen smiled and led Xiao Yan down to the ground. After landing, the two's speed did not decrease in the slightest. Transforming into blurry, indistinct figures, they shot forth like lightning toward that ancient city.
At the city gate of Ancient Sacred City, streams of people came and went—a rare, uncommon sight. The interior of Ancient Sacred City was an important territory of the Gu clan. Entry was generally forbidden. Only the true, genuine experts of the Gu clan were exempt from this rule.
The two arrived at the entrance of Ancient Sacred City. On both sides of the city gate, nearly a hundred figures clad in black armor stood ramrod-straight, spears in hand. Their sharp, piercing, icy-cold gazes continuously swept over the surroundings.
Wave after wave of formidable, powerful auras swept through the four directions. Aura after formidable, powerful aura emanated and spread forth from within these figures' bodies.
And Xiao Yan, within the crowd, also spotted a familiar figure.
There, a long-haired man clad in form-fitting attire—upon seeing Xiao Yan—had a complicated, tangled look flicker and vanish in a flash within his eyes. Slowly, he walked toward Xiao Yan. With an utterly calm, composed expression, he spoke, "As expected... you came after all."
"There is a reason I absolutely had to be here!" Xiao Yan stared at Gu Zhen with a face full of utter seriousness and spoke in a deep voice.
"Even though you've already reached nine-star Dou Zun and have defeated quite a few geniuses of the imperial clans... still..." Gu Zhen paused for a moment. Enunciating each word with careful, deliberate emphasis, he said, "It's not enough."
"I know. Dou Sheng, right? I'll reach it. But today—I absolutely will not be absent!" Xiao Yan shrugged and spoke with a face full of relaxed ease. Dou Sheng—which to ordinary people was harder than ascending to the heavens—sounded, coming from his mouth, as if it were a realm he could casually, effortlessly achieve.
"..." Toward Xiao Yan's words, Gu Zhen fell into a heavy, speechless silence. Shaking his head, he turned toward Yao Chen and spoke with respect, "Medicine Saint, welcome to Ancient Sacred City."
Alchemists of Yao Chen's level were rare and scarce existences in every clan. The Mystic Pill Grandmasters on the continent could be counted on one's fingers—and regrettably, none of them were in the Gu clan. Toward Yao Chen's alchemy, Gu Zhen was still full of admiration and respect.
"Much obliged!" A faint smile on his face, Yao Chen spoke to Gu Zhen.
Entering this Sacred Ancient City, which was saturated with an ancient, primordial air—with the Gu clan's coming-of-age ceremony drawing near—Ancient Sacred City was, at present, also relatively bustling and lively.
On the main streets, streams of people could still be seen with some regularity. Though the flow of people was nothing as terrifying as in other cities, those who could walk and move about within this city were, for the most part, experts of no small or insignificant strength.
After strolling and wandering around Sacred Ancient City for a bit, the two arrived at the city center. There, a manor estate and pavilions covering an exceedingly vast, expansive area stood towering and erect. At the entrance of that estate, an endless, continuous stream of figures came and went, emerging and entering. Aura after aura of formidable, powerful strength pervaded and spread.
This was the temporary lodging the Gu clan had prepared for the powers who had come to attend the coming-of-age ceremony.
The two had arrived rather early. A large number of people and groups had yet to arrive, so the Gu Realm had, for the time being, not yet been opened.
"The Yan clan's people still haven't arrived?"
Hearing Gu Yuan's words, the entire great hall fell utterly, completely silent because of this. The Gu clan elders below exchanged glances and looks. They had never, ever imagined—tomorrow was the day the Gu clan would hold its coming-of-age ceremony. How could the Yan clan's people still not have arrived?!
The relationship between the Yan clan and the Gu clan—though not particularly close and intimate—was not bad or hostile either. And now, they wouldn't even give them this much face?!
It had to be known that even the Hun clan—whose relationship with the Gu clan was the absolute worst and most hostile—had still sent people to attend.
At last, an elder of the two-star Dou Sheng level spoke up: "Clan Leader—the Yan clan's jade invitation was indeed delivered. For them to still not have arrived by now—I'm afraid they must have been delayed by some matter!"
"In that case... there's no need to wait for them. After the coming-of-age ceremony is over, we'll go to the Yan clan and see exactly what the situation is," Gu Yuan nodded and spoke, looking at the crowd.
"Yes!" That elder acknowledged and nodded, falling silent.
No matter what the reason—after the matter was over, they would have to thoroughly investigate and get to the bottom of it. If Yan Jin had achieved some kind of breakthrough in strength and the Yan clan was on lockdown and high alert—it wasn't entirely outside the realm of possibility.
If that were indeed the case, the Gu clan would also be able to learn of the Yan clan's situation in a timely manner.
"Clan Leader—the descendant of the Xiao clan has also come to the Gu Realm this time. Should we..." At this moment, Gu Dao—one of the Gu clan's Three Immortals—looked at Gu Yuan, his gaze flickering as he spoke.
What Gu Xun'er had said—that the Xiao clan did not have the ancient jade—had indeed fooled and deceived them at the very start. But after so long, they naturally also had means of finding out whether this matter was true or false.
Yet, all this time, due to all manner of obstructions and hindrances from Gu Xun'er—whose strength had grown ever more terrifying—the Gu clan had not taken the initiative to go and reclaim this piece of ancient jade.
Now that Xiao Yan had, rarely and fortuitously, come onto the Gu clan's territory—could it be that...
Although gathering all eight pieces of ancient jade was harder than reaching the heavens themselves—still, having one more piece was one more sliver of hope, was it not?
"I shall decide this matter myself!" Gu Yuan stared at Gu Dao and spoke with an utterly calm, composed expression.
He naturally wanted the ancient jade. But Gu Xun'er's stance and attitude—he also could not disregard. Not only because she was his own daughter, but also because she was the leading figure and standard-bearer of the Gu clan's next generation.
"Who has come from the Pill Tower?" Just then, Gu Lie beside him suddenly spoke up and asked.
Hearing Gu Lie's words, everyone's hearts stirred. Their expressions immediately turned subtle, nuanced, and deeply meaningful. They naturally knew exactly who Gu Lie was asking about when he asked about the Pill Tower.
Jiang Yun—that monster whose participation they had been forced to personally intervene and restrict. The journey to the Bodhi Ancient Tree—though they had 'successfully' ensured he 'gained nothing'—by now, it had already been nearly four years without any word or news of him.
With the terrifying, shocking talent he had previously displayed—just what level had he now reached? Had he broken through to Half-Saint or not? It was still utterly unknown.
Gu Yuan also cast a curious gaze over. It had to be known that back when Jiang Yun had just begun to reveal such terrifying, shocking talent, voices within the clan had even spoken of seeking him as a son-in-law. Among them, the suggestion of Gu Xun'er as the leading figure was not unheard of either.
Thus, toward this genius who had 'narrowly' nearly become his son-in-law, he, too, carried a heart full of curiosity.
"It seems... it's one of the three great heads—Xuan Kongzi—leading the group. Those who came are his disciple, as well as several core disciples of the Pill Tower." After a long while, an elder spoke up hesitantly and uncertainly.
"Jiang Yun didn't come?" Upon hearing this result, a look of undisguised, irrepressible disappointment flashed through Gu Lie's eyes. He spoke directly and bluntly.
"It seems even the Pill Tower hasn't had any news of him for a long time, either. No one knows where he's gone."
"What a pity..."
After learning the latest news of Jiang Yun, the crowd also withdrew their gazes. With the composed, self-assured air of senior deities, they sat in their seats.
"The matter of presiding over the ceremony—I leave it to Elder Gu Ling," Gu Yuan said, looking toward an exceedingly aged, ancient figure within the great hall after obtaining his answer.
"This old man is duty-bound and most honored!" The elder named Gu Ling rose to his feet and spoke with a face full of fervent, surging emotion. His strength was utterly unremarkable and ordinary among the crowd—only a peak one-star Dou Sheng. But his seniority and generational standing were above the greater part of everyone in this great hall.
To preside over the coming-of-age ceremony—to him, it was an honor and a privilege.
"All elders—return and make your respective preparations!"
"I would have thought you'd completely devour and consume it," Zhu Kun said, holding the golden thunder pearl in his hand. The look in his eyes as he gazed at Jiang Yun carried a trace of surprise and unexpectedness.
"A Nine Mysterious Golden Thunder that has managed to reach the stage of gathering spiritual intelligence is far, far too rare. In the entire long, sprawling history of the Dou Qi Continent, it's very possible that only this single one has ever emerged. In acting as I did... I suppose you could say I've formed a thread of positive karma," Jiang Yun smiled and shook his head, speaking softly.
"Mm... true. A Nine Mysterious Golden Thunder that has reached the stage of gathering spiritual intelligence... in certain respects, it is just like that old fellow, Tuo She Ancient Emperor. If there were sufficient Origin Qi, it could also become a Thunder Emperor, just like Tuo She Ancient Emperor. This old man is rather curious to see what it will look like after it gathers spiritual intelligence!" Zhu Kun nodded, his face full of wistful, emotional sigh as he spoke. Finishing, he casually tossed the golden thunder pearl in his palm. It landed precisely and accurately on the table beside Jiang Yun.
"Your time is running short. The Hun clan is already nearly in possession of all the necessary conditions!" Zhu Kun's expression now turned somewhat grave and solemn. The Hun clan's movements could be concealed and hidden from the Gu clan, the Yao clan, and the others—
but they could not be hidden from an Emperor Realm soul that had been paying attention and watching in advance. He had already accurately and precisely detected the Hun clan's movements as they closed in on the Shi clan and the Ling clan.
Once these two clans were annihilated—of the remaining three clans, none would any longer possess the ability to block or halt the Hun clan's footsteps.
"Mm!" Noticing Zhu Kun's grave, solemn expression, Jiang Yun also nodded with grave seriousness. Lowering his head, he gazed at the golden thunder pearl resting silently and quietly on the table.
"Boom—"
At the edge of Dragon Island, amidst a secluded, tranquil mountain peak, a thunderous, rumbling crash rang out from within the void. Anyone atop it could clearly and distinctly sense that energy was continuously, unceasingly being drawn and extracted from the void, converging and gathering toward this spot.
In the blink of an eye, the energy atop this mountain peak had concentrated and condensed to a terrifying, shocking degree.
After doing all this, Jiang Yun's hands also formed a hand seal. A beam of golden light shot forth from his hand.
"Rumble!"
As this beam of golden light shot out, the sky immediately rumbled and boomed with deafening, thunderous crashes.
The golden light swelled and expanded with the wind. In but the short, fleeting blink of an eye, it had expanded into a golden thunder dragon a full several thousand zhang wide. Enormous electric arcs flickered and flashed madly and wildly across the surface of its body. The rumbling, booming sounds brought wave after wave of rolling thunder and violent explosions in the sky above.
Gazing at that golden thunder dragon—pervaded and saturated with terrifying, dreadful oppressive might—in the sky above, quite a few of the nearby Taixu Ancient Dragons had their complexions change. They immediately hurriedly retreated far, far away. If that thunderous light were to smash down even the slightest bit—no matter how powerful and formidable their physical bodies were, I'm afraid a good number of them would be blasted into flying ash and scattered smoke.
"How truly magnificent and spectacular... It has been so many years since I last laid eyes upon the Nine Mysterious Golden Thunder!" Like a phantom or specter, Zhu Ming soundlessly, silently appeared beside Zhu Kun. Gazing at the Nine Mysterious Golden Thunder in the sky above, within his murky, turbid eyes lingered faint, subtle traces of distant recollection and reminiscence.
"Perhaps... in the days to come, the number of times the Nine Mysterious Golden Thunder will be seen on Dragon Island won't be small at all." Hearing this, a smile on his face, Zhu Kun gazed at the colossal, titanic entity in the distance.
Hearing this, Zhu Ming was momentarily taken aback. Then, immediately catching on, he burst into great, hearty laughter. "Then this old man shall wait and see with eager anticipation!"
Listening to the two's conversation beside her ears, Xiao Yi Xian gazed with a face full of gentle, tender warmth at the figure beneath that golden thunder dragon.