The benevolent elder figure conjured by the Azure Dragon of the Four Sacred Beasts. Just as Ji Changkong’s soul essence manifested. The Azure Dragon displayed a look of pleased satisfaction, as if to say, “You truly have not disappointed us.”

The phantom of the Azure Dragon was so detailed that even the pores on its face were clearly visible; save for the difference in life form, from an external perspective, one could hardly tell it apart from a true being.

The materialized Azure Dragon stood facing Ji Changkong’s soul body, directly above the head that was already larger than Mount Zhiyue. The Azure Dragon’s myriad soul-thoughts radiated outward, settling before Ji Changkong to convey its intentions.

To eliminate the Ancestral Demon? Was it joking? How immense was the Ancestral Demon’s power? That creature was an ancient life form, just like the Azure Dragon itself!

Ji Changkong was startled, then immediately shook his head. “I fear I lack the ability for such a task. On that strange continent, I once sensed the aura of an Ancestral Demon. The power emanating from it was terrifyingly immense. I don't believe I am its match yet.”

This was the absolute truth. On that unfamiliar continent, he had attempted to use his soul power to probe the Ancestral Demon’s existence. Once his soul delved into the earth, he instantly perceived the horrifying intensity of the Ancestral Demon’s savage demonic energy. Though he never truly grasped the sheer scale of the Ancestral Demon’s physical form, the mere sliver of its soul he perceived was enough to confirm that it was definitely a primeval beast from the Great Desolation Era.

Even if the Ancestral Demon was sealed, it was far beyond his current capability to confront. If the Four Sacred Beasts expected him to face the Ancestral Demon now, it would be sending him to his death.

“Rest assured, we certainly would not ask you to fight him now,” the Azure Dragon smiled kindly. “Once you have dealt with all the demons spawned by the Ancestral Demon, your mission will be complete. From that moment on, you will owe us nothing further. We granted you the power of our bloodline; you eliminated a threat that haunted us for centuries. We are considered even.”

Evenly matched?

Hearing him say that, Ji Changkong felt a profoundly strange sensation. Did this mean that, henceforth, as Xuanyuan, he would have no further duties? Did it imply that he need never concern himself with the affairs of the Four Sacred Beasts again?

“Not only did you slay the demons bred by the Ancestral Demon, but you also helped us fend off a crisis. We understand that without your aid, those outsiders would inevitably have tracked us down,” the Azure Dragon said, smiling at him. “Your actions have exceeded our expectations.”

Frowning as he listened to the Azure Dragon’s words, Ji Changkong suddenly spoke after a moment. “The actual reason I came here today is that I need to ask for your help. I require your assistance.”

“I know you wouldn’t seek me out in this place otherwise. Tell me, how can we assist you?” The Azure Dragon nodded but did not immediately agree.

Without much hesitation, Ji Changkong laid out his plans one by one, clearly explaining his strategies for dealing with the leader of the Death Pact and the Master of the Heavenly Slaughter. He placed particular emphasis on the might of the Ancient Nine Transformations Absolute Array and the enormous power required for its refinement. He also admitted that the power he currently commanded was still far insufficient.

The Azure Dragon listened to his explanation intently, a gentle smile playing on its lips, interjecting nothing—the very picture of a kind elder.

Only after Ji Changkong had completely finished detailing his intentions did the Azure Dragon nod. “So that is the matter. I did not expect you to understand the refinement method for the Ancient Nine Transformations Absolute Array. Hmm, we have heard of this formation; it is indeed terrifying. If you truly succeed, your plan is certainly achievable.”

“Can you lend us your aid?” Ji Changkong inquired.

“We can,” the Azure Dragon affirmed. It paused, pondering for a moment, then continued, “To refine the Ancient Nine Transformations Absolute Array, you indeed require immense power support. The four of us have not yet fully recovered. Assisting you in refining this array would necessarily consume a portion of the power stored within us.”

After a brief pause, the Azure Dragon looked at him. “You must agree to one condition.”

“What kind of condition?”

“That one day, you will eliminate the Ancestral Demon for us!”

“If I ever reach that level of realm and strength, I will certainly help you. But until I possess sufficient power, I hope you will not force me. I do not wish to rush to my death.”

“Naturally.”

“Then how will you help me?”

“Go to Mount Tianqi, to the Abyss of Nine Layers of Ice and Fire, and refine the Ancient Nine Transformations Absolute Array there. That location is a unique marvel of this continent. The four of us can channel our power directly into the Abyss of Nine Layers of Ice and Fire, allowing you to receive our energy support. You can utilize the surrounding mountain ranges of Mount Tianqi; beneath those peaks are many materials suitable for your cultivation. At that time, we will forcibly alter the rules of heaven and earth in that region, channeling the vital essence of this entire continent toward that spot.”

The Sacred Beast Azure Dragon pondered for a moment before offering this suggestion—to go to the Abyss of Nine Layers of Ice and Fire to refine the Absolute Array, where he would receive their aid.

Mount Tianqi lies where the Great Chu Kingdom borders the Martial King’s territory, situated within a vast expanse of desolate mountains. It is the geographical center of the Five Elements Continent, yet the vital essence of heaven and earth there is extremely sparse. Because of this, hardly any Heavenly Masters cultivate within those sprawling ranges.

He knew a little about the peculiar place known as the Abyss of Nine Layers of Ice and Fire from scattered documents belonging to the Chen and Duan families. It was a bottomless chasm where intense cold and searing heat alternated in layers. Within a hundred zhang of descending, the cold was bone-piercing; the next hundred zhang down was scalding hot. The intensity of the ice and fire energy increased by several dozen times every few hundred zhang, making the lowest layers’ cold and flames hundreds of times more terrifying than the top layer—a place no Heavenly Master dared to venture.

Furthermore, the ice and fire within the Abyss of Nine Layers of Ice and Fire would sometimes clash chaotically. When the frigid and fiery powers interwove, they could instantly generate a devastating, world-shattering vortex of destruction. Anyone caught within would instantly be annihilated, body and soul scattered.

All records from the Chen and Duan families invariably marked that place as supremely perilous, forbidding any Heavenly Master from exploring it and prohibiting any entry into the Abyss of Nine Layers of Ice and Fire.

“Very well. I will enter Mount Tianqi and locate the Abyss of Nine Layers of Ice and Fire ten days from now. I will await the infusion of your power then,” Ji Changkong affirmed with a nod.

“Go. You will obtain what you desire. We only hope that you will also remember our entrustment and help us utterly destroy the Ancestral Demon someday,” the Azure Dragon said with a smile.

“I will remember today’s promise,” Ji Changkong replied. He lingered no more, his soul swiftly returning to his body. Gazing at the Yuan Crystals that had formed beneath him, he made no move to take one, instead slowly ascending towards the skies above Xuanyuan Valley, neither fast nor slow.

After sending him away! Near the elder manifested by the Azure Dragon, a blinding, piercing light suddenly erupted! Within that radiance, three equally aged elders materialized. All three were elderly, well into their twilight years, with hair pure white. One of them, a female elder whose face was deeply furrowed like ravines, was enveloped in rolling flames.

Upon appearing, these three seemed anxious, as if sensing that the Azure Dragon had made a poor decision.

“Do you truly believe this child can manage the Ancestral Demon someday?” The Vermilion Bird, whose body burned with flames, its eyes blazing like fierce suns, looked on with open suspicion.

“Elder Brother, you acted too rashly,” the White Tiger, radiating an aura of brutal conflict, spoke up. Though ancient, its eyes gleamed sharply, its fierce gaze brimming with killing intent. “Channeling our power into the Abyss of Nine Layers of Ice and Fire to help him refine the Ancient Nine Transformations Absolute Array will drain five hundred years of our individual strength. This will push back the time of our full awakening even further. Is wasting another five centuries for a promise that might never materialize truly worth it?”

The Black Tortoise was more steady, remaining silent but looking deeply troubled, its form constantly shifting like a drop of water, taking on various shapes.

The Vermilion Bird, the White Tiger, and the Black Tortoise all seemed unable to grasp the Azure Dragon’s decision, feeling that wasting five hundred years of their combined energy for an uncertain, distant promise was clearly not worthwhile.

“I do not know if it is worth it or not,” the Azure Dragon mused, looking at the trio and sighing. “We have been dormant for so long. I know you all yearn to emerge from the earth, to breathe the fresh air outside. But even if we emerged now, what good would it do?”

“We could leave the Five Elements Continent, travel to the Endless Star Domain, to the Dead Star Domain—perhaps there are still members of our kin there,” the Vermilion Bird suddenly cried out, weeping uncontrollably. “How many years have we been trapped here? No matter how good it is, this is not our homeland! How many of our kin are left? Perhaps many brothers and sisters are imprisoned somewhere, just like us, waiting for our rescue.”

The White Tiger also lost some composure, choking back words. “Yes, Elder Brother, and what about the young ones? Many children were sent away from our home back then… they might have been tamed, perhaps made into mounts by other high-ranking races. They are the noble Sacred Beast Clan! We must propagate our greatness and pride. Before the Great Calamity, our Sacred Beast Clan was one of the most powerful races. We need to pass on the strength we possess!”

The Black Tortoise, though silent, clenched its fist tightly, clearly also impatient to break free.

The Azure Dragon remained quiet for a long, long time before speaking. “I know, I know what you mean. I also want to leave this place. But the time is not right. Even if we don’t channel five hundred years of power to him now, we still need another five hundred years to fully emerge from the depths. If we do not help him now, this entire five-hundred-year span will see the Solar Star Domain thrown into chaos. Before we can recover, the Five Elements Continent will face countless formidable enemies.”

“We must help him, otherwise, we will never see those five hundred years!”

With the Azure Dragon’s words spoken, the Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise fell silent, letting out sighs of helplessness.

“Rest assured. By helping him this time, perhaps he will repay us with even more…”

The Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise were all stunned by this statement, looking at the Azure Dragon with confusion.

“If enough energy can be channeled, why must we gather it slowly?” The Azure Dragon smiled faintly. “Have you forgotten that there are also shortcuts for us to directly burst out from underground?”

“Elder Brother, you mean?” The Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise all became instantly excited.

Nodding, the Azure Dragon confirmed, “I trust he can help us. As long as he continues to progress this rapidly, he will certainly be able to help us achieve our goal.”

At these words, the Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise finally nodded slowly, as if accepting the Azure Dragon’s proposal.

The world descended into chaos.

In just a few days, the Five Elements Continent became even more turbulent. While battles raged continuously in the Northern Barbarians, Western Regions, and Tianwu Kingdom, Xuanyuan Valley suddenly inserted itself into the conflict.

News spread from Xuanyuan Valley demanding the forced requisition of cultivation materials from all corners of the world. Many rare and specific materials were held only by the most powerful great families and sects, while others were found only in the distant Northern Barbarians or along the eastern coast.

Yet, Xuanyuan Valley aggressively demanded that any sect or family possessing these cultivation materials hand them over.

Those unwilling were simply robbed!

Given the vastness of the world, naturally, there were obstinate individuals who vehemently resisted Xuanyuan Valley’s coercion.

Alas, no power in the world could now withstand the advance of Xuanyuan Valley. When Gu Fu and Li Hentian moved across the land, and when Fei Hua, Lan Fen, along with Po Ke and Shang Bingjie, led by the experts of Xuanyuan Valley, swept through the major thoroughfares, many dissenting sects and forces were intimidated into submission.

Those who clamored for rebellion were swiftly imprisoned by overwhelming military might.

Xuanyuan Valley inflicted no personal harm; they purely seized all cultivation materials. In a mere few days, Xuanyuan Valley experts traversed the Northern Barbarians, Western Regions, Southern Yi, and Eastern Sea, collecting wondrous items that were famous in name but rarely seen by the common folk.

It was at this moment that the masses realized the legend of the Ji Family Xuanyuan was beginning anew…

The legend stated that every generation of Xuanyuan, upon reaching the peak of the Nine Palaces Heavenly Cauldron realm, would rampage across the world, gathering all earthly wealth into Xuanyuan Valley, transforming it into the wealthiest treasure trove on the continent.

This seemed to be a form of destiny!

Over countless years, the strange and rare artifacts dispersed from the Ji family centuries ago were now returning to the Ji family from every corner of the realm.

Xuanyuan Valley instantly became the world’s epicenter of wealth; it possessed almost every cultivation material available on the continent.

By all accounts, the dominance and high-handedness of this generation’s Xuanyuan surpassed that of any predecessor!

Unbeknownst to many, Xuanyuan Valley had also become the single most powerful force in the world. On the Five Elements Continent today, no power remained that could stand against Xuanyuan Valley!

In this generation, Ji Changkong was writing a new chapter in the legend of the Ji Family Xuanyuan!