“The Great Desolation Scripture, page thirty-seven, fourth line, states that in the Year of the Falling Star, the Divine Bird Lei Luan once appeared in the east of the Cloud Continent! And on page fifty-six, line twelve, it records that at the twilight of the Ancient Barrens, Lei Luan battled the Sparrow Dragon, scattering blood across the Western Spiritual Plains.” “Furthermore, the Records of the Cloud Desolation state that in the Year of the Blazing Desolation, the Sparrow Dragon injured the Blazing Phoenix. The Blazing Phoenix fled for thirty thousand li, its whereabouts unknown.

In the Year of the Dark Night, east of the Cloud Continent, near the sea, a Luan cry was heard, its sound traveling three thousand li. The Cloud Whales went wild, ten thousand falling and injured. In the Eastern Sea mountain ranges, countless beasts perished—” Zong Shou spoke fluently, yet Yin Yang listened with growing confusion.

Ancient texts lacked formal calendrical systems. Events were marked only by symbolic occurrences of that year. Everything Zong Shou mentioned was transcribed from classical texts, recounting primeval history.

But how did this relate to his need to leave the city alone? The next moment, Zong Shou offered a subtle smile, brimming with an inexplicable confidence: “I heard that the Blazing Phoenix and Lei Luan were always inseparable. But during the Year of the Blazing Desolation, when the Sparrow Dragon injured the Blazing Phoenix, where was Lei Luan?

And why would it seek trouble with the Sparrow Dragon three hundred years later? Divine beasts gestate their young across intervals ranging from eighteen hundred to two thousand years. The span between the Year of the Falling Star and the end of the Ancient Barrens is precisely seventeen centuries—” Yin Yang frowned in contemplation, gradually grasping Zong Shou’s meaning, a wave of shock washing over his eyes.

Zong Shou’s subsequent words sounded almost alien to him, muffled and indistinct. “After the Ancient Barrens, the Cloud Continent shattered into several pieces, dividing into five Great Cloud Continents and numerous cloud islands. The eastern part of the Cloud Continent is what is now the Eastern Cloud Continent.

The so-called coastal region and the Eastern Sea mountain ranges must refer to the Sudian Mountain Range. I used to wonder about this, and after countless examinations of classical biographies at the Academy, I formed a theory: the nesting place of Lei Luan back then was most likely that Blood Valley Demon Corpse Mountain!” At this point, a hint of helplessness shadowed Zong Shou’s face: “That location, Uncle Yin, is currently a place you simply cannot enter—” ※※※※ Walking down the street, Su Chuxue anxiously scanned her surroundings. “Young Master, perhaps we should just turn back?

Couldn't we hire someone else to collect the vital spirit grass you need? We certainly can afford it! And as for the Lei Luan’s egg, that’s just your guess; it may not even be there—” Not long ago, having utilized the power of the Dragon Spirit Jade Bi and the Blood Cloud Marrow, she had followed Yin Yang’s lead and stepped into the realm of a Secret Martial Master.

Yet, Chuxue now exhibited none of the demeanor of a powerful expert, glancing around nervously. Zong Shou remained impassive. This was the tenth time Chuxue had complained since leaving the city.

He let it pass in one ear and out the other, pretending not to hear. It had taken immense effort to persuade Yin Yang to reluctantly agree to let him and Chuxue travel outside the city. After exerting even more painstaking effort to slip away from everyone’s sight unnoticed, there was no way he would return so easily.

The vital spirit grass Chuxue mentioned was a minor matter; that other thing, he absolutely would not abandon. By now, both of them were in disguise. Su Chuxue’s face was yellowish, her eyebrows thicker, and her eyes slightly smaller.

Though still exceptionally beautiful, not a trace of her original appearance remained visible. Zong Shou was similarly altered, equipped with Wind Walking Spirit Bones. He had simply leaned into the change, appearing noticeably more robust, his features also somewhat transformed.

Thanks to the Breath Concealment Art, they both looked like ordinary warriors. This near-perfect disguise was one of the main reasons Yin Yang finally consented. At this moment, apart from Chuxue’s slightly unnatural expression, there were virtually no flaws.

Unless a Martial Ancestor-level expert could lock onto a person’s soul consciousness, recognition was practically impossible. They casually bought a few items along the way, and as they neared the city gate, Chuxue’s frown deepened, her eyes constantly flicking backward. Zong Shou was secretly amused, deciding to ignore it, and walked out of the city gate with a calm expression.

Just as he was about to head north, Chuxue suddenly stopped, her figure freezing in place beside him. Zong Shou was momentarily startled. Could someone really have seen through his disguise and followed them?

He turned his head, following the direction of Chuxue’s gaze. Two women were galloping toward them on horseback from the main road in the distance. The one in front wore entirely fire-red garments, while the one behind wore a long, water-green dress; both rode top-grade Cloud-Treading Steeds.

They did not notice Zong Shou and Chuxue nearby, riding straight toward the city gate. Zong Shou’s eyebrows immediately lifted: “Who are those two?” Chuxue’s sudden change in expression was not without reason. She definitely knew these two women.

Two Xiantian experts were hard to ignore, especially the one in crimson. The younger one, only sixteen, was even more conspicuous. “It’s Miss Yiren!” It took Chuxue a long moment to regain her composure, appearing utterly flustered.

Seeing Zong Shou still confused, she quickly added an explanation: “Young Master forgot? Miss Yiren is your fiancée. You met her once in Black Mountain City eight years ago—” A segment of memory from his previous thirteen years instantly surfaced in Zong Shou’s mind, bringing a moment of clarity.

But the saying about a woman changing significantly between eighteen and eighteen was certainly true. That little girl who used to trail after Zong Shou’s heels, utterly lacking in grace, was now slender and poised. Her looks were not devastatingly beautiful, but they were certainly no less than Chuxue’s.

Moreover, a spirited aura resided between her brows. Observing her skin, pure and white like jade, untouched by the slightest weather exposure, it was clear her martial arts training had reached the superficial layer. Having passed the Inner Training stage, she was at the peak of the Body Wheel, having entered the Xiantian realm of the Earth Wheel.

However, her expression lacked arrogance. While somewhat distant toward the guards manning the city gate, she remained courteous. Despite her noble status, she showed no haughty demeanor whatsoever.

This was his former fiancée? That princess of Black Mountain City? Zong Shou recalled Yin Yang’s words from earlier and chuckled inwardly.

He guessed this lady was likely here to break off the engagement. Truly, in Cloud Saint City now, all sorts of strange characters were mixed together. He felt an immense pressure settle upon his shoulders.

The longer time dragged on, the longer Zong Weiran remained lost in the Sinking Sea, the more audacious his enemies at Qian Tian Mountain, and even his allies, would become. The next move wouldn't just be a mere probe, like the previous two attempts. Qian Tian Mountain certainly had no shortage of Xiantian Martial Masters.

And in this Eastern Cloud Continent, there were thousands of Martial Ancestor-level experts. He held no interest in this so-called fiancée, nor did he have the inclination to return to the city to meet her. He decided to ignore the matter entirely, pulling Chuxue along as they headed north.

After two days, having traveled about two hundred li, they removed all the suffocating disguise materials. Then they plunged directly into a nearby valley, moving swiftly through the mountain ranges. This area was technically within the Sudian Mountain Range, but it belonged to an eastern branch where the influence of the Lingyun Sect was minimal.

The place Zong Shou intended to reach was one that struck fear into the hearts of all martial artists in the Eastern Cloud Continent. It was the only area within a three-thousand-li radius untouched by the Lingyun Sect’s control. After traversing the mountains for about another half a day, the vista before Zong Shou and Chuxue suddenly opened wide.

Before them lay an immensely vast valley, entirely enclosed by towering mountains, yet so broad it seemed endless. In the distance, beasts could vaguely be seen wandering in small groups of three or five. However, unlike other regions, even the species known for their gentle nature here possessed bloodshot eyes, radiating intense bloodlust and madness.

Chuxue’s delicate face grew even more distressed: “Young Master, must we truly enter this Blood Valley? I heard that the spirit beasts here are at least Tier Two, even harder to handle than the Mire Wolves of the Black Mud Swamp. And the Demon Corpse Mountain is even more perilous.

Rumor has it that martial masters above the Xiantian realm cannot enter at all, and those below Xiantian rarely emerge whole if they do—” Zong Shou paid no mind, calmly taking out a bottle of medicinal liquid and smearing it on his body, laughing: “Is it really that exaggerated? Xue’er, since you know this is the Blood Valley, do you know its origin?” Chuxue, though puzzled, patiently replied: “I know a little. Legend says an alien Demon God was slain here in the Ancient Desolation era.

Because its will persisted for ten thousand years, any living being approaching its place of demise gradually loses its sanity and becomes violently enraged! It is said this applies to both humans and beasts alike, which is why it is called the Blood Valley. I also heard that many spirit beasts can advance their tiers or mutate here, which is why the Sudian Mountain Range experiences a beast tide that rushes here every few years.

That is often the most dangerous time in the Blood Valley.” “That description isn’t wrong, but the reason the spirit beasts here behave this way stems from something else. It has nothing to do with that Demon God’s will!” Zong Shou gave a slight sneer, then took out another vial, tossing it to the startled Chuxue: “Smear this on. It should keep you safe, even against a Tier Five spirit beast.

Don't let its small volume fool you; it costs quite a bit—” Chuxue didn’t believe him. She had personally watched her Young Master concoct this paste using medicinal herbs worth less than thirty silver taels; how could it be valuable? As for the medicinal effect Zong Shou claimed, she doubted it even more.

But recalling her Young Master’s string of miracles these past few days, she smeared it on herself and followed him into the Blood Valley. Curiously, the medicinal liquid did not have a strong odor, only emitting a faint, rather pleasant fragrance. The savage beasts roaming the Blood Valley appeared to treat the pair as invisible, ignoring them completely.

Even when one occasionally approached, upon catching a whiff of the scent, it would panic intensely and hastily retreat far away. PS: A new super group has been opened: 130321260 (Pioneering Book Friends Club). There aren’t many members.

Uh, maybe no members at all. This is Kaihuang’s own group, permanently preserved. Oh, and another book recommendation.

Baiyi Shisan’s The World’s Enemy, Book ID 2253488. This fellow wrote The World’s Great Strategy and guaranteed that no matter how poorly this new book performs, he won't switch aliases or abandon it. I offer my reserved trust— The World’s Enemy A modern soul travels to the Izumo Kingdom and merges with the hereditary Marquis Jiewu; however, this Marquis Jiewu is blinded due to practicing the Demon Race's cultivation manual, the Blood Moon Fateful Decree Scripture.

Night mist unleashes slaughter, sword dance brings disaster. In a fit of rage, the sea of blood is overturned; the world becomes my enemy. [bookid=2253488,bookname=《》] C