52: Chapter 52 The Road Ahead is Still Long

Seven days later, the earth vein riot finally began to subside.

The blood-colored rift that spanned ten thousand miles across the sky slowly closed, and the crimson mist dispersed with the wind, revealing the long-awaited blue sky and white clouds.

The land of the Southern Wilderness stopped trembling, and the Spiritual Veins returned to tranquility, as if the earth-shaking upheaval from before had never occurred.

Outside the Purple Bamboo Forest, the Spirit ships of various major forces that had gathered there had long since departed, leaving behind only the empty plains and scattered traces of battle.

The purple light gate of the Secret Realm vanished completely, and the Purple Bamboo Forest once again faded into the Void Realm, waiting for the next century.

Vanishing along with it was the Nine Heavens Tower.

No one noticed exactly when it had left.

Perhaps it was at the most violent moment of the earth vein riot, or perhaps it was the instant before the Secret Realm closed.

The pitch-black giant tower thus slipped silently into the Void Realm, leaving only a string of names on the light screen as proof that it had once been there.

The moment its body entered the Void Realm, the Nine Heavens Tower trembled slightly.

It possessed no consciousness or sapience, yet it had a certain indefinable instinct—to seek out places where Opportunity gathered and wait for the right moment to appear again.

Perhaps next time, it would appear on the shores of the East Sea.

Perhaps the time after that, it would descend upon the Northern Border Ice Plains.

Or perhaps, in some unknown corner, it would quietly open the path leading to the Yunding Heavenly Palace.

No one knew the answer, not even the Nine Heavens Tower itself.

It simply drifted through the Void Realm, waiting for a certain moment.

After the earth vein riot subsided, the various major forces of the Southern Wilderness dispatched large numbers of personnel to investigate deep within the center of the riot.

However, they found nothing.

The landscape at the center of the riot had been completely transformed, with bottomless chasms and collapsed mountain Peaks everywhere.

Aside from that, there was nothing.

No ruins, no treasures, and nothing worth investigating.

It was as if that earth-shaking riot had been nothing more than a causeless natural disaster.

No one was satisfied with this conclusion.

"The earth vein riots of the Southern Wilderness have been recorded since ancient times."

In the imperial study of the Zhouwu Palace, Ancestor Zhou Huaixu stood by the window with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance.

His voice was low and distant, carrying a hint of reminiscence.

"I have consulted the oldest records of the Imperial Dynasty, which state that since the primordial era, the Southern Wilderness has experienced such a riot every few hundred thousand years."

"The scale, intensity, and duration differ every time, but one thing remains constant—no one can find the source of the riot."

Dynasty Lord Zhou Shanhe stood behind him, his brow furrowed. "Old Ancestor, could it be that even you..."

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu shook his head. "I have been stuck at the Undergoing Tribulation Peak for thousands of years, and I consider my perception of the Laws of heaven and earth to be quite keen."

"But even so, I cannot detect where the source of the riot is. That power is too vast and too ancient, far exceeding my understanding."

He turned around, his gaze falling upon Dynasty Lord Zhou Shanhe.

"Some speculate that a supreme Opportunity is buried beneath the Southern Wilderness, and it is precisely because of this Opportunity's existence that the Southern Wilderness's Spiritual Qi is more barren than the other four regions."

"Others speculate that something extraordinary is suppressed beneath the Southern Wilderness, and the earth vein riot is the result of that thing's struggling."

"There are many speculations, but not a single one can be proven."

Dynasty Lord Zhou Shanhe was silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, "So, every earth vein riot attracts countless people to investigate."

"Exactly," Ancestor Zhou Huaixu nodded.

"Those Cultivators who believe themselves to be chosen by destiny, and those restless forces, always feel that they can find some extraordinary Opportunity within this riot."

"They follow one after another, but what is the result? They find nothing."

Dynasty Lord Zhou Shanhe remained silent.

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu didn't seem to want to say more either, and waved his hand. "Forget it, these matters have nothing to do with us."

"Yes," Dynasty Lord Zhou Shanhe bowed and took his leave.

—

In the Taihe Hall, although Jiang Long Song was not present, Ancestor Zhou Huaixu still allowed Lu Jinghan and the others to stay there.

"Prepare yourselves, we are returning to Kunlun," Lu Jinghan said.

Now that the earth vein riot was over, it was time for them to return to Kunlun.

Qin Muchuan's eyes lit up. "Returning to Kunlun?"

Su Fuguang asked curiously, "Senior Brother, what kind of place is Kunlun exactly?"

Lu Jinghan was silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "It is a place that, once you go there, you will not want to leave."

Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang looked at each other, their eyes full of anticipation.

Zhou Tianchen's expression was calm, yet his eyes also held a bit more anticipation.

A moment later, the four figures arrived at the main palace hall to bid farewell to Ancestor Zhou Huaixu.

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu stood before the hall with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the four of them before finally stopping on Zhou Tianchen.

"Tianchen, come here."

Zhou Tianchen took a few steps forward and stood before Ancestor Zhou Huaixu, bowing respectfully. "Old Ancestor."

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu looked at him and remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "By going to Kunlun, you will be practicing under the Senior's tutelage."

"The Senior's Dao is profound. To be able to enter his sect is a blessing you've earned over several lifetimes."

He paused, his tone becoming more solemn. "Remember, once you reach Kunlun, you must listen to your Revered Master, cultivate well, and do not be slack."

"Kunlun is not like the Imperial Dynasty. The rules there and the powerhouses there are beyond your imagination. Cast aside the laziness you had in the Imperial Dynasty and seek guidance with an open mind; only then can you achieve something."

Zhou Tianchen nodded respectfully. "Rest assured, Old Ancestor, Tianchen understands."

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu then looked at Lu Jinghan and nodded slightly to him. "Little friend Lu, I entrust Tianchen to you."

Lu Jinghan cupped his hands. "Senior, rest assured. I will certainly take good care of my Junior Brother."

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu nodded and said no more, waving his hand. "Go then."

The four of them bowed together and turned to leave.

They did not use a Teleportation Array, but instead chose to head south on foot.

This was Lu Jinghan's intention.

"From the Zhouwu Dynasty to Kunlun, the journey is long, spanning more than half of the Southern Wilderness."

He walked at the front with steady steps, his gaze fixed toward the south.

"This is a rare Opportunity for experience."

Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang nodded simultaneously, their eyes full of eagerness.

Zhou Tianchen pondered for a moment and also nodded.

He had been obsessed with the Dao of Alchemy for many years, and although his cultivation was not weak, his actual combat experience was indeed inferior to Lu Jinghan's.

If he could gain more experience along this journey, it would be a good thing for his cultivation.

Seeing that the three of them had no objections, Lu Jinghan said no more and quickened his pace toward the south.

As the sun set in the west, it stretched the shadows of the four people very long.

On both sides of the official road were endless fields, with wisps of cooking smoke rising in the distance, and Spirit birds returning to their nests flying overhead with crisp cries.

After walking out of the Imperial City, Lu Jinghan's pace suddenly slowed.

He raised his head and looked toward the southern horizon, his gaze distant and profound.

There, he had his Revered Master, his Junior Brothers, and the greatest Opportunity of his life.

And on this road, there were still many things waiting for him to do.

He had never forgotten the two names he encountered in the Purple Bamboo Forest.

It was just that the time was not yet right.

When the time comes, new and old accounts will be settled together.

Lu Jinghan withdrew his thoughts and quickened his pace, his white clothes fluttering as he vanished into the afterglow of the setting sun.

The three people behind followed closely, and the four figures gradually moved further away, eventually turning into four black dots that disappeared over the horizon.

The capital of the Zhouwu Dynasty grew further and further behind them; the road ahead was still very long.