456: Chaofeng Ancient World

"Heh~"

"Cooperation?"

"Junior, are you even worthy of cooperating with This Lord/Monarch?"

The human-shaped face, formed by black Qi before the five towering peaks, let out a sneer.

"Hehe..."

"This Junior's strength is naturally still lacking."

"However, Senior's current state isn't much better."

The snake shadow that appeared out of thin air smiled faintly.

His aura subtly changed.

The sneering expression on the human-shaped face disappeared.

He looked seriously at the snake shadow, then up at the sky.

He seemed to have seen something.

"Void Refining... that's barely enough qualification..."

The Black human face was moved.

"How shall we cooperate?"

Black Demon Dao Lord asked, a hint of seriousness in his tone.

"Senior, are you from the Chaofeng Ancient Realm?"

The snake shadow didn't answer, but asked in return.

"Oh? You know about the Chaofeng Ancient Realm?"

The Black human face was slightly surprised.

But he didn't say anything.

After all, the Chaofeng Ancient Realm was too strong, too vast.

The myriad worlds attached to the Ancient Realm were countless.

Knowing a name didn't represent anything.

"Indeed."

"This Lord/Monarch does originate from the Chaofeng Ancient Realm, and is the Master of the Black Demon Heavenly Palace."

The Black human face admitted.

"This Junior will be heading to the Chaofeng Ancient Realm soon."

"At that time, I would like to ask Senior for some guidance."

Seeing the Black human face nod in agreement.

The snake shadow continued to speak.

"Hehe, easy to say, easy to say."

The Black human face chuckled softly.

His attitude had completely changed from before.

"However, This Lord/Monarch's current situation cannot help you."

"You first rescue This Lord/Monarch, and then you and I will work together, return to the Chaofeng Ancient Realm, how about it?"

The Black human face seemed a bit eager.

"This Lord/Monarch has long studied methods for escape."

"You only need to do this... this... and then..."

The Black human face spoke voluminously.

As if he had already smelled the scent of freedom after escaping.

"No need for such trouble."

Just as the Black human face was describing the escape method.

The snake shadow gently shook its head.

"Universe - World Transformation - Unification."

Above the high heavens, beyond the Qianling Dynasty.

A ten-thousand-zhang Black Giant Serpent spoke with a heavenly voice.

Heaven and earth trembled.

Subtly in sync with the rising and falling ten-thousand-zhang snake body suspended outside the heavens.

Invisible patterns clearly appeared before Mo Xuan's eyes.

"Stele, come!"

The ten-thousand-zhang Black Giant Serpent gently exhaled.

In the Mingyang Realm, Azure Dragon Domain, atop Qingyang Peak.

A tall, ancient stele, inscribed with names, suddenly vanished.

Within the Black Forest Forbidden Zone of the Qianling Dynasty.

"Junior, what are you doing?"

An ominous feeling vaguely arose in the Black human face's heart.

But he could do nothing.

Boom!

Just then.

Above the sky.

A massive hole suddenly appeared.

An ancient stone stele, hundreds of zhang tall, descended from the sky, gradually growing larger.

Following the invisible patterns.

It landed directly within the Black Forest Forbidden Zone.

Suppressing the five peaks within the stele.

"Junior..."

Within the stele, invisible shackles bound the hand that had revealed its true form.

A black-robed, enchanting phantom roared in anger, struggling ceaselessly.

But it could not break free.

"Senior, our cooperation begins now."

Outside the tall stele.

The snake shadow chuckled softly.

Subsequently.

The phantom rose into the air.

Slowly lifting the stele.

It flew into the hole and disappeared.

And the giant hole also began to slowly vanish.

From this day onward.

The Qianling Dynasty's largest Forbidden Ground, the Black Forest Forbidden Zone, mysteriously disappeared.

Countless years later.

Among the Mortals of this realm.

A legend of an Ancestral Demon mending the heavens circulated... Mingyang Realm.

Azure Dragon Domain, atop Qingyang Peak.

Watching the clan-guarding divine stele disappear and reappear.

Zhou Liyue and Zhou Leren calmly sipped tea.

Speaking of something.

But after a moment.

A voice entered their ears.

Zhou Liyue and Zhou Leren were startled.

They looked towards the still ancient clan-guarding divine stele.

And gasped.

"Inside, there is a Dao Integration Stage expert..."

Zhou Liyue and Zhou Leren exchanged glances.

"Cough cough, this Senior..."

"Scram!"

"Alright."

Zhou Leren readily complied, retreating back to Zhou Liyue's side.

Zhou Liyue chuckled softly.

She had no intention of asking for trouble.

However, since Uncle Xuan had suppressed it.

Presumably, Uncle Xuan must already have a plan.

Zhou Liyue looked at Zhou Leren, giving him an encouraging look.

Zhou Leren was speechless.

Sure enough, all the dirty and tiring work fell to him.

After this day.

Zhou Leren often came before the stele to greet and pay respects.

He never tired of it.

This was a strategy of both carrot and stick.

The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans, followed by attacking their alliances, then their armies, and lastly, laying siege to their cities.

Zhou Leren speculated about his Old Ancestor's thoughts.

His mind was made up.

Mo Xuan: You're overthinking it... Time slowly flowed by.

Five years later.

Within the Tianning Peaks of the Azure Dragon Domain.

Figures stood silently.

Above Qingyang Peak.

Zhou Xiutong, who had already progressed a certain distance in the Middle Nascent Soul Stage, along with Zhou Liyue, Zhou Leren, Zhou Xiuyuan, and Tian Xie, stood in the air.

A breeze rose, stirring strands of hair. Zhou Xiutong looked into the distance.

That was the direction of Qingzhou in the Nancang Domain.

A hint of reluctance appeared in her eyes.

There, in the ancestral land of Qingzhou.

There were still some Zhou Family Cultivators who were unwilling to leave their homeland.

Led by Zhou Xiuchang, who had already broken through to the Early Golden Core Stage, he served as the head of the branch Family.

Remaining in the Mingyang Realm.

With the protection of the Xuanqing Sect.

There was no need to worry about malicious individuals.

Zhou Xiutong withdrew her gaze.

And looked down.

Upon the various peaks.

Stood Zhou Family Juniors, some young, some steady, some arrogant.

There were those with the Zhou surname, and also those with other surnames.

These were the future hopes of the Zhou Family, and also a symbol of the Family's continuous ascent.

Buzz~

At this moment.

Under the eager gazes of the crowd.

An azure blue pearl, displaying a phantom of mountains and seas, replaced the great sun.

Shining upon the Tianning Peaks.

Space flowed.

Peaks rose from the ground.

Disappearing into the giant azure blue pearl.

The entire Heavenly Condensation Realm, from then on, vanished from the Mingyang Realm.

The precious bead paused.

Its light receded.

Sinking into the Void Realm.

And was swallowed by a ten-thousand-zhang Black Giant Serpent.

At this moment.

A white-robed, majestic figure appeared in the Void Realm.

"Fellow Daoist Mo, a smooth journey."

The ten-thousand-zhang Black Giant Serpent turned its head, nodding gently.

"Brother He, we shall meet again someday."

The ten-thousand-zhang Black Giant Serpent no longer lingered.

It swam towards the depths of the endless Void Realm.

"Dao Brother, could you take This Concubine along?"

Just as the ten-thousand-zhang Black Giant Serpent was about to depart.

A charming, beautiful woman with a seven-colored fox tail appeared from the Void Realm, calling out to the ten-thousand-zhang Black Giant Serpent.

Mo Xuan was slightly surprised.

After all, going with him meant an uncertain future, with life and death entirely in his control.

Therefore, although many Venerables in the Mingyang Realm had received the news, no one had actually taken action.

"Alright."

"But I will have to inconvenience Fellow Daoist."

Mo Xuan paused, nodded in agreement, then opened his mouth and spat out an azure blue pearl.

"Thank you, Dao Brother."

Venerable Qian Mei Hu bowed gracefully.

Stepping into the azure blue mysterious light/aura (boundary).

The precious bead was re-swallowed.

Mo Xuan took one last look back.

Under the watchful gaze of Venerable He Run.

He completely disappeared into the endless Void Realm.

A long time passed.

The white-robed Venerable He Run sighed in his heart, his figure vanishing... Within the Void Realm.

Black snake shadows scattered in all directions.

A moment later.

A ten-thousand-zhang Black Giant Serpent swam past.

"Void Realm undercurrents... If one is not at the Void Refining Realm, it would indeed be difficult to detect and avoid them..."

The deeper one traveled into the Void Realm, the more desolate and lonely it became, and perception became increasingly restricted.

There were also hard-to-detect Void Realm undercurrents; one careless mistake could lead to being trapped within them.

Mo Xuan pondered in his mind.

Heading towards the direction of the connection he sensed.

"Fellow Daoist..."

"Fellow Daoist..."

Just then.

The ten-thousand-zhang Black Giant Serpent paused.

A faint, indistinct call entered Mo Xuan's mind.

"Someone?"

Mo Xuan sent out a primordial spirit clone to investigate the source of the sound.

"Fellow Daoist, save me, I am Li Cangwu, and I will surely reward you handsomely..."

As he drew closer, Mo Xuan finally heard the calling voice clearly. The voice kept repeating, clearly indicating that he hadn't been discovered, but was simply hoping that any passing Cultivator wouldn't miss him.

"Li Cangwu..."

Mo Xuan's heart stirred; he seemed to have heard that name somewhere before.

"Li Cangwu... the Master of the Nancang Domain..."

"So it's him..."

"He's actually trapped in a Void Realm undercurrent..."

Recognizing the person, Mo Xuan thought for a moment and made a decision... In the Void Realm, the passage of time is never felt.

If not for those with unwavering resolve and powerful strength.

Falling into the Void Realm meant only an eternal descent into darkness.

After an unknown period.

The tireless ten-thousand-zhang Black Giant Serpent, avoiding various dangers, suddenly trembled.

In the depths of the Void Realm.

A faint, multicolored light subtly emanated from its depths.

The ten-thousand-zhang Black Giant Serpent abruptly shrunk, vanished from its original spot, and entered the giant multicolored light cluster.

"It is indeed the Chaofeng Ancient Realm..."

(End of Volume Five)