687: Golden Emperor's Seal

“Other paths to Dao…”, the Giant Black Beast pondered in the depths of the Profound Palace, its immense body coiled within the opulent structure.

“It seems to have significant flaws, and its strength is too weak.”

The Soul Sacrificing Hall figures, who had previously made threats, must have chosen a different path to Dao.

Although they possessed some characteristics of a Celestial Venerable, they were still far from a true Celestial Venerable.

“However…” Mo Xuan paused.

Even with just a glance, the details of that world were clear to him.

After some thought, he did nothing, merely a thought, and an invisible Dao imprint seemed to merge into the Void Realm, yet it was as if it had never existed.

The immense Giant Black Beast slowly calmed its mind.

At the bottom of the sea, the fleeting ripple of Aura subsided once more.

“Did something just happen?”

In front of the Profound Palace hall, the azure lion, whose green fur hung immaculately, hesitated for a moment, unable to hide its curiosity.

It asked the stone-grey Mythical Elephant beside it, nudging its massive eyes discreetly towards the Profound Palace.

“Heh heh, I think you’re asking for trouble again.”

“How dare you inquire about the Celestial Venerable’s affairs?”

On the other side, Mythical Elephant did not even look, its expression solemn and majestic, its presence imposing, and it casually replied with a mental message.

Upon hearing this, the azure lion panicked.

Clearly, there was a precedent.

Unpleasant memories flooded its mind, and the azure lion’s mane trembled; with a shiver, it immediately shut its mouth, its massive eyes staring forward, as if on guard against an invisible danger.

“His mind is truly not sharp.”

On the other side, seeing the azure lion in this state, Mythical Elephant sighed inwardly and muttered.

Fortunately, the Celestial Venerable was clear in his rewards and punishments, and they had diligently performed their duties without error.

Now, they could be considered insiders.

The azure lion waited for a long time.

Finding that no punishment appeared, it involuntarily breathed a sigh of relief.

On Gui Zhou Island, amidst the peaks, “Ding ~ Ding ~” continuous, clear, and melodious zither music echoed through the mountains.

This familiar zither music, accompanied by bird songs and insect chirps, reached a young figure walking among the spiritual peaks.

Zhou Shixi’s steps paused.

He sighed softly in his heart; what was meant to come had arrived.

Hesitation flickered across his face for a moment, then a look of grim determination appeared on Zhou Shixi’s face.

He took a step, heading towards the direction from which the zither music came.

“Ding ~ Ding ~” As the sound of the zither grew clearer, Zhou Shixi’s eyes lit up as he passed through the mountain forest.

Large swathes of sunlight poured down, falling upon the gurgling clear spring, shining brightly.

At this moment, a beautiful figure sat cross-legged on a large green stone beside the clear spring.

This was a rather young woman, with a dark hair bun on top of her head, and a strand of long hair falling behind her head, simple yet elegant.

The woman wore a long cyan-blue dress like lake water, shimmering with the zither music and the clear spring; on her knees rested an elegant guqin.

Her hands lightly plucked the strings, and the melodious sound continued without end.

Zhou Shixi stopped, quietly waiting for the zither music to end.

“Ding ~” As the last note fell, the woman in the cyan-blue dress gently stroked the strings, then raised her eyes and looked towards Zhou Shixi.

“Aunt.” Zhou Shixi bowed, feeling somewhat uneasy.

He had not been afraid when he had roamed the world with his sword and was trapped in Tiandu Mountain.

But when this zither-playing woman looked at him, his heart couldn't help but pound.

The reason for this was not only because this woman before him was the foremost among the 'Zheng' generation, Zhou Zhengyao, who had entered the Dao through the zither, possessing extraordinary talent.

She was the Zither Fairy renowned in the Chaotic Sea and several surrounding domains, her fame even reaching other Holy Lands.

More importantly, she was his paternal aunt.

When he was very young, his parents were often away on missions.

So, from childhood, he was mostly raised by this exceptionally talented paternal aunt.

Although his paternal aunt was very kind to him, she never condoned his mistakes.

After all, among the younger Clan members of the Zhou Family, most female cultivators looked up to Zhou Liyue and Zhou Xiutong.

“Shixi, I heard you were in danger this time, alarming Elder An Xing.”

Zhou Zhengyao chuckled softly, her gaze falling upon Zhou Shixi, a faint light flowing in her eyes.

After a moment, as if she had taken a look and seen Zhou Shixi unharmed, she withdrew her gaze.

Zhou Zhengyao’s face held a faint smile, and her tone was gentle.

But Zhou Shixi grew even more anxious.

“Ahem… Aunt, this, it wasn’t as serious as the Clan rumors suggest…” Zhou Shixi organized his words in his mind.

“Oh? Not serious enough to alarm Elder An Xing?” Zhou Zhengyao looked at Zhou Shixi with a half-smile.

Indeed, his aunt was not someone easily fooled... Left with no choice, Zhou Shixi sighed lightly and could only honestly recount his entire experience.

After finishing, Zhou Shixi steeled his heart, intending to accept whatever punishment his aunt decided.

After all, this time had been too perilous; if anything had gone wrong, he would likely have perished.

News of this returning to the Clan would surely cause his family to worry.

“Sigh…”

“In the future, when you act, you must prioritize your own safety.”

A moment later, Zhou Shixi heard Zhou Zhengyao’s slightly helpless sigh.

“Shixi understands.” Zhou Shixi was startled, then quickly agreed.

“Go.” Zhou Zhengyao waved her hand.

After Zhou Shixi departed, Zhou Zhengyao waved her sleeve, putting away the guqin.

She sighed softly and headed down the mountain... South of the Eastern Barren, deep within the Qiankong Domain, at the bottom of Yimeng Abyss, drops of ink-black blood continuously dripped onto a fragmented imprint below.

Points of light began to glow in the misty underground.

After some time, the illuminated imprint seemed to finally become complete.

Buzz!

The moment the imprint was completed, Yimeng Abyss suddenly trembled, causing Jin Yu, who had arrived near Yimeng Abyss, to stumble.

At this moment, Jin Yu’s expression changed slightly, but it wasn't because of the tremor.

It was due to the incomplete map he had placed in his Storage Pouch.

At Jin Yu’s waist, his Storage Pouch moved.

The incomplete map actually flew out on its own.

Jin Yu instinctively reached out, but grabbed nothing.

As his expression shifted, the incomplete map transformed into a meteor, vanishing into the depths of the pitch-black Yimeng Abyss.

On the incomplete map, the lines changed, subtly forming an imprint.

Buzz ~ Deep underground, an incomplete map bearing an unknown imprint directly merged into the light of the illuminated imprint, becoming one with the imprint lit by the black blood.

Boom!

Just then, a massive pillar of light shot straight into the sky.

Yimeng Abyss trembled, causing astonishing commotion.

Within that massive pillar of light, a mysterious imprint slowly materialized, revealing itself between heaven and earth.

“That is… the Golden Emperor Seal!”

In the Qiankong Domain, several Black-clothed figures, who were in pursuit in the Void Realm, paused their movements, looking towards the pillar of light and the imprint.

These two truly brought me an unexpected surprise… The leader of the Black-clothed figures rejoiced in his heart.

“Quick, send a message to the Hall; the Golden Emperor Seal has appeared, and the Golden Emperor Legacy will emerge.” The leader of the Black-clothed figures quickly instructed those behind him.

Then, with burning eyes, he looked at the mysterious imprint.

This was an immense merit.

At this moment, he no longer continued the pursuit.

When that imprint appeared, their objective had already been achieved.

Within the Qiankong Domain, two figures emerging from the Void Realm also looked towards the pillar of light and the imprint.

“What is that?” Mu Changge wondered in his heart.

They hadn't done anything.

“Hmm?” At this moment, Mu Changge frowned.

The Five Elements Primordial Canon within his body began to operate involuntarily.

“What’s going on?” Beside Mu Changge, Mr. He’s expression became slightly grave.

He seemed to have also sensed some connection emanating from that imprint.

Whoosh ~ Within the Qiankong Domain, figures appeared one after another, their eyes burning with fervor.

This must be the kind of commotion that only occurs when a supreme Treasure Trove appears.

“Could it be…” Some powerful individuals speculated in their hearts.

Could this be the Treasure Trove left behind after the demise of that forbidden existence in Yimeng Abyss?

“Charge!” Someone, unable to suppress the tremor in their heart, transformed into a streak of light, heading directly towards the pillar of light.

At this moment, within the pillar of light that pierced the clouds, the mysterious Golden Emperor Seal rotated, and several streaks of light flew out.

One landed directly on the startled Jin Yu outside Yimeng Abyss.

Two landed on the gravely expression Mr. He and Mu Changge.

Several others landed in the Void Realm, on the bodies of the Black-clothed figures.

Buzz ~ The light flashed and disappeared.

Those chosen by the streaks of light vanished simultaneously.

PS: Alas…