217: Chapter 217 Ancient Jianmu

"Host, this is the inevitable price for channeling the power of the future."

The System's cold, waveless voice rang out in the Sea of Consciousness, devoid of any emotion, like a pronouncement:

"The power of the future far exceeds what your current Realm can bear. If not for the World Tree Dao Seed protecting your Divine Soul Origin—"

"You would have already been annihilated, body and soul, turning into ashes."

After a pause, the voice continued:

"It is recommended that the Host immediately find an absolutely safe place to go into seclusion, using the Life Qi of the World Tree Dao Seed to slowly repair your Foundation. Otherwise, the damage to your Foundation will worsen day by day—"

"And it will seriously affect your future path of Dao."

Chu Changsheng naturally understood the stakes involved.

Damage to the Foundation is a fatal blow to a Cultivator—at best, it leads to stagnation in cultivation; at worst, it causes a drop in Realm, or even leaves one unable to make any progress for the rest of their life!

He took a deep breath, fighting through the tumultuous pain in his body, and instructed Xiao:

"Xiao Yun, this place is not suitable for a long stay; I fear complications may arise."

"We must leave immediately."

"Yes, Revered Master."

Xiao responded without hesitation, carefully lifting Chu Changsheng onto its back.

The Geng Metal Lightning Evil Qi around its body surged instantly, transforming into a thick lightning shield that enveloped them both; the lightning, like a Dragon, flickered and pulsed!

Just as the Geng Metal World-Extinguishing Lightning Xiao was about to turn into lightning and escape—

Five imposing and vast figures, carrying an ancient, barbaric Aura, appeared out of thin air like ghosts!

They stood in five directions, perfectly blocking all escape routes!

Their Auras were as heavy and still as mountains, making the surrounding space seem to solidify, and even the air stopped flowing!

Those who came—were none other than the five great Tai Miao Ancestral Witches!

The leader wore a black feather robe, adorned with countless unknown, strange runes. Each rune emitted an obscure and ancient Aura, and the faint sound of ancient sacrificial chanting lingered around him—

It was the most mysterious and unfathomable of the five Tai Miao Ancestral Witches: Chayuzi.

He watched Chu Changsheng, who was carried on Xiao's back, with an indifferent gaze. His eyes flickered with an elusive light, as if he were examining a rare treasure, while also carrying a trace of undisguised wariness.

This gaze seemed to contain the eternal galaxy, deep enough to swallow the sun and moon and absorb souls.

First, it swept sharply like a hawk over the figure on Xiao's back—Chu Changsheng's Aura was withered, his Divine Soul like a candle in the wind, as if it would be completely extinguished in the next moment.

The moment his gaze touched Chu Changsheng, a flash of astonishment quickly crossed his eyes. That astonishment was like a stone thrown into a bottomless pool, stirring up a momentary ripple before being swallowed by an eternal depth.

Then, he slowly opened his lips.

The voice sounded peaceful, like a gently flowing stream in a mountain ravine, but every word carried the weight of a thousand jun, accompanied by unquestionable pressure, exploding in this space:

"Where are you going, Fellow Daoist?"

The Geng Metal World-Extinguishing Lightning Xiao had transformed into was as massive as a mountain. The lightning Evil Qi around its body surged crazily, like countless silver-purple electric snakes darting and hissing between its dark golden scales, emitting crackling sounds!

It let out a low, yet highly piercing roar; that sound seemed capable of shattering the Void Realm. The murderous light in its dark golden pupils was almost tangible as it locked onto the five people in front!

Its massive body arched slightly, muscles bulging like iron. Every scale revealed a determination to protect its Revered Master at the cost of its life; its intention to protect its Revered Master was clearly visible!

The terrifying Evil Qi and the unique sharpness of Geng Metal intertwined and fused, forming an almost visible, heart-palpitating force field, like an invisible prehistoric giant beast, crashing fiercely against the Ancestor Witch Aura emitted by the five temple Revered Masters!

The two forces faintly clashed, causing subtle ripples in the surrounding space, as if this piece of heaven and earth would collapse at any moment!

The atmosphere instantly tightened like a fully drawn bowstring—

Swords drawn and bows bent!

On the verge of breaking out!

Chu Changsheng, lying on Xiao's back, which was wide enough to accommodate several people, struggled to lift his eyelids.

His face was as pale as thin paper, and one could almost see the blue veins under his skin, but his eyes remained calm, like the surface of a lake before a storm—

As if he had long expected such an interception.

He raised his hand and gently patted Xiao's rough neck, which still held the residual warmth of lightning. The temperature of his palm passed through the scales—

Signaling it to stay calm.

"Cough, cough..."

A fit of violent coughing struck, and he couldn't help but cough out some pale golden blood foam. The blood foam landed on Xiao's scales and was instantly steamed into wisps of faint golden mist by the weak Dao power contained within—

As if life was slipping away bit by bit.

His voice was weak but exceptionally clear. Every word seemed squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a strange piercing power:

"Five Fellow Daoists... blocking my path, may I ask what advice you have?"

Chayuzi wore a crimson witch robe, with intricate blood-colored patterns embroidered on the hem. At this moment, the patterns seemed to have a life of their own, slightly wriggling and emitting an eerie luster.

His gaze fell on Chu Changsheng, carrying scrutiny and a trace of imperceptible greed.

He slowly opened his mouth, his voice like jade stones striking each other, clear yet cold:

"I dare not offer advice."

"It's just that you, Fellow Daoist, have taken something belonging to our Tai Miao Ancestral Witches—"

"Do you not intend to return it?"

Chu Changsheng's previously slightly lowered brows shot up sharply.

Although his Aura was extremely unstable and his chest heaved violently, like a candle in the wind that could go out at any moment—

There was not a hint of panic in his eyes.

Instead, a faint trace of mockery flashed across them:

"Something from the Imperial Ancestral Temple?"

"I have never had any dealings with your honorable temple; I do not know when I have ever taken anything from it."

Behind Chayuzi, Ancestor Witch Moyuzi stepped forward, holding a bone staff that was pitch black and covered in eerie runes.

His skin was a sickly cyan-black, while his lips were a deep, purplish red, as if he had just drunk fresh blood.

His hoarse voice was like a whetstone rubbing against bronze, harsh and dry:

"Stop quibbling!"

"The Kunpeng Treasure Technique mastered by Xuanyuan Zhanxian is a secret technique not to be passed on by our Tai Miao Ancestral Witches!"

"You, Fellow Daoist, are Xuanyuan Zhanxian's Revered Master—"

"Today, I ask you to hand it over."

As soon as these words were spoken—

Everyone present was shocked!

They all cast incredulous gazes toward both sides.

The air seemed to solidify at this moment, with only Ancestor Witch Moyuzi's hoarse voice echoing, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, carrying cold malice.

The Geng Metal World-Extinguishing Lightning Xiao had transformed into could no longer hold back, letting out a heaven-shaking roar!

This roar seemed capable of tearing through the clouds and shattering the stars!

The lightning around its body exploded instantly, turning into a dazzling silver-purple light curtain, firmly shielding Chu Changsheng behind it, as if it wanted to hold up an absolutely safe world for him!

Killing intent boiled in its dark golden pupils, and the lightning Evil Qi around its body was almost ready to condense into tangible chains; it was clearly prepared for a fight to the death—

As long as Chu Changsheng gave the order, it would rush out without hesitation, even if it meant being smashed to pieces or Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!

Chu Changsheng, lying on Xiao's back, heard this—

But he let out a low laugh.

His laughter was very soft, with a trembling sound of coughing up blood, like an old bellows being pulled, but there was an indescribable mockery in the laughter—

Like a thin needle, gently pricking everyone's nerves:

"Kunpeng Treasure Technique... a secret not to be passed on by the Tai Miao Ancestral Witches?"

He used all his strength to barely lift his eyes, his gaze like two ice-tempered blades, sweeping over the five imposing Tai Miao Ancestral Witches—

Finally, that gaze, like welded iron, locked firmly onto Ancestor Witch Moyuzi!

"As far as I know, the Primordial Kunpeng roams freely through heaven and earth, traversing the universe, and has never belonged to any faction."

"Its Treasure Technique was born of heaven and earth, conceived in Chaos, hidden in the Void Realm, and obtained by those with affinity."

Although his voice was weak, every word was clear, like metal or stone falling to the ground. In this tense atmosphere, every word was resonant, carrying unquestionable power:

"When... did it become the private property of the Tai Miao Ancestral Witches?"

Chayuzi's eyes narrowed slightly, and his brows furrowed gently, but he did not get angry, just maintained his calmness and said slowly:

"Fellow Daoist, that is incorrect."

"In ancient times, our Imperial Ancestral Temple sages once debated the Dao with the Kunpeng at the edge of Chaos for forty-nine days, obtained its true meaning, recorded it in the Imperial Ancestral Temple Legacy, and have guarded it for generations."

"This is a matter known to all members of the Witch tribe, hundreds of millions of them."

"The Legacy obtained by Xuanyuan Zhanxian originated from our Imperial Ancestral Temple."

"As his Revered Master, Fellow Daoist—"

His gaze suddenly turned cold:

"Regarding this matter, Fellow Daoist still needs to give our Tai Miao Ancestral Witches an explanation."

"An explanation?"

Chu Changsheng had another fit of violent coughing.

This time, the pale golden blood was not just seeping out, but like broken pearls, it kept overflowing from the corners of his mouth, dripping down his chin, blooming into beautiful, tragic golden blood flowers on Xiao's scales.

He barely suppressed the surging blood Qi that was almost bursting out of his chest, and while panting, he said with difficulty:

"Five Fellow Daoists... could it be that seeing Chu so severely injured, you think... there is an opportunity to be exploited—"

A mocking curve pulled at the corner of his mouth:

"And so you come... to rob and plunder?"

Merciless.

Directly exposing their true intentions.

At this moment, his state was extremely poor, his Foundation was severely damaged, his internal magic power was as chaotic as porridge, and his strength was not even one percent of his Peak period—

It was precisely his weakest moment.

It seemed as if a strong wind could blow him over.

The Tai Miao Ancestral Witches chose to make their move at this moment—

Their intention was as clear as a louse on a bald head—

It was obvious.