323: Hidden forces leave the Holy Son's cave.

Southern Central Region.

There was a mysterious mountain shrouded in spiritual mist all year round; pavilions and terraces could be vaguely seen on the mountain, and phantoms of various rare and exotic beasts flashed from time to time.

Many nearby Cultivators thought this mountain held a special Opportunity, so they entered the mountain directly to explore.

Unfortunately, no Cultivator had ever come out alive after approaching this mountain; they all perished at the foot of the mountain.

There were rumors that experts in the Enlightenment Realm had also tried to explore this mountain, but they likewise did not make it out alive.

One day, several Cultivators from a Cultivation Family came to the foot of this mountain, drawn by its reputation.

"Young Revered Master, we should probably avoid this place."

A thin, wizened Gray-robed Old Man said with some trepidation.

He was well aware of the rumors surrounding this mountain.

"Pfft, it's all just to scare people.

With you, Old Chen, an Enlightenment Layer One Realm expert, what is there to fear?"

A young man in blue, holding a folding fan at the back of the group, said dismissively.

Then, he flew toward the mysterious mountain with great interest.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he found that he hadn't approached the mountain at all, seemingly wandering around the periphery.

"What's going on?

How have we been flying for so long and still haven't reached the foot of the mountain?"

The young man in blue said with some annoyance.

The Gray-robed Old Man's expression was solemn; he realized they seemed to have entered a Formation, but he hadn't noticed when they had entered it at all.

At this moment, several streaks of white spiritual light surrounded by Laws suddenly shot out from the spiritual mist covering the mountain toward them.

"Young Revered Master, watch out!

Is... is this Undergoing Tribulation?

No, this is an attack with the power of the Mahayana Realm!

No..."

The Gray-robed Old Man found his entire body suppressed by a powerful pressure, unable to move at all.

Meanwhile, the young man in blue immediately lost consciousness.

Without any power to resist, the group was blasted into ashes by the powerful white spiritual light.

A moment later, a light gate appeared at the top of the mountain where the spiritual mist swirled.

An ordinary-looking young man in black flew out from the light gate.

He turned back with a grin to look at several elderly men with Immortal-like appearances inside the light gate:

"Revered Masters, don't worry!

I will use my strength to show the major forces of the Central Domain that our Heavenly Nether Mountain has re-emerged into the world."

"Chen'er, if you encounter difficulties, you can use the tian ming token.

Many Cultivation Families in the Central Domain will heed the call of the tian ming token."

Leading them, Daoist Tianming stroked his beard and spoke dominantly.

"Remember, from now on, you'll have to make your own way!"

"Alright, then Revered Masters, I'm heading out!"

Ye Jingchen nodded, then turned into a streak of light and vanished from the spot.

Daoist Tianming and the other elders were somewhat excited:

"After only fifteen years of cultivation, Chen'er is already at the Chūqiào Fifth Level Realm.

Thinking back to when we first took him as a disciple, he was just a frail child.

Time really flies!"

An old man beside him also said:

"Our Heavenly Nether Mountain has been secluded for several thousand years now!

The Cultivators of the Central Domain have probably forgotten about our Heavenly Nether Mountain.

Now with Chen'er, it's time for our Heavenly Nether Mountain to re-emerge!

The current Ten Great Holy Lands of the Central Domain are just vulnerable in our eyes, with hardly any Mahayana Realm Cultivators."

"But that can't be helped; aren't we Mahayana Realm Cultivators also hiding within Heavenly Nether Mountain?"

"There's one more thing I didn't tell Chen'er; his divination results over the past few months haven't been right.

Previously, when I performed divinations for Chen'er, they all showed that he would soar as soon as he left the mountain, rising rapidly until he became an Immortal.

But in the last few months, I haven't been able to calculate anything.

I've even vaguely sensed a hint of crisis."

Daoist Tianming said with a heavy expression.

The other elders looked at each other and comforted him:

"Perhaps it's because the Heavenly Dao of the Haomiao Realm has been obscured lately, and the heavenly secrets are in chaos, making normal deduction impossible.

With Chen'er's strength, who among the younger generation of Cultivators could be his match?

Don't look at Chen'er being only at the Chūqiào Fifth Level Realm now; if he goes all out, he can defeat a Body Integration Second Level Realm Cultivator."

"True, Chen'er's Physique and the Cultivation Technique we taught him are so powerful, plus the trump cards we left on him.

In the Haomiao Realm, no one can harm him."

Daoist Tianming thought about it and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's go, let's return to closed-door cultivation!"

Then, the elders vanished from the spot.

The light gate at the top of the mountain also disappeared... Some time later.

Southern Region.

In a small city.

"This must be the place where I stayed when I was a beggar!"

Ye Jingchen looked at an alley in the distance, and a memory inexplicably surfaced in his mind.

Back then, his parents had both died, and as a young child, he could only wander outside. Eventually, he ended up in this alley.

He hadn't eaten for a long time then and could barely even walk.

Just as he was feeling desperate, he met a young girl who was also a beggar.

The girl gave him some food, and that was how he survived.

Her image was deeply etched into his heart.

He had wanted to ask for her name.

Unfortunately, the next day he heard that the girl had been scouted by the nearby major Sect, the Lingfa Sect, and was taken back there.

Just like that, he never saw her again.

Later, he was discovered by Daoist Tianming of Heavenly Nether Mountain, who recognized his immense talent and took him as a disciple. He cultivated for fifteen years before leaving Heavenly Nether Mountain.

"It's been so long now; you must have become a beautiful Fairy!"

Ye Jingchen murmured.

This time, besides gaining experience, he also planned to find that girl.

Ever since she left, he had been thinking of her.

He was young then and didn't understand.

But now he understood; he had fallen for her.

Now that over a decade had passed, he was determined to find her and make her his Dao Companion.

After all, he was now the Young Lord of Heavenly Nether Mountain, with formidable strength and talent. Not only did he have several Mahayana Realm Revered Masters, but he could also command several great Cultivation Families; his influence was immense.

Only he could protect her and help her reach a higher Realm.

"Although I don't know her name, I remember she was taken away by a certain Deacon of the Lingfa Sect.

I'll go to the Lingfa Sect and ask around!"

After thinking for a moment, Ye Jingchen turned into a streak of light and instantly vanished.

Soon, he arrived at the Lingfa Sect and began investigating the whereabouts of the girl from back then... several days later.

Great Profound Realm.

Saint Son Peak Summit Immortal Cave.

Su Yun felt a bit busy lately.

An Yuyao and the others almost took turns coming to him to discuss cultivation.

He had hardly left the Immortal Cave.

"I should go out for a walk."

Su Yun stood up, a faint ripple of spatial energy flashed across him, and he vanished from the spot.