lín xuān bìng méi yǒu huí hào shí chéng ， fǎn ér dùn guāng yī gǎi ， fēi xiàng le yún zhōu běi miàn
林轩并没有回皓石城，反而遁光一改，飞向了云州北面
Lin Xuan did not return to White Stone City. Instead, he used his light to fly towards the northern part of Yunzhou.
jǐn guǎn àn zhào yuē dìng ， qù yún lǐng shān tàn xiǎn ， duì fāng yào wèi tā xún zhǎo jǐ zhāng liàn tǐ dān fāng zuò wèi bào chóu ， kě yún lǐng shān de jīng lì ， dà dà chū hū lín xuān yù liào de 。
尽管按照约定，去云岭山探险，对方要为他寻找几张炼体丹方做为报酬，可云岭山的经历，大大出乎林轩预料的。
Although according to their agreement, the other party was supposed to find several body refinement elixir formulas as payment for exploring Cloud Ridge Mountain, Lin Xuan found that the experience at Cloud Ridge Mountain greatly exceeded his expectations.
lǐ miàn qiān chě dào yāo mó de yīn móu ， suī rán shì shén me lín xuān bìng bù qīng chǔ ， dàn xiāng xìn néng huó xià lái de xiū shì jué duì bù duō 。
里面牵扯到妖魔的阴谋，虽然是什么林轩并不清楚，但相信能活下来的修士绝对不多。
The events involved the machinations of demons and monsters, though Lin Xuan did not know what exactly they were. However, he believed that very few cultivators would survive such a situation. Once this news spread, the cultivation forces around would be greatly shaken. Lin Xuan didn't want to get caught up in any more turmoil. Instead, his current收获 was already substantial enough. He could collect body refinement elixir formulas gradually.
děng cǐ shì chuán kāi yǐ hòu ， zhōu wéi de xiū xiān shì lì bì dìng dà wèi zhèn dòng ， lín xuān kě bù xiǎng zài bèi juǎn rù shén me xuán wō ， fǎn ér tā cǐ xíng de shōu huò yǐ jīng gòu duō ， dān fāng me ， yǐ hòu zài màn màn shōu jí hǎo le 。
等此事传开以后，周围的修仙势力必定大为震动，林轩可不想再被卷入什么漩涡，反而他此行的收获已经够多，丹方么，以后再慢慢收集好了。
Lin Xuan wouldn't foolishly put himself into danger.
lín xuān cái bú huì shǎ shǎ de zì tóu luó wǎng 。
林轩才不会傻傻的自投罗网。
His estimate was correct. As they say, a paper cannot cover fire. Although the three major forces were entangled and reacted slowly to the strange events at Cloud Ridge Mountain, news eventually spread after several days.
lín xuān de gū jì bìng méi yǒu cuò ， sú huà shuō ， zhǐ bāo bú zhù huǒ ， suī rán yīn wèi sān dà shì lì hù xiāng qiān chě ， duì yú zhè cì yún lǐng shān fā shēng de guài shì ， lí yào gōng 、 lì hún gǔ 、 yù líng zōng jiē fǎn yìng chí huǎn ， dàn shù rì zhī hòu ， xiāo xī hái shì zhōng yú chuán kāi 。
林轩的估计并没有错，俗话说，纸包不住火，虽然因为三大势力互相牵扯，对于这次云岭山发生的怪事，离药宫、厉魂谷、御灵宗皆反应迟缓，但数日之后，消息还是终于传开。
Thousands of cultivators who entered Cloud Ridge Mountain did not survive, including over 300 high-ranking cultivators above the condensation core stage, even with a few元婴 cultivators among them.
jìn rù yún lǐng shān de shù qiān xiū shì jū rán wú yī cún huó ， zhè qí zhōng shèn zhì hái bāo kuò le sān bǎi míng níng dān qī yǐ shàng de gāo jiē xiū xiān zhě ， shèn zhì yuán yīng xiū shì dōu yǒu shù rén zhī duō 。
进入云岭山的数千修士居然无一存活，这其中甚至还包括了三百名凝丹期以上的高阶修仙者，甚至元婴修士都有数人之多。
No one knew what had happened... The entire cultivation world was in an uproar.
méi yǒu rén zhī dào fā shēng le shén me …… zhěng gè xiū xiān jiè yī piàn huá rán 。
没有人知道发生了什么……整个修仙界一片哗然。
Not only were the three major sects and White Stone City shaken, but Yunzhou as a whole was also on edge. After all, such a tragic incident hadn't occurred for a million years.
bù zhǐ shì sān dà mén pài yǔ hào shí chéng zhèn dòng ， zhěng gè yún zhōu ， dōu yǒu xiē fēng shēng hè lì le ， bì jìng bǎi wàn nián lái ， hái cóng méi yǒu fā shēng guò zhè zhǒng cǎn àn 。
不止是三大门派与皓石城震动，整个云州，都有些风声鹤唳了，毕竟百万年来，还从没有发生过这种惨案。
Remember that元婴 cultivators possessed earth-shaking power; mountains could be moved and seas filled, yet so many experts died under mysterious circumstances.
yào zhī dào ， zài zhè yī jiè ， yuán yīng xiū shì yǒu zhe jīng tiān dòng dì zhī wēi néng ， yí shān tián hǎi ， kě jū rán yǒu nà me duō gāo shǒu sǐ dé bù míng bù bái 。
要知道，在这一界，元婴修士有着惊天动地之威能，移山填海，可居然有那么多高手死得不明不白。
Among them were many renowned figures, like the Wise Master of White Stone City and Old Monster Sun. Even two disciples of the Grand Elder of Life Medicine Palace had fallen here in succession.
qí zhōng shèn zhì bāo kuò le hěn duō shēng míng yuǎn bō de cún zài 。 bǐ rú shuō hào shí chéng de cōng huì dà shī 。 hái yǒu sūn lǎo guài 。 shèn zhì lián lí yào gōng dà zhǎng lǎo de liǎng míng ài tú ， dōu xiān hòu yǔn luò zài le cǐ chù 。
其中甚至包括了很多声名远播的存在。比如说皓石城的聪慧大师。还有孙老怪。甚至连离药宫大长老的两名爱徒，都先后陨落在了此处。
The woman was not mentioned, but Tian Xiaojian, though only recently formed his essence, was designated as the sect's junior master, causing a great stir.
nà nǚ zǐ zàn qiě bù shuō ， tián xiǎo jiàn suī rán jié yīng wèi jiǔ ， dàn què bèi dìng wèi le gāi zōng shǎo zhǔ ， qí zhèn dòng shì kě xiǎng ér zhī de 。
那女子暂且不说，田小剑虽然结婴未久，但却被定为了该宗少主，其震动是可想而知的。
Old Demon Jia was furious and even sent his fourth disciple to Cloud Ridge Mountain to investigate. The Fourth Elder of this sect was also an existence at the late-stage元婴 realm, a terrifying figure.
jiǎ lǎo mó zhèn nù ， shèn zhì pài sì shī dì qīn zì qián wǎng yún lǐng shān yī tàn gēn yóu 。 yào zhēn 「 dào gāi zōng sì zhǎng lǎo ， yī yàng shì yuán yīng hòu qī de kě pà cún zài 。
贾老魔震怒，甚至派四师弟亲自前往云岭山一探根由。要真「道该宗四长老，一样是元婴后期的可怕存在。
Although the Lingyun Sect and Liuhun Valley had no元婴 experts die, over ten condensation core disciples from these sects perished. This matter was too strange, with reports that powerful cultivators were sent to Cloud Ridge Mountain as well.
yù líng zōng ， lì hún gǔ suī rán bìng wú yuán yīng jí gāo shǒu yǔn luò ， dàn sǐ qù de níng dān qī dì zǐ tóng yàng yǒu shí jǐ rén zhī duō ， ér qiě zhè jiàn shì qíng shí zài tài gǔ guài le ， tīng shuō yī yàng pài chū dà xiū shì qián wǎng yún lǐng shān le 。
御灵宗，厉魂谷虽然并无元婴级高手陨落，但死去的凝丹期弟子同样有十几人之多，而且这件事情实在太古怪了，听说一样派出大修士前往云岭山了。
However, in terms of losses, White Stone City suffered the most. The Wise Master, along with a black-robed woman, had fallen, and since Cloud Ridge Mountain was under their jurisdiction, the entire White Stone City was in an uproar. Only after the True Monarch North Mysterious personally intervened did the people's hearts finally calm down.
bù guò yào lùn sǔn shī cǎn zhòng ， què yǐ hào shí chéng wéi shǒu ， cōng huì dà shī ， hái yǒu mò xìng nǚ zǐ yǔn luò ， hé kuàng yún lǐng shān ， běn lái jiù guī tā men suǒ guǎn ， zhěng gè hào shí chéng ， jī hū shì chǎo le fān tiān ， zuì hòu zài bì shēng sǐ guān de chéng zhǔ běi míng zhēn jūn qīn zì chū miàn ， cái zǒng suàn jiāng rén xīn ān dìng le xià lái 。
不过要论损失惨重，却以皓石城为首，聪慧大师，还有墨姓女子陨落，何况云岭山，本来就归他们所管，整个皓石城，几乎是吵了翻天，最后在闭生死关的城主北冥真君亲自出面，才总算将人心安定了下来。
Unlike the three major forces, White Stone City only had one powerful cultivator as its lord, so he personally took action to seek a proper explanation for his fallen comrades.
hào shí chéng kě bù bǐ sān dà shì lì ， dà xiū shì jǐn chéng zhǔ zhè me yī wèi ér yǐ ， yú shì yóu tā qīn zì chū mǎ ， shì yào wèi sǐ qù de tóng dào tào yí gè shuō fǎ 。
皓石城可不比三大势力，大修士仅城主这么一位而已，于是由他亲自出马，誓要为死去的同道套一个说法。
The situation in southern Yunzhou was tense but not yet at the point of grass and trees causing alarm. However, major sects and cultivation families quietly reduced their manpower and activated protective arrays.
fēng qǐ yún yǒng ， zhěng gè yún zhōu nán bù de xiū xiān jiè ， suī rán méi dào fēng shēng hè lì ， cǎo mù jiē bīng de dì bù ， dàn dà xiǎo zōng mén shì lì ， bāo kuò xiū xiān jiā zú ， yě dōu qiǎo rán shōu suō rén shǒu ， jiāng hù pài dà zhèn kāi qǐ le 。
风起云涌，整个云州南部的修仙界，虽然没到风声鹤唳，草木皆兵的地步，但大小宗门势力，包括修仙家族，也都悄然收缩人手，将护派大阵开启了。
Solo cultivators were on edge, either hiding in their caves or fleeing elsewhere.
sàn xiū gèng shì rú lǚ bó bīng ， bú shì duǒ zài zì jǐ de dòng fǔ ， jiù shì jǐn liàng táo wǎng bié chù 。
散修更是如履薄冰，不是躲在自己的洞府，就是尽量逃往别处。
Storm clouds gathered, with some daring and lawless cultivators setting up ambushes along key routes from southern Yunzhou to other regions, ready to commit murder for treasure.
shān yǔ yù lái fēng mǎn lóu ， dāng rán ， lì yòng jǐn zhāng qì fēn dà fā hèng cái de yě yǒu ， cóng yún zhōu nán bù tōng wǎng qí tā dì fāng de yī xiē yào dào zhī shàng ， jiù yǒu yī xiē dǎn dà wàng wéi ， wú fǎ wú tiān de xiū xiān zhě ， qiǎo rán mái fú ， zuò qǐ nà shā rén qiǎng bǎo de shì qíng lái le 。
山雨欲来风满楼，当然，利用紧张气氛大发横财的也有，从云州南部通往其他地方的一些要道之上，就有一些胆大妄为，无法无天的修仙者，悄然埋伏，做起那杀人抢宝的事情来了。
Blood and gore filled the air as Yunzhou entered a state of tension unseen in a thousand years.
xuè yǔ xīng fēng ， yún zhōu xiàn rù le wàn nián nán yù de jǐn zhāng zhī zhōng 。
血雨腥风，云州陷入了万年难遇的紧张之中。
A month later, at Life Medicine Palace's main hall, which was also one of the seven major sects and a holy land for alchemy, an elderly man with a youthful appearance and white hair sat cross-legged. His expression was kind and peaceful.
yí gè yuè hòu ， yún zhōu dān dào shèng dì tóng shí yě shì qī dà zōng mén zhī yī de lí yào gōng zǒng tán ， tài
一个月后，云州丹道圣地同时也是七大宗门之一的离药宫总坛，太
This was indeed the Grand Elder who had shaken the twelve states of Tianyun for centuries. Though his body refinement techniques were unparalleled, he was also ruthless and cunning, earning him the nickname Old Demon Jia.
yī míng tóng yán hè fà de lǎo zhě pán xī ér zuò ， shén sè rén cí ér xiáng hé 。
一名童颜鹤发的老者盘膝而坐，神色仁慈而祥和。
With a sudden movement, his eyes opened, and a flickering figure entered the hall.
rán ér zhè wèi jiù shì wēi zhèn tiān yún shí èr zhōu shù bǎi nián de lí yào gōng dà zhǎng lǎo ， dān dào zhī shù gù rán chū shén rù huà ， wéi rén yě xīn hěn shǒu là ， yì diǎn yě bù xùn yú mó dào xiū xiān zhě ， bèi chēng wéi jiǎ lǎo mó 。
然而这位就是威震天云十二州数百年的离药宫大长老，丹道之术固然出神入化，为人也心狠手辣，一点也不逊于魔道修仙者，被称为贾老魔。
It was a middle-aged scholar with an ordinary appearance but formidable cultivation that left people awestruck; another late-stage元婴 cultivator.
sà rán ， tā yǎn jīng zhēng kāi ， yí gè piāo hū de shēn yǐng zǒu jìn le dà diàn 。
飒然，他眼睛睁开，一个飘忽的身影走进了大殿。
"Brother, how did your investigation of Cloud Ridge Mountain go? Could it be a plot by Liuhun Valley and Lingyun Sect?" Old Demon Jia mused.
shì yī míng sān shí yú suì de rú shēng ， miàn róng pǔ tōng ， rán ér xiū wèi què lìng rén wèi zhī cè rì ， tóng yàng shì yī wèi yuán yīng hòu qī dà xiū shì de 。
是一名三十余岁的儒生，面容普通，然而修为却令人为之侧日，同样是一位元婴后期大修士的。
"This is hard to say, but I found some clues there. Brother, do you recognize these things?" The Fourth Elder's words had not yet ended when he raised his left hand, and a storage bag floated over with light.
“ shī dì ， rú hé ， yún lǐng shān zhī shì kě yǒu jié guǒ ， shì bú shì lì hún gǔ yǔ yù líng zōng suǒ shuǎ
“师弟，如何，云岭山之事可有结果，是不是厉魂谷与御灵宗所耍
"Here—"
de yīn móu ？” jiǎ lǎo mó chén yín zhe kāi kǒu 。
的阴谋？”贾老魔沉吟着开口。
Even though Old Demon Jia was at the peak of late-stage元婴 cultivation, his spiritual sense detected something unusual in the storage bag, causing him to suddenly change expression.
“ zhè ge bù hǎo shuō ， bù guò xiǎo dì zài nà lǐ dǎo shì fā xiàn le yī xiē xiàn suǒ ， shī xiōng kàn kàn zhè xiē dōng xī ， kě dōu rèn shí me ?” nà wèi sì zhǎng lǎo huà yīn wèi shǐ ， zuǒ shǒu yī tái ， yí gè chǔ wù dài yǐ bèi guāng xiá tuō zhe fēi le guò lái 。“ zhè shì yī yī yī yī yī yī ”
“这个不好说，不过小弟在那里倒是发现了一些线索，师兄看看这些东西，可都认识么?”那位四长老话音未始，左手一抬，一个储物袋已被光霞托着飞了过来。“这是一一一一一一”
Yin Soul Mountain. This was one of Yunzhou's famous Yin veins and also Liuhun Valley's main hall.
jiù jìng jiè lái shuō ， jiǎ lǎo mó yǐ shì yuán yīng hòu qī dǐng - fēng de xiū xiān zhě ， kě shén shí zài chǔ wù dài zhōng sǎo guò ， què yě sà rán liǎn sè dà biàn 。
就境界来说，贾老魔已是元婴后期顶-峰的修仙者，可神识在储物袋中扫过，却也飒然脸色大变。
In the depths of Yin Soul Mountain, a dark-colored cold spring lay shrouded in thick mist, with countless阴气 permeating the area.
yāo hún shān 。 zhè lǐ shì yún zhōu hè hè yǒu míng de yīn mài zhī yī ， yě shì lì hún gǔ zǒng tán 。
夭魂山。这里是云州赫赫有名的阴脉之一，也是厉魂谷总坛。
Amidst the fog, an unclothed cultivator could be vaguely seen meditating, drawing in immense amounts of阴气 into his body.
cǐ shí zài tiān hún shān shēn chù ， yī sè zé yǒu hēi de hán tán ， yīn qì biàn bù ， zhōu wéi bèi nóng nóng de yīn wù lǒng zhào zhe 。
此时在天魂山深处，一色泽黝黑的寒潭，阴气遍布，周围被浓浓的阴雾笼罩着。
Suddenly, a black light flew over. It was a grayish-white Life Medicine Palace storage bag.
wù qì zhī zhōng ， yǐn yuē kě jiàn yī pī fà xiū shì ， zhèng zài dǎ zuò ， wú shù de yīn qì bèi tā xī rù dào le shēn tǐ zhī zhōng 。
雾气之中，隐约可见一披发修士，正在打坐，无数的阴气被他吸入到了身体之中。
The unclothed cultivator reached out and obediently caught the storage bag with his hand.
tū rán yī dào hēi guāng fēi le guò lái ， què shì yī ǎo hēi de yù tǒng jiǎn 。
突然一道黑光飞了过来，却是一拗黑的玉筒简。
"Hmph, it's related to demons and monsters. A million years ago, they weren't completely eradicated during that great battle; why are these fellows suddenly so bold, making such earth-shaking moves?"
nà pī fà xiū shì shēn shǒu yī zhāo ， yù tǒng jiù guāi guāi de luò rù dào le tā de zhǎng xīn lǐ miàn 。
那披发修士伸手一招，玉筒就乖乖的落入到了他的掌心里面。
Silent for a moment, he sent a gray light out of his hand. Clearly, this was something important.
“ hēng ， jū rán yǔ yāo mó yǒu guān ， bǎi wàn nián qián de nà chǎng dà zhàn ， bù céng jiāng tā men zhǎn cǎo chú gēn ， wèi le gǒu yán cán chuǎn ， jìng shì jiā huǒ bù yī zhí dāng suō tóu wū guī ma ， wèi hé tū rán rú cǐ dà dǎn ， zuò chū zhè me jīng tiān dòng dì de jǔ dòng lái ……”
“哼，居然与妖魔有关，百万年前的那场大战，不曾将他们斩草除根，为了苟延残喘，迳世家伙不一直当缩头乌龟吗，为何突然如此大胆，做出这么惊天动地的举动来……”
Outside the cold spring, several dozen cultivators stood with their hands clasped. The leaders were all at the late-stage元婴 realm. The gray light flashed and landed in the palm of the leader's cultivator.
cǐ rén chén yín bù yǔ ， piàn kè yǐ hòu ， yī dào huī guāng cóng tā shǒu lǐ fēi le chū qù ， xiǎn rán tā suǒ
此人沉吟不语，片刻以后，一道灰光从他手里飞了出去，显然他所
He examined it and then gave some instructions to his subordinates. Immediately, Liuhun Valley cultivators scattered in all directions.
ér jiù zài nà hán tán wài ， shù shí míng xiū shì shù shǒu ér lì ， wéi shǒu de jǐ gè gèng shì wú yīng jí ， nà huī guāng yī shǎn ， luò rù wéi shǒu xiū shì de zhǎng xīn lǐ miàn 。
而就在那寒潭外，数十名修士束手而立，为首的几个更是无婴级，那灰光一闪，落入为首修士的掌心里面。
Mountain Beast Peak. This was Lingyun Sect's main hall.
tā kàn le kàn ， biǎo qíng yī biàn ， duì zhuó shǒu xià fēn fù jǐ jù ， nà xiē lì hún gǔ xiū shì dùn shí sì sàn fēi lüè le chū qù 。
他看了看，表情一变，对着手下吩咐几句，那些厉魂谷修士顿时四散飞掠了出去。
In a seemingly ordinary study room, an elegant middle-aged woman sat cross-legged with a serene expression. Her spiritual pressure was equally astonishing; she didn't fall short of Old Demon Jia from Life Medicine Palace.
wàn shòu fēng 。 zhè lǐ shì yù líng zōng zǒng tán 。
万兽峰。这里是御灵宗总坛。
She seemed to be meditating on something.
yī kàn shì píng cháng de shū fáng lǐ miàn ， yī wèi yī shēn sù jìng de zhōng nián měi fù pán xī ér zuò ， shēn shàng de líng yā tóng yàng lìng rén chēng mù jié shé ， yì diǎn yě bù xùn sè yú lí yào gōng de jiǎ lǎo mó 。
一看似平常的书房里面，一位一身素净的中年美妇盘膝而坐，身上的灵压同样令人瞠目结舌，一点也不逊色于离药宫的贾老魔。
After a moment, the woman stood up and picked up a cup of tea. However, her gaze fell upon the table where countless ants had formed four strange characters—Gate of Devils.
tā sì hū zài xiū xíng wù shén me 。
她似乎在修行务什么。
"Could this Cloud Ridge Mountain incident have anything to do with this?" The middle-aged woman's voice was light but seemed to carry an underlying meaning that reached his ears.
piàn kè yǐ hòu ， cǐ nǚ qǐ shēn ， duān qǐ yī bēi chá ， rán ér tā de mù guāng ， què luò zài le zhuō zi shàng ， shàng miàn yǒu wú shù mǎ yǐ ， pā zài yì qǐ ， què zǔ chéng le sì gè guǐ yì de wén zì yī shí xiū luó zhī mén 。
片刻以后，此女起身，端起一杯茶，然而她的目光，却落在了桌子上，上面有无数蚂蚁，趴在一起，却组成了四个诡异的文字一十修罗之门。
In a mountain near White Stone City.
“ zhè cì de yún lǐng shān ， huì bú huì yǔ cǐ shì yǒu guān lián ？” zhōng nián měi fù de shēng yīn hěn qīng ， què yǐn yǐn yǒu nà me yī jù chuán rù le ěr lǐ 。
“这次的云岭山，会不会与此事有关联？”中年美妇的声音很轻，却隐隐有那么一句传入了耳里。
"Not bad, not bad. Although the demonic aura here is far weaker than in Upper World, it's sufficient for my cultivation."
lüè shí chéng fù jìn de mǒu chù dà shān zhī zhōng 。
略石城附近的某处大山之中。
Two cultivators stood still, one of whom was a young man with snow-white hair—North Mysterious Monarch. The other was an 87-year-old child, at the early-stage元婴 realm. However, North Mysterious Monarch, this powerful cultivator, bowed and showed great respect, which seemed extremely odd.
“ bù cuò ， bù cuò ， zhè lǐ de mó qì suī rán yuǎn bù jí shàng jiè ， dàn yě zú gòu běn zūn xiū liàn yī
“不错，不错，这里的魔气虽然远不及上界，但也足够本尊修炼一
What had happened in Cloud Ridge Mountain remained unclear. Despite not all cultivators surviving as outsiders speculated, Lin Xuan and Tian Xiaojian did not appear. Wu Yun'er was incredibly intelligent, but she kept the details of her journey a secret.
Lin Xuan did not return to White Stone City. Instead, he used his light to fly towards the northern part of Yunzhou.
Although according to their agreement, the other party was supposed to find several body refinement elixir formulas as payment for exploring Cloud Ridge Mountain, Lin Xuan found that the experience at Cloud Ridge Mountain greatly exceeded his expectations.
The events involved the machinations of demons and monsters, though Lin Xuan did not know what exactly they were. However, he believed that very few cultivators would survive such a situation. Once this news spread, the cultivation forces around would be greatly shaken. Lin Xuan didn't want to get caught up in any more turmoil. Instead, his current收获 was already substantial enough. He could collect body refinement elixir formulas gradually.
Lin Xuan wouldn't foolishly put himself into danger.
His estimate was correct. As they say, a paper cannot cover fire. Although the three major forces were entangled and reacted slowly to the strange events at Cloud Ridge Mountain, news eventually spread after several days.
Thousands of cultivators who entered Cloud Ridge Mountain did not survive, including over 300 high-ranking cultivators above the condensation core stage, even with a few元婴 cultivators among them.
No one knew what had happened... The entire cultivation world was in an uproar.
Not only were the three major sects and White Stone City shaken, but Yunzhou as a whole was also on edge. After all, such a tragic incident hadn't occurred for a million years.
Remember that元婴 cultivators possessed earth-shaking power; mountains could be moved and seas filled, yet so many experts died under mysterious circumstances.
Among them were many renowned figures, like the Wise Master of White Stone City and Old Monster Sun. Even two disciples of the Grand Elder of Life Medicine Palace had fallen here in succession.
The woman was not mentioned, but Tian Xiaojian, though only recently formed his essence, was designated as the sect's junior master, causing a great stir.
Old Demon Jia was furious and even sent his fourth disciple to Cloud Ridge Mountain to investigate. The Fourth Elder of this sect was also an existence at the late-stage元婴 realm, a terrifying figure.
Although the Lingyun Sect and Liuhun Valley had no元婴 experts die, over ten condensation core disciples from these sects perished. This matter was too strange, with reports that powerful cultivators were sent to Cloud Ridge Mountain as well.
However, in terms of losses, White Stone City suffered the most. The Wise Master, along with a black-robed woman, had fallen, and since Cloud Ridge Mountain was under their jurisdiction, the entire White Stone City was in an uproar. Only after the True Monarch North Mysterious personally intervened did the people's hearts finally calm down.
Unlike the three major forces, White Stone City only had one powerful cultivator as its lord, so he personally took action to seek a proper explanation for his fallen comrades.
The situation in southern Yunzhou was tense but not yet at the point of grass and trees causing alarm. However, major sects and cultivation families quietly reduced their manpower and activated protective arrays.
Solo cultivators were on edge, either hiding in their caves or fleeing elsewhere.
Storm clouds gathered, with some daring and lawless cultivators setting up ambushes along key routes from southern Yunzhou to other regions, ready to commit murder for treasure.
Blood and gore filled the air as Yunzhou entered a state of tension unseen in a thousand years.
A month later, at Life Medicine Palace's main hall, which was also one of the seven major sects and a holy land for alchemy, an elderly man with a youthful appearance and white hair sat cross-legged. His expression was kind and peaceful.
This was indeed the Grand Elder who had shaken the twelve states of Tianyun for centuries. Though his body refinement techniques were unparalleled, he was also ruthless and cunning, earning him the nickname Old Demon Jia.
With a sudden movement, his eyes opened, and a flickering figure entered the hall.
It was a middle-aged scholar with an ordinary appearance but formidable cultivation that left people awestruck; another late-stage元婴 cultivator.
"Brother, how did your investigation of Cloud Ridge Mountain go? Could it be a plot by Liuhun Valley and Lingyun Sect?" Old Demon Jia mused.
"This is hard to say, but I found some clues there. Brother, do you recognize these things?" The Fourth Elder's words had not yet ended when he raised his left hand, and a storage bag floated over with light.
"Here—"
Even though Old Demon Jia was at the peak of late-stage元婴 cultivation, his spiritual sense detected something unusual in the storage bag, causing him to suddenly change expression.
Yin Soul Mountain. This was one of Yunzhou's famous Yin veins and also Liuhun Valley's main hall.
In the depths of Yin Soul Mountain, a dark-colored cold spring lay shrouded in thick mist, with countless阴气 permeating the area.
Amidst the fog, an unclothed cultivator could be vaguely seen meditating, drawing in immense amounts of阴气 into his body.
Suddenly, a black light flew over. It was a grayish-white Life Medicine Palace storage bag.
The unclothed cultivator reached out and obediently caught the storage bag with his hand.
"Hmph, it's related to demons and monsters. A million years ago, they weren't completely eradicated during that great battle; why are these fellows suddenly so bold, making such earth-shaking moves?"
Silent for a moment, he sent a gray light out of his hand. Clearly, this was something important.
Outside the cold spring, several dozen cultivators stood with their hands clasped. The leaders were all at the late-stage元婴 realm. The gray light flashed and landed in the palm of the leader's cultivator.
He examined it and then gave some instructions to his subordinates. Immediately, Liuhun Valley cultivators scattered in all directions.
Mountain Beast Peak. This was Lingyun Sect's main hall.
In a seemingly ordinary study room, an elegant middle-aged woman sat cross-legged with a serene expression. Her spiritual pressure was equally astonishing; she didn't fall short of Old Demon Jia from Life Medicine Palace.
She seemed to be meditating on something.
After a moment, the woman stood up and picked up a cup of tea. However, her gaze fell upon the table where countless ants had formed four strange characters—Gate of Devils.
"Could this Cloud Ridge Mountain incident have anything to do with this?" The middle-aged woman's voice was light but seemed to carry an underlying meaning that reached his ears.
In a mountain near White Stone City.
"Not bad, not bad. Although the demonic aura here is far weaker than in Upper World, it's sufficient for my cultivation."
Two cultivators stood still, one of whom was a young man with snow-white hair—North Mysterious Monarch. The other was an 87-year-old child, at the early-stage元婴 realm. However, North Mysterious Monarch, this powerful cultivator, bowed and showed great respect, which seemed extremely odd.
What had happened in Cloud Ridge Mountain remained unclear. Despite not all cultivators surviving as outsiders speculated, Lin Xuan and Tian Xiaojian did not appear. Wu Yun'er was incredibly intelligent, but she kept the details of her journey a secret.