Chapter 749 Undercurrent

‘Have I broken through? That was faster than I expected…’

The Mystical Light around Jiang Chen receded. An excited smile spread across his face as he gazed at the six remaining zones ahead. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. ‘I’ll push through in one go! I have to reach the Tenth District and break through to Tier Nine Peak!’

The Emperor Realm was divided into the Early Stage, Mid Stage, Late Stage, Peak, and Perfection.

Only after comprehending Mystical Power to Tier Nine could one step into the Emperor Realm.

With Tier Nine Secrets, every twenty percent improvement allowed one to break through a Small Realm.

If one could reach Tier Nine Perfection.

One could then refine their domain.

Jiang Chen’s Profound Yellow Realm had only just taken shape, yet it was already comparable to the domain of a Late-stage Emperor. He was incredibly eager to see what changes his Profound Yellow Realm would undergo after he refined it!

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Chen continued his climb up Sea View Rock.

But he had no idea…

…that the furious Ximen Qingsong, who had stormed off, was intercepted just as he reached the gates of Coastal City.

Ximen Qingsong frowned at the aged, cloaked figure before him, his expression impatient. “Beitang Old Monster, what are you doing here?”

“Heh heh, Younger Brother Ximen, I saw everything that happened on Sea View Rock!” A harsh, raspy voice emanated from beneath the cloak. The speaker was none other than the Clan Leader of the Beitang Clan, Beitang Mo.

Ximen Qingsong’s expression turned grim. Beitang Mo was truly twisting the knife.

He snorted. “Are you just here to laugh at me?”

“Heh heh, Younger Brother Ximen, you misunderstand. I am merely speaking out against the injustice done to you. You’ve fought countless campaigns for Sima Qingtian. Even if you haven’t earned merits, you’ve certainly put in the effort. For him to treat you like that in front of so many people… it’s truly disheartening!” Beneath the cloak, Beitang Mo’s eyes glinted with a vicious, blood-red light.

Ximen Qingsong was taken aback. He was no fool and sensed something was off about Beitang Mo. “What are you really trying to say?”

“Younger Brother Ximen is a sharp man. Sima Qingtian has controlled Coastal City for years and has long grown accustomed to exploiting us. In his eyes, we are nothing more than his vassals. Never mind anything else, just the fact that he takes half the annual revenue of our Four Great Clans—can you really stomach that?”

Seeing Ximen Qingsong’s wavering gaze, Beitang Mo pressed his advantage. “Younger Brother Ximen, I think it’s about time Coastal City had a new master!”

“Brother Beitan, that’s treason! You mustn’t entertain such thoughts. I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear you…” Ximen Qingsong said with righteous conviction, after a moment’s hesitation.

Beitang Mo chuckled darkly.

He knew Ximen Qingsong was already tempted.

He then took out a black and white Token and flashed it before Ximen Qingsong.

Ximen Qingsong’s pupils contracted, and his breath hitched. “A Demon God Order? Brother Beitan, you’re connected to the Demon God Palace?”

“Heh heh!”

Beitang Mo gave a sinister laugh, his cold gaze shifting to the figure on Sea View Rock. “I was fortunate enough to gain the favor of Lord Qin Yulong, and I am now an Outer Disciple of the Demon God Palace. In truth, Lord Qin has long coveted Coastal City for himself, but he never had the opportunity. Now, however, the one backing Sima Qingtian is about to die of old age…”

“Is that true?”

“Of course it is.”

A hesitant look appeared on Ximen Qingsong’s face.

Beitang Mo’s eyes were like stagnant pools, a ghostly light flickering within them. “Sima Qingtian is so focused on Jiang Chen, even to the point of publicly rebuking you, only because he wants the boy to participate in the Holy War and join one of the Four Great Holy Lands to secure his own position. But he has no idea that Jiang Chen… won’t be alive for much longer!”

“What do you mean? Surely you’re not planning to make a move on Jiang Chen, Brother Beitan?” Ximen Qingsong asked. “Sima Qingtian values him so highly, he’ll almost certainly escort him to Celestial Drum City personally. Even if we work together, how could we possibly kill the boy under Sima Qingtian’s protection?”

“The two of us together? Of course not. But what if we add masters from the Demon God Palace?” Beitang Mo’s sinister laugh was a piercing sound, like the shriek of a phantom, chilling one to the bone.

Ximen Qingsong’s expression hardened. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Fine. I’m in.”

…

Meanwhile, on Sea View Rock, Jiang Chen was oblivious to the treacherous undercurrents gathering against him.

He was completely immersed in an ocean of origin, constantly comprehending, constantly advancing.

However, compared to the first few zones, his pace had clearly slowed down considerably.

‘Light… so this is what it is…’

‘Where there is Light, there is Darkness…’

‘Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind create and destroy one another. Light does the same. Then what about Yin and Yang? What creates and destroys the Dao of Yin and Yang?’

‘Time is divided into past, present, and future. I have grasped a sliver of the power of the past and present, but to elevate it to the level of a Law, I must comprehend the future. But what is the future? The future is unknowable, so how can I wield it…?’

Jiang Chen’s expression shifted constantly—sometimes he frowned, sometimes his brow smoothed, sometimes he smiled, and sometimes he was lost in thought.

Amidst the ocean of origin on Sea View Rock, his progress was remarkable.

「Two days later.」

He had already ascended to the sixth zone.

By the fourth day, he reached the seventh zone.

By the fifth, the eighth zone.

And by the eighth day, Zone Nine…

At this very moment…

The gilded words “Jiang Chen” were imprinted upon the Sea Viewing Stone, ranking tenth.

More and more masters from Coastal City rushed over upon hearing the news.

Sima Lingkong, Nangong Weiwo, Dongfang Qinglong, and Ximen Jinlian were among them. Watching Jiang Chen head toward the Tenth District, they exchanged glances. “He’s not actually going to reach the Tenth District, is he?”

“That’s impossible!” said Nangong Weiwo.

Sima Lingkong swallowed hard. “Even if he doesn’t make it to the Tenth District, he’s already set a record with this speed! He entered Zone Nine in just eight days! It took me a whole damn decade to get from the first zone to Zone Nine…”

“It took me fifteen years…” Ximen Jinlian said with a bitter look.

Dongfang Qinglong narrowed his eyes and nodded, speaking with the feigned air of a seasoned master. “Ah, the new generation surpasses the old. It took me thirteen years to reach Zone Nine and claim the ninth spot on the Sea Viewing Stone. Today, that record is finally about to be broken!”

Everyone: “…”

*What the hell!*

*Thirteen years, and you’re trying to act all high and mighty?!*

*It took him less than ten days!*

“Do you guys think he can reach the Tenth District?”

“Probably… impossible!”

Every expert was guessing, but not many were optimistic about Jiang Chen’s chances.

After all…

The Tenth District was just too difficult!

The Restriction left behind by the senior who created the Sea Viewing Stone was not so easily passed.

In the blink of an eye, the tenth day arrived.

Jiang Chen’s name had already risen to the number one spot on the Sea Viewing Stone, just a single step away from the Tenth District.

But he had been standing there for the better part of half a day!

As the Blazing Sun crested the horizon and the first rays of light fell upon him, Jiang Chen finally opened his eyes, a look of delight on his face. ‘So that’s how it is. The Tenth District? It was only a matter of a single thought. I wonder what inheritance that senior left behind here…’

Jiang Chen took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Instantly…

The world spun around him. Everything before his eyes changed dramatically. A powerful, ancient figure appeared in front of him, a faint smile on his face. He nodded gently. “Someone has finally entered the Tenth District. Congratulations, young man.”