Chapter 1015: Hidden Danger

Eastern coast.

Two streams of clear immortal light pierced through the boundless cloud sea, descending slowly and gracefully.

As the radiance faded, two figures stood in midair, landing atop a peak of the Qingcang Mountain Range.

They were Chen Hua and Yuan Hong.

Yuan Hong gazed at the familiar thousand peaks and valleys, layers of lush greenery, a seldom-felt sentiment surfacing in his eyes:

“Master, this is the land of my birth, Peach Blossom Mountain.”

“I’ve wandered for decades, away from home for too long. I don’t know how the younger generation of my tribe is faring now.”

Chen Hua nodded gently, his eyes lightly sweeping over the entire mountain range.

The mountain ridges twisted like dragons, seemingly possessing the power to swallow the East Sea, lush with vegetation, brimming with spiritual qi, appearing ordinary yet hiding extraordinary potential.

A thought stirred within him, his fingertips subtly forming calculating seals, the threads of celestial secrets swiftly flowing into his eyes, scanning the roots of the earth veins.

After a moment, he shook his head slightly, sighing softly:

“What an innate treasure land, yet alas, it’s all wasted.”

Yuan Hong’s face filled with confusion upon hearing this, respectfully asking:

“Master, why would you say this? I have cultivated here since childhood and only felt that the place had decent spirituality, never witnessing any astonishing phenomena.”

Chen Hua raised his gaze, slowly revealing the celestial secret:

“You think this place is ordinary? In truth, it harbors half of a hidden ancestral vein.”

Yuan Hong’s body trembled, his expression changed dramatically, as who in the cultivation realm doesn’t know the worth of an ancestral vein!

With thousands of spirit veins, the ancestral vein being the source, borrowing it for cultivation makes the path smooth, a dreamland yearned for by countless cultivators.

Those major sects, who dominate regions, are mostly rooted atop ancestral veins.

Yuan Hong remained puzzled:

“But I’ve never sensed the overwhelming spiritual power of an ancestral vein here.”

Chen Hua retorted:

“You think the spiritual bun you accidentally ate back then was born out of thin air?”

“That demon dao master of old chose this place to establish a spiritual altar precisely because he valued this half hidden ancestral vein, intending to use its essence to accumulate phenomena.”

“To achieve his aim, he almost completely drained the essence of the hidden ancestral vein, leaving only a thin residual spiritual rhyme in the mountains and soil layers.”

“Such a heaven-gifted treasure land, utterly wasted! Truly a case of reckless waste, draining an entire lake for fish.”

Yuan Hong finally understood, all confusion in his heart dissolved completely.

Suppressing his inner sighs, he respectfully smiled and said:

“Master, please follow me into the mountain!”

“My tribe has generations of tradition in brewing ape wine, which condenses the mountain and river spirituality, gathers the essence of plants and trees, it’s a rarity in the world. Today, I’ll treat you with this fine brew!”

Chen Hua smiled slightly, nodding gently:

“It seems today, my palate shall be delighted!”

…

In the depths of Peach Blossom Mountain, towering peaks and ancient trees reaching the sky.

On a broad mountain flat, countless white apes were training, each with a strong physique and robust muscles.

Holding sticks, they advanced and retreated orderly, in disciplined formations.

Leading them, a gigantic ape clad in profound armor, towering and mighty, with a condensed aura and sharp gaze, was the Ape tribe’s great general, General Ji.

His cultivation had reached the fifth level of the Qi Refining Realm, guarding the foundation of the Ape tribe, diligently performing his duty.

Suddenly, two streams of celestial light descended from the sky, magnificent spirit light swirling.

General Ji’s heart tightened abruptly, instantly raising a hand to halt the training, all spirit apes immediately arrayed themselves defensively, sticks upright, evil qi rising, gazing towards the horizon.

But in the next moment, recognizing the familiar white-robed figure, General Ji’s alertness faded instantly, replaced by joy and excitement.

“It’s the king!!”

“The king has returned seeking sagehood!!”

The whole mountain of apes erupted into fervor, cheers echoing incessantly, reverberating throughout the valley.

Numerous elder spirit apes had tears in their eyes, gathering forward.

Yuan Hong landed on the mountain flat, and with a hearty laughter, his voice bold and broad:

“General Ji, long time no see, thank you for your hard work!”

Chen Hua stood by his side, observing the countless white apes with keen interest.

Here, the Ape tribe inheriting the residual rhyme of the ancestral vein, showed significant spirituality, many spirit apes having stepped into the Qi Refining Realm, surpassing common mountain demons.

Watching these spirit apes training, he felt a sense of familiarity and a hint of liking.

Yuan Hong then restrained his smile, turning solemn, instructing the spirit apes with a steady voice:

“The one who came with me is my master, an enlightened master of the current era. Quickly step forward and pay your respects!”

General Ji’s heart shuddered, knowing that his king possessed extraordinary divine techniques, his master’s skills must be unparalleled.

Leading the tribe’s eight highest cultivation spirit apes, they bowed and kneeled, offering complete courtesy, their voices resounding across the mountain flat:

“As juniors, I, Ji Xuan, along with the tribe’s disciples, greet the immortal senior!”

Chen Hua’s expression was gentle, a smile on his face, he raised a hand indicating: “No need for formalities.”

Witnessing his master’s calm and generous demeanor, Yuan Hong felt completely relieved, promptly instructing the tribe’s disciples to prepare fresh fruit and wine for a banquet.

In moments, several nimble little apes came carrying earthy handcrafted wine jars swiftly, pulling open clay seals, instantly filling the mountain air with rich wine aroma, fresh and sweet, laced with rich spiritual qi.

“Immortal senior, please taste the wine!”

Chen Hua accepted the wine cup, taking a sip.

The wine flowed down his throat, smooth and mellow, pure yet rich, infused with the mountain’s plant and tree spirituality, truly a rare wild brew.

“Indeed, the Spiritual Rhyme is rich, truly a rare treasure.”

Chen Hua nodded slightly in approval.

Seeing his master satisfied, Yuan Hong felt even more delighted and proceeded to inquire with General Ji about the happenings within the tribe over the years.

General Ji bowed and reported, clearly organized:

“Before the king departed, everything was arranged. Over the years, our Ape Race has thrived, growing stronger day by day.”

“Only about a decade ago, the old king of the neighboring Eastern Kingdom passed away, and his young son ascended the throne.”

“The new king somehow acquired some unorthodox Cultivation methods, his ambition soared, coveting our Peach Blossom Mountain, and repeatedly sent troops to attack. Many of our tribe’s members suffered casualties.”

“I personally descended the mountain to confront him, won several battles, and finally forced the Eastern Kingdom to cease hostilities and no longer dare to invade our lands.”

Upon hearing this, Yuan Hong merely smiled faintly, paying it no mind.

General Ji’s Cultivation was enough to easily crush the opponent, it showed that the new king of the Eastern Kingdom was not worth mentioning.

But Chen Hua, who sat quietly sipping wine, made an imperceptible movement with his fingers, the Celestial Secret threads swirled instantly, and a faint mysterious light flickered in his eyes.

He spoke softly, his tone flat: “Disciple, as you peacefully return home, a trouble comes along.”

Yuan Hong’s heart tightened, immediately pulling back all laxity, the intoxication dissipating entirely.

He knew well his master’s means, since his master called it trouble, it was certainly not ordinary and immediately bowed to inquire:

“Master, what is the hidden threat? Let this disciple go handle it at once!”

Chen Hua merely deepened his gaze slightly, smiled faintly, and said no more: “No rush, just wait and see.”

…

At the same time.

The palace of the Eastern Kingdom.

The palace was lavishly decorated with carved beams and painted pillars, the ground paved with gold and jade, filled with the melodious sound of silk and bamboo, and a scene of song and dance.

The King of the Eastern Kingdom, dressed in a golden robe, sat majestically on the throne, with a beauty nestled in his arms, indulging in the pleasures of wine and lust, a scene of decadence.

Suddenly, a shock of Spirit Light surged around him, his heart throbbing inexplicably, and all the intoxication vanished in an instant.

The seductive palace maid in his embrace, not understanding, gently tugged at his sleeve and teased softly:

“Your Majesty, are you weary from the drink?”

“Get lost!”

The King of the Eastern Kingdom’s expression turned severe, he waved his hand brusquely, his eyes filled with a fierce and cold gleam.

The palace maid trembled, knowing well the king’s volatile and unpredictable nature, dared not speak further, and quickly bowed and withdrew from the main hall, not daring to linger.

The hall became instantly empty.

Only then did the King of the Eastern Kingdom, hands trembling, retrieve a blood-colored, translucent orb from deep within his vestments.

The orb was entirely blood-red, sealed with numerous indistinct spectral ape images within, with Evil Qi faintly circulating.

At this moment, the previously dim and silent Blood Bead suddenly erupted with a dazzling and piercing blood-colored Spirit Light, vibrating incessantly, with blood energy surging!

The King’s eyes burst with extreme ecstasy:

“It has lit! Finally, it has lit!”

“Yuan Hong! You have finally returned to Peach Blossom Mountain!!”

“This time, I shall achieve great merit, surely accepted into my master’s sect, shedding my mortal carcass, and enjoy immortal longevity forever!”

Unable to contain himself, he retrieved a jet-black skull Dharma Seal, with eerie flames flickering within the eye sockets, exuding a sinister Demonic Rhyme.

The King of the Eastern Kingdom made mysterious incantations, infusing the news of Yuan Hong’s return to the mountain into it entirely.

Whoosh—!!

A jet-black demon light, carrying the shadow of a skull, tore through the palace void, rushing swiftly towards the heartland of the Divine Land.

After completing all this, a smile of assured victory appeared on the king’s face.

But the very next second, his smile froze abruptly, his body rigid in place, confined by a mighty solar pressure, unable to move at all.

…

In the heartland of the Divine Land.

Inside a remote cave dwelling.

The Yellow Robe Daoist, immersed in painstaking cultivation, abruptly opened his eyes, two streaks of jet-black demonic light pierce through the dark cave, the brilliance in his eyes surged.

“Finally, the time has come!”

He rose slowly, his yellow robe fluttering fiercely, with demonic overtones overwhelming the heavens.

This person was precisely the descendant of the Enlightened Master who had set up the Dharma Altar on Peach Blossom Mountain years ago.

“In those days, the ancestor unexpectedly perished, leaving behind scant secrets, imparted to future generations.”

“Unfortunately, over the centuries, the family’s offspring have been mediocre and unworthy, struggling even to reach the Dao Foundation Realm, let alone exploring the ancestor’s legacy.”

“Only when I achieved the Dao Foundation did I finally possess the strength to venture overseas and seek the legacy.”

More than a decade ago.

He journeyed overseas to explore, only to find that the Purple Mansion’s Dharma Altar had impenetrable restrictions, difficult to breach.

“That uniquely fated Yuan Hong, entangled with altar’s karma, is the best key!”

Unfortunately, by then, Yuan Hong had already ventured out seeking immortality, leaving no trace.

Moreover, with the altar-connected karma upon him, once he fled, the Celestial Secrets grew obscure, making it impossible for him to track Yuan Hong’s whereabouts.

He dared not act openly, lest the news leak, causing Yuan Hong to hide his entire life, never emerging.

He thus took in the Crown Prince of the Eastern Kingdom as a Named Disciple, instructing him to covertly monitor Peach Blossom Mountain, waiting for Yuan Hong’s return.

Finally, the news arrived!

The Yellow Robe Daoist’s eyes were filled with greed; with one step forward, he directly tore through the space before him, rushing swiftly towards the overseas East Sea!