CHAPTER 72: SETTING OUT FOR THE HEAVENLY MANDATE HALL

The sky gradually bled into a deep crimson, and a suffocating aura of destruction pressed down over the entire continent.

Even the cultivators locked in fierce combat froze in place. They looked toward the sky with terror written across their faces.

They recalled an ancient legend from ten thousand years ago, "The Abyssal Demonic Spirit's return would start from the Nantian Region. One by one, it would break open the passages across the continent. When that moment came, a golden age would begin, the spirit qi would fully recover, and all dormant secret realms would resurface. But along with it... a world-ending Heavenly Tribulation would descend."

In that instant, the cultivators lost the will to fight. They scattered in all directions, fleeing as far as they could.

Jun Wudi tilted his head toward the southern skies and muttered, "Blood over the Nantian Region... the prophecy of the Seven Children has come to pass. Why would the sky over the Nantian Region change now? Is it a mere coincidence... or the true beginning of an era's chaos?

"Ever since Lu Chen appeared, every sign has pointed toward the start of the golden age. Piece them together, and it all seems to be..."

His gaze shifted toward the large tree where Lu Chen stood. His eyes grew firm as he thought of a possibility. His hands moved faster as he gathered his belongings.

The sky in the south had darkened, turning a heavy crimson. An eerie glow poured over the broken corpses and severed limbs below. Blood flowed in streams and merged with the ghastly light, painting a vision of hell itself.

Lu Chen's brow furrowed. "Grandpa Xiu, that prophecy they spoke of... will the continent truly be destroyed?"

Nantian Xiu's voice remained calm. "Don't worry. This is only the first sign. It will be a long time before the Abyssal Demonic Spirit can fully open the passage."

"There's more than enough time for the sect leaders to handle the matter. But with the outpouring of spirit qi, the hidden heirs of all the ancient clans will soon emerge."

Nantian Xiu narrowed his eyes as he looked at the southern sky, recalling Blindman Lu's words. At this moment, he finally understood why Blindman Lu was so eager to push Lu Chen forward despite possessing overwhelming strength himself.

Once all the passages open, cultivators from the Outside will descend, and the Eastern Pole Continent will become the Eye of the Storm.

With its strength restored over the years, the continent can likely handle the Abyssal Demonic Spirit. The true crisis will lie in facing the prodigies from the Outside.

Lu Chen noticed Nantian Xiu staring at the sky, seemingly absorbed in thought. "What are you thinking, Grandpa Xiu?"

Nantian Xiu turned to Lu Chen and said, "Nothing."

At the same time, a fleeting golden dragon-shaped silhouette flashed in his pupils.

"Well, I should be going. You should train harder and strive to protect yourself among these hidden prodigies."

Just as Nantian Xiu prepared to mount his flight artifact, Lu Chen suddenly pulled out the golden longsword from before and handed it to him. "Grandpa Xiu, your sword."

"My sword?"

Nantian Xiu accepted the blade, studying it for a moment before casting a thoughtful glance at Nantian Wan'er. Then, with a hearty laugh, he sheathed it. "I don't need this sword anymore."

The sword gradually transformed into a woman's sword and flew toward Nantian Wan'er.

"The golden age is about to begin, and it's time for Wan'er to start cultivating. This Dragon-Slaying Sword will be your first step into the path of cultivation."

After Nantian Wan'er caught the sword, Nantian Xiu turned away. "Time is short. Young man, I'll be going now. Take care of Wan'er."

"Yes, Grandpa Xiu. I'll protect her with my life."

Watching Nantian Xiu's departing figure, Lu Chen recalled the vision of his elder self's twilight years from the trial. At last, he began to understand Nantian Xiu's feelings.

Bathed in crimson light, Nantian Xiu straightened his back like a warrior whose youthful blood had been reignited, striding toward the battlefield once more.

Lu Chen let out a quiet sigh. "Grandpa Xiu... It's like he's come alive again. He looks younger, and he's standing tall."

Nantian Wan'er had wondered why the longsword had suddenly become a woman's sword. But at Lu Chen's words, she realized this was something her grandfather had prepared for many years. "Grandpa..."

Tears welled in her eyes. Why am I only understanding this now? All these years, Grandpa... you have lived only for me.

At just over fifteen hundred years old, you should still be in your prime, dominating the continent. If not for saving me, how could someone of your cultivation realm resign to mediocrity?

Her tears fell freely. She dropped to her knees, pressing her forehead to the ground, and kowtowed three times toward Nantian Xiu's distant figure. In a trembling whisper, she said, "Thank you, Grandpa. You can finally focus on your own path now."

Lu Chen looked up at the sky, then gently helped her to her feet, brushing away her tears. "Wan'er, don't be sad. Grandpa Xiu wouldn't want to see you crying for him. Besides, the cold poison within your body has already been cured. Cultivators live for such a long time. I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to repay him."

Nantian Wan'er slowly leaned against Lu Chen's chest, her sobs soft and muffled. "Alright... Lu-gege, what should we do now?"

"We? We'll—"

Before Lu Chen could finish, several dragon roars echoed from the southern skies. The crimson glow that had lighted up the heavens began to fade.

"Dragon roars? Could the prophecy be coming true? I need to inform the sect immediately."

The cultivators around them all turned their eyes to the massive dragon in the sky. Convinced the prophecy was unfolding, they hurried to send word back to their sects.

Lu Chen looked southward and spotted a colossal golden dragon slowly descending in the distance. "That's a dragon... but how can it be so huge?"

Wind Dragon stirred at the sound of the roar. Upon seeing the golden dragon in the sky, his body began to expand. "Little Lu, why is the sky so red? Where are we?"

While Wind Dragon's body grew larger, Lu Chen replied in a confused tone, "We're at the southeastern edge of the continent. A little farther ahead should be the border of the Nantian Region. As for why the sky is so red, I have no idea. Why do you ask?"

"South? The Eye of the Storm... is it coming? But Little Lu, you are still not strong enough to protect yourself."

The skies gradually calmed, and spiritual light flickered in Wind Dragon's eyes as he stared intently toward the south. "No... the aura there is being suppressed."

Nantian Wan'er looked at the dragon and said, "Lord Wind Dragon, that seems to be the aura of the Nantian Dragon Ascent. It should be Grandpa and the others..."

Wind Dragon lowered his head to glance at her. "Hmm? Nantian Dragon Ascent?"

Before he could speak further, Nantian Yijian's voice rang out. "Little Lu, Uncle Jun says we need to leave immediately."

Nantian Wan'er stepped away from Lu Chen's arms. "Lu-gege, they're looking for you. Let's head out first."

Wind Dragon shrank again, his body coiling back atop Lu Chen's head. "Since nothing strange is happening here, let's leave. Right now, improving our strength comes first."

"In that case, let's spend some time training within the Heavenly Mandate Hall before I continue the search for my grandpa."

With that, Lu Chen led Nantian Wan'er away from the large tree.

***

The disciples from the Herb King Manor, the Violet Flame Fortress, and other sects had already departed. By now, only a handful of reckless rogue cultivators lingered where the stele had been, rummaging through corpses in search of leftover treasures.

At the Heavenly Mandate Hall's main encampment, Jun Wudi channeled his spirit qi to summon a massive flying ship. He instructed the Hall's cultivators to load all their resources aboard.

Lu Chen approached Jun Laoye, his gaze fixed on the enormous vessel. "Uncle Jun, Little Jun, are we leaving right now?"

Jun Laoye's expression darkened. "Second Uncle says something major is about to happen. We need to board immediately and return to the Heavenly Mandate Hall."

Nantian Yijian pointed at the vessel ahead. "Is this ship a flight artifact?"

While helping the others load cargo, Jun Laoye replied, "This? This is Uncle Jun's personal artifact—the Sky-Pillar Airship. It can travel over both sea and sky, covering thirty thousand li a day."[1]

Once all the Hall's cultivators had boarded, Jun Wudi turned to Lu Chen and the others. "Let's get on too. It should take about four days to return."

"We can ride it? Come on, let's go check it out!" Nantian Yijian had never seen such an artifact before. He followed Jun Laoye aboard with barely contained excitement.

Lu Chen nodded to Wan'er, then circulated his spirit qi and leapt onto the Sky-Pillar Airship. "Let's go, Wan'er."

***

Ten minutes later, inside the control room, Jun Wudi placed a spirit stone into the core formation. Spirit qi streamed from his hands, activating the ship's array. The Sky-Pillar Airship smoothly rose into the air and set off toward the Heavenly Mandate Hall.

Lu Chen, Nantian Wan'er, Nantian Yijian, and Jun Laoye stood at the deck's edge, feeling the wind whip past as the airship soared through the sky.

It was Nantian Yijian's first time aboard a flight artifact. He kept shouting in excitement, watching the people below shrink into tiny dots.

He strode over to Lu Chen, spirit qi surging from his body. "I've jumped several realms on this trip. It was much faster than back in the Nantian Region. Am I a genius or what? Haha! Little Lu, what realm are you in now?"

Nantian Yijian then reached for his guqin case. "Oh, and look—"

Before he could finish, Lu Chen smiled faintly and extended his right hand. Spirit qi gathered in his palm, slowly taking the shape of a small sword. "This trip was full of opportunities. I've already reached the Qi Regulation Realm."

Back during the fight with the Spidercrab, Jun Laoye had suspected as much. He had hoped to be wrong, but now, seeing Lu Chen release his spirit qi so freely, he could only smile wryly. It looked like fate was set against him.

Before meeting Lu Chen, his cultivation path had been smooth, always advancing faster than his peers. However, ever since crossing paths with him, no matter what he did, Lu Chen would always pull ahead.

He had initially thought that, having only stepped into the Qi Absorption Realm not long ago, Lu Chen would find it impossible to advance again so soon, even with the many opportunities he had just gained. Yet here he was, having already reached the Qi Regulation Realm.

1. 30,000 li is 15,000km. ☜