CHAPTER 462: CHAPTER 462 YOU HAVE NO INTEGRITY

Southern Diaspora, heading south.

In the depths of a certain sea area, waves dozens of meters high suddenly surged, layer upon layer, before a golden Divine Brilliance erupted like the rising sun. In an instant, it illuminated heaven and earth. A powerful aura pulsed from within, its oppressive might sweeping over everything. The scene was terrifying.

On the shoreline stood a young figure, Emperor Tian. He stared intently into the depths, his expression somewhat grave, though it occasionally relaxed, inadvertently revealing an underlying anxiety, as if he were waiting for something.

After a long while...

The Divine Brilliance scattered, and the waves subsided. The Emperor Son of the Purple Gold Divine Clan emerged. His stature had grown even more imposing, and his golden pupils were more captivating than before. As he walked on the surface of the sea, Dao patterns rippled beneath his feet, and the waves undulated. It was astonishing.

"Did it work?" asked Emperor Tian.

"It worked!" The Emperor Son’s tone was calm, but his expression was somewhat icy.

After many days in seclusion, he had achieved minor mastery of the Emperor Scripture. It had increased his battle strength by more than just one level.

He opened his eyes wide, gazing in a certain direction as he declared, "This time, I will surely slay him."

"Alas!" Emperor Tian looked at him. "The Clan Leader’s intention is for us to go to the City of Extinction first. With Chen Pingping far away, this is an opportunity to annihilate the Wuji Sect."

The Emperor Son remained silent. He had come here through great hardships, not for a mere Wuji Sect, but for Chen Pingping.As a Great Emperor’s progeny, no one, past or present, had ever dared to humiliate him like this. Chen Pingping was the first.

"You mustn’t act impulsively," Emperor Tian said.

"Now, I am a Fifth Heaven Lord, have achieved minor mastery of the Emperor Scripture, and wield a Quasi-Emperor Weapon. Once I unleash my power, I can fight even Eighth or Ninth Heaven Lords!" His eyes blazed. "My only goal is Chen Pingping..."

He then headed in another direction—towards the Dragon Soul Secret Realm. He knew of this place; he had been there long ago.

Behind him, Emperor Tian opened his mouth slightly, hesitating several times as if wanting to speak, but ultimately said nothing and followed.

「At this moment.」

Deep within the Star Sea, Yang Wuzong performed several divinations and finally pinpointed Chen Pingping’s trajectory. An Elder stood beside him. Seeing his expression, the Elder asked, "What is it?"

"He actually left the City of Extinction," Yang Wuzong said, surprised.

Destroying Fairy Valley did not mean he could withstand the slaughter from the Star Sea.In Yang Wuzong’s view, it was best for Chen Pingping to stay in the City of Extinction, cultivate in seclusion, and consider traveling only after his strength had improved. But now, how long had it been?

Yang Wuzong pondered for a moment, then suddenly exclaimed, "He’s heading for the Dragon Soul Secret Realm!"

"That place..." the Elder said gravely. "With his current realm, entering the Dragon Soul Secret Realm—isn’t that seeking death?"

"No!" Yang Wuzong interjected. "That was in the past. The Dragon Soul Secret Realm has undergone many changes. Many of its prohibitions seem to have vanished, and even cultivators around the Lord realm can survive there now."

He squinted, then smiled. Even though the present Dragon Soul Secret Realm was far from what it once had been, with many prohibitions gone, that place was not just about prohibitions!

Moreover, he was willing to bet.Chen Pingping and his party must be completely ignorant about the Dragon Soul Secret Realm. A single misstep upon arrival could shatter them to pieces.Even if they were lucky enough to escape alive, they would likely suffer heavy losses.By then, he would only need to send a few Saint Realm powerhouses to guard the entrance of the Dragon Soul Secret Realm and slay Chen Pingping’s group as they fled.

Furthermore, with Chen Pingping traveling far to the Dragon Soul Secret Realm, he would surely bring the Quasi-Emperor Weapon, so the Wuji Sect might currently be vulnerable.This was an excellent opportunity.

Yang Wuzong smiled. "Destroy Fairy Valley, annihilate the Wuji Sect, seize the Three-legged Immortal Cauldron—then our Star Sea can finally break free from the Southern Diaspora."

"With the Three-legged Immortal Cauldron, we wouldn’t necessarily have to leave the Southern Diaspora," the Elder beside him commented.

"That’s true," Yang Wuzong did not disagree.

Then, a Steward from below spoke up, "Chen Pingping has been clamoring about forging a Heaven Tao Divine Weapon, and that’s why he’s entering the Dragon Soul Secret Realm to find a method. I guess this must be the Fairy’s doing."

"Oh?" Yang Wuzong laughed. "If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. Once Chen Pingping is slain, Fairy Valley and the Wuji Sect are destroyed, and we seize the Three-legged Immortal Cauldron, the Fairy will be credited with a great meritorious deed."

It’s settled. It’s all settled, Yang Wuzong thought. He seemed to see the day the name of Star Sea would resound across the Nine Heavens, the day Star Sea would inaugurate an undying, great era.

Yang Wuzong then said, "Spread the news. Just say that a supreme treasure has appeared in the Dragon Soul Secret Realm."

"Heh heh!" The people below all laughed.

No matter Chen Pingping’s purpose for entering the Dragon Soul Secret Realm, once more people gathered, he would have to face not only the dangers of the Secret Realm itself but also threats from others. After all, Chen Pingping had angered far too many people. During this time, they could also strike at the Wuji Sect. When Chen Pingping emerged and received the news, he would surely be dumbfounded, wouldn’t he?

"Elder is wise."

The eighty minor powers: "He actually left the City of Extinction?"

A group of underlings asked, "Should we make a move?"

"’Are you an idiot?’ The higher-ups of these eighty minor powers had only one attitude towards this question: ’What does this have to do with us?’"

That was the City of Extinction! They had no powerful Quasi-Emperor Weapons, nor a Saint King, and their Saints were still in the early stages of the Saint Realm.With just that? What was there to meddle with?Besides, the news came from Star Sea, and people from there couldn’t be trusted.

Even so, many were still tempted, eyeing the Dragon Soul Secret Realm and the City of Extinction. They wondered if something had appeared in the secret realm, while also considering whether to destroy the Wuji Sect.

「The Ancient Country also received the news.」

Gu Mang was taken aback for a moment, then uttered three words: "There’s trickery."

Indeed,

Gu Mang thought. There was definitely trickery.They knew those bastards from Star Sea all too well.They were just as adept at deception and swindling as Chen Pingping.By willingly disclosing Chen Pingping’s whereabouts, they merely aimed to create opportunities for those with ulterior motives, while they themselves planned to reap the benefits like a fisherman catching fish in troubled waters.However, they had succeeded in stirring things up.

Gu Mang’s interest was piqued. He squinted his eyes. "Go to Spirit Mountain and invite that cicada cultivator down for me."

The woman in blue coughed up blood. "He cultivates the Heavenly Dao!"

"Staring at cicadas all day long. If that’s not cultivating cicadas, what is?" Gu Mang retorted dismissively.

"That’s a hobby!" the woman in blue countered, then turned and left.

It wasn’t long before a handsome young man arrived. He sighed lightly. "My master was already struck dead by lightning. I really don’t want to die yet!"

"I’ll give you a winter cicada," Gu Mang said.

"Damn!" This... this was simply irresistible!He had seen spring cicadas, vibrant with life; summer cicadas, dancing gracefully; and even autumn cicadas, fading like withered leaves. But he had never encountered a winter cicada.

Shisan’s eyes bulged. With clenched teeth, he began to make his divination. In just a short while, sweat dripped from him like rain, and his face turned pale.

He was somewhat bewildered.Usually, when he divined Heavenly Fortune, tribulations would instantly descend from above, threatening to strike him dead on the spot.But now, the sky was normal, and there wasn’t the slightest disturbance in the surroundings.The crucial part was, he saw the Heavenly Dao.

"How did it go?" Lan Qingshui asked.

"Wait, let me calm down," Shisan said. It was truly bizarre.No tribulations? Why not? What was wrong?

After pondering for a while, he finally said, "The Dragon Soul Secret Realm... seems quite normal!"

He hadn’t observed anything unusual. Instead, a strange phenomenon had appeared: a terrifying power of the Heavenly Fortune Tao was condensing around Chen Pingping and his companions.

Gu Mang frowned.

"Ah! No, it’s not normal!" Shisan’s eyes darted around as if he had realized something. This group of people... something wasn’t right.He decided to go take a look...

Shisan then said, "A Great Opportunity has appeared in the Dragon Soul Secret Realm! If one can obtain it, their cultivation realm will surely soar. Brother Gu Mang, this chance is not to be missed!"

"Really?" Gu Mang looked at him.

"Truly."

"You’re not lying to me, are you?"

"What kind of talk is that? How could we who cultivate the Heavenly Fortune Tao deceive anyone?" Shisan stared at him, then babbled, "Alright, alright, I’m also very curious to see what this Great Opportunity in the Dragon Soul Secret Realm really is. If you don’t dare to go, I’ll go by myself!"

Gu Mang rolled his eyes. Those who cultivated the Heavenly Fortune Tao on Spirit Mountain were, each one of them, more afraid of death than the last. Take the previous master of the Heavenly Fortune Tao, for instance; he hadn’t descended the mountain in eighty years, his given reason being: "I’ll be struck by lightning."

Later, Shisan joined Spirit Mountain and studied under him.The old master’s most frequent admonition was: "Whatever you do, don’t leave the mountain."

Shisan had heeded his master’s warning and had never left the mountain. However, he was too young and couldn’t bear the solitude, so he would occasionally sneak down. Later, he encountered a cicada once and became utterly fascinated by them. This was why Gu Mang called him the ’cicada cultivator.’

Shisan said, "Give me the winter cicada."

"What winter cicada?" Gu Mang replied.

Shisan stared in disbelief.

"Are you going to the Dragon Soul Secret Realm? We can go together. I will protect you," Gu Mang said with a smile, then turned to leave.

Behind him, Shisan stood agape, as if struck by lightning. It took him a long while to regain his composure before exclaiming, "Ah! Gu Mang, you brat! You’re not keeping your word!"

Gu Mang was nonchalant. "Once we’re at the Dragon Soul Secret Realm, I’ll help you find a winter cicada."

"You’ll be struck by lightning for this!" Shisan fumed.

The Ancient Country was not too far from the Dragon Soul Secret Realm, at least closer than the City of Extinction... Furthermore, Chen Pingping had lingered in that area for several hours after arriving, which was precisely when Gu Mang and his party reached there.

He looked at the airship not far away and smiled. "Chen Pingping must be quite troubled. Such a massive thing can’t be easily stored. If it’s left here, and the people from Star Sea find out, they’ll surely make a move."

"Indeed!" Lan Qingshui nodded in agreement.

Only Shisan, standing to the side, remained silent, staring intently ahead. That feeling was becoming clearer and clearer.It was as if the Heavenly Fortune Tao was right in front of him.He felt an urge to walk over.

Before long, more and more cultivators and young geniuses arrived in the area, also curious about Chen Pingping’s purpose for entering the Dragon Soul Secret Realm.

"Ah! Is that the Star Sea’s airship?"

"Shh... Don’t speak so recklessly."

"Can’t he store it away?"

"Airships aren’t ordinary weapons... Generally, they’re very difficult to store."

However... Just as they were speaking, Chen Pingping released his Divine Sense, enveloped the gigantic airship, and actually managed to forcefully store it away.

The onlookers were stupefied, their mouths agape.

Only He Yitian remained unfazed, as he had witnessed such a feat before.

"Huh?"

Suddenly, Shisan’s expression changed drastically. "I need to go back!"

But at that moment, Jiang Ni’er was already walking towards him, a smile on her face.