Chapter 1038: Chapter 1037: Tianyan Mountain Range

After staying at the Witch Gate for about half a month, Ling Chen finally mastered the fifth move of the "Green Lotus Sword Song," titled "Golden Jar Against Moon."

Meanwhile, he also experimented with brewing some fine wine. While it couldn’t compare to the celestial brew of the Taibai Sword Immortal, it was still much superior to ordinary wines.

After all, there were many precious materials within the Witch Gate, so brewing a few bottles of excellent wine wasn’t too difficult.

However, Xia Yunxin was still within the Witch Mountain Blood Sea, and it was uncertain when she could recover. Yet Ling Chen had no intention of staying in the Witch Gate for long since it was neither a place he belonged to nor suitable for him.

After instructing the Left Guardian Law during the affair about Xia Yunxin, Ling Chen left the Witch Gate and began his journey toward Yangzhou.

The Black Small Sword that Ling Chen had obtained earlier in the Divine Capital recorded the location of a treasure on the map, which was located in the southern Yangzhou region.

On this journey, Ling Chen planned to find the location on this Treasure Map.

The Black Small Sword could be related to the Void Emperor’s royal decree, suggesting that the Void Emperor’s royal decree might be located there as well. The importance of a single Void Emperor’s royal decree goes without saying.

Each Void Emperor’s royal decree contains an extremely powerful martial arts technique. From the previous Void Emperor’s royal decree, Ling Chen learned Thunder Cut, whose power is truly formidable. Moreover, its power increases with the user’s cultivation. Once Ling Chen breaks through to become a Saint, the power of Thunder Cut would be incomparable to its current state.

A single Void Emperor’s royal decree holds more importance than the so-called family-defining techniques of the Nine Great Families.

Thus, after recuperating from his injuries, Ling Chen set forth immediately toward Yangzhou.

...

Yangzhou is the largest state by area in the entire Nine Provinces Land, about twice the size of Xuzhou. Not only is it vast, but Yangzhou’s coastline is also extremely long, stretching across the entire southeast for tens of thousands of miles.

Jiankang City.

As the most grand and prosperous city in all of Yangzhou, Jiankang City’s scale is second only to Panlong City in the southern region, and its expanse is vast. Even the capital of Xuzhou, Yanjing City, pales in comparison in terms of scale and prosperity.

In Yangzhou’s largest inn,

on the third floor, near a window, a young swordsman was sipping leisurely. It was none other than Ling Chen, who had traveled southward from Xuzhou to arrive at Jiankang City.

"Have you heard? The Tianyan Mountain Range has been trembling frequently lately, and it seems like something big is about to happen."

"The Tianyan Mountain Range is an ancient dormant volcano, inactive for over a thousand years, but recently, it has started to stir."

"This indeed seems unusual. With earthly anomalies, there must be hidden treasures. The Tianyan Mountain Range hasn’t shown any signs of flames for ages, yet it’s suddenly erupting into action. When unusual things happen, there must be demons involved. Many forces have already rushed to the Tianyan Mountain Range from both within the Yangzhou territory and from other regions like Jingzhou and even Xuzhou. Powerful individuals are already gathering around the Tianyan Mountain Range."

"Indeed, it seems like a significant treasure is about to emerge. I heard that the Azure Dragon Family has already made a big move, occupying an area near the Tianyan Mountain Range and dispatching many powerful individuals. If not for a significant treasure, the Azure Dragon Family wouldn’t pay so much attention."

"Rumors suggest that beneath the Tianyan Mountain Range is an unparalleled great treasure, but it requires a special key to open. Supposedly, the Azure Dragon Family possesses one key, the Huangfu Clan possesses another, but the final key is still unaccounted for, its whereabouts unknown."

"Let’s finish our meal quickly and head out; otherwise, we might miss the treasure by a hair’s breadth."

Nearby Ling Chen’s table, a few Jianghu guests from Yangzhou were murmuring among themselves.

Their words, of course, reached Ling Chen’s ears without missing a single one, causing Ling Chen to frown slightly.

"The Tianyan Mountain Range, isn’t it exactly where the Treasure Map marks the red spot?"

Ling Chen felt a slight heaviness in his heart. He had initially thought he could quietly enter this treasure area and take the treasure without anyone noticing, but unexpectedly, the Tianyan Mountain Range had already captured so much attention.

This was certainly not good news for Ling Chen.

The so-called special key to open the unparalleled great treasure was likely the Black Small Sword in Ling Chen’s possession.

To think that there would be as many as three of such Black Small Swords.

"It seems that the missing one is the one I have,"

Ling Chen turned his palm over, taking out the Black Small Sword, which bore ancient carvings, signifying its extraordinary nature.

"I need to pick up the pace,"

Ling Chen drank the wine in his cup and then suddenly moved. With just a whooshing sound, he swept out of the inn.

Just as Ling Chen left the inn, a figure in a blood-red robe suddenly lifted their head in a remote corner, removing their Dou Li to reveal a face filled with savage ferocity like that of a wild beast. If Ling Chen were here, he would certainly recognize this person.

This individual was Xie Zhiqiu, also known as the Undying Old Demon.

"What a coincidence, kid,"

The Undying Old Demon’s eyes glinted with eerie intent. Ever since he was gravely injured by Mei Fangzhi at Hanmei Villa, almost losing his life, he had gone into hiding, focusing on secluded cultivation and rarely appearing back in Jianghu.

He hadn’t expected to run into Ling Chen here.

Since his release from confinement, every encounter almost left him dead because of Ling Chen, forcing him to retreat and hide once again.

If it weren’t for Ling Chen, he might have already restored his peak strength, re-emerging as a formidable Saint, achieving his former glory.

But now, he was still just a Senior Half-Saint, stuck at the brink of the Saint realm, unable to break through.

All of this was because of Ling Chen.

His animosity towards Ling Chen was so deep that he wished to tear Ling Chen into eight pieces and obliterate him completely.

"Tianyan Mountain Range, is it? This place was where I intended to visit as well, heh heh, that kid probably doesn’t know that I’ve set my sights on him now, but this time, he’s dead for real."

The killing intent in the Undying Old Demon’s eyes flickered. Ling Chen was in the light, while he was in the shadows. He wouldn’t act as rashly as he had before. He would wait until he was absolutely certain of killing Ling Chen before making his move, ensuring that he leaves no loose ends.

With that said, he donned his Dou Li again and quietly slipped out of the inn, turning into a shadowy figure and heading in the direction Ling Chen had gone.

PS: Spoiler alert, a long-absent character is about to make an appearance. Can you guess who it might be?