Chapter Twenty-Six: The Ancient Realm of Azure Profound

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The Ageless Peak, Deng Gang?

Chu Tiange remained silent, deep in thought.

The master of Ageless Peak, Zheng Rong, was at the pinnacle of the Returning to True Realm. In the memories of his previous life, he, too, perished in the great upheaval during the Immortal Sect Examinations. How could he have betrayed the human race?

"This person attempted to assassinate me in the night, but was slain by my hand. He was a ghost slave," Chu Tiange said.

"Deng Gang was killed by you? Impossible. As far as I know, he left the mountain to temper himself thirty years ago and never returned to the sect. How could he have become a ghost slave?" Xiao Shijing was taken aback, visibly unsettled.

Chu Tiange had only just gathered spiritual energy. Even if he had reached Foundation Establishment, he was far from being a match for cultivators at the Golden Core Realm.

If Foundation Establishment was the first step on the path of cultivation, then the Golden Core Realm was the threshold to the Immortal Way.

Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, Five Qi Facing the Origin, Seven Souls Taking Form, and finally, the condensing of the Golden Core—only then could one be called a True Immortal, with an extended lifespan of five hundred years being entirely ordinary.

Beyond that, there were Nascent Soul, Returning to True, Forgetting Worries, and Crossing God Realms, each stage separated by a chasm. Likewise, the gap between Gathering Spirit and Golden Core was immense.

Chu Tiange slaying Deng Gang, who had reached the Golden Core Realm? No one would believe such a claim, Xiao Shijing included, whose expression was one of utter disbelief, his eyes nearly bulging out.

"You already know about my immortal bone, as does the sect master," Chu Tiange said bluntly, then continued, "Without condensing a Golden Core, one cannot be called a True Golden Core Immortal. As for those in the Liquid Condensation phase, I can kill one if one comes, two if two come."

The corner of Xiao Shijing's mouth twitched, but then he burst out laughing. "Deng Gang was indeed suspicious. This immortal bone truly defies the heavens—no wonder Daoist Qingxuan was invincible in his time; no one of his generation could match him. What a pity that Maiden Peak wasn't equipped with the Azure Sky Mirror. I would have liked to witness how you slew Deng Gang."

"Maiden Peak doesn't have the Azure Sky Mirror?" Chu Tiange was taken aback by this revelation.

Xiao Shijing shook his head. "No, Maiden Peak has never been equipped with the Azure Sky Mirror. As far as I know, every other major peak has one installed but not Maiden Peak."

"Then I want to see Ageless Peak. I want to see if there are any records of Zheng Rong," Chu Tiange said.

"Why not just summon Zheng Rong directly?" Xiao Shijing asked.

"No need to alert him. The mysteries of the immortal bone are too numerous to explain all at once. All I need is to observe Zheng Rong through the Azure Sky Mirror to see if anything is amiss," Chu Tiange replied, shaking his head.

"Very well, follow me," Xiao Shijing nodded.

Under Xiao Shijing's guidance, Chu Tiange entered the secret chamber of the Morning Clouds Hall, where he saw, arranged densely across the walls, numerous shimmering screens, each labeled with a location. The sight left him astounded.

It seemed as if the entire Qingxuan Continent was under the surveillance of the Azure Sky Mirror. In any place it was installed, nothing could escape the eyes of Sect Leader Xiao.

Xiao Shijing went to a table and pressed a crystal stone upon it. At once, the multitude of screens dissolved like flowing water, leaving only seven.

The first image showed a figure in black robes sitting atop a nearby tree, short and utterly unremarkable in appearance.

The second image was deep in a mountain valley, where a woman clad in black sat cross-legged on a cliff, gazing silently at the stars.

The third image showed, outside a grand palace, a young man in white fishing by the riverbank.

…

The seventh image revealed a middle-aged man with streaks of gray in his hair, refining pills in an alchemy room. An apprentice listened attentively as he added medicinal herbs to the cauldron.

Seven images, capturing every detail with precision. Chu Tiange's brow furrowed as he gazed at the gray-haired man.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Shijing noticed the change in his expression.

"There are no other ghost slaves on Ageless Peak besides Deng Gang, but he bore resentment toward me because his master, Deng Rong, failed to become the master of the main peak, and thus nursed murderous intent toward me," Chu Tiange replied, puzzled. If there was nothing wrong with Ageless Peak's master, then how did his disciple, Deng Gang, become a ghost slave?

"Don't worry. I will keep a close eye on Elder Zheng. From now on, he will be monitored around the clock, every day of the year," Xiao Shijing assured him.

"How many Azure Sky Mirrors have you set up on Ageless Peak? What about the female disciples’ dormitories, and the caves of Senior Sisters Liu Xun and Xie Miaomiao…" Chu Tiange couldn't help but feel both curious and uneasy.

The disciples of the Morning Immortal Sect could scarcely imagine that every move they made, every aspect of their daily lives, was being watched by invisible eyes.

"I know what you're thinking, but I'm not so depraved as to do such things. There are no mirrors in the baths, toilets, or bedrooms," Xiao Shijing explained, sighing softly. "To think that even the highest levels of the Morning Immortal Sect have been infiltrated by the strange, let alone other sects. The situation is grave. I will inform the Cultivation Alliance so that all sects can be on guard."

"I'll leave it to you," Chu Tiange nodded, then grew serious. "There is something else I must tell you."

"What is it?" asked Xiao Shijing.

"In the Qingxuan Secret Domain, a being above the Crossing God Realm is sealed away. Ning Wujue was able to escape from the Abyss of the Gods with the help of a ghost god, who demanded that he enter the Secret Domain to break the seal. All of this… was revealed by Deng Gang."

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If Chu Tiange were to act alone, the odds of preventing that being’s release were slim to none. But with help from others, things might be different.

Slim to none—the ghost god above the Crossing God Realm could not be dealt with by ordinary spiritual strength. But with the Morning Immortal Sect's support, there might be hope.

Even the calm, shrewd Xiao Shijing could not hide his shock. He was silent for a long while before finally asking, "Is this really true?"

Chu Tiange nodded. "Though I don't know all the details, Deng Gang would not have lied. At the time, he believed I was as good as dead—no one lies to a corpse."

Xiao Shijing took a deep breath. "If there truly is a strange being above the Heaven's Calamity, and it is released, Qingxuan Continent will face a great catastrophe. This matter must be brought before the Grandmaster and the other great leaders."

"I'd also like to ask the Grandmaster to forbid Zhao Yiran from participating in the exam. I possess the Immortal Bone and can see through the strange; let me go to the Secret Domain and stop it myself."

This time, Chu Tiange did not want to lose Zhao Yiran again. The Immortal Sect Examinations barred all cultivators above the Golden Core Realm from participating. The reason was that the Qingxuan Secret Domain suppressed all those above the Golden Core Realm to that level.

"Very well. Prepare yourself. Tomorrow, before setting out, the Grandmaster will have some things ready for you."

...

The next day, Chu Tiange indeed received a jade bottle, talismans, and other items personally prepared by Sect Leader Xiao, including a supreme-grade treasure pill.

Above top-grade spiritual artifacts were the lower, middle, upper, and supreme-grade treasure pills. However, these could not be used unless one had reached the Golden Core Realm.

"Is the Grandmaster expecting me to break through in the Qingxuan Secret Domain?" Chu Tiange put away the items, gave instructions to two disciples, and then stepped onto his flying sword, descending the mountain toward the thousand-foot suspended waterfall.

He landed by the pool at the foot of the mountain, stowed his fine spiritual sword, and made his way toward the Chaoyang Grand Hall.

The Immortal Sect Examinations did not allow anyone over fifty to participate.

Of the over ten thousand disciples in the Morning Immortal Sect at or below the Golden Core Realm, more than four-fifths—nearly eight thousand—were under that threshold. Those under fifty, however, numbered less than a tenth, only six hundred.

The Chaoyang Grand Hall was the highest complex in the sect, dedicated to guiding disciples in their cultivation.

The hall had two levels.

Normally, only the first level was open, serving as a common space for disciples.

The second level was the very top, a vast and open martial arena.

At this moment, dozens of high-ranking members had gathered there—elders, guardians, core officials, and Xie Miaomiao, master of Xiantan Peak.

These were the most formidable members of the Morning Immortal Sect.

In his previous life, Zheng Rong of Ageless Peak had led the team, but this time it was the even more powerful Xie Miaomiao.

As Chu Tiange stepped onto the martial arena, all eyes turned to him—elders, guardians, and disciples alike.

"That’s Chu Tiange!"

"Greetings, Master Chu!" Elders and guardians saluted him with cupped fists.

"Junior Brother Chu, over here," Xie Miaomiao called, her eyes bright.

As the master of the main peak, Chu Tiange naturally would not mingle with the common disciples.

He joined Xie Miaomiao at her side.

Today, she wore splendid palace robes, clearly dressed for a grand occasion.

There was no denying that Xie Miaomiao was a woman of peerless beauty, her elegance and charm captivating. Yet her temperament left much to be desired.

"Once every thirty years, the Immortal Sect Examination will begin at noon today. This time, not only will I personally lead the team, but Master Chu will join you as well. It is the first time in our sect’s history that the main peak’s master has led the team to the Qingxuan Secret Domain. I hope you will all heed his instructions and not let the sect down. Win us fourth place, and make us the leader among the nine great sects." Xie Miaomiao took Chu Tiange’s hand and raised it high.

...

Many disciples inwardly grumbled.

After all, Chu Tiange had always been the one everyone could bully—reportedly, even eight-year-old Zhang Tiedan might be able to best him. Surely, he would be the first eliminated in the exams. The instruction to "heed Master Chu" was just a way of telling the six hundred of them to look after him.

But at a time like this, no one dared say otherwise. For all her innocent looks, Xie Miaomiao was rumored to have the fiercest temper of anyone; every disciple under her had been tamed into submission.

"We will not let the sect down! We will heed Master Chu!"

"Let’s depart," Xie Miaomiao released Chu Tiange’s sleeve and swept her gaze over the crowd, her voice light as a feather.

At once, a vast, tsunami-like aura descended from above, enveloping the entire arena.

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Under such overwhelming pressure, many disciples were alarmed, though some remained unfazed.

A massive black shadow, mountain-like in its immensity, lowered from the sky.

It was a gigantic flying vessel—capable of carrying thousands.

This was the vessel used exclusively for the Immortal Sect Examinations, once every thirty years, its capacity immense.

Upon its surface, intricate arrays shimmered with a hazy glow, exuding threads of formidable might.

"This is the supreme-grade celestial artifact, the 'Drifting Cloud Shuttle,'" an older disciple who had participated before said, gazing up at the sky-darkening vessel, still awed even on his second encounter.

"Set out!"

With that command, the group boarded the shuttle.

It rose gently, then shot into the sky as a streak of light, vanishing from sight.

Within the shuttle, Chu Tiange stood in the cabin, gazing down at the land below, then slowly closed his eyes.

What followed was an endless ocean of blood, a landscape strewn with corpses and rivers running red—slaughter everywhere.

Amid terrible, heartrending screams, mighty figures fell one after another, unable to escape their fates.

Scenes of unspeakable carnage flashed through Chu Tiange’s mind, and he could not help but tremble.

"Chu Tiange." A fair hand rested on his shoulder.

Chu Tiange awoke from this nightmare.

At that moment, a red sun rose in the east, illuminating half the mountain range. The clouds rolled grandly across the sky, revealing a world of blue and clarity.

How long had it been since he had seen such beauty?

In this instant, Chu Tiange wished he could capture this scene in ink, to make it a painting that would bear his hopes for this life.

Once, beautiful scrolls like this could not endure—they were swiftly swallowed by darkness, never again to see the drifting clouds, the blooming flowers, the dreamlike passage of time.

Now, given the chance to revisit old dreams, he would seize it and make this painting eternal, never to fade.

"Xiao Yicai has already discussed this with the three of us. What you said is too outlandish; few will believe it. But for Xiao Yicai’s sake, even the three great sects will give you some leeway—so you will not be alone," Xie Miaomiao said, seeing the worry in Chu Tiange’s eyes.

"I haven’t seen Ning Wujue. By rights, he should have boarded the Drifting Cloud Shuttle, but he’s not here."

As the chief culprit behind the Umbral Calamity, Ning Wujue’s absence irked Chu Tiange.

"Perhaps, for some reason, he has not boarded yet. Maybe, since you became the master of the main peak, he fears you will seek him out, so the elders are escorting him separately," Xie Miaomiao speculated.

That made sense, and Chu Tiange nodded.

The Drifting Cloud Shuttle was far faster than anyone could imagine—in moments, it crossed mountains and rivers to reach the Ancient Qingxuan Domain.

All along the way, as he enjoyed the scenery, Chu Tiange found this journey to the Immortal Sect Examinations anything but tedious.

A vast gorge, a hundred miles long, stretched before them.

Within its depths, spiritual energy coiled like mist, and a powerful soul pressure could be faintly felt.

"So this is the Ancient Qingxuan Domain?"

Disciples craned their necks to look down.

This was the Qingxuan Forbidden Land, and also the site where the Qingxuan Secret Domain would open.

Once every thirty years, the Immortal Sect Examinations would be held here.