"A soul form?" Qing`er stared at the white-robed figure. She had once heard her master mentioning it before: a female emperor from the western regions of the immortal realms, one who was proficient in soul-related powers. Could it be that this beautiful demonic woman was related to that female emperor?
A look of puzzlement appeared on Qin Wentian’s face. Apparently, Qing`er knew something about this.
The figure of the white-robed woman flickered before vanishing from sight. Little Rascal stared off into the distance before turning to Qin Wentian, "I can feel the summoning getting stronger. You guys can return first."
Qin Wentian and Qing`er’s expressions flickered. Their bodies were being sapped of strength bit by bit, and there was no doubt it would be dangerous to remain. But the mountains were now so bizarre, it wouldn’t be easy for them to leave, even if they tried.
"That mysterious woman is dangerous," Qin Wentian told Little Rascal. How could he not worry about it?
-Bzz!- Suddenly, Little Rascal sprinted off in a certain direction. It dove through a gap between ancient peaks, beyond which seemed to be a completely different world. Blood runes were carved onto the walls on both sides of the gap, exuding a sinister aura.
That ‘apparition’ earlier had appeared as well. She stared at the gap Little Rascal dove into and tried to rush in, but the runes on the walls shone brilliantly as a terrifying force blasted onto her, causing her to bounce back.
Qin Wentian stared at the blood runes, sensing how powerful the inscriptions were. The moment his eyes made contact, he felt a roaring boom in his mind as a towering pressure pressed down with enough force to kill him.
"Retreat!" Qin Wentian pulled Qing`er along as he took a few steps back. This place was extremely dangerous, but Qin Wentian saw how easily Little Rascal had entered. When the light from the runes shone on it, there was no effect at all.
"This…" Qin Wentian watched on as Little Rascal proceeded forward. It moved forward without stopping, though its pace was slow. This further proved that something was summoning it.
That mysterious female glanced coldly at Qin Wentian and Qing`er, radiating feelings of vengeance. Her silhouette flickered and vanished from sight. She had no way to enter that place.
"We should return as well," Qing`er spoke. Qin Wentian nodded in agreement, "Mhm, Little Rascal seems to have met with a bout of good fortune. Let’s go and search for the exit."
The Underworld Mountains appeared to be covered by an aurora. It was filled with a mysterious energy as though it were a separate dimension unto itself. No visible exits could be seen.
However, Qing`er didn’t seem to be fazed at all. She took out a treasure shaped like a leaf that shimmered with an intense spatial energy. With a wave of her hand, the leaf expanded and Qing`er motioned for Qin Wentian to stand on it together. Within moments, a brilliant light radiated from the leaf and enveloped them both.
"This is a life-saving treasure my master gave me. The Underground Mountains seems to be detached from the rest of the world. But we should be able to leave it by using spatial-type treasures," Qing`er stated. The brilliant light flashed, and they both disappeared from the area.
Qin Wentian closed his eyes, holding onto Qing`er’s hand. Qing`er’s hand felt extremely soft and the instant his hand came into contact with hers, she trembled a little but still allowed him to hold on.
Qin Wentian felt himself shuttling through space. The spatial power contained within this treasure was just too unnerving, and he was left feeling uncomfortable. They gripped each other’s hands as intense tremors rocked the leaf. A moment later, they stopped moving and opened their eyes. To Qin Wentian’s surprise, they had already reached the central city region of the City of Ancient Emperors.
‘We’re out… what a powerful treasure.’ Qin Wentian silently mused. This sort of treasure was much more useful for people trapped in locations like the Underground Mountains. Below them, many people stared up at the pair who had suddenly appeared, as strange looks flashed on their faces. The majority were all focused on Qing`er.
"Spatial energy? Could it be that she’s the #5-ranked on the Immortal Ascension Rankings, Princess Qing`er?" someone mumbled in a low voice. The battle of half a year ago had spread rumors that Princess Qing`er and Qin Wentian might be lovers. And now, there was a couple holding hands before their very eyes, with a high possibility that they might be Qin Wentian and Qing`er.
Qing`er wanted to retract her hand, but Qin Wentian held on tight. She blinked before staring at Qin Wentian, "You’re not letting go yet?"
"Oh." Qin Wentian smiled gingerly, before loosening his grip with some reluctance. But as he retracted his hand, he couldn’t help but pinch her hand lightly, causing Qing`er to stare at him. However, Qin Wentian acted like nothing out of the ordinary had happened as he spoke, "The Underground Mountains are truly mysterious. I wonder what that place was exactly."
Upon seeing Qin Wentian shifting topics, Qing`er could only turn her gaze away, looking indifferent.
"It has been half a year. I wonder how Mengchen and Qingxuan are faring," Qin Wentian added in a low voice.
"Excuse me, are you Qin Wentian?" The people below heard Qin Wentian’s words, and couldn’t help but turn to ask.
"It is I, Qin." Qin Wentian nodded.
"Are you talking about your junior brother and sister, Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan? They’re in dire straits now; those from the Twin Stars Alliance are hunting them down. And they might have been captured at one point, if not for a stroke of luck," replied the person. Qin Wentian’s expression turned somber, his eyes flashing with coldness. "Sir, do you know their current location?"
"If I knew it, then those of the Twin Stars Alliance would know it as well. But I can tell you that they’re currently hiding in a secret location. The current Twin Stars Alliance is different from before, and they’re now known as the number one power in the City of Ancient Emperors today," the person continued. Qin Wentian was somewhat bewildered, "Didn’t the battle half a year ago weaken their strength? Why are they the number one power now?"
"Didn’t you know? Back when you unleashed that sword attack of pure destruction, you paid a heavy price too right? The power of the Twin Stars Alliance did diminish, and the Xiao Sect was crumbling from within. But at that moment, Xuan Yang and Xiao Lengyue decided to form an alliance. The ones ranked #4 and #6 of the Immortal Ascension Rankings established a joint power and declared themselves the new twin stars, causing many geniuses to express interest in joining them. Hence, they’re stronger and much more formidable compared to the past."
The person continued to explain. Qin Wentian began to worry for Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan. The Twin Stars Alliance and Xiao Sect had initially been known as the third strongest power in the City of Ancient Emperors. Now after allying themselves, their strength should have only grown more terrifying.
"And the Twin Stars Alliance has even offered a reward for information on you or your junior apprentice siblings. I’m afraid there are already people on their way to claim that reward now." Another person laughed.
"I, Qin Wentian, can offer a reward as well. If you guys can give me information on the location of my junior apprentice siblings, I shall give away five immortal-ranked weapons," Qin Wentian’s voice rang out.
"Really?" exclaimed the person who’d spoken earlier, and a meaningful look entered his eyes. Qin Wentian nodded, "Naturally, my words are trustworthy."
"Fine. Take out five immortal-ranked weapons now, and I will tell you where your friends are," the person replied. Qin Wentian’s eyes gleamed with sharpness, and he stared at the man. "Do you truly know their whereabouts?"
"You and Princess Qing`er dared to kill Xuan Xing and heavily injure Xuan Yang. How would I dare to cheat you?" The person laughed. However, there was a sinister smile on his face. "Qin Wentian, I urge you to hurry. If not, and then something unfortunate were to happen to them…"
-Bzz!-
With a wave of his hand, five immortal-ranked weapons flew towards the man. Qin Wentian knew that this man intended to fleece as much as he could from him with the information he had on Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan. Even so, there were no weaklings here in the City of Ancient Emperors and everyone was a disciple or descendant of immortal kings or emperors. It was only normal that the people would seek to profit from each other.
"Very well, very straightforward indeed." The man put away the immortal-ranked weapons before pointing to a direction. "Go this way and continue heading forward. When you come across a pagoda-shaped building, you will see traces of a recent battle. I hope you will be in time to save your friends."
"Qing`er, let’s leave." Qin Wentian took out the wind roc runebone, instantly manifesting a gust of wind that shrouded them. They flew forward at an insane speed in the direction pointed out by that person earlier. Since there were traces of battle there already, it was possible that Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan’s location had already been exposed.
"You guys must hold on until I arrive!" Qin Wentian’s face was filled with worry.
That person hadn’t lied to Qin Wentian. There was indeed a pagoda before them where many geniuses gathered around, as though spectating a battle. Five geniuses were surrounding two people, and the fight must have lasted for quite some time. The two targets were clearly weaker in power. The female was at the eighth-level of Celestial Phenomenon and seemed to have only broken through recently, and as for the exquisite-looking young man beside her, he was only at the seventh-level. Not only that, both were obviously injured.
As for the five geniuses surrounding them, three of them were at the eighth-level, and two were at the ninth-level. One of the ninth-level ascendants was even ranked in the Immortal Ascension Rankings. His name was Tu Teng, and he was extremely powerful with a ranking around #300+.
One must know that for those who were ranked in the Immortal Ascension Rankings, none of them were weak.
Tu Teng was three meters tall and extremely bulky looking. He was bare to the waist, with bronze-colored skin that radiated strength and vigor. Right now, his title was that of a war general in the new Twin Stars Alliance.
"What a futile struggle," Tu Teng coldly spoke when he saw Zi Qingxuan transforming into a fearsome divine falcon. The divine falcon shot out a menacing light that split into eight directions, and she was fighting desperately against the other ninth-level ascendant. Tu Teng slowly stepped out, unleashing his constellation which was in the form of many gigantic heaven-cleaving great axes.
With a wave, a golden heaven-cleaving great axe materialized in his hand as he violently swung down. Instantly, the force of millions of axes slashed out, powerful enough to cleave apart the heavens and earth, and wreak destruction on everything.
"Tu Teng’s master’s Sky Opening Axe Technique. When this is cultivated to its highest level, it can even split apart the heavens and earth and open up a new piece of the sky." The experts in the surroundings knew that it was impossible for their two targets to carry on the moment Tu Teng unleashed his axe attack. Tu Teng initially thought the other four would be able to easily subdue these two. However, their targets had actually persisted for such a long time, making it so that he had no choice but to act directly.
Zi Qingxuan’s expression turned incomparably unsightly when she saw this scene. Such a mighty attack power caused her heart to tremble. With a sharp sound whistling through the air, the countless number of falcons she manifested were ripped to pieces. Finally, she caused a gigantic golden flame divine falcon to appear in front of the gigantic axe, intending to block it. But she saw that Tu Teng’s constellation was glowing even brighter—the axe continued cleaving downwards, effortlessly lacerating her divine falcon into two.
"Chi…" Zi Qingxuan instantly turned pale and coughed out a mouthful of blood. Her body was slammed unceremoniously onto the ground, her aura dimming significantly.
"SENIOR SISTER!" Jun Mengchen roared in rage. However, with three eighth-level ascendants besieging him, he couldn't even take care of himself. How was he supposed to aid Zi Qingxuan?!