Chapter 80: Dark Undercurrents
Chapter 80: Dark Undercurrents
Li Cheng spoke with sincerity, though how much of it was true, Zhi Mo had to decide himself.
“There’s a secret you likely don’t know. The real Xue Chuan died long ago—over six hundred years ago…”
Died over six hundred years ago?
If that were true, who was Master Xue inside the sect now?
“I must go. Staying too long risks discovery. Use the old method if you have further questions.”
As Li Cheng waved his hand, a Jade Pendant flew from his sleeve onto the table.
“If you agree, place this Jade Pendant at the blessed land’s entrance. The outside world is beyond our reach, but the blessed land exists apart—still connected, yet less influenced by the greater world.”
Without another word to Zhi Xin’er and her brother, Li Cheng stepped into the void and vanished.
Days later.
Capital of Great Chu.
Deserted streets shivered under a cold autumn wind.
Once the bustling heart of the realm’s mightiest power, the capital had fallen silent. Three days prior, a stranger arrived. Alone, he crushed every strong individual in Chu City—even Prince Xing Zhao Zheng, top of the Heaven List.
“Who are you?”
The Emperor of Chu sat stiffly on his throne, glaring at the intruder. Rage simmered beneath his regal calm.
He’d believed himself chosen by fate, backed by Great Chu’s Dragon Guards and unmatched intelligence. Confident, he’d created the Three Lists to flaunt imperial power and pit rivals against each other.
Yet here stood this unknown man, single-handedly subduing all of Great Chu’s might.
“I am ‘Huang.’”
The stranger’s gaze swept over the emperor and his ministers like a god observing insects.
This disdain ran deeper than arrogance—it was the natural contempt of higher beings for lesser life.
“So the Ancient Deities aren’t myths after all,” the Emperor muttered, recalling palace archives.
“Fear not. We’ve never been your foes.”
A second voice rasped as inky shadows coalesced, devouring the hall’s light. The same soul-deep Pressure radiated from this new figure.
Another Ancient Deity.
Huang side-eyed the newcomer. Like him, this one had been Sealed by the Taichu Immortal Ancestor during the assault on Taichu Immortal Island. But unlike the three legendary beings of that era, this shadowy rat had skulked unnamed through history—the sort Huang despised.
“How many of you exist?”
The Emperor’s voice cracked. He’d thought Great Chu second only to the Tai Chu Immortal Gate’s master. A mere realm’s difference, he’d told himself. Given time, they’d surpass even that…
Now, facing true Ancient Deities, his certainty crumbled to dust.
The reality, however, was nothing like this. Terrifyingly powerful figures kept emerging one after another—each beyond Great Chu’s current capacity to handle. Merely standing here demanded their utmost effort; those with weaker cultivation couldn’t even stay upright. This Pressure stemmed from the soul itself, revealing the primal divide between mortals and gods.
“Insects, obey and be done with it.”
Huang frowned. To him, both the Human Race and demon tribe were inferior lifeforms unworthy of equal dialogue.
“Such arrogance! If you despise us, why seek us out?”
Prince Xing Zhao Zheng, a half-step harmony with the Dao practitioner, endured the Pressure better than Emperor of Chu and the rest. Though previously defeated by this being, he remained unconvinced—certain he’d lost only by holding back and underestimating his foe.
“Unnecessary hostility.”
Compared to Huang, Black Shadow exhibited far more patience.
“We came not as enemies, but to reveal Great Chu’s true adversary.”
Zhao Zheng and others shifted their attention to Black Shadow. They preferred dealing with this Ancient Deity over Huang, despite suspecting hidden agendas.
“We share this world’s origins with you. The difference? We’ve survived multiple eras and learned slightly more.”
Black Shadow intentionally paused here.
“Eras?”
Emperor of Chu and his court struggled to grasp the concept—utterly absent from their perception. None in this age knew of eras, save for fragmented legends in palace archives. The Emperor’s earlier mention of Ancient Deities came from such half-remembered tales.
“Before Great Chu existed, older civilizations rose and fell. Each cycle from dawn to extinction we call an era. We originated from the Ancient Era—your term ‘Ancient Deities’ suits us well.”
Ancient Deities!
Primordial beings!
Emperor of Chu’s worldview fractured. Hadn’t humanity dominated this world? Weren’t humans heaven’s chosen protagonists? He himself was the fate-ordained ruler!
“Humans face birth, aging, sickness, and death. Worlds dying makes sense. But why no records of past eras?”
The previously silent chancellor finally spoke.
“Dead civilizations leave no records,” Black Shadow intoned.
“All perished? But you Ancient Deities—”
“Insects dare question us?!”
Huang’s patience snapped as he stepped forward. Ancient Deity aura exploded through the hall.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Everyone except Emperor of Chu, the chancellor, and Prince Xing Zhao Zheng collapsed—kneeling or fully prostrate under the crushing force.
“Focus on the true enemy,” Black Shadow intervened, redirecting the conversation.
“You’ve noticed capital’s recent changes? Many have vanished from the city, correct?”
Emperor of Chu’s eyes blazed as he stared at Black Shadow.
“Your doing?!”
The capital’s missing cultivators had plagued him for days. Now the culprits stood brazenly in his palace? Six centuries of suppressed rage surged—six centuries enduring Transcendent powers above his authority, biting his tongue while awaiting his moment. Just when victory neared, these Ancient Deities appeared. A weaker mentality would’ve shattered long ago.
“Not us. The true culprit is someone you know—topped your Heaven List for centuries.”
😂😂😂Golden Novel translates the best Chinese web novels for you!😂😂😂
Centuries atop Heaven List?
The Tai Chu Immortal Gate’s Headmaster—Xue Chuan!