Archean Eon Art c1-766

by I Eat Tomatoes, Wo Chi Xi Hong Shi, 我吃西红柿

  White lanterns now adorned the main entrance of the Meng ancestral mansion. Many clansmen were dressed in mourning attire.

  “Elder.” Soon, a clansman delivered mourning attire to them.

  Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang wore them.

  “Let’s go to Third Elder,” said Meng Dajiang. Quite a number of people from the Meng family had died. Four elders had died, and many more at the Marrow Cleansing and Mortal Shedding realm.

  The Third Elder was the strongest person who had died in battle, so it was only right to pay their respects to him first.

  The mourning hall was already set up.

  “You’re here.” Clan Leader Meng Yanping sat inside, looking like he had aged considerably. “Give Third Brother a kowtow.”

  “Okay.”

  Meng Dajiang kowtowed first, followed by Meng Chuan.

  After kowtowing, Meng Chuan stood up and saw Third Elder’s corpse. He had already been cleaned up by a mortician. He lay there like he was sound asleep, and even his expression was much more serene than usual.

  Clan Leader Meng Yanping looked at Meng Chuan and said in a low voice, “What Third Brother wanted the most when he was alive, was for you to enter Archean Mountain and become a Godfiend. Meng Chuan, you must not let him down.”

  “Yes.” Meng Chuan nodded. “I won’t.”

  …

  After staying with Third Elder for a while, they went to the other mourning halls.

  The atmosphere in the Meng Estate was stifling and solemn. After all, many clansmen had died. Many children were still oblivious, having not realized what had happened. After the demon invasion erupted—although 3000 clansmen lived in the ancestral mansion—roughly 2000 people, that had yet to reach the Marrow Cleansing realm, hid in the tunnels. They hid in the tunnels for an hour before coming out again. They had not encountered any danger.

  They felt like everything was the same as usual.

  However, many mourning halls were set up in the ancestral mansion, and almost the entire clan was mourning. The children didn’t dare tantrum.

  “Kowtow.” The parents’ eyes were red. They got their children to kowtow one by one. Every family that had lost somebody needed to receive a kowtow. This was because the parents knew that it was due to clansmen risking their lives so they could survive.

  Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang went to each residence before finally visiting Grandaunt.

  “Grandaunt.” The father-son duo entered the courtyard.

  Fairy Meng sat alone in the yard. She didn’t like people tending to her. Cough. Cough. Fairy Meng’s face was pale. Her aura was waning slightly, making it difficult for her to maintain her normal appearance.

  “Grandaunt, your injuries…” said Meng Chuan worriedly.

  Upon seeing Meng Chuan, Fairy Meng smiled. “Ah, you’re here. My injuries are nothing. I can’t live for long anyway. I’m already very happy that we could fight the demon monarchs and not have Eastcalm Prefecture razed to the ground.”

  Meng Dajiang also said, “Aunt, you don’t have to worry about anything else. Rest well.”

  “Yes, rest well,” said Meng Chuan immediately.

  Fairy Meng had been a Godfiend for nearly eighty years. She was the family clan’s pillar of support. The Meng family was used to her protection. When she was around, the Meng family would feel settled. If she wasn’t around, it felt as though the Meng family would collapse.

  “I know my body well,” said Fairy Meng with a chuckle. “Don’t worry. I can’t bear to die so quickly. I’ll hold on… Regardless, I’ll survive until winter this year. I need to hear about your successful entry to Archean Mountain before I can rest in peace.”

  At this time, there was a knock on the door outside the small courtyard.

  The door opened.

  Clan Leader Meng Yanping said from outside, “Third Sis, someone from Jadesun Palace is here. He’s here for Meng Chuan.”

  “Someone from Jadesun Palace is looking for Meng Chuan?” Fairy Meng frowned slightly.

  “Fairy,” said another person respectfully from outside the door. “Marquis Southcloud from Wu State’s capital has come to Eastcalm Prefecture. Marquis Southcloud has informed us that he would like to meet Young Master Meng.”

  “Marquis Southcloud?” Fairy Meng was alarmed.

  King Calm Sea’s position was extremely lofty, and all surrounding states were affected by it. However, Marquis Southcloud was also an extremely powerful Godfiend—one of the strongest in the entire Wu State. He was the one who answered Eastcalm Prefecture’s call for help.

  “Meng Chuan, hurry over,” said Fairy Meng immediately. “Dajiang, you should go with him too.”

  “Yes.” Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang answered.

  The father and son immediately followed the messenger to Jadesun Palace.

  Chapter 68 - Departure in Succession

  Jadesun Palace.

  “I never expected a child of the Liu family to awaken the Phoenix Divine Body bloodline.” Marquis Southcloud was fair and beardless. His amiable smile resembled an ordinary scholar. “Speaking of which, nobody from the Gongsun family has awakened a Phoenix Divine Body bloodline for the past five centuries. Including Liu Qiyue, the two people with phoenix bloodlines aren’t from the Gongsun family. This world is truly unpredictable.”

  Liu Yebai sat by the side and smiled as he looked at his daughter. He then said, “Our Liu family had a marriage alliance with the Gongsun Family during my grandmother’s generation.”

  “I know.” Marquis Southcloud nodded. “For the sake of their phoenix bloodline, the Gongsun family had forbidden marriage with outsiders. Only after centuries of no descendants awakening the bloodline—along with the threat of demons—did the Gongsun family finally begin allowing marriages with outsiders. Haha, once these marriages happened, it brought us Godfiends with Phoenix Divine Bodies.”

  “Can I become a Godfiend?” Liu Qiyue couldn’t help but ask. “I reached the Unity realm last year.”

  “It’s not bad for you to reach the Unity realm at the age of sixteen.” Marquis Southcloud nodded. “Don’t worry. You will definitely succeed if Archean Mountain wants to nurture you.”

  “Qiyue, since you have awakened your phoenix bloodline, you should become a Godfiend,” Liu Yebai said.

  Marquis Southcloud continued, “The news of your Phoenix Divine Body bloodline has long reached Archean Mountain. They have already sent someone over. They should arrive in Eastcalm Prefecture today! When the time comes, you will have to leave and head to Archean Mountain.”

  “I’m leaving today?” Liu Qiyue felt like everything was happening too suddenly.

  “That’s right.” Marquis Southcloud nodded. “It’s impossible for me to stay in Eastcalm Prefecture forever. There’s no way Archean Mountain can send a powerful Godfiend as protection. Therefore, it’s safest for you to enter Archean Mountain immediately.”

  Liu Yebai also said, “Qiyue, now that you have awakened a phoenix bloodline, you have to cultivate hard and make yourself stronger.”

  “Yes.” Liu Qiyue nodded solemnly.

  When she personally witnessed the demon invasion, she yearned to become stronger and vanquish those demons.

  …

  Meng Chuan and his father arrived at Jadesun Palace.

  “Young Master Meng, please stay here for a moment. The Marquis is currently talking to Young Master Yan.” An elder led the way, and Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang could only wait by the side. They also saw Liu Yebai and Liu Qiyue sitting in a pavilion.

  “Ah Chuan.” Liu Qiyue was even more surprised. After the demon invasion, she had not seen Meng Chuan. After Meng Chuan killed two demon commanders at Blazing Sun Dao Academy, he had led Demon Monarch Poison Pool away and escaped… As for Liu Qiyue, she was quickly brought to Jadesun Palace. They hadn’t managed to speak with each other.

  “Qiyue.” Meng Chuan ran over happily. “Are you alright? You seemed to be quite injured back at Blazing Sun Dao Academy.”

  “I
t was after casting a forbidden spell for too long.” Liu Qiyue smiled and shook her head. “I just need to rest for a month.”

  Meng Chuan nodded slightly.

  “Ah Chuan, I-I…” Liu Qiyue whispered, somewhat reluctant to part with him. “I might be leaving Eastcalm Prefecture today.”

  “You’re leaving Eastcalm Prefecture today?” Meng Chuan was surprised. He suddenly recalled the flaming arrow that Liu Qiyue had shot.

  “Why are you leaving all of a sudden?” Meng Dajiang couldn’t help but ask. Qiyue had come to live at Mirror Lake Meng Manor when she was very young. After all these years, it was as if she was his own child. Meng Dajiang couldn’t bear to part with her.

  Liu Yebai said, “Qiyue awakened a Phoenix Divine Body bloodline. Archean Mountain wants to take her away immediately. In the future, she will cultivate at Archean Mountain.”

  “She awoke a phoenix bloodline and will be entering Archean Mountain?” Meng Dajiang was somewhat astonished.

  He obviously knew about the phoenix bloodline.

  There were many types of divine bodies. Generally speaking, divine bodies like thunder and lightning were very powerful and difficult to cultivate. The top Lightning Divine Body could be said to be extremely difficult to begin cultivating, but the Phoenix Divine Body was even more strict on its conditions. Outsiders were unable to cultivate it at all. Only those who had awakened the phoenix bloodline could cultivate it. Godfiends who cultivated Phoenix Divine Bodies were extremely rare. The Gongsun family which was known as the Phoenix clan hadn’t had any descendants awaken the bloodline for five centuries.

  Currently, there was only one person who was a Phoenix Divine Body Godfiend. Liu Qiyue would be the second.

  “It’s our dream to enter Archean Mountain.” Meng Dajiang immediately reacted and smiled at Liu Qiyue. “We must be happy for Qiyue.”

  “Ah Chuan.” Liu Qiyue was very reluctant to part with him.

  “I will also enter Archean Mountain this December,” said Meng Chuan with a smile. “When the time comes, we will meet again.”

  “Yes.” Liu Qiyue nodded, but there was still much reluctance in her heart.

  …

  While Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue were chatting, Marquis Southcloud was talking to Yan Jin in the hall.

  “King Calm Sea’s sword mark saved Eastcalm Prefecture.” Marquis Southcloud sighed. “This is fate. If you weren’t in Eastcalm Prefecture, Eastcalm Prefecture might have already been annihilated by the demons.”

  Yan Jin stood there, listening obediently.

  “However, the demons will definitely investigate the reason for their failed invasion carefully,” said Marquis Southcloud. “King Calm Sea is constantly watching over Calm Sea Pass. With the power of the Heavenly Tribulation Sword being only ten or twenty percent of King Calm Sea’s might, the demons will easily deduce that it was only a sword mark. The sealing of a sword mark is very difficult. It requires a huge price. King Calm Sea has only sealed them in a few of his children.”

  “King Calm Sea has seven children. Five of them have become Godfiends. Only the youngest two are mortals. The sixth child is cultivating at Calm Sea. Only you came to Eastcalm Prefecture,” said Marquis Southcloud. “Although your identity was kept a secret, the demons will still be able to figure this out from their investigations. Once they find out that you are King Calm Sea’s son, they will send the Skydemon Sect to assassinate you. Therefore, you have to leave Eastcalm Prefecture.”

  “Leave?” Yan Jin was stunned.

  “You might die here.” Marquis Southcloud said, “You can follow me to the state capital. There, I can ensure your safety. You can also return to Calm Sea Pass! There’s nothing to worry about there.”

  “No.” Yan Jin shook his head. “I want neither Calm Sea Pass, nor the state capital.”

  Marquis Southcloud frowned. “Why are you so insensible?”

  “Don’t worry, Lord Marquis. I will leave Eastcalm Prefecture. The demons won’t be able to find me so easily,” said Yan Jin.

  “You…” Marquis Southcloud shook his head. Thinking back to the letter, he recalled that this Seventh Young Master of King Calm Sea’s family was a loner and rather extreme in his ideals. It was indeed the case.

  “How about this? You will be participating in Archean Mountain’s entrance examination this year, right?” Marquis Southcloud asked.

  “Yes.” Yan Jin nodded.

  The rules of Archean Mountain were strict. Unless one was truly a peerless genius, everyone else was required to participate in the entrance examination. Regardless of whether they were the children of King Calm Sea or the princes of the Great Zhou Dynasty, it was the same for all. Those who were lacking were eliminated.

  Liu Qiyue was the second person in the world who possessed a phoenix bloodline. There was no need for her to take the test. Archean Mountain immediately accepted her.

  Yan Jin still had to take the test.

  “In that case, you can head straight to Archean City. You can directly participate in Archean Mountain’s test in December,” said Marquis Southcloud.

  Yan Jin thought for a moment and nodded. “Alright.”

  He didn’t like Calm Sea Pass, much less the state capital. These two places had the most number of clansmen from King Calm Sea’s family.

  “There will be people from Archean Mountain coming to fetch Liu Qiyue today. When the time comes, you can head to Archean City with them,” said Marquis Southcloud with a smile.

  “Yes.” Yan Jin nodded.

  …

  Moments later, Meng Dajiang and Meng Chuan entered the hall and paid their respects to Marquis Southcloud.

  “Marquis Southcloud.” When Meng Chuan saw Marquis Southcloud, his heart was filled with shock.

  His senses had always been effective, but he couldn’t sense Marquis Southcloud’s existence at all! In fact, even while being in the same hall and being within a hundred feet of each other, his hundred-foot domain couldn’t sense him at all.

  He could only see him with the naked eye.

  Such a strange situation alarmed Meng Chuan. He also came to a realization. There is always someone stronger than you. Although my senses are special and mysterious, it is clearly useless in front of Marquis Southcloud. The other party was one of the most terrifying Godfiends in Wu State, after all. It was understandable that his 'sense” failed completely.

  “Greetings, Lord Marquis.” Meng Dajiang and Meng Chuan bowed.

  “Have a seat, both of you.” Marquis Southcloud instructed as he curiously looked at Meng Chuan. After he sat down, he asked, “Meng Chuan, I heard that you killed two demon commanders one after another at Blazing Sun Dao Academy?”

  “Yes,” Meng Chuan immediately replied.

  “Have you reached the realm of Saber Intent?” inquired Marquis Southcloud.

  The fusion of body, mind, and technique was the first realm—Unity.

  When one formed a unique Force, their strength would increase tremendously. They could even guide the Heaven and Earth powers. Force was the second realm.

  If one took a step further, Saber Force could become an embodiment. That was Saber Intent—something one could call their own. Saber Intent was mysterious and unfathomable. Many Godfiends would pursue the Intent realm their entire lives. Saber Intent was the third realm of saber arts.

  “No, I haven’t comprehended Saber Intent yet,” said Meng Chuan immediately.

  “Oh.” Marquis Southcloud was a bit disappointed.

  It was said that a young man named Meng Chuan in Eastcalm Prefecture had killed a demon commander with a single slash. He had also killed two in quick succession.

  Marquis Southcloud’s first thought was that Meng Chuan had comprehended Saber Intent and reached the third realm of saber arts. Comprehending Saber Intent at 18 would make one a peerless genius who would shock Archean Mountain. He would be recruited immediately and didn’t need to participate in the entrance examination.

  Unfortunately, he had over-thought thing
s.

  “Then how did you kill the demon commanders?” asked Marquis Southcloud in puzzlement.

  Chapter 69 - Yun Wanhai's Arrangement

  How did he kill the demon commanders?

  Meng Chuan’s heart tightened. His grandaunt had long ordered him to keep the glabella space a secret until he had figured out what it was after entering Archean Mountain.

  “Marquis,” said Meng Chuan respectfully. “When I rushed to Blazing Sun Dao Academy, the demons had already attacked Blazing Sun Castle. Qiyue was also heavily injured. I was eager to save her, so I didn’t think too much as I tried to stop the two demon commanders. I never expected my body to erupt with such extraordinary strength at that critical moment. The power of my saber arts also soared, and I managed to kill a demon commander with one slash. Following that, I killed the second demon commander.”

  “An eagerness to save Liu Qiyue?” Marquis Southcloud came to a realization. He nodded and smiled. “It looks like Liu Qiyue is very important to you. She managed to catalyze the eruption of your potential.”

  In a life-and-death situation, his strength had skyrocketed.

  For the sake of the most important person in his life, he was able to unleash greater power. This had precedents in history, but they were few in number. In fact, according to legend, there had been a Godfiend who had erupted with ten times his strength in a desperate situation, thus killing his opponent. But very quickly, he died from his body breaking down!

  Godfiends at extremely high realms were able to perfectly excavate their bodies’s potential without harming themselves at all. As for those who were able to unleash strength many-fold their usual at critical moments, they ended up dealing tremendous damage to their bodies. The greater the released strength, the greater the damage. Dying from their bodies failing was possible.

  Of course…

  It would be very difficult for one to unleash strength multiple times higher. One needed plenty of inducement. Many cultivators found it hard to increase their strength when facing death, no matter how crazily they attacked. For example, when Meng Chuan was being pursued by Demon Monarch Poison Pool—no matter how strong his desire for survival was—his speed only increased by 20%.