Archean Eon Art c1-766

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

  “Although most human Godfiends fight for humanity, there are still traitors. They will collude with the demons if there are certain benefits. Make sure not to expose too much of your skill. Keep your true strength secret.

  “Thirdly, the stronger you are, the more confident you will be on the battlefield. However, never be too relaxed. Seize the opportunity to make yourself as strong as possible while you are on Archean Mountain. The stronger you are, the better! I have seen too many Godfiends die. Remember, the stronger you are, the better.

  “There’s no need to mourn me. I started life as someone insignificant. By the time I comprehended Force when I was 22, I didn’t even have the right to participate in Archean Mountain’s entrance examination. I was just an outer sect disciple. After experiencing a close shave with death and with enough luck, I became a Godfiend. My companions have often blocked the enemy for me, allowing me to live this day after eighty years as a Godfiend.

  “I led the declining Meng family to rise once again, making it one of the five Godfiend family clans in Eastcalm Prefecture. I managed to see you enter Archean Mountain before I die. I really have no regrets.

  “A Godfiend’s path is very difficult. You have to tread carefully. If possible, kill more demon monarchs! Give me something to boast about to my old friends when I’m in the underworld.”

  Meng Chuan felt pain as he read the letter. He knew his grandaunt had passed away in gratification, but he felt terrible.

  She had used the family’s savings and exchanged it for a drop of Godfiend Jade Marrow Liquid. She had also transferred all the credits she had amassed over her eighty-year Godfiend career so that he could cultivate faster in Archean Mountain.

  She handed everything to him.

  Grandaunt, I’ll lead our family well. Meng Chuan’s eyes were slightly red. He looked at the vast sea of clouds and softly said, “I’ll remember your three pieces of advice. Also, I’ll kill more demon monarchs. Grandaunt, rest in peace.”

  Meng Chuan looked east. He seemed to see his hometown where his grandaunt had passed away.

  His grandaunt was gone! Godfiend Meng Yan—who had spent her entire life protecting the human race—was dead! Compared to her companions, she was very lucky. She was able to return to her hometown and see a talented junior. She had her clansmen by her side when she died.

  …

  Meng Chuan continued to read books in the library for the next few days. Although he had already decided to cultivate the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body, he still read through the books about the Eon Sea Fiend Body, Wind Lightning Divine Body, Sanguine Divine Body, and other Godfiend bodies.

  After reading them, he headed for the Impartation Pavilion.

  “Have you already made up your mind?” Elder Yi looked at Meng Chuan. “Once you make your choice, you can’t choose another Godfiend body formula for three years.”

  “Yes, I’m sure.” Meng Chuan nodded. “Lightning Devastator Fiend Body.” Even if he failed to cultivate the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body, he would choose the high-grade formula, Wind Lightning Divine Body. As for the Eon Sea Fiend Body, it was just not compatible with his style.

  “Alright.” Elder Yi nodded slightly. With a wave of his hand, a black book flew down from the bookshelf beside him. Lightning swirled on the book’s surface, and black fumes churned. “This is the cultivation formula for the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body. Memorize it here. Hand it to me after you are done.”

  Meng Chuan took the thick book and sat down cross-legged by the side. He flipped the book open. There were text and diagrams in the book. Lightning and baneful aura surrounded each page. As Meng Chuan immersed himself in reading, his consciousness sank into the book.

  His surroundings blurred.

  Soon, he saw a tall man with disheveled hair sitting in the lotus position. He was identical to the imposing man in the Lightning Devastator Saber fragment he had.

  Thick baneful aura emanated from his body. The black fog billowed in all directions as lightning curled around his body.

  He suddenly opened his eyes. His eyes met Meng Chuan’s, and large amounts of information surged into his mind.

  It was a detailed instructional guide about cultivating the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body. It was identical to what the text and diagrams in the book described. However, many cultivation scenes were demonstrated by the man personally. Furthermore, they were deeply imprinted in Meng Chuan’s memory.

  After a long while, Meng Chuan came back to reality.

  “You must be done.” Elder Yi waved his hand and put away the thick book.

  Meng Chuan couldn’t help but say, “This is only the basics of the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body. It only contains information about the Core Cloud, Indestructible, and Great Solar realms. There’s nothing beyond that.”

  “This is the first volume of the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body formula. The information regarding the Darkstar realm and higher realms are in the second volume,” said Elder Yi with a smile.

  “Where’s the second volume?” Meng Chuan asked.

  “You won’t be able to learn it even if it’s placed in front of you,” said Elder Yi with a smile. “You have to wait until you condense an Essence Soul before you can receive the second volume’s legacy.”

  “Elder, what’s an Essence Soul?” asked Meng Chuan immediately. He had read many books in the library, and the only thing he knew regarding an Essence Soul was that it was a key requirement to become a Darkstar Godfiend.

  Elder Yi smiled and said, “Humans have souls. They live in the sea of consciousness between the eyebrows. However, it can’t be observed or sensed. If one attains certain success in soul cultivation, it will condense into an Essence Soul. One can then view their soul with their inner vision. Only by becoming a Great Solar Godfiend can an Archean Mountain disciple learn Essence Soul cultivation methods. Even if it’s given to you now, you won’t be able to cultivate the soul.”

  Meng Chuan’s heart palpitated.

  Humans had souls that resided in the sea of consciousness between their eyebrows? Can’t be seen or sensed? By condensing an Essence Soul, one could see their souls through their inner vision?

  The tiny person in between my eyebrows is an Essence Soul? Meng Chuan couldn’t help but guess. From what Elder Yi said, Archean Mountain’s Essence Cultivation methods can only be cultivated after becoming a Great Solar Godfiend.

  “The demons are also exploring the Essence Soul’s secrets. Therefore, you must keep it a secret if you learn secrets about the Essence Soul,” said Elder Yi. “Once you leak such knowledge, you will be viewed as a traitor.”

  “Yes.” Meng Chuan nodded. “Only a Great Solar Godfiend can cultivate an Essence Soul?”

  “Souls are within us when we are born,” said Elder Yi. “Some people are born with weak souls, and others are born with strong souls. In fact, there are people in history who were born with Essence Souls. Of course, if such geniuses appear, the demons will definitely risk their lives to assassinate them. In the past three thousand years, we humans have never heard of anyone born with an Essence Soul. All of them cultivated their souls after becoming a Great Solar Godfiend. After years of hard work, they would condense an Essence Soul.

  “Many Great Solar Godfiends are stuck at the Essence Soul Condensation stage. It prevents them from breaking through to the Darkstar realm. It’s pointless asking so much now. It’s still too early for you.” Elder Yi waved his hand again; ten stacked books flew over.

  “These ten books contain insights from Archean Mountain disciples—who cultivated the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body—over the years. They are extremely detailed. They will almost answer all the questions you will have during cultivation.” Elder Yi handed the ten books to Meng Chuan. “Take these ten books back, but don’t bring them down the mountain.” With that said, he closed his eyes to meditate.

  “Yes.” Meng Chuan accepted it respectfully. “I’ll take my leave.”

  Following that, he left the Impart
ation Pavilion.

  After Meng Chuan left, Elder Yi opened his eyes and looked into the distance. He whispered, “His spiritual perception is very high, one that appears once every few centuries. Could he have an inborn Essence Soul? Perhaps I’m overthinking things. Whatever, I told him everything I needed to.” Elder Yi closed his eyes.

  …

  In the past 3,000 years, we haven’t heard of anybody with inborn Essence Souls. All Godfiends cultivated their souls after entering the Great Solar realm. Meng Chuan’s heart couldn’t help but palpitate with fear after leaving the Impartation Pavilion. If the demons learn of this, they will spare no expense to assassinate them? Thankfully, I listened to Grandaunt. I didn’t use the Power of the Soul during the entrance examination or in front of others.

  However, did Elder Yi tell me this deliberately? Or was it unintentional? No, Elder Yi is a Regis Godfiend, a backbone of the human race. He has been fighting for humanity his whole life. He’s reaching the end of his life, so there’s no need to doubt his loyalty. Regardless of whether he did it intentionally or not, it’s out of good intentions.

  …

  Meng Chuan chose his Godfiend body much earlier than the other disciples. The other geniuses began making their choices one after another.

  “I choose the Great Strength Fiend Body,” said Ji Yuantong respectfully.

  “Ji Yuantong, you come from the Ji family. You should know what it means to stop at the 17th step of the Darkness Altar,” Elder Yi said.

  Ji Yuantong bowed his head. “I understand.”

  “Your will is weak, but you are extremely outstanding in other aspects. That’s why Archean Mountain gave you a chance,” Elder Yi said. “However, if you can’t make up for your lacking willpower, you will never hope of reaching the Great Solar realm.”

  Ji Yuantong fell silent. It would be disgraceful if he didn’t become a Great Solar Godfiend.

  “Therefore, Archean Mountain has decided that you shall head down the mountain and go to Cloud Solar Pass after you memorize the Godfiend body formula. You will be part of the suicide squad, and you shall serve the military for a year,” said Elder Yi. “I hope that you can temper your will on the battlefield through life-and-death situations. One year later, you can return to Archean Mountain.”

  “Yes.” Ji Yuantong didn’t hesitate at all. He really wanted to make up for this flaw.

  After Ji Yuantong received the Great Strength Fiend Body legacy, he left the mountain and headed for Cloud Solar Pass immediately.

  The suicide squad encountered the most danger at the city gates; their death ratios were the highest. Ji Yuantong had to stay there for a year. This was just the first phase of Archean Mountain’s plan for Ji Yuantong. Unless his willpower was sufficient, there were still multiple things awaiting him…

  As a genius that Archean Mountain valued, they focused on nurturing and letting him grow.

  …

  “I choose the Azure Lotus Divine Body,” said Yan Jin when he arrived at the Impartation Pavilion.

  “I choose the Two World Divine Body.” The thirteen-year-old Yan Chitong made his choice.

  “Black Sand Fiend Body,” told Zuo Xiao to Elder Yi.

  “I choose the Archean Divine Body.” Princess Li Ying eventually made her choice.

  …

  The geniuses had chosen their future paths. However—according to history—most of them would fail to cultivate a transcendent-grade Godfiend body. In three years, most of them would switch to high-grade Godfiend bodies. This was because there was a common threshold for transcendent-grade Godfiend bodies—the Realm of Intent. Achieving Intent within three years was what stopped most new disciples.

  Each had their own fates.

  No one could tell how far these new disciples would grow.

  Final Chapter of Volume—Archean Mountain

  Chapter 95 - Discipleship

  25th December.

  A bone-piercing cold wind howled as Meng Chuan cultivated the Saber Drawing Stance in his cave abode’s training grounds. He had yet to choose a saber art from Archean Mountain! This was because he had officially accepted a master today. It wasn’t too late for him to choose a saber art after listening to his master’s guidance.

  “Ah Chuan, Ah Chuan.” A familiar voice came from outside.

  “Qiyue.” Meng Chuan sheathed his saber and walked out of the training grounds. He saw Liu Qiyue running into his residence. Since the servants had received Meng Chuan’s instructions, they naturally didn’t stop her.

  “Ah Chuan, let’s go. You’re officially accepting a master today,” said Liu Qiyue.

  “I’ve been practicing for two hours. I’ve been waiting for you.” Meng Chuan smiled as he walked out with Liu Qiyue.

  The duo walked alongside Bright Scenic Peak’s mountain path. Before they walked far, they saw the white-robed Princess Li Ying walk out of her cave abode.

  Li Ying smiled as she walked over. “Senior Brother Meng, Senior Sister Liu, what a coincidence.”

  Seeing how close Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue were, Li Ying maintained a smile. She knew that Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue were childhood sweethearts. They didn’t have any blood relations, but Li Ying still felt like she had a chance! Li Ying was destined to be a powerful Godfiend. Regardless of whether it was from the bottom of her heart or from the imperial family’s internal competition, she wanted to find a Godfiend husband that was stronger than her.

  Meng Chuan matched Li Ying’s ideal.

  Initially, Li Ying wanted to interact with Meng Chuan more and see if their personalities matched. To her surprise, Meng Chuan cultivated daily. Whenever she visited Meng Chuan, she would often encounter Liu Qiyue.

  Her plans were thwarted from the beginning!

  “Junior Sister Li,” greeted Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue with a smile.

  “Today, we will officially be acknowledging our master.” Li Ying followed them. “Do you know how impressive our master is?”

  Liu Qiyue smiled and said, “I’ve been here for over half a year now. I do know a little. Master has been the master of all recruited disciples of Archean Mountain for the past three centuries.”

  Meng Chuan was shocked when he heard that. “Twenty disciples are accepted every year. Six thousand disciples share the same master?”

  “Yes.” Liu Qiyue nodded.

  When it came to Godfiend lifespans, the lifespan of Core Cloud, Indestructible, and Great Solar Godfiends was 200 years, twice a mortal’s lifespan. There were very few mortals who could live past a hundred years. Many died when they were seventy or eighty years old. Fairy Meng had been 110 years old… Godfiends often engaged in battles, and their bodies were damaged after many years. It was rare for them to live to 200.

  Darkstar Godfiends had a lifespan of 300 years. From their lifespan, one could tell that it was a qualitative breakthrough from the Great Solar realm to the Darkstar realm.

  Regis Godfiends had a maximum lifespan of 500 years.

  “Master’s status is extremely high. When Mountain Lord Lian and Elder Yi see him, they have to address him as Supremacy respectfully,” said Liu Qiyue.

  “Yes.” Princess Li Ying smiled and said, “Master is an existence that transcends Regis Godfiends.”

  Meng Chuan was shocked. Transcends Regis Godfiends? He had read many books in the library, but none of them mentioned such things. He only had vague suspicions that there were existences that surpassed Regis Godfiends.

  “Master’s lifespan is long. With him around, Archean Mountain is impregnable,” said Princess Li Ying with a smile. “Did you know that the most important city pass out of seven major city passes in the Great Zhou Dynasty—Luotang Pass—is guarded by a Supremacy?”

  “Oh?” Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue learned something new.

  They knew that there were many passes in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Qinyang Pass—which was very close to Eastcalm Prefecture—was a relatively ordinary city pass! There were nine similar city passes in the Wu State. There were even more across t
he entire world.

  However, there were few passes that were truly famous throughout the world. There were seven major city passes in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Calm Sea Pass and Luotang Pass were ranked among them. He had known Luotang Pass was the most important of the seven major city passes and occupied the largest area—almost comparable to Archean City—but he hadn’t known that it was presided over by an existence that surpassed Regis Godfiends.

  …

  They chatted along the way. The trio soon arrived at Yellow Reverence Peak’s Grotto-Heaven Pavilion.

  Grotto-Heaven Pavilion was very spartan. There were many prayer mats on the ground. Many disciples had already sat down.

  “Lord Meng Chuan, please sit here.” There was a steward in the Grotto-Heaven Pavilion who ushered the new disciples to their seats. There was also a reason for the seating plan. Those who were given a higher evaluation according to Archean Mountain’s internal tests, sat closer to the front.

  Meng Chuan also sat down on the mat.

  “Ah Chuan.” Liu Qiyue also sat in her seat. She was seated to Meng Chuan’s left. Clearly, she had been arranged to sit in front. On the contrary, Princess Li Ying could only sit behind them.

  Whoosh.

  Suddenly, a youth—dressed in a white robe with a sword by his waist—walked in. The entire building fell silent.

  “Ah Chuan, look. That’s the fifth son of King Calm Sea, Xue Feng,” said Liu Qiyue immediately via voice transmission.

  It’s him? Meng Chuan carefully observed. He could perceive a powerful aura emanating from the youth in the white robe. He was stronger than Jadesun Palace Lord. Jadesun Palace Lord had already passed the Nine Mystical Caves and left Archean Mountain. However, this man was stronger than him, yet he hadn’t left the mountain. Meng Chuan also knew that the requirements for disciples to leave Archean Mountain differed based on their talents.