Free Web NovelChapter 503: Chapter 3: It Is Time to Crown You and Bestow a Title
’How... how does he know my name?’
Zhou Xiaotong’s expression tightened slightly. She searched her memory again and again, certain that this withered old man wasn’t in it... although his scruffy, haggard face did look vaguely familiar...
As she thought,
Zhou Xiaotong shielded the young boy and girl behind her and spoke cautiously:
"Senior, you are...?"
The withered old man seemed to lift his eyelids with great effort and slowly said:
"Mm, it really is you. You’ve grown so much? Your Dao Foundation seems to have been severed, and your lifespan has drained away. What happened?"
After a pause, the old man pointed a finger at the unconscious Chong Shanhu and asked calmly:
"What happened to this child? How did he end up in this state?"
Lin Yiyi and Chen Lide exchanged a look, both wondering to themselves, ’Who on earth is this man?’
’He’s unbelievably arrogant!’
’He seems to know Aunt Zhou and calls Uncle Chong a child...’
’Putting aside everything else, when Uncle Chong was at his peak, he was at least a Grand Grade master of this era!’
As the two were reeling in shock and suspicion, Zhou Xiaotong’s expression grew even more solemn.
She performed a formal salute and hesitated for a long moment before explaining:
"To answer your question, Senior, my Dao Foundation was severed by an Immortal Court Celestial Venerable. The same happened to Brother Shan Hu."
"Immortal Court?"
The withered old man frowned slightly.
"What’s that? The Celestial Court?"
Now the three of them were truly dumbfounded, staring at each other in astonishment.
’He doesn’t even know about the Immortal Court??’
Seeing their blank expressions, the withered old man chuckled lightly.
"I have not walked the Red Dust for twelve years. The Cause and Effect of this new era are chaotic, so I cannot perform Divination. That is why I am not aware of these things."
Zhou Xiaotong’s heart stirred. ’Divination... Could he be a great senior from the Zhuge Family?’
After some thought, she suppressed her doubts and, remaining vigilant, began to explain:
"To answer your question, Senior, ever since the Sanqing Temple fell a little over eleven years ago, the legendary Immortals and Buddhas of Ancient Times have been returning one after another."
"Then, two years ago, after the Kongtong Holy Land vanished, even more powerful Immortals and Buddhas returned, spreading across the four cardinal directions."
A sharp glint flashed in the withered old man’s eyes as he asked:
"Kongtong Holy Land?"
"Yes. The Kongtong Holy Land was originally the leader of the four great Holy Lands. Two years ago, it suddenly vanished without a trace."
After a pause, Zhou Xiaotong explained:
"Ten years ago, the Ancestor Star rapidly expanded, stretching out into a form resembling a square earth under a round heaven. It was divided into four cardinal continents plus the Ancestral Land. The original territory of the Ancestor Star became the Ancestral Land, while the other four continents were formed from the expansion."
"The Northern Continent is controlled by the Underworld from ancient legends. The Southern Continent is a Demon Country established by the myriad demons. The Western Continent has become a Buddha Land, and the Eastern Continent is under the rule of the Immortal Court. As for the Ancestral Land, that is still where we humans reside."
The withered old man understood now and muttered to himself:
"So that’s how it is. But why call it the Immortal Court and not the Celestial Court? Interesting..."
He paused, his eyes growing deep and profound.
’The Kongtong Holy Land must be the Kongtong Mountain Range... Vanished two years ago?’
’According to the Cause and Effect I traced earlier, that pitch-black Long Spear fell into the Current World right around two years ago!’
Lu Xuan narrowed his eyes, a trace of worry in his heart. He then asked softly:
"What are the other three Holy Lands?"
Zhou Xiaotong recounted:
"The Dragon Tiger Holy Land, which was Dragon Tiger Mountain twelve years ago, is situated in the eastern part of the Ancestral Land. The Wudang Holy Land, formerly Wudang Mountain, is in the southern part."
"The final one, the Taishan Holy Land, is controlled by the Zhuge Family. It’s situated in the western part to defend against the Buddha Land. The northern part of the Ancestral Land, where we are now, was originally guarded by the Kongtong Holy Land to hold back the Yin Ghosts, but..."
Lu Xuan frowned. ’Defend against the Buddha Land?’
He closed his eyes in contemplation. Seeing this, Zhou Xiaotong shot a look at the young boy and girl.
The two understood immediately, quietly moving to the unconscious Chong Shanhu’s side and lifting him up, looking ready to flee at a moment’s notice.
It wasn’t their fault. This old man was simply too strange. He seemed to know Zhou Xiaotong, but she was certain she had never met him before...
As the three of them quietly shuffled toward the main gate,
the withered old man spoke slowly, his eyes still closed:
"Child, these places you speak of—the North Netherworld Mansion, the Eastern Immortal Court, the Southern Demon Country, and the Western Buddha Land—are they all making things difficult for the Human Race?"
Zhou Xiaotong’s steps faltered.
"To answer your question, Senior, that is indeed the case."
"Do you know who the supreme rulers of these four powers are?"
Zhou Xiaotong answered concisely:
"The Buddha Land reveres the Maitreya Buddha Mother. The Immortal Court honors the Immortal Mother. However, it seems neither of these two has descended yet. The North Netherworld Mansion is governed by the Five Ghost Emperors, and the Southern Demon Country has the Demon Ancestor as its Sovereign..."
"Who??"
Zhou Xiaotong and the two youths watched the old man shoot to his feet. His withered, gaunt frame somehow projected an imposing aura.
Frightened, they carried Chong Shanhu and retreated into the courtyard outside the house.
A grim look flashed in Lu Xuan’s eyes as he spoke, enunciating each word:
"Are you certain it is the Demon Ancestor? This Demon Ancestor you speak of—is it a woman?"
Zhou Xiaotong said warily:
"That’s what the great seniors of the Zhuge Family in the Taishan Holy Land have all said, so it should be correct. As for whether the Demon Ancestor is a woman, that I do not know."
Lu Xuan’s heart skipped a beat. ’The Demon Ancestor... that makes no sense.’
’I remember what the Three Masters said, that the Demon Ancestor has already infiltrated the Current World. Could this be an avatar? Is it here for the Lady??’
A sense of urgency immediately gripped Lu Xuan, and he even quickened the speed at which he was absorbing the power of the surrounding terrain.
’I must attain the Celestial Realms as soon as possible!’
’But what exactly happened in the past?’
’Or rather, what happened outside the Current World?’
’Why does the Buddha Land revere Maitreya? Why is the Netherworld ruled by the Five Ghost Emperors??’
’And why did that Immortal Mother establish an Immortal Court instead of the Celestial Court?’
Several questions popped into Lu Xuan’s mind. He supported his withered body and began to pace back and forth. Every few steps would aggravate the fissure of Years in his lungs, causing him to cough violently.
