Chapter 969 - 693: Petitioning the Celestial Book

Yongan City.

This city is tucked away in a corner of the mundane world, where Spiritual Qi is scarce and the traces of the Immortal Dao are absent, only the mundane Martial Arts flourishes.

Ten miles south of the city, amidst desolate ridges stands a dilapidated ancient temple known as the Abandoned Temple.

The temple is in ruins, with decayed beams and pillars, cobwebs covering the eaves, wild grass overtaking the stone steps. It has long been unattended, only the biting mountain winds pass through, wailing and making the place appear desolate and bleak.

A young boy is sitting cross-legged on a haystack within the ruined temple, healing his wounds.

The boy is named Chu Zheng,

He was originally a core disciple of the martial sect "Tianyun Sect" around Yongan City, diligently training in both external and internal martial arts since childhood, with exceptional body technique.

Not long ago, Tianyun Sect was attacked by enemies at night. The masters were all killed, and fellow disciples stained the courtyard with blood.

As the sect was destroyed, Chu Zheng fought to the death with a saber, but was outnumbered, severely injured, and his inner strength nearly exhausted.

Ultimately, he fought his way out using a secret lightness technique from his sect.

He fainted and was rescued by a group of beggars who lived in the abandoned temple, allowing him to linger and heal his wounds.

...

"The remnants of Tianyun Sect are right here!"

"This kid’s agility is remarkable, as slippery as a fish, very difficult to kill, today we must eliminate him completely!"

That day, a dozen figures in black broke the silence of the desolate ridges, charging straight for the Abandoned Temple, determined to root out the threat.

The leading scar-faced chief had eyes as sharp as an eagle, his gaze fell on the shivering beggars outside the temple, threatening sternly:

"Chu Zheng, I know your body technique is excellent, but if you dare move even a step, these beggars will all die with you today."

The beggars turned pale with fear, trembling all over, huddling together without the courage to even raise their heads.

Chu Zheng’s eyes were cold and serious, quickly weighing the situation.

His injuries were not healed, direct confrontation was definitely not an option, if he fled, he would cause his saviors to die tragically.

The only chance of survival was "capturing the leader first," gambling on a sudden blitz, subduing the chief, and forcing the other assassins to retreat.

Without any hesitation, Chu Zheng suppressed his internal injuries, and activated all his remaining inner strength, his body suddenly soared.

His stance was as graceful as a swallow or a startled swan, straightforward and unadorned, charging straight for the throat of the scar-faced chief, with deadly intent and fierce courage.

The scar-faced chief saw this and laughed disdainfully, his eyes full of contempt:

"Your agility is decent, yet you dare show off your blade skills, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!"

"Die!"

His inner strength far exceeded the heavily injured Chu Zheng, his wrist suddenly flipped, and the long saber at his waist shot out of the sheath, the cold gleaming blade reflecting the sunlight, hacking down in an arc laced with powerful inner strength.

The wind howled, Sword Qi bearing down, the shadow of death suddenly enveloped Chu Zheng completely.

Chu Zheng’s pupils contracted slightly, instantly sensing the chasm-like power gap between them, he knew in his heart: today he must die.

Yet he still gritted his teeth, determined to take this fatal hit.

Just as the blade was about to swallow him and his life was moments away from ending, a lazy, carefree voice drifted down from the void:

"Good kid, quite loyal!"

Before the words fell, no one was visible, but a wisp of Sword Qi had already cleaved through the air.

Crack!!

A crisp sound rang out, the refined iron long saber was precisely struck on the blade’s spine by this invisible force, shattering into pieces, the broken blade flew to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The entire area fell into still silence, killing intent suddenly froze.

A figure in a blue robe appeared, stepping leisurely down from the horizon along with the mountain breeze.

His robe was loose, hair slightly tousled, and his aura was carefree and unrestrained, resembling an Immortal.

The assassins were shocked and infuriated, simultaneously brandishing knives, darts, and arrows, dark weapons flew in a flurry, sealing off all escape routes of the Daoist.

"What wild Daoist dares to meddle in the affairs of our Black Dragon Sect!"

"All strike together, kill this meddling old Daoist!"

But all weapons stopped three feet before reaching the Daoist, hitting an invisible barrier, shattering completely, never getting closer by even half a step.

Chu Zheng was utterly shocked, lost in shouting:

"Innate Grandmaster!"

In the mundane martial world, "Innate" is the peak of Martial Arts, unattainable for countless martial artists in their lifetimes.

The Drunken Cloud Wanderer responded with a loud laugh, gently raising his fingertip, his waist-long sword unsheathed naturally, a cold Sword Light shot to the sky, like fish leaping.

Flying swords crisscrossed, Sword Light flickered, in an instant all assassins had their life force severed, silently fallen dead.

The Drunken Cloud Wanderer retracted his Sword Light, turning to the standing Chu Zheng, softly said:

"This is the technique of the Immortal Family, incomparable to mundane martial arts inner strength."

Chu Zheng stood stunned, eyes full of confusion: "Immortal technique?"

The Drunken Cloud Wanderer saw his bewildered and lost expression, finding it not strange at all.

In this Southern Border, Spiritual Qi is exhausted, Dao Veins are broken, the masses are trapped in the mundane, unknowing of the Immortal path, it’s common.

He examined the young man before him, more and more approving, his temperament was firm and straightforward, brave and resourceful.

More rare was his unique bone structure, hiding spiritual nodes within, in this barren and spiritless world, like an unpolished gem.

Chu Zheng quickly suppressed his inner shock, composed his Heart Spirit, solemnly stepping forward, kneeling:

"Thank you, Immortal Elder, for saving my life..."

"With Immortal Elder’s unrivaled skill, I humbly beg the Immortal Elder to accept me as a disciple..."

The Drunken Cloud Wanderer lowered his gaze, smiled leisurely, slowly asked:

"Why do you seek immortality?"

Chu Zheng raised his head, eyes burning with hatred, sincere and passionate:

"My sect suffered greatly, my entire clan exterminated, this enmity is burning deeply."

"I seek immortality to learn supreme skills, someday to avenge personally, eliminate enemies, and console the souls of my sect!"

Sincere and straightforward, clear in love and hatred, full of fervor.

The Drunken Cloud Wanderer clapped, laughing softly, full of approval in his eyes:

"You are indeed straightforward and honest, not hiding your murderous obsession, very well, I shall accept you."

...

Twelve years passed by swiftly.

The Drunken Cloud Wanderer, along with four like-minded loose cultivators, formed a brotherhood known as the "Five Friends of the Clouds."

That autumn, the group ventured deep into a Secret Realm, where they serendipitously found an ancient cave dwelling.

Within the cave dwelling, the Spiritual Qi was abundant, far richer than outside, and at its core, lay an ancient artifact.

Faced with a priceless treasure, the past camaraderie and shared sense of purpose, instantly crumbled.

The remaining four were apprehensive of Drunken Cloud Loose Cultivator’s highest cultivation, fearing he would monopolize the opportunity, and thus secretly conspired against him.

While Drunken Cloud Loose Cultivator was off guard, wholly focused on probing the cave’s restriction, they suddenly teamed up for a surprise attack, breaking faith and creating a crisis.

"Brother Drunken Cloud, your cultivation is unrivaled; you shouldn’t swallow the treasure alone!"

"Today, you and your disciple shall be buried here!"

A sudden onset of murderous intent erupted, with wind and clouds churning inside the cave, and spiritual qi raging chaotically.

Drunken Cloud Loose Cultivator lived openly and carefreely, treating others with sincerity and never guarding against fellow cultivators, but was instantaneously trapped in a dire situation attacked from both front and back.

In this desperate situation, he cast aside all casualness, drawing his long sword from his waist, the sword light sweeping for miles as he desperately retaliated.

Amidst the fierce battle, he forcefully slew two sworn brothers.

The remaining Qiyun Zi and Miao Zang Zi were also heavily injured.

Yet, two fists were no match for four hands, with longtime trustworthy brothers delivering an unforeseen backstab.

Drunken Cloud Loose Cultivator was also exhausted and knew he would undoubtedly die today.

He burned his last mana to forcefully tear apart the cave’s restriction, pushing his disciple out of the battle.

"Zheng’er! Go quickly! Survive! Cultivate diligently and don’t waste your life avenging me!"

As his voice fell, he wielded his sword, turning to face the two alone, fighting to carve out the only chance of escape for his beloved disciple.

The roaring echoed within the cave, the sword light bursting... until everything returned to a deathly silence.

...

In the midst of fleeing.

Chu Zheng’s eyes were red, tears of blood almost falling, clenching his teeth tightly, suppressing all grief and hatred deep within his heart.

His time cultivating was short, only having third-layer Qi refining cultivation, while his pursuers, Qiyun Zi and Miao Zang Zi, were all late-stage Qi refining experts.

If it hadn’t been for his master’s desperate rear defense, sacrificing his Dao body to hold them up, he would have already perished in the cave, leaving no remains.

"I must survive to avenge Master!!"

At this moment, he silently communicated with a golden scroll within his spiritual sea.

This was an invaluable treasure he had unintentionally acquired in the secret layer of an ancient cave mansion—the Golden Scroll Celestial Book.

This treasure could deduce celestial secrets, predict fortunes and disasters, foresee survival opportunities, and discern the mysteries of heaven and earth, far more valuable than the spiritual objects that everyone was fighting over.

At the brink of life and death, Chu Zheng’s heart spirit calmed down, praying devoutly:

"Celestial Book, please show me the way to escape."

As his voice fell, the golden pages flowed with radiant light, revealing the celestial secret, a line of clear script slowly appeared on the pages, unmistakably clear:

[Thirty miles southeast, the Cold Pool of Blue Waters, leap into it, you may find a slim chance of survival.]

Upon seeing this glimpse of survival, a glimmer of hope ignited in Chu Zheng’s eyes as he gritted his teeth, accelerated, and poured the last ounce of spiritual power within him to sprint, roaring in his heart:

"Thirty miles! Hold on for just a moment longer, and I will surely survive, one day avenging Master!"

In a frenzied retreat, swift as the wind, in no time he reached a fog-laden, bone-chilling deep water pool that appeared before his eyes.

The pool was deep and bottomless, shrouded in mist, and with an icy chill hitting his face—it was indeed the Cold Pool of Blue Waters.

The sound of air being split by his pursuers was already close by, with an unavoidable, piercing murderous intent.

Chu Zheng hesitated no longer, resolutely leaping into the icy, bone-chilling pool water.

The frigid pool water enveloped him entirely, but in the next instant, Chu Zheng’s eyes widened abruptly, his pupils shrinking, his mind screaming:

"Celestial Book, you have deceived me!!"

...

In the depths of the bottomless cold pool.

A pair of massive, house-sized, pitch-black beastly eyes slowly opened, indifferently gazing at the tiny human who had foolishly barged in.

"Hmm?"

"Human?"

The opening and closing of its eyes exuded a menacing soul-capturing light, unleashing a thread of explosive presence.

Chu Zheng instantly blacked out, losing consciousness entirely, floating weakly in the cold water, oblivious to everything around him.

...

Above the heavens.

Two streaks of light shot forth—it was Qiyun Zi and Miao Zang Zi closely pursuing, their faces full of malice, intent on eradicating all threats to prevent future troubles.

"Something’s wrong!!"

"There’s something inside!!"

They focused their minds and eyes, peering deep into the pool, and suddenly saw a colossal black silhouette slumbering like a mountain.

The next moment, the water in the pool surged violently, and monstrous black water soared into the sky.

An imposing, mountain-like, majestic body slowly stood upright from the depths of the cold pool, emerging from the water, its muscles knotting like an ancient god mountain.

It was a Black Bear Demon King!!

The heavy body stirred vast waves, the splashes exploding with thunderous roars that reverberated everywhere, and just a sliver of leaked pressure suppressed the territory for miles.

Their entire blood froze in an instant, their feet nailed dead to the ground.

Such an unparalleled Demon King needed only to raise a paw to crush them into meat paste, like crushing ants!

"Demon King!!"

"Dao-entered Demon King!!"

"Escape!!"

Their souls fled in terror, and their hearts were filled only with extreme fear, fearing even to glance back.

Without daring to turn their heads, they fled with all their might from this terrifying water region.

In their eyes, Chu Zheng’s reckless entry into the demon pool, disturbing the unparalleled Great Demon, was already a death sentence, without needing their involvement.

...

In the cold pool.

Black Ebony didn’t pay attention to the two escaping human cultivators.

He looked down at the small unconscious human before him, a tinge of helplessness crossing his enormous bear eyes.

For dozens of years he had followed his lord, cultivating with a calm heart, peacefully keeping watch, his disposition tranquil.

Today, while leisurely soaking and resting, he never could have imagined that a tiny human cultivator would fall from the sky, plunging into the pool bottom.

He was slightly stunned, accidentally releasing a bit of aura, nearly scaring a weak cultivator to death, truly being the unfortunate one.

"He can be saved, it shouldn’t be a big problem!!"

"Otherwise, White Qiu would surely mock me."

...