Chapter 1582 - 153: The Grand Throne

Chapter 1582: Chapter 153: The Grand Throne

Corpse Mountain.

The mist is thick and pervasive.

The Saint Prince paused in his steps.

He had been walking for a very, very long time.

Since stepping into Corpse Mountain, Divine Thought, Treasure, Magic... all had lost their effectiveness, and he could only rely on his inner sensing to move in the right direction.

There were times he had stopped before.

But this time, it was different.

The Saint Prince lowered his head to gaze at the ground, where a faint golden trace remained, caused by the Spirit Sun Rod’s contact with the earth... he had been here before, wandering back to this point, ultimately returning to the "starting point."

Was it due to choosing the wrong direction?

Or perhaps his inner resolve was not strong enough?

"..."

The Saint Prince stood still, silent for a long time.

He truly did not know.

Deep in the mist, a figure stood in solemn silence with him.

The Saint Prince observed the ground.

The figure observed the Saint Prince.

Such silence didn’t last too long; just as the figure in the mist was about to remind him again, the Saint Prince suddenly let out a gentle laugh.

"Ha..."

This laughter shattered the tranquility of Corpse Mountain.

The Saint Prince crouched, his fingers dipped in the faint golden light on the ground, and mused, "After walking so long... still came back, huh..."

Previously, he believed this Secret Realm of Corpse Mountain was endlessly vast.

If it truly was endlessly vast, the endpoint would be hard to find.

But...

Going in circles back to the starting point is even more despairing than not finding the endpoint.

Having run for so long.

Struggling arduously, yet not moving an inch.

"..."

The world was silent, offering no response.

"So, did I choose the wrong path?"

The Saint Prince raised his head, murmuring softly.

His eyes showed slight confusion, but it was swept away in an instant.

"No..."

The Saint Prince shook his head.

He seldom doubted himself; even though he returned to the starting point, he didn’t think he had done anything wrong.

"Or perhaps."

"I’ve never walked wrongly, simply... this path to summit has always been such?"

The Saint Prince fell into contemplation.

He wished to discern something from the mist.

The Saint Prince frowned slightly.

"Caw!"

"Caw!"

This mist shrouded the sky, veiling all movement from the outside.

Yet he seemed to hear an extremely faint, piercing cry.

The Saint Prince looked up.

He saw faint shadows swooping across the mist above the Heavenly Peak... the Great Ape Mountain territory, located at the extreme north of the Demon Country, where a kind of bird named "Shadow Crow" resides, contrasting the color of the snow, in ink-like dark black.

These swiftly passing shadows above the Sky Vault.

Were indeed Shadow Crows.

"..."

The Saint Prince maintained his upward gaze for a long time.

Corpse Mountain is tall.

Close to the heavens in height.

But... the Shadow Crows soar above the Heavenly Peak; they are the freest beings in the Northern Land.

If he had never stepped onto the mountain steps, how could he see the Shadow Crow’s presence amidst the mist’s restrictions?

There is only one possibility.

He is now positioned at the Mountain Peak.

Upon realizing this, a spark of revelation seemed to dawn in the Saint Prince’s mind.

He no longer continued onward.

"So... stepping into Corpse Mountain means I’ve already reached the Mountain Peak?"

The Saint Prince murmured softly.

This trial is meant for Heart Refining.

The climber must not only possess the resilient Dao Heart to reach the peak but also have eyes sharp enough to pierce through illusions...

Endlessly rushing forward isn’t truly challenging.

This world isn’t short of those with great perseverance in Cultivating Dao.

But...

The Holy Emperor of the Great Ape Mountain must have a longer, broader vision than anyone else.

Contemplating this.

The Saint Prince released a long breath, his eyes shimmering with golden light once more.

This place is already the Mountain Peak, so why continue to run?

"The more I walk, the farther I am from ascent... because I’ve long since reached the Mountain Peak!"

This heart is clear now.

The Saint Prince shook his head and laughed softly.

He ceased to step further, instead sitting down in place.

"Swoosh!"

At the moment the Saint Prince abandoned the thought of continuing.

Buzz Buzz Buzz!

The Spirit Sun Rod trembled incessantly!

The world suddenly changed colors.

A great wind surged from all directions, breaking the mist, sand and stones flying.

Beneath where the Saint Prince sat.

A grand Throne, formed of earth and stone, whirled up from the ground, elevating him high.

As the mist shattered, every grass and tree of Corpse Mountain came into view, elevated by the Throne; the Saint Prince, for the first time, clearly saw every blade of grass, every bird, insect of this Great Ape Mountain... Corpse Mountain is not a deathly silent peak; the Little Ape King left this Holy Land a thousand years ago, and over a millennium, Corpse Mountain accumulated vast vitality, with Shadow Crows swooping, and snow foxes racing.

In an instant.

This world turned from deathly silence to bustling clamor.

Every Saint Emperor has undergone the "summitant trial".

This is an alternate "Heart Inquiry Tribulation", one must pierce through the mist to ascend the grand seat.

And then.

He who succeeds in sitting on the Throne becomes the undisputed new Saint Emperor of Great Ape Mountain, wielding life and death authority over three realm domains.

"..."

The Saint Prince bathed in the commotion of Corpse Mountain’s vitality, hands unconsciously resting on the Throne’s armrests.

He quietly savored the feeling of reaching the absolute summit.

In his mind, vivid images unfolded clearly.

The First Realm, where undulating mountains resembled dragon’s spine, hundreds of thousands of primitive beings and yet-to-be-awakened beasts thrive and battle within the domain...

The Second Realm, where towering cities stand, shapeshifted Great Demons in human form move within, engage in trade, connect...

The Third Realm, blood reflects the sky, the Ten Thousand Demon Array envelops Fighting Holy Peak...

Countless images surged forth.

Yet in the Saint Prince’s mind, these images did not appear cluttered but very clear.

He felt as if he had billions of eyes, able to oversee the magnificent panorama stretching for thousands of miles.

All images of the Three Great Domains were within view.

Of course.

Correspondingly.

The Saint Prince also clearly saw the figure standing behind him in the mist of Corpse Mountain.

"??"

The young Great Demon seated on the Saint Emperor’s Throne, body trembling, revealing an incredulous expression.

He slowly turned his head.

The mist dissipated by the wind.

That figure standing deep within the mist seemed also faded by the wind.

"Father Emperor..."

The Saint Prince was stunned and lost, struggling to utter these two words.

"I’ve always been here."

In the wind.

The towering figure spoke gently, revealing a comforting smile.

Father and son met at the peak of Corpse Mountain...

The new emperor ascends.

All living beings on Corpse Mountain bowed in submission.

This should be a picture worthy of joy, yet the Saint Prince felt a surge of bittersweetness in his heart.

At this moment, he suddenly understood many things.

Father Emperor never left.

Father Emperor was always there.

All Father Emperor did... was merely to enable him to ascend this Throne on Corpse Mountain.

Beyond the Golden Decree, Spirit Sun Rod.

Father Emperor...

Gave him so much more.