Chapter 217 Have you read Journey to the West?
The noise caused by the appearance of Divine Exotic City in a short period of time matched the past catastrophe of demons, with various legends about Divine Exotic City emerging and widely circulating in the immortal cultivation world and among the common people.
Divine Exotic City houses immortals!
Divine Exotic City has the elixir of immortality!
Divine Exotic City has a passage to an exotic world!
And so on!
These countless peculiar tales made Gu An feel astonished.
In the blink of an eye, more than half a year had passed. This year's Spring Festival was quieter than in previous years because many disciples of the Supreme Sect went out to seek opportunities. Fortunately, the Third Medicine Valley and Mystic Valley were not affected.
Divine Exotic City still stood there, continuously attracting cultivators from all over the world to seek treasures. Even the Nine-Finger Divine Lord, who was temporarily residing in the Supreme Sect, went there, taking Chu Jingfeng with him.
Up to now, it was only heard who had gone to Divine Exotic City; no one had been heard to bring back any harvest from inside the city.
In late spring, Gu An rode the Blood Prison Great Saint to Tianya Valley.
Li Xuandao was actually there as well; he had not returned to Tianya Valley for many years.
Gu An came to him and saluted, thanking him for the Golden Core he had given.
"It seems the Supreme Sect treats you well, someone helped you form a core; I originally wanted to send someone to help you." Li Xuandao stroked his beard and smiled.
In response, Gu An could only express his gratitude without mentioning much about the Supreme Sect.
After not seeing him for many years, Li Xuandao's cultivation had reached the second level of the Unification Realm. He was only three hundred and fourteen years old, which was quite extraordinary. Gu An suspected that he could reach the Mahayana Realm before the age of five hundred.
Considering only this continent, it was estimated that only An Hao and Xuan Tianyi's talents could compare with his, and his maximum lifespan was not less, exceeding six thousand years. Achieving nirvana in this life would be no problem.
Li Xuandao called over Ji Ruolai, Luo Hun, and Lv Xian, and they all sat down to chat.
He mentioned Divine Exotic City and planned to take people to explore it.
"According to the information I received, Divine Exotic City is an Immortal Path Supreme Treasure, containing numerous minor heavens and earths with countless opportunities. Who among you wants to go?" Li Xuandao asked.
All three expressed their interest, and Li Xuandao then looked at Gu An.
Gu An did not expect Li Xuandao to invite him and quickly shook his head and said, "I'll pass. Given my cultivation, I would only be a burden to you, and I am not interested in the so-called immortal opportunities. I am self-aware enough to know that such immortal opportunities are not something I can covet."
Li Xuandao laughed and said, "I am also at the Core Formation Realm; do you mean I shouldn't go either?"
Pretending to be at Core Formation Realm with the Unification Realm, do you still have the nerve?
Gu An helplessly said, "There is a difference even among those at the Core Formation Realm; my strength is far inferior to yours."
Li Xuandao raised his hand and pointed at him, did not insist, and just smiled.
Lv Xian wanted to say that both of them should stop pretending, but he held back because he could not afford to offend either of them.
They continued talking about Divine Exotic City, and Ji Ruolai began sharing the intelligence he had gathered about it, while Gu An silently listened.
It was said that even the Seven Stars Spirit Realm could not subdue Divine Exotic City. The immortal spirit of Divine Exotic City was hidden in the city and hard to find, so they had no choice but to release the city and let cultivators from all over the world come to find the immortal opportunities, thus forcing out the immortal spirit.
Ji Ruolai received news from his family, saying that more overseas cultivators were on their way, which would inevitably affect the local immortal cultivation world.
"As the Holy Land, the Seven Stars Spirit Realm doesn't consider us at all, causing trouble for the immortal cultivation world of the three dynasties," Lv Xian couldn't help but curse.
Luo Hun nodded, he also disapproved of the Seven Stars Spirit Realm.
During the Great Catastrophe of Demons, the Seven Stars Spirit Realm did not intervene. After Sword Venerable Fudao exterminated the Demon Ancestor, they descended from the mountain to save the world and gain a good reputation. Now, how many years have passed since the Great Catastrophe of Demons ended, and they provoked so many powerful overseas cultivators? Can such a force really be considered a Holy Land?
Li Xuandao did not comment on the Seven Stars Spirit Realm, and Ji Ruolai was even more silent.
Gu An also wondered what the Seven Stars Spirit Realm intended to do.
This was not just targeting the immortal cultivation world of the three dynasties. If all the overseas cultivators who came died, the impact would be massive.
An hour later, Li Xuandao took Ji Ruolai, Luo Hun, and Lv Xian and set off. Meanwhile, Tianya Valley became lively. Three monkey demons found Gu An and chattered non-stop, giving off the vibe of being the kings in a mountain without a tiger.
The Blood Prison Great Saint also became talkative, quarreling fiercely with Sun San.
After Gu An finished picking medicinal herbs, he rode the Blood Prison Great Saint away leisurely, and Tianya Valley returned to silence.
...
At dusk, Divine Exotic City stood tall on the wasteland, magnificent and grand. Quite a few cultivators and demons gathered in front of the four city gates, and some cultivators and demons directly flew into the city. The air above the city walls rippled, and then the entrants disappeared without a trace.
Two figures flew from the horizon; it was Jiang Qiong and the Ghost Mother of Ephemera.
As they looked from a distance, their eyes showed astonishment.
Before coming, they had heard many legends about Divine Exotic City, but seeing it in person now, they felt the shock.
Not only was it a visual impact, but an indescribable ancient aura also surged toward them.
"Divine Exotic City, it is said that obtaining it can summon Divine Soul Demons to sweep across the heavens and earth. I never thought I would witness this legendary Immortal Path Supreme Treasure in my lifetime," the Ghost Mother of Ephemera marveled.
Jiang Qiong frowned and said, "Why can't I see anyone coming out?"
The Ghost Mother of Ephemera replied, "There are countless minor heavens and earths inside Divine Exotic City. Without several years, it's very difficult to come out."
Jiang Qiong fell silent, her beautiful eyes fixed on Divine Exotic City.
At that moment, a loud bell suddenly roared, making everyone's divine soul tremble. Jiang Qiong and the Ghost Mother of Ephemera instinctively turned their heads and saw a golden light flying from the horizon at high speed across the wasteland and entering Divine Exotic City, with no one seeing its true form.
Jiang Qiong asked in a low voice, "What realm is that passerby?"
The Ghost Mother of Ephemera remained silent, unable to answer.
Meanwhile,
Gu An, staying in the Third Medicine Valley, also stared at Divine Exotic City.
"Even the Wandering Immortals have come. Will Heaven and Earth Flying Immortals appear next?"
Gu An stood by a wooden railing, looking at the horizon and silently thought.
He originally wasn't interested in Divine Exotic City, but as more and more old acquaintances entered the city, he had to pay more attention.
If something happened to Divine Exotic City, half of the people he cared about would die. Just thinking about it felt distressing.
After watching for a while, he moved to check each garden area.
...
Inside a broken and desolate city, An Hao and Chi Jiuxiao sat cross-legged in front of a collapsed wall, their faces pale and obviously injured.
Roar——
A thunderous roar echoed through the heavens and earth, causing the wall behind them to tremble slightly.
An Hao opened his eyes and frowned, asking in a low voice, "Senior, is there really an immortal opportunity here? Should we try another place?"
They were in a minor heaven and earth inside Divine Exotic City. After being here for several months, they had not found many treasures but often encountered demon beasts of the Immortal Path Realm, facing life-threatening dangers. Even the powerful Chi Jiuxiao was injured.
Chi Jiuxiao, with his eyes closed, said, "There are many powerful demon beasts here, indicating that this place must hide a supreme treasure. The desolation is only on the surface. If we can find the immortal spirit of Divine Exotic City, you and I will soar to the skies and become one of the dominions of heaven and earth."
An Hao smiled bitterly, "Even if we find the immortal spirit, can we protect Divine Exotic City with our cultivation?"
He admitted that Chi Jiuxiao was strong, but ever since they paired up, he often saw Chi Jiuxiao in difficult situations.
Although Chi Jiuxiao claimed those opponents were in the Loose Immortal Realm, it at least proved that within Divine Exotic City, he hadn't reached the top tier. How could he compete for the immortal spirit with such strength?
"The immortal spirit will choose its master. Once chosen, it can borrow the power of Divine Exotic City. Even you could possess the power of the Immortal Path Realm. With the protection of Divine Exotic City's power, you and I will rise eventually," Chi Jiuxiao said nonchalantly.
Upon hearing this, An Hao's eyes lit up.
He was about to speak when suddenly, the city shook more violently. Chi Jiuxiao instantly appeared before him, grabbing him before vanishing from the spot.
Rumble——
Streets collapsed, and dust rolled up, wanting to envelop the skies.
Chi Jiuxiao and An Hao reappeared in the air, looking closely, the world was submerged in rolling dust waves, and the dilapidated city below seemed in danger of being swallowed at any moment.
"Chi Jiuxiao, long time no see!" An eerie voice rang out.
Upon hearing this, Chi Jiuxiao's brows furrowed, and he said in a deep voice, "Qin Xunyin, you indeed came!"
As the words fell, the dust waves ahead suddenly parted, and figures emerged from it. Leading the group was a man in blue robes, graceful and proud.
"Do you dare to come alone to our Six Stars Cave's territory? Do you seek death?" Qin Xunyin stared at Chi Jiuxiao, a cold smile on his face.
Chi Jiuxiao gripped An Hao's shoulder with his right hand, and in his left hand, he condensed the Dragon-Slaying Spear. He pointed the spear at Qin Xunyin and sneered, "What? Do you think you can defeat me with a few helpers? Have you forgotten the cowardly look when you knelt before me a hundred years ago?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Xunyin's eyes turned cold. With a roar, the dust waves behind them dispersed, revealing a terrifying giant demon. It was an elephant demon with a head as huge as a mountain, black skin, blood-red eyes, and scars covering its trunk. Its two tusks were like mountain ridges dispersing the dust waves below.
Meanwhile,
In another minor heaven and earth within Divine Exotic City,
under the clear sky, Zhang Buku and Li Ya walked through a vast monastery. Along the way, there were numerous Buddha statues. Some stood on demon beasts, looking heroic, while others sat on lotus seats, appearing kind and merciful.
"Brother Li, have you read Journey to the West?" Zhang Buku suddenly asked.
Li Ya, walking in front, hummed, "When do I have time to read leisure books?"
His gaze swept forward, his brows furrowed. Since coming here, he had felt uneasy, as if someone hidden was watching them, making him very uncomfortable.
"Let me tell you, Journey to the West involves the Buddhism Sect, and the Buddha is very powerful. Even the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, Sun Wukong, couldn't escape the Five-Finger Mountain of The Buddha..." Zhang Buku began introducing Journey to the West.
He didn't actually want to talk about Journey to the West. His senses were sharper than Li Ya's, and since stepping into this monastery, he felt danger.
Strangely, they had walked around several times and couldn't find an exit.
The two had a tacit understanding. Neither pointed out this fact and continued to stroll, their minds on high alert.
Tap, tap, tap——
A stone suddenly fell from the courtyard wall, startling Zhang Buku, who turned to see the stone rolling on the path behind, with no figures of people or demons on the walls around.
He released his divine sense, but also failed to detect anything unusual.
He turned back, about to say something, and in the next moment, his eyes widened. The space in front of him was empty; Li Ya had vanished!