LRAB Chapter 2 Awakening
Chapter 2 Awakening
The King of Light's voice was filled with fear, carrying a tremor from the depths of his soul that was more terrifying than death itself.
The old emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty wanted to ask more, but the wisp of his already broken soul had completely dissipated.
This scene left everyone present exchanging bewildered glances. A chill ran down their spines.
The King of Light, an unparalleled powerhouse at the Saint King level, wielded a great saint weapon and stormed into the sacred mountain, but in the end only a wisp of his soul escaped, without even being able to finish a single word!
"What is this...?" Someone looked at the sacred mountain, cold sweat pouring down their face.
A mountain peak, seemingly descended from the sky, stands silently in a giant crater in the northern part of the Eastern Wilderness. Swirling black mist and billowing clouds, it resembles a slumbering ancient beast, its jaws wide open, awaiting the next reckless intruder.
Forbidden Zone of Life.
The four words spoken by the King of Light echoed in everyone's minds.
The Big Dipper Starfield originally had seven forbidden zones for life, each one extremely terrifying and bizarre, representing a great terror that even ancient history would avoid!
Is it possible that there will be another one now?
At the foot of the Heavenly Divine Mountain, those cultivators who were lucky enough not to have stepped into it all had pale faces, thankful that they had not been blinded by the immortal herbs and divine medicines and followed the King of Light into it.
Even a Saint King wielding a great saintly weapon met such an end; even an ultimate imperial weapon failed to rescue the person intact. Could this be a corner of hell, the abode of world-destroying demons?
The news spread like wildfire.
In less than half a day, the once desolate land of the Northern Wilderness was filled with powerful figures from the top forces of the Big Dipper Star Region.
The first to arrive were the most powerful holy lands and ancient families in the Eastern Wilderness.
An elderly, white-haired elder arrived at the Yao Guang Holy Land. His aged body was shrouded in a divine halo, and he stood at the level of an ancient sage. He gazed solemnly at the distant mountain shrouded in black mist, saying nothing.
A middle-aged man arrived from the Ji family. His face was composed, and his aura was as deep and unfathomable as the ocean. He was the current head of the Ji family. His gaze was fixed on the divine mountain beyond the heavens, and a trace of worry, which he could not hide, flashed deep in his eyes.
Elders from the Jiang family also arrived. Powerful figures from the other three great dynasties of Zhongzhou, the Western Desert Buddhist sect, and the Southern Ridge demon clan also arrived. Each of them possessed a profound aura and unfathomable cultivation, at least ranking above the Saint Realm.
Dozens of powerful figures, their auras vast and boundless, gathered here. In an era before the Azure Emperor, such a lineup would have been enough to sweep away most of the forces in the Big Dipper Star Region, making them arguably the strongest group of people in this era. Yet, at this moment, all of them wore solemn expressions, gazing at the distant celestial mountain, remaining silent.
"Fellow Daoists, what are your thoughts on today's events?"
Finally, the Supreme Elder of the Yao Guang Holy Land spoke first, breaking the silence.
No one answered immediately.
After a long silence, the head of the Ji family took a deep breath and slowly said, "The King of Light has progressed quite far in the Saint King realm and wields a legendary Saint weapon. Even a Great Saint could put up a fight against him, yet he met such an end in an instant. There must be an unimaginable terror on this mountain."
Even the Supreme Emperor Weapon couldn't save him!
The elderly man from the Jiang family, dressed in hemp clothing, frowned. "The key question is, what exactly is inside?"
The old emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty gripped the Supreme Emperor Sword tightly. The sword emitted a low hum, as if responding to his unease. He said in a deep voice, "The Supreme Emperor Sword senses something; the aura emanating from that black mist is somewhat similar to those beings in the forbidden zones of life."
The conclusion reached by the Supreme Emperor Weapon resounded like a thunderous drumbeat in the hearts of many powerful individuals.
Everyone's expression turned even more grim.
They were all core figures of major powers, possessing a far deeper understanding of the forbidden zones of life than ordinary people. They knew what terrifying beings lurked deep within those forbidden zones. These were ancient supreme beings, forbidden to be discussed, unparalleled powerhouses who had once attained the Dao and become emperors, yet willingly severed their own paths and hid in the forbidden zones to slumber in order to await the opening of the path to immortality.
They were once emperors and sovereigns who ruled the world, and also the source of one terrifying, dark, and turbulent time and time again!
Could it be that yet another such being has descended upon us?
"The seven forbidden zones of life have existed since ancient times, how could there suddenly be an extra one? The Azure Emperor has not appeared for a thousand years, could it be that..." Someone started to speak, but dared not continue halfway through the sentence.
Everyone understood what he meant.
Many people turned pale.
If the current emperor were to commit suicide, it would mean the last glimmer of hope is gone. The life essence required for any living, self-inflicted emperor is astronomical. When he awakens, the entire Big Dipper will become a hunting ground.
"There's no need for you to overthink things."
A deep, steady voice rang out. Everyone looked over, and there stood the demon king of the Southern Ridge Demon Emperor's Palace. His voice was deep and powerful, both comforting others and convincing himself.
"His Majesty the Azure Emperor is the supreme emperor of our demon race, and has always been concerned for the common people. His Majesty's battle prowess is astonishing, and he attained enlightenment through plants, so his lifespan should be long. It is absolutely impossible for him to have disappeared for only a thousand years."
These words softened the expressions of many people.
The Azure Emperor, a lotus in the eternal blue sky, possesses a power comparable to the strongest emperors and sovereigns in ancient history; he would never do such a thing.
"The Demon King is right." The Supreme Elder of the Yao Guang Holy Land nodded and said, "What kind of person is the Azure Emperor? Why would he cut off his own seclusion? You all don't need to scare yourselves."
Everyone echoed this sentiment, as if it could dispel their fear.
However, the core figures of those extreme forces—the head of the Ji family, the elders of the Jiang family, and the former emperor of the Great Xia—still wore solemn expressions, with a lingering shadow in their eyes.
They know more.
They knew that those supreme beings in the forbidden zone of life were once protectors of all living beings, just like the Azure Emperor. For the sake of immortality, for that faint glimmer of hope, they ultimately chose self-mutilation, chose to lie low, and chose to wait in the darkness.
"Fellow Daoists, this place is not suitable for us to linger. Let's move to Yaochi and discuss this further."
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a graceful figure dressed in white speak.
She is the Queen Mother of the West, the ruler of the sacred Yaochi.
The group exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.
The Jade Pool Holy Land has always been one of the most unique existences in the Big Dipper Starfield. It does not participate in the struggles between major powers, maintaining a neutral stance, yet possesses strength that no force dares to underestimate. The Western Emperor Tower, an ultimate imperial weapon, is the Jade Pool Holy Land's most prized treasure.
This place is too close to the celestial mountain; if anything unexpected happens, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The crowd outside the sacred mountain quickly departed for Yaochi. Only the Supreme Emperor Sword remained suspended in the sky, its sword aura faintly pointing towards the towering mountain that had fallen from the heavens, guarding against any unforeseen events. Among the four extreme Dao forces native to the Eastern Wilderness—the Ji family, the Jiang family, Yaochi Holy Land, and Yaoguang Holy Land—the auras of extreme Dao imperial weapons also revived, subtly forming an encirclement, encompassing this sacred mountain, or perhaps a demonic mountain, of unknown origin.
The celestial mountain still stands there silently. Surrounded by black mist and swirling clouds, it remains unmoved.
The Jade Pool Gathering lasted for several days. The various factions discussed countermeasures and agreed to jointly monitor the Celestial Divine Mountain, forbidding anyone from easily setting foot on this demonic land. Any unusual activity was to be immediately reported to each other.
After everyone left Yaochi and returned to their respective places, the name "Eighth Forbidden Zone of Life" spread like a plague throughout the Big Dipper Starfield.
The name "Forbidden Zone of Life" has caused countless cultivators to discuss it and countless mortals to tremble with fear.
However, the name is too straightforward and too ordinary.
Some well-meaning people have started trying to come up with a more fitting name for this new restricted area.
"Since it fell from the sky, why not call it the Land of Fallen Heaven?"
"Too ordinary."
"That mountain has so many miraculous herbs, and such terrifying killing intent, why not call it Burial Immortal Mountain?"
"The mountain is shrouded in black mist, its aura as deep and terrifying as hell itself. Even supreme imperial weapons struggle to break through it easily. What about Black Prison Peak?"
After much debate, one name was finally accepted by the majority.
"That mountain fell from the rift in chaos, and the black mist devoured everything, forming its own world that even supreme imperial weapons could not break through. It does not belong to this starry sky; it comes from beyond chaos. Let's call it Hun Tian."
Chaos.
Soon, "Hun Tian" or "Hun Tian Ling" replaced the name "Eighth Forbidden Zone of Life" and became the official name of that divine mountain from beyond the heavens.
One month, two months, three months passed.
There was nothing unusual about Huntianling.
Several supreme imperial weapons still pointed towards the sacred mountain, never letting their guard down. The old emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty would appear every few days to communicate with the deity of the Supreme Emperor Sword through divine sense. Powerful figures from the Ji family, the Jiang family, and Yaochi also took turns guarding the area.
Years have passed, and the world remains calm.
This overt vigilance finally began to gradually decrease. However, the major powers remained on high alert behind the scenes. Each had deployed resources around the sacred mountain, and each had powerful figures on standby. They could be informed immediately of any changes.
A century has passed in the blink of an eye.
For ordinary people, a hundred years is a long life, the passing of three generations. For cultivators, a hundred years is but a single retreat, a moment of enlightenment, a small segment of the long journey of cultivation.
Over the course of a century, no changes have occurred in the area where Huntianling is located.
The mountain shrouded in black mist stood silently in the giant pit of the northern region of the Eastern Wilderness, like a sleeping behemoth, motionless.
There was no supreme being born, no dark turmoil, and no terrifying event as anyone had predicted.
The topic of "chaos" is gradually being replaced by more and more novel things.
Someone has attained enlightenment and become a saint.
Ancient ruins have been discovered.
A new prodigy has emerged.
Conflict broke out between the holy sites.
Hun Tian, a name that once shook the entire Big Dipper constellation, has gradually faded from people's casual conversations.
It is only mentioned at certain specific moments.
For example, when a cultivator with little lifespan left, clinging to his last glimmer of hope, ventures alone into the chaotic heavens, hoping to risk everything to obtain a longevity-extending elixir from that mountain.
Over the past century, there have been many such people.
Without exception, all of them failed.
Those who attempted to enter either perished at the foot of the mountain by an invisible force before even touching the black mist. Some barely managed to step into the black mist and never emerged again. Others merely caught a glimpse of Hun Tian before mysteriously dying.
Gradually, even those cultivators whose lifespans were nearing their end gave up.
Hun Tian became a true forbidden zone for life.
No one wanted to get close, no one dared to get close, and few were even willing to mention it.
Only the core figures of those extreme forces have maintained their attention to Hun Tian.
They knew that the mountain's stillness didn't mean it would never move.
Those supreme beings who sever their own flesh can slumber for tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of years. They have enough patience and time to wait for the path to immortality to open.
If the being in the Chaotic Heaven is truly a supreme being who has severed himself, then he too is waiting.
A century is but a fleeting moment for such a being.
This day.
Hun Tian, at the mountain peak.
The black fog, as thick as ink, completely enveloped the upper part of the mountain. From the outside, all that could be seen was a huge black cloud; nothing else was discernible.
Deep within the black fog, however, lay a completely different scene.
The black fog there was much thinner, and the outlines of some buildings could be vaguely seen. Broken walls, collapsed palaces, shattered stone pillars, and scattered rubble.
This is a ruin.
A vast and unimaginable palace ruin.
The remaining buildings reveal just how magnificent this place once was. Ancient runes are carved on the stone pillars, and mysterious patterns are depicted on the walls. In the collapsed palace, one can vaguely see broken jade steps, shattered glazed tiles, and scattered pearls.
A celestial palace that does not belong to the mortal realm!
Deep within these ruins of the Heavenly Palace lies a relatively well-preserved main hall.
The main hall is entirely white jade, even more sacred than the mutton-fat jade iron used to forge weapons for saints; its construction material is unknown. Having withstood the erosion of countless millennia, it still stands firm. Three ancient characters are inscribed on the lintel of the hall, their strokes intricate and their forms ancient, more primitive than the divine and demonic script of mythological times, almost unrecognizable to most.
The interior of the dilapidated hall was empty, with only broken walls and a stone platform in the very center.
A figure lay on the stone platform.
It was a man, who appeared to be quite young by his appearance. However, his hair was like withered grass, gray and brittle, having long lost all its luster.
His face was gaunt, and he wore an extremely old-fashioned, tattered battle robe. The hem of the robe was worn beyond recognition and covered with dried black bloodstains. The bloodstains had been there for far too long, becoming one with the fabric, making it impossible to tell whether they were from the enemy or his own.
His eyes were closed, his breathing was so faint as to be almost nonexistent, and his heartbeat was so slow as to be almost stopped. There was no divine light or strange phenomenon around him, and he could not even sense any Daoist charm or vitality, like a piece of rotten wood that had withered for countless years.
It's been a hundred years.
Ever since this divine mountain from beyond the heavens fell from the chaotic rift, and ever since Hun Tian appeared in the Big Dipper Starfield, this figure has been in a deep slumber.
There was no sign of waking up, and there was no movement at all.
until today.
"Click."
A very faint sound came from the stone platform.
That was the sound of joints moving.
The figure, who had been asleep for countless years, twitched slightly with its right index finger.
"Click, click, click."
A few more soft sounds followed.
His fingers were moving, one by one, slowly and laboriously, as if each movement required a tremendous amount of strength.
Finally, after a long, seemingly endless silence, the figure's eyelids twitched slightly.
then……
Slowly open your eyes!