Chapter 245: The Familiar Golden Radiant Path at Kunlun Heaven Palace

Chapter 245: The Familiar Golden Radiant Path at Kunlun Heaven Palace

Deep within the Kunlun Mountains, a mysterious mist shrouded the area.

This was a region still under lockdown. Not only was it difficult to penetrate, but it was nearly impossible to even approach. It was far beyond the reach of the current group of evolutionaries struggling to break free from their shackles on Earth.

There had been some defiant Beast Kings who attempted to force their way through, only to meet their demise within moments, passing away in a serene manner.

A large, stiff horse was being dragged through the dense mist, its hooves feeling as heavy as lead. It struggled to move forward.

"Whew! I'm actually still alive?!" After an unknown amount of time, the Horse King suddenly awoke, realizing he hadn't died. He couldn't help but let out a loud cry.

Shaohua lifted her beautiful eyes, a divine light shining in them. She pierced through the mist, revealing the uncharted territory, and a mysterious force spread, opening a path.

"Where is the 'Ten Thousand Gods Homeland,' the deepest part of the Kunlun Mountains, as mentioned in the myths?" The Horse King, feeling refreshed, was eager to rush into the sacred land.

"What Ten Thousand Gods Homeland? It's just a name!" Tong Tian snorted coldly. From his past life's memories, he knew that the origins of Kunlun were far more ancient and profound than anyone could imagine.

Lin Nuoyi sat calmly on the horse, her heart filled with surprise, but she didn't show it. She felt even more confident in her decision.

Beside a small hill, Shaohua dismounted, her gaze flickering. She casually pulled out a willow branch from her hair, and her long black hair cascaded down, naturally draping over her chest and back.

The willow branch, now in her hand, transformed back to its original form, a small sapling about a foot tall, glowing with a soft, emerald light.

"Willow, willow, follow my will, transform!"

With a thought, the willow branch changed again. Its roots coiled into a ball, and 108 branches extended and intertwined, forming a hollow, exquisite sword.

Shaohua smiled, lifted the willow sword, and with a gentle sweep, the entire hill vanished into thin air, along with the protective runes that guarded the area, revealing a vast, pure land.

In this land, exotic flowers bloomed, and mystical herbs grew everywhere. Waterfalls cascaded, and auspicious mists rose, casting a radiant glow.

"This must be the so-called 'Ten Thousand Gods Homeland.' I can sense a force calling out to me. Let's go and take a look." Shaohua was the first to step inside.

The Ten Thousand Gods Homeland was peaceful, like a tranquil sanctuary.

Energy mists swirled within, and rare herbs like ginseng and lingzhi grew in the cracks of stone cliffs and by the streams. Some areas were bathed in red mist, others in blue, and still others in purple, all exuding a divine aura.

The Horse King, seeing countless opportunities, such as chanting stone tablets and fragrant medicinal gardens, couldn't take his eyes off them, drooling. Unfortunately, he could only look and not stop.

"The Ten Thousand Gods Homeland, a land of creation, indeed holds many opportunities", Lin Nuoyi remarked, her eyes gleaming.

"The Yin Yang Energy Spire in your body is no less impressive", Shaohua said.

The Energy Spire was a testament to the glory of an evolutionary dynasty and the culmination of its efforts. It would only be formed when the dynasty fell, then disappear from the world, waiting to shine again in the future, hoping for a resurgence.

The Energy Spire in Lin Nuoyi's body was of a very high grade, radiating vitality and helping her purify the various energies within her body.

"You really know everything!" Lin Nuoyi had expected this. Their close interactions over the past period had left no secrets hidden from Shaohua, even some that Lin Nuoyi herself didn't know.

Who would have thought that her 'past life' would be in someone else?

Calling it a past life wasn't entirely accurate. The Hua Fen Emperor, who called herself Luo, was more like her true self or an alternate 'mother-daughter' relationship. She had been with Shaohua in her past life, unbeknownst to Lin Nuoyi.

Though it sounded strange and complex, their friendship was pure!

At the heart of the sanctuary, there was another mysterious place, a separate dimension. It was sacred, with sacred treasure trees bearing fruit and the Immortal Peach Tree swaying.

"Perhaps this is the true divine land?" Lin Nuoyi speculated.

"The terrain here is very dangerous!" Tong Tian added, frowning.

Ahead, the ground glowed with cosmic essence. Red mists and silver light enveloped the mountains and forests, and field traps were everywhere, posing great dangers that ordinary evolutionaries couldn't withstand.

Shaohua's gaze, however, was fixed on the majestic mountain range at the deepest point.

The mountain range was vast and towering, layer upon layer, each peak higher than the last, like a celestial ladder reaching the heavens!

She led the way, intending to actively face danger to awaken the dormant power within her body. Unexpectedly, the willow branch in her hand moved first.

Tender green willow branches transformed into order chains, plunging into the void, emitting immortal light, with faint runes swirling.

The dangerous field area became calm and peaceful under the willow's suppression.

"Let's go." Shaohua waved her hand, holding the willow branch, and they moved forward without any obstacles, as if taking a leisurely stroll, encountering no danger at all, much like a spring outing.

"I feel like I'm dreaming. It's too incredible that we just walked to the heart of the Ten Thousand Gods Homeland?!" The Horse King let out a strange cry, his legs trembling with excitement.

"Wait, what are you looking for? You ignored so many treasures along the way, it's a waste!" It only realized then, feeling uneasy, that something was amiss.

But they had already come this far, and it was too late to turn back.

Tong Tian remained silent, his arms crossed, maintaining a cold demeanor.

Lin Nuoyi also said nothing, as she didn't know what they were looking for either. She had followed Shaohua, trusting her judgment.

The mountain range at the heart of the divine land trembled as Shaohua approached. Rocks rolled down, and internal light and auspicious mists rose, golden lotuses bloomed on the ground, and thunder rumbled in the void, creating astonishing phenomena.

At this moment, the others finally saw that the most important divine mountain had no palaces or sacred trees.

It was barren, with scattered rocks, making it hard to believe that this was the ultimate land of a once-glorious civilization.

Shaohua took a step forward, and instantly, the ground shook, and the entire mountain range began to collapse, emitting fourteen colors of light and a special aura.

Her senses heightened, and her heart raced!

"Rumble!!!"

The vast mountain range, which had existed since ancient times, now crumbled. Everyone, except Shaohua, was stunned. What did they see?

Some cracked stones emerged from the ground, looking ancient and crystalline, emitting fourteen colors of light, incredibly sacred.

"I didn't expect there to be so many treasures buried in the mountain!" The Horse King was ecstatic, neighing to the sky.

It still didn't understand, but it felt these were the ultimate treasures left by the ancient evolutionary civilization on Earth.

"What is that, a legendary ultimate artifact?" Lin Nuoyi exclaimed in awe.

"No, it's actually one thing, a stone staircase that has weathered the ages", Tong Tian said, as if recalling something.

"Wait, you mean those treasures are just a stone staircase?!" The Horse King's mouth dropped open in shock.

It kicked a stone that had rolled to its feet, only to nearly break its hoof.

Lin Nuoyi dismounted, unable to tolerate the Horse King's constant excitement.

"These stones are not something you can move. The mountain range would only collapse on its own; no one in this universe can destroy it."

Tong Tian spoke more than usual, adding, "Those are steps once trodden by an 'Emperor,' leaving indelible marks. The mountain range, influenced by them, became unbreakable. Even a single stone is a rare treasure for forging artifacts."

The Horse King, hearing this, quickly ran to pick up the stone it had just kicked away. It then looked at the still-majestic mountain range, its eyes widening.

How many stones must there be, and how many weapons could they forge?!

The broken stones seemed to have a spirit, moving together to form a segment of the stone staircase.

Shaohua watched in awe. The staircase had only seven steps, and the light it emitted had reduced from fourteen colors to seven, corresponding to the number of steps.

Above the staircase, a misty figure stood with its back to them, a woman in a green robe, standing in mid-air, exuding an otherworldly beauty!

Shaohua's heart raced, her blood surging, and she moved forward instinctively.

Tong Tian was no better off. He knew what was happening, even if the others didn't.

Though his past life had left him with little, the scattered memories were invaluable.

If he remembered correctly, before the most terrifying chaos that affected all dimensions, the Eastern Sovereign had moved his Daoist temple from the North Star to the Kunlun Mountains.

Could it be that the temple had survived to the present day?!

Tong Tian's stern face changed. If that was the case, it made sense. The broken segment of the staircase was the only way to reach the Quasi-Immortal Emperor's Daoist temple.

On the seven-colored staircase, the woman was breathtakingly beautiful, her green robe ethereal and divine. Her hair danced in the wind, as if she were about to ascend to heaven, transcending the mortal world and rising above all dimensions!

Boom!

The scene shifted, as if the world was being created anew. Blood-colored lightning streaked across the void.

Then, a torrent of Blood Rain poured down, the heavens and earth seemed to shatter, and the world turned blood-red, on the brink of total destruction.

"That's it." Tong Tian's pupils dilated. This scene was etched deeply in his memory from his previous life.

In that final battle, the heavens themselves had collapsed.

The Progenitors pressed forward relentlessly, one realm after another falling to ruin, and no one could stand against their onslaught.

Back then, the three Celestial Emperors ascended to the Sacrificial Dao Realm right before the ruins of the heavens, facing an almost invincible enemy, in the midst of despair and hopelessness.

The scene before him now was a partial replay of those old days, though it didn't involve the ultimate final battle beyond the heavens. It only showed the collapse of the heavens.

The blood-stained sky, the sky filled with bloody holes, was merely the aftermath of the great battle. The world was shrouded in bloodlight, and crimson lightning raged and roared.

Even with the Quasi-Immortal Emperor-level power protecting the Dao Field, it couldn't avoid being affected, and as a result, the stone steps leading to the Dao Field were shattered, prompting the Dao Field to seal itself off.

The scene was too overwhelming, leaving one dazed and mesmerized. Lin Nuoyi stood in silent shock, while Horse King's mouth hung open in awe, kneeling on the ground, unable to move.

At the seven-colored stone steps, the mist dispersed, and the once magnificent green-robed woman vanished like a reflection in a mirror or a moon in water, as if it were all just a dream.

Shaohua stepped forward, walking straight toward the towering seven-colored stone steps.

Miraculously, as she approached, the steps seemed to shrink dramatically under her feet, becoming no different from ordinary steps.

From Lin Nuoyi's perspective, the seven-colored stone steps remained unchanged, but Shaohua suddenly disappeared from view.

"Thud!"

With every step Shaohua took, the heavens and earth shook. This disturbance extended far beyond the Ten Thousand Gods Homeland, affecting the entire Kunlun Mountains and even the entire Earth.

In the outside world, all the famous mountains and rivers were blanketed in a sudden heavy snowfall, covering the land in a layer of white.

Not just humans, but all the otherworldly beings were also taken aback.

Since the Celestial Shift, regardless of the season, the climate had been warm and spring-like, with vibrant life everywhere, and no harsh cold.

But on this evening, something bizarre happened!

In an instant, the famous mountains transitioned from summer to winter, with heavy snowfall blanketing the sky, pouring down and freezing the mountains at an incredible speed. This had never happened before, and it was truly bizarre.

After the last Celestial Shift, all living things had evolved, and beasts and birds had gained intelligence, many species becoming almost equal to humans. This new shift would undoubtedly have a significant impact.

Each famous mountain and its path, long ago, had special routes connecting to the outer realms. With Earth's sudden further awakening, many of these visitors from beyond the realms couldn't contain their excitement.

"Has this planet awakened so quickly again?" someone exclaimed on the path connecting to a famous mountain.

"How could it be so fast, months earlier than expected? Is it due to some unforeseen event, or is it just the remarkable resilience of the once eleventh-ranked planet?"

"Never mind, now that Unrestrained Realm evolutionists can enter Earth, we should send a batch to investigate."

Voices echoed in the folded spaces deep within the mountains, each with a different tone, but all sharing the same indifference towards Earth's native life forms.

To them, the life forms on Earth were mere descendants of ancient failures, mere natives with broken lineages, no better than ants.

Earth had fallen into ruin and silence in ancient times, but now it was rapidly awakening, filled with opportunities. The divine roots and sacred roots buried underground were sprouting anew, ready to bloom and bear sacred fruit.

The great powers beyond the realms certainly had their own sacred trees, but over the years, a rigid system had been established to divide the harvest. Even the divine sons and holy daughters had limited quotas.

More importantly, everything had its own path and rules, and the will of the planet suppressed imbalance, making evolution a gradual process.

However, when a once powerful planet fell and then awakened, things were different. In the initial stages, everything grew rapidly, and evolution was swift, with no immediate ceiling. The planet's will did not suppress this growth.

In fact, this defied the great principles.

Such opportunities only existed on a few planets that were once great and powerful and were now awakening.

Earth's revival meant it was evolving, without the suppression of the great principles. Practicing here for a year could be equivalent to practicing for ten or even a hundred years elsewhere!

The immense advantage of practicing and evolving here was enough to drive anyone mad, and it was no wonder that divine sons and holy daughters were trying to reach Earth, even risking early entry to avoid missing this golden era of cultivation.

However, all those who tried to sneak into Earth prematurely failed.

In a single day, Earth shook seven times!

Each time it shook, a batch of evolutionists trying to cross over from the outer realms was killed.

No matter the preparations—whether self-severing their cultivation or being protected by holy artifacts—nothing could withstand the shock, and everyone was treated equally.

Some were lucky and didn't die immediately, but they still couldn't cross over into Earth.

A mysterious seven-colored light, like a celestial curtain, descended, forcing everyone to retreat, their efforts in vain.

These divine sons and holy daughters were thwarted, and those observing and monitoring Earth from the outer realms were unaware of what had happened.

To them, Earth was undergoing another abnormal mutation, and they eagerly anticipated their descendants finding opportunities to become saints and ancestors, looking forward to the competition among the prodigies.

As for the fate of Earth's native inhabitants, these self-proclaimed advanced evolutionary civilizations never gave it a thought. Who would care?

"Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!"

Shaohua's clear footsteps echoed as she ascended the steps, standing on the seventh broken step. The surroundings had changed dramatically, and the Ten Thousand Gods Homeland was nowhere to be seen. It was as if she had entered a separate, independent space-time.

She raised her head, her neck white and slender, and gazed up at the sky, once again seeing the fleeting glimpse of the Kunlun Heavenly Palace.

The palace was still a shadow, but a broken section of the stone steps clearly and realistically appeared, with exactly seven steps, each glowing with a unique seven-colored light.

"The path is broken. Will I find my past in that palace?"

Shaohua sighed softly, standing where the green-robed woman had stood. Power flowed from the steps into her body, changing her entire aura.

Her eyes grew deeper, with threads of Chaos Qi spreading through them, a scene from the beginning of the universe. With each blink, brilliant light shot out, piercing the nine heavens!

A Golden Radiant Path stretched between the broken steps, like a celestial bridge, leading directly to the immortal palace.

"Golden Radiant Path? It feels strangely familiar." Shaohua blinked, feeling as if some buried memories were surfacing.

After a moment's thought, she decided to stop thinking and called out to her companions behind her.

Horse King was trembling with either excitement or nervousness, and it was Tong Tian who had to drag him up the steps.

Lin Nuoyi, on the other hand, seemed much calmer.

"How are you feeling? Nervous? Excited?" Shaohua asked.

Lin Nuoyi was about to shake her head when someone suddenly grabbed her hand tightly.

She was taken aback, then laughed, realizing that someone else was nervous.

"If you're really the Queen Mother of Heaven, then this Kunlun Heavenly Palace should belong to you. Why are you nervous?" she asked with a smile.

"I'm not nervous, really. I'm just worried about not finding my past, or finding it and being overwhelmed, or finding it and no longer being the same person I am now", Shaohua sighed.

"We all have to face it eventually. I have a feeling that one day, I'll face a similar choice", Lin Nuoyi said after a moment's silence.

"I'll be there for you." Shaohua thought of 'Luo' sleeping within her. Between Lin and Luo, there might be a day when she would have to choose, and she wondered which side she would stand on.

Hand in hand, they stepped onto the Golden Radiant Path. Mysterious golden patterns spread beneath their feet, and in an instant, they seemed to cross infinite space-time, reaching the other side of the seven-colored steps. All energy and Chaos Qi encountered the Golden Radiant Path and dissipated.

On this side, the seven-colored steps were intact except for the broken section.

Upon closer inspection, the steps on both sides, though seven-colored, had no identical colors, clearly forming a fourteen-colored step originally.

"Let's go, since we're here", Shaohua said, leading the way.

As they stepped over the final step, a new world unfolded before their eyes.

"This is the aura of the Primordial Age!" Tong Tian felt buried memories surfacing, and he collapsed, dazed. At that moment, an immortal sword qi emerged from his soul.

The sword qi transformed into another 'Tong Tian,' who looked at Shaohua with barely concealed excitement but spoke with a heavy heart.

"I didn't live to see this day, to witness your return. But you're back, and I can still call you Master. That's enough."

In the next moment, the last trace of 'Tong Tian's' spirit disappeared, transforming back into a sword qi that floated in this primordial world, reliving the past, before returning to the present Tong Tian's body.

On the other side, Horse King, after just one step, couldn't bear the pressure of the primordial world and fell to the ground, immediately falling asleep.

After all, this was a Quasi-Immortal Emperor's Dao Field, and even the slightest remnant of its power was unimaginably strong, far beyond the reach of newly evolved beings.

In reality, it wasn't the Quasi-Immortal Emperor's aura that felled them; they simply weren't at a high enough realm to trigger it.

They collapsed upon entering purely because the primordial essence in the air was too dense, and they were "drunk" after just a few breaths, with no other reason.

"I'm a bit dizzy too."

"Don't worry, a good sleep will do you good."

Lin Nuoyi swayed, about to fall, but Shaohua caught her in time.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end