Chapter 269: Omen of Death, Finally Arriving at Sheng Shan

“The disciple just felt something strange,” Lu Qing said, his voice tinged with concern after receiving the Master’s spiritual transmission. “There was a dark qi swirling around Hu Ze Zhi’s brow—like a shadow gathering above her. It feels as though some great peril is about to befall her. Yet… her Qi aura hasn’t weakened at all.”

Old Doctor’s expression darkened. “Indeed. I felt it too,” he replied gravely. “In the near future, Hu Ze Zhi is likely to face a life-or-death crisis. But at the same time, a great opportunity may also be unfolding for her. The interweaving of golden and black qi—life and death hang by a single thread.”

Lu Qing’s face grew solemn. The Master, a man blessed with Merit Light and under Heaven’s protection, often received divine warnings. His perception of such omens far surpassed Lu Qing’s own. If even the Master sensed danger, this could not be trifling.

“Master,” Lu Qing said, “this journey to Sheng Shan must be fraught with unimaginable events. We must proceed with great caution.”

“Mm,” Old Doctor nodded.

The two communicated through spiritual soul transmission, so Hu Ze Zhi remained unaware of the ominous fate shadowing her. The carriage tore along the road, speeding toward Sheng Shan.

Along the way, they were not without encounters—others, drawn by the carriage’s supernatural aura, attempted to intercept or chase them. But the carriage’s speed rendered all such efforts futile. No one could keep pace. Within moments, the pursuers had lost sight of the green qi trail left behind.

In a relentless gallop, they pressed on for two more days.

On the third morning, Ma Gu abruptly halted the carriage on a hillside.

“Ma Ye,” Lu Qing asked, sensing the sudden stop, “what’s wrong?”

But there was no reply.

Puzzled, Lu Qing parted the curtain. “Ma Ye, what’s—”

“Lu Qing, brother—look ahead!” Ma Gu suddenly spoke, his voice trembling. “We’re almost at Sheng Shan.”

“Already?” Lu Qing was stunned. They had just studied the map that morning—according to it, Sheng Shan was still thousands of li away. They couldn’t possibly have reached it so soon.

Lu Qing stepped down from the carriage and stared ahead.

Then he froze.

Before them, rising into the heavens like a pillar of the world, stood a mountain so vast, so towering, that its peak vanished into the clouds. The mountain’s sheer scale defied sight—no summit could be seen, only mist swirling around its waist. Its presence radiated a grand, awe-inspiring power. Merely gazing upon it stirred an instinctive reverence, a deep, involuntary awe.

“This… is Sheng Shan?”

Old Doctor and the others had stepped down from the carriage. Seeing the colossal mountain, the sky-defying peak, their faces mirrored shock and wonder.

“No wonder it’s called the center of the world,” Old Doctor murmured. “Sheng Shan lives up to its name.”

After a long moment, Lu Qing exhaled slowly, the awe in his eyes gradually settling.

He had imagined Sheng Shan many times on the journey. But now, seeing it in reality, he realized his imagination had been far too restrained. The true Sheng Shan surpassed every expectation—more awe-inspiring, more overwhelming than he could have ever dreamed.

“Even if we return empty-handed,” Old Doctor said with quiet reverence, “seeing this… would make our journey worthwhile.”

The others were utterly speechless, stunned into silence.

“Let’s continue,” Lu Qing said, though they were still a good one or two thousand li from the mountain. Yet this distance only emphasized Sheng Shan’s majesty—visible from such a distance, how unimaginable must it be when one stood before it?

The carriage resumed its journey, but inside, all remained stirred by excitement.

“Master,” Lu Qing said, “according to the map given by the Xuan Ji Zi elder, beneath Sheng Shan lies Sheng Cheng—the headquarters of Tian Ji Lou. Should we head there first?”

Sheng Shan, though magnificent, was not a mountain anyone could simply climb. Legend said a strange force existed above it, making bodies grow heavier the higher one climbed. Ordinary people attempting to ascend would be crushed by this force. Thus, the mountain had long been off-limits to common folk—no one was to approach recklessly, lest they perish.

Of course, this force posed little threat to powerful cultivators. But with Heaven and Earth’s laws shifting, Qi returning, who knew what changes Sheng Shan had undergone?

Lu Qing decided to gather more information first.

“Good idea,” Old Doctor agreed.

“Wonder if Zhi Rui Ge Xia has emerged from his cultivation yet…” Lu Qing mused. He had met the Tian Ji Lou disciple before—impressed by his character. In Qinglong City, Xuan Ji Zi had mentioned he’d reached the Xian Tian Jing realm and was now in deep cultivation. If he had already broken through, their past acquaintance might make gathering information easier.

The carriage raced forward. Though two thousand li seemed distant, at their speed, it would take no more than half a day.

As they drew closer, Lu Qing felt the air around them thick with Qi—so dense it pressed against his skin. Merely standing within it, his own cultivation level began to tremble on the verge of breaking through. He could barely suppress the urge to ascend.

No wonder the great sects of Zhong Zhou had fought so desperately—risking their lives—for access to this place. Such concentrated Qi, if refined, would grant a massive leap in power. Even if not a breakthrough, the gains would be immense.

In the face of such temptation, rules were meaningless.

“Who would have thought Sheng Shan would be like this,” Hu Ze Zhi said, gazing out at the passing landscape, still awestruck. “I’m glad I came with Master Lu and the others. Otherwise, how could I have witnessed such a miracle?”

Lu Qing turned to her, about to speak—then froze.

For he saw it: the dark qi above Hu Ze Zhi’s brow had grown even darker, like a storm cloud pressing down. It was unmistakable—even to him.

Old Doctor noticed too. His eyes flickered with alarm.

This was the look of certain death. Could her doom truly be waiting within Sheng Cheng—or even upon Sheng Shan itself?

“Master Lu,” Hu Ze Zhi asked, noticing his fixed stare, “is there something on my face?”

She flushed slightly, raising her sleeve to wipe her cheek.

“No, nothing,” Lu Qing replied, regaining composure with a smile. “Hu Gu Niang, we’re about to enter Sheng Cheng. Once inside, please don’t wander off. We’re strangers here—getting separated would be troublesome.”

“Mm,” she murmured softly.

Though she obeyed meekly, Lu Qing’s heart remained heavy. The dark qi was too intense. He couldn’t fathom what kind of death omen could make even a high-level Qi Yun cultivator appear so doomed.

Silence fell between him and Old Doctor. Their earlier excitement had vanished.

When they finally reached the towering city gate, they saw it—Sheng Cheng, the greatest city in the world, standing like a fortress of civilization.

“Lu Qing, Master,” Ma Gu returned swiftly. “No entry fee. Anyone can enter freely.”

“Then let’s go,” Lu Qing nodded.

He glanced again at Hu Ze Zhi’s brow, the dark qi now almost mist-like. He buried his unease deep within.

Ma Gu guided the carriage slowly through the gate. The two Dragon Blood Stallions, their grace and power undeniable, drew glances—but not shock. After all, Sheng Cheng was the most prosperous city in the world. Rare beasts and wonders were common here. The horses, though majestic, were not enough to cause a crowd.

They entered without incident.

But almost instantly, several watchers lurking near the gate pulled out notebooks and recorded their details.

At that same moment, deep within a nearby inn, a figure seated cross-legged on a bed suddenly opened his eyes.

A flash of sharp light sparked in his gaze.

“I… sense Qi Yun.”

His pupils—four black irises—gave his stare an unnerving, unnatural depth.

Lu Qing and the others remained unaware.

Inside Sheng Cheng, Lu Qing and Old Doctor immediately felt a strange force. Their spiritual soul sensing abilities were suppressed—dramatically. Lu Qing, who had once sensed activity within hundreds of meters, now could only detect within a hundred. Old Doctor, even less—only thirty meters.

For a Xian Tian Jing warrior, that was nothing more than a single step.

“No wonder Xuan Ji Zi elder said even Xian Tian Jing cultivators rarely dare act recklessly here,” Lu Qing muttered. “This city must be filled with a powerful array. But was it built long ago… or is it a modern creation?”

Sheng Cheng’s history was ancient—older than many of Zhong Zhou’s legendary sects. Who built it? That mystery had been lost to time. Only the three enigmatic Holy Lords, and perhaps the oldest, most ancient sects, might know.

As they walked through the city, Lu Qing began asking about Tian Ji Lou’s headquarters.

To his surprise, the information was easy to obtain.

“Are you seeking Tian Ji Lou?” asked a sugar vendor, pointing west. “Just follow this road straight ahead. When you reach the western district, look for the tallest tower—there’s a Seven-Star mark on its peak. That’s them.”

“Thank you, young man,” Lu Qing said, handing over coins for a few sugared treats.

Back on the carriage, he passed one to Xiao Yan, whose eyes lit up.

“Master, we’ve found it. Tian Ji Lou is in the west.”

Old Doctor raised an eyebrow. “So easily?”

He paused, then chuckled. “Of course. In Qinglong City, Tian Ji Lou’s location wasn’t hidden. We overthought it—thought such a great sect would keep its base secret. But true power hides in plain sight. Tian Ji Lou doesn’t fear the world.”

“Precisely,” Lu Qing agreed. “Then let’s go. I just felt a faint pulse from Zhi Rui’s jade token. Faint, but there. I can’t pinpoint the direction yet.”

The carriage moved forward.

But just as they departed, a black-robed figure appeared at the sugar vendor’s stall, his face puzzled.

“Strange… I clearly sensed the Qi nearby. Why has it vanished? Even with my Xin Mo Tuizuan Da Fa, I can’t trace it. Damn this city’s array—it suppresses spiritual sensing! If not for that, I wouldn’t be struggling like this!”

He stood there, fingers counting, trying to decipher the mystery.

Then, a thought struck him. He pulled out a piece of silver, stepped forward.

“Boy,” he said, “I have a question. Answer well, and this silver is yours.”

The vendor’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the coin. “Anything, sir! I’ll tell you everything!”

“Did you see anyone unusual pass by here?”

“Unusual people?” The boy paused, then brightened. “No unusual people… but I did see two unusual horses.”

“Unusual horses?”

“Yes! A carriage passed just now. The riders asked me for directions. Those two horses pulling it—unbelievably majestic! Taller than normal steeds by at least two heads, and… they had white horns on their foreheads! I’ve never seen anything like it!”

“Horns?” The black-robed figure’s eyes narrowed.

“Do you know where they went?”

“Of course! They said they were going to Tian Ji Lou!”

“Tian Ji Lou?” The figure nodded slowly, tossing the silver to the boy. “Thank you, young man. Keep it.”

…

Sheng Cheng, known as the First City of the World, was vast beyond measure. Its roads were wide enough for ten carriages to travel side by side without crowding.

Lu Qing and his companions drove through freely—though they couldn’t race.

After a long while, Old Doctor suddenly stirred, pulling a jade token from his sleeve.

“Master, can you feel it now?”

“Yes,” Old Doctor confirmed. “The token’s resonance is clear.”

Ma Gu’s voice rang out from ahead. “Lu Qing, I’ve seen the tower—the one with the Seven-Star mark.”

“Then head that way.”

As Lu Qing’s group drew near Tian Ji Lou’s tower, deep within a towering spire, a young man in simple robes—seated across from an opponent at a chessboard—suddenly stiffened.

His body trembled.

From his sleeve, he withdrew a jade compass, feeling the faint but unmistakable pulse within.

Slowly, a smile spread across his face.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end