https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-958-The-Presentation-of-the-Battle-Armor/13041484/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-960-The-Spirit-Realm-s-Enigmatic-Fog/13041487/
Chapter 959: Crossing the Mountain to the Ethereal Realm
Chapter 959: Crossing the Mountain to the Ethereal Realm
As the misty air gradually merged into the colossal illusion behind Chen Chuan, the entire hall became empty within a short time, and the giant shadow slowly dissipated.
Chen Chuan felt a sense of relief and nodded. Indeed, the divine armor was entirely absorbed by his spiritual form, as if it had become a part of him. Obtaining such a set of armor was indeed a pleasant surprise, and Ying Emperor's generosity was evident.
It made sense, considering that in ancient times, the world was dedicated to serving one person. Although the efficiency of production and resource acquisition was far inferior to the present, even today, some scarce high-end items still needed to be collected from the Convergence Zone and the opposite side. The two eras were not that different, and when most of these resources were concentrated in the hands of a few or a single person, it was truly remarkable.
If there were no surprises, these items would be left for the descendants of the Yuwen clan. The fact that information about this place was known outside meant that the Yuwen family's descendants were aware of its existence and might have even visited. Perhaps their abilities were insufficient to take away the treasures before them.
This was highly likely. If one was not a fighter with strong mental power and lacked external appearance, let alone cultivating this set of techniques and obtaining the armor, they wouldn't even be able to find the path to glimpse the art's secrets.
Chen Chuan looked towards the exit of the hall. If such valuable items were placed here, what other treasures might lie beyond? However, the more important the items, the more likely they were to be protected by intricate measures. As he was not a true descendant of the Yuwen family, he was certain to encounter obstacles.
He didn't rush forward but instead opened his luggage and took out some high-energy nutrients to consume, ensuring that his combat power remained at its peak.
This time, he had brought enough supplies to last a month without any issues. According to the information on the Jade Card, entering this place was difficult, but leaving was simple. One only needed to wait until dawn and then retrace their steps.
After adjusting his breathing, Chen Chuan summoned Chao Ming and walked out of the hall. When he looked up, he saw a path leading upwards, clearly heading towards a higher elevation.
Unlike the path they had taken earlier, both sides were lined with trees, and hanging from the branches were fruits of various sizes, resembling lanterns burning like fire. They illuminated the mountain path all the way to the top, brightening the night that had become completely dark. On each step were carvings of pairs of figures fighting and wrestling, crafted with exquisite detail and vividness.
Chen Chuan glanced at them and saw that they included many unarmed and weapon techniques, appearing simple and practical, mostly within the third limit.
He asked, "Hong Fu, are these techniques recorded in the Wu Yi Academy?"
Hong Fu replied, "The Wu Yi Academy does not have them recorded, but there are similar ancient techniques with connections to these. Many of them are related."
Chen Chuan acknowledged with an 'mm-hmm.' These were probably improved and evolved versions of the original techniques. He said, "Since they're not recorded, let's document them as well."
Hong Fu agreed.
As Chen Chuan climbed the steps, he looked to the sides and realized that the hanging objects were not lanterns but a type of fruit that resembled lanterns, growing on the trees at this height.
He suddenly realized something and paused, focusing his gaze on the fruit. Was this... the Crimson Flame Fruit? The Crimson Flame Fruit was a lantern-like fruit native to the Convergence Zone. As it could generate light on its own, it was often used for night illumination. In the medieval era, it was designated as a tribute to the imperial family and extensively transplanted to illuminate the palace and its towers. The so-called "Ancient Palace Night Lights" did not use candles or torches but relied on these fruits.
Initially, Chen Chuan hadn't considered this because, in ancient times, successive dynasties had extensively harvested and transplanted the fruit. Nowadays, it had become extremely rare, and the information available only described it as being the size of an orange. How could it be as large as a real lantern now?
He walked up, plucked one, and felt its slight weight. Besides emitting light, the fruit had high nutritional value and could enhance physical strength and promote the transformation of exotic organisms.
It was said that Ying Emperor had five dragons under his command, originally snakes that gradually transformed after consuming this fruit. One could imagine the fruit's rarity, and it was surprising to find so many here.
Chen Chuan took out a small knife, cut off a piece of the fruit, and tasted it. The flavor was acceptable, but the effect...
It wasn't entirely absent, but it was so weak that he could barely perceive any change. For him, it might not even be enough to replenish energy.
He speculated that over a thousand years had passed without anyone tending to these fruits, and they were no longer growing in the ideal environment. It was already good that they were still growing at all, as they had likely lost their original effectiveness.
Chen Chuan was slightly disappointed, but the seeds were useful. He could try planting them in his hunting grounds and perhaps restore them to some extent.
So, he picked some and fed the fruit to Chao Ming, which was beneficial for promoting the transformation of exotic organisms. As for the lynx, it didn't need any encouragement and eagerly devoured the fruit, indicating that it was beneficial to it as well.
He had spent quite some time here, and after Chao Ming had his fill, he continued along the mountain path. After passing this point, he reached another platform. On either side were two white jade pools, with a large stone tablet above them, inscribed with the words "Bathing Pool of the Emperor."
He immediately understood that in ancient times, one had to bathe and change into clean clothes before meeting the ruler. This was indeed the bathing pool.
The water in the pool was said to have the effect of strengthening the bones and prolonging life. However, when he went to take a look, what was originally a full pool was now only left with a shallow layer. Inside, there were also many viscous, dried-up substances, making it obviously unusable.
On both sides of the pool were two jade statues, each hanging two sets of clothing. Following the custom of placing the military on the left and the civil officials on the right, the military general was on the left, and the civil official was on the right. Therefore, on the left was a set of armor, a golden ceremonial armor with white feathers on the helmet and hanging decorations on the chest. On the right was a set of golden silk robes and a pearl-encrusted crown.
Of course, in ancient times, the emphasis was on both military and civil officials, so the distinction between the two wasn't as strict, and their identities could be interchangeable.
On the bodies of the two jade statues were also hanging official seals, and in their hands were ivory placards.
Chen Chuan looked at them, thought for a moment, and didn't touch the clothes. Instead, he went forward and took down the placard and official seal from the military general's statue, putting the seal into his pocket. He held the placard in his hand.
After looking around, he saw that there was nothing else here, and he continued forward. Ahead, the area gradually opened up, and two tall palace gates stood there, with a palace wall appearing in front.
As he moved forward, he suddenly felt a strange sensation, as if he had passed through a rippling barrier. Then, he saw that the originally somewhat old palace gate seemed to have shed a layer of veil, suddenly becoming grand and magnificent. The gates were lit up, and from a distance, faint drumbeats could be heard.
His eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't stop. Instead, he continued walking forward.
At this moment, a person wearing yellow robes and a headscarf, holding a lantern, approached him. The person bowed slightly and took small steps towards him, greeting him respectfully.
"General, His Majesty is ascending the throne. Please proceed to the hall." He then looked at Chao Ming and said, "General Divine Phoenix, please remain here."
In a 1619 book, there was a version without any mistakes!
Chen Chuan glanced at him. The person was probably fifteen or sixteen years old, and his face was deathly pale, as if covered in makeup. When he heard him speak, his accent had a heavy tone, like some unfamiliar dialect, yet it also carried a strange sense of familiarity.
He couldn't help but think that this was probably the accent of the Longyou Province in ancient times. Although the accent was obscure, he could strangely understand it.
At this moment, he looked at his second self, which had more severe signs of corrosion, and he already knew what was happening. He nodded slightly, pointing forward with the placard in his hand. The person understood and immediately led the way, holding the lantern and taking small steps.
Chen Chuan followed him through the side door of the palace wall. After passing through, a long path led straight to the front hall. At some point, officials holding lanterns, dressed in ancient official robes, and with pale faces appeared on both sides of the palace path. They walked in silence, and only the bright red lanterns seemed to float in the night.
At this moment, Chen Chuan's eyebrows twitched slightly. Then, he slightly covered his second self, and the scene in front of him suddenly changed.
Where were the officials and servants? The surroundings were empty, and the ground was full of broken bone frames, crunching underfoot.
The palace walls on both sides and the front hall had become dilapidated. The row of angry god generals standing on both sides had also fallen into disrepair, with some stone heads lying on the ground.
However, this scene only flashed by, and he didn't continue to cover his eyes. Instead, he followed the team holding lanterns and continued walking forward.
At the other end, Xu Shaoye and the others finally emerged from the cave. Surprisingly, a stone pillar forest appeared in front of them, but what was shocking was that the pillars were covered with countless slimy serpents.
When Mr. Qiao saw this, he waved his hand and went forward with a flame thrower. With just a sweep, he cleared a path.
The rest of the group also put on protective gear and quickly passed through this area.
Whether it was the insects from before or the serpents now, in the past, this would have been a difficult challenge. However, in the new era, there were too many tools and weapons to deal with them. Not only was it not dangerous, but it also added to the excitement, making Xu Shaoye and his companions shout with thrill.
After they passed through this area, Xu Shaoye saw an open square ahead, and in the distance, the outline of a palace appeared, making him overjoyed. He couldn't help but quicken his pace, but suddenly, he felt a daze, and then he saw a figure holding a lantern seven or eight steps away. The person spoke in a strange, sharp voice, "His Majesty is ascending the throne. Why aren't you quickly proceeding to the hall?"
(End)
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