Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Chapter 290: Chapter 262: Thunder Accumulation Mountain, Jin Family

A colossal shadow swept across the sky.

On its back stood an azure-robed cultivator, overlooking the land below.

’So this is Shuzhou. The Spiritual Qi here is even a notch above Yunzhou’s. It borders Hunzhou, yet I never would have thought the difference in Spiritual Qi would be so vast.’

Chen Che thought to himself as he sensed the Spiritual Qi in the air.

Half a month after Jinyun Valley dispatched its troops, he had no choice but to follow them to this land. In fact, it had been a turbulent time. In addition to the war reports from Shuzhou, a great deal of news had arrived from other regions as well.

Chen Che quickly organized the information. Four items stood out as the most important.

First, the Great Chen Royal Family, which had been expected to act in the spring, had mobilized early. They stormed into Shuzhou with a million-strong army, the full force of a province, and were nearly unstoppable.

The Mortal Dynasty of Shuzhou was completely unable to resist, and three cities fell within a few short days.

Upon receiving the news, Chen Xi had appointed Lu Ping’an as the strategist for the vanguard.

However, as the army pushed deeper, its advance began to slow.

Because Shuzhou was rich in Spiritual Qi, even its Mortal World produced many capable individuals. Some of those known as Grandmasters among the mortal population already possessed strength equivalent to the Qi Refining Third Layer. These Grandmasters moved freely through the ranks of the vast army, causing considerable trouble for the forces from Hunzhou.

Several neighboring dynasties joined forces to resist the Hunzhou army. In just half a month, casualties reached two hundred thousand, bringing the advance to a halt for the time being.

’Even conquering the Mortal World isn’t easy. This Shuzhou isn’t just a quagmire; it’s a veritable meat grinder.’

Although he had anticipated such difficulties, Chen Che was still taken aback when he saw the actual war report.

At this rate, forget conquering Shuzhou in fifteen years; it might not be possible even with three times as long.

The second piece of news concerned Thousand Eyes.

Apparently, Thousand Eyes had returned because he’d sustained some injuries in the Black Tortoise Calm Sea. According to unconfirmed reports, in addition to an exceptionally large Array, the Undersea Palace was also guarded by a Sea Beast.

It was very likely the same mysterious Great Demon that had appeared during the battle in the Black Tortoise Calm Sea.

Over fifty Golden Core True Masters from the two Major Sects, the Primordial Sect and the Star-Picking Sect, had all sustained injuries during the battle with the Sea Beast before they finally managed to slay it.

After discussing the matter, the higher-ups of the two sects decided to rest for several days before attempting to break the Array.

That was why Thousand Eyes True Master had taken the opportunity to return during the break, but he had already departed three days ago.

’This Undersea Palace is even more formidable than I predicted.’

Chen Che clicked his tongue. The expedition had lasted nearly a year, yet the two Major Sects hadn’t even made it inside... Of course, even if they did get in, it by no means guaranteed a smooth path ahead.

Perhaps even more terrifying restrictions awaited them inside.

Third, there was news about Xiao Chan.

True Master Duobao had returned along with Thousand Eyes.

However, unlike Thousand Eyes’ grand return, True Master Duobao had concealed his presence all the way back to Primordial City. Xiao Chan, caught unawares, was injured by True Master Duobao. He only managed to escape by desperately wielding his Soul-Calling Banner with all his might. His whereabouts were now unknown.

Chen Che glanced at his Communication Wrist Wheel; Xiao Chan hadn’t contacted him since fleeing Primordial City.

But in this case, no news was good news.

The fourth piece of news was the very reason he had come to Shuzhou:

Meng Changtu had been ambushed by the Jin Family and was gravely injured.

He had heard a little about this Jin Family.

They were a Foundation Establishment Race with a history of over a thousand years, entrenched in the Thunder Accumulation Mountain region. In their history, they had produced a total of four Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators.

Unfortunately, their luck was rather poor.

Aside from their current ancestor, the other three had all failed at Core Formation and perished completely.

The three allied factions had advanced on the Jin Family.

En route, they had run straight into the Nine Heavens Divine Sound Array, which the Jin Family’s ancestor had set up. The Array had originally been intended for Meng Qianxun and Chen Yin. Clearly, the enemy had wanted to annihilate the two Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators in one fell swoop, thereby disrupting Thousand Eyes True Master’s plans.

Unexpectedly, Meng Changtu discovered the Array first, forcing the enemy to activate it prematurely and face a single Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator directly.

Therefore, Chen Che had been extremely cautious along the way, concealing his identity for fear of walking into another ambush. After all, Hunzhou’s massive invasion of Shuzhou was now common knowledge.

Jinyun Valley was the weakest of the three factions, but its role in supplying Pills and Weapons was significant. Given its shallow foundation, if word of his presence got out, some of Shuzhou’s major clans certainly wouldn’t mind targeting him to eliminate a threat preemptively.

"We’re here."

After passing through Hunzhou and flying over the front lines where the armies of Hunzhou and Shuzhou faced off, Chen Che soon arrived at a low mountain peak.

Though called "low," that was only in relative terms. The mountain, named Juejian Mountain, stood a full eight hundred zhang tall.

It was surrounded by sheer cliffs, with only a single mountain path leading up.

A sprawling complex of palaces sat atop the summit.

At this moment, numerous cultivators were patrolling back and forth.

Many Major Cultivators had gathered in an open area on the summit. Not only were Meng Qianxun and Chen Yin present, but Hu Yao, Rong Zhongxuan, and others also stood to the side. They were all gathered around a thin, dark-skinned old man with a ruddy complexion who wore a Daoist robe.

The old man held a Wheel and a Map, muttering under his breath as he gestured toward the distant Thunder Accumulation Mountain.

"Valley Master Chen is here."

"Valley Master..."

Even before Chen Che landed, a chorus of greetings echoed from the mountain.

"Grandson-in-law."

"Tributor Chen."

Chen Yin and Meng Qianxun both looked over.

They hadn’t sent word of the battle here to Jinyun Valley, but they weren’t surprised by Chen Che’s arrival. As a Valley Master, he surely had his own sources of information.

"How is my father-in-law?"

After landing, Xuan Peng transformed into the size of a house sparrow and perched on his shoulder. Chen Che first cupped his fists in greeting to Chen Yin before turning to Meng Qianxun.

"The Nine Heavens Divine Sound Array specializes in attacking the Divine Soul. Thanks to the Yin Spirit Pill you refined, his Divine Soul was stabilized, preventing it from being scattered. He’s recuperating in the palace now and won’t be able to fight for at least three to five months."

Meng Qianxun’s expression was grim.

Who could have predicted that the very first battle in the invasion of Shuzhou would be against an enemy as tough to crack as the Jin Family? They had originally planned to execute a ’decapitation strike,’ but the enemy had moved a step faster.

If Meng Changtu hadn’t been so vigilant, once the two of them—both Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators—were trapped in the Array, they likely would have lost seventy to eighty percent of their forces in an instant.

"And this is..."

Relieved to hear that the situation was stable, Chen Che turned his gaze to the old man in the Daoist robe holding the Wheel.

"Elder Daoist Qingsong."

Chen Yin raised his chin slightly, gesturing for Chen Che to look ahead. "We invited him to help us break the Array..."

Chen Che looked into the distance. The area around Thunder Accumulation Mountain appeared calm, but a massive black cloud churned in the sky for a hundred li in every direction. Vague shapes of Thunder Pythons could be seen weaving through the cloud, causing the sky to flicker between light and dark, much like the legendary tribulation clouds.

Countless baffling talismans swam ceaselessly through the clouds.

"An Array?"

Chen Che raised an eyebrow.

Chen Yin nodded slightly. After he and Meng Qianxun explained, Chen Che quickly grasped the situation they were facing.

After their own decapitation strike failed, the Jin Family had retreated to their sect’s mountain gate without hesitation. They activated the ’Formless Tribulation Thunder Array’ and were now hiding like turtles in a shell. Meanwhile, the allied forces had occupied Juejian Mountain, a hundred li from Thunder Accumulation Mountain, maintaining a distant standoff.

After several fruitless attacks, they had no choice but to seek out Qingsong, a man hailed as a ’genius Array Master’ throughout the Sixteen States, in the hopes of breaking this Array.

"A genius Array Master?"

Glancing over at the man’s ancient appearance, Chen Che couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

"From a hundred and fifty years ago..."

Meng Qianxun explained calmly, "He focused too much on Arrays and neglected his Cultivation. As a result, at nearly two hundred years old, he’s only at the Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer."

Chen Che nodded slightly.

In truth, there was no shortage of cultivators like Elder Daoist Qingsong who had shown brilliant talent in their youth and been hailed as ’geniuses.’

Yet, as the years passed, for one reason or another, they always failed to reach the heights everyone had once expected of them.

...

Seeing that Qingsong would not be breaking the Array anytime soon, Chen Che went to the palace to check on his father-in-law.

"What are you doing here?"

Upon seeing Chen Che, Meng Changtu propped himself up.

"I heard about the battle, so I came right away," Chen Che replied.

He took the opportunity to examine Meng Changtu’s injuries. Aside from some spiritual exhaustion, he was not in serious danger. The crucial factor was that Meng Qianxun and Chen Yin hadn’t been trapped in the Array, so they were able to rescue him in time.

If they had been even a moment later, Meng Changtu’s soul would have been scattered to the winds.

"The older they get, the more cunning..."

Meng Changtu grumbled resentfully, then turned to warn Chen Che, "You must be careful. We’re not just facing the Jin Family, but the other major clans of Shuzhou as well. They may be holding back for now, but that doesn’t mean they won’t kick us while we’re down."

"I’m well aware."

Chen Che nodded slowly.

No matter the time or place, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.

Although the Jin Family was not on good terms with the other major families of Shuzhou, that didn’t mean they would stand idly by in a life-or-death situation. They might even deliberately try to weaken the allied forces, letting the Jin Family bog down Hunzhou’s advance.

In other words, while on the surface they were fighting the Jin Family, they were in fact contending with all of Shuzhou.

...

「Meanwhile, a hundred li away on Thunder Accumulation Mountain.」

In the vast ancestral hall of the Jin Family, an old man with a resolute face and bristling hair and beard stood alone, his figure as imposing as a towering mountain.

His gaze was fixed upon a giant tripod cauldron over three zhang tall.

Engraved on the cauldron were the words, "A Thousand-Year Noble Family, An Eternal Legacy." It had been forged eleven years prior, when the Jin Family’s heritage had reached a full millennium, and to this day, it looked as if it were brand new.

’Jinyun Valley, the Meng Family, the Great Chen Royal Family... all three allied against us.’

’A thousand-year Noble Family... and must our legacy end here?’

The old man, his hands clasped behind his back, murmured softly and could not help but let out a long sigh.

He was none other than the Jin Family’s ancestor, the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator, Jin Chaoheng. And it was he who had set the Grand Array to ambush Meng Changtu.

No sooner had the words left his lips than a gust of wind swept past, and a middle-aged man appeared at Jin Chaoheng’s side. Upon seeing the ancestor, the man exclaimed with excitement:

"Ancestor, the Yuan, Gu, Wu, and Lu families have replied...!"

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