Divine King Jiang Taixu

That Mountain Embracing Seal was something Lu Zhou had obtained from the Lihuo Cult.

Besides the Mountain Embracing Seal, when Lu Zhou destroyed and looted the five major sects, he had actually acquired several other cultivation techniques and spells.

But clearly, they were all far too worthless to catch the system's eye.

The system did not even deem them worthy of being displayed on the panel.

The next day, Lu Zhou found Fifth Master Zhang and spoke to him bluntly.

"I'm preparing to enter Purple Mountain!"

The moment he said this, before Lu Zhou could go on to mention the Stone Garment, Stone Saber, and other ancestral items passed down through the old Zhang family—

Fifth Master Zhang pulled Lu Zhou directly over to a large, yellowed wooden chest.

As he unlocked the iron lock sealing the chest, Fifth Master Zhang spoke to Lu Zhou.

"A thousand years ago, before my ancestor Zhang Jiye entered Emperor Mountain, he also made careful preparations. These are some of the things he left behind."

While patiently listening to him, Lu Zhou watched as he continuously took out Stone Garments, Stone Artifacts, and other items from the chest.

Each time he took out a Stone Artifact, he would carefully instruct Lu Zhou about it.

His words were filled with concern for Lu Zhou's journey into Purple Mountain.

He also told Lu Zhou many secrets concerning Origin Masters. They were secrets passed down orally through generations of the old Zhang family, secrets he had never mentioned to outsiders.

It was enough to show that after more than two months together, he no longer regarded Lu Zhou as an outsider.

Lu Zhou accepted those Stone Artifacts. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly said to Fifth Master Zhang,

"Before long, the area around Purple Mountain will most likely cease to be peaceful. In the future, this entire world may face great turmoil as well."

Lu Zhou had not forgotten that Primordial creatures still slumbered within Purple Mountain.

A few years later, they would emerge one after another.

And several hundred years later, the Dark Turmoil would erupt throughout the Big Dipper and the universe.

Several hundred years from now, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Fifth Master Zhang would likely have long since been buried.

But when the Primordial Race emerged a few years later, he would definitely still be alive.

Stone Village was far too close to Purple Mountain. If they continued living here, it would be exceedingly dangerous.

Lu Zhou remembered that in the original story, Ye Fan had relocated the villagers of Stone Village.

Now that he was preparing to claim the opportunity that should have belonged to Ye Fan before Ye Fan could, and since Fifth Master Zhang was treating him just as he had treated Ye Fan in the original story—

Lu Zhou felt that, both emotionally and morally, there were things he ought to do.

"I want to ask whether you've considered moving somewhere else."

"Moving somewhere else?"

"Yes."

Lu Zhou nodded, then continued.

"Primordial races are actually sleeping within Purple Mountain. During the Primordial Age, the human race was their food."

Lu Zhou carefully chose his words and told Fifth Master Zhang everything he could tell him.

"You can consider this carefully. Give me your answer after I return from Purple Mountain."

"If the villagers are willing to move, I can find you a pure land where you can thrive and multiply."

Fifth Master Zhang nodded, saying that he would inform all the villagers and let them make their own decision. As for himself, he would wait until Lu Zhou came out of Purple Mountain before deciding.

Thus, carrying the Stone Garment, Stone Artifacts, and other items given to him by Fifth Master Zhang, Lu Zhou once again left Stone Village and flew toward Purple Mountain.

Like Ye Fan, he chose to enter through the dragon vein to the east.

A thousand years ago, Zhang Jiye had taken this route.

The towering stone ridges were bare and reddish-brown, devoid of vegetation, with faint specks of purple that resembled Purple Mountain.

Lu Zhou searched patiently through the area. Before long, he discovered an ancient mine.

He put on the Stone Garment, wore the Stone Helmet, hung the Stone Pendant and two Wushi Emperor Jades around himself, carried the Star Compass on his back, and gripped the Stone Saber in hand, arming himself like a man of stone.

Then he strode into the ancient mine.

Like Ye Fan, he encountered an attack by Demon Bats, but he effortlessly wiped them all out in a few swift moves.

He traveled dozens of li through the mine shaft, which stretched several thousand meters deep. He began to see carved murals: Wushi controlling the Wushi Bell to suppress Primordial creatures, and a jade-like palm extended by the Undying Empress.

Lu Zhou stopped and examined them one by one.

He checked his system panel. This place did not meet the system's sign-in requirements. It seemed he would have to enter Purple Mountain first.

He continued onward.

When he reached the Yin Yang Eye, he found a Jade Pool Jade Pendant there and put it away.

When the lone yang rose, he activated the Xingzi Secret beneath his feet and transformed into a streak of lightning, easily passing through the Yin Yang Eye that had buried an unknown number of cultivators.

He passed through a watery curtain of light and slammed into a purple stone wall. Lu Zhou summoned the Lihuo Divine Furnace and used it to clear the way forward.

Eventually, he arrived before a stretch of magnificent buildings. Green jade formed the steps and white jade formed the gates. Lu Zhou passed through the buildings and saw a deep cave estate beyond more than a dozen steps of blood jade.

He continued onward. Before long, he saw the messages left behind by Divine King Jiang Taixu, Li Mu, Jade Pool Saintess Yang Yi, Zhang Jiye, and others when they had explored Purple Mountain.

Having reached this point, Lu Zhou raised his essence, energy, and spirit to their peak. He continued onward, and sure enough, before long, he felt as though a terrifying demonic force were calling to him.

It made him unable to resist walking in a certain direction.

Lu Zhou held the Lihuo Divine Furnace above his head, where it cast down hazy gleams of light. He used it to resist that demonic force.

At this moment, the Stone Garment he wore also began to take effect. Flecks of radiance flowed over it, revealing its spirituality as it helped Lu Zhou resist the summons of that demonic force.

Before long, Lu Zhou felt the demonic summoning force weaken until it could no longer affect him in the slightest.

Just then, a feeble voice entered Lu Zhou's ears.

"Lihuo... Furnace."

The moment he heard that voice, Lu Zhou's eyes lit up.

To avoid making a fool of himself, he asked,

"Who is it? Who's speaking?"

"Divine King... Jiang Taixu."

Hearing that reply, Lu Zhou's eyes shone even brighter.

He followed the direction from which the voice had come.

Before long, he stopped before an exceedingly smooth stone wall, clear as crystalline jade.

Lu Zhou spoke toward the rough rock wall beside it.

"Are you in there?"

Lu Zhou waited for a while before a reply came from within the rock wall.

"Your... spiritual sense is quite sharp. I am indeed within the rock wall before you. How did the Lihuo... Furnace come into your possession? Are you a member of my Jiang Family?"

Lu Zhou shook his head.

"My name is Lu Zhou. I'm not from your Jiang Family. I obtained this Lihuo Furnace after destroying a sect that committed countless evil deeds."

Jiang Taixu fell silent, seemingly deep in thought.

Lu Zhou, however, did not wish to waste any more time here. He took two steps back and was about to circulate the Divine Power within his body into the Lihuo Furnace to save Jiang Taixu.

At that moment, Jiang Taixu transmitted his voice to him again.

"Come closer. I will teach you a move and see how good your comprehension is."