Ghost Manor
Following the instructions of his master and friends, Bai Meng glanced at his master's face and slowly began to cook.
"Yue Qianchou has broken through to the early Tribulation stage. That's interesting." Huo Zongming patted Pu Taidong on the shoulder, looked back at everyone, and said with a playful tone, "I wonder what everyone thinks?"
Pu Taidong seemed to have come to his senses, and after a moment of surprise, he said, "So, the person who was talking to the junior cultivator could really be Yue Qianchou?" He then swept his gaze across the crowd and asked, "Even if it is Yue Qianchou, you don't really believe that the Myriad Sword Demon Lord's treasures are in the Misty Forest?"
Everyone remained silent, clearly still unanswered questions, and deep in thought.
"Have you ever heard of a place?" The speaker was Miao Hanyuan from the Cangyuan Kingdom. All eyes turned to him, awaiting his response. Miao Hanyuan softly uttered three words: "The Ascension Platform!"
"What?" someone couldn't help but exclaim. Most of the people present seemed bewildered, unfamiliar with the word, but a few were deeply moved.
Pu Taidong looked around and frowned, saying, "Miao Hanyuan, what exactly are you trying to say? Don't beat around the bush."
Miao Hanyuan glanced at Huo Zongming, who had no expression on his face, and said, "Brother Huo, you must have heard of this place?"
Huo Zongming smiled dismissively and remained silent. Sikong Jue his hands tucked into his sleeves, slowly stepped forward and said, "I've heard of such a place from my master. Legend has it that in High Antiquity times, cultivators who reached a certain level would ascend to the Ascension Platform. However, it's just a legend, and no one knows where it is. Is the Ascension Platform that Lord Miao mentioned the one I'm talking about?"
"Heh heh! As expected of Yin Baikang's esteemed disciple, you are indeed very knowledgeable." Miao Hanyuan chuckled a few times, then said leisurely, "I happened to see a record in an ancient book that said a certain place was paved with countless gold bricks, and in the center, a high platform was built with gold. This platform is called the Ascension Platform. Cultivators whose cultivation surpasses the Spirit Transformation stage can ascend this platform to ascend to the Immortal Realm. Brother Huo, I wonder if what I said is correct?"
Huo Zongming chuckled softly, knowing he couldn't keep it a secret any longer, and said, "I've been wondering the same thing. If the person who spoke to that little cultivator was really Yue Qianchou, how come the ancient tomb Yue Qianchou mentioned is so similar to the legendary Ascension Platform? Both are paved with gold bricks, and both have a golden platform in the middle. Is it just a coincidence?"
"The Ascension Platform is hidden in the Misty Forest," Pu Taidong said in surprise.
Miao Hanyuan squinted and said, "If you ask me, if this Ascension Platform really exists, it's probably either in the Eastern Pole Sacred Land or in the Misty Forest."
Everyone nodded in agreement. These were the only two places in the world that held secrets unknown to outsiders. For a moment, a silent, secretive silence fell over them. Although it wasn't confirmed, everyone was certain that the person was Yue Qianchou, and the claim that the Golden Body of the Myriad Sword Demon Lord was hidden on the Ascension Platform seemed quite credible.
Even if that were true, who would have the ability to enter the Misty Forest? The only solution now is to capture Yue Qianchou and force him to reveal the secret behind his ability to freely enter and exit the Misty Forest.
The group, each with their own ulterior motives, took their leave. Once only five people who were on good terms with Pu Taidong remained, Huo Zongming frowned and asked, "Miao Hanyuan, what are you up to?" His unspoken question was: why were you forcing me to tell everyone the truth?
After Pu Taidong and the others understood the truth, they also looked at Miao Hanyuan with questioning eyes. This was a bit illogical! The six of us could share the ten thousand flying swords of the Myriad Sword Demon Lord. Why did we have to make a scene and let the whole Cultivation World know? Wasn't this just asking for trouble?
Miao Hanyuan glanced at the group and sneered, "We weren't the only ones who heard what that little cultivator said. Do you think you can keep this secret to yourselves? Hmph! It won't be long before the entire Cultivation World knows. The treasure of the Myriad Sword Demon Lord is an immense temptation. Anyone who stands in the eye of the storm will be doomed. Our five families can't withstand such a huge shock. So, let the capable ones take the lead. The more chaotic, the better. We should stick together and observe from the sidelines. There's no rush."
Upon hearing this, the others understood and nodded in understanding. Miao Hanyuan at Huo Zongming and Pu Taidong and said, "It's best to hold back your grudges for now and preserve your strength. It will definitely come in handy later!"
The two nodded, acknowledging their agreement. Then the six of them began calculating animatedly.
The news that Yue Qianchou witnessed the fall of the Myriad Sword Demon Lord's golden body and the legendary Ascension Platform in the Misty Forest quickly spread throughout the Cultivation World. Even the junior cultivator's account was made public by those with ulterior motives. This event caused a sensation, and cultivators from all nations were in an uproar. Everyone understood that the Misty Forest was not a place anyone could enter, yet Yue Qianchou could come and go freely. Now, whoever could find Yue Qianchou and unlock the secret of entering and leaving the Misty Forest might obtain the treasure left behind by the Myriad Sword Demon Lord.
The Tianxia Chamber of Commerce is offering a reward of one hundred million high-grade Spirit Stones! Whoever can provide information about Yue Qianchou lead the Tianxia Chamber of Commerce to him will receive the one hundred million high-grade Spirit Stones. Of course, whether or not they can catch him is the Tianxia Chamber of Commerce's business; as long as the information provided is useful, they will receive the reward.
This caused quite a stir. The Tianxia Chamber of Commerce, with its immense wealth, had effectively planted an informant network throughout the entire Cultivation World. Those lower-level cultivators could only dream of the Myriad Sword Demon Lord's treasures; none believed they could obtain them. However, the bounty of one hundred million high-grade Spirit Stones was something everyone could hope to claim. Suddenly, low-level cultivators from all over the world were scurrying about, harboring dreams of striking it rich.
The "Treasure Gathering Basin Convention," originally ranked eighth in the Cultivation World, has been moved down to ninth place. The current eighth major event is the search by various countries for Yue Qianchou in hopes of obtaining the treasures left behind by the Myriad Sword Demon Lord.
Jinshan Kingdom is undoubtedly at the center of this matter, as Yue Qianchou was there when he last appeared. Moreover, the Misty Forest is also within the Jinshan Kingdom's territory. Who can say that Yue Qianchou himself doesn't want to obtain the treasure left by the Myriad Sword Demon Lord? It's said he simply can't get it because his cultivation level isn't high enough, and he's probably still trying to find a way. Therefore, the chances of finding Yue Qianchou are greatest within the Jinshan Kingdom.
Those cultivators with lower cultivation levels often travel in groups of three to five, precisely because of their low cultivation level and the need for safety. At this moment, Yue Qianchou, also as a Rogue Cultivator, joined a three-person team searching for Yue Qianchou.
Driven by their dream of getting rich, the three wandered all over the land of the Jinshan Kingdom. Two of them were only at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, so Yue Qianchou claimed to be at the early Core Formation stage and showed off his skills, subduing the other two and becoming the leader of the trio.
In the capital of the Jinshan Kingdom, in the Zhujin City, dozens of miles north of the city, in the wilderness, lies a large, interconnected mountain villa. Originally built by a wealthy merchant for leisure, this villa was later ransacked by bandits, resulting in the deaths of all several hundred inhabitants, making it an unlucky place. Coupled with frequent ghost stories, it became the infamous "Ghost Manor."
The so-called haunting was nothing more than a prank by some wandering Rogue Cultivator with nowhere else to go. But over time, the reputation of the Ghost Manor spread. Mortals naturally kept their distance. As a result, it was taken over by wandering Rogue Cultivator from all over the country. Of course, it also became a temporary resting place for cultivators with backgrounds from various countries...
Today I was dragged off to chat with some fellow readers in the fourth group, which delayed my writing. Don't blame me, blame them! I'm shamelessly asking for votes and monthly tickets again. To find out what happens next, please log in to the first group for more chapters. Support the author and support genuine reading!
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