Revisiting Old Grounds, Tracing Clues in Five Creeks
Mingyuan Mountain is located in the Yuanning Prefecture, Five Creeks, and is a branch of Nine Spirits Mountain. The mountain is not high, only a few miles in length, but it has some birds and beasts and was once a hunting ground for hunters.
However, a catastrophe two years ago decimated the population of several surrounding villages. Since then, not to mention hunters, there are hardly any ordinary villagers left, and Mingyuan Mountain has been completely abandoned.
As for the Mountain God Temple on the mountain, it was partially destroyed in a landslide two years ago, and soon it was covered with vines and gradually disappeared into the Lin Zhong, as if it would never see the light of day again.
Suddenly, a flash of light appeared, and three figures appeared in front of the temple.
Looking at the half-ruined mountain temple before him, Bai Wenpan's thoughts raced, and he had already discerned the truth. He cautiously looked at the deity himself and asked in a low voice, "Lord Min Yuan, shouldn't we find some time... to rebuild the temple?"
Unlike Huang Jue, who was completely oblivious, he immediately recognized the place as soon as he noticed the expression on the face of the deity.
When Qiu Yan joined the Divine Office Divine Office, he mentioned his origins as a mountain god from a small hill. Now, looking at this half-ruined Mountain God Temple, if Bai Wenpan still can't guess, then he's lived in vain.
The deity himself shook his head and said, "No need. The mountain god resides in the mountain, not in the temple. Even if there were a temple, without anyone to worship, it would eventually fall into disrepair. Rather than that, it's better to let nature take its course. Besides, the birds on this mountain are also believers. As long as they have fear in their hearts, they will have the thought of entrusting their hopes to the mountain. However, they don't know how to enter a temple to offer incense."
Qiu Yan's divine essence is ranked at the Fifth Grade. Not only does he master the transformation of divine power, but he can also attach divine power to external objects. Under the cover of perception, there is nowhere to hide. Moreover, this mountain range was originally part of his Divine Rank and the location of his Domain of Law. Therefore, upon returning this time, he immediately had a completely different feeling.
Previously, one had to use the Divine Hearing Method and expend some divine power to perceive the various situations within the mountain range. Now, as soon as the true self arrives, the entire mountain range appears clearly in one's mind from the inside out, giving a feeling of being connected by blood, as if the entire mountain is an extension of the Divine Body, which can be used as easily as one's own arm.
"This is not an illusion!"
As Qiu Yan immersed himself in the Domain of Law, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
At this moment, after listening to the conversation between Bai Wenpan and the deity himself, Huang Jue finally understood. "So this is Mingyuan Mountain!"
Seeing Huang Jue's surprised face, Bai Wenpan shook his head.
"Huang Jue is truly lucky to have befriended Min Yuan in advance. With this good relationship, the benefits in the future will be immeasurable! Natural-born God, and having advanced to the Fifth Grade through his own efforts, he will inevitably establish Divine Office! To have a relationship with such a deity is something you can only dream of. However, I am also in a position of advantage, but I have made some mistakes in the past, and I must make amends in the future."
After thinking it over, Bai Wenpan glanced around a few times and made a decision.
"Although there's no need to rebuild the temple, this place is extraordinary after all; it's where he rose to prominence. If we do something for him, we'll surely be richly rewarded!"
Bai Wenpan keenly sensed the opportunity and decided to seize it.
This time, after witnessing the deity's true form generate Divine Spirit Talisman and then master the ability to connect Yin-Yang and yang and travel thousands of miles in an instant, Bai Wenpan's mind changed, realizing that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
On the other side, after taking in the familiar surroundings, Qiu Yan said, "Before we continue our journey, there's something I need to confirm, so I'll have to wait a little longer."
"Please go ahead, sir. We will wait patiently." Bai Wenpan quickly replied, and Huang Jue nodded in agreement.
Upon seeing this, the deity rose from the ground, his Divine Body transforming into light, and soared upwards. In the blink of an eye, he pierced the sky and broke through the clouds!
"This height should be about right..."
He silently calculated, and was about to stop, but a thought suddenly occurred to him, and he continued to climb!
As the altitude increases, the air becomes thinner and colder.
But soon, destructive forces appeared from the depths of the sky, appearing and disappearing like divine dragons, causing the Core Talisman of the deity to tremble!
That was an instinctive fear of destruction!
Sensing the imminent threat, the deity rationally halted its charge and rapidly descended.
"There really are strange things in the sky. Could it be that the Heavenly Court is up there?"
As Qiu Yan pondered this, the true form of the deity lowered its head, its Divine Eye gleaming and emitting light.
What comes into view are drifting clouds and boundless land; mountains, rivers, and everything else appear small and distant.
"I wonder what kind of world the Great Rui Dynasty is in. Is it also a planet, or is it like the ancient texts say, a flat earth with a round heaven..."
Looking down from this height, one can take in the scene within a radius of hundreds of miles by activating Divine Eye. The deity's gaze shifted and landed on Mingyuan Mountain.
Mingyuan Mountain looks like a small earthworm, with its tail connected to a much larger mountain range.
This massive mountain range runs east to west, resembling a giant dragon coiled on the earth, exuding an ancient and desolate aura. The entire mountain range branches into nine tributaries, accompanied by a rushing river.
"This mountain range is Nine Spirits Mountain! The river that flows alongside it is the Great Snow River, which originates in the western Tibetan Roof of the World, changes direction to the south after passing through this area, and flows straight into the Five Creeks Forest!"
With a single glance, the deity could clearly see the scene below. His gaze gradually shifted, divine power flowed, and his field of vision expanded.
Although the Nine Spirits Mountain is vast, it is still quite ordinary in the Shu Region. There are four similar mountain ranges, which crisscross the land, solemn and imposing, exuding an aura of majesty.
"This is the aura of divine power, belonging to the Mountain Envoy of Shu Region..."
Recalling the name, Qiu Yan knew that the Mountain Envoy and the Circuit City God were of the same rank, both Fourth Grade, and they commanded a region of mountains, possessing considerable Divine Ability. He had learned this information from Yin Xiao'e.
"However, this divine power is subdued and sluggish, as if the true form is asleep. Moreover, the aura of Nine Spirits Mountain is hollow and strange. When I was the mountain god, I never sensed the divine Domain of Law of the Great Mountain God of Nine Spirits Mountain, nor did I receive Mountain God Edict. I don't know why the mountain god is nowhere to be found, so of course demons and monsters roam freely within its borders."
As Qiu Yan thought about it, the deity himself fell downwards and returned to the temple in the blink of an eye. Then, he raised his hand and flicked his sleeve, taking Bai Wenpan and Huang Jue away in a flash of light.
Three beams of Divine Radiance departed from Min Yuan, traversed the Nine Spirits, and entered the Five Creeks Forest.
The land of Five Creeks is mysterious and enigmatic, with continuous mountain ranges. In ancient times, it was known as the entrance to the Hundred Thousand Mountains. The inhabitants of the region submitted to the Central Plains dynasties several times, but each time they rebelled again. Even after the Great Rui established its rule, the submission was only nominal.
In this dense and vast Lin Zhong, there are hundreds of tribes of varying sizes, most of which have built their settlements around water and are clustered around five streams, hence the name. The people in these tribes are the Marshfolk.
The deity flew southwest along the course of the Great Snow River, traversing the Five Creeks Forest. The further in it went, the more lush the trees became, but human footprints were rare, and hills gradually appeared.
The vast mountain range rises and falls.
Deep in the dense forest, even wild animals and birds are rarely seen. The forest floor is no longer flat soil, but a continuous swamp!
The swampy wetlands were teeming with poisonous insects, and bubbles would occasionally rise to the surface, bursting to release poisonous gases and marsh gas. These gases would accumulate and shroud the entire forest in a misty, eerie, and terrifying atmosphere.
"Where are we going?" Upon seeing this strange and alien landscape, Huang Jue, who had transformed into light, couldn't help but ask telepathically.
"We've arrived!"
Before the voice of the deity had completely faded, three beams of divine Divine Radiance flew over a high mountain.
This mountain lies across the forests and swamps, exuding a rugged and ancient aura. From the sky, it resembles a fierce beast lying on the ground, raising its head and roaring towards the heavens!
The "head" here refers to the mountain peak.
The mountaintop was cratered, with fiery red water flowing through it and thick smoke billowing out.
It's a volcano!