As the group ventured deeper, more and more strange sounds drifted out from the depths, like the howls of some unknown creatures, making them feel as though they were plunging into an abyss.
There were many white bones here. Even now, they had not decayed, and still shimmered with a crystalline luster and a dazzling array of colors.
These had definitely belonged to sect-leader-level beings, or even existences beyond that level. Only such beings could remain imperishable through endless ages after their deaths!
The group proceeded cautiously, afraid of stepping on some set of remains. A place that had buried so many supreme beings was bound to harbor unimaginable dangers.
At that moment, even Lan Canghai felt his scalp prickle. There were simply too many bones, scattered everywhere, and quite a few had belonged to beings on his own level.
What terrified him even more was that some of those withered bones were wreathed in faint traces of immortal aura!
He had seen such remains before; his clan also kept some. These were the mortal remains of true immortals.
What did that mean? Supreme figures of the immortal domain had met calamity here!
He drew a deep breath. What kind of deadly place was this? It was far too perilous!
"Grrroar!"
Suddenly, a low sound came from the depths. It was extremely muffled, yet carried more oppressive force than any of the sounds before it!
At the same time, magma as red as fresh blood flowed past, and the divine stone said to be forever impervious to flame actually began to melt!
The sound rippled through the ancient cavern, echoing endlessly. The group felt as though an entire great world rested on their backs. Their souls wailed and trembled, almost torn apart by sheer force!
It seemed to be the cry of some divine bird, but it was too faint to distinguish.
Fortunately, the sound soon faded. It did not seem to have targeted them deliberately.
At last, the group reached the deepest part of the ancient cavern, the very source of that strange sound.
Before them lay a cave blazing with fiery light, its flames surging high.
Not far away was a deep pit filled with tribulation ash. A few withered bones were faintly visible within, all rotten and decayed.
"A deep pit filled with bone ash!" Lan Canghai's expression changed, and he moved to investigate.
By now, Xi Yue had a vague suspicion of where they were. She simply had not expected a twist of fate to bring them to this place.
A supreme expert had indeed been buried here-an Immortal King. He had suffered calamity in an age far too distant, and now only a lingering strand of obsession remained.
Lan Canghai dug out the bone ash and withered bones. Some were astonishing, shaped like a True Dragon Claw, a Qilin Head, a True Phoenix wing, and the like.
The sight sent a shudder through Xi Yue and her companion. Written descriptions and visual impact were two entirely different things. Witnessing it firsthand was far more shocking and terrifying than merely hearing of it.
After all, these had belonged to the clans from which the Ten Fiends of old had emerged. Calling them descendants of the Ten Fiends would not have been an exaggeration, yet all of them had been buried here. It was staggering.
Before long, Lan Canghai's body shook violently, disbelief filling his eyes.
Before him stood a humanoid being, his flesh withered, without the slightest sign of life.
His entire body was charred black, with only a layer of old skin remaining. He was scarcely different from a skeleton. Without looking closely, one would never have realized that he was a living being.
Moreover, a pair of wings extended from his back, pitch-black throughout, yet flecked with golden light.
More frightening still, his mouth hung open, revealing a pair of equally pitch-black fangs that kept knocking together.
"Crack... click..."
The sounds continued, far too low and muffled. The being seemed to be trying to say something, but unfortunately, no one could make it out.
"Rumble!"
Just then, the wings on the being's back gave a slight tremor. The entire ancient cavern shook violently, as though heaven were collapsing and earth were splitting apart. Blood-red magma flowed in from every direction, a horrifying sight.
"This is a living being-a supreme figure!" Lan Canghai cried out.
So it really is him, Xi Yue thought.
This being was the Kunpeng King from two epochs ago, an ancient ancestor of the Kunpeng and the strongest member of his clan.
His cultivation had long since reached the Immortal King realm, making him considerably stronger than the Female Kunpeng ranked among the Ten Fiends.
"It's you..." Just then, a voice sounded in Xi Yue's sea of consciousness, so weak that it resembled a candle guttering toward extinction.
Xi Yue was startled. Before she could puzzle over it, the voice came again. "No, you are not that person... How strange. Even I cannot divine it... Seemingly the same, yet not. Or perhaps you are not yet yourself... You do not exist within this heaven and earth. You do not belong to this ancient history."
Xi Yue froze, her beautiful eyes widening as she stared at the being before her in horror.
What exactly did he mean?
"I am me, yet I'm not me, and I'm not yet me. Then am I me or not?" Xi Yue looked utterly bewildered.
This was too unnerving. Why would the Kunpeng King say such a thing? What exactly did it mean?
She could understand not belonging to ancient history, since she was someone who should never have existed in the first place.
But what did it mean that she did not exist within heaven and earth? Wasn't she standing right here?
And what was that even more terrifying claim that "I am not me"? What was all this supposed to mean?
She wanted badly to ask, but after reconsidering, she ultimately abandoned the idea.
She did not even count as an ant yet. Coming into contact with those earth-shattering secrets now might stir some taboo spanning the ages, reducing her to tribulation ash and scattering her across the boundless world.
"Who knows what the future holds? I'm me. Who else could I be?" she muttered, refusing to let the Kunpeng King's words sway her.
Still, since she was already here...
She ought to secure a few benefits for herself.
At that thought, she grew a little bolder and immediately communicated through her divine sense. "Um, Senior..."
Before she could finish, a streak of light entered the space between her brows, bringing a cool sensation. She started in alarm, only relaxing once she confirmed that there was no danger.
It was the Kun Peng Precious Technique, the supreme inheritance of this clan, reputed to grant the greatest speed under heaven.
Joy immediately filled her heart. She had never expected the Kunpeng King to be so accommodating, handing over his inherited Precious Art just like that.
With this, she would not have to venture into the Kunpeng Nest in the lower realm.
However, she also knew that this could not come without a price. Mastering this Precious Art meant taking on the Kunpeng King's karma, and a reckoning would inevitably come one day.
Still, she was unafraid. What kind of cultivator shrank from everything, forever looking ahead and behind?
Once there were enough lice, one stopped worrying about the itch. Although she had no lice clinging to her now, she inevitably would in the future. That was a foregone conclusion.
"Take me away..." the Kunpeng King transmitted.
With that, the rock wall exploded, and a divine stone flew out. His body turned into a streak of light and entered it.
Xi Yue put it away, fastening it to the hair at the back of her head, where it looked like an ordinary ornament.
"Ah, another great karmic burden." She sighed.
In the original timeline, the Kunpeng King had held off Immortal King Ao Sheng when Shi Hao underwent his Immortal King tribulation in the future. Although he ultimately perished, he had still bought Shi Hao a chance to transform.
"We'll see. Perhaps those predetermined endings have already changed." Xi Yue smiled as the thought crossed her mind.
All of this had happened in a single instant, because the Kunpeng King had employed a supreme method to briefly freeze the time around them.
Since his speed was reputed to be the greatest under heaven, it was only natural that he could touch upon certain aspects of time.
"Huh? Where did that being go?" Lan Canghai murmured in surprise, immediately sensing something amiss.
All traces of the Kunpeng King had been erased from this place. Even Lan Canghai could detect nothing.
His investigation yielded no results.
He shook his head and sighed. Such a supreme being was bound to possess a will that could shake the world. This was not something he could involve himself in.