Two-Qi Celestial River

Countless Demon Bats died and dissolved into towering clouds of blood mist, pouring down like a torrential storm.

Vines suddenly burst from the ground in the vast underground space. They were dark green all over, patterned with eerie markings, and covered in suckers that constantly drank in the Demon Bats' flesh and blood.

In an instant, the spreading vines occupied the entire space, and many snaked toward Jiang Zhu.

At the sight, Jiang Zhu spread the fingers of his outstretched right claw. Five beams of sword light shot skyward, dazzling as lightning, and swept across the entire underground palace.

Clang, clang, clang...

As the sword light sliced through the vines, it actually produced the crisp ringing of clashing metal. Every vine was cut into six pieces and fell to the ground.

The severed vines spewed purple poison mist, which spread thickly throughout the space and lingered without dispersing.

Jiang Zhu drew upon dragon power to blow away the poison, while scouring a narrow path through the moss on the underground floor.

That moss was no ordinary plant either. It was "spirit-devouring moss," which would instantly drain a cultivator's spiritual power upon contact!

Jiang Zhu did not linger. He pressed onward, encountering quite a few Demon Bats after venturing more than a dozen li deeper, but all became souls slain beneath his claws.

In a place where the dragon vein was so vigorous, using the True Dragon Secret Art was like a fish taking to water. This was also one of the things he relied on to brave Purple Mountain's dangers.

The pitch-black underground was utterly desolate, without a single sound. He advanced alone at an unhurried pace, carefully observing everything around him.

Now the yin energy within the dragon vein grew increasingly heavy. The farther he went, the more icy yin energy permeated the vein, even giving rise to ghostly shadows.

An icy wind howled, and indistinct shadows flickered.

"Why would ghostly shadows form here?"

Jiang Zhu found it strange. He was not following the route recorded by the Source Heavenly Master. The dragon vein along that route had already been hollowed out, leaving only a dragon passage leading straight to Purple Mountain.

The dragon vein he was following was still fairly abundant. He had chosen it precisely because he could draw upon its power. Could it lie beside that hollowed-out dragon vein? Had it also been excavated, but not yet completely exhausted?

Jiang Zhu activated the Great Saint Weapon, the Glazed Glass Lamp. Its golden flames shone brilliantly, and wisps of saintly might emerged, sending those flickering ghostly shadows fleeing far away.

He traveled a long distance without seeing another living creature. Estimating how far he had come, he reckoned he was already about thirty-five li in. Purple Mountain probably was not much farther away.

After another four or five li, a gentle light appeared ahead. At the same time, rich spiritual energy washed over him, bringing waves of serenity.

"That's the aura of source!"

Although light filled the way ahead, surging mist obscured his vision. That mist had formed from dissolved source and brimmed with the vitality of life.

After walking another li or so, Jiang Zhu reached the place where the spiritual energy was densest. An icy current of yin energy also circulated here, making his heart tremble.

Ahead lay a boundless celestial river. Source energy and yin energy flowed through it together, yet an invisible dividing line seemed to separate the two, keeping them as distinct as the Jing and Wei Rivers.

Jiang Zhu raised his hand and sent a streak of divine power into the celestial river. The appearance of this strand of divine light disrupted the flow of source energy, instantly shattering the balance. In a flash, the celestial river erupted!

A moment earlier, the great river of source energy had been balanced and tranquil, wreathed in spiritual mist and magnificent as a river of stars. In an instant, it became a river of yin energy, shrouded in towering waves of chilling darkness that made his hair stand on end.

At the same time, the river of yin energy became a river of source energy. A little later, the upheaval subsided, and the two became distinctly separate once more.

"Nature truly works with the craftsmanship of gods and ghosts, to create such a magnificent celestial river!"

As Jiang Zhu marveled, he activated the Glazed Glass Lamp. The Great Saint Weapon immediately blazed with light, and a brilliant golden beam burst from it, piercing through the celestial river of yin and source energy.

The golden divine light became a broad golden road, holding both yin energy and source energy at bay. The Two-Qi Celestial River was split open in an instant.

With a flicker of movement, Jiang Zhu crossed the celestial river. The golden light then dissipated, and the river returned to its original state.

His feet touched the bank, where quite a few droplets had splashed out of the river of source energy. Upon hitting the ground, they became tiny grains. He picked one up and found that they were all divine source!

Such an immense river of source energy had actually formed entirely from divine source energy. What a heaven-shaking feat!

With so much divine source within reach, even Jiang Zhu, who had witnessed Kunlun's grand sights, could not help being tempted. He continued activating the Great Saint Weapon, hoping to obtain more divine source.

Who could have guessed that this strike, aimed directly at the Two-Qi Celestial River, would yield even less than he had incidentally obtained while opening a path earlier?

Shaking his head, Jiang Zhu gave up. Using the Great Saint Weapon had drained all his divine power, yet he had gained only a little in the end. The loss far outweighed the gain.

He sat cross-legged where he was to recover his divine power, then looked ahead.

The dragon vein had reached its end, and a purple stone wall blocked the way.

Divine light flashed at the tips of Jiang Zhu's claws. He tore through the purple rock and walked inside.

As he advanced, the passage he had torn open rapidly closed behind him, as though it were alive. Seeing this, Jiang Zhu transformed both hands into dragon claws and quickened his pace.

Boom!

After a tremendous crash, the purple rock wall ahead disappeared, replaced by the sight of an enormous palace, its splendid halls rising above steps of blue jade.

There was nothing in this palace complex, not a single trace left behind. Beyond it lay a deep cavern abode, which was the true passage into the depths of Purple Mountain.

The terrain within the cavern abode was complex, seemingly natural, yet also resembling something carved out by hand. Hazy purple energy circulated, bringing a little light through the murk.

The farther he went, the brighter it became. Divine source crystals studded the mountain's interior, radiating golden light that flowed like liquid gold. At the same time, a demonic power called to him, trying to draw him in a particular direction.

At that moment, the true dragon source blood and Nine-Leaf Sword Grass origin blood within Jiang Zhu simultaneously flashed with divine light. Two different radiances blossomed, blocking the demonic summons.

This demonic power was the work of Primordial Creatures. Suppressed by Great Emperor Wushi, they could not move freely at all and could only release their power to lure cultivators toward them.

Presumably, Great Emperor Wushi had also intended to use this to temper later generations. Otherwise, under the suppression of an Emperor Weapon, how could these members of the Primordial Race possibly stir up trouble without his permission?

Jiang Zhu did not use the Great Saint Weapon to dispel this demonic influence. Instead, he borrowed its power to continually temper his will.

He continued onward, and the demonic summons grew increasingly powerful. The manifestations within his Bitter Sea activated on their own. A true dragon and Nine-Leaf Sword Grass appeared outside his body, dispelling the demonic influence.

Before long, Jiang Zhu discovered seven skeletons in succession. Although they had been dead for many years, their white bones still shone with a jade-like luster. At a glance, they clearly belonged to peerless experts.

Without exception, they had all died the same way. Clear finger holes marked their skulls. They had been killed in a single blow, their divine senses shattered.

"What's this?" Jiang Zhu was puzzled. Could all nine routes leading into Purple Mountain converge in the end?

Otherwise, he should have been the only person on this route.

Jiang Zhu put aside his questions and continued onward.

"A dragon?... Grass?... What sort of grass... could stand alongside a dragon?"

A weak voice suddenly sounded beside Jiang Zhu's ear.

A weak voice, Purple Mountain-there was no mistaking it. These nine routes into Purple Mountain did indeed converge in the end.

And this weak voice belonged to Purple Mountain's famous skill-teaching NPC, God King Jiang Taixu!

"Who's there?" Jiang Zhu made a show of looking around as he asked.

"God King... Jiang Taixu." The weak voice emerged in broken fragments, barely audible.

Taixu referred to the nature of the Dao: vast, empty, and tranquil. It also referred broadly to the Great Dao. Anyone who dared use those two characters as his name truly possessed grand boldness. If he had strength to match, he would inspire even greater awe.

Ordinarily, this name shook people to their souls, but hearing his weak voice now, Jiang Zhu could not help being amused. He was far too weak!

He hurriedly gathered his thoughts. This was all Seven-Colored Red Hair's fault. The name was far too much of a double entendre!