Kunlun Mountain, the ancestor of all mountains, is the source of the dragon vein of the Land of Shenzhou.
The entire mountain range stretches for thousands of miles, with its highest peak piercing the clouds and covered in snow year-round. Clouds and mist swirl between the peaks, and the spiritual energy is so abundant that it almost seems to condense into liquid. This is a sacred cultivation ground that cultivators dream of, and also the place where countless ancient Mighty One ascended to immortality.
Yuheng led the group through the skies above Kunlun Mountain, explaining as they flew, " Kunlun Mountain is divided into two layers, an outer layer that ordinary cultivators can reach, and an inner layer that has been sealed off by ancient Mighty One, making it inaccessible to anyone below the Heavenly Dao Realm."
" The Heavenly Dao Realm?" someone exclaimed. "Does that mean we can't get in?"
The Snow Empress smiled slightly, "It's alright, I have already reached the Heaven and Man as One Realm, these restrictions cannot stop me. You all follow behind me, I will protect you with the Power of the Heavenly Dao."
The group landed on the summit of the highest peak of Kunlun Mountain, where an invisible barrier stood before them. The barrier emitted a faint golden light and was covered with dense ancient runes, each rune containing immense power.
The Snow Empress stepped forward, extended her right hand, and gently placed it on the barrier. The Power of the Heavenly Dao surged from her palm, and the golden light resonated with the runes on the barrier. The runes began to flicker, as if they were alive, and slowly moved, eventually opening a door on the barrier.
"Let's go!" Snow Empress took the lead and walked into the door.
The group followed closely behind, passing through the barrier, and the sight before them stunned everyone.
Within the barrier lies a vast space, free from ice and snow, free from cold winds, where spring reigns all year round and flowers bloom in abundance. Countless mountain peaks float in the sky, each covered with exotic flowers and rare herbs, their spiritual energy so rich that it forms a mist that flows slowly through the air.
The most eye-catching feature is the largest mountain in the center. On the mountain stands a magnificent palace, entirely constructed of white jade, radiating a soft glow. At the palace entrance stand two enormous statues, one a dragon and the other a phoenix, so lifelike they seem ready to come to life at any moment.
"This is the Xuanyuan Palace where the Yellow Emperor ascended to heaven!" Yuheng exclaimed excitedly. "I heard my grandfather tell me when I was a child that the Xuanyuan Palace contained the treasures of the Yellow Emperor's life. I never imagined it was true!"
The Snow Empress nodded and led everyone to fly towards the central mountain peak. Only when they landed in front of the palace did she see the true nature of the two statues. They were not ordinary statues, but guardian puppets made from the true forms of ancient divine beasts, containing powerful energy within them.
Sure enough, the moment the Snow Empress stepped onto the palace steps, the two statues came to life. The dragon spread its wings and let out a deafening roar, while the phoenix soared into the sky, spewing scorching flames from its mouth.
"Back off!" Snow Empress shouted, and a golden token appeared in her hand, transforming into a long sword. She swung the sword at the dragon, and the sword light left a deep wound on the dragon's body. But the dragon was not made of flesh and blood, and the wound healed instantly.
"Holy Maiden, we're here to help you!" Huiming led Eighteen Warrior Monks forward, and the eighteen men set up the Arhat Grand Formation, with Buddha Light Illuminates All shining everywhere, trapping the giant dragon within the formation. Ling Feng led the Seven Sons of Wudang to set up the True Martial Grand Formation, with sword energy crisscrossing, and fought against the phoenix.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Snow Empress rushed into the palace. She knew that the cores of these two guardian puppets were inside the palace, and only by destroying the cores could they be completely eliminated.
The palace interior was even more magnificent than the exterior, with various precious treasures displayed in the hall: elixirs, divine weapons, ancient cultivation techniques—everything imaginable. But the Snow Empress was not interested in any of these; her target was the Xuanyuan Sword.
Her divine sense swept across the entire palace, eventually discovering a secret chamber at its deepest part. A huge "Huang" character was carved on the door of the secret chamber, the characters vigorous and powerful, containing a wisp of the Yellow Emperor's will.
Snow Empress took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the secret room.
The secret chamber was small, only about ten feet square. In the center was a stone platform, on which was stuck a golden longsword. The sword was entirely golden, with the Sun Moon, moon, stars, mountains, and rivers engraved on its blade. A fist-sized gemstone was inlaid on the hilt, and the shadow of a dragon could be faintly seen moving within the gemstone.
" Xuanyuan Sword!" The Snow Empress was overjoyed. She stepped forward and reached out to grasp the hilt of the sword.
The moment she grasped the hilt, a tremendous force surged from the sword, resisting her hand. The Xuanyuan Sword possessed a spirit; it was testing whether the Snow Empress was qualified to wield it.
The Snow Empress gritted her teeth, unleashing the full Power of the Heavenly Dao. The golden light merged with the golden light of the Xuanyuan Sword. The Human Emperor's primordial power resonated with the Yellow Emperor's Xuanyuan Sword. The two forces fused together, and finally, the Xuanyuan Sword emitted a clear sword cry, acknowledging the Snow Empress.
The Snow Empress pulled the Xuanyuan Sword from the stone platform, its blade tracing a golden arc in mid-air. She could feel the immense power contained within the Xuanyuan Sword, the culmination of the Yellow Emperor's lifetime of battles, the record of slaying countless demons, and his determination to protect humanity.
"What a fine sword!" Snow Empress exclaimed, carefully putting away the Xuanyuan Sword and leaving the secret chamber.
Outside the palace, the battle continued. Although the dragon and phoenix were guardian puppets, they were extremely powerful. The Arhat Grand Formation and the True Martial Grand Formation could only trap them, but could not destroy them.
The Snow Empress, wielding the Xuanyuan Sword, stepped out of the palace. Sensing the opponent's presence, the runes on the Xuanyuan Sword began to flash, emitting a deafening sword cry.
"Cut!"
The Snow Empress wielded the Xuanyuan Sword, and a golden sword aura flew out from the sword, slashing towards the giant dragon. This time, the sword aura contained the power of the Yellow Emperor. The dragon's defenses were useless in front of the sword aura, and it was directly cleaved in two. With its core destroyed, the dragon's remains fell to the ground and turned back into ordinary stones.
Seeing the dragon destroyed, the phoenix let out a mournful cry and turned to flee. But the Snow Empress would not give it the chance. She unleashed a second sword strike, the sword energy piercing through the phoenix's body, shattering its core, and the phoenix turned back into a stone statue.
"What an amazing sword!" everyone exclaimed, their eyes filled with awe as they looked at the Xuanyuan Sword.
The Snow Empress sheathed the Xuanyuan Sword and turned around. "We've obtained the first relic. Next, we'll go to the Southern Frontier to find the Shennong Cauldron of the Flame Emperor."
After a short rest, the group set off again.
Southern Frontier, located in the south of the Land of Shenzhou, is a wild and untamed place with treacherous mountains and teeming with poisonous insects and ferocious beasts. However, for cultivators, Southern Frontier is also a treasure trove, where countless rare medicinal herbs grow, making it Heaven for alchemists.
Flame Emperor, also known as Shennong, was one of the Five Emperors of ancient China. He tasted hundreds of herbs and taught people farming, making him the ancestor of medicine and agriculture. His Shennong Cauldron was said to be able to refine elixirs that could bring the dead back to life, making it a treasure coveted by alchemists all over the world.
Snow Empress led everyone to the Southern Frontier and, following the markings on the map, found the Flame Emperor Mausoleum. The Flame Emperor Mausoleum was built in a large mountain, the entire mountain of which had been hollowed out, revealing a massive tomb inside.