These restrictions were extremely difficult to break. Yang Zhen exerted tremendous effort and managed to break through to the seventh mountain within an hour, almost even resorting to the Nine Realms Exquisite Pagoda.
However, Yang Zhen felt that the restrictions imposed by the Holy Maiden Tianxuan of Tianxuan should not be so simple.
Indeed, even a restriction that was difficult for Yang Zhen to enforce shouldn't be this simple. After all, this was Great Saint from the early Great Wilderness Era; how could it be so easy?
The Nine Realms Exquisite Pagoda must have other uses, so it can't be used now. If it's used now and then needed later, it won't be usable, which would be very embarrassing.
Therefore, it cannot be used, absolutely cannot be used!
Yang Zhen abandoned this tempting idea and simply put the Nine Realms Exquisite Pagoda back into his storage ring, then began racking his brains to crack the seventh mountain.
This is too difficult!
As Yang Zhen deciphered the enchantment, he muttered to himself, "What exactly does the Holy Maiden Tianxuan want to do by setting up such a complex set of restrictions?"
"Wait a little longer, I'll be able to break through the first mountain soon!"
The First Elder's face was full of solemnity as he said to the two behind him, "It's too difficult. The restrictions here are complex and ever-changing, even more difficult than I imagined. Yang Zhen was able to use the Nine Realms Exquisite Pagoda, but he might not be able to break through the Three Mountains. Perhaps after we break through the first mountain, we will be able to see Yang Zhen on the second mountain."
Upon hearing the Grand Elder's words, a ferocious look flashed across Elder Jian's face. He said, "No matter how many tricks and schemes that brat has, he's helpless in a place that truly tests strength. Now that he's finally fallen into my hands, I'll make him taste all the bitterness of life."
A confident glint flashed across the Grand Elder's face as he muttered to himself, "The restrictions here contain elements of the Heavenly Dao. What exactly does the Holy Maiden Tianxuan intend to do?"
Elder Jian, bored out of his mind, chuckled and said, "Why should the Grand Elder worry so much? The Holy Maiden Tianxuan is beyond our comprehension. How could we possibly fathom the thoughts of the Holy Maiden Tianxuan who is with that person?"
Mentioning that person's existence, the Grand Elder's face was filled with admiration. He gave a wry smile and said, "Throughout history, no one has ever been able to achieve that level. It shows how crazy that person's actions were back then."
Elder Jian laughed heartily and said, "I would like to emulate that person, but my strength does not allow it. Throughout the ages, there has probably only been one person who dared to contend with the heavens."
The Holy Maiden Qingquan had a serene expression on her face. She didn't seem awkward at all being with the two Great Saint. Hearing this, she smiled and said, "In this world today, there's no longer any room for someone like that senior."
The Grand Elder glanced at the Holy Maiden Qingquan with surprise, then nodded and said, " The Principle of Heaven and Earth are currently being perfected, so such a heaven-defying talent certainly cannot appear. Even if one did, even if the heavens could tolerate it, the world would not."
"Why?" The Holy Maiden Qingquan asked curiously, a thought stirring in her heart.
Elder Jian chuckled and said, "Holy Maiden, you may not know this, but the world no longer allows those who dare to defy it. If they did, it would surely be a catastrophe, perhaps even leading to widespread death and destruction, and you and I would both perish at the hands of the heavens."
The Holy Maiden Qingquan gasped and said, "Will the heavens and earth... be thrown into turmoil?"
The Grand Elder pondered for a moment, nodded, and was about to speak when his face suddenly lit up with joy, and he exclaimed, "It's broken!"
boom--!
A dull thud was heard, and the Grand Elder and the others staggered as they entered the second mountain.
Looking at the surrounding misty environment, the trees and flowers didn't seem like a forbidden world, but rather a paradise. The Holy Maiden Qingquan looked on with envy and murmured to herself, "Why is the world I created even more peaceful and serene than the real world?"
The Grand Elder and the Elder Jian also showed surprise on their faces, and said, "It's simply a matter of popular will."
Elder Jian had been searching for Yang Zhen's Yang Zhen, but finding no trace of him in the vast expanse of the world, he frowned and asked, "Where is Yang Zhen?"
The Grand Elder closed his eyes and sensed the situation for a moment, then said in surprise, "It's not on this mountain. It seems I underestimated the Nine Realms Exquisite Pagoda's ability to break through restrictions."
"You brat, let you be arrogant for a little longer!" Elder Jian asked in a deep voice, "Isn't the Three Mountains Yang Zhen's limit?"
The Grand Elder smiled confidently and said, "Even if Yang Zhen is able to enter the Three Mountains, this restriction should only apply to the most dangerous part of the Three Mountains. Yang Zhen certainly won't enter the Fourth Mountain before us."
Elder Jian laughed heartily and said impatiently, "I urge the Grand Elder to break through the Second Mountain as soon as possible!"
Yang Zhen scratched his head on the Eighth Mountain, looking at the world of lightning, and muttered to himself, "This... this is getting more and more outrageous. I never thought I could temper my body in this kind of restriction. It's truly... when luck comes, no one can stop it!"
The Thunder World was one of Yang Zhen's favorite worlds. The endless thunder of heaven and earth possessed the power of heaven and earth, but had no Power of Principle. Using this thunder to temper the Dragon-Elephant Prison-Shaking Body was simply a blessing bestowed upon him by heaven. Bah, it was a blessing bestowed upon him by the Holy Maiden Tianxuan.
Yang Zhen spent a whole day cultivating on the Eighth Mountain before he could finally begin to break through the Ninth Mountain, feeling refreshed and invigorated!
The Ninth Mountain is an extreme place, and it will be much more troublesome for Yang Zhen to solve it, like doing a math problem.
In reality, the restrictions here are not too difficult. For Yang Zhen, who possesses the Heavenly Book: Profound Principles Chapter, breaking the restrictions is not difficult. The difficulty lies in the ever-changing nature of the restrictions. One wrong move and you have to start all over again.
Yang Zhen couldn't break through with brute force, because doing so might disrupt the grand scheme that the Holy Maiden Tianxuan had laid out over tens of thousands of years, which would contradict Yang Zhen's original intention of repaying a favor.
When Yang Zhen finally managed to decipher the Ninth Mountain, drenched in sweat, Elder Jian and the others were already searching for Yang Zhen on the Three Mountains.
Elder Jian laughed loudly and shouted at a place where the wind was howling, " Yang Zhen, I know you're here. I'll give you three breaths to get out here, or I'll make you wish you were dead!"
Living is worse than death!
Life is worse than death!
To be born or not!
born!
Loud voices echoed incessantly in the strong wind, and the Grand Elder, looking on alert, observed his surroundings.
After calling out for a moment, Elder Jian frowned and said, "Elder, Yang Zhen doesn't seem to be here. Is there something wrong with your judgment?"
The Grand Elder snorted coldly and said, " Yang Zhen is a treacherous brat. Perhaps he knew we would follow, so he hid. Although I can't sense his presence now, I'm certain he can't break through the Fourth Mountain, so he must be hiding somewhere here."
Holy Maiden Qingquan: "..."
A mocking look flashed across Elder Jian's face as he said to the First Elder, "The wind is too strong. Yang Zhen might not hear me. Even if he does, he'll pretend he didn't. You all wait here for a moment. Anyway, this world isn't that vast. I can search the entire world and bring Yang Zhen back in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
The Grand Elder nodded leisurely and said, "Go ahead. I need to recover, and I'd be extremely grateful to have Holy Maiden Qingquan protect me."
The Holy Maiden Qingquan nodded and said, "It's an honor!"
Not long after Elder Jian left, the Grand Elder smiled at the Holy Maiden Qingquan, and just as he closed his eyes, a hysterical wail came from the strong wind.
The First Elder shuddered and hurriedly stood up, exclaiming, " Elder Jian!"