Lord of the Earth

"Little Yaochi...you've finally grown up?!"

Huang Rong's voice was filled with barely suppressed joy. She stepped forward and, instead of reaching out to touch the girl's head as usual, gently took the girl's hand.

As a special being that was transformed into human form by divine retribution after enduring the "elixir of immortality," Little Jade Pool has always found it difficult to "grow up."

Last time, it was only by relying on a wisp of innate wood spirit energy contained in the "Nine Thousand Year Peach" obtained from the upper realm through the "Eastern Heavenly Gate" that he was able to successfully raise his rank to the "Mysterious Yellow" level.

The "Taiyin Laurel Cake" in front of her, which embodies the essence of the Taiyin in the Guanghan Palace, the essence of the Laurel Tree, and the magical powers of the Jade Rabbit and the Cold Toad pounding medicine, actually enabled her to achieve another leap in her life level, reaching the astonishing height of "quasi-glass" in one fell swoop!

Looking across the entire Qianxia region, there are only a dozen or so people with such talent and potential, all of whom are core pillars at the level of legion commander or above.

"I...I feel like there are a lot more things in my head..."

The young girl Yaochi blinked her still clear eyes, her delicate brows furrowed slightly, and her fair fingers gently pressed her temples, as if she was trying to sort through the fragmented and ancient memories flooding her mind.

“That’s right! It’s over there, across this Milky Way, in the place shrouded in mist on the other side… I ‘saw’ it, there should be… a very, very large, very magnificent palace…”

Her voice carried a bewildered quality, as if she were just waking up, yet it also possessed a certainty that seemed to originate from instinct.

As she guided her slender fingers, a shocking scene unfolded.

That "grayish-white mist," which even Xia Tian, ​​with his extraordinary vision at the "quasi-god" level, could only vaguely see and perceive with severely obstructed vision, now seemed to have a life of its own, obediently and silently surging and dissipating to both sides.

A steady and mysterious path, paved with a hazy, clear light, was clearly presented before everyone's eyes!
"This fog...it actually dissipated on its own?"

Even the usually composed Zhuge Liang was slightly moved, and the frequency of his gentle waving of his feather fan increased slightly.

Summer's gaze was sharp, and her heart was equally shaken.

The gray-white mist that shrouded the entire core area of ​​the Celestial Court had an extremely high level of rules, and even the "Golden Crow Celestial Nest," a "quasi-supreme artifact embryo," was trapped within it.

Qianxia has devoted nearly twenty years to exploration, relying on the rooting and spread of the Jianmu tree and specific opportunities, but has only touched the tip of the iceberg.

Unexpectedly, after the young girl Yaochi took the divine medicine, she was able to directly trigger the fundamental rules of the mist, opening a path for her.

There are probably connections here that are far greater than outsiders can imagine.

Filled with excitement and anticipation, the group followed closely behind the Yaochi maiden and embarked on this path of pure light.

The path seemed to contain some kind of "spatial law," and before long, the fog completely parted to both sides.

A magnificent and splendid palace complex, beyond description, bathed in auspicious colors and ethereal mist, slowly reveals its breathtaking outline.

With glazed tiles and white jade steps, the palace is adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, where the phantoms of dragons and phoenixes seem to hover, and endless Taoist charm flows through the palace like breath.

Three ancient seal characters, seemingly carved directly from the Great Dao, are shining brightly—Jade Pool Palace!

"This really is the Jade Pool Palace!"

Even though they were somewhat prepared, Qianxia and the others were still overjoyed.

This is because, despite the fruitful results of Qianxia's exploration over the past decade or so, including the discovery of important relics such as the "Imperial Horse Garden," "Immortal Medicine Garden," and "Heavenly Prison," the exploration has yielded significant progress.

However, apart from the original "Guanghan Palace", the areas discovered later cannot strictly be considered as important locations symbolizing the core of the Heavenly Court's power and tradition, such as the "Thirty-Six Palaces and Seventy-Two Halls"!

Now, this reputation surpasses even that of the "Moon Palace." The legendary "Jade Pool Palace," which is said to possess the elixir of immortality and host banquets for immortals, is right before Xia Tian's eyes, filling him with immense joy.

This is because, according to ancient fragments such as the "Annotations to the Classic of Mountains and Seas," "The first heaven of the celestial realm, at the southernmost point, is the celestial palace where the Queen Mother of the West rests and recuperates, called 'The Otherworldly Paradise,' which is also the location of the Jade Pool!"

This place is not only the Taoist temple of the Queen Mother of the West, but also the venue for the Peach Banquet, and one of the symbols of the glorious and prosperous human race's immortal court in the past!

Summer can still vividly recall the astonishing properties displayed by the "Nine-Thousand-Year Peach" that caused the first transformation of Yaochi, as seen through the Eye of Insight:
The Elixir of Immortality (Liuli)

[Type] Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root - Derivative

【characteristic】

Immortality (After partial ingestion, the effects of the medicine can heal any injury sustained.)
Immortal (When taken in its entirety, it can protect a person's soul from perishment; even if killed by a god, the 'true spirit' will remain).
Refining the Spirit and Returning to Emptiness (After consumption, it can temper the soul, strengthen the soul, and comprehend the laws of heaven and earth, thereby breaking through the cultivation realm).
The ability to live as long as heaven and earth (can greatly increase a person's lifespan and break through the upper limit of their own race).

[Explanation] Legend has it that in the former "First Immortal Court" of the human race, there was an "Immortal Medicine Garden" in which "three thousand six hundred" immortal medicines were planted by the hands of the human race's true goddess, the Queen Mother of the West.

The first 1,200 trees have small flowers and small fruits, and they ripen once every 3,000 years. People who eat them will become healthy and light, and attain enlightenment and sainthood.

The middle 1,200 plants bear layered flowers and sweet fruit, ripening once every 6,000 years. Sages who eat them ascend to heaven and become immortals, living forever.

The following 1,200 plants, with purple-veined yellow kernels, ripen once every nine thousand years. If a deity eats them, his magical power will greatly increase, and he will live as long as heaven and earth, and be as old as the sun and moon!
【Note 1】This elixir of immortality is extremely potent, and ordinary people need to take it gradually!
[Note 2] The First Celestial Court was attacked by the gods and the Jade Pool was destroyed. This is a 'Nine Thousand Year Peach' that accidentally fell to the mortal world. It is forbidden for anyone but gods to eat it. Only special beings can absorb its medicinal properties... And, based on this, the "Jade Pool Splendor" has been re-evolved!
"Three thousand six hundred immortal herbs! If we can find and revive this 'Peach Garden' and integrate its fortune into Qianxia, ​​the foundation of our Qianxia 'quasi-immortal dynasty' will be completely solidified, and the future creation of an unparalleled immortal court will be no illusion!"

Summer fills me with excitement and my gaze is intense.

"It feels so familiar, so familiar... I sense the path is on the other side..."

As if sensing his expectations, the group passed through the towering halls and corridors surrounding Yaochi Palace, led by the young girl Yaochi. Suddenly, an ancient peach grove that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see came into view!

However, it was nothing like the ethereal and vibrant scene I had imagined.

An atmosphere of decay and deathly stillness suddenly swept over the place.

Looking around, most of the peach trees had completely withered, their trunks cracked like an old man's arm, their branches and leaves scorched and broken, showing no trace of life.

Even the fertile land that nurtured the elixir of immortality has become dim and lifeless.

"Why have these peach trees withered and died?"

Seeing this, everyone was greatly disappointed.

"No, Your Majesty, gentlemen, please look at these peach trees..."

Song Yingxing, the person in charge of the "Tianzhi Hall" in Qianxia, ​​squatted down, picked up a handful of soil and carefully examined it, his expression becoming increasingly solemn.

"Life in the soil is almost completely cut off, and the tree roots are completely necrotic... This doesn't seem like natural withering; it's more like some force... forcibly drained all its essence! Could it be that during the great battle, all the peaches were picked to heal the wounds, and even the tree roots were not spared?"

"I'm afraid it's not that simple."

Jia Xu scanned his surroundings with a sinister gaze.

"If the goal is to save lives by picking fruit, why destroy the roots? This is more like... complete destruction. It seems that even this 'Jade Pool' has been invaded by enemies!" The Jade Pool is the sacred site of the Queen Mother of the West.

Even though it held a higher status than the "Moon Palace," did it also fall into ruin in the past?
Just as everyone was feeling heavy-hearted, a voice filled with surprise rang out.

"Hey? Look, there seems to be... there seems to be a perfectly intact peach under that biggest peach tree!"

The one who spoke was a newly joined deity of the Horned Dragon Clan, belonging to the "Seven Constellations of the Azure Dragon".

He was still relatively inexperienced, and at that moment he was pointing to the base of a particularly thick but completely dead giant tree deep in the peach grove.

There, hidden among the withered branches and fallen leaves, a faint, heart-beating five-colored glow could be seen peeking out.

"The real peaches are whole and intact!"

The Horned Wood Dragon God couldn't contain his excitement and curiosity, thinking that if he could find a precious elixir of immortality for Qianxia, ​​it would be a great achievement.

He strode forward, bent down, and carefully parted the withered leaves, revealing a perfectly shaped peach the size of a fist, its skin shimmering with iridescent colors!

However, the moment his fingers touched the peach—a sudden change occurred!
The colorful glow on the surface of the peach suddenly became dazzling, like a miniature colorful sun. Then, the peach skin quickly turned black, broke apart, and disappeared, just like burning paper!
"Crack!"

With a soft cracking sound, the perfectly shaped peach skin split open.

A multicolored, hair-thin shadow, moving at a speed beyond the limits of divine sense, shot out like a venomous snake that had been gathering its strength for a long time.

The god-level Horned Dragon had no time to react. He only felt a numbness in his arm as the shadow burrowed under his skin!

"Ugh—!"

A bloodcurdling scream, so shrill it was inhuman, suddenly rang out, then abruptly stopped as if someone had been choked!

Amidst the horrified gazes of everyone around, the robust body of this Horned Wood Dragon deity seemed to have been thrown into an invisible purgatory. His flesh, bones, divine power, and even his soul were all melting and collapsing at a visible speed! His skin instantly lost its luster, turning ashen and withered, his eye sockets sunken, and his mouth gaped open in terror, yet he could not utter a sound.

Only that body, which quickly lost all vitality, transformed into an empty shell covered with fine, eerie, multicolored patterns within just two or three breaths, and collapsed to the ground with a "thud".

Meanwhile, the five-colored insect, which was originally weak and only equivalent to a demigod, swelled up as if inflated, its carapace becoming even more vibrant and beautiful, yet exuding a terrifying, ferocious aura at the level of a god!

It vibrated its thin, cicada-wing-like wings, emitting a low "buzzing" sound, and its compound eyes coldly scanned the numerous "prey" before it.

"You wicked creature! Prepare to die!"

A loud shout exploded like a thunderclap.

Lu Zhishen reacted the fastest. This powerful figure, who had already stepped into the realm of top-level gods and was known for his fierceness, did not need any weapons. He took a step forward, his figure like a tiger released from its cage. His right fist was wrapped with blood-fiend divine power that could tear through the void, and he simply and directly punched the god-level ferocious insect that had just completed "hatching" and "feeding"!

"Oh!"

The space rippled as the fist struck.

The ferocious insect seemed to sense a deadly threat, its multicolored light blazing brightly as it attempted to form some kind of defense or launch an attack, but all of this was in vain before Lu Zhishen's absolute power.

The fist struck the insect's body solidly, accompanied by a piercing sound of its shell shattering and a soft splash of juice. This newly born divine-level ferocious insect was directly blasted into a sky full of colorful fragments by the fierce and unparalleled power!

However, the death of this insect seemed to have triggered a terrifying switch.

"Pfft!" "Pfft!" "Crack!"...

A series of cracking sounds, as dense as popping beans, rang out from all directions of the peach grove!

As far as the eye could see, the peaches hanging on the withered branches, which appeared to be either shriveled or perfectly intact, began to shimmer and shatter one after another! Each peach suddenly exploded, turning into clumps of colorful powder.

From the powder, colorful insect shadows, exuding an aura of greed and savagery, swarmed out like messengers from hell!

Their compound eyes gleamed with hunger, instantly locking onto all beings in the peach grove that emanated life and divine power!

"Form ranks! Defend!"

Zhang Liao's calm voice resounded throughout the arena. He swung his crescent halberd forward, and the chilling divine power of ice surged forward like a tide, instantly freezing the dozen or so insects charging at the forefront in mid-air. Then, the halberd flashed and cleaved them into ice crystal fragments.

"These insects can devour divine power and even the rules of heaven and earth! Be careful!"

But there were too many insects, and they exhibited terrifying characteristics—

Some of the insects quickly gathered together, their bodies merging like liquid. With a flash of light, their aura suddenly intensified. They no longer attacked haphazardly, but instead resembled a well-trained squad.

From different angles, it spewed out colorful, corrosive divine light, which intertwined to form a net that covered one corner of Qianxia's formation.

"Humph, what a small trick!"

Having inherited the legacy of the "Naval General," Gan Ning let out a long laugh. Behind him, the illusory image of "Jin Fan" fluttered, and the azure water elemental divine power transformed into countless incomparably sharp blade energies, like a waterfall flowing upstream, precisely crashing into the net of divine light.

Suddenly, it tore it apart and annihilated the ten-insect aggregate into nothingness!
Buzz, buzz!

However, more insects soon gathered, and after a hundred insects gathered, they suddenly exuded the aura of "top-level deities" and transformed into a ball of light that crashed into Gan Ning.

"A devastating blow!"

Gan Ning's expression turned serious, and he gripped the knife with both hands.

Behind them, a phantom image of waves stretching for thousands of miles appeared, and a massive blue blade of energy, condensed to its extreme, slashed out and collided fiercely with the ball of light containing hundreds of insects!

"boom--!"

The violent energy shockwave spread outwards, shattering some of the nearby peach trees into dust.

Gan Ning swayed slightly, and the Hundred Insect Light Ball was also dimmed by this slash and flew backward, disintegrating in mid-air. However, it was not completely destroyed, and many individuals still survived!
More importantly... five hundred, eight hundred... these insects seemed endless, surging in from the depths of the peach grove and frantically merging together.

When ten thousand insects merged into a terrifying cloud of insects with a diameter of more than ten feet, constantly twisting and deforming, and with painful human faces and sharp teeth appearing on its surface, the pressure it emitted reached the level of a supreme deity!

Even the surrounding space began to distort slightly, emitting a humming sound as if it were about to collapse.

This massive cloud of insects emitted a sharp, soul-piercing shriek, amplified by the resonance of billions of insects, before suddenly opening a gigantic gaping hole, like the gaping maw of an abyss, swallowing up the most densely packed area of ​​Qianxia's group... (End of Chapter)