Chapter 182: Soul Star
Just as Hua Changxi was slumbering at the bottom of Tangyu Valley, various factions who realized the changes in Tangyu Valley began to arrive at Qianmen Pass. Some well-informed cultivators also followed suit upon hearing the news.
For a time, a large number of cultivators appeared outside Qianmen Fort.
“The nine great castles guarding the Demon Prison are truly impregnable, with one man holding the pass against ten thousand.”
The tall and majestic Qianmen Fort exuded an ancient aura, like a giant beast crouching on the ground, blocking anyone who wished to pass.
“Before, I always thought places like Qianmen Pass and Kunmen Pass were just marketplaces for the nine Ghost Markets. I never imagined they were actually the nine passes guarding the Demon Prison. Indeed, one must follow the Noble Families to learn the truth of the world.”
“Isn’t that right? The Noble Families knew about the Spiritual Energy Revival hundreds of years ago and possess countless ruins. The information they have is far more than ours. At first, I thought the Ghost Market was a Secret Realm. Who would have thought it was actually part of the Nine Netherworlds in the Territory?”
“Even though the Nine Passes occupy a large area, neither you nor I can fully explore even one pass. However, the Demon Prison is just a corner of the Nine Netherworlds. The vastness of the Nine Netherworlds is beyond your and my imagination.”
“It’s not just the Nine Netherworlds; the Human World is also beyond our imagination. Although the Great Jin we are in is the center of the Central Continent, there are also the Four Continents to the east, west, south, and north. These continents are separated by vast oceans. There are still too many places in this world that we don’t know.”
“Yes, this is just the situation in our Realm. Beyond our Realm, there are other Worlds. I really want to go and see other Worlds.”
“Don’t be so ambitious. Let’s explore our own world first.”
“Below are the Nine Netherworlds, above are the Nine Heavens, and in the middle is the Human World. We have only glimpsed a corner of the Nine Netherworlds, and we know nothing of the Nine Heavens. The only place we can develop and grow stronger is the Human World.”
After the cultivators gathered outside Qianmen Fort, they discussed in small groups in hushed tones. Those who could rush here the moment the Fusang Divine Wood appeared were all extraordinary individuals. Their knowledge and experiences far surpassed those of ordinary people.
Gu Jin Fan stood among the crowd, looking at the cultivators around him with a complex expression.
In this life, the Spiritual Energy Revival was exposed earlier, leading to many more cultivators in the Four Spirit Realm, and also a batch of exceptionally talented individuals, like the cultivators who arrived today.
These people will surely cause unrest in the future as they compete for Resources. However, with more cultivators and stronger individuals, perhaps the Four Spirit Realm will not be as defenseless against the Outer Realm Cultivators as in the previous life.
“The Demon Suppressing Army is here.”
Gu Jin Fan heard the commotion, turned his head, and saw the Demon Suppressing Army arriving, wearing Kirin Masks and Black Armor.
Looking at the person leading them, Gu Jin Fan’s eyes flickered.
Chu Junyi…
Recalling how in his previous life, he swallowed the Demonic Energy to prevent it from spreading into the Human World, becoming demonized, and then voluntarily sealed himself, becoming the gate of the Demon Prison and merging with it.
This person, until death, was like a mountain, guarding the Demon Prison!
Chu Junyi sensed someone looking at him and followed the gaze. Seeing it was Gu Jin Fan, he was slightly surprised. However, he then understood, recalling that the Gu Family had also rushed to Kunmen Pass immediately when it changed and occupied White Bone Mountain.
Master told him that this Gu Jin Fan either possessed the ability to foresee the future or was a chosen one with incredible Luck. It was best to befriend such a person.
Chu Junyi nodded at Gu Jin Fan and withdrew his gaze, looking towards Qianmen Fort.
Gu Jin Fan also withdrew his gaze and looked at the silent Qianmen Fort, which seemed to have been sealed by dust. Seeing more and more cultivators gathering outside the city gate, he couldn’t help but sigh silently in his heart.
With so many outsiders gathered, Qianmen Fort might sense the danger and awaken after countless years of dormancy.
Since the Fusang Divine Wood has appeared, it doesn’t seem strange for Qianmen Fort to awaken early.
However, it seems the Gu Family might not have a chance to claim Qianmen Fort for themselves.
Qianmen Pass, Kunmen Pass, and the other eight great passes were established to guard the Demon Prison.
The Demon Prison seals extremely vicious Fierce Beasts. Suppressing the Demon Prison not only benefits the prosperity of the Human Race but also protects other living beings and maintains the stability of the Realm.
Therefore, after the establishment of the nine great passes, a considerable amount of Merit Power was accumulated.
It took generations of abbots at Xiangguo Temple to cultivate one Merit Golden Lotus, whereas the nine great passes nurtured a pond full of Merit Golden Lotuses in Ancient Times.
Even though the Four Spirit Realm experienced Nirvana, the residual Merit Power from the nine great passes was still astonishing. For instance, the Demon Suppressing Guards in the castles were able to preserve their Primordial Spirits for five hundred years without dissipating solely through Merit Power.
Because of the nine great passes, the Nine Netherworlds never lacked Inheritance. Some families of Demon Suppressing Guards, protected by their kin, directly became Soul Cultivator Noble Families.
The Nine Netherworlds today are far more dangerous than the Human World.
Gu Jin Fan was very covetous of the Merit Power of the nine great passes. Relying on her memories from her previous life, she knew that around this time, the Demon Race would come to Qianmen Fort to destroy the Formation Eye, so she had already contacted Heir Gu and Liu Chengxiong in advance.
She originally thought that with her intervention, the Gu Family could take over Qianmen Fort. With the Merit Power of Qianmen Fort, the Strength of the Gu Family cultivators would definitely increase significantly.
Who would have thought that Tangyu Valley would still experience a change/incident? Although the Demonic Energy did not overflow into the Human World, it caused the Fusang Divine Wood to appear prematurely in the Human World and the Nine Netherworlds.
Gu Jin Fan really wanted to know what had happened in Tangyu Valley.
“Bang, bang, bang~”
A series of drumbeats, each louder than the last, suddenly sounded, breaking the silence of the dim night sky. It also interrupted Gu Jin Fan’s thoughts and caused a stir among the cultivators present.
“What’s happening?”
“What’s going on?”
“It’s the sound of war drums, coming from Qianmen Fort.”
“Buzz~ Woo~”
As everyone exclaimed and discussed, a deep and solemn and murderous horn sound echoed from within Qianmen Fort.
The next moment, a brilliant white star appeared above Qianmen Fort. The starlight directly dispersed the mist in the air. Qianmen Fort, which had only been a blurry outline due to the darkness, was now fully revealed.
“The Soul Star is lit, and the dormant Qianmen Fort has awakened.” Gu Jin Fan said with emotion.
“There are stars in the Nine Netherworlds? It’s incredible.”
“That’s a Soul Star.”
“What Soul Star?”
“A planet formed by the condensation of Soul Power. In the Human World, Spiritual Energy nourishes all things. In the Nine Netherworlds, Soul Power nourishes all things. Didn’t you feel that after the Soul Star appeared, you felt lighter and clearer? This is because the Soul Power emanating from the Soul Star is nourishing our Soul Bodies.”
“The area covered by the Soul Star is like a Cave Heaven Blessed Land in the Human World. No wonder that in Ancient Times, even though guarding the Nine Passes was extremely dangerous, countless cultivators wanted to become Demon Suppressing Guards. As long as they didn’t die, after five hundred years, their Primordial Spirit would definitely become very powerful.”
Among the crowd, some cultivators with extraordinary knowledge did not hide what they knew. Hearing someone ask, they generously shared the information they possessed.
As the cultivators marveled, countless Demon Suppressing Guards in silver Armor and holding sharp weapons appeared on the city wall, watching the various groups of people below the wall with a stern and ready stance.
“Kill, kill, kill!”
All the Demon Suppressing Guards shouted in unison, pointing their weapons at the cultivators below the city. The solemn and murderous aura made the air tremble.
The cultivators present were all awestruck by this scene. Many, through this solemn and murderous sound, seemed to see a battlefield of clashing swords and iron, of bloody battles.
