At an altitude of several thousand zhang, hundreds of "righteous and demonic" cultivators were split into two groups, fighting desperately against each other.
One side billowed with murderous aura as countless ghostly shadows materialized one after another, while the other side had deployed several small-scale spell formations. Various magical artifacts and treasures conjured flashes of lightning and peals of thunder that shook the heavens.
Among these cultivators, the highest-reached were merely two Gold Core cultivators; the rest were mostly around the Foundation Establishment stage.
"As expected, the upheaval in Great Jin has a great deal to do with the involvement of these sect factions. But whichever side laughs last, the Great Jin imperial clan will likely have to change its surname once more." High above, on a wisp of white cloud, Han Li gazed down at the great battle below and sighed with considerable emotion.
Everything he had experienced in Great Jin back then still seemed as vivid as yesterday, yet in truth, thousands of years had passed. Not only were the old acquaintances of that era long gone, but even the sects he had once known well had likely vanished without a trace.
The combat methods of the so-called "righteous and demonic cultivators" below were naturally not worth a second glance from the current Han Li.
He lingered nearby for only a moment before forming a hand seal with one hand, then silently vanished from the white cloud without a sound.
……
In a forbidden zone deep in the southern frontier of Great Jin, where layers upon layers of restrictions had been laid down, teams of cultivators wearing various sect robes patrolled in orderly fashion around the base of a towering, jet-black mountain.
The entire forbidden zone had been sealed with extremely powerful airspace restrictions. Aside from the most powerful Nascent Soul ancestors in the human world, the guards had no worry that anyone could fly directly into the mountain.
Though this mountain had once caused an enormous commotion—with numerous high-level cultivators perishing as a result, leading several major sects to jointly dispatch personnel to seal and guard it—after thousands of years, whatever treasures remained inside had long been excavated completely. No high-level being would have any designs on this mountain anymore.
As a result, while these sect cultivators appeared to be guarding it with utmost vigilance, they were in truth absent-minded and merely going through the motions.
It was under these circumstances that a faint phantom ignored the layered restrictions and the patrolling squads alike, flashing once and sinking into the black mountain.
An hour later, at a height of over a hundred zhang above the mountain's peak, Han Li materialized with a flash and raised his head, sweeping his gaze over the mountain below.
With his vast spiritual sense, even though the mountain still harbored many surviving restrictions, they posed absolutely no impediment. He instantly surveyed every corner of the mountain.
When he caught sight of certain familiar yet changed locations, a complicated expression crossed his face.
"Since Kunwu Mountain has already changed beyond recognition, there's no need to remain here any longer. I'll send you back into the void."
With a murmur, Han Li suddenly shifted form, transforming into a streak of azure rainbow that shot toward the sky.
Moments later, violent fluctuations erupted at the mountain's summit. A colossal azure hand, a thousand zhang in length, materialized out of nothing and slammed down upon the mountain below.
A thunderous boom shook the earth like an earthquake. Countless restriction barriers activated in cascades of brilliant light, and rings of intense spatial ripples spread outward.
The entire mountain blurred and vanished into thin air.
In its place, only an impossibly deep crater remained.
This scene was witnessed in its entirety by the sect cultivators patrolling nearby. Every last one of them stood dumbstruck, wondering if they were trapped in a dream.
Before long, the commotion attracted a number of Nascent Soul old monsters, who rushed over posthaste. But after thorough investigation, they found nothing more than lingering traces of spatial energy in the vicinity. They could not determine Kunwu Mountain's whereabouts in the slightest, and could only leave in frustrated bewilderment.
Later, this incident became one of the Ten Great Mysteries of Great Jin. The story of Kunwu Mountain was once again the talk of countless cultivators.
But as time passed, the rumors gradually dwindled. Ten thousand years on, only a few sparse words in ancient texts preserved any mention of Kunwu Mountain at all.
……
On the massive island where the Chaotic Star Sea's holy city—Heavenly Star City—was situated, the streets teemed with bustle and liveliness as countless ships of every size converged on the island like ants.
Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators filled the city in numbers beyond counting, and occasionally one could spot a Nascent Soul ancestor's conveyance passing overhead, streaking straight toward the Star Palace at the very summit.
Today was the thousand-year birthday celebration of the Star Palace Master, "Ancestor Ling." Factions of all sizes across the Star Sea had begun preparing their grand gifts over a decade ago, all hoping to win Ancestor Ling's favor so that their forces might continue to enjoy the Star Palace's protection unharmed.
By noon, inside the Star Palace's great hall, dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators had gathered together. Every one of them wore an expression of reverence as they gazed at a young woman seated in the place of honor, clad in white palace robes.
Her face was like white jade, extraordinarily lovely and enchanting, yet her beautiful eyes harbored faint glimmers of crystalline light. Wherever her gaze swept, the assembled Nascent Soul ancestors lowered their heads in deference.