CHAPTER 402: CHAPTER 343 MOUNTAIN CLIMBING! [VOTE FOR MONTHLY PASS!]

"The Immortal Vine Ancestral Land lies ahead, known as ’Qilin Mountain.’ In reality, it is a continent nestled in the expanse of the cosmos. At its very center looms a mountain range shaped like a Qilin Immortal Beast, where most of the Immortal Vine Clan’s powerful individuals reside."

East River Fairy stowed away the ’Shell Leaf Immortal Shuttle,’ stood amidst the cosmos, and pointed toward the distance, elaborating further for Chen Jichuan, Xiao Lan, and the Ten Star Lords.

She looked toward the Ten Star Lords and Xiao Lan and said, "To my knowledge, the Immortal Vine Clan only has about forty individuals at the Divinity Transformation stage, evenly split between the Third and Fourth Realms. Among those of the Fourth Realm, most are Loose Immortals, the majority of whom are of lower rank. The ones truly capable of threatening you include one Ten Tribulations Loose Immortal, one Nine-Transformation Venerable, and one Nine Tribulations Loose Immortal."

The Immortal Vine Clan is graced by nature’s providence, born directly into the Divinity Transformation stage.

With diligent cultivation, reaching the Third or Fourth Realms is merely a matter of time.

Their sole limitation is their small population.

Throughout history, the Immortal Vine Clan has never had over a hundred members at the same time. In this era, they have only a little over forty individuals at the Divinity Transformation stage, of which half are Divine Transformation practitioners or Loose Immortals.

In other words, around twenty are Divine Transformation practitioners or Loose Immortal Great Powers.

In the vastness of the cosmos, this constitutes a tremendously fearsome force.

Especially when they have a Ten Tribulations Loose Immortal holding the fort.

"A Ten Tribulations Loose Immortal!"

Even though the Ten Star Lords had already learned about the Immortal Vine Clan’s background and the existence of a Ten Tribulations Loose Immortal from East River Fairy, now as the confrontation grew imminent, their hearts couldn’t help but tremble.

Within the Fourth Realm of Divinity Transformation, there are nine transformations corresponding to the first nine tribulations of Loose Immortals.

Take the Ten Star Lords, for instance.

They are Seven Tribulations Loose Immortals, roughly equivalent to Fourth Realm Seventh Transformation Great Powers.

Nine Tribulations correspond to the Ninth Transformation.

Beyond the Ninth Transformation of Divinity Transformation lies the Fourth Order.

For Loose Immortals, starting from the Tenth Tribulation, their power surpasses the scope of Divinity Transformation and the Third Realm, comparable to Fourth Order Great Powers.

A Ten Tribulations Loose Immortal is undoubtedly a Sovereign under the cosmos.

Even individuals like the Ten Star Lords could not help but feel a shudder in their hearts as they braced themselves to face such an adversary.

"Could the two Star Lords scout the situation within Qilin Mountain?"

Having provided an introduction, East River Fairy turned toward the two leading members of the Ten Star Lords.

"Fairy, wait a moment."

The two Star Lords steadied their minds and nodded in response.

The Great Star Lord gazed into the distance, toward Qilin Mountain, while the Second Star Lord inclined his ear, intently listening.

"Thousand-mile Eye."

"Sharp-Hearing Ear."

Chen Jichuan observed, his eyes glinting with intrigue.

The two leaders of the Ten Star Lords possessed exceptional abilities: one was born with the ’Thousand-mile Eye,’ capable of perceiving events thousands of miles away, now extended to the edges of the cosmos; the other was born with the ’Sharp-Hearing Ear,’ originally able to hear sounds from afar and now capable of discernment across the stars.

When the two joined forces, they could traverse the cosmos with certainty. Once they made their move, they were nearly unstoppable.

The enduring survival of all Ten Star Lords owed much to the skills of these two elder brothers.

In this assault against Qilin Mountain, Xiao Lan likely sought their participation due to their unique capabilities, particularly those of the Great Star Lord and Second Star Lord.

Having these two scout the terrain increased their odds of success.

Soon after.

The Great Star Lord withdrew his gaze first and said gravely, "I see twenty-five individuals at the Divinity Transformation stage within Qilin Mountain. Of them, six are in the Fourth Realm, with the one stationed at the center likely being the Ten Tribulations Loose Immortal ’Mo Yanzhen’ Fairy mentioned. The strongest of the remaining five is no more than a Seven Tribulations Loose Immortal."

"Luo Hee and Qu Can are not in the mountain."

"Nor is there any sign of their activity in the surrounding cosmos."

The Second Star Lord had completed his reconnaissance and reported as well.

Luo Hee and Qu Can—

These two were the Immortal Vine Clan’s two pinnacle Great Powers. Luo Hee, in particular, had attained the Ninth Transformation, rivalling Xiao Lan’s Human Clan Avatar. Qu Can was a Nine Tribulations Loose Immortal with equally daunting strength.

But it was impossible for all of the Immortal Vine Clan’s powerhouses to remain in Qilin Mountain perpetually.

They, too, needed to venture into the cosmos, seeking fortuitous opportunities to break through their confines and ascend to immortality.

Take Moro, for instance.

He had perished while out adventuring.

For the Immortal Vine Clan, which had barely forty-something Divinity Transformation practitioners, having twenty-five of them stay behind was an unusually high proportion.

But for Chen Jichuan and his group, this made their assault on Qilin Mountain far more convenient.

"Leave Mo Yanzhen to me."

"The rest will be handled by Lan Fairy and the Star Lords."

Having heard the report, East River Fairy immediately assigned targets before turning to Chen Jichuan. "Qilin Mountain is riddled with arrays. Once we go in, Fellow Daoist, stay by me and guide us in breaking the formations."

In a battle involving Divine Transformation and Loose Immortal-level forces, Chen Jichuan could still handle lower-level opponents.

But this skirmish included no shortage of Seven Tribulations Loose Immortals.

Not to mention the two cosmic dominators, Xiao Lan and Mo Yanzhen, both exceeding the scope of Third-Order power. With his modest cultivation, Chen Jichuan couldn’t hold his ground, nor was there any need for him to fight. His role was solely in guiding the others to break the array.

Fully aware of his own limitations, Chen Jichuan promptly replied, "Fairy, rest assured."

"Leave it to us!"

The Ten Star Lords and Xiao Lan nodded firmly.

"Good!"

East River Fairy’s body gleamed as she transformed, her figure expanding to seven zhang tall. She gently exhaled, lifting Chen Jichuan onto her shoulder. From her shoulder, several vines extended out, weaving into a chair that securely fastened him in place. Her cascading hair released a subtle fragrance to cover him.

"Hold on tight!"

East River Fairy turned her head and gave a word of caution to the diminutive Chen Jichuan. Then, in a deep tone, she commanded, "Set out!"

The group charged straight toward Qilin Mountain!

...

[Formation: Twenty-four Flower Evil God Gang Immortal Formation]

[Level: Fourth Order]

[Description: The defensive array of the Immortal Vine Clan, it collects twenty-four types of rare flowers and exotic plants from the cosmos, planting them within the formation to harness their fiendish energy. The array wields offensive, illusory, entrapping, and defensive powers, and can manifest Qilin Immortal Beasts with unparalleled combat strength.]

...

"The Twenty-four Flower Evil God Gang Immortal Formation!"

Sitting on East River Fairy’s shoulder, Chen Jichuan immediately discerned the array enveloping the entirety of Qilin Mountain.

A Fourth-Order Array.

While it didn’t surpass the Small Sumeru Right and Left Nine Palace Immortal Formation in complexity, it was complete and had been honed over countless years by the Immortal Vine Clan, possessing formidable power.

Coupled with the twenty-five Divinity Transformation powerhouses stationed within...

Breaking through by brute force would likely leave even someone of Xiao Lan’s rank as a Fourth-Order figure in dire straits.

"This formation is tough to break."

"Follow my lead when the time comes."

Chen Jichuan warned East River Fairy.

"Understood!"

East River Fairy nodded.

Then, with ghostly swiftness, she silently landed on Qilin Mountain’s continent. Her feet shifted, directly heading toward the central Qilin Mountain.

"Let’s go!"

Xiao Lan and the Ten Star Lords closely followed.

The group did their utmost to conceal their presence, but as this was the heart of the Immortal Vine Clan’s stronghold, their intrusion was soon detected.

A sinister floral fragrance spread throughout.

The Immortal Array activated.

From deep within the mountain arose an aged, austere voice. "Who dares trespass upon my Qilin Mountain?!"

Before the voice had even faded.

A surge of murderous energy swiftly materialized into twenty-four Qilin Immortal Beasts, charging straight at Xiao Lan and her companions.

"Be careful."

Chen Jichuan warned, his eyes piercing through the array’s intricacies, continuously directing their movements.

East River Fairy, Xiao Lan, and the Ten Star Lords followed his guidance, deftly dodging or swiftly neutralizing the assaults of the floral fiend energy manifesting as Qilin Immortal Beasts, advancing closer to Qilin Mountain.

"Fools courting death!"

Within Qilin Mountain, witnessing the array failing to exert its full might, a furious roar resounded, and six beams of light streaked from the mountain toward Chen Jichuan’s party.

"Mo Yanzhen."

Sweeping his gaze across the newcomers, Chen Jichuan’s eyelid twitched.

Leading them was none other than the strongest figure of the contemporary Immortal Vine Clan—

Ten Tribulations Loose Immortal!

Mo Yanzhen!

...

"Mo Yanzhen!"

"Open your eyes and see who I am!"

As East River Fairy laid her gaze upon the approaching figure, she sneered. Her hands formed seals as a lotus platform emerged beneath her feet. Strange flowers and exotic grasses bloomed vividly all around, only to wither in an instant.

"It’s you?!"

The white-haired elder Mo Yanzhen’s face shifted slightly upon seeing her. Around him, an illusory green lotus shrouded his form, its blossoming tendrils relentlessly draining his vitality.

"Creation and Destruction are governed by one’s heart."

"Xiao Lan’s mastery of ’Green Lotus Descent’ has far surpassed mine."

Sitting on East River Fairy’s shoulder, Chen Jichuan marveled at the technique before him.

In ages past...

He had imparted the ’Azure Dragon Longevity Scripture’ to Xiao Lan’s original form. Shortly afterward, he had exchanged one of his numerous super-level techniques, ’Green Lotus Descent,’ with Xiao Lan for treasures.

This technique, buried lower in Chen Jichuan’s prioritization, had yet to be deeply explored over the past three millennia.

But Xiao Lan had dedicated herself fully to mastering it, advancing it to extraordinary heights.

Now unleashed in its fullest form—

Even Chen Jichuan struggled to comprehend its many intricacies.

Before her, Mo Yanzhen, a Ten Tribulations Loose Immortal, displayed visible shock, a testament to the technique’s overwhelming might.

The confrontation between these two entities, both surpassing the Third Realm, immediately tipped in Xiao Lan’s favor.

"Ten Tribulations Loose Immortal."

"Fourth-Order Ascension."

"While their realms are comparable, Mo Yanzhen is clearly no match for Xiao Lan in personal strength."

Chen Jichuan felt reassured, simultaneously analyzing the formation and observing the duel at hand.

East River Fairy and Mo Yanzhen, both paragons of their respective paths, displayed dazzling techniques beyond ordinary comprehension, leaving Chen Jichuan nearly unable to keep up.

The two were clearly acquainted—and at odds.

Thus, their battle was utterly merciless.

Nor was it just the two.

In another area, Xiao Lan’s Human Clan Avatar commanded unrelenting flames, keeping two Fourth Realm Great Powers and eight Third Realm practitioners at bay.

The Daluo Heavenly Fire scorched and shattered everything in its path!

The Ten Star Lords proved themselves equally formidable.

They each utilized their unique abilities while remaining closely coordinated, their combined efforts giving them the upper hand against three Fourth Realm combatants and eleven Third Realm fighters.

However, whether it was East River Fairy, Xiao Lan, or the Ten Star Lords, no one managed to secure decisive victories during this critical phase.

The battle reached a stalemate.

Chen Jichuan grew anxious at the sight and hastily advised East River Fairy, "If this drags on, other Immortal Vine Clan powerhouses may return. It would be better if I infiltrate the ancestral land and retrieve the ’Qilin Immortal Bone’ and ’Qilin Treasure Medicine’ first. That way, whether we advance or retreat, we’ll have the definitive upper hand."

To prevent delays and ensure stability, obtaining the ’Qilin Treasure Medicine’ was imperative.

Though engrossed in combat, East River Fairy understood his reasoning.

Upon hearing Chen Jichuan’s suggestion, her silky hair swayed, and she tore off a strand that carried him to the ground.

"Be quick!"

Her voice echoed as her hair coiled like tendrils around him.

Spurred on by her words, Chen Jichuan silently nodded, using the ’Guiyuan Hiding Method’ to its utmost effectiveness. He darted across the battlefield, his eyes uncovering the array’s secrets, navigating with precision and ease.

Heading straight toward the heart of Qilin Mountain.

...