Chapter 1436 - 41: Lushui Cave Heaven
Lushui Grotto Heaven is located in the northwest of the Demon Country. This is an extremely rare Pocket World, the entire Demon Country is frozen by snow and ice, and the further north one goes, the more barren the Primordial Energy becomes.
But Lushui Grotto Heaven is different.
Although this Grotto Heaven was severely damaged by the Great Tribulation a thousand years ago, it contains a Spring Eye of Primordial Energy, thus nurturing a multitude of Plant Spirits, making a ten-mile radius feel like spring all year round.
These ten miles, neither too big nor too small.
Just enough for a Yin God Venerable and his disciples to cultivate.
"Master."
"Master."
At this moment, deep in the Chi Lu Hall of Lushui Grotto Heaven, mist swirled around.
A middle-aged man in a deep blue Daoist robe sat suspended in the center of the hall, surrounded by swirling clouds, presenting a scene of holiness.
This was precisely Venerable Chi Lu.
Beneath his seat, four young Great Demons respectfully paid homage.
Venerable Chi Lu reached the Yin God Realm within a cycle of sixty years; in terms of strength, he is quite exceptional even among the master-filled Heavenly Phoenix Palace.
Given the favor of Chi Fu Dragon Lord, he was entrusted to guard Lushui Grotto Heaven, alleviating troubles for Heavenly Phoenix Palace; if placed within the Da Chu Dynasty, he would already be considered a "Sealed Border Official"!
Such a person taking disciples under his seat is quite reasonable.
"Those things I asked you to collect these few days, how are they?"
Venerable Chi Lu slowly opened his eyes, casting his gaze over the young Great Demons.
"Master."
A young Great Demon with antlers revealed difficulty: "These ’white paper ashes’ are really too small... even employing the ’Sky Vault Divination Technique’ taught by you, there’s still no harvest."
"No harvest at all?"
Venerable Chi Lu slightly frowned.
It has been three days since he met with Chi Fu Dragon Lord’s Divine Soul.
Chi Fu Dragon Lord said he would come to Lushui Grotto Heaven... according to the appointed date, it should be the day after tomorrow.
He mobilized the entirety of Lushui Grotto Heaven and the surrounding dozens of miles of Great Demons to search for those possible clues, the white paper ashes.
The entire hall fell silent.
The young Great Demons all lowered their heads, not daring to meet the master’s eyes.
"..."
Venerable Chi Lu waved his sleeve, indicating his disciples could leave.
The water vapor in the hall stirred.
The young Great Demons quickly left.
"These ashes, fear they are not enough."
Venerable Chi Lu felt a bit worried.
He knew why Chi Fu Dragon Lord came south. Heavenly Phoenix Palace is connected to the stars and can use the Power of the Sky Vault for divination... if there is a personal item, more or less, traces can be found. To find Xuan Jin, Cheng Er must be found, these fragments of white paper are the best consumables for divination.
Unfortunately, there’s too little.
While pondering, his peripheral vision caught a figure remaining at the end of the hall.
"Yun Mei, is there anything else?"
Venerable Chi Lu was somewhat perplexed, calling her name.
"Master... there’s something I wish to report."
The Great Demon in a white shirt took out a Jade Scroll from her sleeve with reverence: "The outermost Star Gate of Lushui Grotto Heaven experienced some anomalies unexpectedly last night..."
"Anomalies?"
Venerable Chi Lu frowned.
As the master of this Lushui Grotto Heaven, his Divine Thought, augmented by the Great Array, envelops the entire ten-mile radius.
Ideally.
Any turmoil here, he should be aware of immediately.
These days.
He hadn’t detected any anomalies.
"Last night, the disciple employed the Sky Vault Technique, intending to merge with the Divine Sea of the Star Gate... only when unintentionally casting a trigram, but seeing a major ominous pattern."
Yun Mei carefully handed over the Jade Scroll, saying: "This is the process of divination."
"..."
Venerable Chi Lu took in the Jade Scroll into his palm.
"Major ominous. Major ominous. Major ominous?"
Venerable Chi Lu furrowed his brow, his expression becoming dark.
Yun Mei had cast three trigrams altogether.
The first trigram divined the peace of Lushui Grotto Heaven.
The second trigram divined the peace of Chi Lu Hall.
The third trigram divined Venerable Chi Lu...
The trigram failed regarding oneself.
Yun Mei Venerable’s divination technique is a True Inheritor from Venerable Chi Lu. Although her realm is only that of the Blessed Land, her divination power is quite exceptional, gaining deep trust.
Three trigrams! All indicate major ominous signs!
Extremely unlucky!
"I understand."
Venerable Chi Lu did not become angry. He glanced deeply at the Jade Scroll: "The omens of trigrams are just for reference. This Lushui Grotto Heaven is located in the core of Heavenly Phoenix Palace’s territory; unless Great Ape Mountain strikes, otherwise who can disturb this entire Grotto Heaven’s peace... I will remember this omen, in two days my Master shall come south."
This sentence, though brief, pointed out the focus.
In two days.
The Yang God Great Cultivator will descend upon this Lushui Grotto Heaven.
What unrest can’t be resolved by Chi Fu Dragon Lord’s arrival?
"Master Chi Ruo is coming?"
Yun Mei was momentarily dumbfounded, worry in her eyes dissipating a bit.
"Mm..."
Venerable Chi Lu said dreamily: "Don’t publicize this matter. The ominous sign of the trigram is located north of Lushui Grotto Heaven; these two days, you let Mao Que go to the trigram location and take a look. If not mistaken, there’s only a Desolate Ridge there."
Though Lushui Grotto Heaven is rich in Primordial Energy, beyond the ten-mile borders lies desolate barrenness.
Having received an ominous trigram.
There is still a need to investigate the anomaly of this omened trigram.
"Yes."
Yun Mei received the order and left.
In the hall, the suspended Venerable Chi Lu remained uneasy.
He gripped the white paper ashes, silently cast a trigram for the ominous sign...
Closing his eyes.
Venerable Chi Lu’s hair stood on end, vaguely glimpsing sandstorms sweeping across.
Amidst the pitch-black darkness.
A pair of majestic, sacred, golden dragon eyes seemed to slowly open.
...
...
The sealed borders of Lushui Grotto Heaven, due north.
The Desolate Ridge was filled with howling wind and snow; a strand of Blood Qi streaked through the heavy snow, and after several miles, the Void Shattering occurred, and a scantily-clad woman in a red shirt fell from within the void.