Chapter 585: Chapter 585: Scouting the Path
Duan Nong immediately said, "Heavens, I don’t even know when we entered."
"What? Do you really want me to come sooner?"
Yang Tian glanced at Duan Nong and said.
As soon as these words came out, Duan Nong’s expression changed instantly. He didn’t even dare to weigh his options. It seemed as though he was so frightened that he was about to kneel.
Seeing this, Yang Tian waved his hand and said, "You may enter three times every four hundred years. The Ancestor has no intention of stripping you of your right to explore, so follow him."
After speaking, Yang Tian, along with Di Hai and Su Youu, slowly walked toward the mystical golden threads.
"Are we going in together?"
Hearing this, Xiao Daoyin, standing beside Zongjian Ridge, began to tremble slightly and had no choice but to pull Duan Nong along.
However, Duan Nong didn’t even glance at him. Instead, he lightly shook his head before bowing once again with Gongyang Yun toward Yang Tian. Then, he followed Yang Tian.
A few brief moments later, five people gathered before the golden threads.
Amid the reflections of the group, the golden threads suddenly flickered intensely, radiating blinding, multi-colored rays of light that enveloped all five people.
In that instant, the five individuals were engulfed by the light, turning directly into luminous particles that dissolved into the golden threads, as though devoured by them.
Watching Yang Tian finally enter the God and Demon Battlefield, Xiao Daoyin heaved a sigh of relief and let out a cold, mocking chuckle. He then looked at the two elders who hadn’t moved from Zong Qinghou’s side: "Your revered friend has taken the first step, hasn’t he?"
"Indeed! The first step is complete!"
One of Zong Qinghou’s elders nodded immediately upon hearing this. Clearly, he was aware of the plans involving Gongyang Yun and Duan Nong.
With a soft sigh, he said, "Next, when the master and Brother Duan emerge, everything will be accomplished. In the realm of cultivation, I absolutely won’t allow a Devil to rise above my patience."
"That’s right! Absolutely not!"
Xiao Daoyin echoed, then sat cross-legged, waiting patiently.
After being enveloped by the golden threads, Yang Tian felt the scenery before him shift. A moment later, he found himself standing atop a mountain.
Behind him stood Di Hai and Su Youu, but Gongyang Yun and Duan Nong were nowhere to be found.
Seeing this, Su Youu frowned and said, "Heavens, be cautious. It might be a trap."
Di Hai nodded slightly and added, "You’re right, Heavenly Venerate. When you allowed Gongyang Yun and Duan Nong to join us earlier, Xiao Daoyin clearly showed reluctance. Now, both of them have vanished without a trace. There’s likely something happening behind the scenes. We should tread carefully."
"Worry not!"
Yang Tian smiled faintly and said, "Whatever thoughts they harbor, this Immortal Battlefield exists beyond notions of right and wrong because..."
As he spoke, Yang Tian suddenly spread his arms and took a gentle breath.
"We must keep heading westward!"
After stabilizing his cultivation at the mid-tribulation stage, Yang Tian led Di Hai and Su Youu as they flew westward.
There was no other reason—the Immortal Battlefield was tied both to the realm of spiritual cultivation and to the Spiritual Cultivation Domain. According to Di Hai’s memories, the source of spiritual cultivation pointed toward the west.
In other words, when Yang Tian was in the east, he had traveled here from the Cultivation Country of Xiu Zhen!
Thus, for greater gains, it was undoubtedly necessary to journey westward and reach the heart of the Immortal Battlefield!
After all, the center was sure to have been the site of the fiercest battles during the ancient wars, and correspondingly, the Immortal relics left behind there would be the most profound!
Of course, this didn’t mean there weren’t valuable finds along the way, but most of them had likely already been taken after so many years of pillaging. The remaining scraps weren’t worth mentioning—not even to Di Hai or Su Youu, let alone Yang Tian!
After half a day of flight, covering several thousand kilometers, the trio came to a halt. Yang Tian, who was leading in the front, furrowed his brow slightly.
"What is it, Heavenly Venerate? Did you find something?"
Noticing this, Di Hai immediately asked out of curiosity.
Su Youu also stopped right away, scanning his surroundings.
However, Yang Tian shook his head and said, "Not exactly. Ever since entering this region, I’ve had a persistent feeling that someone is secretly watching us."
"Spying?"
Upon hearing this, Di Hai frowned deeply and asked, "Could it be the work of Gongyang Yun and Duan Nong?"
"Impossible. With their abilities, they wouldn’t be able to spy on us without me detecting them. Moreover, the aura of this gaze carries an undeniable hint of killing intent!"
As Yang Tian spoke, his divine sense expanded once again, scanning his surroundings carefully.
Di Hai and Su Youu also employed their own powers of divine perception, but just before they could delve deeper, a sudden burst of murderous intent descended upon them, enveloping their senses. Their faces turned pale in an instant.
"Defensive formation!"
Seeing their condition, Yang Tian quickly waved his hand, shielding the two behind him as his gaze locked on a distant point.
In that direction, a gray, mist-like killing aura began to take shape, eventually coalescing into a massive spectral figure in the sky.
From within the shadow, a figure clad in golden armor emerged slowly, holding a jug of wine and murmuring, "Ready yourself to witness the magic—should you dare to criticize."
"This... Could this be... an ancient Immortal?"
The sight of the golden-armored figure, radiating unmistakable Immortal energy, caused Su Youu to cry out in shock.
"An Immortal!"
Such exists far beyond their realm of survival!
This was from the upper echelons of power!
What’s more, an Immortal who had participated in ancient divine wars would certainly possess unparalleled strength. Each of them was a magnificent figure. These beings could not possibly dwell in the early zones of the Immortal Battlefield!
How could mere mortals survive against such a presence?
Di Hai’s expression grew grim as he stared at the golden-armored figure, prepared to flee at the first opportunity.
Though he knew the strength of Yang Tian and was well aware that Yang Tian, as the Devil’s Ancestor, was fated to ascend to sainthood one day—
—Yang Tian was still undergoing a tribulation now. If they indeed faced an ancient Immortal, even Yang Tian might not prevail.
But at that moment, Yang Tian let out a soft laugh and said, "Panicking already? It’s merely a wandering ghost from the battlefield."
"A lonely wandering soul?"
Upon closer inspection, Di Hai realized that while the golden-armored being appeared human from afar, its face was ashen, with a gaping hole in its chest as though it had been pierced through!
Even so, the remnants of Immortal power emanating from it were genuine.
Unable to suppress his fear, Di Hai remarked, "Heavens, I understand now... Should we avoid it for now?"
"Avoid?"
Yang Tian sneered slightly and said, "I came to this battlefield precisely because of these dwindling remnants of divine treasures. With the lingering spirits bound to wander the fringes... how could I retreat?"
As he spoke, Yang Tian advanced alone. With the Demon King’s Blade now in his hand, he moved directly toward the golden-armored specter.
Meanwhile, fifty kilometers away, atop a mountain, two figures held a mirror-like magic weapon, intently observing the scene. If one looked closely, they’d notice that the weapon in their hands—a magic mirror—reflected an image of Yang Tian’s trio, fifty kilometers away!
The two figures were easily recognizable.
One wore a peculiar green long robe, while the other had a white robe adorned with small swords. Both gazed upon Yang Tian with malice gleaming in their eyes.
These were none other than Gongyang Yun and Duan Nong, rulers of the two allied kingdoms within Qing Ha.
"This child’s demonic physique is truly troublesome!"
Listening to Gongyang Yun’s words, Duan Nong, despite having devised a detailed plan against Yang Tian, still furrowed his brow deeply.