The extreme north.
Another winter, the extreme north was once again covered in thick snow, as if merging with the horizon, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Chen Jinzhao had already found the location of the Xuan Tian Temple using satellite maps. When he arrived within five kilometers of the Xuan Tian Temple, he could already smell the faint scent of blood in the air.
This made Chen Jinzhao even more convinced of his previous suspicions.
"Xuan Tian Temple!"
Three large crimson characters were carved into the mountainside.
From these three characters, Chen Jinzhao felt a chilling aura, as if he was about to face an army of thousands.
"Well said, Xuan Tian Temple. It seems it's not a proper Daoist temple," Chen Jinzhao murmured at the entrance of Xuan Tian Temple.
Then.
Chen Jinzhao channeled his full energy and let out a powerful roar.
"Chen is here to pay a visit to Xuan Tian Temple!"
The sound echoed through the valley.
Lingering for a long time.
After waiting for a few minutes, Chen Jinzhao noticed the gate of Xuan Tian Temple rumbling, so he took a few steps back and looked at the grand entrance.
Not long after.
The gate opened to both sides, and a sinister aura swept over him.
A familiar face appeared before Chen Jinzhao. Seeing him, Chen Jinzhao was not surprised. Instead, Ding Ling showed surprise, "Chen Jinzhao, you're not dead? I predicted you wouldn't live for more than three years back then. You've exceeded my expectations."
"Thanks to you, I can't die yet," Chen Jinzhao said calmly.
Ding Ling nodded, his expression turning impassive.
"Come in, the Temple Master wants to see you."
Chen Jinzhao did not move, standing his ground and asking, "I only want to know, are you really Subject Zero of the God Kingdom's laboratory?"
Ding Ling's footsteps faltered, and he tilted his head, retorting, "Does that matter?"
"Of course," Chen Jinzhao said.
"If you think so, then it is," Ding Ling's answer was ambiguous, but Chen Jinzhao had already gotten his answer.
Ding Ling suddenly added, "Actually, you shouldn't have come."
A smile flickered across Chen Jinzhao's face, "But I still came."
The cold wind howled through the valley.
Letting out a cry like a wild beast.
Ding Ling shook his head and said to Chen Jinzhao, "Since you're here, come in."
With that, he walked directly into the dark cave, and Chen Jinzhao followed without hesitation, stepping into the cave behind Ding Ling.
The stone door behind them slowly closed.
Chen Jinzhao knew he had no retreat.
The two walked one after another, and after a long cave, they arrived at a fork in the road. It was here that the smell of blood in the air became even more intense, and Chen Jinzhao deduced that the blood smell came from one of the tunnels.
Seeing Chen Jinzhao standing still, Ding Ling followed his gaze and said, "That's the Temple Master's nourishment. I don't understand why you've come. Your fate will be the same as theirs sooner or later, becoming the Temple Master's nourishment."
"Follow me."
Chen Jinzhao's brow furrowed inadvertently, it seemed his guess about Xuan Tian Temple was indeed mostly correct.
This was a place that represented evil.
Following Ding Ling forward, they entered another cave. Not long after, the scenery before them suddenly opened up.
Chen Jinzhao stood at the cave entrance, his expression shocked.
Who would have thought that beneath the extreme north, there existed a vast expanse of palaces? Judging by the scale of this palace alone, it was much larger than the Forbidden City!
Even with prior preparation, Chen Jinzhao was still stunned by the sight.
"Surprised?" Ding Ling asked.
Before Chen Jinzhao could speak, Ding Ling answered himself, "This palace was built by a hundred thousand people, and it took over thirty years."
"All of them became nourishment," Chen Jinzhao finished his sentence.
A mechanical smile appeared on Ding Ling's impassive face, "Chen Jinzhao, you are very smart. The smarter you are, the more I feel you shouldn't have come to a place like this. Once you enter, there will probably be no way out in the future."
Chen Jinzhao took a deep breath, "You know, there are some things I have to do. Just like you, you have to stay in this place."
Ding Ling took a deep look at Chen Jinzhao, then walked ahead.
The two walked one after another, passing through the gate of the nine-layered palace and arriving at the entrance of the main hall. Looking at the magnificent building before them, Chen Jinzhao felt insignificant.
Knock, knock, knock!
Ding Ling knocked on the main hall door.
An old voice came from within, "Bring him in."
Creak—
The main hall door slowly opened, and Chen Jinzhao once again felt an icy chill that penetrated to his bones, causing him, a peerless expert, to shiver.
Chen Jinzhao hesitated for the first time, not stepping over the threshold into the main hall immediately.
Seeing Ding Ling about to walk away, Chen Jinzhao finally entered the main hall.
In the dim hall, the flickering candlelight seemed unusually bizarre, casting a shadow over Chen Jinzhao's heart.
The two walked to the eighteen steps and stopped.
It was then that Chen Jinzhao noticed a golden dragon throne at the end of the steps, with a gaunt old man half-reclining on it.
The next moment.
The old man opened his eyes, allowing Chen Jinzhao to see a pair of eyes as black as ink.
A chill rose from the bottom of Chen Jinzhao's heart.
This was the first time he had seen such terrifying eyes, which did not belong to any human, giving him the illusion of facing a fierce ghost.
"Master, your disciple has brought Chen Jinzhao," Ding Ling said respectfully.
The old man spoke, "I know."
When he heard the old man's voice, Chen Jinzhao felt as if it was a strange sound like rubbing old tree bark.
It made his scalp tingle.
After saying this, Ding Ling stood obediently to the side, motionless like a clay sculpture.
The old man sized up Chen Jinzhao with his black eyes. After a long while, he said expressionlessly, "Chen Jinzhao, I have heard of your name. You are the most outstanding young man of this era in China, the undisputed pillar of China."
Chen Jinzhao put away his previous thoughts and said neither subserviently nor arrogantly, "Thank you for your praise, senior. My achievements are insignificant compared to yours."
"Am I right, Senior Wu Enchu?"
The old man let out a soft "Hmm."
Clearly, he was surprised that Chen Jinzhao knew his identity.
"You know me?" Wu Enchu said.
"Of course, I know you, sir. You were once the helmsman of 'Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains,' bringing infinite possibilities to this land," Chen Jinzhao said this without any personal emotion, neither admiration nor disdain.
Wu Enchu chuckled.
It had to be said, the old man's laughter was somewhat eerie. If anyone else were in Chen Jinzhao's position, they would have been scared out of their wits.
"Interesting, you are not afraid of me. But then again, your achievements are already comparable to mine, so there's no need to fear an old man like me," Wu Enchu said indifferently, then looked at Chen Jinzhao again, "Speak, what do you want to do at Xuan Tian Temple?"
Chen Jinzhao's eyes narrowed.
"I want to ask Senior Wu for one person."
"This person is my father, named Chen Yangfu."