Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan suddenly understood.
It turned out that the reason these spiritual beasts attacked Dragon Tiger Mountain was because of a spiritual medicine.
However, the spiritual medicine was stolen, Dragon Tiger Mountain suffered a major upheaval, its vital energy was greatly depleted, leading to the decline of its cultivators and its gradual demise.
"Who else do you know?" Zhou Yan pondered and asked.
"My master has a total of five Divine King Realm powerhouses."
Qing Yan replied, "The first to follow the master were three elders at the first level of the Divine King Realm. Besides them, there are also four fire pythons, fire lizards, fire oxen, and others at the second level of the Divine King Realm..."
"Additionally, there is a mysterious woman. Her identity is very special and unfathomable. I don't know her specific origin."
"Mysterious woman?" Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow and thought to himself: Could this be Qing Luan's mother?
"Did the Azure Lotus Sword Song originate from Dragon Tiger Mountain?"
Suddenly, Zhou Yan asked.
"Yes, my master once saw in an ancient book that the Azure Lotus Sword Song was created by the Patriarch of Dragon Tiger Mountain," Qing Yan said.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan's eyes flashed with brilliance, and his face showed excitement and joy.
Finally, there was a clue!
"Master, your father Zhou Yuanshan..."
Abruptly, Qing Yan spoke.
Hearing this, Zhou Yan was stunned for a moment, his expression slightly disappointed.
"Master, please forgive my subordinate for speaking out of turn," Qing Yan said, "Your father Zhou Yuanshan has been missing for hundreds of years and is likely dead..."
Zhou Yan was furious and slammed his hand on the stone platform.
Instantly, there was a thunderous roar, shattered stones flew, and dust billowed, shaking the ground.
"Master, please calm your anger. Your subordinate did not mean to mock you..." Qing Yan hastily explained.
"I understand."
Zhou Yan waved his hand, calmed down, and said indifferently, "No matter what, I finally know my father's whereabouts."
"You just mentioned the Azure Lotus Sword Song?"
"Who created that ultimate technique?" Zhou Yan asked.
"That ultimate technique was created by our ancestor, the 'Azure Lotus Fairy'..."
Mentioning their ancestor, Qing Yan became solemn and spoke slowly, recounting the story.
The Azure Lotus Fairy was a remarkable woman from the Southern Ridge region.
Legend had it that the Azure Lotus Fairy was naturally free-spirited, exceptionally talented, and possessed divine-like potential.
Therefore, she traveled alone, righting wrongs and saving innocent people.
Throughout her life, the Azure Lotus Fairy slew demons and monsters, eradicated evil, and established her prestige, earning her the title of a heroic woman.
However, one night, the Azure Lotus Fairy suddenly disappeared without a trace and never reappeared.
Over time, people assumed she had left the Southern Ridge and returned to her sect to cultivate in seclusion...
For hundreds of years, the Azure Lotus Fairy, like a fleeting flower, had completely vanished from the public eye.
Because of the Azure Lotus Fairy, countless martial arts sects were born on the lands of the Southern Ridge, possessing immense power.
Furthermore, these forces occupied Dragon Tiger Mountain year-round, becoming the de facto rulers of the Southern Ridge.
Thus, the spiritual beasts of Dragon Tiger Mountain were raised by these forces.
"Is the Azure Lotus Fairy truly deceased?"
Zhou Yan's heart was filled with anticipation, hoping to find the Azure Lotus Fairy's trace.
"Master, whether the Azure Lotus Fairy has perished, this matter cannot be determined."
Qing Yan shook his head and said, "According to legend, the Azure Lotus Fairy cultivated the Azure Lotus Sword Art, which grants a long lifespan. She lived for at least two to three hundred years."
"If one can evolve into a spiritual beast, their strength becomes even more terrifying."
"Two to three hundred years..." Zhou Yan sighed, feeling quite regretful.
For ordinary people, their lifespan rarely exceeded a hundred years, yet the Azure Lotus Fairy had lived for two to three centuries.
What had she experienced during this vast expanse of time?
"Master, when the Azure Lotus Fairy disappeared, she left behind a broken sword."
"This broken sword is named [Azure Lotus Sword], and it contains a trace of sword soul. As long as its master's twin brother is found, the [Azure Lotus Sword] can be used!" Qing Yan pondered for a moment and said slowly and firmly.
Zhou Yan fell silent, his heart filled with emotion.
The Azure Lotus Sword was a weapon forged by the Azure Lotus Fairy with decades of painstaking effort, possessing sharp edges and formidable killing power.
Now that the Azure Lotus Sword was lost, finding it was akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.
"Qing Yan, I will give you an opportunity. Go and collect the remnants of the Azure Lotus Sword for me..."
After a long period of silence, Zhou Yan finally spoke slowly.
"I obey your master's decree!" Qing Yan was ecstatic, hurriedly kowtowed, and expressed his deep gratitude.
"Alright, you may withdraw." Zhou Yan waved his hand.
After Qing Yan left, Zhou Yan took out a pill and swallowed it.
Instantly, Zhou Yan's entire body surged, his muscles bulged, his bones creaked, and his sinews harmonized, emitting terrifying power.
"This pill's effect is extraordinary. It has actually pushed my physical strength to the peak of the sixth level of the Divine King Realm," Zhou Yan murmured.
During this time, after his injuries had healed, Zhou Yan had been in closed-door cultivation, pushing his physical strength to the seventh level of the Divine King Realm.
"Since the Azure Lotus Sword is in Dragon Tiger Mountain, why don't I make a trip there?"
Zhou Yan's eyes flickered as he decided to head to Dragon Tiger Mountain.
After all, his greatest goal since arriving in this world was to find his family lineage.
As for other matters, they were secondary.
Dragon Tiger Mountain was located in the Southern Ridge, a thousand li away from its border.
Even with a warrior's speed, the journey would take two days.
However, Zhou Yan did not worry, because... beside him was a puppet capable of translocation.
"Qing Yan."
Zhou Yan called out.
In just a few breaths, several figures in black robes shot through the air and appeared before Zhou Yan.
"Greetings, Master!"
The leader was none other than the commander of the armored soldiers.
"Iron Guard Legion, heed my command!"
Zhou Yan said in a deep voice, "From now on, you will lead a small team to protect my safety."
"We obey the master's command." The members of the Iron Guard Legion all bowed in agreement.
"Remember, this time when we go to Dragon Tiger Mountain, do not cause any trouble. Do you understand?" Zhou Yan instructed.
"Master, rest assured, we will complete the mission," the members of the Iron Guard Legion nodded in assent.
"Good."
Zhou Yan nodded with satisfaction, then gave a few more instructions before taking them and speeding towards Dragon Tiger Mountain.
Dragon Tiger Mountain was a forbidden land in the Southern Ridge, extremely perilous.
Not only were there many powerful demonic beasts, but it was also covered by powerful formations, making it impossible to proceed.
It was precisely for this reason that the major sects established their bases in secluded and hidden locations, not daring to expose themselves within Dragon Tiger Mountain.
Zhou Yan and the others, however, took a flying boat, soaring a thousand zhang into the sky, traversing layers of obstacles, and arriving near Dragon Tiger Mountain.
"Dragon Tiger Mountain, I have finally arrived at Dragon Tiger Mountain," Zhou Yan gazed out, his heart surging.
"Master, please wait a moment, I will go and scout..."
Immediately after, the members of the Iron Guard Legion sprang into action, entering Dragon Tiger Mountain.
Dragon Tiger Mountain stretched for eight thousand li.
Within it, the mountains were beautiful, and spiritual birds and exotic beasts were countless.