Chapter 2086: The Four Corner Village
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
In the year 10058 of the Divine Prefecture Calendar, several shocking events had occurred in the Donghua Domain. In addition to Ning Hua’s breakthrough, the marriage between the ancient royal family of Yan and Lingxiao Palace was also a much-antic.i.p.ated event. However, everything that happened later caused an uproar like never before.
When Ye Futian reappeared, he and his group destroy an entire army of Renhuang, including crus.h.i.+ng a Renhuang of the Ninth Realm with a single strike. The chaos that ensued was no less shocking than Ning Hua’s breakthrough.
However, all of this was confined within the bounds of the Donghua Domain.
There were countless continents in each of the 18 Divine Prefecture domains, and countless major events were taking place every day. Take one domain, for example. Only events such as relating to Ning Hua or the destruction of the Yan Kingdom’s wedding party could rouse any sensation. Other major events were happening in their own domain.
Therefore, only the top forces in other domains might hear of them outside Donghua Domain when these events occurred. Other than that, the cultivators of other domains would not understand much about anything. The Divine Prefecture was such a vast area, with countless news every day and different focuses on different matters. Most of the energy and attention would only be limited to things happening in their own domain.
Ordinary cultivators would have no idea about who was who with those top figures from other domains.
For example, the Shangqing Domain, which neighbored the Donghua Domain, was not so concerned with what was happening in the Donghua Domain, and the transmission of news was equally limited. Ning Hua was the Vice Chief of the Donghua Domain, and Ye Futian made his name in Donghua Domain. The ancient royal family of Yan was a giant force in Donghua Domain as well. Whatever happened to them was easily of much interest in the domain. However, an ordinary cultivator in Shangqing Domain might be curious about who Ning Hua or Ye Futian was.
In this way, it was hard for the news to spread further because there weren’t many who paid attention to it.
In the Shangqing Domain, there was a very prestigious continent called the “Four Corner Continent.”
The name Four Corner Continent sounded common enough, and its location remote. As it was at a corner of the Shangqing Domain, it was far off from even the main continent of the Shangqing Domain. It was spa.r.s.ely populated, and the entire continent was not large in size. It was hardly comparable with the main continent of the domain.
However, such a continent had a great reputation in the Shangqing Domain. Countless cultivators came each year, including those from top princ.i.p.alities.
All of this was because of a special place in the Four Corner Continent called “Four Corner Village.”
Although it was just a village, this village was held in high regard in the entire Shangqing Domain and even in the Divine Prefecture.
There was no reason other than Donghuang the Great had once entered this village to cultivate. It was said that he had come to this village to seek the Way. At that time, he wasn’t yet the Great Emperor, but Four Corner Village had already enjoyed its reputation. Thus, some even called Four Corner Village the Emperor’s Village.
The Four Corner Continent was not great in size and spa.r.s.ely populated, but off and on, people could be seen traveling through its air s.p.a.ce. Those who came here, especially cultivators from the outside, almost all of them were headed toward Four Corner Village.
At this time, in the sky above the continent, there was a group of cultivators traveling by air, shuttling through the clouds and mist. The person leading the group was a white-haired young man, Ye Futian.
Next to Ye Futian was Xia Qingyuan, with Chen Yi sitting behind him. Zifeng stood quietly in the back, as well as Beigong Ao and his daughter. As for the one who carried them, it was naturally the much hardworking “Condor Sama.”
There were not many who came on this trip. Only a few of them—Xia Qingyuan, Zifeng, and Little Condor—need no further elaboration. Beigong Ao and his daughter had been following Ye Futian since they left home. For Chen Yi to follow Ye Futian was a surprise, but of course, Li Changsheng must have encouraged Chen Yi to travel with them.
Li Changsheng felt that Chen Yi was an extraordinary character suitable for making the visit to the Four Corner Village.
“We should be there soon,” the Black Wind Condor said in a human voice.
“Four Corner Continent is not that big; we ought to be close. Once we found the Four Corner Mountain, we can find the Four Corner Village,” said Ye Futian. This was what Li Changsheng wanted. Once he had decided to come to the outside world for trials, Li Changsheng sent them directly to the Four Corner Continent and told them to go to the Four Corner Village.
After Li Changsheng’s breakthrough, he ended up in the Shangqing Domain and heard some things.
As for why Li Changsheng himself didn’t escort them to the Four Corner Village, it was because of the Four Corner Continent’s special status in Divine Prefecture. Donghuang the Great had ordered that those of the master level may not be allowed to step onto the Four Corner Continent.
In addition, there was another rule in Four Corner Village: private fights were strictly forbidden inside the village, except between the villagers. Outsiders who dared to harm the others inside the village would be killed without exception.
Some said it was because Donghuang the Great once cultivated in the Four Corner Village. Others said it was because of the special nature of the Four Corner Village. In any case, no one would dare to disobey the Great Emperor’s command.
Because of this, this spa.r.s.ely-populated, remote continent was full of mystery in the eyes of the world. Its lofty position even warranted the personal attention of the Great Emperor himself.
Because of the Four Corner Continent’s special nature, buildings were not allowed here, so the entire continent was a series of endless mountains and plains. There were no cities, and human traces were rarer still. Only in the void were there people who may be traveling through from time to time.
“Little Condor, you can follow the others if you don’t know the way,” Ye Futian whispered.
“Understood.” Little Condor nodded slightly as he expanded his consciousness to sense that people from different directions were all moving toward one direction. He understood that by keeping up with the others, those who came from the Shangqing Domain would be more familiar with the direction than they were.
Before long, a mountain appeared in front of them, and a special aura seemed to linger there. The entire mountain range seemed elusive, with celestial mists all around it.
“There’s a pressure of the Great Path. Go down,” Ye Futian commanded. Those in the distance were swooping down as well, and the Black Wind Condor could feel the mysterious pressure of the Great Path in this area. It permeated between heaven and earth as if it was everywhere, forcing him to go lower.
Ye Futian, after swooping down, came to the foot of the mountain. There was a winding mountain road in front of him, leading all the way to the top. The scenery on the mountain was breathtaking. There was a stone tablet halfway up the mountain engraved with a few words: “Four Corner Village.”
After the stone tablet, there was a staircase. The staircase could only accommodate one person at a time as it was very narrow, with mountain walls on both sides. From top to bottom, there was a mysterious atmosphere permeating downward. It was no easy task to gain entry through this staircase.
At the entrance to the Four Corner Village, only a pa.s.sageway could be seen.
The Four Corner Village was invisible from the outside. Only by traveling through that pa.s.sageway could one enter the village.
According to Li Changsheng, the order of the Great Path from these four corners was different from that of the outside world, and there was a Divine Relic inside.
It was said that this pa.s.sageway could not be crossed by those who did not possess great luck. Failure to pa.s.s through meant that it was impossible to enter the Four Corner Village.
“I should probably wait for you guys down here,” Beigong Ao said to Ye Futian. Although he was already a Renhuang of the Eighth Realm, he knew his own ability. If it were really as Li Changsheng described, it would be impossible for him to enter the Four Corner Village.
“There’s no harm in trying; the place won’t hurt anyone.” Ye Futian continued, “Perhaps, you have great luck.”
“Sure,” Beigong Ao nodded. What Ye Futian said seemed to be reasonable enough. Perhaps just following Ye Futian was a kind of luck in itself.
In front of them, two groups of people had arrived. Standing in front of the tablet, there were not so many people from either side, but each one of them had an extraordinary temperament, outstanding in their own ways. It was easy to discern that they were unusual figures in a glance.
They walked directly toward that narrow pa.s.sageway, one after the other, moving upward. Suddenly a mysterious aura spread out from the pa.s.sageway as celestial mist enveloping them all.
“Let’s go up, too,” said Ye Futian as he walked up the mountain road. He looked up at the pa.s.sageway and stepped onto the stone steps. Ye Futian was in the front, with Xia Qingyuan and the others following behind.
This pa.s.sage did not bring them any pressure. Except for those mysterious currents flowing around them, there was nothing particular. Ye Futian’s steps were incredibly light when he thought it would be difficult. In fact, it couldn’t be easier as they steadily moved forward.
It was the same for Xia Qingyuan and the others. They went up easily. Even Beigong Ao and Beigong Shuang were following behind without difficulty.
…
Above the pa.s.sageway, there was a stone village. The paths inside the village were very ancient, made of blue stones. The houses themselves also looked as if they had been through a lot. However, the village was spotless and tidy, with a good many ancient trees all around.
At this time, many were walking along the road. Besides them, there were bright red maple trees in full bloom, which instantly colored the sky a crimson red. People in the village were not surprised by this, and occasionally, someone would look into the distance, sensing that someone else had entered the pa.s.sageway.
However, the red maple leaves kept blooming and became more radiant. Gradually, some stopped to look at the ancient trees and saw what had withered on the maple tree began blooming again. They were increasing in volume as well as beauty.
“Another lucky newcomer is here.” A hunched old man walked over with a smile. Wherever he pa.s.sed, the red maple trees were in full bloom. Flowers covered the ground. It didn’t take long for all the red maple trees in the entire village to come alive. The entire mountain was covered in red leaves to form a most beautiful sight.
Many people walked out of their houses to look at the ancient trees inside the village. Their eyes betray the disturbance they felt inside. Soon, a bright red light bloomed over the village, coloring the sky a beautiful crimson red.
“The flowers bloomed everywhere, and red maple leaves cover the ground. Who has entered the village to cause such an extraordinary sight?” an old man narrowed his eyes and murmured.
“What a strong aura,” someone commented again. It seemed that there would be honored guests arriving in the Four Corner Village.
At this time, in front of a private study in the village, many sat here, listening to the preaching of an old man in front of them. The old man had an immortal aura about him. It was as if he was not from this world. He glanced at the sky and then looked into the distance. Suddenly, with his body as the center, a divine light lingered and rendered his visage with solemnity.
This had not happened for many years. Many people were entering the village this time, but the sky was full of a red glow for the first time.
He still vaguely remembered the last time when visions like this appeared and who was the person that came. Now, he was already a well-known figure in the world.
This time, who would it be again!