Chapter 23: Proto-Universe, Zhu Yan Arrives with Treasure!

"Good lad, you truly possess the same style I had in my younger days!"

Yao Lao did not expect his newly recruited disciple to possess such character; the look of appreciation in his eyes grew even deeper.

If Xiao Yan had actually accepted his proposal just now, although Yao Lao wouldn't have said anything, he certainly wouldn't have admired him as much as he did now.

After all, the "Xiao Yan" in that novel had a misunderstanding with Yun Yun under circumstances where he was completely unprepared, and Yao Lao had been entirely unaware of it beforehand.

But the situation was different now.

This kid had already read that *Battle Through the Heavens* novel. If he were to go through with it now, it would be intentional.

What kind of behavior was that? How was it any different from a beast?

*It seems my eye for disciples is quite good this time; this little fellow is much more upright than that Han Feng.*

Yao Lao nodded with gratification as he looked at Xiao Yan, then continued speaking, "Your ability to hold onto your original intentions has earned my respect. However, the Beast Flame on that Amethyst Winged Lion King is quite excellent. If you can obtain it, the Flame Mantra can advance. Furthermore, you must not miss the companion Amethyst Source and the Purple Spirit Crystal. Therefore, we must follow them and see..."

After this incident, Yao Lao's affection for Xiao Yan had surpassed anything before.

He had already decided that he would give everything he had to help this upright disciple grow rapidly.

With the future information mentioned in that *Battle Through the Heavens* novel, he believed that his path in nurturing Xiao Yan would be much smoother.

Perhaps by the time the Three-Year Agreement arrived, his disciple could step onto the Yun Lan Sect with the stature of a Dou Zun, kick Nalan Yanran, strike down Yun Ling, and tear apart Yun Shan.

As for that Protector Wu hiding in the shadows, he absolutely could not be let go.

The people of the Hall of Souls must die!

Speaking of which, Xiao Yan's chat group seemed to have a cross-world function.

If he could call those friends from other worlds to come and provide some backup when the time came, that would be even better.

After all, once Protector Wu died, the Hall of Souls would likely send people immediately to investigate.

If those people were willing to help, he would be safer himself.

...

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, several days had passed.

...

*Perfect World.*

After several days of long-distance jolting, Zhu Chen and Huo Ling'er finally arrived at the Cangmang Mountains driving the Pegasus Carriage.

The Cangmang Mountains were located deep within the Great Desolation; coming here from the capital of the Fire Kingdom would normally be impossible in less than a few months.

At least, not with Zhu Chen's current cultivation level.

However, Huo Ling'er knew there was a teleportation array in the Fire Kingdom that led directly to an ancient ruin on the edge of the Great Desolation within the Stone Kingdom.

It was precisely because of that array that they had arrived in this desolate land filled with ferocious beasts in just a few days.

Although the spiritual energy here in the Great Desolation was thin, it was home to many powerful Archaic Species.

Some formidable Archaic Species even possessed strength reaching the Array Formation Realm or the Venerable Realm.

For example, the Suanni that Shi Hao killed in his early days was a top-tier predator of the Venerable Realm!

Zhu Chen's current cultivation had only just broken through to the Cave Heaven Realm. Even with the enhancement of the Primordial Spirit Clone formed from the Pangu Essence Blood, he could only fight an Archaic Species of the Inscription Realm. He didn't dare to be arrogant here.

After all, he had not yet fully refined that drop of Pangu Essence Blood.

However, he wasn't worried about being targeted by those powerful Archaic Species.

A true man knows when to yield and when to advance; if he can't win a fight, can't he just run?

He held the authority of the Chat Group Master in his hands. With just a thought, he could travel directly to other worlds.

Even that killing machine Wang Lin often hid in the Heaven Defying Bead when being pursued by powerful enemies in his early days.

And there was no need to even mention that schemer Han Li.

The brothers in the group were all role models; as the Group Master, he naturally had to lead by example.

"Zhu Chen, I've found the place you're looking for. It should be just ahead; we'll arrive once we cross that mountain..."

While Zhu Chen was lost in thought, Huo Ling'er suddenly approached him holding a map.

Zhu Chen leaned in to take a look and found that the place Huo Ling'er had found was a massive lake.

There was also a blurred village marker near the lake, which must be the Stone Village, the first ancestral land of the Stone Kingdom.

However, given the current situation, Stone Village had likely moved from this location under the protection of the Willow Deity.

Because when they had just arrived, several places in the Cangmang Mountains had already suffered collapses.

Large amounts of magma were currently spreading in all directions along the fissures in the earth.

The toxic gases permeating the magma were enough to kill any women, children, or elderly without cultivation.

If nothing unexpected happened, those Archaic beasts that came to fight for mountain treasures were likely already at war.

"Let's go. We'll go take a look first."

Zhu Chen withdrew his gaze from the map, then drove the Pegasus Carriage directly toward the lake.

A few minutes later.

The two successfully arrived at the lake. The area had now collapsed, leaving only a massive accumulation of silt at the bottom, with many dried fish carcasses scattered on top, emitting a stench of decay.

Zhu Chen led Huo Ling'er off the carriage to observe the surroundings. After confirming that this was indeed the lake near Stone Village, he nodded slightly.

"This is just a dried-up lake. Why did we come here?" Huo Ling'er asked curiously.

Zhu Chen turned around, preparing to say something.

Unexpectedly, a deafening beast roar suddenly erupted from the distance.

The sound echoed through the valleys, and the pressure contained within it actually caused the desolate mountains within a radius of dozens of miles to crack.

Countless ferocious beasts and birds were startled into fleeing in all directions.

"What a terrifying aura. The owner of that roar must have reached the Venerable Realm. Zhu Chen, we should leave this place quickly..."

Huo Ling'er shrank her neck, instinctively grabbing Zhu Chen's arm out of fear.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here..."

Zhu Chen reached out to stroke Huo Ling'er's beautiful hair. Then, with a thought, he manifested his Divine Ring Cave Heaven and stowed the Pegasus Carriage into the Cave Heaven world.

This carriage was stolen; they couldn't afford to damage it.

Seeing Zhu Chen store the two Pegasi into the Cave Heaven, Huo Ling'er's expression turned to one of disbelief. "My goodness! Zhu Chen, your Cave Heaven can even store living creatures?"

"Mhm."

Zhu Chen nodded noncommittally.

While the Cave Heavens of other cultivators could also store things, they could only store inanimate objects without life characteristics.

But after his Divine Ring Cave Heaven merged with the Pangu Essence Blood, it had mutated. Not only could it store dead objects, but it could also hold living beings.

Furthermore, he had discovered that as his cultivation continuously increased, the world within his Cave Heaven seemed to be expanding as well.

"I once read a legend about ancient history in an old text regarding the Immortal Ancient Era. It said that in that era, there were cultivators who refined a proto-universe and stored it within their bodies. If that proto-universe could continue to grow, it might evolve into a true world. Since your Cave Heaven can take in living things, could it be a proto-universe as well?"

Huo Ling'er analyzed thoughtfully, her eyes filled with shock.

However, Zhu Chen could not afford to dwell on that right now. He hurriedly took out the Hidden Spirit Veil to drape over Huo Ling'er, and then used a transformation technique to turn himself into a cucumber, hiding in the "cleavage" of Huo Ling'er's chest.

"Ah—Zhu Chen, where are you crawling to?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"You, you get out of there right now..."

"Shh~ don't talk. Quickly use the Breath Concealment Technique to hide your aura. A big one is coming."

"No, no, you get out first!"

Huo Ling'er couldn't listen to a word he said. Her face was flushed red as she grabbed the cucumber that was Zhu Chen, her teeth lightly biting her lower lip as she prepared to pull him out.

However, at that moment, a giant ape with a body taller than a mountain, a white head, and red feet suddenly descended from the sky, landing heavily near the large lake in front of them.

—BOOM!

The earth shook violently.

The impact of the giant ape's landing collapsed the surrounding rock layers. The ground cracked in layers, and fissures spread rapidly like ferocious giant pythons, nearly reaching Zhu Chen's position.

"It's actually a Zhu Yan!"

Huo Ling'er's already panicked heart jumped into her throat.

She whispered through her small hands, her voice carrying unmistakable terror.

This Zhu Yan was an Archaic beast as famous as their Fire Kingdom's sacrificial spirit, the Vermilion Bird. Its strength had long reached the peak of the Venerable Realm. Even her Imperial Father would have to give it a wide berth; it was not something they could provoke.

...

(End of Chapter)