Chapter 1899 - 1996: Later Generational Upheaval
Chapter 1899: Chapter 1996: Later Generational Upheaval
Unable to contact the people of the Sky Swallowing Palace, Fang Lin felt a heaviness in his heart. Could something really have gone wrong? Had he not returned to the correct era? Or had the people of the Sky Swallowing Palace already met with misfortune?
No matter the outcome, Fang Lin could not accept it. It had been so difficult for him to return from the ancient era; if faced with a series of bad news, Fang Lin estimated that he would truly collapse.
Immediately, Fang Lin headed straight for the Extreme North Icefield. Along the way, he did not see anything that indicated a scene of devastation; everything was still the same as before.
Upon reaching the Extreme North Icefield, the Sky Swallowing Palace was indeed no longer there. The entire icefield was swept by chilling winds, yet there wasn’t a single person present.
Seeing this, Fang Lin headed directly for the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Given his current strength, even facing the Sealing Sword Pavilion was not an issue for him.
When Fang Lin arrived at the Hundred Thousand Mountains, even the Sealing Sword Pavilion was nowhere to be seen. However, Fang Lin saw traces left by the Sword Head assessments and countless corpses that had died tragically.
These corpses were all powerful figures from the Nine Countries Seven Seas who had come to participate in the Sword Head assessments. Yet because of Sealing Sword Pavilion Master Liao Can Sheng’s machinations, nearly all of them died here, becoming the life force nourishment to awaken Mo Shouhe back to the earth. Even the Tang Emperor and others perished here, unable to escape disaster.
Looking down at these corpses, Fang Lin’s eyes held a trace of reluctance, accompanied by a few doubts.
These corpses appeared to have died not much longer than one or two months ago, but he had stayed in the ancient era for over a thousand years. By all rights, the future should have changed a lot, and these corpses should not be like this.
However, seeing these corpses, Fang Lin knew he should have returned to the correct era, not back to the time when he was imprisoned in the Abyss Pill Well.
"Even the Sealing Sword Pavilion is gone. What exactly happened?" Fang Lin furrowed his brows and immediately took out a Message Transmitting Jade Slip to contact the East Pole Heaven King.
The East Pole Heaven King was reachable, and he was quite surprised at Fang Lin’s sudden contact.
"What on earth were you doing? The whole world is in chaos now," the East Pole Heaven King said, his tone anxious.
Upon hearing this, Fang Lin did not explain much but directly asked, "What has occurred?"
The East Pole Heaven King said, "Two months ago, at the Sword Head assessments, everyone who went to participate died. Now, the Nine Countries Seven Seas are controlled by a force called the Supreme Saint Hall, and even the Sealing Sword Pavilion is part of the Supreme Saint Hall."
"What? The Supreme Saint Hall?" Fang Lin was taken aback. Could this be the work of Mo Shouhe?
The East Pole Heaven King continued, "The apparent owner of the Supreme Saint Hall is that Sealing Sword Pavilion Master, but there seem to be others behind the scenes. It’s just unknown who they are. Now, besides the Ancient Demon Ridge being able to escape the control of the Supreme Saint Hall, all other forces are obedient to its orders, including my Pill Alliance."
Fang Lin’s expression was grave. He hadn’t expected that while he stayed in the ancient era for over a thousand years, only two months had passed in the future, and so much had transpired since then.
"Does the Heaven King know the whereabouts of my Sky Swallowing Palace people?" Fang Lin asked, which was what he most wanted to know at the moment.
The East Pole Heaven King said, "They should be inside the Ancient Demon Ridge, but it seems everyone is heavily injured. I secretly went to see once, and Dugu Nian’s injuries are the most serious."
Upon hearing this, Fang Lin’s heart skipped a beat. He remembered that before he returned to the ancient era, the Old Dried Corpse Jin Zhulong had taken Dugu Nian and the others into the Nine Palace Bag. By rights, with Jin Zhulong’s protection, Dugu Nian and the others should not have been harmed, yet the East Pole Heaven King said they were all severely injured.
No time to delay, Fang Lin headed straight for the Ancient Demon Ridge. As for the Supreme Saint Hall matter, he could only put it aside for now.
Fang Lin assumed that the so-called Supreme Saint Hall was likely orchestrated by Mo Shouhe. Since the Sealing Sword Pavilion Master Liao Can Sheng was Mo Shouhe’s disciple, and now that the Supreme Saint Hall was managed by Liao Can Sheng, then the one behind the scenes should be Mo Shouhe.
To avoid attracting attention, Fang Lin did his utmost to conceal his presence, changing his appearance and hiding his tracks, arriving outside the Ancient Demon Ridge.
Even though Fang Lin had been to the Ancient Demon Ridge several times, this time, he clearly sensed that the atmosphere was unusual. No sooner had he approached within a thousand miles of the Ancient Demon Ridge than countless auras swept over him.
Fang Lin immediately revealed his true appearance and landed at the entrance of the Ancient Demon Ridge.
"Come in!" Before Fang Lin could speak, a voice came from inside the Ancient Demon Ridge, and he recognized it as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
At that moment, Fang Lin walked into the Ancient Demon Ridge, a bit of tension and apprehension in his heart, praying earnestly that Dugu Nian and the others would be alright.
"You finally returned," the Great Sage Equal to Heaven appeared, looking Fang Lin up and down, slightly relieved.
"Great Sage, where are the others?" Fang Lin, without bothering with pleasantries, asked directly.
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, with a somewhat helpless expression, said, "Come with me."
In no time, Fang Lin followed the Great Sage Equal to Heaven to an ancient cave, from within which familiar auras emanated.
Fang Lin couldn’t care less about anything else and immediately entered the ancient cave for a look. Indeed, it was the people of the Sky Swallowing Palace, including Dugu Nian.
However, everyone was in a state of languishing vitality, their life force nearly exhausted. Dugu Nian especially, leaning weakly against the stone wall, had a pale face and extremely haggard appearance, her once black hair turned stark white, looking shockingly gaunt.
Fang Lin’s fists clenched tightly, and he walked with heavy steps to Dugu Nian’s side. The latter, sensing something, barely opened her eyes.
"You’re back," Dugu Nian said softly, but Fang Lin noticed her eyes were a dull gray.
Fang Lin’s heart tightened further, but he still tried to make his voice as calm as possible, "I’m back."
Dugu Nian reached out a hand, and Fang Lin immediately grasped it. His touch was met with a chill, and Fang Lin realized that Dugu Nian’s life force was almost depleted, fearing she wouldn’t live much longer.
Looking at the others, they were all in the same state as Dugu Nian, their life force forcibly drained.
"What exactly happened?" Fang Lin asked, his voice trembling slightly.
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven stood behind him, saying, "Elder Jin is dead, and the life force within them was taken by Mo Shouhe. When I arrived, they were already in this condition. Bringing them here and using the Power of the Sacred Tree could only barely sustain their lives, but it won’t last long."
"What? The Old Dried Corpse is dead?" Fang Lin suddenly turned his head, looking incredulously at the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
Jin Zhulong was actually dead?
Though the Great Sage Equal to Heaven didn’t understand why Fang Lin referred to Jin Zhulong as the Old Dried Corpse, he nodded and said, "Indeed, he died, and Mo Shouhe’s strength has gradually returned to its peak. Elder Jin struggled hard to severely wound him; otherwise, even the Ancient Demon Ridge would now be in Mo Shouhe’s grasp."