Cultivation: Fortune by Lots-Chapter 573 - 269. Third-grade Opportunity, Ancient Chapter Table_3

Chapter 573: 269. Third-grade Opportunity, Ancient Chapter Table_3

As if.

Lei Jun stood atop a stone pillar, overlooking the Stone Forest below, his eyes flickering. Within the depths of his pupils, the brilliance of the Heaven-piercing Earth-penetrating Taliscript circulated rhythmically, shifting between light and dark.

He had indeed not discovered any clue to Taoist Chen Donglou’s whereabouts.

But he was certain that in recent years, someone had visited this Stone Forest, causing a significant commotion before meticulously cleaning up afterward to conceal their tracks and avoid detection by any who might follow.

Even with Lei Jun’s insight, it was difficult to find the slightest trace in a short amount of time; it was the Dark Side of Celestial Book that sensed something amiss. The transformations of creation meant that chaos and disorder frequently alternated with precision and order. The Dark Side of Celestial Book indeed possessed the subtle power to sow chaos and disorder.

And this, conversely, was what the Stone Forest of Nanzhao had previously experienced.

Someone had extensively searched the area before erasing all traces of their presence.

To some extent, it was much like how Lei Jun had frequently managed affairs and then utilized the Dark Side of Celestial Book to clean up afterward.

Taoist Chen Donglou should have had no need to do so, right?

Whether according to the Mount Shu Sect or based on Chen Donglou’s past temperament, he was not the type to meticulously cover his tracks or act secretively.

Taoist Chen Donglou might indeed have visited the Stone Forest of Nanzhao and left some traces.

But then someone else came to search the area, sweeping away all these clues. Whether at that time or on a return trip afterward, they comprehensively scoured the area, leaving it empty and barren so that Lei Jun and other latecomers found nothing.

Given such a thorough cleanup, it couldn’t have been some juniors who accidentally stumbled upon this place and obtained an opportunity left by the senior Chen Donglou.

Furthermore, to conduct a "great cleanup" in the chaotic and treacherous Stone Forest of Nanzhao was not something just anyone could achieve.

"I may have arrived more than just a step too late," Lei Jun said as he descended from the stone pillar and resumed walking through the Stone Forest.

He was not disheartened but instead continued to calmly contemplate.

ROAR!

As Lei Jun walked, a sound suddenly echoed from afar, resembling both a fiery explosion and a tiger’s roar.

He paused, his eyebrows slightly raised.

Who is Zhang Jingzhen fighting?

Lei Jun flicked his fingers lightly.

A dim and hazy radiance ascended into the sky, materializing the form of the Mysterious Void Mirror. The mirror’s light was faint, yet it swiftly shone in Zhang Jingzhen’s direction.

Zhang Jingzhen, always known for her noble grace and refined, otherworldly beauty as a newly advanced High Merit Elder of the Celestial Master Mansion, was now, for once, somewhat disheveled. Her Taoist Crown had completely shattered, and her black hair had fallen loose.

Guided by the sensation from her half of the Ancient Chapter Table, she had chosen the direction of the Stone Forest of Nanzhao.

Along the way, despite not finding anything for a long time, Zhang Jingzhen sighed inwardly yet did not grow overly anxious.

Perhaps it could be said that Heaven rewards the persistent.

Just as she was about to give up and hurry to meet with Yue Xiling, Shangguan Sheng, Liao Jie, and the others, that half of the Ancient Chapter Table suddenly reacted.

Zhang Jingzhen immediately followed its lead.

She did not find anything related to Chen Donglou.

But she found the person and the thing she was looking for.

Chen Yi.

He was a former True Inheritance Disciple of the Celestial Master Mansion. He was still dressed in a Taoist Robe, but it was no longer the Apricot Daoist Robe customarily worn by the Celestial Master Mansion’s transmission disciples; instead, he wore a self-made white one.

He was silently hidden in a corner within the Stone Forest.

With him were several other Taoists. Their Taoist Robes were black on the outside and white on the inside, the attire of True Inheritance Disciples of the Pure Yang Palace.

With a single glance, Zhang Jingzhen recognized the leader among them: a middle-aged Taoist at the Sixth Heavenly Realm. This was Mo Chen, a traitor who, like Zhou Peng and Wang Jingfang before him, had been explicitly declared wanted by the Pure Yang Palace and had fled.

As the two sides faced each other, Zhang Jingzhen, who had already reached Upper Three Heavens cultivation, knew without needing to ask that the other half of the Ancient Chapter Table she so desperately sought was with Chen Yi.

Yet Zhang Jingzhen grew vigilant.

The fact that Chen Yi and the others dared to hide in such a place seemed quite unusual. For them, Cultivators of the Middle Three Heavens, there was already a risk of being trapped in illusions within the Stone Forest. Now, they also faced a search by a group of Upper Three Heavens Cultivators.

To remain hidden and undiscovered... it might mean... that among the Upper Three Heavens Cultivators who entered with me on this trip, someone is sheltering Chen Yi, Mo Chen, and the others!

If not for the connection between the two incomplete Ancient Chapter Tables, even she might have struggled to find Chen Yi.

While remaining wary of potential Upper Three Heavens enemies, Zhang Jingzhen still made her move.

The emerald-green Yin Fire Tiger roared, and the Nine Abyss True Fire instantly transformed the surrounding area into a sea of flames.

Chen Yi’s cultivation progress surprised Zhang Jingzhen once more. This renegade Disciple of the Celestial Master Mansion had improved his cultivation at a tremendous pace, far exceeding that of an ordinary person. His progress even surpassed the Sect’s elders’ initial predictions for him back at the Celestial Master Mansion.

Although she knew Chen Yi possessed half of an Ancient Chapter Table, his rate of progress still startled Zhang Jingzhen.

However, Chen Yi was currently still at the Middle Three Heavens cultivation. Even with Mo Chen and the others assisting him, they could hardly withstand Zhang Jingzhen’s Upper Three Heavens might.

And Zhang Jingzhen’s primary target remained the half of the Ancient Chapter Table that Chen Yi possessed.

The ultimate outcome, however, surprised Zhang Jingzhen even more.

She did manage to draw out the half of the Ancient Chapter Table in Chen Yi’s possession.

In mid-air, the two fragmented Ancient Chapter Tables faintly showed signs of merging.

Witnessing this, Mo Chen and the others also showed astonishing brilliance in their eyes.

But even more astonishing was that, when Chen Yi was pushed to his limit, another light suddenly flickered deep within his eyes.

Zhang Jingzhen’s vision blurred, and her spirit trembled.

An extraordinary scene emerged in her mind.

It was a golden hall!

The hall was magnificent yet somewhat desolate. It appeared empty, save for a few objects scattered haphazardly.

But as this golden hall trembled, the two Ancient Chapter Tables, on the verge of coalescing, separated once more!

Neither Zhang Jingzhen nor Chen Yi would yield. One possessed a higher cultivation realm and greater strength, while the other had a mysterious and strange golden hall capable of influencing the Ancient Chapter Table.

The final result was a loud BOOM!

It was as if golden ripples spread out from within the Stone Forest, affecting all directions.

The two fragmented Ancient Chapter Tables also flew apart, each heading in a different direction and separating once more.

Both Chen Yi and Zhang Jingzhen were greatly shaken.

Zhang Jingzhen’s Taoist Crown shattered, her black hair tumbling down. Her body stiffened, and she stood frozen on the spot, uncharacteristically disheveled and flustered.

Chen Yi, on the other hand, was sent flying, spraying blood across the sky.