Chapter 391 – Five Cranes Ascending to Fiendhood Formation

The scenes Lu Chen witnessed next primarily unfolded within the Great Thousand Mountains.

After retrieving the mysterious Flesh Lotus Root from the Grave of Ten Thousand Fiends, Zuoqiu An’s status within the Great Thousand Mountains rose significantly.

He directly became one of the five Mountain Lords of the Great Thousand Mountains at that time—the current Wing Venerable.

However, Zuoqiu An’s cultivation was only at the Nascent Soul Stage back then, not yet reaching the current Deity Transformation Stage.

Shortly after this period, the Thousand-Year Elder began his seclusion.

Since Zuoqiu An remained in the Great Thousand Mountains during this time, Lu Chen couldn’t accurately determine which period in the Immortal Alliance’s history this corresponded to.

It had been 436 years since the Thousand-Year Elder was captured and imprisoned by the Immortal Alliance.

Factoring in the Thousand-Year Elder’s earlier activities within the Immortal Alliance, Lu Chen estimated approximately five hundred years had passed from when the Thousand-Year Elder left the Great Thousand Mountains and entered the Immortal Alliance.

After all, the Thousand-Year Elder wasn’t discovered immediately upon entering the Immortal Alliance.

He was only besieged and captured by the Immortal Alliance when he attempted to sacrifice a major city with tens of millions of inhabitants.

Prior to this, although the Thousand-Year Elder had already committed numerous bloody atrocities within the Immortal Alliance, he remained hidden in the shadows.

Coupled with other issues preoccupying the Immortal Alliance at the time, they hadn’t paid much attention to the Thousand-Year Elder during their early days.

Though Lu Chen still didn’t know the true reason the Thousand-Year Elder entered the Immortal Alliance, based on the memory fragments he was witnessing, he had roughly deduced the Elder’s purpose.

If his speculation was correct, the Thousand-Year Elder took such extreme risks with one core objective: to break through the limits of the Deity Transformation Stage and attain the Earthly Immortal Realm.

Otherwise, Lu Chen couldn’t imagine anything in the Immortal Alliance worth such tremendous risk to the Thousand-Year Elder.

But these remained tentative theories for now, requiring further verification.

The memory fragments that followed showed mostly insignificant scenes, primarily depicting Zuoqiu An’s cultivation life within the Great Thousand Mountains.

It was during this period that Lu Chen truly understood the cultivation methods of the Immortal Fiends.

Unlike ordinary cultivators who comprehended heaven and earth, absorbing spiritual power to enhance their Dao attainment, the Immortal Fiends’ cultivation method was peculiar.

Their practice relied mainly on “bestowments.”

These so-called bestowments involved performing various sacrificial rituals to their enshrined Ancient Fiends in exchange for objects usable in cultivation.

These items included Ancient Fiend Magical Artifacts and some unidentifiable mysterious flesh.

The Immortal Fiends’ cultivation method consisted of devouring these flesh substances.

What appeared utterly savage and sinister to Lu Chen was considered completely normal among the Immortal Fiends.

They even described the Ancient Fiends’ gifts as miraculous elixirs and celestial nectar.

However, only Immortal Fiends at the Golden Core Stage or above could perform sacrificial rituals.

Even then, Golden Core Stage Immortal Fiends didn’t frequently conduct these ceremonies.

Most of the time, the objects they used for cultivation and refining Ancient Fiend Power were masses of black, twisted flesh.In Lu Chen’s memories of Zuoqiu An, he witnessed more than once the latter consuming those repulsive chunks of flesh.

This practice had persisted from the very beginning of Zuoqiu An’s cultivation journey all the way to his current Transformation Soul Stage.

It was evident that these disgusting black flesh chunks were the source of the Immortal Fiends’ power—or more precisely, the origin of the Ancient Fiend Power within Great Thousand Mountains.

At first glance, Lu Chen immediately recognized what these black flesh chunks truly were.

They were none other than the ‘Black Taisui Flesh’ he had once fortuitously obtained.

Black Taisui—a being Lu Chen had only heard of but never encountered.

Not just in the real world, but even within the cultivator world, Lu Chen had never come across any mention of Black Taisui.

It was worth noting that in the game world, Lu Chen’s Heretical Avatar had infiltrated the Ancient Fiend Nine Realms, precisely the territory where Great Thousand Mountains resided.

Yet, he still hadn’t heard anything about Black Taisui.

This could mean that Black Taisui was considered a top-level secret even within the Ancient Fiend Nine Realms, inaccessible to ordinary individuals.

Alternatively, it might be because Black Taisui had not yet emerged during the timeline of the game world.

Perhaps both reasons coexisted.

Fortunately, as Zuoqiu An’s cultivation progressed to higher Realms, he finally reached a level where he could access the core secrets of Great Thousand Mountains.

When Zuoqiu An was 562 years old:

“Qiu An, how has your cultivation been lately? Have you sensed that profound Realm?”

“Master, this disciple is dull-witted. It has been over a hundred years since I obtained our sect’s secret technique, yet my progress remains sluggish, unable to touch that mysterious Realm.”

Hearing Zuoqiu An’s reply, the Thousand-Year Elder, seated in meditation within his Cave Residence, immediately furrowed his brow.

The Thousand-Year Elder now appeared far more aged than he had a century ago.

Not only had most of his silver-white hair fallen out, but his teeth had also become sparse and scattered.

He resembled an elderly mortal nearing the end of their lifespan, on the verge of passing away.

This was undoubtedly highly abnormal.

Although Great Thousand Mountains primarily cultivated the True Spirit, by the Thousand-Year Elder’s Realm, he should have long achieved the unity of spirit and flesh.

Even if his natural lifespan were truly ending, he should not have deteriorated to such a state.

After all, he was comparable to a Transformation Soul Stage cultivator.

How could a Revered One at the Deity Transformation Stage resemble a dying elder from a mortal village?

Moreover, the Thousand-Year Elder had just obtained something he had long dreamed of.

Lu Chen was certain that when the Thousand-Year Elder acquired the Flesh Lotus Root, his joy was unmistakably evident.

That ecstasy, that genuine exhilaration—Lu Chen was convinced the object held immense significance for the Thousand-Year Elder.

But why, after obtaining it, did the Thousand-Year Elder increasingly resemble a dying man?

Strange, this… was far too strange.

At that moment, however, Zuoqiu An showed no suspicion toward the Thousand-Year Elder’s peculiar condition.

Or perhaps he had some thoughts but instinctively avoided dwelling on them.

Seeing that Zuoqiu An had remained stagnant in his cultivation after all these years, the Thousand-Year Elder seemed to finally make a crucial decision.

“Qiu An, enough. Come with me.”

Upon hearing the Thousand-Year Elder’s words, Zuoqiu An’s face instantly lit up with wild excitement.

Simultaneously, Lu Chen grew intensely focused.

After reviewing most of Zuoqiu An’s memories, he immediately understood where the Thousand-Year Elder intended to take Zuoqiu An.That was the very core of the Great Thousand Mountains, a place only the Sect Leader was permitted to enter.

This location was referred to by the cultivators of the Great Thousand Mountains as… the Fiend Domain.

It signified a realm only Celestial Beings could reach.

The Daqian Mountain Fiend Domain was located within Crane Head Mountain, one of the five peaks.

Across the entire Great Thousand Five Peaks, Crane Feather Mountain stood outermost, while Crane Head Mountain lay innermost, with the body, wings, and foot positioned in other directions.

And Thousand-Year Elder resided year-round at Crane Head Mountain.

Under Thousand-Year Elder’s guidance, Zuoqiu An quickly followed him to the entrance of a mysterious cave at Crane Head Mountain.

“Put on the Fiend Skin I gave you. Remember, in a moment, do not look, do not listen, do not think. Even if you hear me speaking to you, do not respond in any way.”

“You need only lower your head and walk forward, silently counting to one hundred in your heart.”

“Remember, it must be exactly one hundred counts—no more, no less.”

“If there is even the slightest mistake, not even I, as your master, can save you. Understand?”

Hearing Thousand-Year Elder speak so gravely,

Zuoqiu An naturally dared not voice any objection and immediately nodded.

Gazing at the dark, secluded cave before him that seemed capable of devouring all things, an inexplicable fear arose within his heart.

Yet, out of trust in Thousand-Year Elder, or perhaps due to his yearning for the Transformation Soul Stage,

even though Zuoqiu An felt fear in his heart, he still followed Thousand-Year Elder and walked toward that secluded cave.

Thousand-Year Elder halted before the cave entrance and solemnly reminded him once more: “Remember, from the very next step, immediately close your eyes and begin silently counting to one hundred in your heart.”

“Yes, this disciple will not forget.”

“Now put on the Fiend Garment and follow me inside.”

Zuoqiu An obediently donned the dried human-skin blood garment, then took a step forward, simultaneously closing his eyes and beginning to silently count to one hundred in his heart.

Contrary to what he had imagined before entering,

after stepping into the cave, Zuoqiu An did not hear or perceive any strange sounds.

Silence—the entire cave held only boundless silence.

So silent that Zuoqiu An felt he could only hear the numbers he was silently reciting in his heart.

Yet, the more this was the case, the more tense Zuoqiu An became.

After all, Thousand-Year Elder had repeatedly warned him several times before bringing him inside.

This indicated that the cave likely harbored some unknown danger.

But so far, Zuoqiu An had not sensed anything.

It was as if he were merely walking through an ordinary cave.

However, just as Zuoqiu An reached the count of fifty,

a scream suddenly erupted ahead of him.

Immediately after, Zuoqiu An seemed to feel something splatter onto him.

That warmth and metallic scent were all too familiar to him.

It was blood!

The sudden turn of events caused Zuoqiu An’s thoughts to halt abruptly.

Wh-what happened!

“Disciple, run!”

Hearing the sharp cry from his master ahead,

Zuoqiu An instinctively wanted to open his eyes.

But at that moment, the Fiend Skin he wore suddenly tightened violently.

Squeezing Zuoqiu An, it caused a sharp, cramping pain.

And in that instant, Zuoqiu An remembered his master’s words.

He forcibly suppressed the curiosity in his heart and continued the silent counting.

Only now, Zuoqiu An was no longer certain where he had left off.

Because his ears began to fill with his master’s continuous screams, along with an inexplicable chewing sound.As if something was gnawing on flesh and blood in the darkness.

Noises came from outside, disrupting the numbers he had been counting silently in his heart.

Zuoqiu An instantly grew extremely tense, beads of sweat pouring from his forehead.

Just as Zuoqiu An silently counted to sixty-three, that familiar suffocating sensation struck again.

Causing Zuoqiu An to pause once more.

And when he silently reached seventy-four.

Two consecutive disruptions made Zuoqiu An suddenly realize something, and he began adjusting the numbers in his silent count.

‘Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred…’

When he reached one hundred, Zuoqiu An abruptly opened his eyes.

What greeted him was the satisfied smile of his master, Thousand-Year Elder.

“Good, good. It seems you noticed the clues I left behind.”

Hearing this, the heavy stone in Zuoqiu An’s heart finally settled.

His forehead was already drenched in cold sweat.

The so-called clues were the Fiend Skin that periodically constricted around Zuoqiu An’s body.

Initially, due to Thousand-Year Elder’s sudden scream, Zuoqiu An had nearly lost his composure and almost opened his eyes to see what was happening.

Fortunately, his timid nature made him exceptionally cautious.

Long before entering the cave, he had covered his eyes with both hands.

At the moment when he was about to open his eyes, he used his hands to forcefully stop himself.

Even so, the sudden scream had disrupted his rhythm.

Thanks to his quick wits, he deduced that the Fiend Skin restrained him precisely at intervals of whole numbers.

Otherwise, he would have struggled to time the moment of opening his eyes correctly.

Zuoqiu An had a feeling that if he had opened his eyes at that time,

Something terrible might have occurred.

After calming down, Zuoqiu An couldn’t help but ask: “Master, what exactly happened… back in the cave?”

Upon hearing this, Thousand-Year Elder’s expression instantly turned grave.

“Some things are better left unknown.”

Zuoqiu An was taken aback, then fell silent.

No longer curious about what had just transpired.

Now, he finally had the energy to observe his surroundings.

He found himself in what appeared to be a massive underground altar.

At the center of the altar lay a dismembered crane statue.

The head, body, wings, feet, and feathers—each part of the statue was neatly placed in specific positions.

This ritual was familiar to Zuoqiu An; it was none other than the sacrificial formation of their Great Thousand Mountains—the Five Cranes Ascension Fiend Formation.

Beneath these statues on the altar was a massive black lingzhi.

They were currently standing on this black lingzhi.

“Follow me.”

Thousand-Year Elder led Zuoqiu An to the center of the Five Cranes Ascension Fiend Formation.

As they approached, Zuoqiu An noticed that this particular formation seemed slightly different from what he knew.

Because a normal Five Cranes Ascension Fiend Formation typically didn’t require actual ‘cranes,’

But rather offerings that could symbolize ‘cranes.’

As for what these crane-substitute offerings were, no further explanation was needed.

Yet the formation before Zuoqiu An now used real cranes.

Moreover, the cuts on these cranes were remarkably smooth, as if severed cleanly by some sharp weapon in a single stroke.

Thousand-Year Elder brought Zuoqiu An to the position of ‘Crane Wing’ and stopped.

“Now, offer up your arms.””As long as you can endure it, you will soon become the true Fifth Revered One of our Great Thousand Mountains.”

Upon hearing Thousand-Year Elder’s words, Zuoqiu An did not hesitate in the slightest. He directly drew a sharp Sword from his Storage Bag.

As the Sword’s gleam flashed, Zuoqiu An’s severed arms were held by Thousand-Year Elder and placed upon the stone altar consecrated to ‘Crane Wing’.

In the next moment, the stone-carved Crane Wing unexpectedly extended countless black tendrils, reaching toward Zuoqiu An’s severed arms…

(End of Chapter)