Chapter 187 Nine Realms of the Archean Eon

Right then, the Elder of the Pavilion of Swords who had kept quiet all this while spoke. He wore a dark green Taoist's robe and carried a red sword case on his back. He appeared grim and no-nonsense. He looked even more like a master than Fengxi.

"Hmph! Youngster, don't underestimate us. If the truth is as you imagine it, wouldn't that make us savages?" He sounded angry. It seemed that he was annoyed by Xiao Chen's suspicion that they were using Murong Xian'er's blood to prolong their life.

Xiao Chen knew he misunderstood them but he wasn't willing to concede. He wondered what they were being so mysterious about. What was that about some ancient scroll?

"Sigh, my young friend. Let me tell you what's going on. Several months ago, I discovered one-half of a scroll in a certain remnant. What we can be sure of is that the scroll was something that two Immortal Kings fought over in ancient times. However, the script used in the scroll is too old. No one can comprehend it. After analyzing the script for a few months, all we got were the words 'Three Emperors'..."

Waves of shock overwhelmed Xiao Chen. "Just what was written in the scroll that two Immortal Kings would give up their lives to fight over it? Is it related to what happened thousands of years ago?"

Fengxi sighed. "That's not all. We suspect that the scroll itself hides a great secret. Think about it. The scroll remains intact for thousands of years. Surely, a person of great caliber had sealed the scroll. After seeing the girl conjuring the image of the Three Emperors yesterday, we got the idea of trying to unseal the scroll with her blood. I don't suppose you know that the girl is from the Jade Pivot World?"

"Jade Pivot World?" Xiao Chen was stunned. "What's the Jade Pivot World?" Then he heard the Elder of the Pavilion of Thoughts say, "Most people are only aware of the six realms of existence: Heaven, Earth, Human, Demon, Devil, and Buddha. Few know that there were three other worlds in the Archean Eon: Return to Ruins, Cold Illumination, Jade Pivot."

The Elder of the Pavilion of Laws added, "The Return to Ruins World was where gods and devils were banished to in the Archean Eon. It had always been a place where one can enter but not leave. The Cold Illumination World was a mystery within a mystery. Rumors had it that it was a place that could transport you to the past and the future and that you can only enter it through dreamland. Once you wake up from your dream, you'll feel as if everything you have experienced is but a mere dream. The Jade Pivot World, on the other hand..." The three Elders exchanged looks and stopped speaking.

"What is the Jade Pivot World like?" Xiao Chen desperately wanted to know Xian'er's origins. Judging from the things she once told him, it seemed that they were intricately connected for thousands of years.

Fengxi answered, "Heaven was split up after War of the Archean Eon. To prevent the total collapse of life, Mystic Lady of the Nine Heavens separated heaven into two using her Supreme Magic Power. One of the divided lands was the Jade Pivot World, where actual members of the Immortal Race dwell."

Xiao Chen was shocked. "Is Xian'er a member of the Immortal Clan of the Archean Eon? Yet she has something to do with the Three Emperors? What does this have to do with that ancient scroll? Her identity is unlikely to be this simple. But if I question any further, I fear these old men will try and strike a deal with me." He immediately said, "Oh, I see. Then were you able to unseal the ancient scroll, Senior?"

Fengxi turned red. He spread his hands and said, "It's as you see."

Chuckling, Xiao Chen saluted him and said, "Then I thank you for healing Xian'er. I'll engrave your kind deed in my memory. Farewell." He pretended as if he was going to leave. He understood very well that these old men didn't just summon him here to tell him about these things. They had likely called for him for the ancient scroll. Even though he wanted to take a look at the scroll, he must not display his interest or this cunning-looking Fengxi would surely bring up some sort of condition.

"Please halt, young friend!" Fengxi stopped him.

Xiao Chen turned around and spread his hands. "I'm not from the Ancient Immortal Clan; my blood is useless." Fengxi turned red-faced again. However, a glint appeared in his eyes. He chuckled and said, "You can drop the pretense, young man. You're not an ordinary person."

Xiao Chen's heart stirred. "What does he mean? Did he notice something?"

"You're joking, Senior. I'm a nobody from the East Continent."

Fengxi's eyes gleamed. "Oh, is that so? Would normal humans be capable of withstanding the force of the Jade Qing Seven? Would normal humans possess long extinct ancient cultivation methods? Would normal humans be so calm after learning information about thousands of years ago?"

"This old man investigated me?" Xiao Chen frowned. Right then, the Elder of the Pavilion of Thoughts walked over to him and sighed. "The natural law is vast and all-encompassing. It's not up to mortals to pry into its secrets. Nothing is too bizarre in this world. For example, who knew that the starlight we see is light coming from stars millions and millions of years ago? Young man, you must not be someone from our era."

Stupefied, Xiao Chen felt as if he was submerged into a pond of ice-cold water. His mysterious resurrection thousands of years after his death remained his greatest secret. He had never told anyone about this and yet these old men were able to guess it. For some reason, he felt that he must not admit to this. His guts told him that he must not admit that he was someone from thousands of years ago.

The Elder of the Pavilion of Thoughts said, "The battle between gods and devils thousands of years ago brought the six realms to the brink of destruction. That was the end of an era that couldn't be prevented and yet, young man, you were able to escape that calamity. That's enough to prove that even if you didn't have the blood of the ancient gods in you, you're a descendant of ancient devils. Perhaps, you may have the blood of both."

Emotions surged even more violently inside Xiao Chen after hearing this. He tried his best to calm down. In his previous life, he was a mere orphan abandoned at the bottom of the Mystic Cyan Mountain. His master adopted him and taught him literacy, phonetics, unrivaled cultivation methods. How could he be some kind of god, much less a devil?

Right now, it seemed that these old men had some sort of secret purpose. Since time immemorial, immortals and devils could never coexist. Were they planning to do something to harm him? He immediately smiled and said, "What a joke, Senior. Look, you inexplicably brought my sister here and are now refusing to let me leave. If I'm truly a god or devil as you say, shouldn't I be subduing you right now?"

The Elder of the Pavilion of Swords sneered. "If we give you another three years, you might have the courage to do so."

Xiao Chen gave an awkward smile. He truly wanted to beat Fengxi up right now. Fengxi coughed twice and smiled. "Young friend, didn't you come to the Middle Continent to find out what happened thousands of years ago? Don't tell me that you're not at all interested in seeing the one-half of the scroll."

Xiao Chen thought he should stop while he was ahead. There was no need to play games anymore. He said, "Then please lead the way, Senior." Right then, the silent Elder of the Pavilion of Laws stood up. He was dressed in a red robe and appeared majestic without being stern as he said, "This is no small matter, young man. You must make a vow not to reveal the contents of the ancient scroll."

Xiao Chen chuckled. "If you can't trust me, why summon me here?" The old men exchanged looks. Feng Xi said, "Forget it. We must not doubt who we need help from. Young friend, please come with me."

They walked toward the rear hall, all the way to its deepest end. Fengxi and the three Elders worked together to open a Barrier. Behind the Barrier was a walled-in path that presumably led to a different world. For some reason, however, Xiao Chen felt a wave of sorrow that instantly invaded his every nook. He couldn't help feeling like he wanted to weep loudly.

"How did you discover one-half of the scroll, Senior Fengxi?"

"Well, back then I found the bones of an ancient Immortal King. The Immortal King protected one-half of the scroll in his embrace. I'm sure that he had suffered quite grievous injuries when he was still alive."

Strangely, Xiao Chen felt an even deeper stab of pain. "Did you bring the Immortal King's bones back with you as well, Senior?"

Fengxi blushed. "Well... You'll find out once you're inside." The group of people immediately walked through the walled-in path.

It was dim inside the walled-in path. Inexplicably, Xiao Chen's sorrow gradually worsened. He could subtly feel a familiar wisp of breath coming from the end of the path.

The breath was so familiar and amiable as if it had been dwelling on his mind and in his dreams all along. He told himself that no matter what he would see later, no matter what would happen, he must control his emotions.