Chapter 67 Visitors from the Central Continent
After obtaining the information he wanted, Zan Yunxiao exchanged a few more words with Elder Dan before leaving the Alchemy Hall.
He leisurely walked back toward the mountain, his figure disappearing into the clouds as he ascended the stone steps leading to the summit.
Not long afterward, he returned to the newly built residence.
Standing at the edge of the mountain peak, Zan Yunxiao quietly gazed at the sea of clouds drifting beneath his feet. The cool breeze gently brushed against his robes, while the prosperous Zan Clan stretched out below like a living painting.
A thought suddenly crossed his mind.
"This mountain should have a name."
After all, it would become the sacred cultivation ground of the Zan Clan's direct lineage.
Future Patriarchs and the clan's most talented descendants would cultivate here.
Such a place deserved a proper title.
After contemplating for a moment, Zan Yunxiao smiled faintly.
"From this day onward..."
"This mountain shall be known as Cloud Ascension Peak."
The name symbolized the aspirations of every Zan Clan descendant.
Only by ascending Cloud Ascension Peak could one stand among the clan's strongest, pursuing the path toward immortality.
Looking at the magnificent residence behind him and the endless clouds before him, Zan Yunxiao nodded in satisfaction.
Standing atop Cloud Ascension Peak, Zan Yunxiao gazed toward the distant horizon.
Beyond those endless skies lay the Central Continent.
A place where righteous sects, demonic sects, ancient clans, and countless experts gathered.
If he wanted to deal with the Demonic Sect in the future, sooner or later, he would have to make that journey.
However...
The moment he thought about leaving the Western Continent, his brows furrowed slightly.
The Zan Clan.
Although the clan had grown powerful, it was still far from invincible.
If a powerful cultivator from the Central Continent or some unknown expert were to discover the Zan Clan while he was away, his descendants might not be able to resist.
Even with Hong Se, Shenyuu, and the clan's other cultivators guarding the family...
Zan Yunxiao still couldn't completely put his mind at ease.
He clasped his hands behind his back and quietly pondered.
"How can I ensure the Zan Clan's safety while I'm away?"
One thought after another flashed through his mind.
Suddenly...
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"What if..."
"I unify the entire Western Continent?"
The idea sounded bold.
But the more he thought about it, the more reasonable it became.
If every kingdom, cultivation family, and force in the Western Continent came under a single rule...
There would no longer be internal conflicts threatening the Zan Clan.
The entire continent could become the Zan Clan's foundation.
By the time he departed for the Central Continent, there would be no force left in the Western Continent capable of opposing his descendants.
A faint smile gradually appeared on Zan Yunxiao's face.
"It seems..."
"Before heading to the Central Continent..."
"I should first bring the Western Continent under one banner."
Then, Zan Yunxiao slowly dismissed the thought.
Unifying the entire Western Continent...
It was certainly possible.
However, now was not the right time.
He was never the type to act rashly without understanding the situation first.
Although the Crimson Empire was currently the strongest kingdom on the continent, that did not necessarily mean the Western Continent lacked hidden experts.
There might be reclusive cultivators secluded in ancient mountains, forgotten ruins, or remote regions unknown to the outside world.
If he acted too hastily, he could unknowingly provoke someone far stronger than expected.
A cautious look flashed through his eyes.
"I'll investigate first."
Using the All-Seeing Eye, he planned to travel throughout the Western Continent and inspect its major kingdoms, cultivation families, and hidden regions.
If he discovered experts beyond his ability to handle...
He would continue cultivating until he possessed absolute confidence.
If, on the other hand, no one in the Western Continent could threaten him...
Then unifying the continent would merely be a matter of time.
After making his decision, Zan Yunxiao no longer dwelled on the matter.
"There is no need to rush."
"Everything should proceed step by step."
He turned around and walked toward the cultivation chamber behind the residence.
The stone door slowly closed behind him.
Soon, the chamber fell into complete silence.
Before surveying the Western Continent...
Before planning the conquest of an entire continent...
He decided to enter another period of secluded cultivation.
After all, in the cultivation world, strength was the foundation of everything.
Only by becoming stronger could every plan proceed without fear of unexpected variables.
. . .
One hundred years later...
On the western edge of the Western Continent, where the vast Western Sea met the shoreline, a massive spirit vessel slowly sailed into a bustling port.
The ship was several times larger than an ordinary merchant vessel. Its hull was engraved with profound runes, while a magnificent banner fluttered high above its mast, symbolizing a powerful cultivation sect from the Central Continent.
As the vessel docked, dozens of cultivators disembarked in an orderly manner.
Their robes were elegant, their auras extraordinary.
The surrounding mortals instinctively lowered their heads, not daring to offend these immortal figures.
Waiting at the port was the king of a small coastal kingdom.
Surrounded by his ministers and guards, he immediately stepped forward and respectfully bowed.
"This humble king welcomes the honored immortals to my kingdom."
"It is our greatest fortune to receive such distinguished guests."
His tone was filled with respect, even carrying a hint of flattery, clearly hoping to leave a favorable impression.
Leading the group was a handsome young man dressed in white robes.
Although he appeared to be in his twenties, his calm eyes carried the vicissitudes of countless years.
He smiled politely and returned the greeting.
"Your Majesty is too courteous."
"We merely intend to stay briefly before continuing our journey."
Seeing the young man's humble attitude, the king secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
At least these immortals did not seem arrogant.
Just then, a young disciple standing beside the white-robed man grinned mischievously.
"Senior Brother Ling Tianyou."
"I remember you saying that this trip to the Western Continent is to see your first love, isn't it?"
The surrounding disciples immediately pricked up their ears with curious expressions.
The young disciple continued with a laugh.
"But it's already been two hundred years."
"If I remember correctly, she was just an ordinary mortal before you left."
"What if she's already passed away?"
"Why come all this way?"
Ling Tianyou's gentle smile didn't waver.
He looked toward the distant east.
"Even if she's no longer alive..."
"I still wish to visit her grave."
His voice was calm, yet carried a trace of lingering affection that time had failed to erase.
The surrounding disciples fell silent.
After a brief pause, another disciple asked curiously,
"Then where did your first love live?"
"Do you at least know where to find her?"
Ling Tianyou shook his head with a helpless smile.
"I don't know where she's buried."
"But I do know one thing."
"When I left the Western Continent two hundred years ago..."
"She was living in the capital of the Crimson Empire."
His gaze became distant, as if recalling memories buried deep within his heart.
Two hundred years had passed.
Whether she was still remembered by anyone, whether her descendants still remained, or whether even her grave had been lost to time...
After a brief conversation, Ling Tianyou gently waved his hand.
"Let's end the topic here."
"There are some memories better left undisturbed."
The disciples immediately stopped asking questions.
Soon afterward, the king personally escorted Ling Tianyou into a luxurious carriage prepared in advance.
Surrounded by royal guards, the procession slowly departed from the harbor, heading toward the royal palace.
Meanwhile, the remaining disciples stayed behind, waiting for the rest of the convoy.
Seeing that their senior brother had already left, they immediately began whispering among themselves.
"I really don't understand Senior Brother."
"Two hundred years have passed, yet he still hasn't forgotten his first love."
Another disciple nodded in agreement.
"It's unbelievable."
"Back in the sect, so many Senior Sisters secretly admired him."
"Even several true disciples confessed to him, yet he rejected every one of them."
A female disciple quietly added,
"It wasn't just the younger generation."
"I heard several Sect Elders even wanted to arrange a marriage between Senior Brother and their granddaughters."
"But he declined all of them."
Everyone fell silent.
They all knew the reason why Ling Tianyou was so highly regarded within the sect.
He possessed a legendary physique that appeared only once every five hundred years...
The Heaven's Pulse Physique.
According to the ancient records of the Central Continent:
"When the Heaven's Pulse Physique is born, the world's spiritual veins tremble. Once every five hundred years, Heaven chooses a single cultivator to carry its fortune and reshape an era."
Those blessed with this physique possessed an extraordinary affinity with heaven and earth.
Their cultivation speed far surpassed ordinary geniuses, allowing them to absorb spiritual energy with astonishing efficiency and break through bottlenecks with much greater ease.
Because of this, the sect had poured countless resources into nurturing Ling Tianyou, believing he would one day become one of the pillars of the Thousands Sword Sect.
Yet despite his unparalleled talent...
Despite the admiration of countless women...
His heart had remained unchanged for two hundred years.
The person he could never forget...
Was still the mortal woman he had left behind in the Crimson Empire.