Chapter 756 - 539: Profound Monarch’s Past (Part 2)

Chapter 756: Chapter 539: Profound Monarch’s Past (Part 2)

The Primordial Pearl was originally the spiritual treasure accompanying Jichuan Profound Monarch, possessing its own realm capable of spanning a hundred miles, shattering obstacles with its immense hardness, enough to traverse Void Turbulence; swirling clouds and mist, assimilating everything within.

Jichuan Profound Monarch, with his exceptional talents, managed to cultivate spiritual wisdom within this treasure, thus forming an Artifact Spirit, with only his Primordial Spirit Cultivation. Sadly, at the time, the monarch was besieged heavily and, while gravely wounded and nearing death, he broke through the siege and implanted the nearly shattered Primordial Pearl into the Spirit Vein at Yuqing Mountain for self-recovery.

Now, the pearl is sentient and, when charged with enough Spiritual Qi, can move freely and attack autonomously. Lu Qian was well acquainted with her battle prowess, being one of the Yunshan Sect’s ultimate trump cards.

Even if the Primordial Pearl’s power decreases without a master, it still possesses the might to instantly kill a regular Golden Core cultivator. Against a typical Nascent Soul, she might prevail, though it cannot be guaranteed she would capture a Nascent Soul Spirit Monarch.

She is not merely a superlative combat spiritual object but also linked to Cangzhou’s former overlord, Jichuan Profound Monarch, representing his legacy, making her extremely sensitive within Cangzhou’s realms. Should news leak, it would instantly overthrow the Yunshan Sect.

Thus, over the years, Lu Qian has only summoned her twice but exclusively ensured there were absolutely no witnesses, keeping her existence completely secret.

This time, as Lu Qian journeys to Lanshan Island in Ningzhou, the island, barren of even mortals, only sparsely populated, makes deploying the Primordial Pearl Spirit in secrecy possible, becoming the perfect scenario.

Before Lu Qian could speak, the Primordial Pearl Spirit spoke again, "It may be fast, but it’s not faster than me. I think there’s no need to be redundant, just let me absorb you into the pearl and take you to that island myself."

Being confined within Wu Yan’s Dantian all day, the Primordial Pearl Spirit had become a chatterbox, seizing any chance to speak unceasingly.

She wasn’t wrong; after decades of culturing and absorbing Spiritual Qi, the inner space of the pearl had basically restored to its prime state. A massive lake of up to a hundred square miles, its water rippling, verdant waves rising, and numerous Huxing Islands scattered across it.

Meanwhile, due to the substantial storage of Spiritual Qi, the pearl’s escape speed had further improved, now capable of surpassing Nascent Soul speeds at its peak.

"This won’t do." Lu Qian shook his head, "Since we’re seeking speed, we must avoid ground flight concealment; we need to undertake airborne escape constantly. The pearl is dreamy and ancient, its aura vast and archaic; if sighted, it would cause significant troubles, we can’t risk it."

The Pearl Spirit sighed, pondering briefly before waving her hand, gathering thick clouds to veil the Cloud Chariot layer by layer, also casting a faint, wavering clear glow over it.

Thus, the once radiant Cloud Chariot dulled at once, enveloped densely by cloud mist.

"This is better." She clapped her hands, bent over, and squeezed into the chariot, not forgetting to beckon to Lu Qian, "Come in, quickly."

Lu Qian smiled helplessly, entering the chariot cabin. The cabin wasn’t large, accommodating up to four adults, or even two more in a pinch. Now with Lu Qian and the Primordial Pearl Spirit, it was more than spacious enough.

Inside, bright light filled the space, adorned with precious treasures, plush pelts draped over soft seats on either side, breezes blowing, curtains strung with beads and gems chiming like wind chimes.

"Set off, set off!" Without allowing Lu Qian a closer look, the previously complaining Primordial Pearl Spirit had joyously seated herself on the soft seat within, her fair legs swinging with dreamlike brilliance, showing extreme excitement.

Lu Qian smiled helplessly, waved his hand, raising a Crystal Pillar at the center. Grooves covered the pillar, meant specifically for embedding Spirit Crystals.

Following Master Ling Xuan’s instruction from the Jade Scroll, he embedded the Spirit Crystal in the groove, then placed his hand on the pillar, activating his Divine Sense, causing the chariot to gently shudder and subsequently, enshrouded in thick clouds, shot forward on a swift breeze.

In an instant it reached its maximum escape speed of four thousand miles per hour, causing the Pearl Spirit to be jolted backwards, shouting cheerfully.

Tsk, isn’t she enjoying the ride after all...

While flying, the Pearl Spirit kept lifting the curtain to peer downward, her mouth chattering ceaselessly about this or that mountain, river, tree...

Then asking Lu Qian what names the mountains held or what the valleys were called.

Lu Qian couldn’t recognize so many; now flying in a direct line towards Ningzhou, first entering Zhongming, then onward to Xinghu, passing through Xinghu into Ningzhou. This journey was filled with wild mountains and valleys, rivers and lakes without Spirit Veins, for cultivators such places were mere Desolate Mountains not worthy of names.

Yet seeing her ask with such enthusiasm, Lu Qian casually concocted a string of names. To his surprise, the Pearl Spirit earnestly memorized each one.

"Oh, Lid Mountain truly lives up to its name, but Elephant Nose Mountain doesn’t quite look like one; it seems more like Pig Leg Mountain." The Pearl Spirit happily commented, "Why White Water River? The water isn’t white at all. Though time is limited today, I want to return later..."

Suddenly, Lu Qian felt pity for her.

Reflecting on whether being an Artifact Spirit could truly bring happiness.

Possessing complete, independent personalities and unblemished emotions akin to ordinary humans, yet lacking any personal freedom.

Cultivators treated them merely as extensions of ’tools’. When masters existed, Artifact Spirits naturally devoted fully to them, yet once masters were gone, they had nowhere to go, no path to return to.

Without someone fostering Spiritual Qi, they could only sleep, competing in slumber until a new master appeared.

A new master, a new prison.

"If you like, we can return someday." Lu Qian said.

The Pearl Spirit nodded vigorously, suddenly her expression shifted, almost leaning out of the window.

"What’s wrong?" Lu Qian was startled, seeing layers of mist rising around the Pearl Spirit’s eyes.

"I know this place..." The Pearl Spirit said, "My master once brought me past here."

Lu Qian gazed outwardly, seeing it was merely a desolate mountain without Spirit Veins.

Indeed, flying further leads towards Yuqing Mountain. Presumably, Jichuan Profound Monarch passed here while fleeing gravely wounded with the Primordial Pearl.

Thereafter, he buried the Primordial Pearl at Yuqing Mountain, then bid farewell to the Pearl Spirit, embracing his own fate.

"What kind of person was the Profound Monarch, truly?" Lu Qian mused softly.

From a Loose Cultivator’s position, he subdued Cangzhou becoming its overlord, feared by major sects.

Ultimately perished by villainous schemes, poisonings, and innumerable forces’ siege.

"My master, he was a happy person." The Pearl Spirit contemplated deeply, staring dumbly towards the mountains, providing a peculiar adjective.

"Even in his final moments, he still smiled."

"Despite being so gravely hurt and many pursuing him, he paid no attention to it."

"Look there—"

Lu Qian followed her pointed direction, seeing a towering lone peak.

"At that time—"

At that time, the sunset was blood-red, dyeing the lone peak.

Jichuan Profound Monarch stood atop the peak, numerous escape lights assailing him from all directions.

His body was covered in bloodstains, dark wounds horrifying in sight.

Yet the monarch smiled, gazing towards the clouds on the horizon.

"Beautiful indeed. It’d be nice with a cup of tea."

...

The Cloud Chariot streaked across the sky like lightning, leaving it all behind, as Lu Qian and the Pearl Spirit remained silent.

What kind of person was the Profound Monarch, and why dominate Cangzhou? With his cultivation, he could have coexisted peacefully with major sects, even venerated as a guest by them, negating any need for territorial supremacy.

From where had Master Moyun learned the Primordial Pearl’s whereabouts?

Did Jichuan Profound Monarch’s lineage still exist in the world?

Additionally, what was the ultimate site of Jichuan Profound Monarch’s fall?

The Cloud Chariot sped onward, amidst such speculation, they reached Ningzhou, with the Star Sea looming afar.