Chapter 597. Returning to Mount Hulong, Reversing the Laws

Ever since Lu Yuan learned that the power of the Extracosmic Heavenly Demons had begun appearing on Earth, he had formed a rough plan.

First, he had to eliminate every external threat, beginning with the two factions.

Lu Yuan had slain most of the Eternals and Ji Clan experts on Earth, leaving them unable to cause further trouble. His next priority had been strengthening the Celestial Court's power and foundations.

Blessed by Providence, many of its members had entered the Immortal Realm or Sage Realm, and this was only the beginning. Providence would make their future cultivation far smoother.

They would still need time to adapt, but Lu Yuan was in no hurry.

With both matters settled, he turned his attention to the next.

"You were looking for me?"

As he considered his next move, Jiang Ningxian arrived at Jade Emperor Peak with a smile.

Lu Yuan nodded. "The power of the Extracosmic Heavenly Demons has appeared across the famous mountains and great rivers. This may be a sign of their descent. First, we need to find where it is strongest.

"If we can delay their descent to Earth, even the better."

Even if the calamity could not be prevented, delaying or halting their descent would give Earth's inhabitants more time to prepare.

"So you plan to investigate the famous mountains and great rivers?" Jiang Ningxian understood at once. "I'll go with you."

Lu Yuan smiled. He could make the journey alone, but Jiang Ningxian knew many of the Jiang Clan's secrets and might recognize or explain things he could not.

"Then there is no time to lose. Let's set out now."

Lu Yuan rose and swept a hand through the air, opening a void passage. Without hesitation, the two stepped inside.

Earth had grown vast, but distance meant little to someone who could cross the void.

Their first stop was Mount Hulong. The mountain was one of Daoism's ancient ancestral seats. According to the information Lu Yuan had obtained before, this was the first place where the power of the Extracosmic Heavenly Demons had appeared.

As soon as Lu Yuan arrived, he sensed that familiar yet strange power.

Endless black mist filled the mountains and rushed straight into the sky. It was so dense that ordinary people could not enter at all. More importantly, the strange power within it meant that even Sages would have to tread carefully.

"It seems no living beings remain on Mount Hulong."

Jiang Ningxian sensed it as well and frowned. Mount Hulong had become extremely dangerous.

"That power is altering the laws of the surrounding world." Having comprehended the Celestial Seat laws, Lu Yuan could perceive the changes clearly. He immediately understood the purpose behind the Extracosmic Heavenly Demons' influence.

They wanted to alter the surrounding region and make it suitable for those beings to descend.

He stepped forward and invoked the Celestial Seat laws, attempting to expel the foreign power, only to discover in astonishment that he could not.

"It seems the two factions and the Extracosmic Heavenly Demons have been preparing for a very long time."

Lu Yuan found the result regrettable. If they could not stop the transformation, they could only prepare for what would follow.

"Why not try the Celestial Emperor's Ancient Token? These two powers oppose each other," Jiang Ningxian suggested from the side.

No matter what, as long as there was hope, they had to try.

Lu Yuan activated the Celestial Emperor's Ancient Token, using its power to suppress that of the Extracosmic Heavenly Demons. Some of the black mist dissipated, but the result fell far short of what they needed.

After a moment's thought, Lu Yuan said, "Let's go in and take a look."

The black mist would have been extremely dangerous to most people, but he and Jiang Ningxian were both strong enough to have no need for concern.

Together, they entered Mount Hulong.

Just as they had sensed from outside, no living beings remained in the region. Even the vegetation had withered and turned black, leaving the land utterly lifeless.

The deeper they went, the stronger the power of the Extracosmic Heavenly Demons became. The surrounding laws had fallen into chaos, and even Jiang Ningxian felt her strength being affected.

"It seems the Extracosmic Heavenly Demons intend to transform this world into an environment better suited to them. If they succeed, our strength will be affected."

Jiang Ningxian's brows furrowed deeply.

If the laws of the entire universe were overturned in this manner, would its transcendent lifeforms be reduced to ordinary beings?

"Overturning the laws of the entire universe would not be so simple. If the Extracosmic Heavenly Demons were capable of that, they would have begun long ago instead of waiting until now and targeting Earth alone."

Lu Yuan saw no reason to worry about that yet. Transforming even a portion of Earth had required years of planning.

Moreover, they had affected only the famous mountains and great rivers, not the entire planet. Compared with the vastness of the universe, this was merely a tiny corner.

Jiang Ningxian considered his words and nodded.

Soon, the two of them entered the depths of Mount Hulong. Even the sun in the sky had vanished.

Everything before their eyes was darkness. Not a trace of light could be seen.

However, this did not trouble Lu Yuan or Jiang Ningxian. They continued moving forward.

Finally, they sensed the source of the black mist.

"It seems to be inside that mountain before us."

Jiang Ningxian raised her head toward the mountain before them, its summit towering more than twenty miles overhead.

Streams of black mist poured from around the mountain, carrying an exceedingly strange power.

Even their divine sense could not detect what was inside. If they wanted to uncover the truth, they had to go deeper.

"Let me."

Lu Yuan stepped forward and reached out. The mountain exploded into powder, and the Heaven-Earth Furnace manifested above it, refining the countless falling boulders until nothing remained. In moments, the towering peak had been erased.

To Lu Yuan, it was a trivial feat. Out in the cosmos, his current strength was enough to erase an entire star.

At last, they saw what had lain beneath the mountain.