Chapter 33: The Terrifying Hundred-Thousand Mountains

As they arrived above the Vast Mountain Range, Elder Hua's face showed shock. "This mountain range harbors extremely strange spatial currents—it must be an enormous cultivation ground."

Bing Muer exclaimed in surprise, "Elder Hua, does that mean the fierce beasts within these mountains are truly demon beasts? Their existence must really be connected to the Tomb of the Demon Emperor."

"That is certain," Elder Hua nodded.

"Who dares disturb my slumber?" Suddenly, a shrill, angry voice rang out from below.

In the next instant, a gigantic bird soared into the sky, its long, sharp beak like a sword, striking fiercely at Bing Muer's flying vessel.

"Damn it, it really is a demon beast! It can even speak human language—its cultivation must be profound," Bing Muer shouted in anger. Suddenly, she pointed at the bird; her Frost Incantation surged wildly, instantly freezing the creature solid.

With a graceful wave of her hand, a vast power burst forth.

With a boom, the giant bird exploded into fragments.

Elder Hua watched with great relief and delight. "The little princess's Frost Incantation, now at the ninth level, is indeed formidable. With a single move, she slew that demon beast."

Suddenly, the ancient forest below became restless, demonic energy rising from beneath. Clearly, many demon beasts had been disturbed.

The group turned pale.

"There are many demon beasts below. If they are all roused, it will be a disaster," Bing Muer stood at the prow of the flying vessel, wind whipping her white dress, making her seem like a celestial maiden from the heavens.

Now that they had come this far, retreat was no longer possible.

"Everyone, prepare yourselves!" she called coldly, surging the Frost Incantation within her. An immense, icy aura erupted from her delicate form.

Endless spears of ice whirled, forming a great circle around her.

With a flick of her hand, every ice spear angled downward, poised to strike.

Elder Hua, Mu Wanqing, and the others also erupted with powerful auras, preparing for battle against the demon beasts below.

"Wait, little princess," a gentle voice called out. Huangfu Meng stepped forward, producing an ancient zither. "Let me play and soothe their souls. That way, the beasts will become completely calm."

With a crystalline melody, Huangfu Meng's ten slender fingers danced expertly across the strings, and music flowed from her fingertips.

The sound was exquisite—soft as a spring breeze, clear as a mountain spring, washing over the heart and drawing all who heard it into its depths. In their minds, scenes of ethereal paradise arose, unbidden, in time with the music.

"How soothing," the group sighed, feeling the sudden surge of battle intent within their chests subside into peace.

"Huangfu Meng, how has your mastery of music become so transcendent?" Nangong Ba asked in astonishment, listening to the zither. He was well aware of Huangfu Meng's genius for music—her title as Little Immortal of the Zither was well deserved—but now, her skill far surpassed what it once had been. He even sensed a faint trace of the Dao within her playing.

"My music has benefited from Young Master Chen's guidance," Huangfu Meng replied proudly. "In a way, Young Master Chen is my master."

Once again, Young Master Chen!

The group was stunned.

"Young Master Chen truly misses nothing. He even foresaw the presence of countless demon beasts in these mountains and cultivated Sister Huangfu into an Immortal of the Zither for the very purpose of helping us reach the mountain's depths unhindered," Mu Wanqing sighed.

"Indeed," the group replied, their admiration for Chen Changsheng growing ever deeper.

As Huangfu Meng's zither played, the previously restless demon beasts below immediately calmed. Their spirits were soothed by the magic of her music.

Their group thus progressed safely, but elsewhere, there was no Immortal of the Zither like Huangfu Meng.

The demon beasts grew ever more agitated, surging out of the mountains to attack the flying vessels passing overhead.

"Foolish humans, how dare you trespass in our sacred land! Eat them!" Many of these demon beasts had achieved sentience, and could even speak human language.

With a whoosh, a blood-red pair of wings shot up from below, smashing into one of the flying vessels, which shattered into pieces.

"Ah! Damn it, how are the demon beasts here so terrifying?" the people aboard the vessel cried in panic.

Throughout the mountains, except in the area traversed by Bing Muer and her companions, the demon beasts were in an uproar. Disaster had struck without warning.

Many cultivators lost their lives to the ravenous beasts.

"Damn that Demon Emperor! Even in death, he left such a terrifying domain here, clearly to keep anyone from disturbing his imperial tomb!"

Within an especially luxurious flying vessel, a beautiful woman in a crimson dress, her face alight with fury, spoke. "The more fiercely the Demon Emperor guards his tomb, the more it proves there are supreme treasures within."

This woman in red was Bing Miaoguo, the eldest princess of Jun Chang, Southern Domain.

Behind her followed dozens of warriors clad in golden armor—the finest fighters in all of the Southern Domain’s provincial capital. The Grand Princess’s travels could not be without such elite protection.

"Grand Princess, there are simply too many demon beasts in these mountains, and their strength is extraordinary. Forcing our way through may prove very difficult," an elderly man stepped forward and said helplessly.

They had already suffered several waves of attacks, and many warriors were badly injured.

"Old Mu, no matter what, we must break through these mountains and reach the Tomb of the Demon Emperor!" Bing Miaoguo snapped coldly.

"Yes, Your Highness," replied the elder respectfully. He understood well the Duke's intentions—to go so far, even risking calamity for the Southern Domain, to publicize the tomb’s existence, all to give his daughter the chance for great fortune within. Such determination demanded absolute loyalty from all who followed.

"Grand Princess, perhaps we should travel together," a calm voice called from behind.

Bing Miaoguo turned and saw a massive dragon-shaped flying vessel approaching. Noble and imposing, at its prow stood a handsome young man in white, his hair streaming, his robes billowing, exuding an air of effortless elegance. Beside him was an old man in yellow robes.

"People from the Thousand Dragon Sect?" Bing Miaoguo was startled. "Even the Thousand Dragon Sect has come to seek the Demon Emperor's tomb."

The Thousand Dragon Sect was one of only two heavenly sects in the Southern Domain, their power rivaling even the provincial capital. It was no exaggeration to say they stood above the entire Southern Domain.

"Greetings, Grand Princess. I am Zuo Xiangyu, Young Lord of the Thousand Dragon Sect," the young man said with refined courtesy, bowing respectfully with a faint smile.

Zuo Xiangyu, Young Lord of the Thousand Dragon Sect!

Bing Miaoguo and her retinue all turned pale with astonishment.