Chapter 149: The Fate Stone of Tianji Mountain

“There isn’t enough time.”

A white crane soared through the clouds.

Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air behind them.

Lv Shan looked back and saw the Green-Robed Gentleman flying by on his sword. He flashed past like a streak of sword light, vanishing beside Lv Shan in the blink of an eye.

“Didn’t you tell me to lead the way? Wait, Mr. Chen, wait for me…”

Lv Shan cried out, but the figure flying with the wind on his sword grew smaller and farther away in his sight.

Lv Shan glanced down at the white crane beneath him and said, “Cloud Crane, quickly catch up to Mr. Chen!”

“Creeee!”

The white crane let out a long cry, slicing through layers of clouds as it chased after the Immortal Sword.

Yet no matter how fast it flew, the Green-Robed Gentleman pulled further and further ahead, until even his shadow was no longer visible.

“This is…”

Lv Shan felt amazed inside. So fast! He had seen many sword cultivators in the world, but never one this incredible. Saying he disappeared in a blink wasn’t an exaggeration.

The Rain-Listening Sword emitted streams of golden light. Chen Changsheng stood upon it, flying straight to Tianji Mountain.

Chen Changsheng raised a hand and began calculating.

He couldn’t determine what Zhong Zhengyuan had glimpsed to be injured. The only result he found was that Zhong Zhengyuan was already in critical condition.

What could it be that caused such a backlash against Zhong Zhengyuan?

The Immortal Sword sliced through the sky, tearing a hole in the cloud curtain.

Atop a certain lofty mountain, thick mist obscured its view, save for white cranes circling amidst the clouds, appearing and disappearing like ghosts.

“A formation…”

Chen Changsheng looked towards the summit completely shrouded in clouds. Further below lay deep snow, a place impossible for mortals to reach.

The mist veiling the mountaintop was likely another hiding method, just a more ‘bold and open’ one.

Faint figures seemed perched upon the elusive white cranes within the mist—probably the Tianji Mountain disciples responsible for patrol.

The patrolling disciple spotted the figure and frowned, calling out, “Who comes there?”

Chen Changsheng paid no mind, urging his sword forward and flashing past the Tianji Mountain disciple.

“You…”

The disciple sitting on the crane’s back was stunned. He looked over his shoulder, only to find the figure of the Green-Robed Gentleman already gone, leaving nothing but a gust of wind rushing past his face.

“Gone?”

The disciple stood dumbfounded, unable to grasp what just happened for a long while.

Once past the layer of mist, Chen Changsheng beheld the full majesty of Tianji Mountain.

At its peak stood many imposing halls and pavilions, teeming with countless disciples. The spiritual energy here was several times richer than the outside world—truly a mountain worthy of its name, a blessed land of vitality and abundant fortune. Wisps of green smoke drifted upward from the halls.

“Cling…”

Suddenly, the sharp ring of a sword resonated throughout the Immortal Mountain.

Countless disciples looked up, catching only a fleeting gleam of sword light passing over their heads, heading straight for the Tianji Pavilion.

“What was that…”

“A Sword Immortal?”

“Who dares to ride a sword over Tianji Mountain?”

Many voices murmured in confusion. No one could clearly make out the figure standing on the Immortal Sword. But everyone knew: this visitor was definitely a great Senior!

At this very moment, within the top floor of Tianji Pavilion.

Zhong Zhengyuan sat cross-legged in the center of an eight-direction Formation Array. His complexion fluctuated unnaturally, sometimes flushed, sometimes deathly pale. Frost momentarily clouded his eyebrows, only to melt away. White vapor rose from his hair.

Sitting at the eight points of the array were eight figures. Together, they channeled Magical Power to temporarily stabilize Zhong Zhengyuan’s Divine Sense and Mortal Body, preventing his spirit from collapsing.

Hovering directly above Zhong Zhengyuan’s head was a pale bluish-grey stone, endlessly spinning—and simultaneously tormenting him.

Suddenly, a flash of sword light landed within the hall.

Chen Changsheng gestured lightly, and the Rain-Listening Sword vanished by his side.

His gaze fell upon the barely breathing Zhong Zhengyuan within the array, and he frowned instantly.

A figure suddenly stepped forward from within the hall.

The man wore purple robes. Seeing Chen Changsheng, he approached and asked, “Are you Mr. Chen?”

“I am. And you might be…”

Chen Daoqiu spoke, “My name is Chen Daoqiu, Master of the Purple Vine Pavilion of Tianji Mountain. Senior Brother Zhengyuan left a Brocade Pouch before his crisis, instructing us to open it when he was in peril. A letter inside told us to find Mr. Chen at the Flowing Cloud Temple in Da Xiang.”

Chen Daoqiu observed the newcomer closely. Truly, he couldn’t perceive any sign of this man’s power—not even the slightest fluctuation of Magical Power.

Chen Daoqiu asked, “Does Mr. Chen possess a method to save Senior Brother Zhengyuan?”

Chen Changsheng turned his eyes to Zhong Zhengyuan within the array. He asked, “What did he try to see?”

Chen Daoqiu seemed hesitant and said, “That matter…”

“If it’s difficult to speak of, you may keep silent.”

Chen Changsheng paused, then requested, “First, tell me his current condition.”

Chen Daoqiu nodded and explained Zhong Zhengyuan’s present state.

Zhong Zhengyuan had tried to glimpse the Heavenly Secrets using the Fate Stone, but unexpectedly damaged his Divine Sense. Worse, the Fate Stone became unstable. Zhong Zhengyuan’s Divine Sense showed signs of collapse. Fortunately, he quickly activated a Formation Array, temporarily stabilizing the situation—preventing immediate death.

“Since Senior Brother Zhengyuan’s Divine Sense cannot pull free from the Fate Stone now, if we don’t find a solution soon, it will likely become completely disarrayed and trapped within the Stone.”

Chen Changsheng raised an eyebrow and fixed his eyes on the stone hovering over Zhong Zhengyuan’s head.

“That’s the Fate Stone?”

Chen Changsheng recalled Zhao Yuqing mentioning this artifact long ago.

Zhao Yuqing had used it back then to calculate certain things about him.

That aside, the immediate problem was clear. The Stone remained uncontrollable. Only by wrenching Zhong Zhengyuan’s Divine Sense free could he live. The key lay in stabilizing the Fate Stone itself.

“This stone…”

Chen Changsheng frowned and turned to him. “Is it a lifeless object or a living thing?”

Chen Daoqiu hesitated briefly before answering, “Lifeless. You can think of it as a Magical Artifact, Mr. Chen.”

Chen Changsheng glanced at him but didn’t press further.

He took a step closer. Approaching the array, he peered earnestly at the Fate Stone.

The so-called Fate Stone appeared utterly ordinary. Yet as it spun, it seemed to pluck unseen threads.

Chen Changsheng found himself momentarily unable to fathom this stone.

He turned to the man beside him and inquired, “May I step closer to inspect it?”

Chen Daoqiu wavered, unsure if the array would permit closeness.

Chen Changsheng said firmly, “He won’t survive much longer like this.”

Chen Daoqiu thought it over, then stated, “Please proceed.”

This was now the only option. Even if he couldn’t gauge this Mr. Chen’s strength, Senior Brother Zhengyuan had specifically named him in the Brocade Pouch. That alone implied remarkable skill.

No harm in trying.

Chen Changsheng walked forward. The eight figures powering the Formation Array did not try to stop him.

He moved directly to Zhong Zhengyuan’s side.

Chen Changsheng’s gaze locked onto the Fate Stone.

His thorough examination revealed nothing unusual about the stone.

Then, in the next instant, a faint wisp of turquoise light seemed to flicker within the Fate Stone.

Thinking he imagined it, he looked again.

The turquoise gleam now burned bright in Chen Changsheng’s eyes. He frowned and muttered, “What is this turquoise light?”

Chen Daoqiu blinked in confusion. “What turquoise light?”

Chen Changsheng started to turn and question him but suddenly froze.

A vague feeling stirred deep within…

That flicker of turquoise seemed strangely familiar. Had he seen it somewhere before?