Eternal Tale

Chapter 269: A Millennium of Bloodshed Begins

Chapter 269: A Millennium of Bloodshed Begins

On the main peak, there was a long silence.

"Go ahead, I won't obstruct your path. I only hope that once you know the truth, you will still possess such unwavering resolve."

"Master..." The young man looked up, his eyes filled with a hint of confusion, but he responded firmly and respectfully, "I will not waver."

"Very well."

A vast surge of spiritual power rose from the main peak, and a teleportation array shimmered into existence atop the mountain. The young man's eyes focused, and he boldly stepped onto the array.

A pillar of light shot into the sky, enveloping his entire body, and in an instant, he vanished from the Lingwu Ancient Immortal Sect.

"Senior Yan Yu, your words back then have truly led many of Da Li's talented disciples to their doom."

A self-mocking voice echoed from the main peak. "Surviving in Da Li, merely surviving..."

As the voice faded, the teleportation arrays on other main peaks began to glow as well. One by one, disciples stepped forward fearlessly, ready for the path ahead—they had prepared for everything!

In Da Li, Feiyun Province, at the Yu Clan.

Rows of classical buildings stretched out, brimming with spiritual energy. Beneath them lay a fifth-grade spiritual vein, reserved solely for the Yu Clan, envied by all.

Yu Chen was in his room, organizing his storage ring. Aside from his extinction-grade magical weapon and elixirs, he carried nothing else.

Yu Yiwei stood anxiously by his side, while Elder Chu looked on with helpless concern. The young master had just broken through to the Nascent Soul stage and still had a bright future ahead—there was no need to court death.

Those who had gone to the Hanging Heaven's Gate from their clan in the past were either limited by their resources and spiritual roots, with no hope of further breakthroughs, or they were at the late Nascent Soul stage, seeking a last chance for advancement.

But it was unheard of for someone who had just reached the Nascent Soul stage to dare venture into the millennium-old gateway.

"Fifth Brother, do you really have to go? The clan's resources are now focused on you. It wouldn't be too late to go once you've reached the late Nascent Soul stage."

Yu Yiwei clasped her hands together, her face filled with worry. "The corrupted entities... those are the most foul creatures of the world, not something ordinary cultivators can contend with."

"Young Master, I agree," Elder Chu pleaded. "There is no rush; you can go in the next millennium. The Bai Li clan won't acknowledge those from the ancient families like ours. You will have no support there..."

"Enough. My mind is made up."

Yu Chen’s expression remained as calm as water, cutting off Elder Chu’s words as he pulled out another storage ring. “Seventh Sister, cultivate well at home. These resources were exchanged with that senior from the Forbidden Sea. They should help you break through to the Nascent Soul stage.”

“Fifth Brother!”

“Young Master!”

“I’ve already lost faith in the family. I hope that by the Celestial River’s edge, I can find the true meaning of cultivation for us cultivators.”

Yu Chen suddenly smiled, a faint and helpless expression. “Only there can the Yu family not reach me. If I don’t return, don’t miss me.”

He then looked at Elder Chu. “Take care of Yiwei. She’s simple-minded, and many men have their eyes on her. Don’t let her be deceived easily.”

“Young Master, I understand.” Elder Chu’s eyes dimmed as he bowed deeply. “I will protect the young lady, even if it costs me my life.”

Yu Yiwei trembled upon hearing his words, unable to speak. It felt like a farewell, like a final goodbye.

Yu Chen gave the two a deep look—his true family. Slowly rising, he walked step by step toward the outside. “I’m off.”

“Farewell, Young Master.”

“Fifth Brother!”

Yu Yiwei tried to chase after him, but Elder Chu held her back. Her eyes filled with tears as she watched Yu Chen leave, realizing this might be the last time she saw him.

Standing outside, Yu Chen looked up at the sky. It felt as if a shackle was breaking within him. With a soft laugh, he transformed into a rainbow of light, shooting into the sky.

...

Elsewhere in Da Li, the Jiang family was experiencing a similar scene. Figures took to the air, their eyes filled with determination.

However, the ancestor behind the Jiang family only shook his head, his expression one of disappointment. It seemed he didn’t wish for them to go.

“Perhaps I should cast a divination, even though the result has always been the same.”

An elder sighed, looking at the younger generation of the Jiang family. “Time and destiny align—alter the stars, and correct fate!”

As his words faded, a jade slip floated in the air, and a drop of blood essence merged with it, revealing glimpses of fate and the future.

Crack!

Suddenly, a startling change occurred. The void trembled, and a small crack appeared on the jade slip. The omen was ominous; this time, fate was unreadable, signaling an impending great upheaval!

Hiss!

Hiss!

Two elders suddenly spat out blood, their faces turning pale with shock. Their expressions showed horror, and their eyes remained wide in disbelief. Why was there such a drastic change?

“The Shengyang Dream Jade has been damaged… but why?”

“It can’t even predict the fortune of our own clan’s descendants!”

The two elders exchanged bewildered glances, still stunned. Such a situation had never occurred before. The jade slip, an ancient heirloom and a high-grade earth-rank magical artifact, was nearly a heaven-rank treasure.

For centuries, it had remained intact, guiding the family, but now… what did the future hold?

An air of unease swept through the Jiang family, with some of the elders sensing an approaching calamity.

...

In the vast Ten Thousand Mountains of Da Li, near the Bai Li Clan’s territory, the roars of beasts shook the heavens. Massive creatures emerged, their gazes fixed on the sky. One giant beast’s voice resonated through the mountains:

“Bai Li Wentian, the Thousand-Year Heaven’s Gate opens. The descendants of the Demon Suppressing Apes are ready!”

“Our Bai Li Clan’s vanguard has already reached the western coastline. We await your arrival!”

In the sky, a man with sharp, refined features stood, exuding an imposing aura that sent chills down the spine of anyone who saw him. His presence was unparalleled, radiating an iron-blooded dominance. “Activate the large-scale teleportation array!”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

…

A chorus of roars echoed from the ground, the overwhelming force of their qi and blood surging. The grand teleportation array erupted with intense spiritual light.

“The Heaven’s Gate, the thousand-year war—it begins now! Bai Li Clan, heed my command and enter the teleportation array!”

“We obey the clan leader’s orders!”

“We obey the clan leader’s orders!”

“Descendants, follow the Bai Li Clan forward!”

Roar!

Roar!

Deafening roars filled the Ten Thousand Mountains!

The thunderous sounds overshadowed everything else. The earth trembled as wild spiritual energy surged in all directions, accompanied by the thunderous stampede of giant creatures.

War banners of the War Realm Camp rose from various parts of the Bai Li Clan’s territory, each one representing an indomitable will as they entered the teleportation array!

In the distance, one after another, brilliant streaks of light crossed the sky. These were cultivators not of the Bai Li Clan but those who, with unwavering resolve, joined the march.

...

The next day, throughout all of Da Li, a torrent of iron-blooded forces was gathering. Some came for power, others for military service, and some to escape their enemies. The reasons varied.

But they all had one destination—the western coastline!

As the Heaven’s Gate opened, teleportation arrays in the west stopped collecting spiritual stones, allowing cultivators and spirit beasts free passage.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Throughout Da Li, except in the ten Buddhist provinces, grand beams of light from the teleportation arrays shot into the sky, and the wind stirred as clouds billowed!

More and more cultivators became frenzied. This was Da Li’s grandest event, awakening the remaining sense of duty in countless hearts, ignited fully by the Bai Li Clan’s leadership.

The spiritual light from the teleportation arrays grew increasingly intense, nearly shattering the clouds above, as if blessing these cultivators on their journey!

The commotion shocked every corner of Da Li. Though it seemed like a large number of cultivators were going, they represented only a small fraction. Most still watched and waited.

Each thousand-year journey to the Heaven’s Gate marked an era of strife, written into the annals of Da Li’s history, stirring the hearts of those who heard of it.