The clear moonlight fell on the mountains, and bonfires lit up the lakeside. Li Xiaotian sat beside a bonfire, a golden-brown chicken drumstick hanging over it.
This was the leg of a Black Bird, roasted by Li Xiaotian on a whim. It wasn't out of hunger, but a longing for his days in Jiuzhou.
Beside the fire was a jar of fine wine, its fragrant aroma drifting far into the night. Li Xiaotian ate heartily, drinking deeply.
He had to admit, the Black Bird's meat was incredibly tender and smooth. The flesh of a peak sixth-tier beast, a single bite could extend one's lifespan. It melted in the mouth, releasing a rich aroma.
"What a shame, if only this were in Jiuzhou," Li Xiaotian sighed, feeling a slight dissatisfaction.
A night passed in the blink of an eye. Li Xiaotian flew towards the battlefield early the next morning. He had already gained recognition from the Great Dao, allowing him to leave the third trial at any time upon reaching the battlefield.
However, from Tianqi's memories, he had glimpsed a mysterious place, rumored to hold a great opportunity. Tianqi had discovered it and intended to explore it after dealing with him, but he was instead killed by Li Xiaotian. Thus, this opportunity was now known only to him.
Mountains and rivers flew by in reverse as Li Xiaotian tore through the air, like an extremely sharp rainbow spanning the sky. In a short time, he arrived tens of thousands of miles away.
He flew for an entire day, crossing the battlefield of the third trial and reaching the edge of the world. Upon arriving at his destination, the scene before him sent a tremor through his heart. This place was extremely mysterious, with surging chaotic mists separating the front, as if it were its own realm.
Clearly, this place was extraordinary. Just approaching it made his heart pound. The mountains and rivers within the mist were all inscribed with Great Dao runes, inspiring awe, filled with strangeness and mystery.
Peaks stood like divine statues, existing since ancient times. Mountain ranges resembled coiling dragons, stretching east and west. Cliffs resembled the wings of golden peng birds, with clouds gently rising. The mountains lay like dormant Xuanwu beasts, stable and heavy.
Undoubtedly, this place held something special. Just standing outside made one's mind reel, longing to enter and uncover its profound mysteries.
"What kind of opportunity could it be?" Li Xiaotian wondered, his heart filled with curiosity. This place was too extraordinary, giving him a peculiar feeling.
He stood in the sky, gazing into the depths. Miasma pervaded, ancient trees grew densely, and it was incredibly quiet, a deathly stillness.
Among a cluster of towering mountains, one stood out exceptionally. It was tall and vast, exuding an ancient, weathered aura.
"This... is a tomb!" Li Xiaotian exclaimed in shock and disbelief. He sobered up, realizing that the deepest part was actually a tomb!
Amidst the mountains, a tomb stood abruptly, its ancient aura weathered, soaring into the clouds, dwarting many surrounding peaks.
Who would have noticed it without a close look?
The tomb did not exude any oppressive or terrifying aura, no frightening fluctuations leaked out. It possessed only an extraordinary presence.
Li Xiaotian stopped at the perimeter, not rashly entering. This was not only because the tomb was mysterious but also because this place was a death trap, with no return once entered.
With his current strength, his eyes could see through all illusions. Standing at a distance, he gazed into the depths, yet he couldn't see everything clearly. It was as if something was veiled, and he vaguely felt a sense of unease, as if a terrifying presence slumbered deep within.
Moreover, this place was teeming with life yet remained unnervingly silent, devoid of any living beings.
This reminded him of the God Devouring Clan's medicinal garden, which was similar. However, this place was far more terrifying and mysterious than their garden.
Furthermore, Li Xiaotian could sense a mysterious power spreading from the depths, sacred and pure, akin to a high-level force, radiant and flowing, powerful yet gentle.
Li Xiaotian frowned, staring at the mountains repeatedly. Finally, he moved, advancing towards the deepest part.
As he reached the halfway point, a vast power suddenly manifested in the heavens and earth. Mountains and valleys resonated, emitting auspicious light. Each peak seemed like a treasure, roaring and emitting holy rays into the sky.
"Buzz!"
Following this, all the mountains began to tremble slightly. Then, peak after peak cracked open. Tens of thousands of mountains roared and creaked. Cracks appeared on every mountain body, revealing a vivid red liquid within.
"This! Blood! It's blood!"
Li Xiaotian was instantly startled, his hair standing on end. So many mountains contained only blood within them, which astonished him greatly.
Not only that, but the mountains seemed to be moving, like colossal beasts. Within the blood were revealed layers of white bones.
The crawling mountains, like coiling dragons or serpents, advanced. Their surfaces cracked, revealing blood within, and also immense skeletons. It was these bones that supported the mountain bodies.
Each bone was enormous. The largest was hundreds of feet long, even a thousand feet, while the smallest was less than the size of a palm, possessing a peculiar lustrous vitality.
The mountains were alive. What kind of creature was this? What was its connection to the tomb in the depths?
Li Xiaotian's brow furrowed, and he stopped. Everything before him was simply inconceivable.
Tianqi's memories had only revealed the strangeness of this place and the presence of a heaven-defying opportunity, but he hadn't figured out the specifics.
Li Xiaotian believed he had absorbed enough memories. Although he was less than a hundred years old, the memories he had consumed could rival those of many ancient monsters tens of thousands of years old.
After all, he had too many enemies, and any one of them he could find would have lived for thousands of years.
Yet, even with the memories of countless powerful beings, he could not explain the scene before him.
Could it not belong to this current cosmic era? Li Xiaotian's heart suddenly stirred. He thought of the origin of Baizhan City, that it wasn't from the current cosmic era. Therefore, perhaps some opportunities here originated from previous universes?
Just like the imprints of the Great Dao encountered in each trial, the moves of top experts could be preserved. Then, wouldn't some wondrous places that originally belonged to the trial worlds also be preserved?
Just like what he saw before him.
Suddenly, a peculiar fragrance drifted over, making one feel light and healthy, as if about to float. A refreshing aroma possessed a special magic, intoxicating.
All the mountain bodies trembled. Light intensified from the cracked fissures. From the blood and bones, drops of mysterious liquid, crystal clear, seeped out.
They slid down the mountain bodies, falling to the foothills and forming small, luminous puddles, many of which connected to one another.