"Don't worry, Brother Monkey. I'm not planning to refine it. It's just that something this rare is too hard to come by — I want to keep it as a collection, a memento."
Chu Feng smiled faintly, then inscribed a small barrier array on the jade vial. After that, he turned the vial upside down, and a beam of light shot out from its mouth.
Wherever the light touched, the barrier essence flowed backward into it, all of it drawn into the vial. In the blink of an eye, Chu Feng had collected every last drop of the barrier essence and tucked the vial into his Universe Bag.
"Don't even think about refining this thing, kid. If you lose your life over it, don't come crying to me." The Demon Monkey King shot Chu Feng a sideways glance, seeming to sense his intentions but not pressing the matter. He simply kept walking.
"Heh." Chu Feng scratched his head with a sheepish grin and followed along.
*Tap.* But before they had gone far, the Demon Monkey King suddenly halted. With a sweep of his sleeve, he snatched up Chu Feng and bolted back the way they had come at breakneck speed.
"Brother Monkey, what's wrong? Did you sense something?" The Demon Monkey King's sudden action led Chu Feng to believe he must have detected danger — otherwise, with his temperament, he'd never flee in such a panic.
"I just sensed two evil spirits at the ninth stage of the Heaven Martial realm. Fortunately, they don't possess Mental Power, so I spotted them before they could detect us."
"Otherwise, with my current cultivation, I might not have been able to escape. This Emperor's Burial has descended into chaos — many seals have been broken. The evil spirits will figure out soon enough that the seals are gone. Once they start rampaging and turning on each other, it'll become even more dangerous. With our level of cultivation, we absolutely cannot enter this Emperor's Burial again."
Though reluctant, Chu Feng knew there was nothing he could do. If even the Demon Monkey King was backing down, what could he — a mere first stage of the Heaven Martial realm — possibly accomplish?
Besides, they hadn't found a single treasure the entire time. Even the secret technique had turned out to be nothing but a trap. Chu Feng was convinced the black-robed elder was behind it. With that man clearing the path ahead, even if Chu Feng pressed onward, he wouldn't gain anything — every visible benefit had surely already been claimed by the black-robed elder.
So Chu Feng decided to return to the Azure Dragon Sect.
After all, the Jiang Dynasty was now facing a great catastrophe, and the entire Nine Provinces Continent would likely be plunged into massive upheaval. At a time like this, he and the Demon Monkey King needed to get back to the Azure Dragon Sect to hold things together. Otherwise, one wrong move and the not-yet-fully-rebuilt sect could be completely destroyed.
In the Azure Dragon Mountains, the reconstruction of the Azure Dragon Sect was proceeding at full tilt. Many main buildings had already been completed — grand and imposing, several times more magnificent than the original Azure Dragon Sect. Both in scale and quality, everything had been elevated, and an air of prosperity radiated from every corner.
Moreover, many of the buildings were already occupied by disciples and elders. Some could be seen cultivating, others chatting. Most were new faces, but all possessed extraordinary talent.
Joy beamed from everyone's faces, yet none of them knew that the Nine Provinces Continent was facing a great calamity. The Jiang Dynasty — that colossal power which had dominated the continent for so many years — would very likely be overthrown, plunging the Nine Provinces Continent into chaos.
Upon returning to the Azure Dragon Sect, Chu Feng did not go to see Li Changqing. Instead, he headed straight for the most magnificent main hall at the center of the sect.
Several capable elders stood guard here, for this was a forbidden area. When they saw a figure descending from the sky, they immediately braced for battle.
But once they recognized who it was, they hastily parted to let him through, their faces filled with reverence and humility — for they knew this was none other than the man who had rebuilt the Azure Dragon Sect: Chu Feng.
After entering the palace, Chu Feng descended into the underground chamber. There he set up a barrier array, and soon an entrance appeared — the entrance to the Myriad Bones Graveyard. Above it now stood a magnificent structure, and the whole area had become a forbidden zone.
Upon entering the Myriad Bones Graveyard, Chu Feng told the Dragon Daoist everything — about opening the Emperor's Burial, and about the great danger now facing the Jiang Dynasty.
"Chu Feng, we cannot stand by and do nothing." The Dragon Daoist's brow furrowed deeply, his tone heavy with gravity.
"Ancestor, I also want to help the Jiang Dynasty. After all, the Jiang Dynasty was instrumental in rebuilding our Azure Dragon Sect, and everyone across the Nine Provinces Continent knows our ties with them run deep."
"If those three imperial clans really do move to destroy the Jiang Dynasty, our Azure Dragon Sect will almost certainly fall as well. But with our current strength, I fear we cannot save them." Chu Feng shook his head.
"Chu Feng, that purple-robed Spirit World Master you mentioned before — is he still around?" After a moment's thought, the Dragon Daoist asked.
"You mean Brother Monkey? He is. He said the demon beasts of Ten Thousand Demon Mountain would stand with the Azure Dragon Sect to the very end."
"Good. I didn't expect that demon beast to be so loyal. Very well — at this point there's no other option. Go and bring him here. I need his help with something."
"Ancestor, do you mean—?" Chu Feng's heart surged with joy. He had already caught the meaning behind the Dragon Daoist's words.
"You brat, playing dumb." The Dragon Daoist shook his head with a bitter smile, then said: "The Jiang Dynasty once did me a great kindness. I cannot watch them be destroyed like this. Besides, if some other imperial clan were to rule the Nine Provinces Continent, they might not treat its people and forces kindly."
"So I want that demon beast to help me resurrect. With these old bones of mine, I will help the Jiang Dynasty stand against those three great clans."
"Understood, Ancestor. I'll go right away." Though he had anticipated this, hearing it from the Dragon Daoist's own lips still sent a thrill of excitement through Chu Feng.
Chu Feng then relayed the Dragon Daoist's words to the Demon Monkey King. Learning that the Dragon Daoist was still alive greatly surprised the Demon Monkey King — after all, a thousand years had passed, and both body and soul should have long since perished.
Surprised as he was, the Demon Monkey King didn't ask many questions. He readily agreed to Chu Feng's request and promised to help the Dragon Daoist resurrect.
So Chu Feng brought the Demon Monkey King into the Myriad Bones Graveyard to meet the Dragon Daoist.
Upon seeing the Dragon Daoist's remarkably powerful soul, his intact remains, and the extraordinary pearl, the Demon Monkey King was even more astonished.
Yet faced with the complete source essence of a peak Heaven Martial expert and a mysterious treasure pearl of extraordinary power, the Demon Monkey King made no move to seize them.
Instead, casting aside his usual arrogant demeanor, he addressed the Dragon Daoist with genuine respect: "Dragon Daoist, by age, you are my senior. By status, you are my brother's ancestor. Tell me — what must I do to help you resurrect?"