Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 927 - 396: Mountain Ancestor Enters the Fray (2)

I suspect the Mountain Ancestor has claimed them all!

A telepathic message was suddenly sent from the Saint Ancestor to Ning Qi.

"Oi, kid, how much longer will you sit idly by? Do you still intend to reap the greatest benefits from this conflict?"

Ning Qi found himself speechless; the Saint Ancestor was once again attempting to manipulate him.

Concurrently, the Saint Ancestor appeared to be engaged in a discussion with the Sea Ancestor, who was pressing her temples.

The Sea Ancestor displayed a level of fury previously unseen.

"Speak one more word, and I will hunt you down at any cost!"

Though the Saint Ancestor desired to mediate, neither of the other two paid him any mind, leaving him in a rather awkward position.

"These dimwitted fools, are they truly so devoted to the Mountain and Sea Realm? Could they not reconsider and aid my Vast Realm in achieving victory?"

It remained ambiguous whether this thought was directed at Ning Qi or the Sea Ancestor.

...

Within the confines of the Mountain and Sea Realm.

Located atop Heaven-Reaching Peak.

The Mountain Ancestor stood resolutely at the summit, unfazed by the onslaught of winds, lightning, frost, and oppressive heat.

His gaze was fixed upon the countenance of the War Realm, a visage so sharply defined it suggested the former owner was a remarkably handsome young man.

Just as the Saint Ancestor produced the Ancient Road Sacred Map, a declaration was suddenly made by the Mountain Ancestor: "It informs me that the old man has brought forth that item."

"And you have yet to make a move?"

A voice echoed from behind the Mountain Ancestor. Standing upon the steps of Heaven-Reaching Peak, clad in a mask resembling a dragon, was the Dragon-faced Servant.

Typically adhering strictly to the Mountain Ancestor's directives, he spoke unprompted, a trace of urgency coloring his tone.

Upon hearing this, the Mountain Ancestor responded in kind: "And you have yet to make a move?"

Their identical utterances instantly infused Heaven-Reaching Peak with an unsettling strangeness.

"Should you make a move, I shall naturally follow suit!"

"Perhaps we should settle this with a game of rock-paper-scissors, for fairness' sake?"

"Do you truly wish to delineate matters so explicitly?"

"Is it not preferable to have clear distinctions rather than ambiguity?"

"Would not maintaining ambiguity render things even clearer?"

"..."

Ultimately, both voices converged into a single, identical sound; any other eavesdropper would undoubtedly have been paralyzed with terror.

However, the current state of the Mountain and Sea Realm resembled an abandoned husk, as its most formidable figures had long since departed for the War Realm.

Whoosh!

A gust of wind swept across Heaven-Reaching Peak, leaving no trace, with no one to be seen!

The two figures atop the peak vanished simultaneously.

...

Within the War Realm.

The Saint Ancestor and the Sea Ancestor remained locked in their confrontation.

The Sea Ancestor, inexplicably influenced by something, refrained from launching an attack on the Saint Ancestor.

She appeared to be humming a melody, indistinct and nameless, occasionally sending a drifting note towards Ning Qi's position.

Ning Qi recognized the tune as a common nursery rhyme, popular even in the True Martial Realm.

"What is occurring?"

Ning Qi struggled to comprehend the unfolding situation.

The Sea Ancestor hummed a children's song, yet the Saint Ancestor did not capitalize on this pause to strike.

Both Ancestors remained motionless, held in an unnerving silence.

A multitude of cultivators from the Mountain and Sea Realm exchanged glances filled with relief.

With the cessation of hostilities between the two Ancestors, they no longer had to endure the destructive torrents unleashed by their clashing powers.

The cultivators under Gong Tiandao's command, who led the Mountain Ancestor's loyalists, were particularly overjoyed.

They were on the verge of kneeling, exclaiming, "The heavens are watching, rewarding the virtuous!"

Abruptly, the earth began to tremble, and the Spiritual Qi within the War Realm surged violently, accompanied by the resurgence of the Power of Rules.

Gong Tiandao and his associates, moments before filled with elation, now wore expressions as if they had ingested a bitter gourd whole, their faces etched with profound gloom.

"Heavens, you are truly blind!"

They dared only voice such criticisms in their hearts, their gazes fixed intently on the Saint Ancestor and Sea Ancestor.

Yet, to their astonishment, the two maintained their prior posture, utterly still.

Now, however, their attention was directed towards the area behind them.

"Could it be..."

Gong Tiandao swiftly turned his head.

All cultivators loyal to the Mountain Ancestor followed suit.

Along the boundary separating the War Realm from the Mountain and Sea Realm, immense forces caused the ground to convulse, kicking up vast clouds of dust.

Fulfilling their hopes, the boundary wall bulged outwards, as if an unseen force were drumming upon it from within!

"Is this how the Ancestors of your Mountain and Sea Realm treat the boundary wall of the Spirit Realm?" the Saint Ancestor inquired, a note of bewilderment in his voice.

The Sea Ancestor, having momentarily been lost in her earlier humming, immediately snapped back to full awareness, her gaze now fixed intently towards the direction of the Mountain and Sea Realm.

The ground continued its violent vibration, drawing everyone's undivided attention.

Finally, the boundary wall of the Mountain and Sea Realm fractured, and a colossal figure emerged from the rupture.

Each stride was imbued with immense power, every step landing with identical precision, unmarred by any variation.

A colossal silhouette was still distant on the horizon, but Gong Tiandao was already leading the acclamation:

"Your subjects welcome the Mountain Ancestor!"

"Welcome the Mountain Ancestor!"

"Welcome the Mountain Ancestor!"

With each resonant shout, the fervor of the crowd surged.

Ning Qi surveyed the assembled individuals.

Not far away, Zhao Yujun's delicate features flickered with a trace of disdain, appearing displeased by Gong Tiandao and his followers' ostentatious display.

Most of her own adherents mirrored her sentiment.

The Sea Ancestor and the Saint Ancestor both fixed their gaze upon the immense figure drawing nearer.

Ning Qi, too, turned his attention to the approaching presence.

The Mountain Ancestor had finally revealed himself; judging by this grand entrance, it was undoubtedly his true form.

Ning Qi was uncertain of his motives for choosing this precise moment to appear, but with his arrival, an opportunity had presented itself to Ning Qi.

With the Mountain Ancestor entering the War Realm, did this not signify that no other Ancestor-level beings remained within the Mountain and Sea Realm?

Ning Qi immediately established contact with his primary consciousness, preparing to initiate a reconnaissance of the Mountain and Sea Realm.

His current avatar was ill-suited for such a task and needed to remain here as a living conduit for observation and relay.

The enormous entity advanced with surprising rapidity, not by flying or rushing, but by calmly extending its steps forward.

Yet, this measured pace paradoxically propelled him ever closer.

"Shrinking the ground to an inch?"

Since embarking on the path of Cultivation, particularly after gaining the ability to traverse the skies on a sword, very few opted for terrestrial journeys.

This imposing male figure stood apart.

He strode over, eventually ceasing his advance approximately five miles from where the Saint Ancestor and Sea Ancestor stood.

With his hands clasped behind his back, even while grounded, he projected an aura of superiority, as if surveying the scene from atop the highest peaks.

"To reach the summit is to become the summit," was a phrase that perfectly encapsulated the Mountain Ancestor's presence.

"Come forth!"

His voice boomed like a resonant bell, showing no inclination for pleasantries, his intense gaze fixed directly upon the Saint Ancestor!

"Haoshan!"

While the Saint Ancestor remained silent, the Sea Ancestor voiced his name instead.

"You are aware of the circumstances. You know I am not here for you."

Haoshan was the Mountain Ancestor's given name, a title reserved for use only by equals, such as the Sea Ancestor.

Upon hearing this, the Sea Ancestor's chest visibly heaved.

Her expression contorted briefly with inner turmoil, a complex mix of emotions she swiftly concealed.

"You always utter such words to me, you invariably..."

"Enough!" The Mountain Ancestor interjected with icy finality. "If you genuinely wish to engage in combat here, why not direct your aggression towards me instead?"

Ning Qi observed the Sea Ancestor clench her fists with considerable force, her teeth audibly grinding, yet she ultimately restrained herself from initiating an attack.

The Saint Ancestor also moved forward, casting a meaningful glance towards the Sea Ancestor as he passed her.

The Sea Ancestor acknowledged his glance but remained resolute in her inaction.

The Saint Ancestor then turned his attention back to Ning Qi.

"Youngster, I have resolved to impart my knowledge unto you, teaching you all that I know without reservation. Will you not join my tutelage?"

The elder still sought to entangle him in his affairs, but Ning Qi merely rolled his eyes internally.

After a moment's consideration, he responded within his mind:

"Venerable One, your proposal is tantamount to an insult. I was extended offers of discipleship by those two when I was merely in the Integration Realm."

The Saint Ancestor retorted, "Were their intentions truly sincere? What have they imparted to you thus far?"

Before Ning Qi could formulate a reply, he continued, "My approach is distinct; I shall immediately teach you the Light Divine Text Array that I just employed!"

The Saint Ancestor promptly transmitted the incantation methods for the Light Divine Text Array to Ning Qi.

To his astonishment, Ning Qi casually picked at his ear.

"Apologies, I had already assimilated it while you were demonstrating its use."

The Saint Ancestor paused, momentarily stunned.

He felt an overwhelming urge to deliver a thousand slaps to Ning Qi, for his impudence, his arrogance, and his blatant bragging!