Throughout several cycles of reincarnation, the world of today, compared to that lifetime where Chen Yan wasted a hundred years in the Outer Court, has already undergone earth-shattering changes.
He himself has transformed from an outer sect disciple into the revered Chief Disciple of Kongyuan Mountain.
The internal strife between the True Dharma lineage and the Martial Discipline lineage on Qingchan Peak has also gradually eased due to Fu Qian's strategic contraction.
And then, there is the Heavenly Summit Mountain Cataclysm, which inflicted the greatest losses upon the cultivation world of Chenping Continent in twelve hundred years.
These are all things that changed because of Chen Yan.
Yet, some things, despite Chen Yan's intervention, still occurred as before.
For example, the destruction of the Immortal Gambling Den in Taiyun City.
Or, the Outer Court Cataclysm that is still fifty-three days away.
But how is this possible?
However, Grand Elder Qi has absolutely no reason to deceive him, and moreover, the date he provided coincides exactly with the time the Outer Court Cataclysm occurred.
This is definitely not a coincidence.
The Outer Court Cataclysm was never a simple conspiracy or accident.
Since the Heavenly Summit Mountain Cataclysm, Chen Yan has already understood this point.
So, the current question is, what does he need to do, and what *can* he do?
According to what Qi Yi said, go to Taiyun City to investigate the mastermind behind the massacre at the Immortal Gambling Den?
No...
Whether Qi Yi is friend or foe remains an unknown variable up to this point.
Chen Yan chooses to do nothing.
He wants to see exactly what will happen fifty-three days from now if he just stands by and watches.
Whether the Outer Court Cataclysm will occur once again.
...
Just as Chen Yan had resolved fifty-three days ago.
He did nothing at all.
Throughout these fifty-plus days, Chen Yan simply remained on Kongyuan Mountain, wholeheartedly delving into the two top-tier cultivation arts he had obtained from the Cycle of Reincarnation.
The Hidden Immortal Art and the Great Derivation Art.
First, the Hidden Immortal Art. In truth, Chen Yan was already quite familiar with this art. It could conceal his cultivation level from anyone while simultaneously being an exceptionally high-grade cultivation heart technique.
Especially after Chen Yan achieved mastery in the Hidden Immortal Art, the wisp of Clear Rainbow he had grasped could be considered his strongest offensive method currently.
Chen Yan's current cultivation was still only at the peak of the Martial Spring Realm. He felt that with his current cultivation level, he couldn't unleash the power of the Hidden Immortal Art's Clear Rainbow to a greater extent.
Then, there was the Great Derivation Art.
Regarding this cultivation art, although Chen Yan had basically grasped it, he still felt unfamiliar with it.
Because it was simply too profound and mysterious.
The true qi within Chen Yan's Martial Spring was relatively mixed. A small portion originated from the Kongshan Art and the Purple Mansion Record, while the vast majority came from the Hidden Immortal Art.
And whether it was the Kongshan Art, the Purple Mansion Record, or the Hidden Immortal Art, the true qi cultivated by them had no inherent elemental affinity.
If one wanted true qi to possess an elemental affinity, it had to rely on specific techniques.
Such as the Blazing Fire Curse of Mingxiao Peak, or the Crane Heart Thunder of Kongyuan Mountain. However, these techniques could only transform attribute-less true qi into true qi of a single element.
But the Great Derivation Art was different.
A thousand changes, ten thousand transformations, deriving all things in a single breath.
Not just true qi of various elemental attributes, but even the Moonlight Beams that Qin Qingyu had unleashed back on Heavenly Summit Mountain, Chen Yan could derive them through the Great Derivation Art.
It was a pity that the current Chen Yan could only derive their form, not their essence.
Although these aspects were profound, they were still within the realm of comprehension.
What truly shocked Chen Yan about the Great Derivation Art was, without a doubt, this art's ability to transform true qi into spiritual energy.
Chen Yan, who had only preliminarily grasped the Great Derivation Art, could already wield it to such wondrous effect. Then, when the Great Derivation Art reached minor mastery, major mastery, or even perfection, what then?
Could it perhaps derive immortal qi, or even the essence of the Dao?
Chen Yan, currently only at the peak of the Martial Spring Realm, was no different from a fly in the eyes of He Furen, who was in the Myriad Transformations Realm.
Yet, he could still use spiritual energy to forcefully clash with He Furen's innate true energy. Although He Furen likely underestimated him, this feat in itself was already quite remarkable.
Chen Yan held considerable expectations for the potential of the Great Derivation Art.
...
Kongyuan Mountain, the weather was clear and sunny.
Chen Yan sat cross-legged on the steps before Kongyuan Hall, calmly gazing up at two or three white cranes flying across the sky until they disappeared into the clouds.
Today was the day the Outer Court Cataclysm was supposed to occur.
Up until now, everything was peaceful.
If everything his nominal master and Martial Uncle Yue Chi had told him was true and their judgment was not mistaken, then the remnant soul of that Great Demon of Dao Union Realm should be within his body.
And the Outer Court Cataclysm was the consequence caused by the unconscious spiritual energy pressure emanating from this Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul.
Back on Heavenly Summit Mountain, He Furen had released this Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul by slapping Lin Xinyang to death with one strike.
But right now, he was sitting before Kongyuan Hall on Kongyuan Mountain.
Within the great hall behind him, a supreme expert of the upper three realms was stationed, the current Sect Leader of Kongshan Sect, Yun Yichen.
Who could be here, or rather, who would dare to be here, to slap the Chief Disciple of Kongyuan Mountain to death with one strike?
...He Furen seemed to have done something like that.
But that was an exception. After all, from the very beginning, He Furen and Wen Hongli hadn't intended to leave any survivors on Heavenly Summit Mountain.
Now was different. Now they were on Kongyuan Mountain.
Even someone like Supreme Imperial Law Elder Huo Mu would absolutely not dare, under the watchful eyes of everyone, to do something like killing the Chief Disciple of Kongyuan Mountain.
Even though Huo Mu, as a Divine Ability Realm cultivator, could kill Chen Yan, who was in the Martial Spring Realm, with just a single thought.
But even a single thought would leave traces discernible to a supreme expert of the upper three realms.
Tranquility.
Everything on Kongyuan Mountain was so peaceful and comfortable.
Sunlight spilled onto the pure white Daoist robe Chen Yan wore, making the fabric of his robe slightly warm to the touch.
Even though everything was so perfect, Chen Yan's mood remained extremely tense.
He knew that whatever was coming would ultimately arrive.
Chen Yan, sitting before Kongyuan Hall, never once let his gaze leave the sky.
He was confirming the sun's position.
"The time is about right..."
Chen Yan stood up from the steps of Kongyuan Hall, gently patted the back of his Daoist robe, and then walked towards the main entrance of Kongyuan Hall.
Just sitting on the steps before Kongyuan Hall wasn't safe enough.
The closer he was to Yun Yichen, the safer he would be.
Chen Yan stopped before the main entrance of Kongyuan Hall, then bowed respectfully with his hands clasped and said in a clear voice:
"Disciple Chen Yan, pays his respects to the Sect Ancestor!"
As the Chief Disciple of Kongyuan Mountain, Chen Yan naturally had the right to request an audience with Yun Yichen.
"Enter."
Yun Yichen's detached voice came from within.
The main doors of Kongyuan Hall slowly opened to both sides, and Chen Yan stepped into the hall.