Chapter 283: The Footprint of an Immortal

Three Days Later, at Yuheng Sect.

For the past three days, Zi Xun had maintained a cold demeanor towards Zhong Shan. Once Liu Sui Feng and his peers had organized all the materials, Zi Xun immediately left the Yuheng Sect. Zhong Shan also refrained from further conversation with her.

The scrolls Zi Xun had reviewed were promptly examined by everyone, especially Nian Youyou, whose eyes sparkled continuously as she read through the information.

The scrolls contained various legends, stories of immortal relics in certain places, and records of immortal abodes in others. The authenticity of these tales remained uncertain, yet they managed to narrow down the search area to over a thousand potential locations.

Zi Xun was likely now verifying these locations, but seeing them made Zhong Shan frown.

"Zhong Shan, why don't we go check them out first?" suggested Nian Youyou.

"No. If the Yuheng Sect could gather these records, other sects must have done the same. Many people, not just Elder Zi Xun, will likely be searching these places. If we go now, we'll just add more eyes and won't accomplish much," Zhong Shan said with a frown.

"So, we're not going? What if one of these places does have it? We can't give up just because there are many people searching; otherwise, someone else might find it first," Nian Youyou argued.

"You're right. How about you go check out these places first and see if anyone has found anything? I'll study these scrolls further. Return in three days, and Ah Da and I will go with you to search," Zhong Shan suggested.

"Alright!" Nian Youyou agreed and left the Yuheng Sect.

After Nian Youyou's departure, Zhong Shan turned his attention back to the scrolls filling the grand hall. He frowned slightly.

To read through all of these would take forever. At this moment, Zhong Shan keenly felt the need for a strategic team to help analyze such vast amounts of information. But given the current situation, this wasn't an option. Reading each scroll individually would take too long, and by the time he finished, the source of the immortal spirit energy might already have been discovered by someone else.

As he pondered, Zhong Shan looked towards the Yuheng Sect's master, and a thought flashed in his eyes. He had an idea.

"Master Liu, I have a favor to ask of you," Zhong Shan said.

"Oh? Mr. Zhong, please, feel free to ask," Liu Sui Feng responded promptly.

"You've already reviewed all these materials, correct?" Zhong Shan inquired.

"Yes, my five junior brothers and sisters and I have been sifting through these continuously for Elder Zi Xun. We've thoroughly gone through all of them," Liu Sui Feng confirmed.

"Could you possibly demonstrate them to me?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Huh?" Liu Sui Feng looked puzzled.

"I mean, using magic to project a map of the area in chronological order, showing the changes in spiritual energy, the shifts in sects, significant events, and the transformations of mountain ranges. If you could perform this from three thousand years ago to the present, it would allow me to grasp everything more quickly and clearly," Zhong Shan explained earnestly.

Liu Sui Feng was slightly surprised but nodded promptly. "Rest assured, Mr. Zhong, my brothers and I will cross-check the past three thousand years' events and demonstrate it to you by tomorrow morning."

"Thank you, Master Liu," Zhong Shan said.

"There's no need to thank me, Mr. Zhong. It's our duty," Liu Sui Feng replied.

The Second Day, Within the Yuheng Hall

Six Nascent Soul cultivators formed a circle, pointing their fingers inward. At the center of the group, a cluster of azure smoke slowly transformed into a three-dimensional hologram. This hologram displayed mountains, rivers, sects, and even ancient cities that had once existed. Spiritual energy was represented by dense, red smoke, vividly illustrating its concentration.

As Liu Sui Feng explained, the images shifted rapidly. Changes in mountains and rivers, the rise and fall of sects, and the transformation of cities—all were depicted in dynamic fashion. This continued for two hours, and by the end, the cultivators appeared quite exhausted.

"It's done, Mr. Zhong," said Liu Sui Feng.

"Thank you all for your hard work," Zhong Shan expressed his sincere gratitude.

"No need to thank us, Mr. Zhong. We are happy to assist you," Liu Sui Feng replied with a smile.

"Thank you, truly. You must be tired. Please take a rest. Ah Da and I will review this again," Zhong Shan said.

The cultivators nodded in agreement and left, leaving only Zhong Shan and Ah Da in the grand hall.

"Ah Da, did you record everything?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Yes!" Ah Da responded promptly.

"Replay it. I need to review it once more," Zhong Shan instructed.

"Understood," Ah Da complied.

In a Remote Valley South of the Yuheng Sect

Within a secluded valley, there were two towering trees, stretching halfway up the mountainside. At the top of these trees stood two figures: the enchanting Nian Youyou and the perpetually stern Zi Xun.

"Zi Xun Zhenren, do you have something to say to me?" Nian Youyou asked with a smile.

"Nian Youyou, we may be meeting for the first time, but we know each other well," Zi Xun responded icily.

"So what?" Nian Youyou replied, still smiling.

Frowning slightly, Zi Xun spoke coldly, "I'm here to give you a warning. Do not choose Zhong Shan."

Nian Youyou's eyes sparkled at Zi Xun's words, and she grinned slyly. "You're telling me not to choose Zhong Shan, and you think I'll just comply? Oh? Could it be that you and Zhong Shan...?"

Her eyes hinted at a deeper meaning.

"I know your lineage in the Changsheng Realm. You're notorious for defying rules and disregarding others' opinions. Even if you make a promise, you may not keep it. But you should understand my cultivation. If Zhong Shan dies because of you, I will use you as my whetstone," Zi Xun warned coldly.

"Whetstone? You?" Nian Youyou's eyes widened in anger, a flash of irritation crossing her face.

"I've said my piece. Take care of yourself," Zi Xun concluded.

With a light step, Zi Xun left behind only a faint afterimage, causing the treetop to quiver slightly as she disappeared.

Watching Zi Xun's departure, Nian Youyou's expression fluctuated before settling into a dismissive smile, clearly disregarding Zi Xun's words.

Nian Youyou Returns to Yuheng Sect

Returning to the Yuheng Sect in a slightly foul mood, Nian Youyou was led into the grand array. She headed straight to the hall where Zhong Shan was located. Over the past few days, she had checked every location purported to have "immortal traces." Each one turned out to be either a hoax or long-since looted, with any treasures taken thousands or even tens of thousands of years ago.

Outside the Grand Hall

As they walked outside the grand hall, they overheard a conversation from within.

"Sir, are you saying it's here?" Ah Da asked excitedly.

"Yes, it should be here. During this period, this place had a very low concentration of spiritual energy, yet numerous sects relocated here. Some even refused to leave despite being on the brink of extinction. There must be something here that attracted them," Zhong Shan replied.

"But over the last thirty thousand years, this isn't the only place like that. There are a few others too," Ah Da said, puzzled.

"Hehe, I've analyzed the records for those other places as well. They all had different reasons. But this place has only one description: 'Demonic calamity, suppressed by a step, sects gathered, prosperous era,'" Zhong Shan explained.

"But there was no prosperous era here, so it must be because of an unknown treasure. Due to its significance, no one wanted to reveal it, and it was left to be discovered by successive generations of sect leaders?" Ah Da speculated.

"Exactly," Zhong Shan nodded with a smile.

"Eh? Miss Nian Youyou," Ah Da said, looking towards the entrance of the hall.

Nian Youyou stepped inside, a look of surprise flickering in her eyes.

"Did you find it?" Nian Youyou asked in amazement.

"Yes, rest tonight. Tomorrow morning, we'll head out," Zhong Shan said.

"Why wait until morning? Let's go now!" Nian Youyou said eagerly.

"I've been analyzing non-stop, and I'm mentally exhausted. I need to rest. Don't worry, the place is not one of those so-called 'immortal traces' and is very well-hidden," Zhong Shan reassured her.

"Alright then," Nian Youyou agreed reluctantly and nodded.

The Next Day

The following day, Zhong Shan, Ah Da, and Nian Youyou arrived at a large valley. Within the valley was a small lake surrounded by some trees. From a glance, or even with spiritual sense, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"Is this the place?" Nian Youyou asked curiously.

"Ah Da, clear the valley. Divert the waterfall and drain the lake," Zhong Shan instructed.

"Yes!" Ah Da responded promptly.

With a wave of his hand, he performed several incantations, redirecting the waterfall's flow and draining the small lake. All that remained was a bed of thick mud.

"Clear the mud," Zhong Shan ordered.

Ah Da immediately set to work. Under his spells, the mud was swiftly cleared away, flying towards a nearby mountain.

As the mud was removed, a nine-colored stone slab gradually emerged.

"I can't sense this stone slab with my spiritual sense! This must be the place—it can even hide from spiritual detection," Ah Da exclaimed with excitement.

"Nine-colored stone slab?" Zhong Shan frowned as he observed. As the mud was cleared away and the stone became cleaner, he finally saw the shape of the slab.

It was a right foot. The stone slab was shaped like an enormous right foot, a woman's right footprint. An immortal's footprint!

"Sir, should we break it open?" Ah Da asked eagerly.

At this moment, however, Zhong Shan hesitated. Narrowing his eyes, he recalled the historical record:

"Demonic calamity, suppressed by a step, sects gathered, prosperous era!"