Archean Eon Art

The rain continued to fall as Meng Chuan, and the other Godfiends descended the mountain silently.

 After seeing Senior Brother Qian Yu’s present appearance and the nine names that Archean Mountain Lord personally carved, everyone’s hearts felt heavy.

 “Sigh.” A Godfiend disciple couldn’t help but slam the boulder beside him, reducing a boulder— that was more than ten feet wide—to dust. He gritted his teeth and said, “How infuriating. I wish I was there. We could have killed those demon monarchs alongside each other!”

 “If you aren’t strong enough, you will only be sending yourself to your death,” said a female Godfiend disciple beside him coldly.

 “One of me isn’t enough, but ten or twenty will be enough to turn the tables!” said the Godfiend angrily. “My strength presently isn’t up to par, but it will be in the future. If I don’t have the guts, what’s the point of cultivating to become a Godfiend?”

 The female Godfiend said coldly, “I just want you to calm down. You need to realize the difference in strength.”

 “Stop arguing.” Meng Chuan said, “Cultivate well on the mountain. Once we are strong, we will be able to kill even more demon monarchs when we leave the mountain.”

 The two Godfiend disciples didn’t argue further after Meng Chuan spoke. Among the disciples who still remained on the mountain, Meng Chuan was the strongest. He was publicly acknowledged as the eldest senior brother. He had quite the prestige.

 The disciples quickly scattered after they descended the mountain peak.

 “Senior Brother Yan,” shouted Liu Qiyue, who was walking alongside Meng Chuan.

 Yan Jin stopped in confusion.

 “Senior Brother Yan, Ah Chuan, and I have something to tell you,” said Liu Qiyue.

 “Oh? What’s the matter?” asked Yan Jin. He had been cultivating crazily on Archean Mountain, and he was rather anti-social. The people closest to him were Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue. After all, they came from Eastcalm Prefecture.

 “Ah Chuan and I will be leaving the mountain this year,” said Liu Qiyue.

 “So early?” Yan Jin was surprised.

 Meng Chuan nodded as well. “That’s right. The two of us will break through to the Great Solar realm soon! When the time comes, we will clear the Nine Mystical Caves and descend the mountain.”

 “Then, congratulations.” Yan Jin smiled. “I’ll take much longer than the two of you. I’m afraid I will take a few more years.”

 “Once we clear the Nine Mystical Caves, we will set up a banquet and invite many good friends,” said Meng Chuan with a smile. He had many things he wanted to say to Yan Jin, but he decided against it.

 They were from the same batch of disciples. Only Meng Chuan, Ji Yuantong, and Yan Jin successfully cultivated transcendent-grade Godfiend bodies.

 Ji Yuantong had vanished for three years before he reappeared on Archean Mountain. He no longer had his arrogance. Instead, he kept a low profile and was more humble. He would often smile at his fellow disciples. After five years on the mountain, Ji Yuantong attained Greater Mastery of the Great Strength Fiend Body. Then, he cleared the Life-and-Death juncture and became a Godfiend!

 Yan Jin was much more obstinate and crazy. He spent ten years on the Azure Lotus Divine Body. He was then forced to challenge the Life-and-Death juncture and become a Godfiend. Back then, he had only attained Greater Mastery of the Azure Lotus Divine Body. He failed to perfect it.

 It was fine. What worried Meng Chuan the most was that Yan Jin was focused on cultivating a Black Metal Sutra.

 From the moment he came up the mountain, Yan Jin chose a Black Metal Sutra—Icefire Seven Absolutes. It was extremely difficult to cultivate a Black Metal Sutra without intent guidance. The only disciples remaining on the mountain that had mastered a transcendent-grade Godfiend Body and a Black Metal Sutra move were Meng Chuan and Yan Chitong.

 Yan Chitong had been specially invited up the mountain. He was a young genius who had comprehended Force at the age of thirteen. In terms of talent, he was not inferior to King Calm Sea’s fifth son. His cultivation was slightly slower than the fifth young master, Xue Feng. When he was 16, he perfected the Two World Divine Body and became a Godfiend! Furthermore, he had also mastered a move of the Red Lotus Flaming Spear Art. He was recognized as a peerless genius who could match Meng Chuan and Xue Feng.

 Yan Jin, on the other hand, was pitiful. He failed to perfect the Azure Lotus Divine Body after ten years.

 The Icefire Seven Absolutes required one to comprehend two sword intents—Ice Sword Intent, and Fire Sword Intent. Then, he needed to combine the two sword intents into one. After eleven years on the mountain, Yan Jin had only comprehended the Ice Sword Intent! Therefore, he had failed to gain basic mastery of Sword Intent. He only managed to become an Indestructible Godfiend by relying on the Ice Sword Intent.

 With Yan Jin’s perception, his sword art realm would probably be much higher than it is now if he had chosen a Heaven-level Godfiend legacy. Perhaps he would have already achieved Sword Soul. Meng Chuan sighed. He clearly can’t gain basic mastery of the Black Metal Sutra, but he insists on this path. At times, switching paths can lead to great success.

 Yan Jin was too obstinate.

 If it weren’t for Archean Mountain having a rule that expelled disciples from the inner sect if they didn’t become a Godfiend within ten years, Yan Jin would’ve stayed a mortal until he perfected the Azure Lotus Divine Body.

 No one forced him to continue cultivating the Black Metal Sutra, but he kept at it. He didn’t give up for eleven years! It was rare for Archean Mountain to have such a crazy and persistent disciple.

 He had already been advised, and any more interference would only lead to them separating on bad terms.

 “Alright, remember to invite me when the two of you hold the banquet,” said Yan Jin with a smile. “I’m going back to cultivate. If there’s anything, you can find me at Fluttering Snow Peak.”

 With that said, he turned and left. He headed to Fluttering Snow Peak alone. Up until now, he was the only disciple that lived there. It was too remote.

 Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue are about to descend the mountain? Yan Jin thought. They were his only two friends on the mountain.

 That’s good also. Only by being alone can one be completely devoid of emotions. Only then will I have a chance of mastering the Icefire Seven Absolutes. Yan Jin coldly rushed towards the Fluttering Snow Peak.

 …

 “Ah Chuan, I’m a little worried about Senior Brother Yan’s personality.” Liu Qiyue and Meng Chuan walked side by side towards Bright Scenic Peak. “Senior Brother Yan is too anti-social and doesn’t like to interact with people. All fellow Archean Mountain disciples help each other, but Senior Brother Yan keeps people at a distance… Others can’t get close to him.”

 Meng Chuan nodded. “Qiyue, Yan Jin and I are the same age. He’s already 29 years old. Many mortals are conscripted into military service when they are twenty. Many of them die on the battlefield. He’s 29 years old. We don’t need to worry about how he should lead his life.”

 Liu Qiyue nodded thoughtfully.

 “The two of us should focus on our cultivation. It’s our final period of peaceful cultivation. Once we leave the mountain, we’ll be on the battlefield,” said Meng Chuan solemnly. This was a much more pressing issue.

 “Yes, we’re about to head to the battlefield.” Liu Qiyue also looked forward to it. After cultivating for over ten years, she wanted to leave the mountain and slay demon monarchs!

 …

 Just half a month later. October 17th, afternoon.

Sunlight shone into the study through the window. Meng Chuan was painting.

 Suddenly, a terrifying aura erupted from a nearby room.

 “Huh?” Meng Chuan immediately put down his brush, pushed the door open, and rushed out.

 When he arrived at Qiyue’s cultivation chamber, he immediately saw Liu Qiyue standing there. A pair of flaming wings appeared behind Liu Qiyue! The red wings fluttered slightly, making her look extremely agile and nimble.

 “You broke through?” Meng Chuan revealed a look of delight.

 Liu Qiyue nodded and said with a smile, “Yes, after attaining Greater Mastery of the Realm of Soul, my control over the phoenix fire has become much more exquisite. I can now condense a pair of phoenix wings. Using this, I can fly.”

 “Fly?” Meng Chuan was amazed. “How enviable.”

 He was unable to fly even at the Great Solar realm.

 Of course, when he reached the Great Solar realm, he could travel a kilometer in a single leap. If he used the Swallow Stance, he could cross 2.5 kilometers without needing to land! However, it was still different from true flight.

 “There are countless Godfiends in this world who are envious of your speed.” Liu Qiyue covered her mouth and giggled. “By the way, Ah Chuan, I’ve already broken through. I just need some time to consolidate my cultivation before I break through to the Great Solar realm tomorrow night. What about you?”

 “I’ll break through tonight,” said Meng Chuan. “I’ve been waiting for too long.”