The Sword God of the Universe

Chapter 2197: Chapter 2197: Netherworld Map

Outside the Yellow Spring Cave!

The Wuxia Heavenly Monarch hurried to the palace where Yuantong Immortal Venerable resided, her exquisite face filled with worry.

The Yellow Spring Cave has been open for several months now, but people like Yuantong Immortal Venerable, the Wuxia Heavenly Monarch, and the members of the Four Great Forces will not leave the area for now. They will wait until the Yellow Spring Cave closes.

The duration of the Yellow Spring Cave’s opening is not fixed. It can be as short as several decades or as long as over a hundred years. Historically, the longest the Yellow Spring Cave was open was nearly two hundred years.

“Wuxia?” Yuantong Immortal Venerable smiled upon seeing the Wuxia Heavenly Monarch: “Why the haste? Is something wrong?”

“Immortal Venerable, have you heard about the high-level Yellow Spring Cave situation?” said the Wuxia Heavenly Monarch.

“Oh? What is it?” Yuantong Immortal Venerable asked with a smile.

“Well… I heard that Jing Yan has found a Netherworld Crystal Stone Vein inside the high-level Yellow Spring Cave. Then, Lu Chun from Mystic Moon Trading House wanted to seize it, and people from the Shadow Tower also seem to be plotting something.” The Wuxia Heavenly Monarch bit her lip.

The news she heard wasn’t entirely comprehensive.

The information from the Yellow Spring Cave is directly transmitted by the members of the Four Great Forces to their high-ranking individuals. The Wuxia Heavenly Monarch only heard some rumors, which are not very accurate.

“Regarding this matter, I heard about it earlier.” Yuantong Immortal Venerable nodded.

“Immortal Venerable, I’m afraid Jing Yan is in danger within the Yellow Spring Cave. I tried contacting him, but he hasn’t responded.” The Wuxia Heavenly Monarch was genuinely concerned about Jing Yan’s safety.

Upon hearing about the situation, she immediately sought out Yuantong Immortal Venerable. She herself could not influence the Four Great Forces, but Yuantong Immortal Venerable could.

Yuantong Immortal Venerable looked at the Wuxia Heavenly Monarch and pondered, saying: “Wuxia, you mean? You hope I can intervene so Mystic Moon Trading House and Shadow Tower won’t trouble Jing Yan within the Yellow Spring Cave?”

The Wuxia Heavenly Monarch nodded quickly.

If Yuantong Immortal Venerable were to intervene, Mystic Moon Trading House and Shadow Tower would definitely show some respect.

“Wuxia, you’re overthinking it. This matter doesn’t require me to intervene at all. At least until the Yellow Spring Cave closes, there’s nothing I need to say.” Yuantong Immortal Venerable laughed as he spoke.

“But Jing Yan will be in great danger!” The Wuxia Heavenly Monarch failed to grasp the true meaning behind Yuantong Immortal Venerable’s words.

“He’s not in danger for now. From what I know, Lu Chun from Mystic Moon Trading House did indeed confront him, but couldn’t do anything to him. I heard that Lu Chun was suppressed head-on by Jing Yan in battle and couldn’t steal Jing Yan’s vein. As for the Shadow Tower, while they might have ideas, those two have yet to act, and the Xin Family is backing Jing Yan.” Yuantong Immortal Venerable was quite clear about the events inside the Yellow Spring Cave.

Despite the cave’s occupants being members of the Four Great Forces and Jing Yan, Yuantong Immortal Venerable, through them, managed to learn most occurrences within the cave. For instance, regarding Jing Yan’s acquisition of a large vein, even if Mystic Moon Trading House and Shadow Tower kept mum, the Xin Family and Ancient Land of Morning Light would report it to Yuantong Immortal Venerable.

Listening to Yuantong Immortal Venerable speak, the Wuxia Heavenly Monarch widened her beautiful eyes.

Lu Chun struggling against Jing Yan and being suppressed face-to-face?

This…

Lu Chun’s combat power slightly surpasses her, the Wuxia Heavenly Monarch! Jing Yan actually suppressed Mystic Moon Trading House’s Lu Chun? So, Jing Yan’s combat power is among the top tiers of Immortal Rhythm Cultivators? Even stronger than her, the Wuxia Heavenly Monarch? Yet, Jing Yan’s cultivation is only at the Nether Sky Realm!

“Wuxia, you don’t need to worry about Jing Yan. This young man is quite remarkable! Initially, I indeed judged him wrong. It’s truly unexpected how strong he actually is. Wuxia, fortunately, you recommended him to me, allowing him to become a Hired.” Yuantong Immortal Venerable’s sighing tone voiced.

Jing Yan acquiring a large vein in the Yellow Spring Cave pleased Yuantong Immortal Venerable. Because Jing Yan’s acquisition also included a portion for him. As per past customs, any cultivator within the Yellow Spring Cave must hand over two-tenths of their findings to Yuantong Immortal Venerable.

“Well, now I’m relieved.” The Wuxia Heavenly Monarch nodded.

When the Wuxia Heavenly Monarch met Yuantong Immortal Venerable, rumors flooded the vicinity. Some even said Jing Yan might have been slain by members of the Four Great Forces within the cave, supposedly by Mystic Moon Trading House’s Lu Chun.

Of course, others believed Jing Yan wasn’t at a disadvantage when trading blows with Mystic Moon Trading House’s Lu Chun.

In any case, there’s no accurate news, nor have the Four Great Forces openly clarified the matter.

Within the Yellow Spring Cave.

After acquiring a large Netherworld Crystal Stone Vein and maintaining control following his confrontation with Lu Chun, Jing Yan parted ways with the Xin Family’s two elders. Jing Yan continued his search for Netherworld Crystal Stones and veins within the Yellow Spring Cave.

Time passed day by day, month by month.

Years flew by in a blink. Jing Yan searched the Yellow Spring Cave for years yet, apart from the large vein discovered a few months post-entry, found no other veins, not even small ones. Jing Yan’s Divine Thought could probe over a thousand meters underground, but maintaining this was tiring and unsustainable.

On this day, Jing Yan, as usual, searched for scattered Netherworld Crystal Stones.

“Huh?”

“Why does it feel like the wind and sand have diminished significantly?” Jing Yan wondered as he looked around the space.

The previously sky-blocking yellow sand indeed reduced considerably, revealing three-fifths of the clear sky.

“What’s going on?” Jing Yan frowned.

“Buzz!”

Suddenly, a thick energy, filled with an ancient aura, enveloped the entire space.

Indeed, it filled every corner of the Yellow Spring Cave. This heavy, suffocating energy thoroughly permeated the entirety of the Yellow Spring Cave.

Jing Yan’s face changed, his gaze hardened, and his eyes focused on the distant horizon.

“That…” Jing Yan murmured softly.

Meanwhile…

“This is… could it be…” In another spot within the Yellow Spring Cave, Elder Xin Rui Kun of the Xin Family trembled faintly, eyes fixed on the horizon.

“Could it really be this coincidental?”

“Has the Netherworld Map emerged?” Xin Rui Kun murmured, his eyes sparked with light, his breath turning heavy.

“Could the Netherworld Map have emerged? This aura seems to be radiated upon its appearance! It’s said that despite the Yellow Spring Cave opening dozens of times, the Netherworld Map only appears once in such instances!” murmured Ying Tian of the Ancient Land of Morning Light.

Shao Yu, Lu Chun, Luan Jie, Ke Zun, and all other cultivators from the Four Great Forces within the Yellow Spring Cave, regardless of their prior actions, stood frozen, eyes all fixed in the same direction.