Chapter 187. Kongtong Mountain Changes! A Secret Realm Emerges and the Outer Cosmos Prodigies

"Kongtong Mountains..." Lu Yuan's gaze sharpened as he read the caption, a faint gleam stirring in his eyes.

He knew exactly what this meant, as he knew what was going to happen there.

With the Second Global Awakening now underway, this would mark the appearance of the very first Mythical Secret Realm, one that was concealed within a folded space.

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Sealed within was an ancient legacy passed down from the distant past. As for whose legacy it was, it was an obvious answer. There was no doubt about it.

According to legends, Kongtong Mountains was one of the cultivation grounds of Guang Chengzi, the famed Daoist immortal. The mountain itself was even revered as the foremost sacred mountain of Daoism.

Guang Chengzi was a name etched deep into the annals of history and mythology. Even the Yellow Emperor himself was said to have sought teachings from him on multiple occasions.

Some records claimed he had lived for over 1,200 years.

Before the Awakening, such tales might have been dismissed as folklore. But now? No one dared doubt them.

As for what exactly the legacy was, even Lu Yuan was not sure himself. After all, he had never set foot inside. He only knew one thing—the anomaly at Kongtong Mountains would shake the world. Even beings from the Outer Cosmos would be involved.

It was considered a major milestone event in his past life. And this event wouldn't be the last of its kind.

After the Second Awakening, the famed mountains and rivers steeped in legends would transform one after another, and their divine and mystic truth would then be revealed to the world.

It's time to make the trip to the Kongtong Mountains.

Lu Yuan pondered inwardly.

The mountains had always been part of his plan. And judging by the timing, everything aligned just right.

But still, just like before, he knew he shouldn't go alone.

A Mythical Secret Realm was the perfect place for one's cultivation. Especially with the beings from the Outer Cosmos involved, there would be much to do, and even more to gain.

Seems like it's going to get busy from here.

With that thought, he closed the communicator and stepped out of his room. However, he merely stood outside and waited. He had already sensed someone approaching.

Indeed, not long after, Elder Ji and Elder Yun arrived. Both wore exhausted expressions, clearly worn down by the endless string of affairs they'd had to manage lately.

Truth to be told, if they weren't Awakened themselves and of a high cultivation realm, they likely would've collapsed under the pressure by now. It was no easy feat to still shoulder so many burdens at their age.

Just as the two saw Lu Yuan and were about to open their mouths to speak, Lu Yuan cut them off with calm efficiency.

"I've already heard about the Kongtong Mountains," he said. "Anything else I should know?"

He wasn't one for roundabout pleasantries, especially when he already knew of their purpose in seeking him.

"King Lu," Elder Yun spoke in a grave tone, and brows furrowed. "The intelligence we gathered shows massive energy fluctuations at Kongtong Mountains. At the same time, beings from the Outer Cosmos have begun converging there in droves. By the looks of it, multiple races are involved. I was thinking perhaps we should act as well."

His meaning was clear even if he didn't say it outright. The Celestial Court and the official authorities needed to get involved.

Everyone with eyes could see that there was bound to be tremendous boons hidden within the Kongtong Mountains. They couldn't just stand idly by.

Besides, not all of the Outer Cosmos beings that descended were powerful. Some were only at the Awakened or even Unfettered Realm.

After all, Earth was still protected by those runes left behind by her ancestors. The stronger the being, the harder it was for them to descend.

But the weaker ones barely met any resistance. And now, more and more of them were arriving each day.

If things continued this way, Elder Yun feared that the opportunities of this world would be plundered clean by these outsiders.

"I hold the same thought," Elder Ji chimed in. "Even if we end up with nothing, we must at least take part."

"I understand your intentions clearly," Lu Yuan said calmly. "Just like with the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace, I will lead the team to Kongtong Mountains myself this time."

He had already made his decision. The blessed land in Kongtong Mountains was of favorable conditions. And since he possessed the strength, why not seize the moment while time still allowed to personally cultivate a few more formidable talents?

"You'll be going too?" The two elders were stunned at first, then their eyes lit up.

If King Lu were to take the lead, everything would change. Perhaps, just like the last time at the Dragon Palace, they might overturn the unexpected and reap astounding gains.

But before they could get too carried away, Lu Yuan's expression turned solemn.

"Kongtong is different," he warned. "Many Outer Cosmos beings are heading there and they are not weak. It won't be

that

simple. As for the final outcome, I can't promise we won't suffer losses or anything."

This time, he intended for Zhu Qingyu and the others to undergo a true trial by fire. He would not intervene unless absolutely necessary.

Only through real bloodshed and hardship could true cultivators emerge. Those who survived and grew stronger would be the ones capable of treading the endless path of evolution. Without this foundation, there was no future.

"You can rest assured, King Lu. We're mentally prepared for that," Elder Ji nodded, fully understanding the stakes.

They couldn't always shelter under another's wings. Eventually, they would need to forge their own path and stand alone in this chaotic era.

That was why, even though the official authorities knew Lu Yuan could resolve many problems with ease, they still refrained from relying on him too often.

The core principle was simple—self-reliance.

"There's one more thing," Elder Yun added, recalling something. "We've found traces of the Zhou Family."

He pulled a photo from his robe and handed it over.

"None of them appear to be core personnel, but among them is someone who bears an uncanny resemblance to that Winged Celestial God."

There was no denying it when it came to intelligence gathering; the government's resources remained formidable. Even amidst the world's upheaval, they could still track down specific individuals.

In the photo, a group of people was seen moving through a remote town, and the town was extremely close to the Kongtong Mountains.

They had been under surveillance. But in the end, the group detected the tail, and the agents had no choice but to pull back.

"He's from the Celestial Race, isn't he?"

With a single glance, Lu Yuan discerned the man's origins. Just like the Winged Celestial God, this one too hailed from the Thunderflash Starfield's Celestial Race.

So it was exactly as Jiang Ningxian had warned—the Ji Clan was indeed entangled with the Celestials. There was no need for further proof, as standing together with the Zhou Family was enough evidence.

"Shall we dig deeper?" Elder Yun offered. He was already prepared to mobilize his resources.

They all knew that the so-called Celestial Race posed a potential threat to Lu Yuan. And that was something they absolutely could not allow.

"No need," Lu Yuan said, shaking his head. "It looks like they're heading to the Kongtong Mountains too."

Deep within, he already had a premonition that the Celestials had likely marked him as a target. Perhaps because of Zhou Yunqiong. Perhaps because of the Winged Celestial God. But it didn't matter.

Those at the Sage Realm couldn't descend just yet. So in this world, it could be said that Lu Yuan remained unrivaled.

He had also pondered over it. If they intended to challenge him, why should he avoid it? He never favored the roundabout path. If something must be faced, then it should be faced head-on.

And if it could be resolved in one stroke, even better.

"Understood. Then we'll begin preparing for the journey to Kongtong Mountains immediately," Elder Ji declared.

There was no time to waste. The Awakening was accelerating, and Kongtong Mountains lay a vast distance away from Mount Tai. Even military-grade jets would require significant time to cross that span.

Fortunately, preliminary scans indicated that the folded space atop Kongtong Mountains—the Mythical Secret Realm—would not be opening that soon. That gave them some breathing room.

Lu Yuan had no objections and left the logistics to them. He had no reason to rush either. A slower pace wasn't always a bad thing.

In the meantime, he could continue tempering his body and refining his physique in solitude.

As for the Golden-Winged Great Peng and the Spirit Monkey, they would remain behind to watch over Mount Tai.

In just three days, preparations were complete.

Zhu Qingyu, Ice Fairy, and the others brimmed with anticipation. Their journey to the Eastern Sea had brought them immense growth. Now, with a fabled Mythical Secret Realm about to unveil itself, they naturally leap at the chance to witness it firsthand.

The officials, or more accurately, the Celestial Court's deployment, was not concealed from the public. The authorities deliberately released the news.

Both the common public and Awakened understood that for Kongtong Mountains to stir with such tremendous upheaval, it must surely house a treasury of great fortune and ancient legacy.

Many had initially planned to make the journey themselves. But upon hearing that countless beings from outer space were converging there, their enthusiasm quickly cooled.

Clashes between beings from entirely different worlds were no trivial matter.

And during this same period, one after another, powerful entities from the Outer Cosmos began to surface.

└The Three-Headed Ghost Race has assembled. They welcomed a meteorite that crashed from the heavens, and from within it emerged an individual whom they call a Ranker.

└The Primeval Daemon Race also has a Ranker of its own. That one arrived even earlier, but only revealed himself now.

└Ranker? That's a new title. What exactly does it mean?

└No idea. But judging from the way people talk about them... they must be very powerful.

The names of the various outer space races were no longer secrets. At this point, many across the world had become familiar with them.

But the title "Ranker" stirred widespread confusion. No one quite knew what it represented.

But soon, the answer was revealed.

└I saw the Zhou Family escorting a young man into the mountains. He unleashed overwhelming pressure, intimidating several other outer space beings into retreat. There's video proof.

└Wait... he looks just like the Winged Celestial God. But even more powerful. I have long heard that the Winged Celestial God is not from this world. Are they from the same race?

└Has to be. And this one's also referred to as a Ranker. Looks like that title is reserved for the prodigies.

The Zhou Family had reappeared, and with yet another "Winged Celestial God." Only that this one was even more formidable.

In just a few days, he had swept through multiple locations, targeting outer space beings at every turn. And every time he struck, he did so with unrelenting dominance. It was as if he could not tolerate seeing other races so brazenly occupying Earth's famed mountains and rivers.

The other two Rankers from the Three-Headed Ghost Race and the Primeval Daemon Race had likewise taken action multiple times. According to the eyewitnesses' accounts, they were also terrifying.

And just like that, within mere days, the names of these three beings swept across the globe like wildfire, drawing universal attention.

No full videos were released. But no one doubted their power.

The term "Ranker" had become synonymous with Heaven's Chosen—prodigies who stood at the apex of their respective bloodlines. Each of them likely hailed from the very core of their own race.

And after mapping their movements, the conclusion was clear. All three Rankers were headed toward Kongtong Mountains.

Countless people could no longer sit still. They too wished to bear witness. Especially now that King Lu had already departed for the mountain.

What would happen when Earth's strongest powerhouse clashed with foreign Rankers?

Would it be a cataclysmic battle?

Or a silent contest of fate where each raced to claim their destined legacy?

For a time, forces from every direction moved toward the Kongtong Mountains.

But only a small percentage of them came solely for the legacy or the so-called fortune. Many came for a different reason altogether.

They wanted to see with their own eyes what would unfold when Earth's undisputed number one met the so-called Rankers from beyond the stars.

Of course, the country's public and Awakened held immense faith and pride in Lu Yuan. None wished to see him fail. He wasn't just another Awakened. He was the symbol of Huaxia, the guardian of Earth.

No matter how powerful the outsiders were, they were still outsiders.

Thus, all attention converged on the Kongtong Mountains.

It hadn't been this lively ever since the opening of the Mausoleum of Mount Li.

But this time, it was different as those from outer space had joined in the fray as well.

And that, more than anything, stirred deep unease. Many feared the fragile balance between Earth and outer space beings would collapse.

Even the Huaxia officials could not quell this worry. Yet still, they chose to support Lu Yuan unconditionally.

And so, at this very moment, the eyes of the world turned toward the Kongtong Mountains.