Splitting the Heave

When Shang Xia entered the secret region, a group of hidden experts who had concealed their cultivation bases appeared around the Cloud Water Gorge. 

Strangely enough, none of them dared to step foot into the region. 

Several other experts stood around the southwestern direction of the Cloud Water Gorge. They were the only group who didn’t hide their appearance. 

The Cloud Water Gorge was covered in dense clouds all the time. From outside, it seemed extremely quiet and peaceful. It wasn’t often that the Cloud Water Gorge would experience huge changes, but that day seemed different from the rest.

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The thick clouds that covered the Cloud Water Gorge were churning violently unlike anything anyone in the Taihang Mountains had ever seen.

A middle aged expert with a dignified appearance was the leader of those experts standing in the southwestern direction and he was stepping on a four colored extermination light as he hovered in mid air. It was obvious he was a fourth layer Martial Extermination Realm expert.

There were 3 other experts behind him and the weakest among them was a second layer Martial Extermination Realm expert. 

With his hands clasped behind his back, the middle aged man stared at the churning clouds around the Cloud Water Gorge silently. The youngest looking cultivator behind him was finally unable to resist the urge and he asked, “Martial Uncle Chen Kang, we’ve been waiting here for more than 2 hours now. Are we really not going to enter?” 

Martial Uncle Chen Kang replied without turning his head. “Martial Nephew Chang Qing, there’s no need to be hasty.” 

Chang Qing stared at Chen Kang for a moment, but he was still unable to contain his curiosity. “Martial Uncle, you said that Martial Aunt Feng Chenyi was killed in his region. What’s the point of waiting around? Shouldn’t we hurry up and look for her belongings and the cause of death? We should avenge her immediately!” 

Chen Kang didn’t bother with his outburst. Instead, he chuckled softly while looking at the violent churning of clouds. “The Cloud Water Gorge is usually shrouded in clouds. Something seems different today. With the changes happening right now, a secret region might have appeared within. I’m afraid Junior Sister Feng Chenyi’s belongings will be affected by the sudden change.”

“Appearance of a secret region?!” A brilliant light flashed in Chang Qin’s eyes. However, a frown quickly appeared on his face. “Even a secret region really appeared, shouldn’t we be charging in right now? There have to be heavenly treasures born in secret regions and there might even be huge amounts of world origin within! It would be a waste if that asshole who killed Martial Aunt Feng Chenyi entered before us.”

“It doesn’t matter. No one in there will be able to escape anyway.” The person who spoke wasn’t Chen Kang. Instead, it was the cultivator standing right behind him. He was also a Martial Extermination Realm expert and he continued, “Martial Nephew Chang Qing, I’m afraid you don’t know about this, but the Cloud Water Gorge has already been surrounded. Anyone who emerges will be captured immediately.” 

“Marital Uncle Chen Ming, how do you know?” Chang Qing asked.

Touching the bamboo hat on his head, Chen Ming chuckled in a hoarse voice, “Martial Nephew Chang Qing, you’re a talented cultivator who managed to refine 2 extermination origins at the age of 20. However, you’ve focused too much on cultivation your whole life. You’re lacking experience…” 

A trace of rage flashed through Chang Qing’s eyes but he quickly suppressed his emotions. His tone became a lot more humble when he spoke, “Martial Uncle Chen Ming, please guide me.” 

Waving his hands casually, Chen Ming chuckled, “I can’t guide you. I’m just a little more experienced because of how long I lived. Martial Nephew Chang Qing, you thought that we left the sect in haste and came here as soon as we could. However, Senior Brother Chen Kang had already dispatched a group of experts to Sixth Pass a long time ago. Our job was to stabilize the situation and deal the final blow…” 

“Wouldn't that mean that our disciples have already surrounded the Cloud Water Gorge? So… We knew that a secret region would appear in the Cloud Water Gorge. Did someone leak the news or something?” Chang Qing asked. 

“You guessed it…” A trace of displeasure appeared on Chen Ming’s face, but it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared. Despite the sense of annoyance he felt, he continued his explanation. “We’re not the only ones who have our sights on the secret region. The disciples of our sect were deployed to watch over the region, but they had to keep their distance…” 

“Oh! There are other powers eyeing the Cloud Water Gorge other than us…” Chang Qing seemed to turn serious all of a sudden while muttering to himself.

Nodding slightly, Chen Ming sighed, “Originally, Senior Brother Chen Kang had made all the arrangements… Who would have thought that Junior Sister Feng Chenyi would… Sigh… She was overzealous and she came to the Taihang Mountains alone. She wanted to command the disciples of our sect to investigate the matter of the secret region and Senior Brother Chen Kang had no choice but to agree. She didn’t stop there… Before heading out to the Cloud Water Gorge, Junior Sister Feng even used a lot of favors to borrow the Misty Palace Lantern from the sect to protect herself.” 

Chang Qing nodded silently and mumbled to himself, “With Martial Aunt Feng Chenyi’s personality, things would get ugly if she chooses to make a scene… Martial Uncle Chen Kang, things have been tough on you.” 

“That’s right. Not too many people knew about the matter regarding the Cloud Water Gorge in the first place. I wonder how Junior Sister Feng managed to learn of it? Senior Brother Chen Kang was afraid that she would kick up a huge fuss in the sect causing even more people to learn of it and he could only agree to let her head over first.” Chen Ming sighed. He paused for a short second before he continued, “Who would have thought that Junior Sister Feng would ditch the disciples of our sect the moment she arrived in the Sixth Pass? She went to work with several Martial Extermination Realm experts of the Taihang Mountain and charged into the Cloud Water Gorge… Well, all of us knew what happened next.” 

“So that’s what happened!” Chang Qing gasped. He seemed to understand why they brought him along and he added, “Once I understand the situation from the disciples stationed here, I will let my father know what exactly happened.” 

A joyful light flashed through Chen Ming’s eyes and he chuckled happily, “Martial Nephew Chang Qing, it’s great that you understand! As your elders, we’ll spare no expense to get you a suitable extermination origin for your cultivation!” 

A faint smile appeared on Chang Qing’s face and he replied quickly, “I’ll have to thank martial uncles then. There’s no need to force it anyway. I just refined my second extermination origin and I would need to consolidate my foundations. My father has also started looking for suitable extermination origins for me and I have a few choices at the moment.” 

“A few choices…” Chen Ming’s eyelid jumped violently and he realized that Chang Qing really didn’t care about a strand of extermination origin or two.” 

Chen Kang finally released a bout of laughter to break the awkwardness as he turned around to address the others. “Junior Brother Chen Ming, with Senior Brother Chen Gang making the arrangements, we won’t have to worry about Martial Nephew Chang Qing’s cultivation.”

Chen Ming quickly forced a chuckle. “Looks like I didn’t think things through…” 

Chen Kang’s gaze landed on Chang Qing once again and he laughed, “Martial Nephew Chang Qing, the Abyssal Secret Region might contain some treasures, but it’s not really too attractive to our Divine Capital Sect. We called you along because we discovered a treasure in there that’s suited for you.” 

After hearing what he said, Chen Ming’s expression changed slightly but Chen Kang shot him a gaze before he could say anything.

A look of excitement finally appeared on Chang Qing’s face. “May I ask what treasure is it? How is it compared to the Misty Palace Lantern?” 

Chen Kang laughed heartily before turning slightly serious. “It’s a divine weapon. What do you think?” 

Chang Qing was slightly taken aback at the revelation, but the wide grin on his face quickly revealed his excitement at the news. “Are you serious? Martial Uncle, is a divine weapon really in there?” 

“Relax. If the divine weapon really appears in the secret region, we’ll try our best to get it for you.” Chen Kang promised.

Finally suppressing the elation he was feeling, he suddenly realized a question he had forgotten to ask. “Martial uncles, do you know how the secret region came about? At the very least, the place had to be a mysterious world or better to be turned into a secret region. Anyone who has the ability to maintain one has to be a powerful faction. The Sixth Pass in the Taihang Mountains isn’t exactly a secluded region. How did no one discover the presence of the secret region after so many years?” 

“Haha, do you know how long our Origin Azure World has been around for?” Chen Kang chuckled in amusement.

Chang Qing didn’t need to think for long before he replied, “It’s the 845th year of the Divine Martial Calendar right now. Obviously, that’s how long Azure Origin World has been in existence for.”

“What about the time before the Divine Martial Calendar started?” Chen Kang raised his eyebrows and asked. 

Looking at the look of confusion on Chang Qing’s face, Chen Kang explained, “Do you really believe that our history only goes back 800 or so years? The 13 vast continents of our Azure Origin World have existed for a long time before that…” 

“Then…” Chang Qing showed an expression of revelation as his gaze turned exceptionally clear. “Martial Uncle, do you mean that this secret region existed before the start of our Divine Martial Calendar?” 

“Exactly.” Chen Kang praised Chang Qing’s quick reactions and understanding.

With a strange look, Chang Qing turned to look at Chen Kang. “Martial Uncle Chen Kang, how would you know about that? Why haven’t I heard anything about the time before the creation of our Divine Martial Calendar?” 

“Everything I know is limited. In the future, your cultivation will catch up to mine and when that happens, you will gain the qualifications to learn about those matters.” Chen Kang laughed. After a short pause, Chen Kang revealed a slightly haughty expression as he explained, “Actually, there isn’t any faction in our Azure Origin World that knows more about the time before the Divine Martial Calendar than our Divine Capital Sect.” 

“Martial Uncle Chen Kang, why would the secret region appear now?” Chang Qing followed up with yet another question.

“The fusion between our Azure Origin World and the Azure Spiritual World is set in stone. All the secret regions that have been hidden in both worlds will start to show themselves. The Abyssal Secret Region might appear at regular intervals in the past to pass down whatever inheritance was trapped inside. However, This should be the last time the Abyssal Secret Region would appear.” Chen Kang mumbled.

“So that’s it…” Chang Qing nodded. “So… The cloud around the Cloud Water Gorge would disappear once the Abyssal Secret Region closes. The Cloud Water Gorge would be revealed to the world when that happens. It’s no wonder Martial Uncle refuses to enter the Cloud Water Gorge at this moment.”

Watching Chen Kang nodding in acknowledgment, Chang Qing seemed to have thought of another important question. “I wonder which power used to own the Abyssal Secret Region?” 

“The Abyssal Sect.” Chen Kang replied candidly.