A Dream of the Nine Provinces

Listening to the soldiers' chatter, Xiao Chen was filled with a profound melancholy. How much time had passed? What had become of his old friends and enemies?

He bypassed them and traveled another dozen li to the banks of the Yellow River.

The mighty river surged onward, its yellow waters roaring like a primal dragon.

Gazing at the endless torrent, Xiao Chen seemed to fall into a distant memory. For a long time, he simply stood there, until finally he turned and strode away, determined to wander the Nine Provinces and see for himself what changes the years had wrought.

Just then, a low rumble came from the earth. Up ahead on the main road, a mass of horsemen swept toward him like a dark cloud, iron hooves churning up clouds of dust.

At the forefront, soldiers in gleaming steel armor bore crimson dragon banners that snapped proudly in the wind. The riders behind were even more imposing, each clad in iron and wielding gleaming war halberds.

A youth of seventeen or eighteen rode a dragon-steed at the center of the road, clad in golden armor with a vermillion dragon sword at his waist, surrounded like a star cradling the moon.

A member of the royal family, perhaps? Out here to inspect the Dead City? Xiao Chen discerned the situation and stepped into the woods beside the road, wishing to avoid an encounter.

"Halt!"

The golden-armored royal youth shouted, and all the horses quickly reined to a stop on the main road.

"I clearly saw a blood shadow just now—where did it go? Search it out! Even a fiend or ghost dares to offend me in broad daylight? When found, I will annihilate it utterly!"

The well-trained soldiers swiftly charged into the forest, searching for the blood shadow.

Xiao Chen had wanted to avoid them, but seeing such an arrogant crown prince, he strode out from the woods and onto the road, curious to see what the young man could do.

"A monster dares to show itself? You have tired of living!"

A war general beside the prince raised his palm toward the sky, muttered a curse, and then struck toward Xiao Chen, shouting, "Five Thunders Spearhead!"

Boom! Crack!

Lightning, though not thick, descended from the clear sky with impressive force. But how could it harm an illusory form of crimson diamond bone? The lightning passed straight through.

Xiao Chen nodded. This war general was not weak—he was likely close to the demigod realm, a cultivator with some potential. The Nine Provinces, now rich in spiritual energy, made cultivation much easier than before.

A clatter of metal rang out as scores of armored knights drew their swords, the cold light reflecting off their iron garb as they encircled Xiao Chen.

"Seventh Prince, stand back—this monster seems unusual!" the war general who had summoned the thunder shouted, spurring his horse forward.

"It's nothing," the Seventh Prince sneered, moving forward. "It must be a demon sent by that Nine-Headed Serpent. But as a descendant of one of the Five Coastal Qi-Refining Powerhouses, how could I fear him?"

Years had passed, and countless changes had swept the mortal Nine Provinces. Empress Zhao Lin'er, to win over the most powerful cultivators of the realm, had adopted ten sons, proclaimed the Ten Crown Princes.

Their birth parents were naturally the most renowned cultivators from all sides, including the Nine-Headed Divine Serpent ruling the southwest and the Five Coastal Qi-Refining Powerhouses.

Conflict naturally simmered among the Ten Crown Princes, and secret struggles were constant.

The Seventh Prince was named Ye Lingyun, his father being Ye Jiuzhong, one of the Five Coastal Qi-Refining Powerhouses and rumored to be the strongest descendant of the Half-Ancestor Three-Infant Grand Matriarch. The First Crown Prince was named Xu Chang, a descendant of the Nine-Headed Divine Serpent, and was perpetually in conflict with Ye Lingyun.

Ye Lingyun stared at the crimson diamond bone form before him. "That Nine-Headed Little Serpent is too low-class, sending such a base thing!" With that, he produced a jade gourd, uncorked it, and pointed it at Xiao Chen, shouting, "Seal!"

A beam of white light flew out, trying to draw Xiao Chen into the magical gourd, but all was in vain—Xiao Chen was merely an afterimage, untouched by any external force.

Xiao Chen stood silent, but his heart was troubled. In those days, he had stormed the imperial palace alone, forcing Zhao Lin'er to feign death. Now this so-called Seventh Crown Prince was so insolent; it showed how strong Zhao Lin'er had become.

And if he knew that Ye Lingyun was the son of one of the Five Qi-Refining Powerhouses, he would be even more unsettled. In years past, he had killed or wounded the ten strongest young experts of the Cultivation World. Now the descendent of a mere Qi-Refining powerhouse dared to raise a hand against him. How the world had changed.

"Who are you?" The Seventh Crown Prince Ye Lingyun finally grew panicked as his life-saving treasure proved utterly useless.

Xiao Chen did not answer. He stepped forward. Though he was but a phantom, the aura he had forged from battling across the world was second to none. The soldiers involuntarily fell back; the warhorses were startled into disorder, and the entire cavalry formation collapsed into chaos.

Even Ye Lingyun's mount reared up in fright, throwing him to the ground.

Peals of laughter came from the sky, and a figure rapidly approached, saying, "How ridiculous! So this is a crown prince? Nothing but a bully trading on others' power."

A black-clad youth with a powerful, stalwart frame appeared, striding through the void with wind whipping his robes. He looked heroic and spirited—but most strikingly, a pair of dragon horns grew from his head.

Xiao Chen was astounded. It was… the Little Defiant Dragon! He wanted to call out, but restrained himself. Now was not the time for reunion.

"You… are the Inverse Dragon King!" The Seventh Crown Prince Ye Lingyun was clearly shocked. The soldiers showed fear as well, though they still shielded the prince.

"Have you… come to kill me?" The prince's mind was disturbed; even his speech was flustered.

The Inverse Dragon King's fame shook the world. He had a close bond with 'that man'—the dead one—and often troubled the Empress. There were few in the world who could do anything about him.

"If I were to strike, I would kill Zhao Lin'er and your father. What use is there in killing a small shrimp like you?" The Inverse Dragon King's intimidating words made everyone's souls tremble, afraid that he might take those steps—the defying dragon steps that all cultivators feared to mention.

Just then, a cold voice came from above: "The Inverse Dragon King indeed has bold spirit. I have long wished to meet you. Today, may you grant my wish."

Shua!

A flash of silver light, and a human figure appeared in the sky. His silver hair danced in the wind. He was of medium build and ordinary features, but he carried an oppressive pressure that made one tremble. He stood there like a primordial demonic mountain.

"Nine-Headed Serpent?" The Little Defiant Dragon's expression did not change, his voice as calm as still water. "As you wish, then. Let us have a battle of dragon against serpent."

Below, the Seventh Crown Prince Ye Lingyun blanched. He had been loudly cursing the 'Nine-Headed Little Serpent' only moments ago—and now the 'Divine Serpent' himself had arrived.

"Excellent."

With a flash of light, the Nine-Headed Serpent split into nine identical silver-haired youths, each standing in a different point in the sky.

Storm clouds gathered. The pressure of two peerless experts pressed down on the sky, containing the dread of ten thousand worlds. It was like two different universes standing opposed, seizing the soul and freezing the heart with fear.

Their battle intent gathered, their auras climbed to their peak. Though they had not moved, their bodies surged with divine light that pierced the clouds, like two colossal mountains of radiance standing between heaven and earth.

Such mighty power shook heaven and earth.

Xiao Chen, stirred by the pressure of these two experts, felt as if he had returned to the days when he fought the world's heroes. In that moment, his body suddenly erupted with divine light. He felt as though he had condensed from illusion into reality. He stomped the ground with both feet and threw a punch at the Nine-Headed Serpent in the sky.

The crimson diamond bone fist actually tore through the air with fierce gale force. Xiao Chen's heart quaked—this was no illusion; this was real.

But just then, a flash of light suddenly appeared, and the crimson diamond bone form vanished into thin air, shocking everyone present.

He had only just condensed into reality for a single punch, and in an instant he returned to nothingness. Xiao Chen felt helpless. Before his eyes, countless shards of seven-colored crystal seemed to flash as he crossed through layer upon layer of space, leaving the Nine Provinces.

Not long after, he returned to the bottom of the bone well, clearly seeing a crimson diamond bone form lying atop a bed of shattered multicolored bones.

The shattered crystal bones piled up, glinting with a rainbow of light, without the slightest grimness.

That crimson diamond bone form lying at the bottom of the well was himself. Xiao Chen's phantom rushed over and merged with it. In the crystalline translucent skull, the fire of his soul, almost extinguished, suddenly burst forth with intense radiance.

It was like a dream. Xiao Chen sat up from the bottom of the well, his heart surging with emotion as he recalled all that had happened. Had it all been a great dream? He had once returned to the Nine Provinces!

He sat at the bottom of the well for a long time, pondering many things, before climbing upward.

The walls of the bone well were not particularly smooth. Xiao Chen climbed for half an hour before he gradually saw light filtering down from above.

Splash…

When he emerged from the blue-green well water, startled cries came from above.

"Mr. Skeleton… you're finally out! How wonderful!" Little Tianya wiped his tears and broke into a smile. He was still a child; sorrow and joy shifted quickly.

Li Mu led a group of young Divine Race people around the well mouth, and they helped Xiao Chen climb out.

Li Mu also broke into a smile. "You're up at last. I was about to go down myself."

A moment ago, the bone well had burst with divine light that sent everyone near the mouth flying, and then the light did not disperse, as if preventing anyone from approaching. Only after a long time did it gradually fade, allowing these Divine Race members to approach the well again—just in time for Xiao Chen to climb out.

"I'm sorry to have worried you all." Xiao Chen shook himself vigorously, sending the well water droplets flying to the ground.

"It's all Tianya's fault for being so naughty. Luckily you came back safely." Li Mu rubbed Tianya's little face. "I told you before—this place is eerie. You should never have come here."

"I know…" The little one acted innocent.

"Actually, the fault is mainly mine." Even as he said this, Xiao Chen felt it had been worth it. The bone well held profound significance for him.

The ancient buildings around them were thick with yin energy. Without further delay, the group hurried out. On the street outside, a number of Fire Seed beings had gathered, well aware of this site's strangeness, so none had dared enter recklessly.

"A child wandered in and caused a ruckus. Luckily nothing happened. Everyone, disperse!"

When Li Mu, the renowned supreme Divine Race expert, spoke thus, the Fire Seed beings all withdrew.

Then Li Mu led the Divine Race members out of this city and back toward the Divine Village.

Only after they were far from the city did Li Mu ask Xiao Chen, "What really happened?"

Xiao Chen hesitated briefly, then decided to tell the truth. The people of the Divine Village were the only ones he felt kinship with; he did not want to hide anything from them.

"What?!" When Li Mu heard Xiao Chen's experience, he was dumbfounded.

Little Tianya was walking beside them, his eyes wide with shock and his little face flushed. "The Nine Provinces… I dream of going there. Next time, I'll try sinking into the well bottom too!"

Li Mu shot him a glare. "Don't talk nonsense."

The young Divine Race members behind caught up and asked, "The Nine Provinces? What are you talking about?"

"Nothing." Li Mu gave Little Tianya a meaningful look, and the boy, who had wanted to speak, had to pout and stay silent.

This matter was too important; he did not want to stir up trouble. These young Divine Race members were all bold and often impulsive; telling them would likely invite disaster.

They did not discuss the subject further on the road. Only after returning to the Divine Village did Li Mu keep Xiao Chen and Little Tianya behind, bringing them to his home. The little one was kept for the sake of secrecy; after a promise that he would buy him ten Vermillion Fruits next time, the boy readily agreed, then ran off to invite his grandmother Zhao Ying.

The two elders asked Xiao Chen to explain in detail. After listening, they frowned and fell silent for a long time, their thoughts tangled without a clear thread.

"Could that place truly have some connection to the Nine Provinces? Perhaps it is our hope of reaching that pure land."

"A king fell there back then. Might it be related? Or perhaps it gave birth to that place?"

The two elders put forward various conjectures, but each felt something was missing.

Regardless, this was a major discovery. The two elders decided that in a few days they would investigate the well again with Xiao Chen.

"Hehe…" Old Li Mu laughed, speaking to Xiao Chen, "This is a great opportunity for your transformation."

"You mean those crystal bones?" Having seen the exchange market today, Xiao Chen understood at once the value of that bone well—crystal bones were a hot commodity.

"Of course. In this death world, for someone at your level, it is a treasure trove." Old Lady Zhao Ying also laughed.

"If not for Little Tianya, I would never have found it. It belongs to the Divine Village too." Xiao Chen did not want to keep it all for himself.

Li Mu shook his head with a smile. "Don't say that. Treasures are of little use to us. Don't be fooled by our visits to the exchange market—we only do it to satisfy the children's interest."

Xiao Chen suddenly understood. The cultivation of these two elders must be terrifyingly deep.

When the two elders left, Xiao Chen went over his experience that day, unable to calm down for a long time. At last, he saw hope of returning to the Nine Provinces—even if he could not physically go back, he could at least send his spirit to feel his homeland.

Perhaps in the future, he could travel between the two realms—cultivating and exploring in this mysterious death world, while also being able to return to the Nine Provinces whenever he wished.

More than ten days later, the two elders led a group of Divine Race youths back to the city several hundred li away.

Of course, that ancient city had its own experts. The powerful city lord could suppress this entire region, but clearly the two elders could stand against him, or else the local Fire Seed beings would not treat them so respectfully.

The Divine Race youths wandered joyfully around the city, while the two elders and Xiao Chen quickly split up and entered the western district's ancient building complex from different directions.

The bone well was surrounded by silence, with nothing but gloomy palaces all around. No Fire Seed being was willing to approach this place.

Gazing into the yawning well, Li Mu said, "I will descend with Xiao Chen to explore."

"Be careful," Old Lady Zhao Ying cautioned. At the same time, she handed Xiao Chen a ring. "This is a space ring. Transfer your treasure into it. I think that if you handle it properly, this may save you from many life-or-death battles in the future—you can directly use it to trade for the powerful Fire Seeds you need."

"I also want to take a look at the Nine Provinces." Li Mu seemed even more impatient than Xiao Chen, jumping down first.

Xiao Chen followed closely, entering the bone well once more.

After a while, light began to radiate from the well mouth, forcibly pushing Zhao Ying away. This astonished the old woman—someone of her cultivation was rarely shaken, yet the light from this bone well had done just that.

A full hour or more passed before the light gradually receded. Just then, with a splash, Li Mu surged up, his expression grim.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Ying asked in alarm.

"This bone well… it's too terrifying. It seems to be formed from a person's spinal column!"

"What?!"

"Most likely a being beyond even a king."