Chapter 769: Sudden Change

The gate swung wide open, revealing a simple yet ancient Daoist temple. The furnishings inside were sparse, but they drew the gaze of many powerful cultivators.

"Heavens, could this sacred tree be guarding this temple?"

"Very likely. It seems ordinary, but its divine aura is overwhelming—not something we can fathom."

Someone took a few more glances, felt their head spin and stars flash before their eyes, and quickly stopped looking. A flicker of fervor shot from their eyes as they exclaimed.

The mysterious Daoist temple appeared, seemingly the core area guarded by the sacred tree, drawing the attention of the extraterrestrial experts.

Di Lin's face suddenly darkened. His eyes fixed on the plaque standing horizontally on the jade platform, which now seemed like an ordinary object, devoid of any fluctuation.

"How is this possible? The gate of this treasure won't open?" Di Lin was greatly puzzled. He wanted to use his sacred eye to observe, but then he shuddered. The sacred eye had nearly killed him earlier; he could not be careless, or he would fall here.

The extraterrestrial experts were all puzzled. They had thought there would be extraordinary treasures inside, but there was only a cushion and a plaque—strange indeed...

Yuan Xia's robes fluttered. Her eyes fell on Yang Tian, sensing that the temple's opening was caused by him.

"Go..." the sacred tree said slowly, and at the same time, a ginseng fruit appeared before Yuan Xia, beginning to emit immortal light.

"So that's it?" A hint of a smile appeared on Yuan Xia's face. Since the sacred tree guarded this temple, there must be a great opportunity awaiting Yang Tian inside.

"Damn it!" Cao Qin's expression turned ugly. He hadn't expected Yang Tian to be able to enter. If he obtained a great opportunity inside, it would be difficult to eliminate him later.

Rubbing his nose, Yang Tian bowed from afar to the sacred tree, then walked into the temple.

Although the temple was simple, the fact that Yang Tian could enter made many uneasy, as if something was hidden inside.

Ten clusters of immortal light swirled around Yuan Xia. She bit her red lip and put them away. She had just stepped into this realm and should not break through too early; it would not be too late to accumulate a solid foundation before breaking open the divine palace gate.

"Are all thirty-one ginseng fruits going to be given to human cultivators?" The extraterrestrial experts roared repeatedly, so frustrated they could spit blood.

Now there were twenty-nine ginseng fruits left. These fruits were not given to whoever comprehended them; opportunities had to be seized by oneself. The sacred tree would not let them get off easy.

The strange stone was also greatly dissatisfied, buzzing and shaking, constantly praying that a few would be left for it, otherwise it would need to absorb essence for many more years before it could emerge.

Ahead, Yang Tian's figure gradually disappeared into the mist. Di Lin gritted his teeth; no matter what, he could not let others take that plaque.

As soon as his foot stepped into the temple, the gate suddenly closed. He turned to look at the closed door, then raised his head to look at the plaque.

The furnishings inside were too simple: a cushion, a jade platform, a strange plaque, and two ancient characters he did not recognize.

Yang Tian frowned. After thinking for a moment, he murmured, "Could it be that this plaque is enshrined here?"

Looking down at the yellow cushion, Yang Tian bent over and touched it with his palm. A comfortable sensation immediately washed over him.

He tried to summon Yan Long to see if there was any significance, but failed. The Ancestral Dragon Ring was suppressed, emitting no sound.

"How terrifying! Even the Ancestral Dragon Ring is blocked!" Yang Tian clicked his tongue in amazement. The Ancestral Dragon Ring was the ring of the Yang clan leader; how could it be an ordinary object?

He looked around for a while, then gritted his teeth and said, "The sacred tree saved my life, and now it lets me in. There must be an opportunity waiting for me. I can't miss this chance."

He knelt on the yellow cushion. No matter what, since the plaque was enshrined here, it must not be an ordinary object.

Yang Tian bowed reverently, then sat cross-legged on the yellow cushion, closed his eyes, and waited quietly.

After an unknown amount of time, Yang Tian felt someone watching him from the heavens and earth. He opened his eyes, glanced around in confusion, and when he noticed a soul body, a hint of joy appeared on his face.

"Uncle Xiao, how did you get in?" Yang Tian was puzzled. Yang Xiao had not been comprehending under the sacred tree.

"I'm not sure either. I was just sitting cross-legged in the Ancestral Dragon Ring, and then I appeared here." Yang Xiao shook his head, indicating he didn't understand.

"Uncle Xiao, what exactly is this thing?" Yang Tian pointed at the plaque, puzzled.

Hearing this, Yang Xiao's gaze fell on the plaque. He said with some surprise, "It is indeed strange. Let me see what it is."

Yang Xiao stepped forward and reached out to touch the plaque. At that moment, Yang Tian's heart trembled. Before he could stop him, the scene suddenly reversed.

The gate burst open, and a terrifying divine radiance slashed toward Yang Xiao's true body.

"Ah..." His face twisted in agony, full of pain. His soul body began to collapse, and his origin soul energy dissipated at a terrifying speed.

"Uncle Xiao!" Yang Tian's eyes split with rage, the corners of his eyes tearing. A surge of overwhelming ferocity erupted as he went mad with fury.

With a bang, the Diamond Cincture shot forth instantly, emitting a rumbling Dao sound, and crashed directly into the plaque.

With a clang of metal, the plaque remained unmoved, but the Diamond Cincture cracked and shattered.

"Pfft!" The treasure he had nurtured for years was destroyed. Yang Tian's throat turned sweet, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Ah..." He roared, his black hair flying wildly, a torrent of killing intent surging forth. At this moment, Yang Xiao's body was disintegrating, his soul body collapsing inch by inch, suffering a terrible attack.

"Bastard!" He bellowed, the Mountain River Cauldron appearing in his hand. He swung the cauldron body and smashed it into the strange plaque.

Clang, clang! Like hammering iron, the collision sent sparks flying, shaking the temple.

He went berserk, swinging the Mountain River Cauldron in his hand, striking the plaque repeatedly.

This stone plaque was no different from the golden divine staff, possessing boundless divine power. Yang Tian struck it countless times until his entire arm cracked, nearly breaking from the recoil.

"Go quickly! Don't worry about me!" Yang Xiao used his last strength to roar. This stone plaque was eerily strange and extremely terrifying; it was definitely not something Yang Tian could shake.

"No!" Yang Tian shouted angrily. The boundless divine power rebounding from the stone plaque shattered his bones, but he still struck madly.

Yang Xiao was deeply grieved. He felt his life force dissipating, his origin soul energy exhausted, his body gradually thinning. He murmured, "Go... go..."

When the last sound faded, Yang Tian's body suddenly stiffened, trembling violently. His chest felt crushed by a great stone, and his breathing grew labored.

"Ah... ah... ah... ah..." His waist gradually bent, and he let out agonized roars. The figure before him had vanished, leaving behind a reluctant smile imprinted on Yang Tian's heart.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" Yang Tian fell into demonic path, his eyes glowing red. He gripped the Mountain River Cauldron with both hands and smashed it against the stone plaque.

With a bang, the gate opened again. A boundless killing light materialized and struck toward Yang Tian's head.

His pupils dilated. The killing light was too fast; there was no chance to resist.

"Watch out!" A woman's shout rang out. In Yang Tian's eyes, a woman in white, like an immortal, suddenly appeared before him, and the killing light shot straight into Yuan Xia's chest.

Blood flew. Her entire chest was pierced, and the blood sprayed onto his face.

Looking at that familiar face, Yang Tian's body trembled. Who was this? It was Yuan Xia. He felt as if he were in a purgatory, his heart and mind on the verge of collapse.

"Pfft..." Heavy gasps forced Yang Tian to spit out a mouthful of heart blood. His vitality and spirit withered to the extreme, and he aged decades in an instant.

His jet-black hair turned white in an instant. With white hair, his eyes were filled with desolation and killing intent.

"Yang Tian..." A pair of jade hands fell on his face. A sweet smile appeared on Yuan Xia's cheeks as she murmured, "This is probably our final farewell. Having this memory in this life, even if I die, I have no regrets. You must live well, live for Yun'er. In this life, pretend you never met me."

"No... this is fake... fake...!" Yang Tian roared in despair, his white hair flying wildly, on the verge of falling into the demonic path.

He looked at the gradually lifeless body, his own strength drained. He staggered back, holding the cold corpse in his arms, and collapsed to the ground.

"In my life, love and hate intertwine. My great revenge is unfulfilled. Two beloved women have died for me. Am I to spend the rest of my life alone?" He roared, pointing at the heavens in accusation. He spat out another mouthful of heart blood, his heart and mind beginning to fade.

Two women had given too much. He was left with endless牵挂, his heart nearly dead.