Chapter 491: Am I Cicada?

Chen Ming knew Yan Mountain was in danger and he wasn’t about to ignore it. Despite how everyone was worried about the war between the four Domains and Crownless Assembly, sending an Immortal King to look for Yan Mountain would be easy as pie.

Chen Ming was in a race against time. The only way to protect Yan Mountain was to grow in power to the point he could resist any attack by the time it was found out.

Chen Ming was back on Yan Mountain and saw Nu Xiao and his ten thousand barbarians performing a drill. Chen Ming ignored them, holding no interest.

But as he arrived at Yan Mountain branch, he summoned Li Suyi, Ling Xian, and Wan Baqian to the hall.

They arrived at a moment’s notice and bowed, “We greet Master!”

Chen Ming nodded, “Establish the Empyrean Manor. It will hold all peak Celestial Immortals in the Three-headed Dragon Constellation.”

Ling Xian said, “Master, we won’t be able to handle them if all are gathered in one place.”

Chen Ming pondered, “It is harmless for now. Celestial Immortals need to understand life and death to break through anyway, and such places are rare in the Galaxy. They won’t advance so easily. Plus, I’m overseeing Yan Mountain branch personally, what could go wrong?”

Ling Xian smiled, “With Master here, nothing will happen.”

Chen Ming continued, “When they settle in Empyrean Manor, sneak in some water from River of Time in their food and let them look at cicada stele whenever they want. Only if you’re cicada can you understand it.”

Li Suyi laughed, “Master’s brilliant. They will end up thinking they’re cicada without even realizing it. They will be willing to serve Yan Mountain at that time.”

Wan Baqian added, “Leave it to me. I know what to do, seniors! They will be none the wiser.”

Ling Xian smiled, “The whole Three-headed Dragon Constellation will become Yan Mountain’s men, linked by bloodline.”

It was a month later that the first batch of three dozen peak Celestial Immortals arrived at Empyrean Manor in Yan Mountain branch.

They were homegrown Celestial Immortals. Not knowing Yan Mountain’s intention, it left them feeling on edge. Until they discovered no one restricted them and even provided resources, easing their nerves.

The only problem was freedom, forbidden from leaving Expansion Star. They knew Yan Mountain was now a force to be reckoned with in the Galaxy and wanted to protect itself.

Of course, they were still unwilling inside.

Liu Qingyun was one from this time’s batch. Today was just as usual, going to Yan Mountain branch to receive his pill. As he was from Empyrean Manor, he was allowed an Immortal pill each month. He couldn’t get such treatment even on his star, where his strength wasn’t high enough. He wouldn’t miss this chance for the world.

Despite blocked from wandering around certain parts of Expansion Star, he was allowed to visit Dao Comprehending Sanctuary. He heard this was where Mountain Lord taught his disciples, it got him quite intrigued.

He fought through endless geniuses and was crowned the peak of Earth Immortals. This was the same as saying he had no equal below Celestial Immortals!

His power was no longer that of a paragon, but a step beyond, where no genius dared to face him alone. Such strength could be rated as number one in the world.

And he had powerful Gold Immortals under him, a clear proof he was no less than a Gold Immortal existence.

Liu Qingyun’s curiosity pushed him into going to Dao Comprehending Sanctuary. He saw two pines before the door and, once he entered, 3,000+ praying mats. This ought to be the place where Mountain Lord listened to his teachings.

Liu Qingyun walked to the side and saw a wall of stone engraved with cicada’s history.

In the face of the apocalypse, the cicada chose to save the world by risking growing their Tree of Martyrs to the 5th stage… They succeeded in averting the calamity, but couldn’t control the new Tree of Martyrs, leading to their rapid decline… It was then when the four Great Immortal Domains turned traitors and wiped the cicada from the world down to their records in history…

Liu Qingyun was watching these stone walls and smiled, “The winner is always right. But these Domains are something alright, not at all righteous.”

Liu Qingyun was only curious about the history here and not much else. But it was then when he saw some disciples overlooking a black stone tablet to comprehend the Dao. Is that a stele?

When he walked over, it just so happened that one disciple rose to leave. He asked him, “Can this be a stele?”

The disciple smiled, “Correct.”

Liu Qingyun was in shock, “How could you leave it here?”

In comparison, the four Domains treated theirs with much more care and hardly let anyone approach them. Yet Yan Mountain just left it in the open, so much so that even he could look.

The disciple laughed, “You must be a Celestial Immortal from Empyrean Manor, right? How can you bee so foolish? Cicada’s stele can’t be understood by others. This scripture is equivalent to cicada chirping!”

Liu Qingyun nodded, I see.

He wanted to leave at first, but then thought how it was no harm watching it for a bit.

Liu Qingyun sat on a mat and focused. His eyes roamed the stele and soon chirping reached his ears.

The closer he looked the clearer the chirping became, “Indeed, if one isn’t a cicada, he can’t understand this stele.”

He was about to leave but he heard something among the chirping, “This is Spring and Autumn!”

His eyes went wide as saucers, stupefied, “I seem to understand it… Can it be that I’m from cicada race?”

“Am I cicada?”