Chapter Twenty-One: Mount Jiuhua

Mount Jiuhua

A crowd had gathered at the foot of Mount Jiuhua. Some arrived in groups of three, others in groups of four, and some came alone—mostly young disciples from various sects, with a few independent cultivators among them.

They clustered beneath the mountain, none daring to ascend or take flight toward its heights. Nearby, two factions were locked in fierce combat. One was led by Chou Guangqi of the Blazing Fire Sect, while their opponent was a lone cultivator, who, under the combined assault of three Blazing Fire disciples, was beginning to falter.

Four from the Moonshadow Palace had just arrived. As they landed, the crowd parted to let them pass.

“Those are people from Moonshadow Palace,” someone whispered.

“The girl in blue at the front—she’s likely the most outstanding young disciple of Moonshadow Palace, Leng Lingmeng, ranked first among the top ten young masters!”

“Impossible! How can you say that if you’ve never seen her?”

“I’m not making things up. She just used the Formless Art to drive off three from the Blazing Fire Sect—I saw it with my own eyes. Who else could do that but Leng Lingmeng?”

“Ah, so it really is her! If she’s here, does that mean we’ll leave empty-handed?”

“Not necessarily. Rare treasures choose their masters—they don’t always favor the strongest. We might still have a chance.”

They murmured among themselves, watching Leng Lingmeng and her companions move to the front.

“Blade Gate! Last year you ambushed our senior brother—today, we meet again, and I promise your corpses will be scattered!”

“Afraid of you? If you dare, step out—let’s see who’s stronger!”

As the crowd swelled, more young disciples from every sect arrived, including from rival sects. The more composed exchanged barbed words, refusing to concede, while the hotheaded had already taken their disputes to the side, battling it out.

The three Blazing Fire disciples incinerated their lone opponent to ashes, then rejoined the crowd. Chou Guangqi saw Leng Lingmeng ahead and, unwilling to provoke her, retreated to the rear.

Everyone remained at the mountain’s base. None dared ascend, neither by foot nor by flight, because the first to attempt it had been obliterated by a barrage of spells from the crowd. A silent agreement had formed: whoever tried to go up first would become the sacrificial bird, doomed to perish under the others’ assault. Thus, the stalemate persisted.

Shi Qi and Su Xiaomu arrived as well. Seeing the crowd, Shi Qi avoided the commotion, stepping aside to observe quietly, with Su Xiaomu close behind, glancing about, her thoughts unreadable.

“Everyone!” Suddenly, a booming voice cut through the noise. The speaker’s tone was robust and steady, suggesting deep, solid cultivation.

Shi Qi craned her neck, then burst into laughter. Well, well, wasn’t that her old nemesis, Liao Hongda!

Liao Hongda stood atop a stone platform, speaking confidently.

“Everyone! Please quiet down, don’t be impatient. Let me be blunt—all of us here are the brightest young talents of our sects, gathered for training and rare treasures. There’s no need for hostility or for things to get so tense. Listen to me: treasures belong to those who can claim them. Standing here in deadlock won’t help. As they say, within the four seas—”

Someone below shouted impatiently, “Who the hell are you?”

Liao Hongda’s temper flared. He leapt down, heading straight for the heckler. Before the man could react, Liao Hongda seized him by the neck, lifting him as easily as a chick.

Liao Hongda, towering over nine feet, brandished the cultivator like a toy and roared in his ear, “I am Liao Hongda from the City of the Overlord! Did you hear me clearly?!”

The man promptly fainted from the shock.

“Liao Hongda? That’s Liao Hongda?”

“Third-ranked among the young masters?”

“From the City of the Overlord?”

Hearing his name, the crowd erupted in murmurs.

Liao Hongda basked in their attention, his vanity swelling. He hopped back onto the platform and shouted, “Everyone, as I was saying, within the four seas—”

“Hmph!” A cold snort rang out. It was Leng Lingmeng and her companions. She glanced at Liao Hongda and the crowd, then ignored them, soaring directly toward Mount Jiuhua.

“You!” Liao Hongda’s anger surged, but facing the formidable Moonshadow Palace, especially Leng Lingmeng—second-ranked on the list—he dared not confront her. He could only let her pass, watching her ascend.

“Why do you get to go up the mountain?” Someone unfamiliar with Moonshadow Palace shouted in protest as Leng Lingmeng and her group ascended. Fireballs and wind blades flew at her.

Without looking back, Leng Lingmeng’s blue skirt swirled, her jade hand flicked, and spells rebounded, knocking her attackers to the ground.

“The Formless Art is truly divine!” The crowd was stunned. Though they’d heard of Moonshadow Palace’s Formless Art, seeing it firsthand was astonishing.

Chou Guangqi scoffed at their shock. “You ignorant fools! I just went a hundred rounds with the Formless Art and came out unscathed!”

A nearby disciple gave him a thumbs-up. “That makes you the man!”

Liao Hongda watched Leng Lingmeng and her group ascend and sighed, then resumed shouting, “Everyone! As I was saying, within the four seas—”

“Hey, isn’t that Liao Hongda? Haven’t seen you in a few days—you’re looking well!” A familiar voice reached Liao Hongda’s ears. He looked toward the back of the crowd, his anger rising again.

“Shi Qi!”

Liao Hongda shouted, stomping the ground and charging at Shi Qi.

“Water Screen!”

“Seal Command! Draw the ground as prison!”

“Aqua Spirit Scatter Pill!”

“Bang bang bang bang bang!”

Shi Qi retreated, unleashing a familiar combo.

“Damn you!” Liao Hongda yelled.

“Bye, I’m heading up the mountain.” Shi Qi grabbed Su Xiaomu and, stepping into the air, flew toward the mountainside.

“Argh!” Liao Hongda, infuriated, punched the ground, creating a deep pit—and promptly fell in himself.

Moments later, he leapt out, back onto the stone platform, dusting off his beast-skin robe and coughing as if nothing had happened. He gathered his energy and continued, “Everyone! As I was saying, within the four seas—”

This time, no one interrupted him, but Liao Hongda stopped on his own.

He looked left and right—no familiar faces. He glanced up—empty sky. Down—flat ground. Forward—the crowd stared at him with bewildered eyes.

“Everyone! As I was saying, within the four seas—oh, to hell with it! I don’t care anymore, do as you please!” Face flushed, Liao Hongda left those words behind, turned, and with a mighty leap, dashed toward the summit of Mount Jiuhua.