Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
Lin Yue’s Sword Wave had injured Pang Long who was ranked among the top three indoor disciples. It shocked many of those who were watching.
They could not believe their eyes. They rubbed their eyes with both hands and reopened them, but they still saw the same “Lin Yue” standing nonchalantly before them.
“Senior Brother Lin Yue, you are great! Your move must have been the Sword Ripple of Ten Channels. This is only a martial technique at the Spiritual Stage Superior class, yet you beat Senior Brother Pang’s Ghost Level sword technique!”
“Senior Brother Lin Yue has reached the Perfection of Martial Arts level in his Sword Ripple of Ten Channels. Can’t you see that? His cultivation in the Tao of the sword seems to have surpassed Senior Brother Pang’s.”
“Senior Brother Lin Yue has already broken through to the Fish-Dragon Realm. From now on, he’s an eminent Saint’s disciple.”
Many female disciples from Sunv Yard had a crush on Li Yue. When they saw “Lin Yue” defeat the famous Pang Long with a casual finger, they went crazy.
Li Yue was not only handsome but had also achieved such profound cultivation. In the eyes of the female disciples, he was the perfect dream lover.
Many female disciples were struck by the love bug. They stared at Li Yue with admiring, infatuated eyes.
On the other hand, the indoor disciples who had looked down on Lin Yue all turned pale. They retreated like he was some great foe, staring at him with terrified eyes.
They had finally realized that Lin Yue’s strength had grown by a terrifying degree.
If Lin Yue ever wished to avenge himself, they would not be able to beat him even if they fought him together.
Zhang Ruochen turned his eyes to Pang Long.
Pang Long felt great pressure, causing him to take a step backward. Soon, however, he quelled his inner fear. “Lin Yue, what do you want? Don’t think you are that great just because you’ve reached the Fish-Dragon Realm. My Great Grandfather Master is Half-saint Yuanlong. Do you dare to touch me?”
Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly and amicably said, “Why are you so afraid? I didn’t say I would do anything to you. We are all brother apprentices and shouldn’t fight one other. I came to Sunv Yard in order to renew my acquaintance with Junior Sister Han Qiu. I have no other intentions. Do you wish to leave now or do you want to join us?”
Had Pang Long not initiated the fight, Zhang Ruochen would not have opposed him.
It was still best to turn enmity into friendship, after all.
“Lin Yue, you win! Just wait and see. When I reach the Fish-Dragon Realm, I shall make up for the humiliation today and pay you back with interest.”
Pang Long was a very conceited man. He did not care for Zhang Ruochen’s friendly gesture and felt that the latter was trying to humiliate him.
Therefore, he resented Zhang Ruochen even more and vowed in his heart to avenge himself.
Pang Long had lost face in front of Han Qiu today. He was too humiliated to stay, so he left Sunv Yard crestfallen.
“Yet another enemy!” Zhang Ruochen sighed.
Sometimes, one could not help one’s circumstances.
If someone wanted to teach you a lesson, would you simply stand back and let him hit you without retaliating?
Han Qiu stared at Zhang Ruochen. “Your cultivation has risen so fast. Your Tao of the sword must have reached the Heart Integrated into Sword level.”
Within two months, Lin Yue’s strength had indeed risen to an astonishing degree. He had just exhibited the Perfection of Martial Arts level of the Sword Ripple of Ten Channels. Han Qiu was incredulous.
How did Lin Yue’s Tao of the sword reach such high levels?
Zhang Ruochen fixed his eyes on Han Qiu. His lips curved into a smile and he said something that puzzled Han Qiu very much.
“Hasn’t your cultivation risen just as quickly these past few years?”
With these words, Zhang Ruochen turned his back and left Sunv Yard. He headed for the foot of the mountain.
“He left just like that? What did he mean by his last words?”
Han Qiu stared at Lin Yue’s silhouette. Her long, shapely eyebrows were knitted and she looked bewildered. She felt that Lin Yue’s words had a hidden meaning.
In the past, Lin Yue made a very poor impression on her. He was a haughty philanderer.
This time, Lin Yue seemed quite reserved. There was an extraordinary elegance about him which made him impossible to hate.
Was it possible that attaining the Fish-Dragon Realm caused such a great change in the man?
Han Qiu still disliked Lin Yue very much, but now, she was curious about him as well.
What was he really like?
“The altar isn’t at Sunv Yard.”
When he went to Sunv Yard, Zhang Ruochen had released his Spiritual Power. He probed the six sacred mountains of Sunv Yard. He even probed 300 meters underground but found no trace of the altar.
Since the altar was not at Sunv Yard, Zhang Ruochen decided to leave at once. He would not stay.
Zhao Han’er kept trailing behind Zhang Ruochen, her eyes creased like two crescent moons. When she saw her Senior Brother Lin Yue defeat Pang Long, she was very elated.
Senior Brother Lin Yue was so dashing today, so powerful! With a Sword Wave he defeated a top master like Senior Brother Pang Long. Who would doubt Senior Brother Lin Yue’s abilities after today?
After going down the sacred mountain, Zhang Ruochen stopped before a 10-meter-wide stone pavement. He stared at a caravan in the near distance.
Each vehicle in the caravan was pulled by a brute elephant—a fourth level savage beast. Ten iron boxes were tied onto every elephant. They moved along as if they were carrying metallic hills on their backs.
Zhang Ruochen used his Sky Eye to look into the iron boxes. He discovered that they were filled with Spiritual Crystals.
Zhang Ruochen pretended not to know and asked, “What are they carrying?”
Zhao Han’er felt overwhelmed because “Lin Yue” had initiated a conversation. She hastily replied. “Those Spiritual Crystals are from the ancient mines of the abyss. They are carrying them to the Sword Pavillion. The Crystals are going to be used during the Sword Technique Conference, they say.”
“There is still more than half a year till the Conference on the ninth day of the ninth month. Why are they preparing for it so early?”
Zhao Han’er stared at Zhang Ruochen with bewildered eyes. She was perplexed. “Senior Brother Lin Yue, don’t you know the Sword Technique Conference is a great event held only once every century? Our Sect began preparations two years ago.”
Zhang Ruochen realized he had made a blunder, so he quickly said, “I mean, even if the Sword Technique Conference is some big event, we really don’t need so many Spiritual Crystals, do we?”
This was not the first day that the vehicles transported Spiritual Crystals to the Sword Pavilion. A large quantity was brought there every day.
This was what made Zhang Ruochen suspicious.
“I’m not too sure! There will be many arrays set up during the Sword Technique Conference. They need to erect a central altar as well. That’s why I think they need so many Spiritual Crystals,” said Zhao Han’er.
The word “altar” brought a gleam into Zhang Ruochen’s eyes. He seemed like a lost man who had found his way again.
He asked at once, “In which direction is the Sword Pavilion?”
“In the southwest. It’s situated on the Ancient Gods Mountain of the Supreme Pure Palace. That’s the most sacred place within the Yin and Yang Sect. Only Saint’s disciples can practice there… hey… Senior Brother Lin Yue… where has he gone?”
Zhao Han’er had not finished her words. She had simply blinked and discovered that Zhang Ruochen had disappeared without a trace.
“No wonder he is a master of the Fish-Dragon Realm. Senior Brother Lin Yue is so fast!”
Zhao Han’er’s hands pinched her chin and she worshipped her Senior Brother Lin Yue even more.
Zhang Ruochen hurried toward the Supreme Pure Palace, ready to investigate the place.
Erecting the Heaven and Earth Altar was a massive undertaking. It would require a vast amount of manpower and resources, and the Yin and Yang Sect would find a good excuse to hide their real purpose.
Preparing for the Sword Conference was a really good excuse.
Zhang Ruochen was quite certain the Heaven and Earth Altar was hidden in the Ancient Gods Mountain of the Supreme Pure Palace.
When he reached the Supreme Pure Palace, he took out his indoor disciple token and easily gained access.
The Supreme Pure Palace was one of the three palaces. It ruled over the 36 sacred mountains and occupied the most ancient Holy Land of the Yin and Yang Sect—the Ancient Gods Mountain.
According to legend, the Ancient Gods Mountain had evolved from the remains of an ancient deity. Its seven Holy Springs were the seven blood meridians of that deity. A Monk who drank the spring water frequently would be able to perceive the Holy Road more easily. He would even have a chance to reach the Half-Saint realm.
Zhang Ruochen looked in the direction of Ancient Gods Mountain. The contours of a red mountain were half-hidden by clouds and mist. He could only make out its imposing outlines and could not see the entire mountain clearly.
The Ancient Gods Mountain had seven levels. Even the lowest level was nine thousand meters high. No ordinary warrior could climb it.
“My father, the Emperor, used to tell me a great secret of the Middle Ancient Times was hidden within the Ancient Gods Mountain of the Yin and Yang Sect, and that he nearly died on the mountain.”
On the mountain, Zhang Ruochen felt an ancient aura assail his face. He was awed by its presence.
Could the Ancient Gods Mountain really be the remains of an ancient deity?
Emperor Ming had learned his martial arts at the Yin and Yang Sect. Even with his peerless bravery, he had nearly died on the Ancient Gods Mountain. Clearly, the mountain was not as simple as it looked. Some great danger must be lurking within.
Zhang Ruochen released his Spiritual Power and tried probing the Ancient Gods Mountain.
Before his Spiritual Power could reach the Ancient Gods Mountain, however, an invisible force flung it back. It stunned Zhang Ruochen, causing him to take three steps backward.
“It’s so powerful.”
Zhang Ruochen clutched his head with both hands and felt his head ache badly. The rebound force was very strong. Even with a Spiritual Power at the 44th level, he had nearly suffered a breakdown.
He took a good hour to recover and finally re-open his eyes.
“I can’t probe with my Spiritual Power. I must go down in person to investigate.”
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes became resolute again. He took broad steps toward the Ancient Gods Mountain.
Two old priests acting as gatekeepers intercepted Zhang Ruochen as he reached the outskirts of the Ancient Gods Mountain.
To the left of the gate, a slightly stout old priest said, “No disciples can enter the Ancient Gods Mountain today. Go back quickly at once.”
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the two old priests and realized they were of the Ninth Change in the Fish-dragon Realm. Their bodies emanated the glazed aureole and they looked like two gatekeeping deities.
Two masters of the Ninth Change in the Fish-dragon Realm actually served as outside gatekeepers.
It really looked like this Ancient Gods Mountain was not so simple after all.
