While it was easier to conceal oneself now that there were many people around, that also meant that the competition was stronger. It was also uncertain who could enter the Mystic Divine Palace. The Mystic Divine Palace was neither very big nor very small, but the Mystic Thearch would definitely not allow a million people to enter his own palace and make a mess out of it. Hence, there would definitely be only very few people that could enter.
The multitudes of people gathered at the foot of the mountain meant that the restrictions on Mystic Divine Mountain were not yet completely lifted; Jiang Yi still had a chance. He thought furiously of a way to get close to the entrance of the path leading up the mountain. Only if he was close to that entrance could he have a chance to immediately head up the mountain and have a greater shot at entering the Mystic Divine Palace.
“Sigh…”
However, what he found out made him have a headache. The path up to Mystic Divine Mountain was being occupied by the Nine Thearch Clans just like that year with the Purgatory Ruin. Ordinary disciples from the other clans were not qualified to get close. Those from lesser clans even had to be situated more than five kilometers away from the pathway.
Not being of any special status, Jiang Yi would definitely attract a lot of attention if he suddenly went close to the entrance of the mountain, as well as be targeted by the Demigods present. If the Battle Thearch was among the crowd, the outcome would be disastrous.
As he sighed deeply, they were nearing the Mystic Thearch City; and many people had gathered on the deck to admire the aura of this ancient city. A Tang Clan housekeeper also sent a voice transmission, asking Jiang Yi to prepare to disembark.
“A change of clothes.”
Jiang Yi thought about it. He quickly took out a normal martial artist’s robe and changed into it. Many young masters and young mistresses had come this time with many of their men in tow. If Jiang Yi changed into one of the accompanying soldiers, that would be too normal. If he changed into a young master, it could also backfire due to his lack of followers around him.
He walked out of the deck and into the crowd, facing the still-yet blurry image of Mystic Thearch City while enjoying the sunset. It was entirely different using one’s divine senses and using one’s own eyes to see; visual images gave a larger impact.
This ancient city that was at the heart of the East Imperial Continent was too grand; when compared to a Heaven Fate Ship, it was akin to comparing a dragon with an ant, not to mention in comparison with Jiang Yi and company standing on the deck. Looking down on such a huge city, Jiang Yi felt as if he was facing the limitless vastness of the sky; he was that small, that powerless.
Emanating a historical aura, on the city walls that had withstood the ravages of time stood a sea of soldiers in white armor. Those soldiers were one and all Heaven Monarchs. Their auras were incredible while they were awe-inspiring, revealing the might of the first clan of the continent.
The Heaven Fate Ship stopped two and a half kilometers away from Mystic Thearch City. Many people on the deck flew down, either heading to the city or directly to Mystic Divine Mountain. Jiang Yi saw many well-dressed young masters and young mistresses flying towards Mystic Divine Mountain. These people were probably here to climb the mountain, to try their luck and see if they could get the Mystic Divine Palace, or maybe even get some treasures from it.
“Enter the city!’
Jiang Yi looked at the gigantic mountain to the east and decided to be extra careful. Since the restrictions on Mystic Divine Mountain have not been completely lifted yet, that meant that Ao Lu’s timing was perfect. Based on his calculations, there was still half a month to go before the restrictions were lifted; he did not need to rush.
Once he entered Mystic Thearch City, Jiang Yi lost his way. The city was too big. Jiang Yi took one full hour and still couldn’t walk out from the northern city district. He decided to just find an inn instead to look for a waiter to gather more information.
The waiter exaggerated about the situation, but Jiang Yi managed to receive some useful information. First, the Battle Thearch was within the city; and this time, the most powerful members of each of the great family clans had not been activated. They had sent a Demigod and some men each to Mystic Divine Mountain. Second, Zhan Tianlei, Yin Ruobing, and company were all waiting at the foot of Mystic Divine Mountain, at the mouth of the passageway. They have already been there for a full half-year.
During this half a year, the Mystic Divine Mountain had had four strange activities. While the restrictions were seemingly loosening with time, no one knew whether the next loosening would be sufficient for someone to ascend. Hence, this group of people had been biding their time at the foot of the mountain.
There was some gossip as well: Jian Wuying had reached the peak-stage of the Heaven Monarch with his total battle strength attaining that of a four-star martial expert; She Fei was trying all tricks to gain Yi Chan’s affection, sending her different gifts; Zhan Tianlei was hosting banquets every other day, inviting the young masters and young mistresses from all the great family clans to attend, but he was actually desiring to please and get closer to Yin Ruobing; Also, Ye Ying was courting Ling Qijian’s younger sister Ling Shiya with a certain degree of success.
Jiang Yi sighed with relief when he heard that the Battle Thearch was not at the foot of Mystic Divine Mountain. The person that he did not want to see the most and was most afraid to see was the Battle Thearch. Ao Lu had said that nine-star martial experts could probably see past his Mirage Divine Ability. If Jiang Yi met the Battle Thearch, Jiang Yi would probably not be able to escape.
As there were only a group of young people at the foot of Mystic Divine Mountain and with the Battle Thearch not going to show himself—if Jiang Yi really managed to ascend the mountain, at least no one would be able to see past his disguise before he went up.
Of course, two people were exceptions. One was Yi Chan while the other was Yin Ruobing. The former had a special mystical ability while the latter was from the Fragrant Lady Race and was the most sensitive to every human body’s aura.
“Yin Ruobing?”
Thinking of Yin Ruobing, Jiang Yi suddenly had an extremely bold idea. That was to enter Yin Ruobing’s Heaven Fate Canopy. That way, not only could he hide from others, he could also be the first to climb the mountain when the time came.
The fact that strange activity was observed on Mystic Divine Mountain had alarmed everyone on the East Imperial Continent. This had nullified Jiang Yi’s initial advantage. Originally, he had thought that the restrictions on Mystic Divine Mountain would disappear immediately. That way, Jiang Yi would be able to head up the mountain secretly. Entering the Mystic Divine Palace alone would give him the best chance at getting the Mystic Divine Palace.
Now that the Mystic Divine Mountain had started showing strange activity earlier than expected and shook everyone in the continent, a million people had assembled at the foot of the mountain. Once the restrictions were loosened half a month from now, a million people would probably all dash up the mountain. If Jiang Yi did not have a reasonable status to climb the mountain first, there was a possibility that he might not even have the chance to enter the Mystic Divine Palace.
Furthermore!
Even if he managed to enter, was he so sure that he was a match for the top-notch martial artists of the East Imperial Continent? Jiang Yi was not that confident as at the very least, Zhan Tianlei and She Fei were more gifted than him and had already broken through to the Demigod Realm. Jian Wuying was even far more gifted than Jiang Yi; Jiang Yi was not that crazy and did not underestimate the heroes of the world.
Hence, if Jiang Yi wanted to enter the Mystic Divine Palace—wanted to obtain the Glazed Pagoda sacred treasure of the Heaven Hidden Sect or the Mystic Divine Palace, he had to be among the first batch to head up the mountain.
The first batch of people could only be from the Nine Thearch Clans. Hence, Jiang Yi could only ask for help from Yin Ruobing.
“Alright, this is settled then!”
Jiang Yi resolutely made his decision as he flew out of the city and headed towards Mystic Divine Mountain. The sky had already turned dark, but in the vicinity, it was still very lively. Jiang Yi’s crazed dash through the skies did not result in any extra attention being paid to him.
After fifty kilometers, he had traversed the sky to his location within ten minutes. He did not approach Yin Ruobing’s tent brazenly. He learned from a group of lesser martial artists and sat cross-legged, sending his divine senses to scan the area around the entrance to the mountain.
There were a million people gathered, with divine senses being used to investigate all the time. Many divine senses were also locked onto the passageway, wanting to ride on the coattails of the Nine Thearch Clans. Jiang Yi’s actions were not out of place.
It was a pity.
All the Heaven Fate Canopies had restrictions. Jiang Yi could not find out which Heaven Fate Canopy Yin Ruobing was staying in. He could only continue to search and wait bitterly.
One hour later, light shined from many Heaven Fate Canopies. One by one, people were heading out. Jiang Yi was relaxed as he had only detected Ling Qijian, Ye Ying, She Fei, and others. They were all headed to one Heaven Fate Canopy as if they were about to join some banquet.
“Yin Ruobing has arrived!”
Jiang Yi City’s soul spirit shook. His divine senses swept the surroundings to make sure that there were no Demigods nearby of Yin Ruobing and hurriedly sent a voice transmission: “My lady, I am your servant Bai Yi. I have come from Yin Thearch City. I would like to see you about a matter.”
“Uh…”
Yin Ruobing’s cold self shivered. Following that, a slight redness could be seen on her face. Her eyes were as bright as pearls, and a faint arc appeared on her mouth, revealing her beautiful smile. It was so beautiful that many young masters who had turned to look this way were mesmerized by her.
