Tian Ti mountain was the number one mountain in central continent. It was also called the land of inheritances and the mountain of sages.
Its height was over three thousand kilometers, it was imposing and had a grand presence. Its peak seemed to pierce through the skies and was hidden beyond the snowy fog and clouds.
What was extremely unusual was there were not many craggy rocks on the mountain.
Giant square shaped rocks reclined upon each other, stretching from the base of the mountain towards the top, forming stairs.
However, the scale of this stairs was so huge that there was an old legend about it in central continent saying the stairway reached the realm of the immortals and was a bridge connecting heaven and earth.
There were many touching, mysterious, tragic, and joyful stories revolving around Tian Ti mountain.
Tian Ti mountain became the holy land of central continent's Gu Masters, a place closest to the immortal court. Many Gu Masters seeked for immortality but failed, and before death, they would place their tombs here. At the same time, a large majority of them would also set up their inheritances here.
Tian Ti mountain hid countless inheritances, and only those fated could obtain them.
Every year, after clouds and mist that covered it dispersed, Tian Ti mountain would experience an enormous flow of people. Many inheritances would be inherited, and many new inheritances would be set up.
However, this year was different.
This year, the inheritance that opened at Tian Ti mountain was Hu Immortal blessed land which led to the appearance of Gu Immortals. After discussing, they made an alliance and locked this mountain, setting up a contest for their sect's juniors.
At the foot of Tian Ti mountain, the elite disciples that came from the ten great sects of Central Continent gathered together.
"Huff, I'm not late, am I?" Fang Yuan muttered to himself after flying nonstop for nearly three months from the regional walls to this location.
Taking a deep breath, he looked ahead and said, "If I'm right, Tian Ti Mountain should open in just a few days."
He reached out to touch the transparent barrier that blocked entry to Tian Ti Mountain, a slight frown forming on his face.
"Everyone must already be inside… This transparent curtain is a Rank 6 formation—it prevents Gu Masters from entering and alerts the Gu Immortals when one gets close," Fang Yuan thought to himself.
As expected, the Gu Immortals hovering in the sky noticed Fang Yuan interacting with the barrier.
However, they didn't pay him much attention. He wasn't the only one doing this—many other demonic Gu Masters had also tried and failed to pass through the barrier.
...
Fang Yuan sat cross-legged on the ground, steadying his breath.
After several hours of meditation, he suddenly opened his eyes and murmured, "Who says I have to do this alone?"
With a swift leap, he soared into the sky and headed toward the area where several Gu Masters were lingering near the transparent barrier.
His sudden appearance drew attention—dressed in white robes, with flowing black hair and radiant white wings extending from his back, Fang Yuan cut a striking figure.
Hovering above, he called out loudly, "Fellow Gu Masters! We all wish to enter Tian Ti Mountain, but this barrier blocks our way."
"I've studied formations, and this one is an incomplete formation."
"If anyone wishes to get through, join me. We can strike at its weak points and break through together."
Among those listening were a couple—both Rank 4, one at Middle Stage and the other at Upper Stage. They had been wary when they sensed Fang Yuan's Rank 4 Peak stage cultivation. But upon hearing his words and realizing the barrier was indeed a formation—one he claimed to know how to breach—their eyes lit up with hope.
"We'll follow you!" the man responded enthusiastically.
Fang Yuan continued flying along the perimeter of Tian Ti Mountain, rallying other like-minded Gu Masters to gather at the mountain's base for a joint effort to break through.
In the distance, the Gu Immortals finally took notice of Fang Yuan, who boldly claimed he could break through the formation they had constructed using an Immortal Gu. They scoffed at his audacity.
"Ignorant fools," one of them muttered, a man with long, flowing silver-white hair. His attention then shifted toward Bai Ning Bing, who was currently battling another young genius from their sect.
"This Bai Ning Bing from the Immortal Crane Sect is quite skilled," a female Gu Immortal observed. "He not only commands the sect's cranes but fights fiercely with his Ten Extreme Physique."
"And he's highly adept in Ice Path techniques," added a male Gu Immortal.
"The Immortal Crane Sect really kept this gem hidden," another female Gu Immortal said thoughtfully, her gaze lingering on Bai Ning Bing before turning toward a blue-haired middle-aged man.
Lei Tan, the blue-haired Gu Immortal, merely shook his head. "You're overhyping him. Bai Ning Bing is decent, nothing more."
"I've heard of someone in the Southern Border who reached Rank 5 before turning twenty," he added with a sigh.
He had long hoped to find and take such a talent as a disciple—someone he could proudly boast about like He Feng Yang did. But alas, as a Gu Immortal, it was beneath him to chase after young talents across the regional walls. Those barriers might be passable for Gu Masters, but for Gu Immortals, they posed serious risks.
"So what?" said the first female Gu Immortal, raising an eyebrow. "My daughter, Feng Jin Huang, also reached Rank 5 in her early twenties."
Lei Tan chuckled and replied, "Indeed, Fairy Bai Qing. Your daughter is a true prodigy."
Bai Qing gave a light snort but said nothing more.
She simply smiled, her eyes softening as they settled on her daughter, who was cultivating alone at the mountaintop.
....