After a while, Yifan and Yun Xinyao finally reached their destination. Before them towered a mountain shrouded in a thin mist. The spiritual energy was so abundant that the surrounding air felt cold and fragrant, as if every inhalation carried droplets of spiritual essence, soothing the body.
They hovered above the mortal world, suspended in the air. Yifan still carried Xue Yao in front of him, unwilling to let go, even though the girl was unconscious. Her red dress had shifted slightly, revealing snow-white thighs, a stark contrast to the vivid fabric. She appeared peaceful, as if sleeping in the embrace of a god.
"According to the reports, this is Mount Tianling. Without the permission of the Tianjue Sect, no one may enter," Yun Xinyao said flatly, her eyes scanning the swirling mist around the mountain.
"Because I am honest," Yifan replied casually, a faint smile on his lips, "I'll just go straight in."
Without waiting for anyone's approval, he shot toward the mountain, slicing through the air like an arrow.
Yun Xinyao remained silent, watching his retreating figure.
'Honest? Brother, you're the biggest thief,' she thought.
She sighed and quickly followed.
Mount Tianling was actually protected by a level-six barrier formation, strong enough to withstand Heavenly Venerable-level experts. Yet for Yifan and Yun Xinyao, the formation was no more than a child's toy, cracking with the slightest touch of a finger.
In an instant, they were on the mountain. No one knew they had arrived, as if the mountain itself had closed its mouth tightly, keeping the secret it had just swallowed.
---
The next day, elsewhere in the forest.
From the thick trees emerged a young man in worn black clothing. A straw hat covered part of his face, giving him the appearance of a lost village farmer. It was none other than Wu Chen.
"Is this the territory of the Tianjue Sect?" he muttered, stepping out from the forest's shadow.
"Yes, find a place to rest first," a gentle female voice rang from the ring he wore. It belonged to Wu Chen's master.
"Understood, master."
A smile broke across Wu Chen's face. His spirit rekindled, he stepped forward confidently. But…
Splat.
A strange wet sound came from under his feet. Wu Chen froze.
"Hey, what's that smell?" someone nearby asked, pinching their nose.
"Yeah, where is this coming from?" another said.
"Look! That farmer just stepped on cow dung!"
Laughter erupted.
"Damn, no wonder it smells."
"Hahaha! Maybe he's sleepy."
"Ha… I guess he walked with his eyes closed."
Wu Chen's face turned pale as he looked down—sure enough, his feet were covered in filth.
'Damn it!' he cursed inwardly.
From within the ring, his master could only cover her face with her hand.
'My disciple… oh, my disciple,' she thought.
Embarrassed and annoyed, Wu Chen ran toward the river at the forest's edge to clean himself. The water was clear, reflecting the swaying leaves above. Large and small stones filled the riverbed.
In frustration and haste, Wu Chen stomped hard into the river—but strangely, no splash occurred. His foot felt as though it struck a hard sphere, not water.
'Did I hit a rock?' he wondered, bending down.
Wu Chen jumped back in shock, his heart almost leaping from his chest.
"Bastard! What are you doing with my head?!! You… @$\*#@!!!"
A shrill voice came from below. An angry woman had emerged, her face bright red. Apparently, what Wu Chen stepped on had been her head. Her screams echoed, ringing in Wu Chen's ears.
'Why is my student so unlucky today?' Inside the ring, his master sighed.
"Uh… I… my foot… no, I didn't mean…" Wu Chen stammered, face pale.
But the woman leapt from the river, shouting curses and chasing him furiously. Wu Chen dashed like an Olympic runner. The scene would have left any onlooker doubled over in laughter.
---
In a certain city, news of the Tianjue Sect's upcoming disciple selection spread quickly. Inns where the wealthy and cultivators gathered buzzed with chatter about Mount Tianling and rumors of new disciples.
"Brother, have you heard the latest news?"
"Oh? What news?"
"Mount Tianling will be opened! And the Tianjue Sect will hold a disciple selection!"
"Really?"
"Of course! This news just spread yesterday."
"Then many young talents will come."
"Yes, and this selection will surely be interesting. There may be a dark horse standing out."
The news spread quickly through streets and alleys as well. Everyone was talking about it.
---
Inside Mount Tianling, the atmosphere remained peaceful. Birds chirped melodiously, and sunlight filtered through the dense trees, adding a sense of cool tranquility to the afternoon. Xue Yao had also regained consciousness.
"Xue Yao, how are you feeling?" Yifan asked flatly, though his gaze was gentle.
"Thank you, Young Master… Miss Xinyao."
"No need to be so formal. We're in the same boat now," Yun Xinyao said, offering a faint smile.
"Hehe…" Xue Yao laughed softly, cheeks slightly pink.
Looking around, she realized they were on a mountain but did not know exactly where.
"This place…"
Yifan and Yun Xinyao quickly explained their current location. Hearing it, she was momentarily shocked.
"What? Mount Tianling?! The forbidden territory of the Tianjue Sect?"
She furrowed her brow but then glanced at Yifan and Yun Xinyao. With their power, it should be fine. Her shock quickly faded, replaced by a playful tone. She sighed casually.
"Oh, it's just Mount Tianling. That's fine then. The Tianjue Sect won't take a small mountain this seriously."
Yun Xinyao could only smile wryly. Was this girl starting to adopt Yifan's relaxed demeanor? She covered her face with her hand.
Yifan, as usual, remained unfazed.
"Xue Yao," Yifan said, calm yet firm,
"I didn't directly heal you with my power, because that would only restore your body, not give you progress. But if you recover while absorbing the spiritual energy here, you may break through."
He looked around. "Absorb it all."
Xue Yao nodded firmly. "Understood, Young Master."
She sat cross-legged, taking a deep breath. The spiritual energy of the mountain swirled, drawn toward her. Since learning the World Freezing Technique, her body could intake a large amount of energy without risk of explosion.
---
Elsewhere in the city, life continued as usual, seemingly unaware of the significant events unfolding at Mount Tianling. In a narrow alley, Wu Chen jogged along, muttering angrily, still annoyed by stepping in cow dung and the earlier encounter with the angry woman. He felt compelled to speak words of wisdom amidst his misfortune.
"Why is today so unlucky?" he grumbled.
Children's laughter from a distance made him even more embarrassed. He hurried to the nearest well to clean his feet, but no matter how he rubbed, the stench persisted.
Wu Chen paused, standing at the edge of the well, staring at his reflection.
"Wu Chen, what will you do next?" asked his master from within the ring, voice soft yet sharp, as if testing him.
He exhaled. "I'll participate in the Tianjue Sect disciple selection. I won't take shortcuts. If I rely only on your help, how can I become stronger?"
A satisfied smile appeared on the woman's face inside the ring. "Good. I chose the right disciple."
"Don't worry, master. I will claim first place and become a Holy Son of the Tianjue Sect. Then, I can easily bring you to Mount Tianling for recovery."
The woman raised her eyebrows, slightly surprised but pleased. This student truly remembered his gratitude. Yet her smile faded as she turned her gaze toward Mount Tianling, expression serious and alert.
'Someone… is watching!'