Night had not yet fully receded, but the eastern horizon already showed a faint trace of dawn.
The convoy wound through the last stretch of mountain road, and the dense forest gradually gave way to open terrain. There, looming ahead like a figure from countless legends and ancient texts, stood the mountain itself.
Zijin Mountain.
Bathed in the early light, the mountain shimmered with a faint purple radiance. Ancient trees clothed the slopes, their gnarled limbs stretching skyward as if silently observing the intruders. The air was thick, heavy with moisture and a profound, almost tangible antiquity. A sense of invisible pressure pressed down on the travelers, as though the mountain itself was resisting their approach.
Li Tianyuan stepped out of the vehicle, chest tightening under an oppressive weight. He clutched the jade pendant tightly, seeking its silent reassurance, and only then felt his breathing steady.
Fuyuan stood with hands behind his back, gazing at the peak, letting out a long, measured sigh. "A century has passed as if in a single blink. The array's aura has already decayed… alas…"
Mu Xueyin's eyes flickered. "Zijin Mountain is indeed extraordinary. No wonder it has been forbidden for a hundred years, even tightly sealed by the authorities."
Her sword remained sheathed on her back, yet it trembled faintly, as if sensing a power long dormant.
Mu Changfeng frowned. "Master Fuyuan, do we truly intend to push straight in? If any remaining wards are still active, we might invite disaster."
Before Fuyuan could answer, the forest rustled. Footsteps approached—measured, deliberate, and unnervingly rhythmic. Each step seemed to press into the hearts of the intruders.
"Who dares trespass upon Zijin Mountain?"
A gray-clad old man emerged from the mist. His staff of green bamboo tapped lightly on the ground with each step, slow and deliberate. Deep grooves lined his face, yet his gaze was sharp, piercing like a hawk's.
Li Tianyuan instinctively took a step back. Though the man emitted no spiritual aura, his presence alone carried the weight of the mountain itself.
Fuyuan's expression grew solemn. He bowed slightly. "So you are the mountain's guardian. Your dedication over the years commands respect."
"Guardian?" Li Tianyuan murmured, confusion knotting his thoughts.
Mu Xueyin's eyes narrowed. Her tone carried both suspicion and challenge. "Who are you? On what authority do you bar our way?"
The old man's gaze swept over her, but he said nothing, lingering instead on Li Tianyuan. Long moments passed before he finally spoke, voice deep and gravelly.
"Your bloodline… has finally awakened."
Li's heart leapt. "Elder… you know my family?"
He did not answer directly. Instead, he gestured toward the summit, tone grave. "Zijin Mountain's great array has been sealed a hundred years. I have kept watch for a century. Fate is inexorable. Your arrival signifies—the great calamity is imminent."
Fuyuan stepped forward, eyes serious. "If so, your assistance is needed. Our purpose is the altar."
The old man let out a low, almost bitter laugh. "Altar? You think it merely a node of the great array? For a hundred years, countless have tried to enter, all turning to dust. Were it not for my vigilance, this land would have crumbled long ago."
Mu Changfeng frowned. "Yet you must realize, the array has weakened. Repair is necessary. Our mission is not intrusion, but preservation—lest the world suffer."
The old man's gaze returned to Li Tianyuan. He sighed heavily. "A century ago, Lord Jiang established the array, sealing spiritual energy, using the nation's fortune as foundation and human blood as conduit. Among those sacrificed were your ancestors."
Li Tianyuan's body jolted, mind reeling. "My family… in that time?"
His grandfather's manuscripts resurfaced in his memory, the dates, the inscriptions: "Zijin Mountain… 1927." The cruel truth he had only vaguely suspected now struck with clarity.
"You carry the ember of those sacrifices. Blood awakens over a century, becoming the key of the altar. Your presence marks the array's nearing end."
A chill passed through the group.
Mu Xueyin's brow tightened. "You mean… he is the so-called 'key'? Such a dangerous person, why even bring him along?"
Li's heart thundered. "I'm not the key! I don't know anything!"
Yet the jade pendant glimmered faintly, as though contradicting his words.
Fuyuan advanced, voice steady and commanding. "He is the key. Destiny has chosen. Whether we will or not matters little."
The old man looked at Li Tianyuan with a mix of pity and sternness. "Child, once you step onto the altar, there is no retreat. Are you willing to bear this burden?"
Li's throat tightened. Fear clawed at him. He wanted to deny it, to flee—but in his mind, flashes appeared: the dragon shadow sweeping across the sky, his father's words—'The heavens and earth will shift'—and Bai Luo's resolute eyes.
Finally, teeth clenched, he spoke, voice trembling yet resolute. "If destiny demands it… I will not retreat!"
The old man's eyes flickered in surprise, then a rare smile emerged, as if a century of frost had cracked.
"Good, good! One worthy of awakened blood. Then I shall guide you."
He tapped his staff thrice on the stone ground:
"Thud—thud—thud—"
The earth quivered slightly. Dense fog ahead dispersed, revealing an ancient path paved with blue stones. Carvings of ancient sigils ran along the edges, worn yet radiating solemn, enduring power.
"This path leads directly to the altar," the old man said, voice low. "Remember, once you step forward, you become part of the trial. Survival depends solely on your own strength."
Fuyuan inclined his head gravely. "We are grateful for your guidance, elder."
The group moved with utmost caution, following the old man along the stone path.
Sunlight began to seep through the trees, illuminating the carvings as though awakening secrets long buried.
Li Tianyuan lifted his gaze to the towering heights of Zijin Mountain, a thrill unlike any before rising in his chest.
He knew, from this moment, there would be no turning back.