Everyone present harbored their own thoughts, eyes fixed tensely on the rift in the sky. The enormous tear grew wider as the green mountain drew closer, its edge beginning to protrude through the gap. The spiritual energy emanating from the rift became increasingly dense, prompting many wandering cultivators to quickly absorb what they could.
The long-silent Old Ghost suddenly spoke up, “There’s something strange about that green mountain, Little Jade. It’s best not to get too close.”
This was the first time in all the years he had spent with Xiao Lingyu that Old Ghost had shown such caution. Xiao Lingyu’s expression remained calm, though his mind raced: “What’s strange?”
Old Ghost’s voice grew grave. “The green mountain is protected by a very powerful illusion array. Everything you see is false. I suspect it isn’t an ancient immortal’s dwelling at all, but the ruins of an ancient demonic clan.”
“Ancient demonic clan? What’s that?” Xiao Lingyu asked in surprise. Even having lived two lifetimes, this was the first time he had heard the words “demonic clan.” Old Ghost did not answer, falling silent once more.
Xiao Lingyu sighed, accustomed to this behavior. Whenever the subject of the ancient past arose, Old Ghost would either mutter nonsense or fall silent. Most often, he simply refused to comment.
Everyone in the cultivation world was curious about the ancient era but knew very little. Legends and fragmented records suggested that it was a time when “true gods roamed freely, and infant-level cultivators were as lowly as dogs.” Back then, divine powers dazzled, and countless methods vied for supremacy. Yet, this golden age of cultivation vanished overnight, leaving almost no inheritance or records behind.
Xiao Lingyu had always been skeptical of these legends. To him, it seemed the ancient world was not so different from the cultivation world of today. As for “true gods,” what were they? In common understanding, reaching the Infant stage was the highest possible achievement in the path to immortality. At that point, one was already as long-lived as heaven itself—why would true gods be necessary?
Old Ghost had once scoffed at Xiao Lingyu’s doubts. When Xiao Lingyu pressed him about true gods, he would always respond with silence, just as he had now.
Though Xiao Lingyu received no answers, he kept Old Ghost’s warning firmly in mind. Just as he prepared to hint something to Chu Mingwei, the latter grasped his hand. Looking into Chu Mingwei’s solemn expression, Xiao Lingyu’s eyes widened.
“Xiao Lingyu,” Chu Mingwei said, “there’s something strange about this green mountain. No matter what happens, stay close to me.”
Xiao Lingyu was startled by Chu Mingwei’s sharp insight, but the other explained carefully, “As a practitioner of lightning techniques, I’m very sensitive to yin-evil energy. Although this dwelling appears enveloped in immortal aura, I sense a faint trace of malevolent energy. You must stay close, understood?”
Xiao Lingyu’s heart warmed, and he nodded.
After giving instructions to Xiao Lingyu, Chu Mingwei gathered the others and voiced his concerns. Meng Fan and Bai Qian, always obedient to him, had no objections. Leng Hanyuan’s expression betrayed a startled tension, though he forced a smile and nodded in agreement. Su Wan’s reactions were the strangest—though outwardly attentive, her gaze flicked repeatedly to Chu Mingwei and Xiao Lingyu’s joined hands, and she occasionally smiled in an odd way.
Xiao Lingyu subtly avoided Su Wan’s gaze, feeling an inexplicable strangeness.
As they debated, a thunderous boom sounded from the sky. Everyone looked up in shock: the green mountain, previously peeking only slightly through the rift, had violently collided with it. Half the peak now blocked the center of the tear. The cultivators erupted into chatter, with some hastily flying toward the mountain on their magical devices.
Chu Mingwei guided Xiao Lingyu and the group to remain calm at the rear. The first cultivators reaching the mountain circled around, attempting to find a way through its protective restrictions.
When the initial cultivators approached, the mountain’s surrounding aura suddenly expanded, enveloping them. The trailing cultivators gasped, halting to observe further developments.
“By heaven, that’s a Lotus Heart Fruit! I wasn’t mistaken!”
“Look over there—it’s Frost Condensation Grass!”
“That’s a huge piece of Water Agate!”
Voices called out from within the aura, showing that those who entered were unharmed and even discovering valuable spiritual treasures. Those previously hesitant rushed in without a second thought.
Xiao Lingyu observed the green mountain with a neutral expression, unwilling to risk himself due to Old Ghost’s warning and Chu Mingwei’s sensitivity. Others, however, could not resist. A disciple from Xuan Kun Sect hesitated, looking toward Su Wan. “Senior Sister?”
Su Wan felt tempted as well. Though she trusted Chu Mingwei’s judgment, the exclamations from inside the aura were difficult to ignore, and she glanced at him uncertainly.
Chu Mingwei frowned. This green mountain might be related to Uncle Wu’s demise ten years ago. Since he had come, exploring it was unavoidable. He turned to Meng Fan, instructing seriously, “Meng Fan, stay outside with Xiao Lingyu and Xu Shidi. The rest follow me inside.”
Meng Fan understood the seriousness in Chu Mingwei’s eyes and nodded. Xiao Lingyu frowned, instinctively wanting to stop him, but when he met Chu Mingwei’s gaze, he said nothing.
Thus, the three remained outside as Chu Mingwei and Su Wan led the others into the mountain.
Outside, very few cultivators remained. Xiao Heizi spotted Chu Mingwei leaving and immediately flew toward him with a cheerful grin. Ying Jiuhua followed, maintaining a calm, watchful distance. Meng Fan rubbed his temples at Xiao Heizi, unsure how to react. Xu Xuan, curious, had no knowledge of the earlier inn incident.
Xiao Lingyu looked at Xiao Heizi’s smiling face and twitched at the persistence. Recalling their childhood, he could not bring himself to speak harshly, planning instead to clarify that he had no intention of finding a Dao companion. Once matters here were settled, he could return to Yun Tian Sect and let a few years pass.
Xiao Lingyu’s calculations, however, were interrupted. The aura surrounding the green mountain expanded again, rushing toward them like a monstrous green face attempting to swallow them. Everyone scrambled to retreat.
The aura grew too quickly, catching them off guard. Xiao Lingyu instinctively grabbed Xiao Heizi, retreating rapidly. Xu Xuan, the weakest, was already pulled in. Meng Fan held his device in front of him, half engulfed by the green mist. Xiao Lingyu conjured the Water Moon Wheel to shield them, as a powerful force surged toward them. Ying Jiuhua intervened, saving the two of them. Just as they were about to exit the aura, Meng Fan was still being consumed. Xiao Lingyu raised his hand, shielding them. The green mist, unwilling to let go, shot out a tendril that wrapped around Xiao Lingyu. In a flash, Xiao Heizi pushed Xiao Lingyu away, and black energy spewed from his mouth, striking the tendril. The mist’s tendril recoiled, flinging Xiao Heizi into the green fog.
The situation shifted instantly. Xiao Lingyu watched in shock as Xiao Heizi was swallowed by the mist. The pale green now turned dark, retreating slowly.
Xiao Lingyu hesitated, gazing at the withdrawing mist. “Xiao Heizi!” he called, as a dark figure plunged into the fog.
He exhaled, summoning the Water Moon Wheel and following closely, Old Ghost muttering in his mind, “I warned you it’s dangerous… why have you become so soft in this lifetime?”
Ignoring Old Ghost, Xiao Lingyu navigated the dense green mist. From outside, it appeared small, but within it seemed endless, enveloping him in a sea of dark green clouds. The Water Moon Wheel shimmered with pale blue light around him. As the mist swirled, he felt himself gradually approaching the green mountain. Suddenly, the surrounding clouds churned violently, and Xiao Lingyu sensed the area trembling.
Old Ghost shouted, “Not good—the green mountain is retracting into the spatial rift!”
“What?”
Xiao Lingyu’s exclamation echoed as violent tremors shook the area. After a long moment, the environment gradually calmed. The green mist faded, revealing the true form of the green mountain.
From outside Wucheng, the sky appeared flawless, as if the rift had never existed.