novelraw Chapter 892: Going to Look at the Mountain (III)
Chapter 892: Going to Look at the Mountain (III)
Chapter 892: Going to Look at the Mountain (III)“Martial Uncle, Daoist Yuji is dead.”
On Mount Qiuling, atop Celestial Majesty Peak, the middle-aged daoist holding the jade slip looked grim.
He had just received a message sent back from outside. On the jade slip, it was clearly written that the peak master of Lonely Moon Peak had fallen beyond the mountain.
That martial artist, radiating killing intent, hadn’t spoken a single word, yet forcibly shattered the peak master of Lonely Moon Peak punch by punch.
“Daoist Yuji even unleashed his lifeblood divine ability, the Moonlight Splendor, but still couldn’t stop that martial artist’s fists.”
The middle-aged daoist’s expression was now extremely complex. Daoist Yuji’s cultivation realm was profound, and as a peak master, he had many methods. In theory, he shouldn’t have been so easily killed. But the fact was exactly that, he hadn’t lasted half a day under the martial artist’s fists.
The old daoist squinted, curious. “Even the full moon was shattered?”
The middle-aged daoist nodded. “After killing Daoist Yuji, that martial artist didn’t stop. He’s already heading toward Mount Qiuling.”
“Only five hundred miles away now.”
The middle-aged daoist glanced at the old daoist, worry in his eyes. “Will Mount Qiuling invite some great calamity today?”The old daoist didn’t answer, instead suddenly asking, “Do you know why Lonely Moon Peak ultimately chose to kill that young martial artist?”
The middle-aged daoist was momentarily stunned. He thought this wasn’t exactly a secret, of course he knew. But since his Martial Uncle asked, he naturally replied, “It’s because the young martial artist’s saber should be a relic of that martial artist from long ago. That martial artist once had a conflict with Lonely Moon Peak. Coupled with rumors over the years, when the daoist from Lonely Moon Peak went to save Daoist Wuyang, he also intended to kill the young martial artist.”
The old daoist nodded and smiled. “Yes, those rumors were always nonsense. Lonely Moon Peak merely wanted to eliminate future troubles. But rather than saying that young martial artist resembled the one from back then, it’s more accurate to say that this martial artist before us now is more like the one from back then. He strikes without speaking; killing is like killing a dog. Truly terrifying.”
The middle-aged daoist nodded and sighed. “Back then, Lonely Moon Peak nearly fell. I never expected that now, it has really fallen.”
As peak master, Daoist Yuji’s death meant Lonely Moon Peak was destined to be leaderless. If no real genius emerged there in the coming years, the peak would inevitably be devoured bit by bit by the other peaks.
No surprises there.
Mount Qiuling was a powerful sect in the Southern Ridge, practically decisive in its region, yet it never became the top sect in the Southern Ridge. This was because Mount Qiuling, composed of seventy-two peaks, had always been harmonious in appearance but divided at heart. When situations like this occurred, their first thought wasn’t unity against the enemy, it was how to seize the already declining Lonely Moon Peak.
To take for themselves the resources allocated to that peak each year.
The old daoist opened his mouth, about to make a decision, when another jade slip quickly arrived.
After the middle-aged daoist read it, he said in disbelief, “Fallen Leaf Peak was the first to try to recruit that martial artist, but that martial artist refused, so Fallen Leaf Peak wanted to kill that martial artist...”
“And the result?”
The old daoist was very curious about the outcome.
“The result is that the martial artist killed another person. In other words, he has now also provoked Fallen Leaf Peak.”
The middle-aged daoist frowned. “If I were him, I would definitely stop while I could. No matter how formidable he is, he is still just one person, isn’t he?”
The old daoist spoke the truth of it. “If he had your temperament, he would never have reached this realm. Martial artists are martial artists, putting it plainly, they’re brutes. But when a brute’s fists are big enough, what can you do?”
......
......
Mount Qiuling trembled from top to bottom at this moment.
The Lonely Moon Peak Master, Daoist Yuji, had died outside the mountain. No matter what, this was impossible to suppress. As jade slips kept arriving at each peak, many cultivators were alarmed.
On the main peak, Vermilion Sky Peak, in a plaza, several important figures had already gathered.
Streams of light appeared from time to time in the sky, indicating even more important guests were on their way.
On the main peak, there was a plaza. The stone tiles paved across it looked like fallen autumn leaves, entirely golden. Looking closer, one could even see traces of qi flowing along the veins beneath everyone’s feet.
These fallen leaves were extraordinary. They were taken from an eight-hundred-year-old ancient tree growing at Fallen Leaf Peak. The tree was unimaginably huge, as if reaching into the heavens.
The ancient tree bore fruit once every hundred years, producing only a few each time, and each fruit was something close to an immortal medicine.
At the center of the plaza, surrounded like stars around the moon, stood the current Mountain Lord of Mount Qiuling, Daoist Muqiu, who was also the Peak Master of Vermilion Sky Peak.
Among the seventy-two peaks of Mount Qiuling, Daoist Muqiu had the highest realm.
In fact, the election of Mount Qiuling's mountain lord was the simplest and most straightforward. Every peak master had one chance within ten years to challenge the mountain lord. If one felt one's realm was sufficient, one could speak up and issue a challenge within those ten years. The victor would become the mountain lord, and the peak they belonged to would naturally become the main peak.
Over the past eighty years of Mount Qiuling, eight people had made a move, and not a single one had been able to defeat this Daoist Muqiu.
Daoist Muqiu at this moment wore a golden daoist robe, daoist qi rippling around the robe, making the other peak masters not dare to approach too closely.
He had cultivated for several hundred years, yet his appearance was still that of a middle-aged man, not looking old. However, his figure was far too tall, like a walking statue.
As for the peachwood sword carried on his back, everyone would look once and then withdraw their gaze, because even with the sword still sheathed, its sword qi was far too sharp. A single glance made their eyes ache.
It had to be said that this Daoist Muqiu's cultivation was profound. One had to know that the path of the sword cultivator was merely his minor Dao, yet even so, he was already unmatched in Mount Qiuling.
"Lonely Moon Peak is truly causing trouble. Because of one old matter, they brought such a huge problem upon my Mount Qiuling. Now Lonely Moon Peak has been crippled outright. With consequences like this, that Yuji deserved to die!"
Daoist Muqiu's expression was gloomy.
"Mountain lord, that martial artist still refuses to stop. Over at Fallen Leaf Peak, he has already killed two people."c
A peak master spoke. Although he looked somewhat pained, the faint trace of a smile at the corner of his lips at least announced that things were not so simple.
"Over at Fallen Leaf Peak, the fellow daoists' techniques reached the heavens. There was no way that martial artist killed Yuji without hidden injuries. By my estimate, he could not last much longer."
Another peak master spoke, his face full of smiles.
"Sage, Lonely Moon Peak has already suffered such a great loss of vitality. I think that in the coming years, Lonely Moon Peak will not be able to use so much of its allotted share. Our Cloud Perch Peak will likely need more..."
"Why should your Cloud Perch Peak get more? I think our Stardust Peak should take a larger portion."
"You two fellow daoists are being a bit selfish. In my opinion, the additional share should go to our Mist-Parting Peak..."
"... ..."
Voices rose one after another, but instead of thinking about how to deal with the Great Liang Emperor who was about to reach the mountain gate, they were fighting over the share belonging to Lonely Moon Peak.
"Enough."
Daoist Muqiu cast a glance at the peak masters present and said calmly, "Since the Lonely Moon Peak master is already dead, then Lonely Moon Peak's share should naturally be reduced. As for who the excess goes to, in my view, whichever peak's cultivator kills that martial artist will gain it."
His words were airtight. Even if they wanted to argue, no one could find a reason to refute him.
This matter was simply the natural course of things.
"Since that is the case, each of you may showcase your own abilities."
A tall daoist spoke. He was the peak master of a certain peak. His daoist robe billowed as he prepared to descend the mountain.
"Fellow Daoist, you are truly impatient. That man is already a spent arrow. Why bother taking the field yourself? I do not believe there is any need."
"In my opinion, it is not suitable for any of you to act. How about each peak sends one cultivator? As for the order, let it be decided by drawing lots. Peak masters must not take action. That should count as fair."
"This is good."
"Agreed."
With a certain peak master speaking, the matter was settled. They drew lots to determine the order, and in just a brief moment, everything was arranged.
As for Fallen Leaf Peak, they had wanted to speak but their status was too low, and one of their cultivators had already died at the foot of the mountain. They no longer had much right to speak. Fortunately, after they finally voiced themselves, during the drawing of lots they drew the third position.
The Fallen Leaf Peak Master was a short elderly daoist. He exhaled softly, then looked toward a middle-aged daoist nearby, beckoned him over, and instructed, "When your turn comes, you must kill that martial artist. Lonely Moon Peak has already lost enough face. We must not lose face again."
The middle-aged daoist nodded. "I obey Peak Master's decree."
The rest in the plaza also made arrangements.
Then they quietly waited.
Before long, jade slips returned with news.
"Wondrous Rock Peak has been defeated. That martial artist is now a hundred miles away."
"Clear Spring Peak has been defeated. The martial artist is now eighty miles away."
......
......
"Fallen Leaf Peak has been defeated. The martial artist is now fifty miles away."
The short elderly daoist's expression turned ugly. The middle-aged daoist who had spoken earlier held a rather high ranking within his peak, among the top three, but he had now been killed.
"Cloud Perch Peak has been defeated. The martial artist has reached the foot of the mountain."
As jade slip after jade slip returned to Mount Qiuling, the faces of the peak masters turned extremely unpleasant.
How many cultivators had that martial artist killed today?
At least more than twenty, right?
How could this be?
......
......
At the foot of Mount Qiuling
The Great Liang Emperor, clad in emperor robes, had reached the foot of the mountain.
Before him stood a stone gate at the mountain entrance. On its crossbeam, the words Mount Qiuling stood out clearly.
The Great Liang Emperor lowered his head to glance at the hem of his robe.
Somewhat damaged.
But His Majesty did not care. He simply walked forward, passed through the stone gate, and then the stone gate collapsed with a crash, shattering apart.
Sounds echoed along the mountain path.
A purple-robed daoist descended the mountain in haste, but upon colliding with the Great Liang Emperor, he had his head seized by this martial artist of the human world, and his neck broken on the spot.
The Great Liang Emperor then released his grasp and continued climbing the mountain.