Shrouded Sky

Chapter 131 - The Nine Secrets

Ye Fan felt that things between him and Li Xiaoman had already become as dull as water. The only connection left between them was the fact that they had both ended up in this world.

Beyond that, there was hardly anything left. Their shared memories had long faded with time, like fireworks blooming and then disappearing into the night.

He had once thought that even if they couldn’t be together, even if the feelings of the past were gone, they could still be friends. But after their last meeting, he realized it was all too one-sided.

Ye Fan had no intention of reconnecting with Li Xiaoman. Rather than endure her cold indifference, it was better to pass by like strangers.

Before arriving at the Supreme Mystery Sect, Ji Ziyue had smeared her rosy cheeks with makeup so messily that she looked like a little flower cat. Only her bright, large eyes still sparkled, curving into crescents as she noticed the shift in Ye Fan’s mood.

In the endless Immortal Mountains, there were 108 main peaks, each representing a different inheritance. This was the core of the Supreme Mystery Sect’s long-standing prosperity.

Even though some lineages had declined, others were rising to prominence. Throughout dynastic changes and the passage of time, the Supreme Mystery Sect had always stood firm.

Within the sect’s gate, the terrain was wide and open. A sea of people had gathered, tens of thousands, yet it wasn’t crowded. All were waiting for the selection process to begin.

And this was only the first day. The process would last seven days. If each day saw such crowds, one could imagine how many people would eventually arrive.

These people had come from dozens of nearby nations. They all had some level of talent, but only a small number would be accepted, only those with extraordinary aptitude could remain.

“This is insane!” Ye Fan was shocked at the sight of the crowd. “This is stricter than an emperor choosing a concubine!”

Ji Ziyue shot him a glance. “Of course. The Supreme Mystery Sect is incredibly famous. At its peak, it ranked among the top 100 powers in the Eastern Wilderness, one of the rare super forces, with a legacy over ten thousand years old.”

“Then wouldn’t your Ji Clan be even scarier, easily suppressing such a great sect? I can’t imagine the might and power of your clan.”

“Ancient clans and sacred grounds have such deep foundations that they’re impossible to gauge. Even I, living within one, can't fully comprehend it.”

Hearing this, Ye Fan couldn’t help but suck in a breath of cold air. He really couldn’t fathom how terrifying such an exalted ancient clan could be.

“You little brat, I don’t think you have any concept of these great powers at all. Totally clueless.”

“Stop calling me little brat.” Ye Fan felt that nickname was really annoying.

Ji Ziyue laughed softly and ruffled his black hair into a mess. “You look like you're thirteen or fourteen, yet you act all mature like you're some adult. Seriously…”

Just then, dozens of figures flew out from among the 108 main peaks. All had long white hair and looked vigorous despite their age, both men and women, resembling immortals.

They floated in mid-air, looking down at the tens of thousands below. One of them began to speak, succinct and powerful, his voice spreading clearly to every corner so that all could hear.

According to the elder, the first test was simply to walk through an Immortal Gate ahead. Those without immortal fate could not pass. Only those who made it through could proceed to the 108 main peaks for further testing. If they matched a specific inheritance, they could stay and become a disciple of the Supreme Mystery Sect.

Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue blended into the crowd and moved forward. Soon they reached the mysterious gateway, a thousand meters tall, formed from natural stone, shrouded in mist, leading into an endless gorge. Though many entered, nine-tenths were sent back by immortal light, deemed unworthy of immortal fate.

“This natural stone gate was supposedly refined by the 19th generation ancestor of the Supreme Mystery Sect. Those unfit for cultivation cannot pass,” people whispered.

Many of those sent back tried again, but the result remained unchanged. They had to leave, disappointed and helpless.

Young disciples of the Supreme Mystery Sect stood guard nearby. No one dared make trouble. After being sent back several times, people gave up.

When it was Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue’s turn, they stepped forward without tension, joining hundreds of others. Ji Ziyue passed easily, walking ahead lightly. But just then, a flash of light appeared, and Ye Fan was sent back.

“This guy’s physique is clearly ridiculously strong, how could he be so useless?” Ji Ziyue’s mouth formed an “O” as she stared in disbelief.

Ye Fan had deliberately suppressed his godpower. His Bitter Sea was as firm as divine iron and unshakable. As expected, he was sent back. He quickly realized the reason. Calmly, he tried again, this time leaking a bit of godpower.

Unsurprisingly, he passed through easily, stunning those who had been waiting to laugh at him.

“What happened just now?” Ji Ziyue eyed him curiously. “Your physique is definitely special. You must be hiding something.”

Out of tens of thousands, only a few thousand passed through. They split up, heading toward the 108 main peaks to seek their destinies. Many of them would still be eliminated. Only a few would remain.

In the depths of the Supreme Mystery Sect, the mountains were numerous and beautiful, with the 108 main peaks being the most majestic.

Some peaks echoed with celestial music, surrounded by drifting clouds and shining with multicolored light. Others overflowed with life, with thousand-meter waterfalls pouring down like heavenly rivers. Still others had cranes flying about, with palaces suspended in the sky like celestial sanctuaries.

“The palaces aren’t even on the peaks, they’re floating on the clouds…” Ye Fan was amazed.

“What’s so strange about that? For a super power, that’s nothing. My clan even has an ancient city that never falls from the sky.”

“Uh…That’s…” Ye Fan could only marvel silently.

“I’m going to lay low for a while,” Ji Ziyue’s eyes glinted. “I want to see who’s after me, then I’ll pull them all out one by one.”

“But since we’re here, we can’t waste the opportunity. The Supreme Mystery Sect has several mysterious techniques that even sacred grounds and ancient clans covet.”

Ye Fan was tempted. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s find the peaks with those inheritances.”

“Unfortunately, those techniques are nearly lost. The lineages have declined. We can only try our luck.” Ji Ziyue, from an ancient clan, had extensive knowledge of the Supreme Mystery Sect. Eventually, the two of them headed to a rather desolate main peak.

This peak wasn’t tall, just three thousand meters. Its subsidiary peaks, dozens in number, were even taller. Clearly, this was a declining lineage. The area was quiet, barely inhabited. The main peak was overgrown with ancient trees and vines, deserted for a long time.

“Even though this is one of the 108 main peaks and represents a powerful inheritance, it seems to have completely fallen. There’s not even a disciple guarding it.” Ye Fan was doubtful they’d find anything worthwhile.

Ji Ziyue rubbed her face and then her eyes began to glow with godlight as she scanned the peak. “Back in the day, this peak was extremely powerful. Unfortunately, five hundred years ago, the peak master perished in battle against a Supreme Elder from the Radiant Light Sacred Ground. The inheritance nearly died out.”

“Then why come here?” Ye Fan was puzzled.

“The 108 main peaks of Supreme Mystery have never completely lost their lineages. Each one is like a natural scripture. Even if a lineage fades for centuries, it can one day rise again, the teachings will reemerge, and the inheritance can resume.”

“What’s here that interests you so much?”

“It’s said this peak holds a mystical ‘Immortal Art,’ so powerful even the sacred grounds are jealous.” Ji Ziyue’s eyes gleamed.

“Immortal Art?”

“Yes. It’s so mysterious and almost demonic that it borders on divine. That’s why it’s called an Immortal Art.”

“What makes it so unique?” Ye Fan was intrigued.

“If mastered, this technique can multiply a cultivator’s battle prowess several times over, even tenfold.” Ji Ziyue was clearly captivated.

This was a rare inheritance. When activated, the technique could sometimes boost a person’s power by several times. Though it didn’t always work, its potential for devastating surprise attacks was enormous.

“Wow! There’s actually a technique like this?” Ye Fan was very tempted.

“They say that long ago, there was a mysterious scripture. It didn’t record deep cultivation methods, only nine secret techniques. Yet it was as revered as the Dao Scripture or the Void Scripture. Unfortunately, the book was split, and the nine techniques scattered. Some may never be found again. This peak’s Immortal Art is rumored to be one of them.”

“Just nine techniques, yet they rival sacred ground scriptures…” Ye Fan gasped. This peak’s inheritance was one of the “Nine Secrets”, an incredible lineage.

“Let’s hope we find the technique,” Ji Ziyue’s eyes sparkled.

“Is this the only ‘Secret’ in the Supreme Mystery Sect?” Ye Fan asked.

Ji Ziyue nodded. “Getting even one is considered a miracle.”

At this moment, the surroundings were silent and overgrown. In front of the peak, weeds grew rampant. It didn’t look like an immortal mountain at all. A few crows cawed from a nearby ancient tree, flapping their wings and flying off.

The mountain path was buried in thorns, the vegetation wild and untrimmed, as if no one had been there in ages.

Just then, an old man with a hunched back slowly walked down from a ruined temple on the mountain.

“Are you here to be tested?” His cloudy eyes looked at them. “It’s been five hundred years, and the inheritance hasn’t resurfaced. You might be wasting your time.”

“We’re not afraid. We have time to wait,” Ji Ziyue said with a bright smile, stepping forward to help the old man, cheerful and full of life.

The main peak was three thousand meters tall, with many temples, most of them collapsed. Ancient trees had crushed the buildings, vines crawled over everything, and weeds in the courtyard were waist-high.

“This place looks like an abandoned forest…”

“Indeed. With the inheritance gone, who would come here? Of course it’s desolate.” The old man sighed.

At that moment, over a dozen streaks of godlight shot across the sky toward a distant peak. Ye Fan didn’t expect to see Li Xiaoman again so soon. She was already in the Life Spring stage, able to ride rainbows through the sky.

“That peak is flourishing. Choosing this one would be far better,” the old man kindly suggested.

“We only care about this peak’s inheritance,” Ji Ziyue replied with a sweet smile.

The old man nodded with a smile. “Good. You have ambition. You must know this peak holds one of the legendary Nine Secrets. I hope you gain something.”