Chapter 124: Ephemeral Mountain
“Is this… the place you were talking about?”
Qingying’s eyes widened as she stared at the gem.
Chen Yin nodded. “This is the end of the line.”
“And technically, the deepest part of the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain.”
Although the Ancient Domain was vast, and its other paths held countless dangers and opportunities, they paled in comparison to this place.
…This was the most dangerous part of the entire Azure Cicada Ancient Domain.
The long and endless darkness leading to this point was enough to deter almost all cultivators.
Not to mention the place they were about to enter.
“Luo Luo, wake up.”
Luo Luo, who had been sleeping soundly on Chen Yin’s back, stirred and slowly opened her eyes.
“Young Master… are we there yet?”
“Yes.” Chen Yin gently set her down and handed her a small, glowing orb.
“Qingying and I need to enter this secret realm. Take this light and wait for us here.”
Luo Luo blinked, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Can’t Luo Luo come with you?”
“…I don’t want you to see what’s inside.”
Chen Yin’s gaze lowered, as if he were talking to himself.
Seeing his unusual expression, Luo Luo leaned closer and kissed him gently on the cheek, rubbing her furry ear against him.
“Okay. Luo Luo will wait here for Young Master.”
Chen Yin’s gaze softened as he stroked her head. He took out a large amount of snacks, drinks, and even a few novels.
“If you get bored, hide in the void and take a nap. We’ll be back.”
Qingying frowned. “How long will you be inside?”
“I don’t know.” Chen Yin said honestly.
“Maybe a few hours, maybe a month or two. We won’t know until we get inside.”
Although she was dissatisfied with his vague answer, Qingying had no choice but to trust him.
After settling Luo Luo down, Chen Yin placed his hand on the gem and extended his other hand towards Qingying.
Qingying hesitated for a moment, then took his hand.
A soft, gentle light enveloped them.
“One last question before we go in,”
As the light surrounded them, Qingying asked again, “Did A’Chen… also walk through that terrifying darkness alone to get here?”
Chen Yin didn’t answer. He simply closed his eyes.
“…You’ll see.”
With a flash of light, they disappeared.
Qingying opened her eyes and froze.
Lush green mountains, clear streams, towering pines and cypresses, the melodious chirping of birds.
She found herself in a picturesque mountain valley.
The air was fresh and crisp, filled with a dense and invigorating spiritual energy. This place wasn’t a perilous domain, but a beautiful and tranquil immortal mountain.
A place capable of supporting a powerful cultivation sect.
Her first thought was that she had entered an illusion. She calmed her mind and quickly asked the System, “System, are we inside the secret realm?”
“Yes, but…”
The System sounded confused. “This place isn’t an illusion or a formation. It’s a real place.”
Qingying was stunned.
…To have such a beautiful immortal mountain hidden within the secret realm? And its spiritual energy was so perfectly preserved?
What kind of power could achieve this?
“Not only is there no mention of this place in the plot records, but I can’t even sense the System Shop here.”
The System’s voice turned serious. “Be careful. This place is strange. I might not be able to help you if anything happens.”
Qingying nodded, her eyes wary.
The surroundings were deserted. She seemed to be the only person on this immortal mountain. Occasionally, she would spot a spirit beast, from monkeys to squirrels, all seemingly intelligent, watching her from a distance.
Waterfalls cascaded down cliffs, and lush green trees clung to the rocky slopes. The natural beauty of the place was breathtaking.
The abundance of spiritual energy was so intense that Qingying wondered if she had ascended to the true immortal realm.
Even the most spiritually rich areas of the Mist Spirit Sect couldn’t compare to this place.
For a cultivator, this was a true treasure trove.
Unsure where to go, Qingying followed a mountain path, heading towards the peak.
Although the environment was perfect for cultivation, the sense of isolation and loneliness made her feel uneasy.
After walking for about half an hour, she finally reached the summit. In the distance, she saw a cave dwelling nestled among the peaks.
Beside it was a large platform on the edge of the cliff.
As Qingying reached the summit, she was surprised to see that the platform was filled with people.
Hundreds of them, men and women, young and old, all sitting cross-legged in meditation, their eyes closed.
Qingying’s eyes scanned their faces.
Suddenly, her expression changed, and she cried out, “A’Chen!”
Among the crowd, a young man with a boyish face, dressed in a clean Daoist robe, sat in meditation.
He wore a jade token of the Mist Spirit Sect at his waist.
As Qingying rushed towards Qingchen, a hand grabbed her arm, and a calm voice spoke:
“Don’t bother.”
She turned to see Chen Yin, his expression impassive, his eyes deep and unreadable.
“…They’re just illusions.”
“Everyone here is an illusion.”
“Impossible!”
Qingying’s voice trembled. “A’Chen! He’s right there! He’s not dead!”
She pulled away from Chen Yin’s grasp and ran towards her brother.
She reached out to embrace him, but her arms passed right through him, as if he were made of mist.
She collapsed to the ground, looking up at his face with a bewildered expression.
“A’Chen…”
“I told you,” Chen Yin said, walking up beside her.
“They’re just illusions.”
Qingying was silent for a long time, then finally asked, “What’s going on here?”
“You’ll find out soon.”
Chen Yin led her to the side and sat down cross-legged.
As they sat there in silence, the sun rose high in the sky. Suddenly, the air filled with an ethereal mist, and the sound of crane cries echoed through the mountains.
A Daoist, his hair and beard white, a whisk in his hand, descended from the sky on a crane.
“Fellow Daoists, welcome to Ephemeral Mountain.”
“From today onwards, I will be lecturing on the Dao Scripture. If you can comprehend its true meaning, you will inherit the legacy of Ephemeral Mountain and be able to leave this place.”
“There’s no time limit. You can cultivate here in peace.” The Daoist smiled faintly.
The countless illusory figures stood up and bowed respectfully.
Qingying frowned. She found the Daoist’s words cryptic and suspicious, like those of a charlatan. She didn’t want to bow.
But the Daoist’s narrowed eyes seemed to pierce through the crowd, fixing their gaze on her.
Qingying felt a sudden unease and, after a moment of hesitation, stood up and bowed.
However, she noticed from the corner of her eye that Chen Yin hadn’t bowed.
He simply looked at the Daoist calmly.
And the Daoist, as if he hadn’t noticed Chen Yin, continued speaking:
“Very well. Fellow Daoists, I will lecture on the Dao Scripture once every day. At the end of each lecture, if you have gained any insights, you may share them with me. If you haven’t gained any insights or if your understanding is incorrect, it doesn’t matter. You can try again tomorrow.”
With that, the Daoist cleared his throat and began his lecture.
“The Dao Scripture, Chapter One: Heaven is the Dao, a gentleman is not a tool. That which is above form is called the Dao, that which is below form is called a tool…”
His voice was clear and melodious, like the melting snow on a mountain peak, calming and soothing to the soul.
Everyone present sat down cross-legged and listened intently.
Qingying tried her best to listen, but the scripture was too abstract and difficult to comprehend. After only a short while, she frowned in frustration.
Chen Yin also didn’t seem to be listening. He simply stared at the Daoist in the sky, as if lost in thought.
“Hey.”
Qingying nudged him gently. “Are we just going to sit here and listen to him all day?”
“Didn’t you hear him?”
Chen Yin gestured towards the Daoist. “We can only leave this place if we comprehend the true meaning of the Dao Scripture.”
“Otherwise, we’ll be stuck here, listening to him day after day.”
“Then have you comprehended the true meaning of the Dao Scripture?”
Chen Yin didn’t answer.
Qingying was annoyed by his cryptic silence. She glanced towards where Qingchen was sitting.
He was listening intently to the Daoist’s lecture, his youthful face reflecting a mix of contemplation, confusion, frustration, and occasional delight.
Qingying couldn’t help but stare at him, lost in thought.
…Ever since they were young, her brother had always been smarter and more perceptive than her.
When they were still homeless, he was always the one with the most ideas, the leader of their little group of street urchins.
Even after becoming a prospective disciple of the Mist Spirit Sect’s secret division, he had quickly excelled, his cultivation progressing rapidly, even surpassing her own, despite her System.
He loved reading those complex and esoteric scriptures and would often excitedly share his newfound knowledge with her.
Qingying wasn’t interested in such things, but she always indulged his childish enthusiasm, patiently listening to his explanations.
…This place might actually be a paradise for A’Chen.
He would definitely love it here. Qingying thought to herself.
And then, another thought crossed her mind.
…What about Chen Yin?
What was the reason for his strange behavior?
She didn’t know why she suddenly thought of that annoying man.
She glanced at him discreetly and saw his calm and indifferent profile.
Qingying suddenly realized that he wasn’t so annoying when he was quiet.
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