Shi Lang and Bo Qingtan talked on the deck when a serving disciple said, “We are here.”
Bo Qingtan said, “Brother Shi Lang, come along. Let me show you something.”
Shi Lang followed him to the bridge, and soon the ship descended a little. Shi Lang saw the scene, and his eyes almost fell out of their sockets. He asked, “This is the Dragon Mountain?”
The young man beside him shook his head and said, “This is the coiling dragon mountain. The founding father of the sect left it behind. It is said that the Founding father had a great love for carvings. So one day, to practice his sword, he came to this mountain and carved this place with his sword.”
Shi Lang gazed at a mountain carved as a dragon coiling around a sword. The structure was so big that it might take extremely advanced technology from the Federation, yet it might not match the charm of this megalith.
He took a deep breath and said, “Marvelous.”
Bo Qingtan nodded, and Shi Lang continued asking, “Can we visit this place?”
Bo Qingtan shook his head and said, “Only when the sect leader authorizes can we visit this place. It is one of the restricted zones of the Dragon Sword Sect.”
Shi Lang thought about it and said, “I understand. After all, the traces of sword marks over this mountain can turn even fools into geniuses, and if a genius is let to visit this place without any tempering, the guy will turn into a blade maniac.”
Bo Qingtan was surprised and wanted to say something when Long Shan appeared behind the two. The two greeted them, and Long Shan said, “What Xiao Lang said is correct. Not many people know about this. Xiao Lang, how did you find out?”
The young man smiled and said, “I circulated spirit energy in my eyes, and the traces of sword energy became evident. If my guess is not wrong, this mountain serves two purposes. One is to enlighten the young disciples, and the other is to defend the sect in case of an attack.” 𝑂𝔳𝓛xt.𝓒𝒪𝐦
Long Shan stroked his beard and nodded. He commented, “Indeed, what you say is correct. This mountain is a guardian post of the Dragon Sword Sect. You are talented.”
Bo Qingtan heard all this and was shocked. He did not know that this mountain could be used for defending the sect. However, Long Shan said, “Xaio Tan, do not tell anyone about this secret. It holds great significance.”
The young man nodded, and soon the ship passed by the mountain. What lay behind the coiling dragon mountain was even more surprising. This place gave off a strong sword aura. Bo Qingtan said, “Although we are not as big as you, Spirit Heart Sect, we are not too shabby either. Welcome to the Dragon Sword Sect.”
Shi Lang saw a mountain with a huge cut splitting it in two. However, the cut was not obscure. On the contrary, it was very neat. Shi Lang sensed something prickling his eyes as he gazed upon this ravine. The sword on his waist began to tremble. He asked, “Elder, if I am not wrong, then this particular ravine must be left behind by some great expert, right?”
Long Shan nodded solemnly and said, “This ravine is both the shame and the pride of our Dragon Sword Sect. I think it would be better if the sect leader told you about the legend behind this cut. We will meet him shortly.”
Shi Lang nodded. He was looking forward to this meeting because the ravine just now gave him a vaguely familiar feeling. The spirit vessel moved forward slowly and descended below the clouds.
Shi Lang spotted a port made of stone. The next moment the people on the ground activated a few arrays. The effect of the arrays was to hold the big spirit vessel a few meters above the ground. The cushioning was better than Shi Lang could have expected in the Federation.
ƥαṇdαs ηθνε| He followed Bo Qingtan, and they deboarded the vessel. A dozen figures appeared in the void when they came to the port. Long Shan bowed his head slightly, and the people reciprocated his gesture.
One of the old men asked, “First Brother, what happened in the meeting?”
Long Shan shook his head and said, “We only managed to secure the second position. The Spirit Heart Sect won the final score.”
The disciples were shocked, but the Elders nodded. The man from earlier remarked, “It seems the Spirit Heart Sect has found themselves good talents this time.”
Long Shan nodded, and Bo Qingtan stepped forward with his fellow disciples and said, “Elders, we seek your forgiveness. Please punish us.”
The elders shook their heads, and one of them said, “You all did not bring shame. Always learn from your mistakes and failures. Go have some rest.”
The disciples nodded, but they did not leave. That would be disrespectful. Long Shan said, “The winner of the meeting, Shi Lang, a core disciple of the sword peak, Spirit Heart Sect.”
Shi Lang took a step forward and bowed properly with his hands clasped before him, and he said, “Junior Shi Lang has seen the Elders.”
He did not know the identity of these few people, but they all had a strong pressure radiated, and by the speed they had appeared here, it was evident that they were all Immortal Kings.
One of the elders said, “No wonder I sensed a fellow Daoist in the shadows. He seems to be a guardian. Fellow Daoists, you do not have to worry. Think of our home as yours.”
A heavy voice echoed in the surroundings, “Forgive me, Brother Mano, I have ordered directly from the sect master. I cannot let Xiao Lang out of my sight.”
The few dozen men exchanged glances and nodded. This refusal was a way to tell the people that the Spirit Heart Sect attaches great importance to Shi Lang. Long Shan said, “I shall take Xiao Lang to meet the Suzerian.”
A middle-aged man appeared in the void just when they were about to move. The people bowed to this man and said, “Greetings, Sect leader.”
Shi Lang followed the people around, still thinking about the terrifying pressure he sensed for a movement. This person was an Immortal Emperor. Even Sect Master Ling had yet to reach this realm, and this person was already master of such strength.
The man nodded and said, “Grand Elder, bring along this young man. We are going to the Coiling Dragon Mountain. Since he has come to our place, let us have him pay respects to the Ancestor. After all, he practices the same technique as that person.”
The disciples were confused, but the elders took the hint and were shocked. Long Shan nodded, and the Sect Leader said, “The visit to the coiling dragon mountain is not to be spoken of. Understood?”
The people nodded. The gag order made them even more curious, but they dared not discuss this topic. They all knew that curiosity could kill the cat. It was better to hold back the urge or even strangle it.
Long Shan waved his hand, and Shi Lang vanished along with him. The elders also followed, leaving the disciples alone.
…
Shi Lang did not know what the whole fuss was about, but soon he appeared at the base of the coiling dragon mountain and was awed. This place was even more stunning and wonderous than it was from the ship. He asked, “Elder, why am I bought here?”
Long Shan did not reply, but the sect master did, “I am Lei Wang—seventy-sixth sect leader of the Dragon Heart sect. My Ancestor, Long Junshi, founded this sect. She did not love the sword, and she was a mortal woman. Two people laid down the foundation of the sect.
One is my Ancestor, and the other is the person who carved this mountain.”
Shi Lang thought and suddenly mumbled, “Senior Lightning Shura.”
Lei Wang nodded and said, “The sect master of the Dragon Sword Peak will always have a name Lie to respect that exalted senior. He accompanied my Ancestor till her last breath, and it was in her memory that he carved this mountain. He carved a few words here in a text of the lower realm.
I know that you are an ascender. Sect Master Ling conveyed it to me. Can you help me decode this?”
Shi Lang gulped. This scene was bigger than he had imagined. He asked, “Can you show me the text, senior?”
Lie Wang nodded and took him forward. Shi Lang found a stele before him. A few words were engraved, and the young man recited, “The sword that travels the heavens and slays the hell, held and mastered by a dragon.”
Shi Lang said, “This mountain is a monument of Senior Lightning Shura’s love for Senior Long Junshi.”
He bowed to the stele and prayed for the peace of the departed. The rest of the people also followed his gesture.