In the early morning hours, with the first hints of daylight on the horizon, Wu Yuan and Fang Xia drew nearer to Cloudhill City. Eight-Sided Cloudhill, an impressive sight from a distance, towered beneath their feet.
This is true liberation. The feeling of traversing thousands of li in the blink of an eye. Nothing can replace this sense of freedom. Wu Yuan felt emotional as they flew through the air.
Bu Yu, Gu Wang, and Zhang Changsheng were equally astounded. Jiexian Mountain was located in the Chu Continent, thousands of li from Cloudhill. Yet in such a short time, they had soared across countless mountain ranges, deep valleys, mighty rivers, and barren plains!
“Cloudhill,” Fang Xia murmured, standing at the helm of the flying boat. He maintained his poise, but a hint of nostalgia lingered in his eyes. And perhaps a touch of melancholy.
Over a hundred years had passed, enough time for the world to change in many ways. Yet, for Fang Xia, the people and events he once knew had now faded like smoke.
Once these matters are resolved and the young master is on the right path, I must visit Moonlit Haven. Fang Xia mused to himself. Perhaps there, I can recapture the sentiments of bygone days.
Whoosh! Heaven and earth’s power shifted, concealing the presence of the flying boat. Once they neared the peak of Cloudhill, their speed slowed sharply, and they soon landed.
“Gu Wang, Zhang Changsheng, you two go ahead,” Fang Xia ordered calmly. “Instruct the sect leader to gather all the sect elders at the Cloud Hall.”
“Understood,” Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng responded without hesitation, leaping from the boat.
“Ancestor, should we proceed to Cloudhill’s relic or head to the Cloud Hall?” Bu Yu inquired softly.
“Neither!” Fang Xia’s eyes gleamed with a frigid determination as he subtly shook his head. “Before anything else, let’s teach that unfilial martial grand disciple a lesson!”
Bu Yu was left unable to find the right words to respond.
Whoosh! The flying boat accelerated once again, reaching a speed of ten li per breath. In the blink of an eye, they found themselves hovering above a brilliantly illuminated cliff: Razor’s Edge Cliff!
“Ancestor, shall I go and fetch Junior Brother Huan?” Bu Yu asked.
“No need,” Fang Xia furrowed his brow. “I’ll go see him myself. I want to see what kind of miscreant Ji Puyu has raised.”
Bu Yu promptly fell silent. Ji Puyu, her master, was also a Grandmaster. Sadly, he passed away several decades ago.
According to the timeline, Ji Puyu began his rise to prominence when Fang Xia was still in charge of the sect. It was no surprise that the two were acquainted. Bu Yu suspected that Ji Puyu and Fang Xia shared a similar relationship to that of Xu Hui and herself now.
Whoosh! With a single stride, Fang Xia materialized in the air hundreds of meters away. In the next instant, he had already entered the cave.
On the flying boat, Wu Yuan and Bu Yu exchanged glances.
“Rain Hierarch…” Wu Yuan shook his head repeatedly. “Don’t blame me. I didn’t say much. I simply reported the situation as it was. I didn’t expect Ancestor Fang Xia to fly into a rage upon hearing that The Sword Hierarch hasn’t set foot in the secular world for 30 years.”
“I understand,” The Rain Hierarch displayed a bitter smile. “I’ll take responsibility for this. Let’s just hope that Ancestor Fang Xia won’t be too harsh on him. The Sword Hierarch is known to be quite particular about his image.”
A brief moment passed, during which Wu Yuan and The Rain Hierarch, with their sharp senses, could distinctly make out the sounds of scolding and… whipping echoing from within the cave.
Wu Yuan remained composed, his demeanor steady. On the other hand, Bu Yu’s eyelid twitched.
Seconds ticked by.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Soon, two figures clad in white robes emerged from the depths of the cave – the first exuding confidence and authority, the second appearing somewhat sheepish. It was none other than Fang Xia and Huan Jian. The pair made their way onto the flying boat.
“Wu Yuan, Senior Sister,” Huan Jian said with a wry smile upon alighting, “A heads up about Ancestor Fang Xia’s return would have been much appreciated.”
Suppressing their laughter, Wu Yuan and Bu Yu returned the greeting. Huan Jian’s face was swelling noticeably, complete with clear markings.
One had to remember that Huan Jian was a quasi-Heavenly Ranker with an exceptional physique. One can only imagine the severity of the beating he endured.
“They were planning to inform you, but I forbade it,” Fang Xia spoke indifferently. “I wanted to witness the conduct of the first transcended mortal from my Cloudstride Sect myself.”
A bitter smile crossed Huan Jian’s face. The moment Fang Xia arrived at his cave, he had mistakenly believed that a Heavenly Ranker assassin from Great Jin had come for him. He tried to resist, only to be completely crushed in the opponent’s first move. Through their confrontation, Huan Jian realized the vast difference between them. Fang Xia was on a completely different level.
Along with Fang Xia’s status as an ancestor of the sect, Huan Jian dared not harbor any ill intent. What’s more, Huan Jian vividly remembered Fang Xia’s promise to him: “Serve the sect and continue your cultivation, and your accomplishments will surpass any worldly exploration or silent contemplation tenfold!”
It was the carrot-and-stick approach. What more was there to say?
With a disapproving frown, Fang Xia ordered, “Tidy up and change your attire. Go meet the sect elders and make sure to follow my instructions to the letter.”
“Understood,” Huan Jian obediently complied.
With a sweep of his hand, the bruises on his face vanished, and his white robes transformed into black robes. A small saber appeared, deftly trimming his disheveled hair and goatee. In no time at all, he morphed into the likeness of a middle-aged official, radiating an air of authority.
“Off you go,” Fang Xia waved him away.
Huan Jian quickly departed.
“Bu Yu, Wu Yuan, let’s go. We are heading to the relic,” Fang Xia declared. “Whether the Cloudstride Sect will one day become as stable as Mount Tai relies on this.”
Whoosh! A flying boat swiftly made its way towards a forbidden zone nestled deep within Cloudhill.
The zone, several li in radius, was obscured from view by dense forests and heavily guarded by numerous soldiers.
The trio slowly descended, unnoticed.
“That’s the entrance to the relic,” Bu Yu murmured to Wu Yuan, pointing to a colossal cave at the center of the forest. “Inside lies the relic.”
Wu Yuan nodded. He had only heard of this immortal relic but had never seen it in person.
“Don’t resist.” Fang Xia commanded softly, stowing away the flying boat. An unseen force held Wu Yuan and Bu Yu in place.
Like streaks of light slicing through the air, the trio flew into the cave. The area inside the cave was pitch black. However, a man-made stairway could be seen along the walls.
It’s so hot! Wu Yuan was taken aback by the searing heat that greeted them inside the cave. The further in they went, the higher the temperature grew.
The feeble light that managed to pierce through the cave faded with each passing step. But even the weakest among them, Bu Yu, was a Great Grandmaster, and she had no trouble observing her surroundings with minimal lighting. And for Wu Yuan and Fang Xia, who could harness Soul Force, the absence of light was inconsequential. The darkness was no issue.
In the blink of an eye, they descended nearly a kilometer, the roughly ten-meter-wide cavern twisting and curving along the way. Over a dozen large cracks marred the walls, allowing rainwater to seep in.
It’s so hot! No wonder nothing grows here. This also explains why Cloudhill has a perpetual spring climate, even during winter.
After trekking for over three kilometers in Wu Yuan’s estimation, they reached the underbelly of Cloudhill. Suddenly, the world before them became crystal clear.
They stood in a vast underground cavern, bathed in a gentle, ethereal glow. Wu Yuan’s eyes widened at the sight of numerous luminous gems and precious stones embedded within the rocky ceiling.
Are those Night Pearls? Wu Yuan was startled.
The cavern resembled a grand square, stretching approximately 800 meters in length, 300 meters in width, and dozens of meters in height. Several passages also extended further into the darkness. However, what truly captivated their attention was the peculiar jade stones that paved the entirety of the square.
A jade chamber? Wu Yuan was startled as he perceived the area with his Soul Force.