Chapter 269: Ominous Signs, Finally Reaching the Sacred Mountain

Chapter 269: Ominous Signs, Finally Reaching the Sacred Mountain

July 3, 2024

"I felt something strange just now, a dark aura around Hu's forehead, as if some sort of ominous danger is about to befall her." Master Li's voice was grave as he communicated through their spiritual connection.

The change in Hu Zezhi's aura had caught Lu Qing's attention as well, and he couldn't help but feel concerned.

"Indeed, I sensed it too," Master Li continued, his expression solemn. "In the near future, Hu may encounter great peril, but at the same time, she may also come across a momentous opportunity. The intertwining of golden and black auras suggests that life and death could hang in the balance."

Lu Qing's face grew serious as he heard his master's words. Master Li was blessed with the light of virtue and was protected by the heavens. He often received divine warnings about impending dangers, and his intuition was far superior to Lu Qing's. If even Master Li felt a sense of foreboding, then the situation was likely grave.

"Master, it seems that our journey to the Sacred Mountain will be filled with unimaginable events. We must be extra cautious," Lu Qing said.

"Yes," Master Li nodded in agreement.

The two were communicating through their spiritual connection, so Hu Zezhi remained unaware of the impending danger that Master Li had foreseen for her.

The carriage continued its rapid journey toward the Sacred Mountain. Along the way, they did encounter individuals who tried to stop or chase them due to the unusual nature of their carriage. However, the speed of their carriage rendered all such attempts futile. No one could keep up with them, and those who tried soon lost sight of even the green trail left by the carriage.

After two more days of rushing through the landscape, on the morning of the third day, the carriage suddenly came to a halt on a hillside.

"What's wrong, Uncle Ma?" Lu Qing asked, feeling the carriage stop.

However, he didn't receive a response from Ma Gu. Puzzled, Lu Qing drew back the curtain and asked again, "Uncle Ma, what's happening...?"

"Lu Qing, look ahead!" Ma Gu exclaimed, his voice trembling slightly. "I think we're almost at the Sacred Mountain!"

"We're almost there? That can't be right," Lu Qing said, startled. They had checked the map that morning, and by his calculations, they should still be several thousand li away from the Sacred Mountain. They had only traveled a short distance, so how could they be nearing their destination already?

Lu Qing stepped out of the carriage and looked toward the horizon. In that moment, he, too, froze in place.

In the distance, a colossal mountain, towering into the clouds, stood majestically on the earth. It was so tall that its peak was hidden from view, with only mist and clouds swirling around its waist. The entire mountain exuded an aura of grandeur and majesty, instilling a sense of reverence and awe in those who beheld it.

"Is that the Sacred Mountain?"

At that moment, Master Li and the others also stepped out of the carriage. Their eyes widened as they took in the sight of the immense mountain, its peak hidden among the clouds, like the very spine of the world.

"No wonder it's called the center of the world," Master Li whispered, awe-struck. "The name 'Sacred Mountain' is well-deserved."

It took a while for Lu Qing to recover from the initial shock of seeing the mountain's true form. On their journey, he had often wondered what the Sacred Mountain would look like, but now he realized that his imagination had been far too conservative. The actual Sacred Mountain was far more awe-inspiring than he could have ever imagined.

"Even if we gain nothing else from this journey, the sight of this mountain alone makes our efforts worthwhile," Master Li said, his voice filled with wonder.

The others could only stare, dumbfounded, still unable to process the sheer magnitude of what they were witnessing.

"Let's continue on our way," Lu Qing said, his voice still carrying a hint of excitement. "Master, according to the map given to us by Elder Xuanshizi, there's a Sacred City at the foot of the Sacred Mountain, and the headquarters of the Tianji Tower is located there. Should we head there first?"

While the Sacred Mountain was awe-inspiring, it was not a place one could climb casually. Legends spoke of a strange power that made one's body feel heavier the higher they ascended, and this effect intensified with altitude. Ordinary people who attempted to climb the mountain risked injury from this mysterious force. Thus, there was an edict prohibiting commoners from approaching the Sacred Mountain to avoid unnecessary loss of life.

"Of course, that strange power poses little threat to powerful warriors. With the changing rules of the world and the revival of spiritual energy, who knows what new changes the Sacred Mountain might bring."

Lu Qing still wanted to find out more before proceeding.

"Very well," Master Li nodded in agreement.

"I wonder if Zhi Ruige has come out of seclusion yet..."

Lu Qing had a favorable impression of this Tianji Tower disciple, with whom he had met a few times.

Back in Qinglong City, Xuanjizi had mentioned that he had broken through to the Innate Realm and was in seclusion to consolidate his cultivation.

If he had come out of seclusion, their task of gathering information might be easier with the connection they had forged.

The carriage continued its rapid journey, covering a distance of a thousand li. Though it seemed far, with their speed, it would take no more than half a day to reach their destination.

As they drew closer to the Sacred Mountain, Lu Qing felt the spiritual energy in the surrounding space becoming increasingly dense.

Just by being in this environment, he felt his own cultivation realm struggling to contain itself, as if it was about to break through on its own.

No wonder the major sects in Zhongzhou were so eager, even risking their lives in the process.

With such dense spiritual energy, if one could refine and absorb it, their strength would undoubtedly improve significantly, if not skyrocket.

In the face of the temptation to break through and attain greater power, the so-called rules became a mere joke.

"I never imagined the Sacred Mountain to be like this. I'm glad I followed you here, Lu Qing, or else I wouldn't have been able to witness such a spectacular sight."

Hu Zezhi gazed out the window at the passing scenery, still feeling overwhelmed.

Lu Qing turned to respond but suddenly froze.

The dark aura between Hu Zezhi's eyebrows had intensified, resembling a dark cloud hanging over her head.

Even he could see it clearly.

Master Li also noticed this, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Hu Zezhi's appearance seemed to foretell certain death, as if the calamity that awaited her loomed over the Sacred City or even the Sacred Mountain itself.

"Lu Qing, is there something on my face?" Hu Zezhi blushed as she noticed Lu Qing staring at her, and she raised her sleeve to wipe her face.

"Oh, it's nothing," Lu Qing said, his expression returning to calm. "Miss Hu, we're about to enter the Sacred City. Once we're inside, please don't wander off on your own.

We don't know anyone here, and it could be troublesome if we get separated."

"Okay," Hu Zezhi replied softly.

Although Hu Zezhi agreed obediently, Lu Qing's worries did not subside.

The dark aura between her eyebrows was too prominent, and he dared not imagine what kind of deadly calamity could make a person with great fortune show such a clear sign of impending doom.

For a time, both Lu Qing and Master Li's moods became somber.

Even when they caught sight of the equally majestic Sacred City, neither of them had the heart to admire it.

"Lu Qing, Brother Ma, I've asked around, and we don't need to pay an entrance fee to get into the city. We can just go in."

Ma Gu quickly returned with the information after scouting ahead at the city gate.

"Alright, let's go in then," Lu Qing nodded.

He glanced at the almost cloud-like black aura between Hu Zezhi's eyebrows and pushed down the worry in his heart.

Ma Gu drove the carriage slowly into the city.

The two Divine Dragon-Blooded War Horses' majestic appearance naturally attracted the attention of many.

However, this was the Sacred City, the most bustling place in the world.

It was not uncommon to see rare and exotic beasts passing through.

Although Lu Qing's pair of war horses were extraordinary, they did not cause a stir.

Thus, they entered the Sacred City without incident.

However, almost simultaneously, some vigilant individuals lurking near the city gate began to take notes on Lu Qing and his companions' information.

Not far from the city gate, in a certain inn, a figure that had been meditating on the bed with eyes closed suddenly opened their eyes.

A gleam flashed in their eyes, which had four pitch-black pupils, giving them a strange appearance.

Lu Qing and the others were still unaware of this.

Upon entering the Sacred City, Lu Qing and Master Li felt a mysterious power that seemed to further suppress their spiritual sense. Initially, Lu Qing could sense movements within a few hundred meters, but now he could barely perceive anything beyond a hundred meters, and Master Li's range had shrunk to a mere thirty meters.

For an Innate Realm cultivator, this distance could be easily crossed with a swift movement technique.

"No wonder Xuanjizi said that even Innate Realm warriors rarely dare to cause trouble in the Sacred City.

This oppressive power... There must be an incredibly powerful formation within this Sacred City. I wonder if this formation has been here since ancient times or if it was set up by someone in later generations."

The history of the Sacred City was shrouded in antiquity, dating back further than many of the ancient sects in Zhongzhou.

The origins of this majestic city and its original builders had long been lost to the annals of history. Perhaps only the three enigmatic Sacred Masters and the oldest, most ancient sects of Zhongzhou knew the truth.

As Lu Qing and his companions wandered through the Sacred City, they began to inquire about the headquarters of the Tianji Tower.

Surprisingly, they found the location of the Tianji Tower's headquarters with relative ease.

"Young sir, are you looking for the Tianji Tower?" A friendly candy vendor pointed west. "Just follow this avenue straight ahead. When you reach the western section of the city, you'll see the tallest building with a seven-star insignia at the top. That's the Tianji Tower."

"Thank you." Lu Qing bought a few candy figurines before expressing his gratitude and leaving.

Back in the carriage, Lu Qing handed the candies to Xiao Yan, who was eagerly watching, and said, "Master, we've found the location of the Tianji Tower. It's in the western part of the city."

"It was that easy to find out?" Master Li was also surprised, but he quickly realized, "I suppose we were overthinking it. We assumed that such a major sect would keep their headquarters hidden. But it seems the Tianji Tower doesn't shy away from interacting with the world."

"Indeed. They are deeply entrenched in the world, hiding in plain sight," Lu Qing agreed.

"Then let's go there. I just sensed some activity from the jade token Zhi Ruige gave me, although it's quite vague and I can't pinpoint the direction."

So, Lu Qing and his companions continued toward the western part of the city in their carriage.

Just as they left, a figure clad in black robes appeared before the candy vendor's stall, a puzzled look on his face.

"Strange, I sensed the aura nearby, but now it's gone. And even with my Heart Demon Divination Technique, I can't figure out what's going on. Damn, if it weren't for the formations in this damn city suppressing spiritual senses, I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble!"

After trying to figure it out for a while without success, the black-robed figure turned to leave. Suddenly, he noticed the candy vendor and had an idea. He took out a piece of silver and walked up to the stall.

"Young man, I want to ask you something. If you answer well, this silver is yours."

The candy vendor's eyes lit up at the sight of the silver. "Sir, what would you like to know? I'll tell you everything I know!"

"Did you see any unusual people passing by here just now?"

"Unusual people?" The candy vendor was stumped for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "I didn't see any unusual people, but I did see some unusual horses."

"Unusual horses?"

"Yes, sir. A carriage passed by here earlier, and the passengers even asked me for directions. Their horses were extraordinary. They were at least two heads taller than ordinary horses, and they had white horns on their foreheads. I've never seen such unique and majestic horses in my life!"

"Horns on their heads?" The black-robed figure's eyes narrowed. "Do you know where they went?"

"Yes, they said they were headed to the Tianji Tower!"

"Tianji Tower?" The black-robed figure nodded and handed over the silver. "Thank you, young man. This silver is yours."

......

The Sacred City, known as the greatest city in the world, was immense, with wide avenues that could easily accommodate ten carriages riding side by side without feeling crowded.

Thus, Lu Qing and his companions had no trouble driving their carriage through the city, although they couldn't gallop at full speed.

As they traveled, Master Li suddenly stirred, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a jade token.

"Master, can you sense the location of the Tianji Tower now?" Lu Qing asked.

"Yes, the fluctuations from this jade token are becoming clearer," Master Li confirmed.

At that moment, Ma Gu's voice came from the front of the carriage. "Lu Qing, I see the tall tower the candy vendor mentioned."

"Alright, let's head in that direction," Lu Qing said.

Just as Lu Qing and his companions were approaching the Tianji Tower, a young man dressed in plain clothes and seated in front of a chessboard within a towering building suddenly trembled and looked up in surprise.

He took out a jade compass and held it, sensing the information it conveyed.

Gradually, a look of delight spread across his face.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end