LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 4: chapter 4
In the distance, the source of the fierce wind was a grand spirit vessel descending slowly. This opulent craft, powered entirely by precious spirit stones, was a testament to luxury. At the fissure of the seal on Nanwu Mountain stood dozens of cultivators, each garbed differently, led by the Lihuo Sect, who had established the boundary marker for Nanwu Mountain.
Amidst the dense, eerie fog enveloping the mountain pass, the imposing cultivators stood with an aura of righteousness. Noticing the gusts, they all looked upward. The distant cultivators exuded extraordinary presence, their attire immaculate. Simply standing there, they starkly contrasted with the ghostly mist of Nanwu Mountain, resembling the demon-slaying immortals from legends that Zhang Fugui had heard of.
At that moment, a blue-robed cultivator emerged from the gently landing spirit vessel. His wide-sleeved robe and sharp features radiated vigor; his every move was commanding. As he disembarked, the surrounding cultivators' attention almost entirely focused on him.
"Who is that—"
"You don't know!? That's the young master of the Su family. Everyone in the southern region knows him."
In the Eastern Huan cultivation world, the hierarchy was led by one mountain, four sects, and eight great families. The mountain referred to the legendary Tianlu Mountain, a gathering place for geniuses. For centuries, Tianlu Mountain had been the pinnacle for human cultivators. Beneath it were the four sects: Cangxue Sect, Luoshan Gate, Xuanyu Villa, and the Valley of Divine Healers, followed by the eight great families of equal renown.
The blue-robed cultivator was Su Yi, the young master of the Su family, ranked sixth among the eight great families. At just twenty-five, he had advanced to the Golden Core stage, becoming the final disciple of the Cangxue Sect's leader. Renowned for his mastery in talismanic arts, he was among the most exceptional young cultivators of his time.
Other cultivators, whether intentionally or not, observed him, their gazes passing over the Su family entourage to rest on the leading blue-robed figure. After the Su family elders conversed with the Lihuo Sect cultivators, the blue-robed Su Yi turned and led several Lihuo Sect members deeper into the Nanwu Mountain fissure. Without uttering a word, his mere presence conveyed an extraordinary aura.
"Do you think the recent rumors are true? Is it possible that the Su family of Tianyuan City has a marriage contract with the young master of the Gu family from Xize?" A sect disciple whispered, noticing others scrutinizing the Su family cultivators. "Could that contract be between Young Master Su and him?"
A nearby cultivator, hearing this, glanced at the blue-robed figure and whispered, "Such matters shouldn't be spoken of lightly. However, I heard that the Su family's spirit vessel originally departed Tianyuan City heading west. Isn't the Gu family located in Xize?"
Curiously, not long ago, a secret involving noble families surfaced in Tianyuan City. Rumor had it that the Su family had a marriage contract with the young master of the Gu family in distant Xize. The Su family ranked sixth among the eight great families, while the Gu family of Xize had always been foremost. Their young master, Gu Zizhou, was the chief disciple of Tianlu Mountain, the premier sect.
While Su Yi was a standout among the younger generation, Gu Zizhou was a rare genius. He reached the Golden Core stage at fifteen and achieved Nascent Soul by twenty-five. Throughout the Eastern Huan cultivation world, he was undeniably the foremost talent. With his aptitude, given a century, he could ascend to the Divine Transformation stage and undergo tribulation, with an unimaginable future ahead.
If the Su family indeed had such a marriage contract with the Gu family's young master, it would undoubtedly impact the current dynamics among the one mountain, four sects, and eight great families. In the past, such rumors would be dispelled within half a day. However, this particular rumor had persisted for some time, with neither the Su nor Gu family offering any clarification. Their silence suggested the rumor might very well be true.
Behind a withered grove, Zhang Fugui, witnessing so many cultivators for the first time, trembled. During his years on Nanwu Mountain, encounters with cultivators were rare; those he met either perished, becoming malevolent spirits, or were devoured by other ghosts of the mountain. The current grand assembly, especially the newly arrived spirit vessel, was far more formidable than any cultivator he had previously seen.
The person on his back remained silent for a long time. Zhang Fugui shivered, "So many cultivators..."
The young man coldly replied, "Silence."
Zhang Fugui covered his mouth.
The youth, covered in blood and gravely injured, spoke with a particularly hoarse voice. When he reprimanded Zhang Fugui, the latter dared not move. Zhang Fugui couldn't help but shudder, beginning to doubt whether this person was truly blind.
Sounds became clearer in Su Yu's ears. He felt his hearing shouldn't be this acute, yet the approaching footsteps seemed increasingly distinct.
Swirling colors danced where voices originated, intertwining with the white mist. The bizarre, vivid light strands painted the dark backdrop like a masterful stroke, mesmerizing Su Yu. The light dots scattered over moving objects, especially concentrating on a few large ones, shimmering brilliantly.
Su Yu had never witnessed such a spectacle. "What is that?"
"What is the Su family?" Su Yu suddenly asked.
Zhang Fugui was taken aback. Even though he had died in the Nanwu Mountains years ago, he had heard of the Su family's reputation.
In the southern region of Donghuan, who hasn't heard of the Su family of Tianyuan City? They are a renowned family of cultivators.
The Lihuo Sect cultivators guarding the entrance to the Nanwu Mountains aren't even considered part of the Su family's branch.
Even in remote places like the Nanwu Mountains, the Su family's fame is well-known.
Yet, the Daoist priest seems unaware...?
Realizing this, he quickly shared all he knew.
After he finished, seeing no response, Zhang Fugui cautiously asked, "That's all I know. Is there anything else you'd like to know?"
"Nothing," Su Yu replied, lowering his gaze as white and colorful lights intertwined in the distance.
Just hearing about it... is nauseating.
Noticing the Daoist's silence, Zhang Fugui dared not ask further but couldn't help observing the young man closely.
Isn't the Daoist from the southern region? Why is he so unfamiliar with it?
Glancing sideways, he saw the young Daoist leaning against his back, eyes slightly downcast.
The Daoist's condition seemed much improved from his near-death state; his body felt warmer, more human.
"There are many cultivators over there now, all heading into the mountains... They must be here to exterminate demons and ghosts. Once they go in, we'll have a chance to escape."
Su Yu remained silent, calmly listening to Zhang Fugui's plan.
Looking into the distance, amidst the dim view, there were numerous colorful light clusters like cooking smoke.
But more resembled Zhang Fugui's white smoke, emanating from the soil below, drifting into the sky, as if drawn deeper by some force.
Their direction aligned with that of the advancing cultivators.
He had no interest in those cultivators; in fact, hearing the term "cultivator" evoked the same inexplicable disgust as the Su family.
He couldn't pinpoint the source of this emotion, especially with his mind blank.
At that moment, several strands of yin energy separated from the rest, drifting southeast instead of toward the ghostly gathering in the east.
In the darkness, these strands stood out, moving differently from the majority.
Su Yu glanced up and noticed unusual lights rising near the radiant spirit boat not far away.
These lights originated from the cultivators.
As he tried to observe more closely, the lights merged into the white yin energy, causing a nauseating sensation in his throat.
Zhang Fugui felt the person on his back grip his shoulder.
"Daoist... are you alright? Is your leg hurting?"
Su Yu replied, "Something's coming."
What's coming...?
Zhang Fugui looked out but saw nothing besides the cultivators.
Just as he was about to inquire further, a chill enveloped his arm.
Suddenly, the rustling in the woods intensified, and a fierce wind blew in.
This immediately caught the attention of many cultivators.
Before they could react, the surrounding dead trees began snapping one after another.
The previously gentle yin wind abruptly strengthened, carrying a biting cold.
A front-running cultivator, caught off guard, had his outer garment slashed by the wind blade, drawing blood instantly.
"What's happening!?"
"Defend yourselves! The yin wind is strange!"
"Spirit-detecting compass—"
The cultivators fell into chaos.
The more experienced ones quickly retreated a few steps, grabbing the spirit-detecting compass from their peers.
The compass needle spun rapidly, indicating an unprecedented surge of yin energy.
Within moments, the needle snapped.
Panic ensued among the cultivators as the yin wind at the Nanwu Mountain entrance raged inexplicably.
"Retreat from the Nanwu Mountain entrance immediately!"
Amidst the violent winds in the dead forest, Su Yu heard the increasingly piercing howls.
The white smoke in his vision swirled faster, entwining with other colored smokes, rising from the ground like a tornado, forming eerie currents in the sky.
Zhang Fugui struggled to stand against the gale.
As a ghost dwelling in the Nanwu Mountains for so long, he had never encountered such terrifying winds.
He had just taken a few steps forward, but the retreating cultivators moved faster.
Those celestial-looking cultivators brandished their spiritual artifacts.
An elderly man with graying hair unleashed a massive artifact.
As it emerged, the chaotic airflow intensified.
In an instant, Su Yu saw the white energy burst forth.
"Stop!"
Zhang Fugui's steps halted abruptly. In the next moment, the Su family's spirit boat transformed into a golden curtain wall, crashing down with a boom at the sole exit of Nanwu Mountain.
Just a step away, the only exit of Nanwu Mountain was firmly sealed.
"It's over," Zhang Fugui muttered, his face ashen.
As the curtain wall formed, the white-haired elder controlling the spirit boat sealed the mountain's exit to prevent the influx of yin energy. His murky gaze swept over the panting cultivators below, ensuring most had escaped, and prepared to seal the final aperture.
Suddenly, through the curtain wall, he noticed a figure.
At the edge of the withered forest near the entrance stood a middle-aged man in coarse cloth robes, looking this way in panic. His complexion was pale, indicating he was a soul entity that had taken shape after years of death.
What caught the elder's attention was the "person" on the soul's back.
It appeared to be a human, yet the elder sensed no spiritual energy typical of cultivators from him. The young man was covered in blood, but his face was strikingly delicate, evoking a sense of familiarity.
At that moment, fierce winds surged again within Nanwu Mountain. Black mist swirled, crashing against the curtain wall formed by the spirit boat. Cultivators who hadn't retreated in time were engulfed by the wind, vanishing instantly before everyone's eyes.
"What's happening? Wasn't it said that this place merely had an excess of yin energy?"
"How could this be a minor issue? There's something wrong with Nanwu Mountain; the Lihuo Sect's information is incorrect!"
Cultivators from other sects turned their gaze towards those from the Lihuo Sect.
Several rogue cultivators hadn't anticipated such sudden changes in Nanwu Mountain. Previously, they had lingered on the mountain's periphery for days, encountering at most howling yin winds.
"Only you low-level cultivators would think this place is suitable for training and gaining fame. Would an ordinary training ground attract the Su family?"
A rogue cultivator stepped forward, glancing towards the distant Su family and Lihuo Sect.
"Could it be that this is the site where a great cultivator passed away?"
At these words, the other cultivators looked towards the Su family.
A secret realm left behind by a great cultivator's passing?!
Discovering the cave dwelling or legacy of a great cultivator is a significant opportunity in one's cultivation journey.
At that moment, an elder from the Su family stepped forward, raising his hand to stop the peripheral cultivators.
The rogue cultivators looked at the Su family members with caution.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"The yin energy here is unusual, suggesting the presence of malevolent entities beyond the Nascent Soul stage," the Su family elder said, cupping his hands towards the other cultivators with a faint smile.
"Everyone, please retreat beyond the curtain wall."
"The Su family will take over this place for now."