Chapter 9: Going Up the Mountain

All the information Shen Yuer had given was false.

Apart from Lin Nan, no one in the human world knew that their real destination was actually Qingyun Sect, located to the southwest.

Just as Shen Yuer had introduced herself, this seemingly carefree girl harbored quite a few subtle calculations beneath her calm exterior.

“Xiao Lin, where are you from?”

Outside the horse-drawn carriage, the scenery unfurled like a painting, rushing past. Between jagged strange stones bloomed glowing azure moss. Ancient vines hung over cliffs, bearing seven-colored fruits. Even the breeze slipping through the window carried a fresh, sweet scent of grass and wood.

Shen Yuer rested her elbow on the window sill, unconsciously twirling a lock of her dark hair between her fingers, but her peripheral vision kept stealing glances at the white-haired girl sitting opposite.

Growing up in the Shen Family’s Exotic Beast Garden, she had seen countless rare wonders—even personally fed the Glazed Firebird brought as tribute from the Western Continent. Yet, looking at Lin Nan’s perpetually calm face now, the thought that “she must be pretending” gradually softened.

This white-haired, emerald-eyed girl was like a jade immersed in clear spring water. No matter how brilliantly the waves around her surged, she remained unmoved, even the slightest flutter of her eyelashes carried an odd kind of serene grace.

“Me?” Lin Nan fiddled with the silver bell tied at her waist. The small bell gleamed faintly as she spun it, her voice lightly rising at the end, tinged with a hint of unawareness even to herself. “I don’t even know where I’m from.”

That subtle uncertainty softened Shen Yuer’s heart.

Just as she was about to say, “I have a feeling Xiao Lin isn’t ordinary,” Lin Nan suddenly raised her hand and pointed out the window.

Shen Yuer followed her finger, her breath catching sharply—countless azure phoenixes dragging gilded flying carriages streaked through the clouds, cultivators rode jade swords slicing across the sky, and there was even a snow-white unicorn carrying a masked youth, its hooves leaving trails of flowing light, all heading toward the same towering mountain.

The mountain was too high, its peak hidden deep within the billowing sea of clouds, piercing the ninth heaven.

Sunlight slanted down, casting a gentle golden rim on the dark blue mountain body. Flowing clouds wrapped around the jagged stones halfway up. Most astonishing was the layer of shifting azure light that snaked from the mountain’s foot to the clouds—sometimes twisting like a swimming dragon, sometimes condensing into a jade disk of protection, enveloping the entire mountain range so densely that even the air smelled faintly of fresh grass and wood.

“That’s the Qingyun Mountains?” Shen Yuer pressed her nose almost against the window, her ebony eyes wide with wonder. “The legendary Qingyun Sword Formation that purifies demon Qi really is like a jade soaked in dew.”

Lin Nan gazed at the flowing light, her emerald eyes reflecting the shimmering glow, softly uttering, “Mm.”

As they gradually neared the mountain’s base, Shen Yuer realized it was already bustling with noise.

Young nobles clad in fine silk were directing servants to lead Lion Griffins, armored cultivators were polishing gleaming magical weapons, and even the street vendors selling Spirit Fruit had Vermilion Fruit displayed to heal minor injuries.

Among these rare treasures, their gilded horse-drawn carriage, once acquired from Jincheng, looked no more than an unnoticed grain of sand.

Out of respect for one of the Righteous Six Sects of the Central Continent, all the seekers who had come by reputation dismounted, dispersed their True Qi, and ascended the long steps at the mountain’s base on foot.

Lin Nan and Shen Yuer naturally followed along.

“Do we have to walk all the way up?” Shen Yuer stepped onto the stone stairs in embroidered shoes, staring at the endless flight of steps. Her brows furrowed slightly. Used to flying carriages since childhood, she was unaccustomed to such exhaustion—after just a few steps, her ankles began to ache.

Lin Nan, however, walked steadily. Her pure white skirt brushed past the stone steps, and her footsteps were as light as feathers.

Seeing Shen Yuer fall behind, she stopped to wait, sunlight filtering through her hair, casting scattered light spots on her cheek. “I heard these stone steps have nine thousand nine hundred levels, each carved with a calming incantation.”

She turned her head; strands of hair at her temple were blown to her lips by the wind. As she gently blew them aside, a tender smile appeared. “Maybe if you walk slowly, you can hear the incantations chanting.”

Biting her lip, Shen Yuer hurried to catch up, but after climbing a hundred steps, her legs felt like they were filled with lead.

She glanced at Lin Nan secretly—her breathing remained steady, not even the tips of her ears flushed. Shen Yuer felt a bit stifled. She was at least half a cultivator; how was she less capable than this seemingly delicate girl?

Just as she thought this, her foot suddenly faltered. She cried out, but her wrist was firmly caught.

“Careful,” Lin Nan’s fingertips were cool against her heated skin, and both paused for a moment.

Shen Yuer could feel the calluses on the other’s palm—not like a pampered noble lady, but someone who had worn down her hands holding something for years.

She hurriedly steadied herself and thanked her.

Tilting her head, Shen Yuer forced a topic.

“The Qingyun Sect’s disciple recruitment conditions aren’t harsh—no matter status or rank. Compared to other major sects with endless rounds of trials, Qingyun Sect only has two tests.”

They continued side by side up the seemingly endless stone stairs leading to the mountain gate.

“What are the two?”

“The first is identity. As a righteous sect of the human world, its disciples must be human.”

“This rule has its origins. It is said that ten thousand years ago, during the chaotic wars between humans and Monsters on the Central Continent, a fox demon skilled in transformation disguised herself as human and infiltrated the righteous sect, even reaching the sect’s leadership. If not for that fox demon, the human race might have wiped out the Monster Kingdom long ago.”

“This first requirement is actually easy to meet, since the Last Empress of the Previous Dynasty already exterminated all Monsters on the Central Continent. Nowadays, finding a Monster here is probably as difficult as ascending to Immortality.”

Lin Nan was momentarily stunned.

She was a little worried. If it were about strength or talent, she wouldn’t be too concerned. But this one point… being Half-Demon, she wasn’t sure if she could pass.

Shen Yuer continued, “The second is Heart-Proving. The path of seeking Dao is long and monotonous. Cultivators must wholeheartedly pursue the Dao. Only when this is proven will Qingyun Sect accept someone as a disciple.”

Well, the second point sounded somewhat easier to achieve.

Xiao Lin was agreeable in everything else; her Dao Heart was truly steadfast.

Her purpose was pure: stealing Immortal Fate had been her goal for eight lifetimes now. Such a thing was second nature to her; she could do it blindfolded.

As they chatted idly, Shen Yuer gradually found that matching her breath to Lin Nan’s pace made the fatigue feel less oppressive.

Lin Nan’s breathing technique was peculiar—breathing in like spring breeze brushing over a lake, exhaling like autumn leaves falling on grass, her steps carried a rhythmic flow.

Shen Yuer quietly mimicked her rhythm and indeed felt the heaviness in her chest lighten a bit.

“Xiao Lin.”

“Hm?”

“You’re really mysterious.”

Lin Nan suddenly smiled, half in jest. “Mysterious women are more attractive.”

Shen Yuer teased back, “Then I’m going to strip you bare someday!”

“As long as you don’t stab me to death with a single blow, stripping is no big deal.”

“Say that again? Bad luck!” Shen Yuer huffed, then suddenly pointed ahead. “Xiao Lin, look!”

Lin Nan followed her gaze. In the distance, the mountain peaks appeared faintly through the mist. Several Qingyun Sect disciples in white robes hovered at the top of the mountain gate stairs, hands clasped behind their backs.

The stairway was endlessly long. Even seeing the end only made the climb feel more hopeless.

Shen Yuer had tried secretly channeling True Qi to ease the climb, but the stone steps were like some kind of demon-absorbing stones—any True Qi she released dissipated instantly.

Without True Qi, Shen Yuer was nothing but a pampered noble daughter. She hunched slightly; her fair cheeks flushed a uniform rosy pink from exhaustion, even her delicate earlobes tinted red.

The strands of hair on her forehead were damp with fine sweat, trembling lightly with her quickened breaths. Crystal-clear sweat slid down her jawline. She hastily lifted her hand to wipe it, but when her fingertips touched her burning skin, she shrank back in surprise.

The fifth young lady of the Shen Family had never looked this bedraggled before—even when fleeing elegantly from pursuers of the Marquis’ household.

She looked at Lin Nan again, the surprise flickering once more in her shining black eyes.

The girl had loosened her tied-up white hair; a few strands clung to her cheek, wet with sweat, adding an endearing softness to her otherwise resolute face.

She took a deep breath, then quietly asked the girl beside her, “How are you holding up, Yuer? If you can’t go on, we can rest a bit.”

So beautiful…

Shen Yuer lightly covered her mouth, turning her head away, unwilling to look again.

Luckily, the redness on her face could be blamed on overexertion. She shook her head gently. “I can keep going.”

“Don’t push yourself,” Lin Nan said, patting Shen Yuer’s slender shoulder.

Seizing a rare moment of leisure, Lin Nan let her long hair down, brushing it back from her neck. Her pure white hair cascaded like a waterfall, shimmering in the sunlight.

Her emerald eyes were gentle and lingering. She could clearly see Shen Yuer had already reached her limit.

She reached out her hand. “Hold on to me. Let’s go up the mountain together.”

Shen Yuer’s face flushed crimson. She tentatively stretched out her fingertips and lightly touched Lin Nan’s palm.

The girl smiled softly, then firmly clasped Shen Yuer’s small hand.

And together, they continued up the mountain.