Chapter 54#
Kunwu#
Kunwu Mountain.
The Demon Lord set a banquet, entertaining all directions, and the crowd surged in. At the foot of the mountain, it was bustling, but not many were qualified to climb.
In the Demon Realm’s seventy-two cities, nine cities had the highest strength and status, and Luxia City was one of them, so Xue Ciling could naturally climb the mountain leisurely. Yin Yuheng wore a veiled hat (mili), with white gauze hanging down to cover his face, following behind him.
The veiled hat was given by Xue Ciling. Yin Yuheng understood Xue Ciling’s thoughts and didn’t ask further. He looked left and right with a smile, showing quite an interest. The main banquet of the “Listening to Snow” was set on a hanging platform halfway up the mountain; half of the structure was perched on the cliff and the other half protruded into the clouds. Climbing halfway up the mountain and stepping into the sea of clouds, cool flowing clouds drifted with the wind. Yin Yuheng stretched out his right hand, letting the moisture pass through his fingers.
From those around him came casual discussions: “It’s already so cold halfway up the mountain; the mountaintop must be a place where ordinary people cannot set foot.”
Cold? Yin Yuheng blinked, and then remembered that he was a puppet and was not sensitive to changes in heat and cold.
“And it just so happens that the Blue Sky Attraction is at the top of the mountain.” Another person joked, “I heard that if you want to get it, you must climb to the top. But Kunwu Mountain is also a sacred place for the Demon Tribe; those who fly with swords are not allowed to enter, and those with cultivation above the Golden Core Stage are not allowed to enter… there are many rules.”
“Who knows what the Demon Lord is doing this for?”
“Who knows? Anyway, many people plan to climb up and give it a try.”
“The mountaintop is cold, and beneath your feet is a ten-thousand-foot precipice; it’s not ordinary danger! At my level, I don’t want to go and invite humiliation. This banquet hall has food and drink, spiritual wine and fruit, and maybe later we can even catch a glimpse of the Demon Lord and the Demon Emperor. Why go and join in that excitement when you can’t handle it!”
“But there are plenty of people who want to climb the mountain. After all, it’s a priceless treasure; who wouldn’t want it? Even if you can’t use it yourself, if you take it to exchange, it’s a huge benefit!”
Yin Yuheng listened nonchalantly to these bits of idle gossip, looked up at the mountaintop shrouded in clouds and mist, and withdrew his gaze without much interest.
He was not interested in the Blue Sky Attraction, nor in exchanging it for benefits.
The person beside him continued with high spirits: “I heard that the Demon Emperor and the Human Sword Sovereign are both here for the Blue Sky Attraction. But their cultivation is high, and according to the rules they cannot climb the mountain. If we can get the Blue Sky Attraction, would we be afraid they wouldn’t be willing to exchange something for it?”
Upon hearing this, Yin Yuheng slightly turned his head.
Xue Ciling also stopped and narrowed his eyes. He leaned close to Yin Yuheng and laughed softly: “Those with cultivation at the Nascent Soul stage and above cannot climb to the top of the mountain. I can’t go. Yuheng, do you want to try?”
I’ve only just started to walk steadily, and I can still climb a mountain and grab the Blue Sky Attraction from others? Yin Yuheng thought to himself and said softly: “The City Lord wants it?”
Xue Ciling was silent, and finally gave an “En”: “Give it a try?”
“But I heard it’s dangerous on the mountain.”
Xue Ciling said gently: “Yuheng has extraordinary talent. Take good care of yourself, and nothing will happen.”
Yin Yuheng sighed and smiled: “Alright. Since the City Lord wants it, Yuheng will give his all.”
He pulled out his sword and walked forward, then suddenly looked back at Xue Ciling.
With his veiled hat, Xue Ciling couldn’t see his expression. The clouds and mist were chaotic, brushing against his white clothes. Xue Ciling felt an inexplicable palpitation for an instant. In the next moment, Yin Yuheng turned around and continued up the mountain.
*
Differing from the bustling banquet hall, the further up he went, the thicker the snow beneath his feet became, the sounds all around faded, and it was cold and desolate.
Li Guanghan wanted the Blue Sky Attraction, and so did Lu Yan and Xue Ciling.
This part was not written in the original work. Yin Yuheng walked on the creaking snow, feeling strange in his heart, and truly became interested in the Blue Sky Attraction.
The effect of the Blue Sky Attraction is to condense spirits, gather souls, and bring the dead back to life…
What do they want this for?
Because of his body, Yin Yuheng didn’t walk fast. People overtook him from time to time, casting a glance from a distance to size up this person who was leisurely strolling in the wind and snow.
Yin Yuheng glanced back at the other person and was not in a hurry at all, continuing to walk slowly. More and more people overtook him, and gradually, only one person was left walking alongside him.
It was a boy with an exquisite appearance, with eyebrows like a landscape painting and lips like cinnabar. His long hair was held up by a jade hairpin, and he wore a silver bracelet on his wrist. The boy was good-looking, but his expression was very cold, and he didn’t spare even a glance for others.
Neither of them spoke, walking in the snowy mist.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, the mountain path became steeper and steeper. Yin Yuheng’s control over his body was insufficient, and finally his foot slipped. Just as he was about to fall, his forearm was suddenly grabbed by someone.
Yin Yuheng stood steady and turned to the boy who had pulled him: “Thank you.”
The boy was originally expressionless and immediately let go after helping Yin Yuheng. After hearing Yin Yuheng’s voice, however, he was somewhat stunned.
Such a familiar voice, like Senior Brother’s.
After a long while, he laughed self-deprecatingly, thinking to himself that he was truly obsessed. His Senior Brother was still in a coma, how could he possibly have come to this Kunwu Mountain thousands of miles away.
“No thanks.” Hearing this voice that was like his Senior Brother’s, Zhu Anning’s attitude couldn’t help but soften a bit, “Destined to be on the same path, it was just a casual move.”
“You’re a good person.” Yin Yuheng curved his eyes.
A good person? Zhu Anning was stunned and gave a bitter smile: “Is that so?”
He had done too many disgusting things… and didn’t deserve to be praised. He just didn’t want to let his Senior Brother down again, so he was trying hard to learn his Senior Brother’s way and be a person like him.
“The further up Kunwu Mountain, the more dangerous it is. If you can’t hold on, it’s better not to go further up.”
Yin Yuheng: “Since you know it’s dangerous, why are you still climbing up?”
“I must go.” Zhu Anning said in a small voice, “I can do it.”
Yin Yuheng smiled: “You’re not old, but your cultivation is very solid and your talent is extraordinary. No wonder you can continue.”
The boy, however, stiffened all over.
He was most afraid of others praising his cultivation and talent, especially when the other’s voice was so much like his Senior Brother’s.
He never forgot how his talent came to be.
Zhu Anning lowered his head and suddenly remembered what Li Guanghan had said to him before coming to Kunwu Mountain.
“After swindling Yuheng’s talent, how are you still like a piece of trash? Of no use at all,” Li Guanghan coldly rubbed his sword against his throat, “If you don’t bring back the Blue Sky Attraction, I will use your life to pay for Yuheng’s.”
Zhu Anning lowered his eyes and thought that even if Li Guanghan didn’t threaten him, he would still fight to the death for his Senior Brother. He indeed was a piece of trash and could do too little for his Senior Brother. If his Senior Brother never woke up again, he wouldn’t even be worthy to pay for his life.
The voice of the person beside him interrupted Zhu Anning’s thoughts.
“Since you want the Blue Sky Attraction so much, why not walk a bit faster?”
“Kunwu Mountain is the sacred mountain of the Demon Tribe,” Zhu Anning said. “Demons are best at deluding people’s minds and disrupting their Dao hearts. This mountain-climbing path is also a path of questioning the heart.”
One must quit arrogance and impatience and be steadfast to reach the peak. No matter how fast you walk, it’s useless if you can’t resist the invisible demonic energy’s delusion. Once the mind is in chaos, one will fall into hallucinations and plunge into the ten-thousand-foot abyss.
Zhu Anning knew that his Dao heart was fundamentally unstable, and he had to concentrate his spirit and couldn’t walk too fast. He had to walk to the end and get the Blue Sky Attraction to save his Senior Brother…
Senior Brother…
Zhu Anning’s steps slowed down, and the scenery before him gradually blurred. In a daze, he saw his Senior Brother smiling at him, tying his hair, and teaching him how to practice the sword… in the blink of an eye, it suddenly turned into a dark dungeon. He was trapped in the dungeon, being whipped and tortured by someone. He cried out for his Senior Brother and the young master, but no one answered. The person whipping him smiled at him with contempt, saying his Senior Brother was disappointed in him and would never come to save him again.
Zhu Anning became blankly quiet, his steps becoming more and more disordered.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed his wrist.
“Don’t go forward, there’s a cliff. You’ve fallen into a hallucination.”
Zhu Anning looked up abruptly.
Senior Brother… Senior Brother!
Hallucinations control the mind and are hard to shake off; before Zhu Anning’s eyes was still the dark cell. He muttered to himself: “Senior Brother, are you coming to save me?”
He didn’t hope for an answer.
“Saving you.”
A gentle voice sounded.
“You give me a pull, and I’ll take you along.”
“But, I’m not your Senior Brother.”
Zhu Anning was led by his wrist and stumbled forward. He gradually began to tremble and finally couldn’t help but choke up.
*
On the hanging platform halfway up the mountain, the Demon Lord smilingly moved the image on the water mirror, showing the scene on Kunwu Mountain.
“It’s been so long, and still no one has gotten the Blue Sky Attraction.” The Demon Lord smiled. “The Sword Sovereign doesn’t seem very anxious?”
Li Guanghan didn’t speak, frowning as he looked at the person on the water mirror who was pulling Zhu Anning along. That person wore a veiled hat, hiding his appearance.
The Demon Lord’s eyes flickered, and he smiled: “This child named Zhu Anning is your little disciple?”
“No.” Li Guanghan said indifferently.
“I thought you were quite concerned about him.” The Demon Lord said playfully.
Concerned, I’m afraid it’s a murderous intent.
Suddenly, the Demon Lord sensed a scorching aura. He raised his brows and turned his head: “His Majesty the Demon Emperor has arrived? I’ve been waiting for a long time.”
The person who walked in at the door wore black clothes and a gold crown, his eyes like stars. He was expressionless, his gaze landing on Li Guanghan.
Li Guanghan also turned his head, and their eyes met. In an instant, they saw each other’s blatant and unhidden rejection and loathing.
The gaze separated in an instant.
Lu Yan turned his head to look at the Demon Lord and said indifferently: “Why put the Blue Sky Attraction on the top of Kunwu Mountain?”
“Is it not good?” The Demon Lord smiled. “It’s quite interesting.”
“I don’t think so. Whatever you need, I can directly exchange it for the Blue Sky Attraction.”
While speaking, Lu Yan’s peripheral vision swept across the water mirror. He was suddenly stunned and stared abruptly at the water mirror.
In the water mirror, the white-clothed youth had already reached the peak. He didn’t walk fast and was pulling someone; his steps were even somewhat stumbling, and he fell from time to time. But those who walked faster than him had all gotten lost in hallucinations. In the end, he was actually the first to walk before the Blue Sky Attraction.
The youth reached out and picked up the stone emitting a faint green light. In an instant, clouds and mist surged on Kunwu Mountain, and the wind and snow became great.
The wild wind blew open the white gauze covering his face.
The youth simply took off his veiled hat, his long hair flying in the wind. He smiled and held up the Blue Sky Attraction in his hand, looking down the mountain.
“I got it, City Lord.”