Chương 31: The Hundred Thousand Desolate Mountains

Over the next several days, Reyn remained sequestered in his cave, consuming spirit pills and immersing himself in deep meditation. Although he did not manage to force a breakthrough into the next major realm, the spiritual energy within his meridians grew significantly more condensed and refined. Once his depleted Divine Sense had fully recovered, he even noticed a slight, perceptible increase in its potency and reach.

On the outskirts of the Xuanxiao Sect's back mountains, the terrain transitioned into a primordial wilderness of dense forests and jagged peaks where human footprints were a rarity. Today, however, the silence was uncharacteristically broken. Four young men stood in a small clearing, divided into two distinct pairs. They kept a cautious distance from one another, their body language radiating a palpable lack of trust.

"Junior Brother Chu Dian, my brother and I have arrived exactly as agreed. Why do we still linger here?" Under the shadow of a gnarled ancient tree, one of the twin brothers spoke, his expression etched with suspicion.

"Senior Brother Di Yun, please, exercise a moment of patience," Chu Dian replied, his voice low and steady as he glanced at the pair. Despite his calm exterior, a flicker of restless anxiety danced within his eyes.

"Don't tell me you've invited even more hands for this expedition?" The Di brothers exchanged a sharp, knowing look, their faces darkening with displeasure. Chu Dian hesitated for a heartbeat before slowly explaining, "This excursion into the ancient cultivator's cave is a matter of great gravity. Though I have made every possible preparation, I fear the four of us alone may lack the necessary strength to overcome the trials within. Thus, I reached out to one more helper.

Rest assured, whether he arrives is still uncertain. Furthermore, while his cultivation is not weak, he is certainly no match for either of your respective sides. You have nothing to fear from him." Only then did the expressions of Di Yun and Di Meng soften slightly, though their eyes continued to flicker with hidden calculations. Chu Dian inwardy sneered at their transparent greed but said nothing, closing his eyes to conserve his spirit.

Beside him, a silent young man who had been sitting cross-legged the entire time allowed a cold, thin smile to curl at the corner of his lips.

"The time has come. Even though I haven't reached the Foundation Establishment realm, as long as I proceed with caution, there should be no issues," Reyn murmured to himself. He rose in one fluid motion and headed toward the valley exit. Before departing, he carefully employed a few minor techniques to seal the entrance of the mountain-interior medicinal garden, replacing the excavated stone slabs so perfectly that no casual observer would notice the breach. Satisfied, he vanished into the trees.

Reyn activated his Breath-Concealing Art, masking his true power and stabilizing his aura at the 8th level of Qi Condensation. Clad in the pitch-black robes he had acquired during the previous trade fair, he sped toward the designated meeting point. As he approached, Reyn's brow furrowed slightly as he spotted the four figures waiting below. He descended toward the clearing with a controlled glide.

"Haha, it seems our fellow Daoist has arrived after all." Chu Dian's eyes lit up with a flash of relief. He was the first to stand, having sensed Reyn's arrival before the others. This small moment inadvertently revealed the hierarchy of their cultivation and perception. Chu Dian reacted first, followed by the silent man behind him who merely quirked an eyebrow. It was only after several breaths that the Di brothers finally detected the rapidly approaching presence.

Reyn's Divine Sense swept over the four men with practiced subtlety. Due to the vast disparity in their soul strength, none of them noticed the intrusion. He landed and gave a curt nod of greeting. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"This is Senior Brother Wu Shengli. And these two are Senior Brothers Di Yun and Di Meng. Might I ask how we should address our friend here?" Chu Dian spoke with a polite smile, treating Reyn as an equal. Reyn remained indifferent to the pleasantries. He cupped his hands in a brief, perfunctory salute and replied in a rasping, disguised voice, "You may call me Shu Yun." Without further ceremony, he sat down cross-legged.

As the undisputed top disciple of the Xuanxiao Sect's younger generation, Chu Dian's wit was as sharp as his blade. Reyn knew the man had likely pieced together the truth of his strength from the clues left at the trade fair, so he felt no need for elaborate pretenses. Wu Shengli gave Reyn a brief, acknowledging nod before returning to his meditation. The Di brothers, however, were clearly displeased by Reyn's refusal to show his face or reveal his true identity.

Being men of some experience, they suppressed their irritation, though their gazes remained icy. Once everyone was settled, Chu Dian waved his hand to manifest a simple sound-isolating restriction.

"You all know the general situation. Any treasures recovered from the ancient cave will be distributed equally. However, you must follow my lead. The path ahead is fraught with peril, and if a catastrophe occurs because someone fails to follow orders, do not say I didn't warn you." The Di brothers and Wu Shengli nodded; they were clearly well-versed in the risks. Reyn, however, narrowed his eyes.

"Ancient caves are notorious for their lethal traps and guardian arrays. With our current strength, don't you think this is a bit forced?"

"There is no need for doubt, Senior Brother. I have personally scouted the periphery of this cave before. Although I did not venture deep, I have a firm grasp of the danger levels. I would not lead us all to a certain death," Chu Dian replied with a confident glint in his eyes. Reyn considered this for a moment before nodding his assent.

"Good. Since we are in agreement, let us depart!" Chu Dian was the first to take to the sky, identifying their heading before streaking away as a blur of light. The Di brothers and Wu Shengli followed immediately, with Reyn trailing at the rear. Once they were clear of the Xuanxiao Sect's immediate territory, they pushed their flight speed to the limit. In a single day, they covered over ten thousand miles, finally crossing into the desolate borders of the Hundred Thousand Desolate Mountains.

The Hundred Thousand Desolate Mountains was a realm of endless, jagged peaks where demon beasts reigned supreme. Even in the outer fringes, one could encounter Level 1 demon beasts—creatures whose power rivaled Qi Condensation cultivators. It was whispered that in the deepest heart of these mountains, Level 5 demon beasts existed—monstrous entities equivalent to the human Soul Transformation realm. As their speed slowed, Chu Dian led the descent onto a rugged ridge.

"The ancient cave is located halfway up this mountain. However, we are now deep within the wilderness. Countless powerful beasts prowl these woods. We must be extremely cautious to avoid drawing unwanted attention or triggering a territorial dispute." Chu Dian's expression was grim, and he switched to using mental transmissions, his caution reaching an extreme level. The group moved with silent precision.

Chu Dian led the way, the Di brothers and Wu Shengli took the center, and Reyn brought up the rear, their movements light as they scaled the mountain. The interior of the mountains was eerily silent, yet the occasional, distant roar of a beast was enough to make one's blood run cold. Above, flocks of strange birds with iron-hooked beaks and obsidian feathers circled the sky like omens of death.

"Stop!" Chu Dian hissed through a transmission. He stared intently at a clearing ahead, carpeted in thick, rotting leaves. His face turned pale, and beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Suppress your auras completely. Do not make a single sound." Reyn and the others sensed the anomaly immediately. Upon entering this specific zone, all sound had vanished. Not even the wind dared to rustle the leaves, and the sky above was suddenly devoid of life. It was a vacuum of silence. Suddenly, a frantic squawk broke the tension from above. Two of the iron-beaked, black-feathered birds were locked in a mid-air skirmish. One was struck hard, tumbling several fathoms toward the canopy.

The victor shrieked in triumph, a sound that grated like metal on stone. However, as the bird descended and realized exactly where it had flown, its triumph instantly turned to pure, unadulterated terror. It didn't even stop to finish its prey; instead, it beat its wings with frantic, desperate power, clawing its way back toward the high heavens.

Simultaneously, the bird that had fallen to the level of the treetops began to scream in a high-pitched panic, its wings thrashing wildly as it fought to escape the gravity of the silent clearing below.