Master Longbrow had intended to demonstrate for Ye Qiu, but the plank road, made of wooden boards, was old and weathered, severely eroded by wind and rain.
As soon as he stepped on it, the board beneath him snapped.
*Bang!*
Master Longbrow fell from the plank road, crashing to the ground, his body wracked with pain.
“Little brat, you heartless punk, you did not even catch me. It hurts like hell!”
Master Longbrow grumbled, “I told you not to come to Shu Mountain. There will be a life-and-death crisis, but you would not listen. Now look, I almost died from the fall.”
Ye Qiu said with disdain, “Old man, you are a Venerable Realm expert, and you just fell like that? I am embarrassed for you.”
“Heh, I was just joking with you. I wanted to see if a Venerable Realm expert would get hurt falling from there,” Master Longbrow said, climbing up from the ground with a laugh. “Little brat, let me tell you, a Venerable Realm’s physical body far surpasses the Foundation Establishment Realm… Forget it, I will not explain. You would not understand anyway.”
“Wait until you become a Venerable Realm expert, then you will get it.”
Ye Qiu: “Heh…”
“Alright, let us go!” Master Longbrow said, his body flashing out and landing on the plank road again.
This time, he was cautious, moving slowly, and no accidents occurred.
Ye Qiu shouted from below, “Old man, at this speed, it will take days to reach Shu Mountain. Hurry up.”
Master Longbrow replied unhappily, “You think I do not want to go faster? The plank road is tough to navigate. You will see when you try it yourself.”
*Whoosh!*
Ye Qiu used the Cloud Ladder technique, his body like a shadow, stepping along the cliff and quickly appearing on the plank road.
The plank road was narrow and treacherous, but for an expert like Ye Qiu, it was no issue.
*Bang!*
Ye Qiu lightly tapped the board with his toes, his body soaring dozens of meters forward, moving at high speed.
In a blink, he was gone.
“Damn, this little brat, with lower cultivation than me, dares to show off in front of me. Hmph, time to show him my skills.”
Master Longbrow snorted coldly, taking a step that covered dozens of meters, quickly catching up to Ye Qiu.
The plank road wound along the cliff, twisting and turning, extremely perilous.
As they climbed higher, dense fog enveloped them, clouds swirling around, like an immortal realm.
They walked for half an hour.
Finally, an ancient pavilion appeared before them.
The pavilion used the cliff as a sword, its eaves forming a structure, flanked by sword-shaped mountains stretching hundreds of miles, like giant stones carved by axes, extending from northeast to southwest, forming an impassable barrier.
Above the pavilion’s gate hung a plaque with four characters:
“Shu Mountain Sword Pavilion!”
Master Longbrow smiled. “Little brat, passing through the Sword Pavilion is the true Shu Mountain.”
“Then what are we waiting for? Let us go!” Ye Qiu said, entering the Sword Pavilion first.
The so-called Sword Pavilion was just a pass, with no furnishings inside.
Ye Qiu and Master Longbrow easily crossed it, and before them stood towering peaks.
Each peak was barren, not a blade of grass, like divine swords piercing the sky.
Ye Qiu noticed every peak radiated an unmatched sharpness.
Sword intent soared.
Ye Qiu marveled, “It seems Shu Mountain’s sword cultivators are not just legends. They might really exist.”
Master Longbrow said, “Shu Mountain’s sword cultivators were never legends. Our Dragon Tiger Mountain’s founder visited Shu Mountain during his quest for immortality and sparred with their sword cultivators.”
“It is said that at Shu Mountain’s peak, there were three thousand sword cultivators.”
“Each could fly on swords, with high cultivation, slaying demons and guarding Bashu’s peace.”
“I read this in Dragon Tiger Mountain’s ancient records.”
Ye Qiu asked, puzzled, “If Shu Mountain was so glorious, why have we not seen their sword cultivators in all these years?”
Master Longbrow sighed, “Shu Mountain’s situation is somewhat like our Dragon Tiger Mountain’s. After glory came decline, but Shu Mountain had it worse.”
“I read in Dragon Tiger Mountain’s treasured records about the reason for Shu Mountain’s fall.”
“Rumor has it, Shu Mountain offended a figure with heaven-defying Taoist powers, and overnight, they were wiped out.”
Ye Qiu pressed, “When did this happen?”
Master Longbrow said, “I do not know the exact time, but it was recorded by the fifth-generation sect leader, likely a thousand years ago.”
Ye Qiu said, “Old man, I notice your Dragon Tiger Mountain’s records hold many secrets.”
Master Longbrow said proudly, “That is because Dragon Tiger Mountain has a thousand-year legacy, producing talents, especially each sect leader, all remarkable.”
Shameless!
Ye Qiu gave Master Longbrow a side-eye, thinking to himself that one day he would visit Dragon Tiger Mountain and thoroughly read their ancient records.
“Old man, since this is Shu Mountain, and you said there were sword cultivators, why do we not see their dwellings?”
“If Shu Mountain truly had three thousand sword cultivators, there should be grand structures, even if destroyed, some traces should remain.”
“Why do we see nothing now?”
Master Longbrow said, “Where we are now is just Shu Mountain’s edge.”
“Once we reach the core, we will likely see the sword cultivators’ dwellings.”
“If we are lucky, we might even find treasures. After all, this place produced many powerful sword cultivators.”
Ye Qiu said, “Let us go!”
“Do not rush. Let me check the direction first.” Master Longbrow took out a compass from his sleeve, checked the direction, and said, “Little brat, follow me.”
Ye Qiu followed Master Longbrow, heading north.
About half an hour later.
*Whoosh—*
Suddenly, a wave of yin qi hit, chilling to the bone.
“Damn, why is it so cold?”
Master Longbrow cautioned, “Little brat, I have a feeling this place is not simple.”
Even without Master Longbrow’s words, Ye Qiu sensed it.
With their cultivation, normal yin qi would not make them feel cold, but this yin qi made Ye Qiu’s hair stand on end.
They continued forward.
A few minutes later.
Master Longbrow suddenly stopped, saying gravely, “Little brat, look ahead.”
Ye Qiu looked forward and gasped, “Hiss—”
