“Clang!”
The moment the Xuanyuan Sword emerged, in an instant, the demonic mist near Ye Qiu became terrified and restless, rapidly dispersing.
As the demonic mist cleared, the mountain immediately stopped shaking.
The Xuanyuan Sword hovered above Ye Qiu’s head, side by side with the golden coffin, radiating boundless golden light. One side of the sword body displayed mountains, rivers, grasses, and trees, while the other side showed the sun, moon, and stars. The aura of the sacred path spread across the heavens and earth.
“The Xuanyuan Sword!”
The various elders recognised the Xuanyuan Sword, each one stunned and wide-eyed.
After a long pause.
Elder Sheep came back to his senses and exclaimed in shock, “Am I seeing things? That really is the Xuanyuan Sword?”
Elder Bear said, “You’re not mistaken. That is indeed the Xuanyuan Sword.”
Elder Monkey shouted loudly, “Bloody hell, the Master actually has the ancient number one divine sword in his hands. That’s incredible!”
Elder Horse said gravely, “Legend has it that the Xuanyuan Sword is the sword of the sacred path, and only the one chosen by heaven’s mandate can possess it. How did it end up in the Master’s hands?”
One second remember m.
“No, there’s something wrong with this Xuanyuan Sword,” Elder Chicken said. “It seems to lack the power of a divine artefact!”
Little White Fox said, “That’s because it has lost its sword spirit.”
“I see,” Elder Chicken said with a face full of regret. “What a pity. If the Xuanyuan Sword had its sword spirit, once activated, who could contend with it?”
“Indeed, it’s a shame it has no sword spirit,” Little White Fox said. “If it did, Changsheng could borrow the might of the divine sword and reach the end directly.”
Elder Bear said, “Although the Xuanyuan Sword lacks its sword spirit, it is still the ancient number one divine sword. Who knows how far it can help Young Master Ye go?”
Little White Fox said, “We’ll have the answer to that question soon.”
While they were speaking, Ye Qiu had climbed another dozen or so peaks.
Though the Xuanyuan Sword had no sword spirit, the might of the sacred path remained, and the demonic mist did not dare approach.
“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!”
Ye Qiu moved extremely quickly, leaping from one peak to another without pausing.
He even employed the Wudang supreme skill of Ladder Cloud Vertical, so that only a blurred shadow could be seen swiftly ascending the mountain.
Elder Monkey kept his eyes fixed on Ye Qiu’s figure while quietly counting, “Seven hundred and ninety-eight, seven hundred and ninety-nine, eight hundred!”
“Eight hundred and one, eight hundred and two, eight hundred and three…”
“Nine hundred and one, nine hundred and two, nine hundred and three…”
“Nine hundred and ninety-four!”
“Nine hundred and ninety-five!”
When Ye Qiu reached the nine hundred and ninety-fifth peak, he stopped.
“If the Master climbs just five more peaks, he’ll break a thousand,” Elder Monkey said, his face full of shock.
In a million years, apart from the Eternal Blue Sky Great Emperor, no one had ever reached such a height.
“The Xuanyuan Sword seems unable to protect him any longer,” Little White Fox said, her eyes filled with worry.
Ye Qiu stood on the peak, surrounded by rolling demonic mist like vast black clouds, creating a sense of oppression.
At this point, the demonic mist was drawing ever closer, now only two metres away.
“Though it has no sword spirit, helping me climb so many peaks is already remarkable,” Ye Qiu said, looking up at the Xuanyuan Sword. “Thank you.”
As if hearing Ye Qiu’s thanks, the sword body trembled slightly.
“Continue forward.”
Ye Qiu knew full well that continuing to climb would soon bring trouble, yet he did not hesitate or retreat.
Whoosh!
Ye Qiu resumed climbing.
This time, Ye Qiu’s speed was much slower.
The demonic mist grew thicker, closing in ever nearer, and the sounds of ghostly wailing and wolf howling constantly rang in his ears, giving him the sensation of walking through hell.
Ye Qiu gritted his teeth and persevered, climbing four more peaks.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine!
Elder Dog sighed, “It seems Young Master Ye can only go this far…”
Boom! At that moment, a towering imperial might descended, and a golden great cauldron appeared suspended above Ye Qiu’s head.
Instantly, the demonic mist scattered completely.
Ye Qiu leapt in one step onto the thousandth peak, like a divine king descending upon the world.
All the elders stared at the golden great cauldron above Ye Qiu’s head. The cauldron resembled a small mountain, ancient and weighty, covered in densely packed runes, with divine light circulating, extraordinarily remarkable.
“This is… the Qiankun Cauldron?”
Elder Bear’s gaze focused, his voice trembling as he spoke.
“What, that’s the Qiankun Cauldron?”
The other elders were utterly shocked.
“Old Bear, you’re not mistaken?” Elder Tiger asked.
Elder Bear did not reply, turning to Little White Fox and asking, “National Lord…”
“You’re not mistaken. It is indeed the Qiankun Cauldron.” With these words from Little White Fox, the scene fell silent enough to hear a pin drop, and the elders’ expressions turned to horror.
“Legend has it that the Qiankun Cauldron is the foremost divine artefact between heaven and earth. I never imagined that in my lifetime, I would witness it with my own eyes.”
“Young Master Ye has obtained the supreme opportunity of Immortality Mountain, along with the Xuanyuan Sword, and now this Qiankun Cauldron. If he breaks through to the Divine Connection realm, he should be able to slaughter saints, right?”
“Though the Master’s cultivation is weak, he has obtained several heaven-defying treasures. His fortune is truly invincible!”
“…”
The various elders whispered among themselves.
Only Elder Ox curled his lip, his face full of disdain as he said, “What’s there to be surprised about? I already told you, the Master is the reincarnation of the Heavenly Emperor.”
The other elders ignored Elder Ox.
Elder Rabbit said, “Since Young Master Ye has the Qiankun Cauldron protecting him, he should be able to reach the final peak, right?”
Little White Fox shook her head. “No.”
“Not even this?” Elder Rabbit complained. “It seems Old Ox was right earlier. The Demon Emperor left behind three thousand mountains not to test the younger generation, but to make things difficult for them.”
Ye Qiu began climbing again.
With the Qiankun Cauldron protecting him, this time Ye Qiu climbed eight hundred peaks in one go.
By now, he had climbed a full one thousand eight hundred peaks.
“Boom!”
Above Ye Qiu’s head, another Qiankun Cauldron appeared.
“The second Qiankun Cauldron!” Elder Snake exclaimed in shock. “The Master has sacrificed another divine artefact!”
With the addition of the second Qiankun Cauldron, Ye Qiu continued until he reached the two thousand one hundredth peak before stopping. The end was drawing nearer, and the resistance was growing greater.
Immediately afterwards, the third Qiankun Cauldron emerged from the void.
“Good heavens, a third divine artefact!”
The elders were so shocked their throats went dry.
This time, Ye Qiu climbed all the way to the two thousand five hundredth peak before pausing.
After a brief rest.
“Boom!”
The fourth Qiankun Cauldron appeared.
“Another divine artefact!”
Even Elder Bear could no longer remain calm, asking, “National Lord, just how many Qiankun Cauldrons does Young Master Ye have?”
“Four,” Little White Fox said.
Elder Bear said, “It seems Young Master Ye can reach the end.”
Little White Fox said gravely, “Back then, even the Eternal Blue Sky Great Emperor did not succeed. With Changsheng’s cultivation, reaching the final peak will still be very difficult.”
“However, Changsheng is good at creating miracles.”
“I have faith in him!”
Ye Qiu climbed rapidly, with four Qiankun Cauldrons, the Xuanyuan Sword, and the golden coffin suspended above his head, his entire body radiating brilliant golden light, like a deity.
A quarter of an hour later.
Ye Qiu stood upon the two thousand nine hundred and ninety-eighth peak!
