Chapter Thirty-Four: The First Journey Down the Mountain

Chapter Thirty-Four: First Time Descending the Mountain

To learn magic, one must either seek guidance from teachers, senior brothers, or sisters, or enter the Scripture Pavilion. Returning to the Unmoving Peak would take at least another day, but the Scripture Pavilion open to disciples was right here on the Steward’s Peak, just a short distance away.

Fang Junmei went straight into the Scripture Pavilion.

The pavilion was divided into six levels, each corresponding to different tiers of magical arts and divine abilities. The lower-level spells could be freely studied, while the higher-tier ones required a certain amount of sect contribution, and some were reserved for disciples of particular status.

Fang Junmei’s requirements were modest; he searched only within the complimentary first level.

Within this first level, there were hundreds of spells—ranging from offensive arts like Fire Stream, Lightning Strike, Water Arrow, to defensive ones like Light Shield, and auxiliary techniques such as Gravity Manipulation and Underwater Breathing. Everything one could imagine was available!

Though this was a sword-cultivator sect, the Taoyuan Sword Sect lacked nothing in these fundamental magical arts.

Fang Junmei’s eyes dazzled as he browsed, for the first time realizing that, having focused solely on cultivation and lacking guidance, he had neglected many things.

Soon, Fang Junmei took four or five jade scrolls in succession and devoured their contents within the pavilion, not hurrying to depart for his task.

...

He studied for seven days.

In those seven days, Fang Junmei not only mastered Gravity Manipulation, but also Light Shield, Underwater Breathing, and a technique called Air Dance—an art for Qi-guiding cultivators to travel swiftly. He even memorized several other practical arts for later study.

During these days, his horizons broadened anew.

After seven days, Fang Junmei finally descended the mountain.

...

Having joined over eight years ago, this was Fang Junmei’s first time leaving the Taoyuan Sword Sect.

The scene outside the mountain gate was also new to him. As soon as he stepped out, he stood frozen.

Beyond the lofty gate was a jutting cliff, and past the precipice stretched the vast sky and sea of clouds. This cliff was situated at least a thousand or two thousand feet up the mountainside.

He walked to the edge, looked down, and saw rolling azure mountain ranges stretching beyond sight. Though they appeared low, Fang Junmei was certain those peaks were hundreds of feet tall at minimum.

If viewed from below, no mortal would ever know that a hidden paradise—the Peach Blossom Spring—lay above, truly a place apart from the world.

Whoosh—

The high mountain wind swept by, causing Fang Junmei’s robes to billow and filling his heart with boundless ambition. His gaze shone as he looked down on the world.

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This is it!

This is what he wanted!

To pursue grander dreams in such a world.

Roar—

The sound of dragons and tigers resounded from Fang Junmei’s throat, filled with excitement, like a youth newly stepping into the realm of immortals.

He raised his arms high, bathed in golden sunlight, overlooking the sea of clouds, and let out a long, triumphant cry.

Not far behind, the two gatekeeper brothers, Dust and Floating, smiled knowingly at his display.

...

Once his cry faded, remembering he still could not fly by sword, Fang Junmei asked those two brothers for a path to descend and return, finally making his way down the mountain.

Whoosh—whoosh—

With a burst of magical power, Fang Junmei’s figure danced through the air, gliding swiftly with the newly learned Air Dance technique. Though not true flight, it surpassed mundane martial arts and was much faster.

Compared to the path up Luofu Mountain, the route from the mortal world to the Taoyuan Sword Sect was even steeper and treacherous. Without the guidance of those senior brothers, Fang Junmei would surely have managed to descend, but not ascend again, making a laughingstock of himself.

The mountain path wound between rocks and hidden ravines, twisting endlessly, with light alternating between bright and dim, and the stones and plants on both sides taking on myriad strange shapes.

Along the way, Fang Junmei encountered not a single soul.

In his mind, maps of this small path and the Taoyuan Sword Sect and its surroundings surfaced repeatedly.

The sect was situated in the northern reaches of the Sunset Mountain Range in the Great River Kingdom, a range vast and sprawling, nearly a thousand miles across. Besides the Taoyuan Sword Sect, there were three other sizable sects and residences of solitary cultivators, though their details are momentarily omitted.

Within the Sunset Mountains lurked many demon beasts, some quite formidable. Yet the more intelligent ones, aware of the power of human cultivators, kept their distance. Thus, only low-level beasts remained near the sect, posing little danger.

Taoyuan Sword Sect’s location was particularly far north; several hundred miles further lay the blazing Ghost Desert, famed for its immense span, howling winds, and searing heat.

Neither the Sunset Mountains nor the Ghost Desert were places mortals could survive. Yet both abounded in cultivation resources—herbs for alchemy, ores for forging, and materials from demon beasts.

Not long after setting out, Fang Junmei encountered several venom-spitting black serpents lurking among the treetops, attempting an ambush.

Whoosh—

He dodged easily, then swept out seven or eight sword rays, slaying the monsters in an instant.

He continued forward.

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Lightning Leopard.

Iron-Winged Owl.

Three-Tailed Fox.

...

Each adversary appeared in turn.

Fang Junmei bore no prejudice against their species, but since they sought him out, he did not mind using them for practice, familiarizing himself with the combat style of the cultivation world—especially its myriad magical arts.

Through successive battles, Fang Junmei swiftly became proficient in the Nether Ghost Rain Sword Art. At first, he cautiously activated the Three-Breath Divine Stone, but once he grew familiar with the beasts’ fighting styles and the strength behind their aura, he stopped relying on it, battling solely with his own skill.

Combat inevitably led to injuries, especially when facing packs of beasts; even Light Shield could not always withstand the onslaught.

Fortunately, when Song Shoude sent Fang Junmei back to the Unmoving Peak three years prior, he gifted him some self-made healing pills, which proved highly effective.

...

Heading northward, the temperature steadily rose and the vegetation grew sparse and yellowed.

After more than twenty days, Fang Junmei finally reached the edge of the Ghost Desert.

From a distance, he saw a vast expanse of dim yellow stretching endlessly; though it was midday, the light in the Ghost Desert was so eerie and dark it seemed almost night.

This oddness was caused by the unceasing ghost storms. The surface of the Ghost Desert was forever swept by scorching, strange winds, carrying cries and howls that gave the desert its name.

Fang Junmei was sweating profusely, pulled out a flask of wine, took a sip, and scanned the nearest ghost storm.

He could clearly see three clusters of dusty yellow light—like tiny, sparkling stones—dancing in the wind, lending a unique brightness and vitality to the otherwise bleak landscape.

Those three clusters were the Wind Shadow Sands needed for his task.

According to the mission description, these were the quintessence of earth energy that naturally formed in the Ghost Desert, drawn up from underground by the fierce winds. Though stone-like, they possessed a strange sentience, and would dodge attempts to collect them, making the task even harder.

As for their purpose, the jade scroll gave no clue.

After a few glances, Fang Junmei’s lips curled into a smile, his eyes bright with challenge. He raised his flask, drained it with a flourish, and strode boldly into the tempest.

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