Chapter 654 - 621: Holy Mountain Peak, The Xuanjin Guide

Dense Spiritual Qi converged atop the ancient and majestic mountain peak, causing it to pool in the environment below as well.

Spirit Fruits grew and Spiritual Materials were nurtured within the mountain.

The scene was similar to when a large-scale Secret Realm manifests. When that happens, Spiritual Qi spills out, enriching the surrounding area. This allows many Spirit Flowers and Spirit Grasses to flourish. However, such conditions are temporary, as the Secret Realms eventually disappear.

Once the source of Spiritual Qi vanishes, these areas naturally revert to normal, unable to sustain Spirit Flowers and Spirit Grasses.

But this mountain was different. The Spiritual Qi it contained had been abundant for over a thousand years, and it was known as the Holy Mountain.

The Holy Mountain’s name, however, came not from its abundant Spiritual Qi but from the power that resided on its peak.

There was a saying at the foot of the mountain: anyone who could climb to the Holy Mountain Peak could become the most powerful person in the world.

The uninformed dismissed it as a legend, but those who knew the truth felt the saying was accurate.

Because the entrance to the Merak Sacred Land was located on the Holy Mountain Peak.

Those who could enter the Merak Sacred Land were, naturally, members of the Merak Sacred Land. They all held high status; even the positions for Servant Disciples were fiercely contested.

Because even becoming a Servant Disciple could change one’s destiny.

Yang Chan followed Gu An and the others to the foot of the Holy Mountain. Gazing up at the majestic peak, he felt waves of immense power wash down from above.

It was the aura radiating from the Martial Arts Experts on the Holy Mountain—the Mountain Guardians.

In fact, before reaching the Holy Mountain, Yang Chan, Gu An, and the others had already passed through the "Holy City," also known as Xuanyu City. It was the Merak Sacred Land’s city at the foot of the mountain. Its inhabitants were almost entirely descendants of members of the Merak Sacred Land. Not all descendants could remain within the Grotto Heaven; some were forced to leave.

However, if a descendant managed to render great service to the Merak Sacred Land, they could bring their family back inside. There, they could once again enjoy the land’s abundant Spiritual Qi, which not only prolonged life but also ensured that the younger generation’s Martial Arts Talent would far surpass that of ordinary people.

It was said that if a pregnant woman lived in a place with dense Spiritual Qi for an extended period, the fetus could absorb some of it. This would improve the child’s constitution and potentially enhance its innate talent.

Although this claim was unverified, those with the means naturally wanted their descendants to win at the starting line and have an innate advantage over ordinary people.

Having passed through Xuanyu City, Yang Chan’s group arrived at the foot of the Holy Mountain, but for now, no one began the ascent.

Climbing the mountain required a guide from the Merak Sacred Land; otherwise, it was considered trespassing. The Mountain Guardians would take action against any intruders. These guardians’ cultivation ranged from Inner Master to Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster, and every one of them possessed immense combat power.

Even at the foot of the mountain, Yang Chan could feel the powerful auras. They were manifestations of the Martial Arts Experts’ spirits, a display of power that became clearer the higher one’s cultivation was.

Stepping onto the Holy Mountain also meant entering a Super Array. This was the Mountain Protection Array the Merak Sacred Land had established on the mountain to prevent intruders from forcing their way through.

It was said to be capable of stopping even experts at the Blood Exchange Martial Saint Level. Unlike the self-running arrays in places like the Purple Void Secret Realm, this Super Array was actively maintained and controlled by dedicated personnel.

The Mountain Guardians were in charge of it, and under their control, the Mountain Protection Array’s might was naturally far greater.

If anyone were discovered attacking the mountain, it would draw the attention of the Blood Exchange Martial Saint experts hidden within the Grotto Heaven of the Merak Sacred Land. They would emerge to hunt down and kill the intruders.

Yang Chan, Gu An, and the others were aware of all this, as Lü Zhenghai had mentioned it during his previous return to the Cyan Yuan Sect.

This wasn’t considered a secret of the Merak Sacred Land, but rather common knowledge.

For now, Yang Chan, Gu An, and the others were waiting for their guide.

Their escorts would include people from Chiyu Peak as well as those arranged by the Merak Saintess herself.

Yang Chan’s group hadn’t been waiting long at the foot of the Holy Mountain when a barrier of light suddenly materialized above. It rippled like the surface of calm water disturbed by a pebble, spreading outward in a shimmering halo.

Then, five figures emerged from the halo. Three of them were familiar faces—former members of the Cyan Yuan Sect, including Former Sect Leader Liu Xuan and Intermediate Pharmacist Xu Gaocen. Accompanying them were two others. One had an aura slightly stronger than Liu Xuan’s; he was at the initial stage of a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster and had yet to complete his first cleansing. The other was an Inner Master.

’Judging by their demeanor, they must be the ones sent by the Merak Saintess.’

The two men’s gazes swept over the crowd before finally settling on Yang Chan.

"You’ve finally arrived. These two are Direct Disciples from Xuanjin Peak and are among the Saintess’s most trusted companions."

Liu Xuan was overjoyed to see Gu An and the others, especially Yang Chan standing beside him. The delight in his eyes was impossible to hide.

’He hadn’t expected the Cyan Yuan Sect to produce an Advanced Pharmacist so quickly.’

After all, the people he had taken with him before were the ones considered most likely to become Advanced Pharmacists. Back then, Yang Chan had only revealed a fraction of his talent and was a long way from reaching that level, nowhere near the likes of Xu Gaocen.

Furthermore, Yang Chan was young and lacked experience, requiring a long period of accumulation. That was why Liu Xuan had only hesitated for a moment before agreeing to Gu An’s request to let him stay behind.