Chapter 923 - 8: One Day in the Mountains (Second Update)

Chapter 923: Chapter 8: One Day in the Mountains (Second Update)

Isn’t your sister also a proud person?

Mu Qingge ignored the anger in Xu Bing’s eyes, and walked towards Zhuang Shan and Feng Xing with her head held high.

Her ’thank you’ was for Xu Bing’s grace in avoiding collision. She knew Xu Bing avoided her because she didn’t want to bump into her; this woman found her repulsive to even look at, let alone wanting any physical contact.

However, Xu Bing’s expression, as if fearing she would seize the chance to take advantage, displeased her.

Xu Bing disliked getting close to others, and she felt the same way. So, without contact, she simply said thank you.

And her ’goodbye’ clearly indicated her stance. Xu Bing was reluctant to approach her just as much as she was. From now on, they’d each go their own way.

Her four words carried a bit of slyness; hearing them initially, they seemed harmless.

But upon closer inspection, and repeated contemplation, one could discern the hidden meanings within.

Thus, Zhuang Shan and Feng Xing found nothing amiss, rather they felt Mu Qingge was very polite. But upon hearing them, Xu Bing responded, becoming even more unfriendly towards Mu Qingge, with her cold eyes seemingly about to ignite.

Seeing Xu Bing’s reaction, Zhuang Shan shook his head and said to Mu Qingge, "This Xu junior sister really has a bad temper."

His words were merely offhand comments without any derogatory intent.

After speaking, he returned to the main topic, addressing Mu Qingge and Xu Bing: "Just now, the empty ship entered the East Divine Land’s protective shield, causing turmoil. Your Divine Power hasn’t fully transformed yet, thus this impact. The Zhongtian Domain lies ahead; strictly speaking, the Zhongtian Domain is a Spirit Vein in East Divine Land, specifically provided for Ascenders to cultivate. Every Ascender entering East Divine Land will stay in the Zhongtian Domain for a period. Once your cultivation stabilizes, you can exit the Zhongtian Domain’s Forbidden Techniques and enter East Divine Land. The other three Divine Lands have similar places. When you can leave the Zhongtian Domain is up to you."

After Zhuang Shan finished, Feng Xing took out two Qiankun Bags and handed them respectively to Mu Qingge and Xu Bing.

"These are Qiankun Bags marked with Huan Yue Domain’s insignia; once your Spiritual Sense is transformed into Divine Sense, you will naturally be able to open them. The contents are the same for both: a map of East Divine Land, with Huan Yue Domain’s specific location marked, and three Low Grade Divine Jades, the common currency and cultivation resources in Divine Land, which you must safeguard. Additionally, there’s a healing Elixir for use in crisis situations, and I hope it remains intact when you reach Huan Yue Domain." Zhuang Shan paused briefly before adding, "Did you keep the Tokens given to you earlier?"

Xu Bing nodded, and Mu Qingge did the same.

Zhuang Shan acknowledged with a ’hmm’ and continued, "When you leave the Zhongtian Domain, your Tokens will be activated. You only have half a year to reach Huan Yue Domain; this is your first trial. If you can’t pass this, there’s no need for you to go to Huan Yue Domain; the Tokens and the map you hold will automatically destroy, and the Divine Jade and Elixir will be a small token from Huan Yue Domain."

’So there’s a trial within it,’ Mu Qingge mused to herself. ’Reaching Huan Yue Domain within half a year seems not too challenging.’ Mu Qingge thought to herself. However, the moment she first saw the East Divine Land map and perceived the distance to Huan Yue Domain, she realized how laughable her previous thought was!

"In the Zhongtian Domain, it’s not just the two of you. There are others who arrived before you and haven’t yet left. Some are chosen by our Huan Yue Domain, while others are from the other three Divine Domains. Nevertheless, everyone practices individually, and doesn’t interfere with each other; you should not stir up trouble, focus on cultivation, and quickly transform your inner Spiritual Power and Spiritual Sense, and raise your cultivation level, is what’s important. Let me remind you: the lowest level disciples in Huan Yue Domain are in the Second Layer Spirit Void Realm. You have just ascended and lack the Divine Clan’s cultivation techniques; even after transforming, breaking through to the First Layer of Spirit Void Realm will be very good." Zhuang Shan continued.

His words ignited the fighting spirit in Xu Bing’s eyes, but Mu Qingge remained indifferent. Mainly because she had long been practicing the Divine Clan’s cultivation techniques, and they were the strongest!

"We’ve arrived." As the empty ship docked, Zhuang Shan said to Mu Qingge and Xu Bing.

Mu Qingge looked up and found a mountain shrouded in immortal mist ahead, seemingly surrounded by a barrier.

She then heard Zhuang Shan’s voice from behind, "Go in, take care of yourselves!"

Simultaneously, she felt a Giant Power from her back, pushing her off the empty ship towards the mountain. Turning, she saw Xu Bing was in the same situation, as the empty ship that ferried them continued its journey, out of their sight.

Bang! Bang!

Mu Qingge felt like she passed through something, falling into the mountain.

She immediately adjusted her posture to prevent falling too awkwardly. Just as she stabilized, Xu Bing landed nearby, less than a ten-foot distance.

Her landing was not graceful but neither was it embarrassing.

As Mu Qingge looked over, Xu Bing coincidentally glanced back, their eyes clashed for a moment before moving apart.

"Hmph." Xu Bing snorted coldly and walked into the forest.

Mu Qingge raised an eyebrow, curled her lips, and left in the opposite direction. Along the way, amidst lush green, jade-like plants, occasionally adorned with vibrant flowers, shrouded in thin mist like layers of gauzy fabric.

After walking for a while, Mu Qingge saw a mountain lying ahead. This mountain was entirely jade-white, somewhat resembling stalactites, with pitted surface exuding Spiritual Energy.

Her gaze slowly moved upward, discovering numerous cave dwellings excavated into the mountain.

Some cave dwellings were closed, clearly occupied, while others had open doors, unused. Mu Qingge observed and felt one had particularly abundant pure power, exceeding others.

Without hesitation, she climbed into that cave.

The cave was small, with only space for meditation. Mu Qingge discovered traces of nutshells in it, seemingly left by the previous user.

"Seems like my luck isn’t too bad. Just as the people here left, I arrived." Mu Qingge spoke to herself.

The treasure cave is hard to find, and now that she’s discovered it, there’s no reason to give it up.

Mu Qingge turned around and directly closed the cave’s door. At this moment, she happened to see Xu Bing climbing up to the spot. Seeing Mu Qingge already in the cave, Xu Bing was also taken aback.

Mu Qingge raised an eyebrow, it seemed Xu Bing chose a winding path and arrived a bit late. And it appeared that Xu Bing also had her eyes on this treasure cave.

Mu Qingge gave her a slight smile and unceremoniously closed the door, blocking Xu Bing’s gaze.

The closed cave entrance awakened Xu Bing from her sudden surprise at seeing Mu Qingge. She bit her lip secretly, stomped her foot in frustration, and reluctantly chose a cave nearby.

Of course, had she any choice, she wouldn’t have stayed so close to Mu Qingge. She discovered that any unused cave with plentiful power was near the cave chosen by Mu Qingge, so she had to endure her inner displeasure.

Ignoring the nut shells in the cave, Mu Qingge sat cross-legged on the meditation stone platform.

She paid no mind to Xu Bing, instead she calmed her mind and began meditating according to the methods in the Divine Strategy.

...

One day in the mountains, a thousand years in the world outside.

During Mu Qingge’s retreat, without realizing it, a year had passed outside. Over this year, many people in the Xiaotian Domain emerged from the caves, leaving with joyful roars. Many newcomers were sent here on empty boats, just like she was a year ago.

Except now, the boats ferrying people were not from Huan Yue Domain, but from Zhongtian Domain.

Xu Bing had also left the Xiaotian Domain a month ago.

When she left, she made it a point to look at Mu Qingge’s closed-off cave before departing coldly. Upon her departure, the Huan Yue Domain token on her was officially activated, commencing her tests.

Tens of thousands of miles away in Huan Yue Domain, in a solemn and sacred room, an elderly man with crane-like white hair lit a stick of incense, placing it in the incense burner. As Xu Bing’s token was activated, a Jade Disc Oil Lamp in the room simultaneously lit up. The lamps here are lined up in rows, numbering over a hundred, some flames are green, some red, and some almost on the verge of extinguishing.

Xu Bing’s lamp was among the green ones.

"Oh? Second Layer Spirit Void Realm. Not bad, not bad," the elderly man remarked with a benevolent smile upon seeing Xu Bing’s lamp light up, he nodded in approval.

Then he muttered to himself, "The young one has a good talent, make haste, reach Huan Yue Domain within half a year, don’t end up like those others, wasting talent and opportunities." After which, a few of the nearly extinguished lamps automatically went out.

This also signified the failure of the newcomers’ tests.

In Xiaotian Domain, time flowed neither fast nor slow. The caves had changed hands multiple times, yet Mu Qingge’s cave remained tightly closed.

A month passed.

Another month passed...

Seven months after Xu Bing’s departure, Mu Qingge had spent a year and a half in East Divine Land. She finally awakened from her cultivation. Her meridians, bones, muscles, blood, even her skin and hair seemed to have been tempered anew, becoming stronger.

The spiritual power circulating in her meridians transformed into immaculate divine power. Such purity is rarely found in someone as novice as her.

Her spiritual sense had also transformed into divine sense, more formidable than before.

Even with her eyes closed, her divine sense could effortlessly cover the entire Xiaotian Domain, knowing everything that transpired.

Gradually, her cultivation realm underwent an astonishing transformation.

The divine power within her surged out like a primordial beast, breaking through layers of confines.

Crack, as if something shattered inside.

First Layer of Spirit Void Realm!

Second Layer Spirit Void Realm!

Third Layer Spirit Void Realm!

...

In the special room within Huan Yue Domain, the same elderly man with crane-like white hair, although initially turned away from the lamp stand attending to his own affairs, suddenly sensed something and turned to look at the automatically lighting Jade Disc Oil Lamp, his eyes widened, an intense gleam of light bursting forth from his eyes, exclaiming in shock, "She actually broke through to Seventh Layer of Spirit Void Realm!"