Chapter 132: One of the Nine Secrets
Ye Fan felt that his relationship with Li Xiaoman had become as bland as water. The only connection they could have was that they had both been stranded in this world together.
Beyond that, it was hard to have anything else. The bits and pieces of the past had long since faded with time, becoming like burst fireworks.
He had also thought that, even if they couldn't be together and had lost the old feelings, they could still be friends. But their last encounter made him feel that was far too one-sided.
Ye Fan didn't plan to acknowledge Li Xiaoman. Rather than experience that cold detachment, it was better to brush past her like strangers.
Before arriving at the Grand Mystery Sect, Ji Ziyue had smeared something on her delicate cheeks, almost turning herself into a little tabby cat. Only her big, lively eyes remained, now curved into crescent moons as she caught the shift in Ye Fan's emotions.
Within the endless immortal mountains, one hundred and eight main peaks represented one hundred and eight inheritances, forming the foundation of the Grand Mystery Sect's enduring prosperity.
Even if some inheritances showed signs of decline, others were rising. Through dynastic changes and the passage of time, the Grand Mystery Sect had always stood firm.
Inside the sect's gate, the terrain was open, and a crowd surged. Tens of thousands of people had gathered here, yet it wasn't crowded at all, as they all waited for selection.
And this was only the first day. It would last for seven days. If this many people came each day, one could imagine just how many would arrive.
These people came from dozens of surrounding nations, all possessing some talent. But only a very small number could stay, requiring exceptional natural gifts and outstanding ability.
"This exaggerated?!" Faced with a sea of people, Ye Fan was quite astonished. This was even stricter than an emperor selecting a consort.
Ji Ziyue glanced at him and said, "Of course. The Grand Mystery Sect has a great reputation. At its peak, its strength could rank within the top one hundred in the Eastern Wasteland. It's a rare superpower that has been passed down for over ten thousand years."
"If that's the case, then your Ji Family must be even more terrifying, firmly suppressing such a major sect. I can hardly imagine what kind of power and prosperity your family possesses."
"Ancient aristocratic clans and holy lands have been passed down for ages, beyond calculation. How deep their foundations are—even I, being part of one, cannot truly understand."
Hearing this, Ye Fan could only draw in a cold breath. He simply couldn't fathom how terrifying such transcendent ancient clans truly were.
"Little brat, I get the feeling you have no concept of the major powers at all. You don't understand a thing."
"Don't call me little brat." Ye Fan found the address very awkward.
Ji Ziyue chuckled softly, messing up his black hair until it was a mess, and said, "You look like you're only thirteen or fourteen, yet you want to act all mature and pretend to be an adult. Honestly..."
Just then, dozens of figures flew over from among the one hundred and eight main peaks in the distance. All had white hair flowing down their shoulders, and were spirited, vigorous elders, both male and female, looking like old immortals.
They hovered in midair, looking down at the tens of thousands below. One of them spoke, his words concise and clear, his voice reaching every corner so that all could hear.
According to the elder, the initial test required only passing through an immortal gate ahead. Without immortal affinity, one simply couldn't get through. Only after passing this gate could one proceed to the one hundred and eight main peaks for testing. If suited to a particular peak's inheritance, one could stay and become a disciple of the Grand Mystery Sect.
Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue mingled with the crowd, moving forward with everyone else, and soon arrived before that mysterious gate. It was a thousand meters high, formed by a natural stone barrier, with misty fog inside—an endless, deep canyon.
Although many people entered, a full ninety percent were sent back by immortal light, deemed to have no immortal affinity.
"This stone gate-like natural barrier of the Grand Mystery Sect is said to have been refined by the nineteenth generation patriarch. Those unsuited for cultivation simply cannot pass through," many murmured.
Those sent back were often unwilling and tried again, but the result was no different.
Many young disciples of the Grand Mystery Sect guarded the place, and no one dared to cause trouble. After being sent back several times, those people had to leave in disappointment.
When it was Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue's turn, neither was nervous. They walked in with several hundred others. Ji Ziyue passed easily, stepping forward lightly. But just then, a flash of light occurred, and Ye Fan was sent back.
"This guy's physique... clearly ridiculously strong, how can he be such a waste?" Ji Ziyue's small mouth formed an O shape, her face full of disbelief.
Ye Fan had just sealed off his divine power fluctuations, making his bitter sea as hard as divine iron and unshakable. As a result, he was unsurprisingly sent back. He immediately understood the reason. Without blushing or a racing heart, he walked forward again. Some around him laughed, but he paid no attention.
This time, he let out a trace of divine power fluctuation, and without a hitch, he passed. This astonished those waiting outside to see him fail.
"You, what was that about just now?" Ji Ziyue looked at him with great curiosity. "Your physique is very special. There must be some secret."
Of the tens of thousands, only a few thousand remained. They headed toward the one hundred and eight main peaks, each seeking their own immortal fate. Many among them would still be eliminated, with only a minority staying.
Deep within the Grand Mystery Sect, there were countless beautiful peaks, among which the one hundred and eight main peaks were the most magnificent.
Some main peaks had immortal music echoing, mist swirling, and multicolored light flickering. Some main peaks were full of life, with waterfalls thousands of feet long cascading down like the Milky Way falling from the nine heavens. Some main peaks had immortal cranes dancing and celestial palaces floating, extremely peaceful, like a pure land beyond the world.
"Those palaces aren't built on the peaks but floating on the clouds..." Ye Fan was deeply surprised.
"What's so strange about that? Such a superpower naturally does this. Our family even has an ancient city that never falls."
"This..." Ye Fan could only sigh silently.
"I'll lie low here for a while and observe from the shadows to see who wants to deal with me. Then I'll drag them all out." Ji Ziyue's big eyes sparkled, then she added, "But since we're here, we shouldn't come for nothing. The Grand Mystery Sect has several legendary ancient techniques with unique merits that even holy lands and ancient aristocratic clans covet."
Ye Fan's heart stirred. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's choose a main peak with such an inheritance."
"Unfortunately, it's said those ancient techniques are nearly broken, having declined for many years. We can only try our luck." Ji Ziyue came from an ancient aristocratic clan and was well-informed. She had some understanding of the Grand Mystery Sect. Eventually, the two headed toward a very desolate main peak.
This main peak wasn't very majestic, only about three thousand meters high. It had dozens of subordinate peaks, many of which were taller than the main peak itself.
Clearly, this was a declining inheritance. The place was very quiet, with almost no one in sight. The main peak was overgrown with ancient trees and tangled vines, extremely desolate, as if no one had been there for a long time.
"Although it's one of the one hundred and eight main peaks, representing a powerful inheritance, it seems to have completely declined. This place is too remote—there isn't even a disciple guarding the mountain gate." Ye Fan felt it would be hard to gain anything.
Ji Ziyue rubbed her smudged face, then shot two divine beams from her big eyes, almost turning into tangible substance, as she began to scan the main peak ahead.
"In the past, this main peak was extremely prosperous. But five hundred years ago, its master clashed with a supreme elder of the Yaoguang Holy Land, and they perished together. The inheritance was nearly severed."
"Then why come here?" Ye Fan was puzzled.
"In the Grand Mystery Sect, the one hundred and eight main peaks have never truly lost their inheritance, because each main peak is a natural scripture. Even if it declines for hundreds or even thousands of years, it will eventually revive. The scripture will reveal itself, and the inheritance will open again."
"What's here that interests you so much?"
"Legend has it that this peak's inheritance includes an immortal art with unfathomable, ghostly abilities that makes all holy lands envious." Ji Ziyue's big eyes shone.
"Immortal art?"
"Yes. Because it's too mysterious, almost demonic, nearly immortal, it's called an immortal art."
"What's so special about it?" Ye Fan was very curious, feeling this inheritance must be extraordinary.
"If this immortal art is cultivated and activated, it can sometimes allow a person's combat power to multiply several times, even tenfold." Ji Ziyue was quite yearning.
This was a mysterious inheritance. When this technique was used, it could sometimes unleash several times one's own combat power. Although it only happened occasionally and couldn't succeed every time, it was still terrifying. When triggered by chance in battle, it could cause unimaginable damage.
"Such a technique exists?" Ye Fan was very tempted.
"It's said that in ancient times, there was a very mysterious ancient scripture. It didn't record profound mental methods, only nine secret techniques. Yet it was as famous as immortal scriptures like the Dao Scripture and the Void Scripture. Unfortunately, that ancient scripture was split apart. The nine secrets could no longer appear together, scattered across the eight directions. Some secrets may have even disappeared forever. Rumor has it that the immortal art of this main peak is one of the nine secrets from that time."
"Just nine secret techniques, comparable to a holy land's ancient scripture..." Ye Fan drew in a cold breath. The inheritance of this main peak was one of the Nine Secrets, with a great origin!
"I hope we can find this secret technique." Ji Ziyue's eyes shimmered with divine light.
"Is this the only secret technique in the Grand Mystery Sect?"
Ji Ziyue nodded. "For them to obtain one secret technique is already a stroke of heavenly fortune."
At that moment, the area ahead was completely silent and overgrown. The mountain gate at the foot of the main peak was choked with weeds, not at all like an immortal mountain. Not far away, on an ancient tree, a few crows cawed loudly, flapping their wings as they took flight.
The path up the mountain was completely buried by thorns, with tangled vegetation growing wildly, as if it hadn't been cleared for a long time.
Just then, a stooped, trembling old man emerged from a dilapidated hall on the mountain and walked down.
"Are you here for testing?" His old eyes were cloudy. "It's been five hundred years, and the inheritance still hasn't appeared, nearly severed. I don't know how much longer we'll have to wait. Coming here, you may only waste your time."
"We're not afraid. We have plenty of time to wait." Ji Ziyue smiled sweetly, stepped forward to support the old man, and chatted cheerfully, lively and spirited.
The three-thousand-meter main peak had many halls, but many had collapsed, with ancient trees pressing down on them and vines covering everything. The weeds in the courtyards were waist-high.
"This is almost like a wilderness..."
"Yes. With the inheritance not appearing, who would want to come here? Naturally, it's desolate." The old man sighed repeatedly.
Just then, over a dozen divine rainbows shot past, heading toward the main peak ahead. Ye Fan didn't expect to see Li Xiaoman again so soon. She was already a Life Spring realm cultivator, able to ride a rainbow.
"That main peak ahead is extremely prosperous. Choosing this peak is far inferior to choosing that inheritance," the old man kindly suggested.
"We only care about this peak's inheritance," Ji Ziyue said with a light smile.
The old man nodded with a grin. "Good, you have ambition. You must know that this peak's inheritance is one of the legendary Nine Secrets. I hope you can gain something."
Finally finished writing three chapters. Too tired to go on. Dear readers, please support me. Chen Dong is working very hard.