Chapter Seventy-Six: Awe

High above, Jiuling seemed struck by a tremendous blow. He had never imagined his crimson spiritual sword would vanish so completely and in such a manner. As he hesitated, Iron Mountain below found his opening. His eyes narrowed fiercely, and from somewhere deep within, he unleashed a surge of spiritual energy. Like a cannonball, he shot upward from the earth straight toward Jiuling in the sky.

Iron Mountain pressed his palms together, a sharp stream of black spiritual energy swirling at his fingertips. It resembled a jagged black saw, which he drove mercilessly at Jiuling’s chest. Jiuling was shocked—he hadn’t expected the always-defensive Iron Mountain to suddenly strike with lethal intent.

In haste, Jiuling formed several odd spiritual seals, seemingly unpracticed yet unexpectedly effective. Iron Mountain’s attack, which had seemed certain, was thwarted: just as he believed he’d touched Jiuling’s body, Jiuling inexplicably vanished.

Still ascending, Iron Mountain was bewildered, unsure why Jiuling had disappeared. Yet from his charging posture, all could see the devastating power behind Iron Mountain’s blow.

Suddenly, Jiuling’s silhouette appeared in midair. He was breathless, his robes in disarray, evidence that Iron Mountain’s attack had been anything but trivial. “You’re courting death!” Jiuling’s fury was absolute. He had come to the Spirit Summit to showcase his prowess, yet here in Guihai Pavilion, he was made a spectacle by a rabble of local guilds and sects, fueling his rage. His hands moved swiftly, releasing an immense aura of righteous energy, and a beam of light shot toward the descending Iron Mountain.

Once again, Jiuling summoned the Celestial Yu Sword—a technique that had instantly slain Iron Mountain’s brother, Xu Leopard of the Ninefold Exquisite Sect.

Iron Mountain, suspended in the air, recognized the formidable power of this spiritual skill. He curled his body into a tight circle and began spinning rapidly. As the Celestial Yu Sword approached, a thunderous crash echoed, its light completely absorbed into Iron Mountain’s body, which spun faster and faster, resisting the sword’s force.

Seeing his Celestial Yu Sword unable to break through Iron Mountain’s shifting defense, Jiuling’s anger blazed anew. He realized Iron Mountain’s black spiritual energy was from the Invulnerable Vajra lineage, albeit via an unconventional path. With this thought, three cold stars appeared in Jiuling’s trembling hand.

Standing beside Nalan Xiner, Jiuxi looked down from his vantage point and immediately discerned Jiuling’s intent. Jiuling held one of the most poisonous weapons among spiritual cultivators—the Shield-Piercing Needle. This covert weapon could easily break an opponent's spiritual barrier and penetrate even the invulnerable Vajra body, its pinpoint strike capable of total destruction. Yet, it was despised by the Yuntian Sect, famed as the foremost cultivators of Linglong Continent, who would never risk their reputation by using such a weapon.

Jiuxi cursed inwardly. The heir of the Luo family had always been a maverick, and despite being exposed for plotting against Master Yuntong at the sect’s disciple selection, he hadn’t learned his lesson—here he was, deploying the same trick. With a flick of his hand, Jiuxi sent a silent wave of spiritual energy toward Jiuling.

Jiuling, though a scion of a spiritual cultivation clan, had trained for years in the Yuntian Sect and was notoriously arrogant, but he nonetheless feared Senior Brother Jiuxi. Not only was Jiuxi exceedingly strict, but his cultivation was unmatched among their peers.

“Senior brother,” Jiuling asked, stunned.

“Jiuling, you’ve traveled far and are weary. You’ve just fought a leader-level figure from Guihai City. It’s time to rest. Let me handle this Iron Mountain for you,” Jiuxi said calmly. Though he disdained Jiuling’s methods, he could not let the Yuntian Sect’s reputation suffer. His words, light and unhurried, had the weight of life and death.

Before Jiuling could respond, a flash of white light appeared in the sky. A figure materialized before the spinning Iron Mountain. Jiuxi extended a finger, effortlessly releasing a burst of spiritual energy. A blood-curdling scream rang out from Iron Mountain, whose body dropped from the sky like a heap of mud, landing with a thud as blood sprayed from his mouth. The black spiritual energy dissipated entirely.

The crowd was amazed—the famed chief disciple of the Yuntian Sect’s current leader, Master Yunjin, truly possessed extraordinary cultivation. The reputation of a great spiritual sect was well deserved.

Jiuxi turned to the crowd and spoke in a clear voice: “The Spirit Summit has not yet begun. There’s no need to stir up trouble here. Save your skills for tomorrow’s contest.” His words carried the authority of a host, and entered the ears of all present. Those who served Ouyang Zheng and the Ruthless Order wilted, for they knew Iron Mountain was no nameless figure—even if they could defeat him, the cost would be steep. Yet Jiuxi had crippled him with a mere gesture; how could they hope to contend?

Jiuxi’s display stunned the assembly. Just as some were about to withdraw and report to Old Master Ouyang, applause rang out, followed by a young voice: “The Yuntian Sect is indeed the dream of all cultivators. We in Guihai City earnestly wish to forge ties with your esteemed sect. However, with Yuntian standing alongside Flower Gate, who can say if this is wise? Perhaps soon, Yuntian should befriend Guihai City instead.” This statement reignited the fighting spirit among many; the speaker was none other than the eldest son of the Guihai family, Guihai Rong’an. Though scholarly in appearance, he was no ordinary man. Old Master Guihai Xin had retired for years before the Spirit Summit, leaving all city affairs in Rong’an’s capable hands.

Guihai City’s nine sects and eighteen guilds were a motley crowd, yet all followed the Guihai family’s lead—a testament to Rong’an’s indispensable role.

“I am Guihai Rong’an, representing my father, the city lord, to greet our friends from the Yuntian Sect,” Rong’an said, cupping his hands toward Jiuxi and the others.

Jiuxi had come under orders from Yunling to investigate the Guihai family’s ambitions. Though newly arrived, Rong’an’s words revealed much. The expression of Lady Honglin was already sour—clearly, this Spirit Summit was Guihai’s open challenge to the nearby Flower Gate.

Jiuxi, a veteran of Linglong Continent, smiled and replied, “Since ancient times, Linglong has only five great spiritual sects—never more. New sects may arise, but the number remains unchanged. Should Guihai City ever establish its own sect, the Yuntian Sect will come bearing honors. However—”

At this, Guihai Rong’an interjected, “But whether we succeed or overreach will be decided at tomorrow’s Spirit Summit. Senior Brother Jiuxi, please come inside—the finest chambers are ready for your sect’s guests.” Though Rong’an sensed Jiuxi’s hidden meaning, he understood Jiuxi’s purpose: if tomorrow’s contest saw Flower Gate suppressed, Yuntian would likely refrain from intervening.

Jiuxi cupped his hands, smiled at Lady Honglin, and entered Guihai Pavilion with the family’s attendants, ready to observe developments as was his main intent.

Lady Honglin, unruffled, took Huang Wan’er’s hand and followed after Jiuxi, as if she were not Guihai’s target but an old friend. This gesture won the admiration of many Flower Gate supporters—Flower Gate, a century-old sect, possessed both courage and vision.

The little witch Nalan Xiner, seeing Jiuxi and his party enter Guihai Pavilion, swung her feet and floated down from the sixth floor, landing beside Mo Bai. “Brother Mo, let’s go quickly.”

Mo Bai was surprised. “Why? Aren’t we staying to watch the excitement?”

Nalan Xiner grinned mischievously. “The excitement is worth watching, but not today. If we don’t leave now, that stern senior brother will come looking for me, and I’ll get another round of criticism—just thinking about it annoys me.”

Only then did Mo Bai realize that even the little witch feared someone. He replied, “Alright, so where shall we go?”

Nalan Xiner pointed to Tian Hua Mountain. “I wonder whose domain Guihai City really is. They promised to treat us as honored guests, but when I arrived, they pretended nothing was happening. Master Tian, are you out of money?”