42: The trail of climbing

The thin morning mist had not fully dispersed, shrouding the vast Jia Ma Holy City in a hazy veil. However, an invisible undercurrent had already begun to surge in certain corners of the city.

Li Ao pushed open the inn room door. He was still clad in his clean, dark blue cloth attire, with a simple, unadorned refined steel long saber wrapped in cloth strips on his back. He did not deliberately release his Aura, but as he stepped out of the inn and into the street, an indescribable sense of gravity naturally emanated from him. It was as if a giant stone had been thrown into a calm lake; though it didn't stir up huge waves, the spreading ripples had already alerted the sensitive fish.

His steps were steady, his goal clear—Yun Lan Mountain.

Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Mittel Auction House, Ya Fei, who had stayed up all night meticulously analyzing all information about Li Ao, was rubbing her temples, preparing to refresh herself with a cup of strong tea. A trusted maid rushed in, whispering, “Young Miss, Mr. Li Ao… he has left the city, heading towards… Yun Lan Mountain.”

Ya Fei's hand, holding the teacup, paused slightly. A glint of brilliance flashed in her charming peach blossom eyes, then transformed into a complex emotion of “as expected.” She put down the teacup, walked quickly to the window, looked at the mist-shrouded mountain, and murmured, “He still chose the most direct method… Immediately transmit this news with the highest confidentiality to Elder Teng Shan, and notify our informants at the foot of Yun Lan Mountain to monitor closely, but absolutely not to approach, only observe from afar and report!”

“Yes!”

The Nalan Family, the Mu Family, and even some presences deep within the Imperial Family also received the news. The name Li Ao, accompanied by rumors from the Tagor Desert and his contact with Ya Fei at the Mittel Auction House yesterday, had entered the sight of the Empire's top powers. His movements affected the nerves of countless people.

Xiao Yan was practicing Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler in his rented courtyard, the ruler's wind howling and his Dou Qi surging. Yao Lao's ethereal figure guided him from the side. Suddenly, Yao Lao paused slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through the walls, looking towards Yun Lan Mountain.

“Teacher, what's wrong?” Xiao Yan stopped his ruler and asked, puzzled.

Yao Lao pondered for a moment, then said, “A very strong ‘momentum’ is gathering towards Yun Lan Mountain… Sharp, domineering, and unstoppable. It seems that the ‘Blade Ancestor’ Li Ao has begun to ascend the mountain.”

Xiao Yan's body trembled violently, his hand gripping the ruler suddenly tightened, his knuckles turning white. He gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with surging emotions—unwillingness, anger, a hint of powerlessness that even he didn't want to admit, but in the end, all transformed into an even more fervent flame.

“Is he… finally going to make a move against the Cloud Mist Sect?” Xiao Yan's voice was a little hoarse.

“It is an ascent, a quest for Dao, and even more, an assertion of Divine Might.” Yao Lao's tone was solemn, “This child's actions, though seemingly direct, each step contains profound meaning. His choice to ascend the mountain on the eve of the Three-Year Agreement is self-evident. Xiao Yanzi, this is a storm. For you, it is a crisis, but also a tempering. Observe the changes, and hold onto your true self!”

Xiao Yan nodded heavily, no longer speaking, only gripping the xuan heavy ruler tighter and turning to throw himself into even more frantic Cultivation. He wanted to become stronger, faster! Strong enough to face any storm, strong enough to reclaim everything that belonged to him!

...At the foot of Yun Lan Mountain, the long white marble steps, like a ladder to heaven, shimmered with a cool luster in the morning light. At the mountain gate, the Disciples on duty today seemed more numerous than usual, and the atmosphere was noticeably more austere. Clearly, the Cloud Mist Sect's high-ranking members had already learned of Li Ao's intention to ascend the mountain and had made preparations.

Li Ao's figure appeared at the base of the steps. He didn't pause, stepping onto them.

The moment his foot landed, a leading Disciple among the mountain guards shouted sharply, “Halt! This is a sacred place of the Cloud Mist Sect, no outsiders are allowed today!” His voice was full of Qi, bolstered by Dou Qi, attempting to suppress with Aura.

Li Ao acted as if he hadn't heard, his pace unchanged, continuing upwards. The restrained ‘momentum’ around him, with each step, was like a gradually awakening Dragon, slowly raising its head. The air seemed to thicken, and an invisible pressure made the mountain-guarding Disciples gasp for breath.

“Activate the Cloud Mist Covering Sun Formation!” The leading Disciple's face changed, and he immediately gave the order without hesitation.

Several Disciples quickly shifted positions, their Dou Qi connecting, and a pale white energy net reappeared, enveloping Li Ao, its power slightly stronger than before.

Li Ao still did not draw his saber, nor did he even point his fingers like a saber. He merely raised his eyelids, his dark iron-colored pupils indifferently sweeping over the descending energy net.

“Disperse.”

One word, lightly uttered.

There was no earth-shattering energy collision. The energy net, formed by the combined efforts of several Disciples, upon contact with the invisible ‘momentum’ field around Li Ao, actually emitted a faint “sizzling” sound, like ice and snow under the sun. Its energy structure spontaneously collapsed and disintegrated, turning into wisps of clear wind and dissipating!

Words becoming law? No, this was the nascent form of a Domain, created by Saber Intent and spiritual pressure condensed to the extreme! Within the range enveloped by his ‘momentum,’ energy structures below a certain level would be naturally suppressed and decomposed!

“Pfft!”

The Disciples forming the Formation suffered a backlash again, all spitting blood and retreating, their eyes filled with shock and fear as they looked at Li Ao. This time, they hadn't even touched the corner of his clothes!

Li Ao's steps did not stop. He walked past them, continuing upwards. His speed was still not fast, but the constantly rising ‘momentum,’ as heavy as a mountain, seemed to crush every stone step as if it were substantial, causing all Cloud Mist Sect Disciples who tried to block or observe along the way to tremble in their hearts, their faces turning pale. They involuntarily made way, no one daring to make a move anymore.

The news spread like wildfire to the upper echelons of the Cloud Mist Sect:

“Report—! That person has passed the mountain gate, the mountain-guarding Disciples' Formation has been broken, no one can stop him!”

“Report—! He has passed the welcoming pine, his steps are unceasing, and his Aura is still rising!”

“Report—! The enforcement team attempted to intercept, but were intimidated by his Aura and collapsed without a fight!”

One urgent report after another entered the Cloud Mist Sect's main hall, where the atmosphere was solemn. Many Elders looked grim. They could feel the ‘momentum’ from the mountain below, like a sharp sword piercing directly towards them, unstoppable!

Yun Yun, seated at the head of the table, wore a moon-white Sect Master's robe today, elegant and noble, with a cool, cloud-like temperament. Her beautiful face appeared calm, but her slender fingers resting on the armrest unconsciously curled slightly. She could clearly sense the approaching ‘momentum’—domineering, icy, with a determination to cut through everything. It was completely different from the gentle-tempered “Yao Yan” from the Magical Beast Mountain Range who had saved her in times of crisis, yet also... equally unfathomable.

“Sect Master! This child is too arrogant! Please allow me to lead the elite of the Enforcement Hall down the mountain to capture him!” A hot-tempered Elder rose to request permission.

Yun Yun slightly raised her hand, her voice clear and steady: “No need. Since he has come to ‘seek Dao,’ my Cloud Mist Sect will meet him with ‘Dao.’ Pass on my order: activate the first three changes of the ‘Cloud Mist Locking Mountain Formation,’ and all Disciples are to retreat to the square and not act without authorization.”

“Sect Master!” The Elders were puzzled.

Yun Yun's gaze swept over everyone, with an unquestionable Divine Might: “Do as I say.”

She stood up, her skirt trailing, and walked towards the entrance of the main hall, her gaze piercing through the Void Realm, as if she saw the figure who was gradually crushing the Cloud Mist Sect's pride with each step.

“Li Ao… let me see what capabilities you truly possess, daring to challenge my Cloud Mist Sect alone!”

At this moment, Li Ao had reached the mountainside. The clouds and mist ahead suddenly churned, and the previously clear mountain path disappeared, replaced by a vast sea of white mist. Within the mist were powers that could confuse perception and suppress Dou Qi, precisely the first three changes of the Cloud Mist Sect's protective Formation, the “Cloud Mist Locking Mountain Formation”—Illusion, Anti-Air, and Qi Erosion!

An ordinary Dou King would be overwhelmed and unable to advance an inch if caught in this Formation.

Li Ao finally stopped at the edge of the mist sea. He slowly raised his head, and in his dark iron-colored pupils, saber light seemed to flow.

“A mere illusion Formation, yet you wish to stop me?”

He did not forcefully break the Formation, but instead closed his eyes. His Soul Power, like mercury flowing across the ground, merged into the surrounding clouds and mist. The System assisted in scanning the flow patterns of energy nodes, and the powerful perception granted by the Black Iron Hegemon Body captured the most subtle fluctuations in space.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, took a step, not in a straight line, but following a profound trajectory, directly disappearing into the dense mist.

His figure appeared and disappeared intermittently within the mist sea. His steps seemed erratic, yet he always managed to avoid the killing intent condensed by the Formation at the last moment, or step into the gaps of energy flow. The mist, capable of eroding Dou Qi, was shredded by an invisible sharp intent when it approached within three feet of him.

He thus traversed the Cloud Mist Sect's proud protective Formation with an almost “leisurely stroll” demeanor! His speed was even faster than on the clear mountain path!

The Elder guarding the Formation's core stared dumbfounded at the blue figure moving like a fish in water within the crystal ball, barely believing his eyes.

“How is this possible?! He… he actually saw through the Formation's changes completely?!”

When Li Ao's figure emerged from the range of the Cloud Mist Locking Mountain Formation unharmed, appearing at the edge of the huge Cloud Mist Sect square, the entire square fell into a dead silence.

All the Cloud Mist Sect Disciples, deacons, and Elders gathered there were as if struck by a paralysis spell, staring blankly at the young man who seemed to have walked out of the mist.

Sunlight fell, illuminating his dark blue cloth attire and the ancient long saber on his back. He stood there, his figure not particularly robust, but the majestic ‘momentum,’ which had accumulated to its Peak after repeated breakthroughs, descended upon the entire square like a substantial mountain!

The oppressive Aura made it hard to breathe.

Li Ao's gaze calmly swept over the dense crowd in the square, finally resting on the moon-white figure standing alone at the entrance of the grand hall.

Their eyes met.

One gaze was cold as a saber, cutting through illusion.

One gaze was complex as clouds, containing myriad emotions.

Li Ao slowly spoke, his voice like the clanging of metal, clearly echoing across the entire square and into the main hall:

“Loose Cultivator, Li Ao, has reached the Peak. I request the Cloud Mist Sect—to give me guidance!”

As his voice fell, the long-suppressed majestic Aura around him erupted like a volcano that had been dormant for a thousand years! Dark iron-colored blood-Qi light shot into the sky, stirring the wind and clouds, and an incomparably sharp Saber Intent, intending to cleave the firmament, soared into the heavens!

The challenge had officially begun!