Three days had passed since the conclusion of the Mountain Selection Ceremony. Seven guide messengers descended from the heavens, their silhouettes framed by the rising sun as they approached the formation barrier that separated the outer mountain from the inner sect.
With a series of complex hand seals, the messengers opened the massive spiritual barrier. The portal groaned with the weight of ancient power, revealing a path that led directly into the heart of the Sky Sect.
As the selected disciples were ushered through, a collective gasp swept through the crowd. Compared to the outer mountain, it was an entirely different reality. The surroundings were a celestial dreamscape that left even the most arrogant prodigies awestruck.
Majestic peaks pierced the clouds. The spiritual Qi here was undeniably more profound, surging through the atmosphere in visible ribbons of silver mist. It was so pure that every breath felt like a draught of divine nectar, invigorating the meridians and clearing the mind.
This was a realm of true cultivation, a place where the laws of the world felt more tangible and within reach.
As they traversed the winding mountain paths, a singular, towering peak appeared in the distance, standing apart from the others. It was the Peak of the Holy Child. Etched into its sheer cliff face were ten names, glowing with a brilliant gold light that could be seen from miles away. These were the rankings of the Ten Holy Children, the peak of the younger generation within the sect.
Shen Xi glanced at the monument, her eyes scanning the list of names before turning back to the group. "It seems there is not a single name from the Saint Origin Peak in the rankings of the Holy Child," she observed, her voice carrying a hint of thoughtful analysis.
Mu Chen, who was walking with his hands lazily tucked into his sleeves, barely spared the monument a glance. "That is why it is called the weakest out of all seven peaks."
Shen Xi nodded slowly. Nibi, perched comfortably in the crook of Shen Xi's arm, let out a small, affirmative meow. The golden cat flicked her ears: That makes sense.
Those who reached the rank of Holy Child were the most outstanding and powerful disciples of their generation. There were no names from the Holy Origin Peak, as it had declined to its current state.
Shortly afterward, the seven guides reached a junction and began leading their respective groups toward the designated summits. The group headed for the Saint Origin Peak was significantly smaller than the others. They eventually reached a vast stone square located on the hillside of the peak.
The square was already occupied by a significant number of senior disciples. They stood in groups, their auras significantly more potent and sharpened than those of the new recruits.
The hierarchy displayed on their waists—belts of black, gold, and purple, indicating their rank and tenure within the peak. The air was thick with the weight of their collective spiritual pressure, a reminder to the newcomers that they were currently at the bottom of a very tall ladder.
At the far end of the square, a raised platform dominated the space. Three elderly figures sat cross-legged upon woven futons. When they opened their closed eyes, the spiritual pressure they exerted was almost physical. These three were the Elder Masters of the Holy Origin Peak, each an expert at the peak of the Soul Infusion realm.
The central position was occupied by Elder Shen Xiao, a man with a dignified air and long, flowing robes. To his right sat Elder Lu Zong, a stern-faced man with eyes like flint. To his left was Elder Lu Hong, whose presence carried the unmistakable sharpness of the Sword Peak, from which he had originally come.
"From today onwards, you are official disciples of the Peak of Holy Origin," Shen Xiao announced, his voice carrying a resonant power that filled the square. He surveyed the new faces, his gaze lingering for an extra heartbeat on Mu Chen and Shen Xi.
He was well aware of their reputations. One was the undisputed first-place finisher of the Mountain Selection Ceremony who had, against all logic, voluntarily chosen the weakest peak.
The other was a genius of formations and runes so talented that the Master of the Spirit Rune Peak had publicly promised her the position of Peak Master in the future.
"Currently, the Peak of Holy Origin has three elder masters," Shen Xiao continued. "You are free to choose which lineage you wish to join for your future cultivation."
Before the newcomers could even process the choice, a figure stepped forward from behind Elder Lu Hong. He was a young man with a Golden Belt around his waist, his chin tilted at an arrogant angle as he looked down at the new disciples.
"I am Zhao Gang," the disciple announced proudly, his voice carrying a sharp, condescending edge. "All junior brothers should be aware that Elder Lu and his followers come from the prestigious Sword Peak. We are here with a singular, important mission: to retrieve the Peak Master's Seal from the sealed main peak. Those who are truly interested in the future of this summit and wish for the best guidance may join Elder Lu's lineage."
Since the death of the Tian Cang Ancestor, the main peak of the Holy Origin Peak had been sealed. Within that sealed region lay the vast majority of the resources and legacies that had once made the peak the greatest in the sect.
Its current decline was a direct result of being cut off from its own heart. Furthermore, because the Peak Master's Seal was trapped inside the main peak, the summit was currently without a true Summit Lord, governed only by the three elders.
Shen Xiao and Lu Zong narrowed their eyes, their spiritual energy fluctuating slightly. They were the resident elders of the Holy Origin Peak, yet a mere Golden Belt disciple from the Sword Peak faction dared to be so presumptuous in their presence.
However, despite their discomfort, they remained silent. They knew the bitter truth: at present, their peak was vastly inferior to the other six, and Lu Hong's connection to the Sword Peak gave his lineage a prestige they couldn't easily match.
Zhao Gang's gaze shifted, landing directly on Mu Chen. He offered a thin, insincere smile. "This must be Junior Brother Mu Chen. Though you snatched first position from Junior Brother Lu Feng. Regardless, Elder Lu's lineage is open to you. With Elder Lu's open mind, he will undoubtedly teach you to the best of his ability."
The square fell silent. The senior disciples under Shen Xiao and Lu Zong turned their heads, watching Mu Chen with intense curiosity. They wanted to see how the first-place winner would navigate this political minefield.
Lu Hong was Lu Feng's senior; on the surface, the invitation sounded generous, but anyone with a modicum of sense could see the trap. They wanted to draw Mu Chen into their lineage, use the status of the Sword Peak to overshadow him, and then make his life a living hell for humbling their junior.
Mu Chen looked at Zhao Gang, and then at the energetic, boastful group behind Lu Hong. He found the entire lineage to be unnecessarily loud and far too focused on external status.
They had come from the Sword Peak to someone else's home, acting as if the retrieval of the seal were their personal business rather than a duty to the sect. Can't they just sit in their own peak and cultivate quietly?
"Not interested," Mu Chen answered bluntly.
Shen Xiao and Lu Zong watched the exchange with a flicker of appreciation. They believed Mu Chen saw through the political scheme and was choosing to stand his ground. They knew Lu Hong's character all too well; the old man loved nothing more than complicating matters to increase his own influence.
If they had known Mu Chen's true reasoning—they might have died of embarrassment right there on their futons.
The absolute lack of acknowledgement from Mu Chen caused the smug smile on Zhao Gang's face to vanish instantly. His face darkened, a vein throbbing at his temple.
"Young man, do not be so impulsive and arrogant simply because you have a bit of talent," Lu Hong said indifferently. A powerful life energy began to gather and coil within him. "At your age, you need to think carefully about your future in the inner sect."
"Whatever," Mu Chen yawned, his eyes fluttering as if he were on the verge of falling asleep. He waved his hand indifferently toward the elders. "How much longer is this introduction going to take?"
Shen Xiao and Elder Lu Zong exchanged a strange, wary glance. This new disciple seemed to be a natural-born troublemaker, possessing a level of audacity they hadn't seen in decades.
The other disciples in the square were paralyzed with shock. No one—not even the strongest Golden Belts—dared to speak to an Elder in such a dismissive, bored tone. It was a level of courage that bordered on insanity.
"If you dare to speak to Elder Lu in such a manner, then come out and prove your worth in a fight!"
Zhao Gang stepped forward, his spiritual energy erupting. He was at the peak of the Mid Nascent Soul realm, his aura sharp and aggressive. He saw an opportunity to put on a good show in front of Lu Hong. If he performed well and taught this arrogant newcomer a lesson, he might be rewarded with resources that would help him break through to the Late Nascent Soul realm.
In his mind, Mu Chen's first-place victory in the Mountain Selection Ceremony meant very little now. That competition was merely a way to be selected as an inner sect disciple. And here, in the square of the Holy Origin Peak, who among them wasn't an inner sect disciple?