Chapter Ninety-Nine: Awe-Inspiring Momentum

After getting into the car, I noticed there was still a child sitting in the back. He must have been the rich young master from earlier.

Even now, he was looking at me with open admiration, though perhaps out of proper upbringing, he did not dare speak to me rashly.

As Qin Ciyu drove, he also explained the situation at Mount Solar to me.

It turned out that all those children were the latest group being tested. Those chosen would be allowed into the second trial. As for the giant serpent blocking the road, it was likely an older one with fairly high cultivation. It usually did not attack people on its own, so no one knew why it had acted up today.

Mount Solar was already very close. It would only take twenty minutes by car.

I happened to notice that Qin Ciyu’s arm was bleeding from a wound. Though he was in so much pain that he trembled, he still gritted his teeth and said nothing.

I could not bear it, so I took out some healing ointment from my ring. I still had plenty of it left.

I handed it to Qin Ciyu and said, “Put this on. If you leave it untreated, it could leave lasting trouble.”

Qin Ciyu looked at it, then waved it off. “No, no need. You have already helped me more than enough. I can’t take any more.”

I clicked my tongue and stuffed the medicine into his hand. He could only accept it humbly.

He slowed the car a little and poured the ointment over the wound.

The ointment was quite effective. Once applied, it stopped the bleeding at once, and there was already a sign of recovery.

“Thank you,” Qin Ciyu said, looking at me with deep respect.

Through our conversation, I learned that Mount Solar enrolled new disciples once every three months, usually only a dozen or so at a time, never more than twenty.

Qin Ciyu was the junior leader in charge of receiving the new disciples this time, and he was also the strongest among them, at the first grade of Spirit Blossom cultivation.

He had been at the mountain gate for nearly twenty years and was a core disciple of the inner sect.

Qin Ciyu also explained the hierarchy of offices at Mount Solar. The lowest rank was an ordinary disciple. Above that, one had to pass an examination to advance into the inner sect as a disciple.

From there, the ranks rose to core inner disciple, then instructor, elder, chief elder, vice master, and finally sect master.

There was only one vice master, while there were three chief elders.

After I understood the general situation, I had a clearer sense of things.

I also heard that the vice master and sect master were both in seclusion in different places, and no one knew where.

Mount Solar was actually a range of peaks. This sect included not only Mount Solar itself, but many smaller mountains as well, which gave it a distinctive character.

Soon after, we drove into a mountain range. According to Qin Ciyu, that meant we had entered Mount Solar.

I also noticed that the road here was paved with stone bricks. It was no longer a dirt road and had become much easier to travel.

This main road was wide enough for three cars to drive side by side, with room to spare, and it stretched far into the distance. That alone showed that Mount Solar was indeed a power to be reckoned with.

By the time the road ended, we had reached the great gate of Mount Solar.

To be honest, I was truly stunned. The gate was enormous, so tall it seemed to pierce the clouds.

It was entirely silver, engraved with exquisite patterns, and on either side stood a phoenix with outstretched wings. They looked magnificent.

Seen from outside, the entire mountain gate seemed almost immortal, and it was saturated with rich spiritual energy.

There were walls here as well, though not as tall as the gate. On top of them stood many animal carvings. Looking closely, each carving seemed to double as a watchtower. I had to say, whoever came up with that idea was something else.

The convoy had already formed a long line at the entrance. Everyone in the cars was drawn to the majestic beauty before them, and some had even gotten out to admire it.

At that moment, Qin Ciyu said, “Later, just come in with me. You have the elder’s token, so they won’t dare stop you.”

I nodded, though my eyes never left the buildings of Mount Solar.

“Get out of the car,” Qin Ciyu said to me.

The rich young master in the back also got out with me.

Once I stepped down, the dense spiritual energy became even more obvious, leaving me almost intoxicated.

By then, all the children who had come for selection were moving forward, while I alone was led by Qin Ciyu straight toward the main gate.

As we approached the gate, the oppressive feeling grew even stronger. I had to circulate spiritual energy through my body to feel somewhat better.

Just as we were about to pass through, a guard behind us suddenly called out to me.

“Hey, you there. What are you doing?”

I slowly turned around. In my hand were already the elder’s token and the noble honor plaque he had given me. When he stopped me, I tossed them over and said, “I’m here to see the elder.”

The armored guard took the token and plaque, looked them over a few times, then respectfully returned the token to me and said, “So it is a noble guest seeking someone. Please, go right in.”

On the surface I remained calm, but inside I was quite pleased, since both the plaque and the token were so useful.

After entering Mount Solar, soldiers stood at every meter ahead of us. When they saw Qin Ciyu and me come in, they all crossed their fists before their chests.

The display startled me. Qin Ciyu explained, “Only guests use the main gate. Those children just now entered through the side gate.”

I nodded. So the treatment here was actually quite good.

Qin Ciyu led me along a side path, saying that it was closer this way.

I did not mind and simply followed him.

The scenery here was lovely. Rather than flattening the mountain, they had preserved its most natural ecology.

Not long after, we crossed a small bridge. Beneath it flowed a stream that ran down from the mountain and threaded through all of Mount Solar.

Schools of fish swam in the stream, and these fish were blue, which was rather strange.

Qin Ciyu explained, “These are called blue-spotted fish. They’re a special species of Mount Solar. You won’t find them anywhere else.”

If it had not been for the urgency of the Ghost King’s game, I really would have liked to stay here for a while. Leaving aside the abundant spiritual energy, the scenery alone was worth lingering over.

Along the way, small groves of trees appeared everywhere. It was said that each grove housed a different kind of beast, and because the animals differed, even the trees themselves were not the same.

White flowers had been planted along both sides of the path, and they were pleasing to the eye, soothing to the spirit.

After walking for about half an hour, we finally stopped at a small hill. In front of it stood a courtyard not much different from my second uncle’s home, except that this one was built entirely of bamboo.

“Is this where the elder lives? Why does he live in the mountains?” I asked.

Qin Ciyu smiled. “I’m not sure. Aside from the elder and the sect master, no one else lives in the mountains. It’s said to nurture both body and mind.”

After saying that, Qin Ciyu had to leave, because he still had to hurry off to attend to the next matter.

After we bade each other farewell, I stood at the door and called inside, “Elder, this junior, Lin Yao, has come to pay a visit!”

Somehow, I had already developed the habit of speaking respectfully to my elders. Perhaps it was the influence of this cultivation world.

A few seconds later, a man came out from the house. It was the elder himself.

Today he had changed into a simple gray robe, and he was carrying a teapot in his hand.