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Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
“How much do you know about the Nine Great Mountains?” Gu Changge asked.
“In total, there are Nine Great Mountains Elders in the Nine Great Mountains. Among the first to the ninth, the Mountain Elder of the First Mountain is the most powerful, but having entered retreat, he has not shown himself for countless years, so even I have never been to the First Mountain. Truth be told, Nine Great Mountains are now currently led by their Second Mountain Elder,” the Sky Deer Goddess confidently stated as a distinctive emotion surged in her dazzling eyes.
“You seem to bear a grudge against the Nine Great Mountains.” Gu Changge caught the emotion on her face.
[It seems she plans to use me against Nine Great Mountains, but to think there’s some kind of conflict between Sky Deer City and Nine Great Mountains. They are the barriers that shield the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains…] Gu Changge was somewhat surprised.
“Indeed. A little. Once upon a time.” The Sky Deer Goddess slightly nodded as she looked at his face and revealed a subtle grin. “Perhaps you’d do the honour of avenging me?”
“I believe grudges should remain personal. If you wish to engage, I don’t mind lending you some of my men,” Gu Changge smilingly replied in response.
But of course, the Sky Deer Goddess knew that it was merely an excuse for Gu Changge to refrain from getting directly involved.
“In that case, you shall have my gratitude.” Nevertheless, she did not reject the offer.
Although Nine Great Mountains were untraceable, the Sky Deer Goddess had her own means to locate their exact location. It was by taking the Blue Cloud Flying Boat to the Deep Cloud Graveyard. Conveniently, she happened to possess the Blue Cloud Flying Boat, which she had obtained back then.
Accordingly, Gu Changge passed down his instructions, amassing a large number of formidable cultivators. The weakest among them was in the Sacred Realm and possessed the ability to dispel arrays and cast buff others. Other than that, there were also a number of experts ranging from the Sacred Emperor Realm to the Quasi-Nirvana Realm. These formidable cultivators were unrivalled elites that survived through hundreds of wars whose strength would shock the world.
Three days later, upon a surge of sunlight, an enormous Blue Cloud Flying Boat speedily enlarged from the Sky Deer Goddess’s hand. It resembled a gigantic mountain with a tip that could pierce the sky. Upon receiving their order, the formidable experts turned into divine rainbows.
As the air was ripped apart, a golden path was revealed, and the Blue Cloud Flying Boat that harboured all the cultivators entering the rift. This was a method of tearing apart part of the universe, which allowed the boat to vanish and reappear somewhere a great distance away.
Magnificent and ancient, the Blue Cloud Flying Boat was constructed with priceless materials—its deck was built with Blooming Astral Clouds; its beams were forged with Celestial Gold Ancient Wood; its vessel was formed with Purest Immortal Gold.
Thus, the formidable cultivators on the boat could feel a potent sensation, as if they were soaring above the River of Time.
“I obtained this ship by coincidence back then, but I never expected to use it in my lifetime.” Standing atop the Blue Cloud Flying Boat, the Sky Deer Goddess gently shook her head, and she seemed to be talking to Gu Changge.
“Just serve the tea.” Nonetheless, Gu Changge wasn’t entertained by her leisurely conversation as he sat down on the stone bench by the stone table, after which he immediately commanded.
“Gu Changge, you’re really ordering around like I’m some sort of maid, huh?” As the Sky Deer donned a snowy robe, her figure was dazzling with unparalleled beauty, and as she was speaking, her eyes were blinking, seemingly containing an unconcealable demonic nature.
“Of course,” Gu Changge replied.
The Sky Deer Goddess nodded as she retained her smile without refusing his order. Upon a wave of her hand, a tea set made of jade emerged and she began to boil some tea. Her hair was silky and radiant as she carried a unique allure.
Watching their interaction from afar, the formidable cultivators had their hearts racing. [Despite being such a noble figure, the Sky Deer Goddess herself falls to become such a lowly figure before Young Master Changge…]
A few days later, the Blue Cloud Flying Boat tore space apart and arrived at a mysterious region as they seemed to have reached the border of the world. There, the astral sky was immeasurably vast. The ancient trees stood as tall as the sky, absorbing the essence of the universe as each of its branches and leaves seemed to be able to lift the world up.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!* Gushes of waves appeared and left terrifying ripples in the air. Each of the waves seemed as though they were formed by innumerable miniature worlds.
Seeing the waterfall dropping from the highest point of the sky, everyone was flabbergasted.
“So, this is Deep Cloud Graveyard, wherein the Nine Great Mountains lay.” Gu Changge raised his head and looked at the waterfall before him, as if he could see a continent hiding above it.
This place didn’t belong to the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains. To be more precise, it neighboured the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, but due to its geographical formation, the place appeared much more mysterious, making it hard to find.
And here, Gu Changge detected a distinctive aura. In his eyes, the Nine Great Mountains was equivalent to a fatty piece of steak that was sadly undiscovered by the Upper Realm for many years.
“Apart from the most mysterious First Mountain, the other eight of Nine Great Mountains are all here.” Arriving at this location, the Sky Deer Goddess experienced a drastic emotional change as beams of divine mists swirled in her eyes.
“We’ll have to traverse through the waterfall before us in order to reach the Nine Great Mountains,” she noted.
The next moment, she conjured a number of talismans to support the entire flying boat for it to successfully cruise. In that instant, the ancient Blue Cloud Flying Boat was covered in layers of Immortal Mists, which separated itself from everything else. It started to steadily travel against the current of the waterfall, as though it was an aged monolith.
Noticing her movements, Gu Changge sensed a dense and enormous aura coming from the top of the waterfall. He ordered those behind him to prepare for a potential bloody battle. Though, he wasn’t certain whether the Nine Great Mountains would grant him the surprise.
…
In the meantime, there was an extravagant, spectacular continent floating above the waterfall. Within, uncountable ancient beasts dwelt the lands while wild birds flew in the sky. The primaeval forest was thick, the mountains were glorious, and the palaces were archaic.
As the Celestial Waterfall of Chaos flowed down, levitating above the peak of the mountains, Celestial Mists drifted as divine light intertwined, and vibrant auroras shone with no limits. It was indeed a breath-taking scene.
Given the scenery, it was as if the place was a genuine, out-of-the-world sacred land—heaven amid the mortal world. The living beings here carried Celestial Energies and auras that were especially potent, and they were visibly different from those outside.
Furthermore, there were Immortal Herbs and Divine Springs scattered all over the region, where purple cliffs with unstained bright walls towered and grass and fungi exuberantly grew as a Divine Beast that resembled a Qilin rested on a green boulder, alone.
Strings of silver chains dropped and vaporised into steam as spiritual birds danced in the sky while ancient herbs emitted its aroma. Upon a concentrated look, one could perceive the Mystic Mountains and Divine Mountains as well as the splendid godly palaces far away.
In the centre of the region, there were also gargantuan, grand mountains covered in Immortal Light while the fluid waterfalls around them resembled islands that were gracefully arranged. As divine rainbows were flashed across the sky, wearing feathered garments and starry crowns, their garments swayed along with the wind, highlighting their extraordinariness.
“I wonder how Second Mountain Elder sees the idea of sealing the mountains and putting a stop to the involvement in outside world’s affairs?”
“It is said that Second Mountain Elder used a tool to peep into the future and saw visions of a disaster, though that remains to be a rumour. Regardless, the Mountain Elders are now headed to Second Mountain to confer with Second Mountain Elder.”
“It’s been a long time since the Nine Great Mountains last contributed to the human world. I’ve heard that the Upper Realm is going for another invasion. Perhaps, this is our chance to re-emerge and recruit some people.
“Unfortunately, Second Mountain Elder has decided to seal the mountains.”
As a number of cultivators in wide robes were travelling as divine rainbows across the sky, they seemed to be discussing something.
Judging by their faces, they appeared quite young, though their true age was not of a youthful one, and there was even a vigorous sensation flashing in the depths of their eyes. As they were conversing, they were not able to hide their dissatisfaction against the Second Mountain Elder’s intention to seal the mountains.
“I’m sure Master came up with the idea for good reasons. As for you lot, not so worried about being punished if he were to know about your blabbering, huh?”
At that moment, a divine beam appeared as something golden emerged at the border of the sky. A stunning woman then walked out. Her eyebrows were as elegant as paintings; her skin was white and appealing. In all, she resembled a painting of an Immortal that came to life. Though, her face was icy and it caused her to give off a prideful, freezing sensation.
Hearing that, the chatting cultivators were immediately taken aback, after which they hastily replied, “Mercy please, Eldest Senior Sister! We’ve learnt our lesson. We won’t do it again next time!”
The stunning woman then shot them a stone-cold glare, warning, “No next time. And I better not hear any more bad-mouthing about Master.”
“Y–Yes. Thank you very much, Eldest Senior Sister!” Hurriedly replying, the cultivators were highly respectful—yet fearful—towards the stunning woman. Quickly, they left the area, not daring to tarry any longer.
The stunning woman then watched as they left before withdrawing her gaze, after which she tensed her brows and muttered, “All the other branches are growing more and more hostile towards Master lately. They are very expressive of their disagreement.”
“Indeed, the Upper Realm’s invasion against the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains is a fine opportunity for the disciples of Nine Great Mountains to shine and gather some people, yet Master decides to seal the mountains right at this moment. Quite baffling, isn’t it? As you said, Eldest Senior Sister, Second Mountain Elder’s decision is quite the puzzling one.”
Out of nowhere, a man’s voice could be heard. He was a tall, muscular man in golden battle armour; his hair was gleaming with golden light. It was as if there was a halo above his head. His pupils of faint gold were vertically straight, as though he was an omnipotent young god.
Behind the man in golden battle armour, there were a few cultivators, composed of men and women, following his lead.
“Greetings, Chosen One.” Seeing the man in golden battle armour, Chen Suyun took a bow without a change in her eyes.
“Please drop the formalities, Eldest Senior Sister. We are both disciples of the Nine Great Mountains. There’s no need to be so courteous, is there?” In response, the man in golden battle armour smilingly said, seemingly amicable and polite.
Unlike other forces, except for the Mountain Elders, there were no other ranks in the Nine Great Mountains. Seniority among members was solely determined by the time they spent cultivating since they entered the Nine Great Mountains.
For instance, since Chen Suyun entered the Nine Great Mountains longer than anyone else, she thereby earned the title of ‘Eldest Senior Sister.’
Meanwhile, the man in golden battle armour before her was Gu Wudi, who was the Chosen One, otherwise known as the Successor of Nine Great Mountains. From his name, one could discern his will, and he bore the ambitious goal of being an undefeatable, most domineering being in the world.
Although he entered Nine Great Mountains later than Chen Suyun and the rest, due to his impressive Talent, his cultivation level swiftly caught up with the others and even surpassed them. Hence, he became the Chosen One of Nine Great Mountains, whose popularity was unrivalled.
In the Nine Great Mountains, his distinguished identity was second only to the Mountain Elders, and even the Direct Disciples of each Mountain Elders would have to greet him with respect. Therefore, when he encountered Chen Suyun, instead of being nervously deferential as the others, he was rather casual.
“Right. Eldest Senior Sister, since you’re here, where are Youngest Junior Brother and the others? I remember that he could never leave your side and he’s always wherever you are. But he doesn’t appear to be here today.” Gu Wudi looked behind Chen Suyun, seemingly surprised, and asked as though he didn’t know the answer.
“Youngest Junior Brother is currently with Master. Perhaps Master is assigning some tasks to him.” Hearing that, Chen Suyun shook her head and calmly answered.
“Is that so? I’ve got something to discuss with Youngest Junior Brother, but since he’s not here, maybe next time then.” Gu Wudi then chuckled as gloominess zoomed across his eyes and quickly retained his calmness.
Gu Wudi? Gu?