Mountain within a Mountain

Mountain within a Mountain...

The Mountain Range of the Heavenly Mountain concealed a multitude of enigmas. It was a perilous terrain where mist-laden regions, pockets of noxious miasma, and mighty demonic beasts lurking in the depths of the mountains made each step fraught with danger. For those who ventured into their territory, the sole outcome awaited was death.

No one dared to claim comprehensive knowledge of every nook and cranny within this imposing mountain range. Not even Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants could fully unveil all its hidden mysteries.

It was, however, the audacious risk-takers and adventurers who occasionally peeled back the shroud of secrecy.

At present, the hawk-eyed man guided the geniuses from various major powers deeper into the mountains. Here, the air thinned, and an oppressive fog clung to the surroundings. This fog possessed a clinging stickiness that discomforted cultivators, particularly when a chilly mountain breeze swept through.

"We're deep into the mountains now. How much longer until we reach our destination?" queried one of the cultivators, his gaze fixed on the hawk-eyed man.

"If it were a known landmark, we'd already be there. The entrance to this hidden realm is incredibly well-concealed. I stumbled upon it purely by chance," the hawk-eyed man replied. He harbored no fear that these individuals might betray him. Their motives were simple—killing him would discourage other adventurers from sharing information about hidden realms out of fear of a similar fate. No one would risk such foolishness.

In the Treasure Seizing Assembly, those who sought treasures might engage in deadly clashes or incur the wrath of onlookers. A prime example was Qin Wentian. However, no one dared to target the treasure presenter. If such incidents occurred, the Treasure Seizing Assembly's reputation would plummet.

The others nodded in agreement upon hearing the hawk-eyed man's explanation and continued to follow him. This group of geniuses numbered in the hundreds, representing eight major powers, each sending over thirty individuals. Moreover, they were all experts at the third level of Heavenly Dipper or higher, forming a formidable and influential ensemble.

There were no indications that anyone else trailed them. Ordinary cultivators feared provoking major powers and dreaded encountering challenges beyond their abilities in the hidden realm. Naturally, they dared not tailgate behind secretly.

Yet, one shadow silently trailed this group of experts from afar, using the power of perception. Nobody had detected him.

After some time, the group reached a specific location. Here, the mountain mist grew denser, and eight symmetrical mountains stood in formation—four on each side, with a colossal mountain at the center. The central ninth mountain exuded an ancient, unpretentious aura, as though it had weathered countless eons.

"We've arrived," declared the hawk-eyed man. Confusion marked the faces of the crowd. The hawk-eyed man then pointed to a particular spot and added, "Observe that location—the massive boulder resembling a grand doorway at the waist of the central mountain. That's the entrance. Just push through it, and you'll find yourself within the hidden realm."

"Mhm?" The crowd's eyes gleamed with intrigue.

"Go and test it out," commanded Yin Cheng, gesturing to one of his subordinates. Without hesitation, the subordinate dashed toward the massive rock and collided with it forcefully, disappearing from the crowd's view in an instant.

"It's true..." The rock was indeed the entrance to the hidden realm. This discovery was even more extraordinary than previous ones, raising hopes that the treasures inside would be exceptionally valuable.

"Have you entered this hidden realm before?" Yin Cheng inquired, fixing his gaze on the hawk-eyed man.

"Yes, I stumbled upon it when I was battling a demonic beast. The space inside is vast, but be warned, it's teeming with powerful monsters. I had to retreat when I encountered a fourth-level Heavenly Dipper demonic beast," the hawk-eyed man replied.

"Understood." Yin Cheng nodded and then waved his hand, sending a large number of Yuan Meteor Stones towards the hawk-eyed man. Representatives from the other major powers followed suit, compensating the guide generously. His eyes sparkled with a radiant smile; with this haul of Meteor Stones, he could support his cultivation for a long time.

"I'll be on my way then." After securing his payment, the hawk-eyed man bid farewell. The others exchanged glances before shifting their attention to the Xuan King Manor representatives, who stood at the center. Alongside Shang Yue was another imposing figure, well-known in Xuan King City as Prince Qi, or simply Shang Qi.

Previously, Yin Cheng had tried to win Prince Qi's favor, resulting in the death of the fifth-ranked Grand master, Chi Yezi, and the annihilation of his entire clan. This incident had tarnished the Yin Clan's reputation.

"Prince Qi, and members of the King Manor, please proceed." An invitation was extended to them. Shang Qi nodded and waved his hand in agreement.

After some time, most of the experts entered the hidden realm. Each power left two members behind to guard the entrance, and the area settled into quiet tranquility once more.

After a while, the sound of rushing wind became audible.

"Who goes there?" the guards sternly demanded. However, all they saw was a streak of intense light shooting toward them.

"Buzz!"

The sharp whine of a sword echoed, forcing the guards to retreat helplessly as an unknown figure soared into the entrance.

"This..." The guards outside exchanged skeptical glances, their eyes fixed on the entrance to the hidden realm. "Should we go in to catch him?"

"It's fine," a guard said with an air of nonchalance. "It would be utterly futile to barge in there. Despite that guy's speed, I sensed his aura wasn't all that impressive. Considering the folks who went in earlier were all supposed geniuses and big shots from the eight major powers, there's really no need for us to break a sweat over this," he replied, and the others nodded in agreement.

Qin Wentian, on the other hand, was in for a wild surprise the moment he stepped into the hidden realm.

He found himself in a breathtaking landscape of blue skies, white clouds, majestic mountains, meandering rivers, and ancient-looking trees. It was like stepping into a whole new world.

"Is there another dimension tucked away inside this mountain? What kind of place is this, I wonder?" Qin Wentian mused aloud to himself, feeling as though his understanding of the world had just taken a quantum leap.

"If folks never venture out, they'd never fathom the vastness of this world," he thought. Qin Wentian had barely set foot in Grand Shang, and already, he'd encountered a myriad of bizarre phenomena. The hidden realm before him defied all the logic he'd ever known.

"What could be lurking in the depths of this ancient mountain?" Qin Wentian pondered, then increased his pace, dashing forward. Cradled in his arms, Little Rascal's eyes shone with unusual intensity as it surveyed the surroundings. Clearly, the creature's curiosity was piqued.

Though it couldn't converse in human language, Little Rascal's intelligence matched that of a human. A brilliant gleam lit up its eyes, and moments later, it leaped out of Qin Wentian's embrace, racing off in a certain direction. It transformed into a streak of white, moving so swiftly that even Qin Wentian, sprinting at top speed, had trouble keeping up.

Little Rascal led Qin Wentian on a whirlwind journey across this vast realm. If the area inside the mountain was as expansive as the world beyond, they would have covered ten times the distance by now. Clearly, the scale of space within the mountain defied conventional measurements.

And at that precise moment, Little Rascal guided Qin Wentian to a mountain range that eerily resembled the Heavenly Mountain Range outside the hidden realm, though it was a miniature version.

"Someone's up ahead," Qin Wentian whispered, his senses picking up on the escalating clash. He and Little Rascal hurried forward, traversing several peaks before human figures came into view.

"It's them," Qin Wentian muttered, squinting. Among those entangled in battle, two were none other than the pair he'd crossed paths with after trading the Blood Shadow Herbs. The young woman had been a bit too inquisitive about his identity back then. He'd brushed her off, thinking it was just a random encounter. Who could have predicted he'd run into them so soon, in this bewildering place?

"It looks like they were privy to this place beforehand, and those injuries on the girl might have something to do with whatever's in here," Qin Wentian speculated. Currently, they were locked in combat with a fearsome, beastly creature.

In the midst of the hidden realm, a colossal menace loomed—a gargantuan green ox, standing an impressive five meters tall. It commanded the space around it with its imposing presence, each breath echoing as thunderous rumbles. The four mighty hooves firmly gripped the earth, exerting an overwhelming pressure. This was no ordinary ox; it was a demonic beast, a formidable entity at the fifth level of the Heavenly Dipper realm, a nightmarish adversary for anyone who dared to challenge it.

Demonic beasts possessed an innate combat strength vastly superior to that of humans at the same level. Not only that, their vitality surpassed that of humanity, granting them rapid recovery and unmatched endurance. Despite visible wounds marring its body, the ox demon's aura remained unwaveringly stable. Strangely, it was the two human cultivators facing it whose auras fluctuated erratically.

A sudden, cute bark pierced the tension. "Yiyaya!" It was Little Rascal, directing Qin Wentian's attention towards something behind the fearsome ox demon.

Curiosity piqued, Qin Wentian shifted his gaze to the enigmatic sight behind the ox. It revealed an ancient tree of colossal proportions, its towering height seemingly reaching the heavens. Its gnarled roots and entwined branches delved deep into the earth, commanding an expansive territory. Most intriguingly, several massive fruits, distinct from the others, hung from its branches. These fruits, with their yellow-brown hue, emitted an aura of immense weight, as if they had absorbed the very essence of the surrounding spiritual energy.

Qin Wentian scratched his head, pondering aloud, "What kind of tree is this?" Medicinal herbs and ancient trees were not his forte, and he sorely missed the expertise of Mo Qingcheng, who would have effortlessly identified it. However, one thing was clear: the ox demon's fierce defense of this ancient tree suggested its extraordinary significance.

As realization dawned upon him, the pair of cultivators who had been locked in combat with the ox demon finally noticed Qin Wentian's presence. The young man's brows furrowed slightly, while a gleam of hope sparkled in the eyes of the young woman. She eagerly called out, "It's you! How about teaming up with us to take on this ox demon? It just devoured a Great Terra Fruit, boosting its attack and defense to insane levels, and even evolving its Mandate!"

"Great Terra Fruit?" Qin Wentian's eyes lit up with newfound determination.