Knock. Knock.
A sharp knock jolted me from my meditation.
"Yes?" I called out.
Mu Lingyao's voice came through the door, "Hey, wake up! We've got to go."
I stretched lazily. "Alright, alright."
Beside me, Yang Kai blinked awake and yawned. "Master, it's already morning?"
"Seems like it."
We washed up and stepped out of our room. Mu Lingyao waited outside, arms crossed.
"Where's Feng Xuan?" I asked.
"He got hungry and ran off to find food," she said, rolling her eyes.
I chuckled. "Let's go then. We'll give him some company."
Downstairs in the inn's tavern, Feng Xuan was seated at a table piled high with food, devouring it like a man starved for days.
Yang Kai wrinkled his nose. "Martial Uncle Feng, don't eat so much! What if your tummy explodes?"
Feng Xuan laughed through a mouthful. "Don't worry! Your martial uncle is strong—Huh?! Yang Kai, you're already at the Foundation Establishment—Seventh Layer?!"
I smirked. "Of course. He is my disciple."
Feng Xuan put his chopsticks down dramatically, fake tears streaming down his cheeks. "How can a kid advance so fast?! Brother Zhen, are you raising monsters now?"
We all laughed and dug into the food.
Just as I reached for a bun, a familiar chime rang in my head.
Ding!
Host, do you want to learn Inferno Slash – Second Form? Y/N
"Oh? Yes, I want to—"
Ding!
6000 XP deducted. Skill learned: Inferno Slash – Second Form.
"Wait, 6000 XP? You bastard!" I muttered under my breath.
Zzzt!
A sudden jolt of thunder shocked me.
"Ahhhhhhh!" I screamed, jumping from my seat.
Everyone turned to look at me.
Mu Lingyao blinked. "What was that?"
"Who are you apologizing to?" Feng Xuan asked.
I rubbed my shoulder. "N-No one. Just… remembered a bad memory. Haha…"
"...Right," they said in unison, clearly unconvinced.
After finishing our meal, I picked up Yang Kai and placed him on my sword. With a surge of energy, we all took to the skies, soaring toward the Illusionary Mountains.
Ten days later
Towering peaks veiled in mist came into view, dark and ominous. We hovered in the sky before the majestic Illusionary Mountains.
I whistled. "This mountain is massive. Let's head to the top."
Feng Xuan shook his head. "No can do. You can't fly straight to the summit. We have to go through the entrance."
"Where is it?"
"Follow me."
We descended through the mist until a massive golden gate embedded in black stone emerged before us.
"Whoa…" I breathed. "Open it, then."
Feng Xuan scratched his head. "Uh… I don't know how."
"You what? Why didn't you tell me earlier?!"
"You didn't ask!"
"Ahhhh! Fine, I'll just break it!"
I stepped forward, drawing my sword, but just as I raised it—the gate groaned and opened by itself.
"Huh?"
Mu Lingyao walked past me. "It's probably an automatic formation trigger. Calm down."
"Tch… fine. Let's go. Mu Lingyao, please guard Yang Kai."
"Don't worry. I've got him."
Together, we stepped into the gate.
Inside was a vast, open ground with a massive circular array etched into the stone floor. The moment I stepped into the circle—
Swish!
The world blurred. A powerful illusion wrapped around my senses.
But my sword trembled in its sheath, releasing a sharp aura that cleaved the illusion instantly. The haze cleared.
I stood alone, surrounded by snarling spirit beasts. All kinds—wolves with lightning fur, lions with molten manes, serpents with venomous eyes.
Turning, I saw my companions still entranced—Feng Xuan, Mu Lingyao, and Yang Kai stood frozen in the illusion.
"So this is how the Illusionary Mountains test us," I muttered. "First, illusions… then a beast horde."
Drawing my sword, I readied myself.
"Let's see how many of you beasts I can send back to the hell."