Outside Wolong Ridge, Luo Cheng galloped forward with a small detachment of troops. Once a place rarely trodden by man, the ridge now bustled with activity. At the mountain's base, a military encampment had been established—rows of gleaming armor and chilling blades cast an aura of solemnity and dread that made one shiver involuntarily.
Lu Changkong had specifically sent him to scout the situation at Wolong Ridge. At first, Luo Cheng hadn't taken the task too seriously. After all, he remained skeptical of the so-called "Immortal Fate." How could true immortals exist in this world? It was likely nothing more than the fabrications of mystics and charlatans.
Though Luo Cheng had joined Lu Fan in the bloody purge of the three great clans, he had never set foot on the Lake Heart Island. Thus, he remained ignorant of the storm of spiritual energy that raged within it, and naturally harbored doubts about tales of immortals.
His vigilance was heightened by the unexpected convergence of so many forces at Wolong Ridge. Rather than ride directly into the mountain, Luo Cheng had his men dismount ten li away, leaving one to guard the horses while the rest advanced cautiously on foot.
Upon entering the dense forest, the deeper Luo Cheng went, the more alarmed he became. "The forces of the Northern Prefecture's Governor… Tantai Xuan?" he muttered, stunned by the banner of the encampment outside the ridge. Sweeping his gaze across the hidden forest, he spotted even more troops—tens of thousands, densely packed.
"Southern Prefecture, Jinyun Prefecture, Eastern Sea Prefecture…" The mounting pressure made sweat bead on his brow. No wonder the Lord of the City had grown so grave—if these factions set their sights on Beiluo City, it would be a battle of catastrophic proportions.
"That's… the Western Prefecture's Governor, Xiang Shaoyun?!"
Suddenly, Luo Cheng's eyes fixed on a towering figure striding out of a massive tent. The man's presence alone emanated a terrifying aura that seemed to seize Luo Cheng's very soul.
Below, Xiang Shaoyun sensed something, his gaze flicking toward the depths of the forest. "A scout from Beiluo City?" he murmured.
"How pitiful… Without strength, even if the Immortal Fate knocks at your door, you remain powerless to grasp it."
He shook his head, lips curling slightly. Xiang Shaoyun had taken an interest in Lu Shaozhu of Beiluo. Rumor had it that during the siege by Tantai Xuan's fifty-thousand-strong army, when Beiluo teetered on the brink, it was Lu Shaozhu—alongside just three maids—who reversed the tide of battle.
If Lu Shaozhu dared come to Wolong Ridge, Xiang Shaoyun would certainly welcome the encounter.
From the command tent, a graceful figure emerged. Luo Mingsang's unparalleled beauty radiated with gentle affection as she gazed at Xiang Shaoyun's burly form. Sensing her gaze, he turned slowly, a rare smile spreading across his rugged face.
"Shaoyun, this Immortal Fate's emergence is unusual. You must be cautious," Luo Mingsang said softly.
"Fear not. I know what I'm doing," he replied, wrapping his calloused hand around her slender fingers with a light chuckle.
Around them, many cast curious glances. To bring a woman into the field was rare—but the Western Prefecture's Governor had always been bold and unabashed.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted deep within Wolong Ridge. Over a dozen scouts from various factions came tumbling out in a frenzied rush, their faces a mixture of fear and exhilaration.
They slid down the slopes, kicking up plumes of dust that swept through the camps below. The sudden emergence of these scouts threw the entire assembly into solemn alert.
One scout from the Western Prefecture dropped to one knee before Xiang Shaoyun, joy still dancing in his eyes. "Reporting to the Governor! The secret realm has undergone a tremendous upheaval. Waves of soothing spiritual energy are surging outward. Glorious rays shine forth like dragons in slumber, and it appears to be on the verge of opening!"
Xiang Shaoyun's eyes lit up.
"Move."
He wasted no time, rallying his elite generals and striding boldly into the heart of the mountains.
And he was not alone. The other prefectures, having caught wind of the news, also stirred. Still, the treacherous terrain prevented entire armies from advancing. Even if war were to break out, it would not occur within the ridge—its mists and venomous creatures posed too great a risk to foot soldiers.
Xiang Shaoyun moved swiftly. Nearly two meters tall, his frame rippled with muscle. Upon his back, he carried Ganqi—a colossal axe and shield weighing a thousand catties. Yet he bore it effortlessly, as if it weighed nothing.
Behind him, the Western Prefecture's warriors watched with burning fervor. Their warlord—unmatched in the martial world—rarely unsheathed Ganqi. Yet today, to enter the Immortal Domain, he had drawn it forth in earnest.
Soon, they arrived at the shell-like boundary of the Immortal Vestige deep within Wolong Ridge.
Though not their first time laying eyes on it, the sight never failed to strike awe. Under the sunlight, the "egg shell" shimmered like colored glass, radiating a rainbow sheen—so dazzling it seemed not of this world. Within its depths, faint outlines of palaces and towering edifices could be seen.
None dared to approach closer than five li—any nearer and the crushing celestial pressure forced even the bravest to their knees.
Xiang Shaoyun stood, Ganqi on his back, eyes blazing. He stared at the pulsing shell, rising and falling like a living thing on the verge of hatching.
Though he possessed a "Terrestrial Qi Token," he chose not to use it. Today, he would test his own strength and attempt to force his way into the secret realm.
He took a step forward. His dark hair rose wildly into the air like needles piercing the sky. Behind him, his warriors watched, eyes filled with fanatical devotion.
From afar, the thunderous beat of hooves echoed. A white horse galloped near, its rider a young man in a black long robe, elegant and sword at his waist.
Among the assembled onlookers five li from the shell, Tantai Xuan stood clad in armor. Beside him, Mo Ju fanned his feather fan, eyes gleaming. "He's from the Mohist School… Mo Shougui."
Mo Shougui leapt lightly from his horse, his body rising into the air with masterful grace, traversing as if weightless, trailing Xiang Shaoyun.
Xiang Shaoyun glanced back but said nothing. His gaze shifted again.
On the other side, a scholar in green robes appeared, drenched in sweat, a gentle smile on his face. He carried a bamboo bookcase on his back, steadily walking into the restricted five-li zone of the Immortal Shell.
The crowd squinted at him. Mo Ju's fan moved again. "How intriguing. When the Immortal Vestige reveals itself, heroes gather. That man is Kong Nanfeng, grandson of a Confucian master, second disciple of the Ru Sect."
And still, that was not all.
Mo Ju's eyes swept across the forests around Wolong Ridge. Hidden among the shadows, powerful auras surged—other masters lay in wait.
"Moo—"
A long, low bellow echoed. Hooves thudded. A melodious flute tune danced upon the wind.
Mo Ju froze mid-fan, gaze turning.
There, a green ox ambled leisurely forward. Atop its back sat a young man clad in flowing white robes, refined and composed, a wooden sword at his waist and a flute in hand.
Mo Ju's pupils contracted.
"Li Sansi of the Daoist Sect—the number one prodigy?! Even he has come?!"
Li Sansi rode the ox calmly, joining the procession toward the Immortal Shell, just behind Kong Nanfeng.
Before the Immortal Shell, in the desolate five-li perimeter, only four figures pressed forward against the celestial pressure.
And all four did so without revealing a single "Qi Token."
They intended to breach the Immortal Domain… through might alone.
…
North Luo Lake, Heart of the Lake Island.In the white jade pavilions, on the second-floor terrace, Ni Yu had just finished brewing green plum wine. She carefully ladled a scoop into a cup with a bamboo spoon and offered it to Lu Fan.
"Young Master, your wine," she said, her cheeks flushed.
Her wide eyes fell upon Lu Fan's chessboard, and for some unknown reason, an overwhelming sense of dread made it hard for her to breathe.
Lu Fan accepted the wine with one hand, while the other tapped her forehead, gently turning her face away.
"Focus on your brewing. Don't look at things you shouldn't."
"Yes… Young Master," Ni Yu replied, her body trembling ever so slightly.
In this moment, the aura emanating from Lu Fan filled her with awe—his gaze cold and lofty, like a god gazing down from the heavens…