57: Chapter 57 One Heaven, One Earth

Qin Muchuan wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking at the rolling mountains ahead, and couldn't help but sigh, "No wonder the Southern Wilderness is looked down upon by the other Four Regions; this Spiritual Qi is simply too thin."

Su Fuguang nodded in agreement. "It wasn't so noticeable in the Imperial Dynasty's capital, but the further south we go, the more obvious it becomes. The concentration of Spiritual Qi here isn't even thirty percent of what it is in the capital."

"If one were to Cultivate in a place like this, I'm afraid their progress wouldn't even reach half of what it would be in the capital."

Zhou Tianchen said nothing, silently following behind Lu Jinghan.

His gaze swept across the surroundings from time to time, staying alert for any Yao Beasts or ill-intentioned people that might appear.

The pursuit by the Liuli Sect that day had made him deeply realize that the cultivation world was never a calm or peaceful place.

A treasure like the heart-cleansing bamboo was enough to stir greed in anyone's heart.

Over the past month, they had encountered several more waves of reckless Loose Cultivators.

Lu Jinghan didn't care to entangle himself with these people. Every time, he ended the battles swiftly and cleanly before quickly moving on.

Their remains were reduced to ashes by Zhou Tianchen's Alchemical Fire, scattering with the wind among the desolate mountains and ridges, leaving not a single trace behind.

"Senior Brother."

Qin Muchuan quickened his pace to walk side-by-side with Lu Jinghan.

"How much longer until we reach Kunlun?"

Lu Jinghan looked toward the south, his gaze distant. "Soon."

"Once we cross that mountain ahead, we'll be within the range of the Ten Thousand Mountains. Kunlun is located in the deepest part of the Ten Thousand Mountains."

Qin Muchuan's eyes lit up, and his steps grew a bit lighter.

The Ten Thousand Mountains were a desolate range at the southernmost tip of the Southern Wilderness.

The mountains were steep and rugged, stretching on continuously.

The group traveled for several more days before finally stepping into the range of the Ten Thousand Mountains.

The Spiritual Qi here was even thinner than outside, and the air was filled with an old and desolate aura.

The peaks were sheer and the rocks jagged. Clouds and mist swirled through the valleys like an Immortal Realm, yet there was an indescribable sense of eeriness.

"This is the Ten Thousand Mountains?"

Qin Muchuan looked around curiously, his eyes full of novelty.

"It doesn't look like anything special; there are just a lot of mountains."

Lu Jinghan didn't respond, simply quickening his pace as he headed deeper into the mountains.

When the group arrived at the foot of a certain mountain.

There, an ancient stone pillar was half-buried in the soil. Its surface was covered in moss, yet two large characters in ancient seal script were still faintly discernible—Kunlun.

"We're here."

Lu Jinghan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an indescribable sense of emotion.

Qin Muchuan stepped forward, curiously examining the stone pillar and reaching out to touch the mottled carvings.

"Kunlun? Is this the mountain gate of Kunlun?"

"Not quite." Lu Jinghan shook his head. "This is just a marker. The real mountain gate is at the top."

He raised his hand, pointing toward the highest peak deep within the clouds and mist.

Qin Muchuan looked up, but the peak was hidden within the churning sea of clouds, making it impossible to see the summit clearly.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go up!"

Eager to try, Qin Muchuan was the first to dash up the mountain.

Su Fuguang followed closely behind, and Zhou Tianchen also stepped forward to keep up.

Lu Jinghan watched their retreating figures, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly as he followed them at a leisurely pace.

After reaching the summit, Qin Muchuan looked around, his excitement gradually turning into confusion.

"Senior Brother, where's the Sect?"

He looked around, seeing only bare rocks and swirling mist.

Let alone palaces or pavilions, there wasn't even a single thatched hut.

Su Fuguang was also bewildered, his gaze scanning the surroundings.

"Senior Brother, you didn't remember the place wrong, did you?"

Zhou Tianchen didn't speak, his gaze landing on a spot not far ahead.

There, a mountain gate stood tall.

With a jade foundation, it was ancient and majestic. Above the gate, the two characters for "Kunlun" were written with vigorous strokes, appearing as if they were naturally formed by the traces of the Dao.

But behind the mountain gate, there was nothing.

Only churning clouds and the faintly visible Ten Thousand Mountains.

"That is?"

Qin Muchuan also saw the mountain gate. He was delighted at first, but then he froze.

"Why is there only a gate?"

Lu Jinghan stood with his hands behind his back, the corners of his mouth curling up with a hint of mischievous amusement in his eyes.

"Why don't you go inside and take a look?"

Qin Muchuan gave him a suspicious look, walked up to the mountain gate, and poked his head inside.

Inside the gate, clouds and mist swirled, obscuring everything from view.

"Senior Brother, you're not playing a trick on me, are you?"

Lu Jinghan chuckled and patted him on the shoulder.

"You'll know once you go in."

"Didn't you just say that the Ten Thousand Mountains were nothing special?"

"Once you're inside, try not to be frightened."

His curiosity piqued by these words, Qin Muchuan took a deep breath and stepped through the mountain gate.

In the next instant, the scene before his eyes changed abruptly.

The clouds and mist dissipated, replaced by a vast world that defied description.

Immortal Mountains floated in the air, and spirit springs flowed in circuits.

Several immortal peaks floated above the clouds, their summits dotted with numerous pavilions and buildings with upturned eaves, appearing and disappearing within the spiritual mist.

A vast spirit spring wound past the foot of each Immortal Mountain. The rising Spiritual Qi, like mist and dew, nourished all the spiritual plants in the mountains.

Immortal cranes soared among the clouds, letting out clear, high-pitched cries.

Spirit Beasts darted through the mountain forests, their figures as fast as lightning.

The air was filled with Spiritual Qi so dense it had almost solidified. With every breath, one could feel spiritual power circulating through their body, as if even their pores were cheering.

Qin Muchuan froze in place, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

"This... this..."

He stuttered, unable to form a complete sentence for a long time.

Su Fuguang stepped through the gate right after him and was equally stunned by the sight.

His eyes widened as his gaze moved from one immortal peak to another, from the waterfalls to the spirit springs, and finally settled on the immortal cranes soaring among the clouds.

Zhou Tianchen was the last to enter.

Standing before the mountain gate, his gaze swept across this vast, nearly boundless world, and his pupils contracted slightly.

"This is Kunlun?"

Zhou Tianchen spoke in a low voice, which carried a tremor he hadn't even noticed himself.

Lu Jinghan stood behind the three with his hands behind his back. Seeing their dumbfounded expressions, the smile on his face deepened.

"Now you know why I told you not to be frightened?"

Qin Muchuan finally snapped out of it, spun around, and grabbed Lu Jinghan's arm.

"Senior Brother! This place! It really exists?"

"Nonsense." Lu Jinghan slapped his hand away. "Haven't you already entered?"

"But—but—"

Qin Muchuan pointed at the immortal peaks floating in the clouds, incoherent.

"This is simply an Immortal Realm!"

"Stop sighing in wonder," Lu Jinghan interrupted him, stepping forward.

"First, we go to the Main Peak to pay our respects to Revered Master. You'll have plenty of time to look around and ask questions later."

Qin Muchuan hurriedly followed, though his gaze still couldn't help but wander.

Su Fuguang took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, and followed behind the two.

Zhou Tianchen walked at the very back, his gaze sweeping across this world as a complex emotion welled up within him.

He remembered what Ancestor Zhou Huaixu had said—Kunlun is not like the Imperial Dynasty; the rules and the experts there are beyond anything you can imagine.

At the time, he had only taken it as the Old Ancestor's reminder not to be slack. Only now, having personally stepped into this world, did he understand the weight of those words.

It was far more than just "not like the Imperial Dynasty."

They were quite literally worlds apart!