Chapter 60: Elemental Heaven Peak [2]

Chapter 60: Elemental Heaven Peak [2]Yu Xuan arrived at the base of the towering mountain peak, where the cliffs seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky.

The summit was hidden behind layers of thick clouds, giving the illusion that the mountain pierced straight into the heavens.

He had reached this place after nearly half an hour of sprinting, and as he stood there catching his breath, he looked up at the colossal mountain and thought to himself:

’This might actually be bigger than Little Mountain back home.’

In his home world, there was a peak known as "Little Mountain" — ironically the tallest in the world. To this day, Yu Xuan still wondered who came up with such a crude and unimaginative name.

Slowly, he approached the massive entrance gates of the Elemental Heaven Peak. Disciples passed to and fro through the grand archway, their robes fluttering in the wind.

A steady stream of activity flowed through the entryway.

He waited patiently for his turn. When it came, a tall man in blue robes standing guard at the entrance stepped forward.

"I haven’t seen you around before. What’s your purpose here?" the man asked, his tone not unfriendly but firm, his gaze scanning Yu Xuan’s face.

Yu Xuan respectfully clasped his hands and replied, "Senior brother, I’ve just arrived. I wish to join the peak as a disciple."

The guard raised an eyebrow. "Ah, one of the new arrivals from outside, I assume?"



"Yes," Yu Xuan confirmed with a nod.

"You’re lucky, then," the senior disciple said with a chuckle. "Because of the recent influx of disciples, the disciple accepting ceremonies are being held almost daily. If you head to the registration hall now, you’ll make it in time to be included in the next batch. The next one should start within a few hours."

"I see," Yu Xuan replied. "Could you give me directions to the registration hall?"

The guard nodded and gave a brief explanation, pointing out a path that curved gently along the base of the mountain.

"Follow the stone path straight ahead, then take left when you reach the three-spired pagoda. The registration hall is just beyond it — you can’t miss it."

Yu Xuan thanked him with a respectful bow and turned to leave.

As he jogged off toward the indicated path, the senior disciple chuckled softly, watching his retreating back.

"Fresh blood is always welcome. With more newcomers joining, maybe we’ll finally suffer less..."

His voice trailed off with a sigh of relief. It seemed his workload would decrease and he would finally focus on his cultivation now.

***

Yu Xuan followed the directions given to him by the senior disciple. After walking for a while, he stopped in his tracks.

Ahead of him stood a three-spired pagoda, towering like a divine monument. The spiritual energy around it shifted subtly, as though drawn to the ancient structure.

To his surprise, each spire bore a distinct symbol:



The left spire shimmered with the Yin symbol, dark and cold, like a moonless night.

The right spire radiated the Yang symbol, light and fierce, like a burning sun.

The center spire, slightly shorter, bore the symbol of Taiji — a perfect balance of yin and yang, its edges subtly rotating like a living seal.

The atmosphere around the pagoda was intense. Powerful auras radiated from the disciples gathered nearby.

As Yu Xuan looked closer, he noticed that most of them had four lines embroidered on their sleeves or higher, a clear mark of their cultivation level — meaning most here were likely in the Nascent Soul Realm or above.

Seeing the sheer number of such elite disciples, Yu Xuan’s curiosity peaked. Whatever that pagoda is for... it’s definitely something important.

But he quickly shook off the urge to investigate further.

’No need to get sidetracked’, he reminded himself.

He was really tempted to explore further but decided against it. There would be time later — ten years, if the Artifact Spirit Tianling’s words were to be believed.

Though ten years felt like plenty now, he knew well that in the realm of cultivation, time had a way of slipping away too quickly.

He made a mental note to return and explore the pagoda later.

Leaving the pagoda behind, he continued on the path and soon arrived at a tall, wide building with glowing characters over its entrance: "Registration Hall."

The faint glow of the words seemed designed to grab the attention of newcomers, and Yu Xuan couldn’t help but chuckle. Looks like the sect’s marketing team knew what they were doing.



He stepped inside.

The interior was spacious, pristine, and spotless. To one side, he saw a group of new disciples gathered together. A senior disciple stood nearby, appearing to oversee the process.

Yu Xuan approached and said respectfully, "Senior, I wish to register."

The senior disciple glanced at him and casually pointed toward the group. "You’re just in time. Go stand with the others."

Yu Xuan nodded and made his way to the back of the line, falling in behind the gathered disciples. He was among the last to arrive.

After a short wait, the senior disciple stepped forward, his expression stern as he addressed the group.

"You will be evaluated before being accepted into the peak. That decision lies with the elder who will observe your potential. Do not make unnecessary noise or act like spoiled children throwing tantrums."

It was clearly an attempt to establish authority, though the other senior disciples shook their heads subtly — they knew well that anyone who made it this far wasn’t likely to throw a tantrum.

"Follow me," the senior disciple instructed, turning sharply and leading the group toward where the attending elder awaited them.

He then led them through a side door, and they entered a quiet chamber where an Elder with serene expression sat cross-legged in deep meditation, his presence vast yet restrained like a still ocean.

The senior disciple stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Elder, these are the new arrivals."

As Yu Xuan’s eyes fell upon the Elder — he froze.