Chapter 243- The Black-Bellied Demon Cultivator’s Senior Brother VS The Righteous Young Junior Brother (8)
Initially, the other party was reluctant to accept these items, but Mu Jin was very firm the first time. He explained that, being alone with no family, he wanted to show his gratitude for the care he received.
Uncle Li, thinking he could sell the items later and share the money with Mu Jin, finally agreed to accept them. However, he hadn’t yet had the chance to go into town to exchange them for money.
Seeing Mu Jin again, and knowing that he would be climbing the Zongyun Ladder the next day, Uncle Li took out several sesame cakes filled with stuffing to give to Mu Jin, so he could have something to eat on the journey. He also gave him some tangerines freshly harvested from the garden. These tangerines were exceptionally sweet and fragrant, much better than those found in the wild. However, they were in short supply, and most of the harvest was usually sent to the outer disciples of Qingliu Sect or traded in town, as the gardeners rarely indulged in them themselves.
Mu Jin loved the tangy and sweet taste of these tangerines and was delighted to receive them. He even thought about saving a few to share with his beloved the next day.
Knowing that Mu Jin had been supplementing his meals with his hunting, Uncle Li didn’t insist on him staying for dinner. As they parted, Uncle Li earnestly advised Mu Jin to be cautious in his speech when dealing with others, reminding him not to be too blunt to avoid offending those he couldn’t afford to offend.
Mu Jin found Uncle Li’s advice both amusing and touching, thinking to himself that while the original owner was straightforward, he wasn’t foolish—he just preferred to speak the truth. Nonetheless, he appreciated Uncle Li’s kindness and nodded in agreement, understanding that the advice came from a place of concern.
In the afternoon, Mu Jin finished his chores in the vegetable garden, and for dinner, he ate a few tangerines and the leftover grilled snake meat before going to bed early.
The next morning, Mu Jin woke up bright and early. Although he didn’t have any fancy clothes, he made sure to clean himself up as best as he could. After packing his small backpack with the tangerines and dry rations given by Uncle Li, he set off towards Qingliu Sect, ready to take on the day ahead.
At the same time, the once-a-year opening of the Zongyun Ladder had arrived. In the main hall of the Qingliu Sect’s main peak, the sect leader, along with the peak masters and elders from various peaks, gathered together. They were observing through a water mirror, watching the movements of those attempting to climb the Zongyun Ladder, hoping to enter the Qingliu Sect.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of Qingliu Sect, the favored disciples from each peak stood nearby, awaiting the arrival of the new disciples who were about to join their sect.
Among them, the most noticeable was a tall man dressed in a white robe, his lips curved into a gentle smile. He had a straight posture and an elegant demeanor. Though his features were slightly sharp, his smile softened them, making him appear approachable.
Almost everyone who passed by, regardless of their peak, greeted this man warmly, addressing him respectfully as Senior Brother.
Although Ning Yizhou was merely the senior disciple under Luo Kangde, the Peak Master of Chuanyun Peak, he often extended his care to disciples from other peaks as well. As a result, most people in the sect had a favorable impression of Ning Yizhou and enjoyed being in the presence of this Senior Brother.
Today, all the disciples standing near the entrance to the Zongyun Ladder were on high alert, eager to impress the soon-to-be members of their sect with Qingliu Sect’s grandeur. However, the young man responsible for recording the newcomers was slumped over a table, looking rather despondent. He held a brush in his hand, occasionally casting a pitiful glance towards Ning Yizhou.
Ning Yizhou noticed the young man, Mao Kun, and with a smile, softly said, “Junior Brother, today is the grand day of our Qingliu Sect’s once-in-five-years opening of the Zongyun Ladder. You’re responsible for overseeing the entrance and welcoming the new disciples. How can you not present yourself in a proper manner? If Master were to find out about your lack of diligence…”
At this point, Ning Yizhou shook his head, his gaze shifting to the muscular, slightly tanned young man sitting in front of him, a hint of concern appearing on his face.
The young man, upon hearing Ning Yizhou’s words, straightened up immediately, his posture becoming more upright. With a tearful voice, he said, “Senior Brother, I understand my mistake. Please don’t tell Master!”
Ning Yizhou nodded in response and, with a smile, turned his attention to other matters. Not far away, several female cultivators blushed as they looked at Ning Yizhou and whispered among themselves, admiring how gentle and kind he was.
Hearing the praise from the junior sisters, Mao Kun, who alone knew Ning Yizhou’s true nature, felt utterly despondent. If only he had kept his mouth shut about the fact that Senior Brother seemed to be rarely present at Chuanyun Peak recently.
Not only did Senior Brother provide a simple explanation, but he also informed Master about Mao Kun’s recent lack of diligence in his cultivation. Moreover, he had suggested that Mao Kun be tasked with guarding the sect and recording the information of every disciple.
It was well known that the Zongyun Ladder would be open for a full seven days. During these seven days, the person in charge of recording was actually the most burdened, and unlike others, could not move around freely.
Thinking about this, Mao Kun almost felt like crying. Why was he so forgetful? Had he known that Senior Brother was so vengeful and would bear a grudge, he would never have spoken ill behind his back. And now, not only had he spoken ill, but Senior Brother had also discovered it!
On the other side, Mu Jin, although unaware of his lover’s current situation, was still thinking about him. After preparing ample provisions, he finally arrived at the base of the Zongyun Ladder. Looking up at the towering ladder, which seemed to reach the clouds, he felt a wave of dizziness from the sheer height.
The seemingly endless staircase made it feel as if he would never reach the top.
Seeing that others around him were climbing in pairs or groups, Mu Jin felt his solitary presence more acutely. Most people climbing the Zongyun Ladder had some status, making commoners like Mu Jin quite rare.
However, Mu Jin was unfazed by the occasional mocking glances he received. Calmly wearing his coarse cloth clothes and carrying his basket, he began his ascent up the Zongyun Ladder.
The moment he stepped onto the first rung of the ladder, Mu Jin felt a sudden increase in weight pressing down on him. Despite this added burden, Mu Jin found it manageable, thanks to the conditioning he had received from 003 over the past few days.
Moreover, the spirit fruit his lover had given him the previous day proved to be immensely beneficial. Thinking of his lover brought a pang of longing, but Mu Jin soon refocused on climbing the ladder, taking each step steadily and deliberately.
He had no idea how long he had been climbing, but the top of the ladder remained elusive, giving the impression that it would go on forever. With no day or night to mark the passage of time, it was challenging to gauge the hours.
Fortunately, with the aid of 003, Mu Jin could still keep track of time. After climbing for what felt like half a day, he sat down on a nearby stone step to rest, pulling out some cakes and citrus fruits from his basket to eat.
He was relieved to have brought a sufficient quantity of cakes, which he had reheated in the morning. Though not as crisp as when freshly baked, the filling still tasted quite good.
Although Mu Jin enjoyed fine food, he was not picky. The sweet, juicy citrus and fragrant sesame cakes were more than enough to satisfy him.
After finishing his meal and feeling refreshed, he continued his ascent. He reminded 003 to monitor his rest periods. By what he estimated to be evening, he noticed that the number of people still climbing the ladder had decreased by two-thirds.
The seemingly endless journey was disheartening, and many were clearly exhausted. Yet, Mu Jin’s expression remained unchanged, and he continued his climb with determination.
Though he could have taken a break or even slept, his greater urgency to reunite with his lover drove him forward.
Moreover, with the abundant spiritual energy in this world, Mu Jin could easily restore his strength through meditation. Therefore, he chose not to rest and instead continued his determined march toward the mountaintop.
After a while, he felt the pressure on his body suddenly double. The overwhelming weight, akin to a mountain pressing down on him, caused Mu Jin’s back to momentarily bend under the strain.
However, he quickly straightened his spine, aware that someone might be using a scrying technique to observe those climbing the Zongyun Ladder. Though he wasn’t sure if his lover would see him, Mu Jin was determined to present his best self, no matter what.
Having lived for ten thousand years and attained the rank of an immortal, Mu Jin’s resilience was unmatched.
By now, even fewer people remained on the Zongyun Ladder. Though the end was still not visible, they had already covered more than half of the journey.
In the grand hall of Qingliu Sect, the various peak masters were also observing the climbers, and Mu Jin naturally caught their attention.
The sect master of Qingliu stroked his graying beard as he watched the scene in the water mirror, remarking, “It seems there are a few promising candidates this year.”
The others nodded in agreement, eagerly anticipating the potential new blood that might join their peaks.
Unaware of others’ thoughts, Mu Jin continued his steady climb, though his pace was not particularly fast. After all, Mu Jin’s goal was to reach the top of the Zongyun Ladder and gain the opportunity to test his spiritual roots, not to stand out or draw unnecessary attention.
As he walked, he noticed that the mist ahead did not dissipate as it had before. Instead, it thickened into a dense, heavy fog. After a brief pause, Mu Jin resolutely stepped into the mist-covered steps, and the scene before him began to change.
The fog slowly cleared, and images of his past lives flashed before his eyes, moments of joy shared with his lover passing by like fleeting shadows in the cycle of reincarnation.
Seeing these scenes, a sense of nostalgia flickered in Mu Jin’s eyes. He realized that he was now trapped in an illusion, the greatest challenge the Zongyun Ladder presented to those seeking to enter the sect.