Chapter 71: Mount Longhu - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

Chapter 71: Mount Longhu "Master, I actually ran away on purpose." "Indeed, it shows." Along a narrow path in the forest, Su Chi Chi explained earnestly, "You saw it too, Master. I had it chase me just to show you my newly practiced movement technique." Chen An applauded, indicating his approval, "Fleet-footed and ethereal, quite impressive indeed." Receiving such praise from her master, Su Chi Chi's expression froze for a moment. She turned her head, her cheeks slightly red, "Mm, mm..." "Who truly understands me but you, Master?" ... Winter had arrived. Everywhere in the valley was covered with a silvery frost, as if the earth had changed into a snowy white garment. Today, Su Chi Chi wasn't cultivating in the cave, nor was she provoking the tiger demon. She felt that winter played to the strengths of her opponent. Its white fur blended seamlessly with the surroundings, making it disadvantageous for her in a fight. Her master once said, "Thirty years of the east bank, thirty years of the west, never underestimate the young and ambitious." Su Chi Chi figured there was no rush and considered taking her master fishing instead. At the great lake, their usual spot. Su Chi Chi wrapped herself in a padded jacket, exhaling into her hands. She was puzzled, "Master, we are cultivators. Why should we be afraid of mere cold weather?" Chen An cast his fishing line and replied, "The atmosphere is just right. It wouldn't feel appropriate not to add a couple more layers." Su Chi Chi paused, then nodded in sudden realization, "That makes perfect sense." The two began to fish quietly. In the vast whiteness of the world, everything was silent. Su Chi Chi perked up her ears, able to hear the rhythmic breathing of her master. For some reason, a sweet smile appeared on her lips. ... Blue Star. South of the capital, a series of mountains stretched endlessly, forming a majestic mountain range. Amongst them was one particularly tall peak, its summit hidden in the clouds year-round. Midway up the mountain were elegant and refined pavilions. This was Mount Longhu, one of the two great sacred places of Taoism. On a platform at the edge of a cliff, many figures moved back and forth. At a glance, most were young teenagers. Each had wide eyes, filled with curiosity as they took in their surroundings, occasionally poking and prodding at things. Gao Qing Yang was among them. Although he tried hard to suppress his excitement, he couldn't hide the thrill on his face. Ever since he discovered the other side of this world, he hadn't slept a peaceful night. Now, he finally saw it with his own eyes. Given that the officials were involved, providing special transport and personal explanations to all parents, there was no way it could be fake, right? Suddenly, a wave of suppressed exclamations came from the crowd in front. Following the sound, Gao Qing Yang saw a group descending the mountain path. Leading them was a woman in a blue Taoist robe, her robe fluttering in the wind. Her exquisite face was incomparably elegant, her expression serene, and her eyes as clear as water. As she walked, there was nothing overtly striking, yet she gave the impression of an untouchable distance, like an ethereal being isolated from the world. It was no wonder these teenagers couldn't help but gasp in admiration. Even characters from modern games and anime couldn't compare to the impact she had on them. The next moment, Gao Qing Yang heard hushed whispers beside him. "Wow, her looks and grace are simply out of this world..." "Hey, you obviously don't have the latest intel. I've heard she's a teacher from our Sword Cultivation Division, rumored to have divine-level skills. She hails from another Taoist sacred place, Mount Qingcheng. Even high officials in the capital respectfully call her 'Master Luo!'" The speaker, a chubby teenager, displayed a bit of pride as he shared his knowledge. No sooner had he finished speaking than someone eagerly inquired, "Amazing! But what’s this Sword Cultivation Division? When did we choose divisions?" "Right, right, we weren’t told to pick majors." They all knew they were here to cultivate immortality, but most had little knowledge in this domain. They were just aware of being chosen by authorities and brought here from afar to study. After all, until the day of the physical examination, they’d all lived in an ordinary, mundane world. The chubby teenager smiled smugly and continued, "No one said you had to choose a major. We are the first batch of students, adopting a fully elective system to cast a wide net." He basked in the admiration and astonishment of those around him, then added, "When we first entered, we could go to any division to study, but the knowledge acquired was superficial. To delve deeper, you'd have to wait until you started your Qi Refinement and officially joined a division." "You can roughly understand it as the difference between outer disciples and inner disciples." "Of course, if you bite off more than you can chew and waste your years, you’ll have to stay in the outer division for life." Hearing this, everyone showed expressions of sudden realization. Though they hadn't eaten pork, they’d all seen pigs run, hadn’t they? In simpler terms, it's just a modern university facade, playing the same old immortality cultivation sect game. Gao Qing Yang quietly took note as well. This was critical early-stage intelligence—sometimes a single step ahead means every step ahead. "Wow, why are the two people behind her also so attractive?!" Soon someone noticed the two people following the woman. A young man and a young woman, appearing of similar age to them, but in terms of looks and aura, they were unmatched. For some reason, upon hearing these slightly envious murmurs, a sense of foreboding rose in Gao Qing Yang's heart. He looked up, a flawless young face entering his sight. The youth trailed behind the woman called 'Master Luo,' his expression calm and composed, his steps assured. Who else could it be if not Chen An? That face was far too distinctive; even a slightly annoyed Gao Qing Yang had to admit it. He truly was very good-looking. Since Chen An was there, Gao Qing Yang didn’t even need to look to know, with absolute certainty, who the girl beside him was—it didn’t even require thinking. Right at that moment, Gao Qing Yang inadvertently made eye contact with Chen An. Their gazes met, and Gao Qing Yang felt as if his face was set aflame, his body suddenly standing rigidly upright. The next instant, Chen An followed 'Master Luo' and moved towards the crowd. Gao Qing Yang's heart tightened, various thoughts racing through his mind. Could it be he was planning to embarrass him in public, to retaliate? He had never imagined meeting Chen An again would come this swiftly, and so unexpectedly. Thinking back on the words he'd said a couple of days ago felt like stabs directly to Gao Qing Yang's heart. Now, he regretted it immensely. Why on earth had he acted so foolishly then? But, alas, there are no what-ifs in life. As things stood, Gao Qing Yang could only stubbornly lift his head, brace himself, and maintain eye contact with Chen An. He refused to let the other see his weakness. Yet Chen An merely nodded toward him, then shifted his gaze. His steps remained unbroken, his expression unchanged. He didn’t look at Gao Qing Yang again. (End of Chapter)