Forcing His Way Up the Mountain

Bai Jin laughed heartily. "Sounds great. I've been pretty bored myself. Come on, I'll take you fishing."

Fish? Bai He the Attendant's eyes lit up. Ever since he had come to Mount Kunlun, he had survived each day on wind and dew. Life had been hard, and he had not eaten fish he loved in a long time. He was so envious of his senior brother's carefree life—he could even go out fishing.

Shi Ji asked, "Senior Brother, can I come too?"

Bai Jin said with a chuckle, "You can't get out of coming even if you don't want to! I don't have the skill to cook fish, so let's go together."

Shi Ji smiled softly. "If Senior Brother doesn't mind, then I'll make a fool of myself."

The three of them came to a small stream at the foot of the mountain and sat directly on the grass to fish.

Before long, Bai He the Attendant could no longer endure the boredom and secretly used a spell. Large and small fish came one after another, and he fished to his heart's content.

Shi Ji showed off her fine cooking skills, and a fragrant aroma drifted through the air.

A while later, the three of them sat beneath the shade of a tree after eating their fill, lazily listening to birdsong echoing through the mountain forest.

Bai He the Attendant let out a full belch and said enviously, "Shangqing Peak is still better. Yuqing Peak is far too dull and desolate. It's just the master and me."

Bai Jin comforted him, "Once Martial Uncle becomes a saint, he'll recruit disciples far and wide. Yuqing Peak will be lively then."

Bai He the Attendant's eyes brightened. "Really? The master should be close to becoming a saint. Senior Brother Duobao came to Yuqing Peak today."

Bai Jin said in surprise, "Duobao? What did he go there for?" Normally, Duobao wished he could take a detour whenever he saw Second Martial Uncle. Why had he suddenly delivered himself to his door today?

Bai He the Attendant nodded. "He spoke with the master about the Great Dao of sainthood. He said that if the master wanted to attain the Dao, he had to refine the first Saint Artifact between heaven and earth. Once heaven and earth acknowledged it and bestowed merit, he could become a saint. I think it made a lot of sense."

Bai Jin's heart skipped a beat. He suddenly remembered that Duobao had also gone to Shangqing Palace this morning, and had acted very strangely. Could he be copying him and giving Master and Martial Uncle advice on how to attain the Dao?

Bai Jin's pupils suddenly constricted. Not good! Duobao is going to harm my powerful backer. If the attempt to attain the Dao fails, who knows what terrible consequences there might be!

Bai Jin hurriedly rose and transformed into a streak of blue light, flying toward Shangqing Peak.

Beneath the tree, Bai He the Attendant asked in confusion, "Eh? Why did Senior Brother leave?"

Shi Ji looked toward Shangqing Palace, her expression thoughtful. "Come on, let's go take a look too!"

"Alright!" Bai He the Attendant got to his feet, and the two rode an Auspicious Cloud toward Shangqing Peak.

Halfway up the mountain, a mighty voice rang out. "Junior Brother, please stop!" A barrier formed from Shangqing Immortal Light appeared, dividing heaven and earth.

Before the barrier, a streak of blue light flashed and turned into Bai Jin. He stared at Duobao below on the mountainside and said, "Senior Disciple Brother, what is the meaning of this?"

Duobao stood with one hand behind his back, his Daoist robe fluttering elegantly. He said, "It means nothing. Master is in seclusion comprehending the Saint Dao. Junior Brother should not disturb him."

Bai Jin said solemnly, "Senior Disciple Brother, I have always respected you. Even if there are conflicts between us, I can accept taking a small loss. But how can the Saint Dao be treated as child's play? If something goes wrong with Master, can you bear the responsibility?"

He could accept taking a small loss? When had he ever suffered a loss! It would have been fine if Bai Jin had not mentioned it, but the moment their past conflicts were brought up, Duobao could no longer suppress the anger rising in his heart. His expression darkened. "Bai Jin, what do you mean by that? Do you think I would harm Master?"

"Did you give Master advice, vainly trying to instruct him on attaining the Dao?"

"It was merely a suggestion."

Bai Jin said angrily, "Senior Brother, do you think the Saint Dao is something you can simply think up?"

Duobao said furiously, "Bai Jin! Why do you think I can't think of it? You could guide Empress Nuwa to sainthood, so why can't I offer Master an opinion?"

Me?! Bai Jin felt his chest tighten. Has Senior Disciple Brother gone stupid? Is he really going to compete over this too?!

Duobao raised his head and chest proudly. "Bai Jin, don't think that you alone are heaven's chosen, that only you can comprehend the Saint Dao. We can do it too."

This confrontation alerted many disciples on Shangqing Peak, and they all emerged to watch the developments in the sky from afar.

On the mountainside, Dingguang Immortal with Long Ears, Ling Ya Xian, Qiu Shou Xian, and the other Outer Sect Disciples cried out excitedly, "Good! Well said, Senior Disciple Brother!"

"We can think up the Saint Dao too."

"Senior Disciple Brother is the true heaven's chosen."

A faint smile appeared on Duobao's face. With the immortals rallying around him, this was the Dao he sought—to stand supreme above heaven and earth.

Bai Jin took a deep breath and said gravely, "Senior Brother, what if I insist on going through?"

Duobao looked up at Bai Jin and said confidently, "You can try!"

Bai Jin formed a sword finger and raised it toward the sky. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Four immortal swords flew from his sleeves, standing upright as they circled Bai Jin. They were Qingming, Qingyu, Qingxiao, and Qingyun.

Bai Jin said solemnly, "Senior Disciple Brother, be careful.

Four Swords Unite, Qing Tian Emerges!" Against Senior Brother Duobao, Bai Jin had no choice but to use his strongest technique.

The four immortal swords instantly shot into the sky and collided above Bai Jin's head. Amid a burst of divine light, they fused into a divine sword shining with blue radiance. Two words were inscribed upon its hilt: Qing Tian.

As the Qing Tian Sword emerged, heaven and earth responded. Rumble, rumble—thunder rolled through the sky as dense clouds churned.

Bai Jin's face instantly turned pale. Sweat soaked his body, and he trembled from head to toe. The Qing Tian Sword was the sword of heaven. Once the Heavenly Sword emerged, it could draw upon the power of heaven and earth for ten thousand miles. The immense pressure was like an entire world weighing upon him. His mind could perceive everything within ten thousand miles—every flower, blade of grass, stone, and drop of water transformed into sword intent and merged into the Qing Tian Sword. It was terrifying and tyrannical.

Bai Jin focused his mind upon Duobao. In the unseen realm, the momentum of heaven and earth pressed down upon Duobao, locking him in place.

Duobao's expression changed as he looked at the divine sword in the sky in shock. It felt like heavenly punishment—impossible to evade, impossible to resist.

Bai Jin clenched his teeth and shouted, "Slash!"

The Qing Tian Sword suddenly descended. The blue barrier shattered on contact like torn cloth, turning into a gale that swept outward.

"Defy the Heavens Slash!" Duobao shouted. An immortal sword appeared behind him and shot upward against the heavens. A descending sword became the sword of heaven and earth; a rising sword became the sword that defied heaven. The two collided with a clang that shook heaven and earth. A dazzling blue radiance shone like a blazing sun, and the immense sword qi twisted the surrounding space until nothing could be seen clearly.

The many Outer Sect Disciples below all cried out and hastily covered their eyes with their sleeves, scattering in every direction. Sword light raged everywhere, leaving streak after streak of sword marks across the mountain path. Some unlucky disciples were even left bleeding on the spot.

Thud, thud. Bai Jin staggered back several steps, his chest tightening. Pfft—he spat out a mouthful of blood and trembled all over. Using the Heavenly Sword had already been beyond his limits. When the Heavenly Sword was blocked, the immense power of heaven and earth rebounded upon him, severely injuring him in an instant.

From the twisted blue sword light in the sky, the four immortal swords shot down and revolved around Bai Jin.

Duobao also staggered back two steps. His face flushed red for a moment before the color faded. His immortal sword shot down and hovered at his side.