For most cultivators in Lin'an Prefecture, the Sixth Mountain Lord opening the mountain to choose a Mountain Guardian was undoubtedly a momentous event. Though most cultivators could hardly seize such a slim chance, having the opportunity laid before them meant there was hope.
The spring chill borne by the spring rain permeated the foot of the mountain. The mountain was lush with vegetation, making the cold all the sharper, yet the atmosphere below was blazing hot. The cultivators' surging Qi and blood roiled like rising furnace flames, driving away the biting spring cold.
One lavish carriage after another stood parked upon the flat ground at the mountain's foot. The coachmen, wearing bamboo hats and straw rain capes, sat primly upon their shafts, not daring to look around carelessly.
Meanwhile, cultivators raced along the mountain path, their minds spilling outward as they streaked through the spring rain with movement techniques, splashing mud and rainwater as they hurried over.
It could not be called a hundred boats vying in the current, but it was certainly lively.
These cultivators all came from extraordinary backgrounds. Some were disciples of sects around Lin'an Prefecture, some were wandering cultivator heroes who upheld justice, and some were gifted descendants of Lin'an Prefecture's great houses.
The young masters and ladies of martial noble Lineages such as Ye Manor, Lin Manor, and the Zhong Family had all come through the rain, as had the descendants of eminent officials and nobles—prime ministers, ministers, dukes, and the like.
If one won the Sixth Mountain Lord's favor and entered Sacred Mountain, it would be a single step to the heavens. Even one's own Lineage would benefit immensely. To have any connection with Sacred Mountain would make one's standing throughout Great Zhao rise with the tide.
Such was Sacred Mountain's influence.
Even Great Zhao's imperial clan had sent their descendants. Some imperial descendants of Great Zhao hoped to enter Sacred Mountain as well, even if they could only become a Mountain Guardian.
Of course, even if they failed to gain entry, witnessing such a grand occasion as a Mountain Lord opening the mountain was still worthwhile.
At the mountain's foot.
Exceedingly luxurious carriages had gathered together. Their canopied roofs and upturned eaves resembled blooming winter jasmine flowers beneath the misty, rainy mountain.
One particularly opulent carriage was parked beside a peach tree. Peach petals knocked down by the spring rain clung to its roof, lending it a touch of poetry.
Inside the carriage, water boiled over a charcoal brazier, and fine West Lake Longjing sat upon the table. Young Master Qin, clad in magnificent brocade robes, sat within, facing Luo Qingchen, who had changed into a scholar's robe.
"I never expected Mr. Luo to intend to become a Mountain Guardian. I had thought you would persist until you met the Sacred Teacher."
Young Master Qin personally brewed Luo Qingchen a cup of hot Longjing. Emerald tea leaves rose and fell in the blue-and-white porcelain cup.
Luo Qingchen watched the tea leaves for a long while, then chuckled. "Becoming a Mountain Guardian still gives me a chance to meet the Sacred Teacher. So long as I fulfill the three conditions set by the First Mountain Lord, it can be done. There is no conflict."
"It merely means giving up the chance to become a Mountain Lord."
"That is true. There are indeed records throughout history of Mountain Guardians meeting the Sacred Teacher. Mr. Luo, what grand spirit. Qin offers tea in place of wine, and wishes that you may attain your desire and ascend the azure clouds in a single step."
Young Master Qin clapped and laughed, personally raising his teacup and taking a sip.
If Luo Qingchen, a retainer of Prime Minister Qin's Manor, truly became a Mountain Guardian, it would bring great benefits to Prime Minister Qin's Manor.
Originally, Luo Qingchen's Dao heart had once again been clouded by Hua Jiebing's sword intent, leaving Qin Qianqiu dissatisfied. Now that Luo Qingchen was willing to lower himself and vie for the position of Mountain Guardian, Qin Qianqiu naturally became far more cordial.
"Among the many cultivators who have come to Sixth Mountain this time, Mr. Luo's cultivation can be called the foremost. Ye Wenxi and Ye Yinping of the Ye Family have also come. Though their cultivation is inferior to yours, Mr. Luo, their talents are peerless. They certainly will not vie to become Mountain Guardians; they have likely come only to watch the excitement."
"On the level of cultivation, Mr. Luo need only beware of two people."
As Qin Qianqiu drank tea, he looked at Luo Qingchen, who gently caressed a palm-sized short sword, and spoke.
Luo Qingchen slightly lifted his eyelids as Qin Qianqiu continued on his own. "One is Zhong Shun Chao of the Zhong Family. Though his mind has not reached the fifth realm, his body tempering has surpassed it. His archery is divine, and he ranks tenth on the Martial Temple's Fierce Generals Ranking."
Luo Qingchen's lips curled, unimpressed.
Qin Qianqiu tapped a finger lightly against the table. "The second is Ye Chong of the Ye Family. His cultivation is roughly equal to Zhong Shun Chao's. He is likewise listed on the Martial Temple's Fierce Generals Ranking, ranked ninth."
"The Zhong Family and the Ye Family have observed the Lin Family's situation and are likewise concerned, so they wish to produce a Mountain Guardian as a safeguard."
Qin Qianqiu chuckled. "Lin Manor has now declined. Speaking of talent, the only one who can come to compete is that maid carrying a fire poker. She is nothing to fear."
"Therefore, Mr. Luo, your chances are excellent."
Qin Qianqiu's eyes shone brightly. He held great expectations for Luo Qingchen.
Luo Qingchen smiled and drank his tea.
Suddenly, both turned their heads and looked out the carriage window.
"Open the mountain!"
A calm voice rang out from the rugged green mountain, swift as lightning racing from behind clouds.
Thunder sent its lingering echoes drifting, while wind gave birth to soft murmuring sounds!
Sword Qi seemed to rise from level ground across the entire mountain foothills!
The misty rain blanketing the mountain and the evening clouds obscuring the sky were cleaved apart down the middle by a single line, turning into curtains gently drawn aside by invisible hands.
Brilliant sunlight shone upon dazzling droplets of spring rain and spilled across the mountain's foot, forming a sunlit avenue sprouting fresh grass and tender flowers, strewn with peach petals. Golden light glittered as it extended straight into the distant mountain path—and toward a luxurious carriage racing over.
The many cultivators at the mountain's foot, drenched in spring rain, erupted in an uproar as they stared at that lavish carriage in the distance.
"Lin Manor's carriage!"
Someone recognized it. The carriages of every great noble household bore their own marks.
The Mountain Lord had opened the mountain, tearing apart the misty rain. A sunlit avenue descended from the Ninth Heaven, yet it had been laid directly along the path of that carriage...
A coincidence?
Many could not help but let their imaginations run wild.
At the sight of Lin Manor's carriage, Young Master Qin's expression instantly turned cold.
"Unless that astonishingly gifted son of Yuan Meng's Son-in-Law from the Lin Family has returned from the Yuan Meng Empire, Lin Manor has no one capable of contending for the position of Mountain Guardian. Therefore, this golden path is merely a coincidence—the carriage simply happened to be traveling upon the path where the mountain was opened."
Qin Qianqiu said coldly.
Luo Qingchen gazed toward the carriage, his brows slightly furrowed.
Yet the carriage continued beneath the sunlight, rolling over fresh grass and tender flowers gilded gold, as well as peach petals crushed into the dust along the road, until it slowly reached the mountain's foot.
Under countless blazing gazes, the curtain was lifted.
Lin Zhuifeng, with a fire poker tucked at her waist, stepped out and leaped down.
Countless eyes naturally fell upon her. Most of the nobles recognized Lin Zhuifeng of Lin Manor, and many could not help but exhale.
Qin Qianqiu also gave a cold laugh, drank his warm West Lake Longjing, and paid her no mind.
Then another person stepped down from the carriage.
Lin Qingyin, gentle and serene, lifted her skirt and slowly descended. Her picturesque brows and eyes drew sidelong glances from many young cultivators.
Finally, a youth in white descended slowly from the carriage, a Tattered Bamboo Sword tucked at his waist.
The youth was extraordinarily handsome and refined, but no one knew him at the moment. Thus, no one cared, and they all withdrew their gazes.
But one person was different.
Inside Qin Manor's carriage.
Luo Qingchen's eyes narrowed slightly. He stared deeply at the youth's figure before lowering his eyelids and withdrawing his gaze.
"Merely a weakling whose body tempering has only reached Opening Qi and Blood, whose mind has only established Embryonic Breathing, and he wishes to enter Sacred Mountain? If I climb the mountain, he will surely be crushed into scattered fragments."
Luo Qingchen murmured softly.
He lowered his head to look at the hand holding his teacup.
For some reason, ripples trembled across the emerald tea within the cup.
An Le stepped down from the carriage and silently stood beside Lin Zhuifeng and Lin Qingyin.
The dazzling sunlight tore through the curtain of clouds and misty rain, falling right upon his face and making him squint slightly.
Looking around at the sheer number of cultivators, he could not help but feel moved and delighted.
In his eyes, Time Qi swayed and coiled around every cultivator like seaweed, as though waving to him.
The Mountain Lord's words about opening the mountain still echoed through the foothills like thunder.
The sunlit avenue resembled a passage leading toward the rugged green mountain. Many cultivators' hearts surged with passion, yet none dared take that first step.
For a time, the atmosphere at the mountain's foot became somewhat quiet and strange.
The patter of spring rain was like sand flowing through an hourglass.
After a long while, someone moved.
A scorching surge of Qi and blood coiled like a flood dragon, blasting aside the spring rain at the mountain's foot. A young man clad in armor, with a Black Iron Great Bow on his back, strode forward step by step, crashing through the rain curtain as he stepped onto the sunlit avenue.
Following the avenue of golden light, he reached the mountain's foot, where clouds and mist curled about.
The young man raised his head, cupped his fists in salute, and spoke. His voice rang like an ancient bellstone, echoing through the mountains.
"Zhong Shun Chao of the Zhong Family is willing to become a Mountain Guardian."
Majestic Qi and blood transformed into a flood dragon upon the level ground, instantly overwhelming the mountain wind and rain.
The many cultivators who had come to the mountain's foot all looked up. Some were shaken, some stared intently, and some were helpless.
An Le's eyes gleamed. Such bearing was indeed terrifying. Unfortunately, he had already exhausted today's opportunity to draw in Time Qi, or he would certainly have absorbed his.
After Zhong Shun Chao, the stillness seemed to shatter. Another person stepped forth, likewise clad in armor, with a cloak billowing behind him. He held a Chiseled Gold Tiger Head Spear slanted in his grip. With one step, he shot forward horizontally, his Qi and blood like spear radiance streaking through the air. He actually suppressed Zhong Shun Chao's oppressive force and stood alongside him on the sunlit avenue at the mountain's foot.
"Ye Chong of the Ye Family is willing to become a Mountain Guardian."
The same declaration drowned out the spring wind and fine rain, like a tiger's roar in an empty valley, reverberating without end.
The two stood beneath the mountain, making countless cultivators feel as though two great mountains were lodged in their hearts. They wished to contend for the position of Mountain Guardian, yet did not even have the courage to step out.
These were two experts ranked on the Martial Temple's Fierce Generals Ranking, their sharpness laid bare!
Inside Qin Manor's carriage.
Luo Qingchen no longer remained seated. The tea in his cup was warm.
He lifted the curtain and stepped out. His scholar's robe fluttered fiercely as silver Sword Qi circled his body, carrying him gracefully up from the mountain's foot.
His majestic mind was like a sudden, violent storm, actually suppressing the wild momentum of the Fierce Generals Ranking experts' Qi and blood.
Sword light wound around Luo Qingchen's body as he raised his head toward the idle pavilion halfway up the mountain. He cupped his fists in salute, a confident smile lifting the corners of his lips.
"Luo Qingchen of Qingzhou is willing to become a Mountain Guardian."
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