Zhou Muyun did not answer. Instead, he stepped forward and seized Yang Guo's wrist.
Their eyes met, and Yang Guo immediately understood what Zhou Muyun meant. He nodded.
Only then did Zhou Muyun release him. Yang Guo turned to the guard disciples beside them and cupped his hands. "They are indeed disciples of our Heavy Earth Gate. Sorry for the trouble!"
"Just doing our duty," the guard disciple replied coolly.
The three then entered the mountain gate and climbed the white jade steps toward the interior of the Heavenly Evolution Upper Sect.
The stairway was extraordinarily long, as though it truly had no end, reaching straight into the clouds.
"Muyun, when did you arrive? We only got here a couple of days ago ourselves," Yang Guo asked as he led the way.
"We just arrived today," Zhou Muyun answered.
"That makes sense. You set out first, but with that business... you would indeed be slower than us." Yang Guo understood.
Beside them, Miao Yue'er could not help looking around curiously.
Ancient trees towered into the sky on either side of the steps, and spiritual herbs grew in profusion. Many plants used as medicinal ingredients outside were no different from roadside weeds here. Pavilions, terraces, and other buildings could be glimpsed through the swirling mist.
They dotted the landscape, and powerful auras flashed past from time to time, inspiring awe.
"Let me explain things to you two." Seeing their curiosity, Yang Guo smiled faintly and pointed toward the rolling peaks half-hidden in the distance, explaining at an unhurried pace:
"The Heavenly Evolution Upper Sect has seventy-two peaks in total, commonly called 'thirty-six outer, twenty-four inner, and twelve core.' The thirty-six outer peaks guard the sect. No one except inner disciples may enter the twenty-four inner peaks, while the twelve peaks at