Ever since the previous batch of Registered Disciples had successfully graduated, Little Bamboo Peak had grown quiet.
Everyone had thought it would take another couple of days, until the next batch of Registered Disciples entered the sect, for the place to bustle again.
Unexpectedly, a large group of white-robed Dao Sect Outer Disciples came to visit that day, bringing the quiet Little Bamboo Peak to life ahead of schedule.
Except,
there was a slight difference.
Previously, the bustle on Little Bamboo Peak had been at the market on the front slope.
But now, the place bustling with activity...
was the Mass Burial Grounds on the back slope.
"Brother, are you here to look for 'Xu Yunnian' too?" At the edge of the Mass Burial Grounds, a neatly dressed Dao Sect Outer Disciple, whose attire complied perfectly with every rule from head to toe, addressed the person beside him.
"Yes." The other disciple nodded. "One unit of spirit essence is worth three years of burning beneath a furnace."
The first disciple glanced at the "fire" emblem on the other's chest and recognized him as a disciple of Heavenly Flame Peak.
"And it's not just me."
The Heavenly Flame Peak disciple pointed at the nearby crowd.
"They're all here for Xu Yunnian too."
At a rough glance, more than thirty Outer Sect disciples had already gathered around the edge of the Mass Burial Grounds.
But they all stood on the outskirts. Not one had ventured deeper.
The reason was simple.
At night, the Yin Qi in the Mass Burial Grounds was frighteningly dense.
White mist churned through the woods.
Combined with the name "Mass Burial Grounds,"
it was downright creepy.
"Out of my way!"
Just then, a rough voice rang out. The other Outer Sect disciples immediately looked toward it and saw a burly, dark-skinned Dao Sect disciple with an unremarkable face approaching.
A disciple from Emerald Cloud Peak recognized him at once. "It's Liu He."
Once Liu He arrived,
he headed straight into the depths of the Mass Burial Grounds.
"He's really brave."
"Brave? He's just carrying something scarier than ghosts on his back."
"What?"
"Debt."
"And a massive debt whose final repayment deadline is almost here."
"Hiss!!! That is terrifying."
"..."
They watched Liu He walk into the Mass Burial Grounds alone.
He disappeared into the white mist.
A long time passed.
A very long time.
Not a sound came.
The Mass Burial Grounds remained deathly still.
Then someone suddenly worked up the courage to shout, "Fuck it! It's just a burial ground! I'm a Qi Refining cultivator of the Dao Sect. Why the hell should I be afraid of ghosts?"
With that, the white-robed figure puffed out his chest and plunged into the depths of the Mass Burial Grounds.
Two people had already gone in.
And,
nothing seemed to be wrong.
Faced with the temptation of a unit of spirit essence, the others gradually grew restless too.
"I desperately need spirit essence!"
"Let's go!"
Two more people ran toward the depths of the Mass Burial Grounds.
Those two were like the final straws, spurring the entire crowd into action. Everyone quickly followed.
Then,
the few remaining disciples hurried after them, as though afraid of being left behind.
Everyone was running inward. Their earlier fear of the Mass Burial Grounds seemed to vanish completely. They had all become fierce competitors, running faster and faster, until everyone was swallowed by the white mist...
A little while later,
Elder Song arrived.
Looking at the Mass Burial Grounds before him, shrouded in white mist and surging Yin Qi, his eyelid twitched. Instinctively, he sensed an overwhelming danger.
"Something really is wrong."
He formed a hand seal.
He studied the Mass Burial Grounds before him.
But just then-
Hum!
A deep, mysterious hum rang out.
Along with the sound came a shock wave formed of energy.
The instant the shock wave swept through him, Elder Song felt excruciating pain all over, as though his body were being torn apart. Warmth rose in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood!
Enduring the terrible pain, Elder Song staggered backward, staring at the Mass Burial Grounds in horror. In the next instant, however, that horror turned into shock and bewilderment. Within the white mist ahead, the phantom image of an enormous building had appeared. It stretched before him like a mountain...
The next day.
Emerald Cloud Peak.
Chen Yu slept until daylight.
After getting out of bed,
he heard a commotion outside his room, so he stretched and opened the window.
He heard voices outside.
"Have you heard? Something huge happened on Little Bamboo Peak yesterday!"
"What happened?"
"I heard it had something to do with the Mass Burial Grounds. More than thirty disciples died, and even Elder Song from Purple Bamboo Peak was seriously injured."
"Huh? Really?"
"Of course it's true. Little Bamboo Peak has already been sealed off."
"Hiss... I was thinking of going to the Mass Burial Grounds on Little Bamboo Peak last night to look for Xu Yunnian's corpse. Thank goodness I didn't. By the sound of it, my name would've been among those thirty-odd dead disciples."
"Exactly. Your life matters more than anything else. All I can say is, the richer a mission's reward, the less you should take it."
"..."
Two Emerald Cloud Peak disciples chatted as they passed.
Chen Yu froze.
Something happened on Little Bamboo Peak?
More than thirty disciples died, and Elder Song was seriously injured?
I only went to sleep. How did something so huge suddenly happen outside?
I'll go out and ask around.
So Chen Yu thought.
Just as he was about to close his window, he suddenly noticed out of the corner of his eye that the window of the neighboring room was open too. Its occupant was also closing it, just like him.
It was a woman, and her profile was rather pretty.
As for her face from the front, he didn't see it.
This was the first time Chen Yu had seen the occupant of the room next door-his neighbor.
Still, he was only briefly surprised. He quickly dressed, performed his usual check from head to toe for any rule violations, and, once he was sure everything was in order, went out.
He arrived at the bustling square halfway up the mountain.
He discovered that almost everyone was discussing what had happened on Little Bamboo Peak the night before.
Like a melon-stealing badger that had yet to get a whole melon to eat, Chen Yu darted about anxiously,
looking everywhere, worrying over where he could learn the full story.
Just then, someone suddenly patted his shoulder.
"Junior Brother."
It was a woman's voice.
Chen Yu turned.
It was the Senior Sister from yesterday, whose slender branches bore such heavy fruit-Lü Yanyan.
"Senior Sister Lü," Chen Yu said.
"Junior Brother, there's no need to be so formal." Lü Yanyan studied Chen Yu's handsome face. Looking at this innocent, candid, harmless Junior Brother, she felt a little guilty when she recalled deceiving him yesterday. "Just call me Senior Sister Yanyan."
"All right, Senior Sister Yanyan."
"Mhm." Lü Yanyan smiled, her eyes curving, and asked, "Junior Brother, what are you doing here?"
"Oh," Chen Yu said. "When I got up this morning, I found everyone discussing what happened on Little Bamboo Peak last night. But I've only just arrived, so I don't know where to go to get the full story."
"I see."
Lü Yanyan nodded.
Then she glanced around, patted Chen Yu's shoulder, and said,
"Your Senior Sister will take you somewhere nice."
"Hm?"
Chen Yu followed Lü Yanyan as she wound her way across the square. At last, they stopped in front of a building.
"Emerald Cloud Inn."