The Chi Lineage's Back Mountain Forbidden Zone
The deep night completely enveloped the Chi Lineage. Behind them, the lights of the Myriad Pools Heavenly Palace were bustling and filled with laughter. As the two of them walked deeper into the back mountain, they were gradually isolated by layers of mountains and valleys, and the noise and laughter gradually faded away.
Chi Boqian did not bring any attendants or summon any elders to accompany him. He simply walked ahead with his hands behind his back, his steps steady. Qin Yu silently followed closely behind, stepping onto the ancient mountain path and steadily advancing towards the deepest forbidden area of Chi Lineage land.
At the beginning of the journey, one can still see ordinary pavilions and courtyards in the clan's territory, with flying eaves and hanging lanterns, and long bridges spanning ravines. Occasionally, when the patrolling clansmen catch a glimpse of the clan chief, they all bow their heads and pay their respects. After crossing the third ancient bridge that spans the deep valley, the surrounding scenery suddenly changes. All the human worldly affairs disappear, and the ancient charm of the mountains and fields comes to the fore.
Buildings gradually disappear, and the mountain rises sharply. Ancient peaks rise abruptly on both sides, their steep cliffs bathed in the cool starlight, gleaming with a faint, eerie light. A thousand years ago...
There were no chirping insects or howling beasts in the mountains, and even the gentle night breeze had ceased to exist. The only sound in the world was the rhythmic footsteps of the two people, which drifted along the long stone steps into the depths of deathly silence.
Qin Yu's mind was clear, and he instantly saw through the clues. The deathly silence here was not naturally formed. At the end of the road ahead was the first clan restriction in the back mountain of the Chi Lineage.
A gray-blue ancient path, barely wide enough for a few people to walk side by side, runs between two ancient peaks. The path is empty on both sides, with no guards standing guard or visible array patterns, seemingly ordinary and unobstructed. But the moment Chi Boqian stepped into the ancient path, the black-gold token at Qin Yu's waist suddenly trembled slightly.
A faint, primal hum resonated from the depths of the heavy mountain.
In an instant, the two ancient peaks, silent for millennia, simultaneously revealed crisscrossing ancient patterns. The patterns did not gleam with dazzling light, but rather appeared as a deep, dark gold, stretching from the foot of the mountain to the summit, layer upon layer, steadily enveloping the entire ancient path, forming a secluded haven from the world.
Qin Yu's gaze narrowed slightly as he clearly sensed the profound mystery of this forbidden area. The dark gold ancient patterns lit up for a moment, and this world was completely separated from the outside world, creating a vast, invisible barrier. Without the approval of the Chi Lineage's origin, ordinary cultivators who rashly entered would only lose their way in the void and would not even be able to discern the location of the mountains in front of them.
Chi Boqian didn't stop walking, only glancing sideways at the token at Qin Yu's waist, his voice deep and slow. "From this point onward, this is the first level of clan restrictions in the back mountain. To this day, very few clansmen are able to set foot here."
Qin Yu nodded slightly, listening silently.
The black and gold token's patterns lit up, emanating a gentle Daoist aura. The intersecting dark gold restriction patterns on the path ahead slowly opened to the sides, making way for the two. As they passed through, a very subtle spatial displacement appeared at the end of the mountain path. Once Qin Yu took the last step, the aura of heaven and earth behind him completely dissipated, leaving no trace whatsoever.
Further ahead, the second forbidden zone became increasingly deep and silent.
There are no more man-made, orderly mountain paths here; instead, a vast, ancient valley stretches out before you, blocking the way forward. The valley is filled with low, silvery-white ancient plants, each no taller than knee-high, with leaves as translucent as jade. The clear moonlight shines down upon them, and countless tiny specks of light slowly travel along the veins of the leaves, eventually sinking into the thick soil to nourish this ancient secret realm.
Dozens of ancient black steles of varying heights stand scattered at the bottom of the valley. The steles bear no names or inscriptions, but are deeply engraved with the ancient and simple marks of the Chi Lineage's origin, which have remained unchanged since time immemorial.
Qin Yu paused slightly as he passed by the stele.
He could clearly sense that within each ancient stele lay the lingering essence of a vast and profound Fate Soul. Lacking any fierce or murderous aura, it was filled with the sedimentation of countless ages, ancient and weathered, inspiring awe. Thousands of lingering essences were interconnected, spreading deep into the valley, making every inch of soil in this land exude a profound and weighty quality, tempered by the passage of time.
Chi Boqian did not recount the origins of the ancient stele, nor did Qin Yu inquire about it. The two silently passed through the valley, where a pale blue sea of clouds remained year-round, blocking their path. Within the sea of clouds, half a cliff appeared and disappeared intermittently, its walls engraved with fragmented ancient patterns, their Daoist aura mottled and faded.
Further away, several dilapidated stone gates floated in mid-air, without any palaces or connecting passages. Only empty door frames stood silently in the void. Every few breaths, a faint wisp of primordial spiritual light would sweep through the door and disappear in an instant.
The deeper one ventures, the more one can glimpse the true essence of this top-tier family, accumulated over millennia. The magnificent palaces and bustling scenes outside are merely the superficial facade that the Chi Lineage displays to the world. This secluded realm hidden in the mountains, forbidden to outsiders, is the fundamental foundation upon which it stands in the Eternal Nonexistence Limitless Domain.
Upon entering the third level of clan restrictions, even Chi Boqian's pace slowed subtly, and his expression became increasingly solemn.
Ahead lay the dark, secluded belly of a mountain embraced by nine ancient peaks. These nine peaks were barren, their surfaces as black as ink, exuding an awe-inspiring grandeur. Between the peaks stretched countless thin, transparent primordial threads, invisible to the naked eye. These myriad threads intertwined in the void, never touching each other, yet adhering to an unchanging, strict order, forming an unsolvable natural barrier.
Qin Yu only glanced at it briefly before withdrawing his gaze. This forbidden area had withstood the test of countless ages, and its Daoist essence was ancient and profound. To rashly probe it with one 'Fate Soul would only result in losses and bring no benefit whatsoever.
Chi Boqian walked to the center of the Nine Peaks, his sleeves fluttering lightly, his demeanor calm and composed. Qin Yu's black and gold token at his waist suddenly detached from his body and floated, a ray of rich, dark gold light beam falling straight down into the Emptiness void in front of him.
The once still void suddenly rippled like water. An ancient, long bridge spanning a dark abyss slowly materialized from nothingness. The bridge was only three zhang wide, without railings or guardrails, and below it lay an unfathomable, endless, and Silent Void silent void.
The two walked side by side across the bridge, steadily covering more than a hundred feet, until the outline of the stone platform on the other side gradually emerged from the darkness. There were no magnificent palaces or luxurious pavilions here, only a flat and wide blue stone platform.
In the center of the stone platform, an ancient formation lay dormant. Within a radius of a hundred feet, twelve gray stone pillars stood in a ring, their surfaces mottled and weathered, etched with the marks of time. At the center of the formation, there were no intricate patterns of light or sharp killing intent, only nine layers of pale white halos nested within each other, with a fist-sized, milky-white ancient stone suspended in the very center, warm and restrained, brimming with endless vitality.
At the edge of the stone platform, a figure in a gray robe sat quietly. The old man's clothes were simple and unadorned, his white hair fell casually over his shoulders and back, and he was thin. His hands were placed Anran on his knees. He had no throne, no servants, and no tokens of status, just like an ordinary hermit who had been sitting in the deep mountains for many years.
But the moment Qin Yu saw the old man, his eyes suddenly narrowed.
This person was clearly within arm's reach, clearly visible to the naked eye, yet despite using all his senses, he could not detect even the slightest fluctuation of Fate Soul or trace of aura in the surrounding world.
Formless yet elusive, seemingly present yet absent, Chi Boqian had already restrained his patriarchal demeanor. He slowly lowered his hands from behind his back, solemnly straightened his robes, and bowed slightly from several feet away, displaying the utmost respect.
"Junior Chi Boqian has brought Qin Yu here to enter the pool for seclusion." Inside the mountain, silence returned. After a few breaths, the old man slowly raised his eyes and his voice fell.
The mountain fell silent again, and after a few breaths, the old man slowly opened his eyes.
Those eyes lacked the cloudiness of old age; their color was light yet deep, bearing the marks of countless ages. He glanced at Chi Boqian first, then his gaze passed over Chi's shoulder and landed on Qin Yu.
Qin Yu neither avoided the question nor rashly probed; he simply bowed respectfully to the old man, who looked at him for a moment, his expression remaining indifferent and unreadable. "Is he the one who won first place for our clan in this competition?" Chi Boqian immediately replied, "Yes, senior."
Those eyes, though not clouded by age, were shallow and deep, holding within them the sediment of countless ages and the vicissitudes of a thousand years, concealing an indifference and clarity that had seen through the world's affairs. He first glanced lightly at Chi Boqian, then his gaze passed over Chi Boqian's shoulder and landed on Qin Yu.
Qin Yu neither avoided nor probed, but remained polite and respectful, bowing deeply. The old man quietly scrutinized him for a long time, his gaze sweeping over Qin Yu's eyebrows, eyes, and figure, finally settling slightly on the deepest part of his Fate Soul essence.
At this moment, the Silent Beginning · Ring Master Soul Diagram deep within Qin Yu 'Fate Soul stirred slightly. The Nine-Wheel True Evolution Dharma Wheel did not manifest, but spontaneously concealed itself deep within, revealing not a trace of Daoist charm.
A faint hint of approval finally flickered in the old man's indifferent eyes. "Hmm." He nodded slightly, his voice calm and even, yet carrying the weight of years. "Indeed not bad."
These four simple words caused Chi Boqian's tense expression to relax slightly, and his heart to ease. The next moment, the old man slowly raised his right hand. Without forming hand seals or chanting incantations, he simply used his withered palm to gently brush against the ancient formation that had been silent for millennia.