Reaching the Summit

"Clink, clink, clink."

The sounds of hammering drifted from Ten Thousand Blades Peak now and then, sometimes accompanied by falling stones.

Fang Zelin raised his head and looked at the summit drawing ever closer, his heart filling with delight.

At this rate, I'll be there soon!

Fang Zelin estimated that he probably would not make it today, but with another full day tomorrow, he should have enough time.

He was brimming with anticipation.

After the sun finally set, he continued chipping away in the pitch-black night for a while. Seeing that there was still some distance left along the cliff, Fang Zelin decided to continue tomorrow instead.

With that thought, Fang Zelin turned and flew toward the foot of the cliff.

It was difficult to see his surroundings clearly at night.

As Fang Zelin flew down, he nearly missed his footing.

Fortunately, it was a scare without mishap.

When Fang Zelin landed, the red panda that had been waiting in the distance walked over, swishing its tail somewhat discontentedly.

It held a small twig covered in berries in its mouth.

Ever since the red panda had brought Fang Zelin berries that first time.

Whenever Fang Zelin came afterward, the red panda would bring him berries in its mouth, rain or shine.

Fang Zelin smiled at the berries it offered him.

He did not plan to go back tonight, either. He would rest out here in the wilderness.

There was not much farther to climb before reaching the summit, and Fang Zelin did not want to walk such a long way again tomorrow.

At that moment, Fang Zelin was utterly exhilarated.

After beckoning the red panda into the cave they had used before, Fang Zelin ate all the berries it had brought.

Then he lay straight down to rest.

But Fang Zelin tossed and turned, the excitement in his heart making it difficult to fall asleep.

After a moment's hesitation, Fang Zelin sat cross-legged and began cultivating.

As Fang Zelin entered meditation, countless streams of Spiritual Qi surged into the surrounding space.

Once the Spiritual Qi appeared, Fang Zelin began drawing it all in.

The red panda had been lying nearby, about to fall asleep, but suddenly sensed something. It hurriedly opened its eyes and looked around in bewilderment.

Then it involuntarily snuggled closer to Fang Zelin, its fur gradually taking on a brighter, richer sheen.

The night passed without incident.

When Fang Zelin awoke and opened his eyes, a spiritual gleam flashed through them.

"My cultivation feels like it's grown quite a bit again."

Fang Zelin clenched his hands, sensing that the Spiritual Power within his body had become even more abundant.

By now, it was rather like a gently flowing brook.

After opening his eyes and making sure there were no other dangers nearby, Fang Zelin hurried back to Earth, hastily ate something, then swiftly returned to the Seeking the Dao World.

By the time Fang Zelin returned, the red panda had also woken after sensing the absence of Spiritual Qi.

Seeing how closely the red panda was nestled against him, Fang Zelin could not help reaching out to stroke it.

He had to admit, the little fellow's fur felt wonderfully silky however he stroked it.

The red panda no longer seemed wary of him. As Fang Zelin rubbed and stroked it, it even settled against his palm.

Fang Zelin smiled at the sight, gave the red panda another rub, then turned and left.

"It's time to take a look at the summit. I hope it won't disappoint me."

A burning gleam flashed through Fang Zelin's eyes. He was already imagining whether he would meet an immortal up there, learn the arts of immortal cultivation and longevity, and then fly on a sword!

At that thought, Fang Zelin quickly reached the foot of the cliff. Paying no heed to his ravenous hunger, he moved his feet and swiftly flew up toward the cliff face.

After some time, Fang Zelin flew to the spot where he had stopped carving footholds last night. Clinging lightly to the cliff face, he took out his woodcutting blade and continued cutting.

Once imbued with Spiritual Power, the woodcutting blade could slice through iron like mud.

With a few swishing strokes, he carved footholds several meters higher.

As the summit drew ever closer, Fang Zelin gauged that only about three meters remained. Unwilling to carve any more footholds, he poured Spiritual Power into the soles of his feet.

With a fierce stamp, he shot toward the summit like a great bird.

"Tap."

The next moment, Fang Zelin's feet touched solid ground. He had reached the summit.

Fang Zelin looked around.

The summit was a flat expanse, completely bare, without the slightest trace of vegetation.

He could take in the entire summit at a glance.

Fang Zelin froze at the sight.

There was nothing.

He had worked for nearly two months and finally managed to climb up here, only to find nothing at all?

Fang Zelin stood dazed.

Although he had previously suspected that immortal abodes would not be so easy to find-if climbing up here were enough to find an immortal lake.

Then the Great Marsh Dragon King would not have said what he had back then.

Dragons could fly, couldn't they?

With a casual flight, he could have seen whatever was on this summit.

Now, looking around at the empty expanse, there was nothing except a slightly scorched patch in the center that looked as though it had been struck by lightning.

As for an immortal abode, there was no sign of one.

Fang Zelin felt somewhat dispirited, bitterly disappointed inside.

After hesitating for a moment, Fang Zelin gritted his teeth and carefully examined his surroundings again.

He still could not accept it.

Yet no matter how carefully Fang Zelin searched, there was still not the slightest trace of an immortal abode.

After searching the surroundings thoroughly, Fang Zelin turned his gaze toward the slightly scorched patch in the center.

"Could there be something unusual here?"

Fang Zelin still could not quite accept it, though in all likelihood there was simply no immortal abode here.

Still, Fang Zelin picked up his woodcutting blade and hacked straight into the scorched ground.

With Spiritual Power poured into it, the woodcutting blade became exceptionally sharp. A few hacking strokes sent large clods of earth flying.

Before long, he had dug out a large pit.

There was nothing unusual about the soil beneath it anymore. Seeing this, Fang Zelin petulantly swung with all his strength, intending to call it quits and look elsewhere afterward.

But the next moment.

As Fang Zelin swung his woodcutting blade down, a clang rang out.

The woodcutting blade promptly snapped in two.

"Huh?"

Fang Zelin raised the woodcutting blade and stared blankly at its broken halves.

The next moment, delight filled Fang Zelin's heart. "There's treasure down there!"

Whatever else, pouring Spiritual Power into the woodcutting blade had considerably increased both its toughness and its sharpness.

Yet under those circumstances, the woodcutting blade had snapped after merely touching whatever lay beneath.

Fang Zelin could only think that there must be treasure down there!

At that thought, Fang Zelin immediately began digging away the surrounding earth with what remained of his woodcutting blade.

A short while later, he had cleared away all the surrounding soil.

Soon, two small pieces of iron were revealed.

With a trace of astonishment on his face, Fang Zelin picked up the pieces of iron before him.

"This is..."