Chapter 40: The Unmoving Mountains
The Unmoving Mountains was the largest mountain range in the Celestium Realm. At any one time, at least three auspicious rainbows or golden clouds were always in sight. It was indeed the perfect practice and mediation ground for the celestial pract.i.tioners.
Unfortunately, the Unmoving Mountains already had an owner. It was none other than the Holy Ascension Sect!
The Holy Ascension Sect was the most powerful and most numerous celestial clan in the entire Celestial Realm; the number of prominent and powerful celestial pract.i.tioners in the Holy Ascension Sect had also far exceeded all the other celestial clans!
Lately, the Holy Ascension Sect had even spread its influence all of a sudden to dominate over a third of the celestial clans in the Celestial Realm!
At any time of the day, there would be dozens of celestial pract.i.tioners ascending the misty steep steps of the Unmoving Mountains to pay homage to the Holy Ascension Sect.
Needless to say, there were dozens of celestial sentries that watched over the heavenly steps of the Holy Ascension Sect.
However, this month there was a large congregation that was taking place in the Holy Ascension Sect and the number of sentries had more than doubled; the Holy Ascension Sect had issued a summon for all its celestial pract.i.tioners and had even invited the major celestial clans in the Celestial Realm. Therefore the number of celestial visitors for this month was in their thousands!
However even the celestial sentries that were standing vigilantly at the Heaven’s Gate of the Holy Ascension Sect who had seen plenty of unusual celestials were not prepared for the sight that had greeted them; a young man with a righteous air, an old man and eleven stunning beauties!
The protégés of the Holy Ascension Sect numbered a dozen and leading them were three Golden Celestials. The rest were ordinary protégés; it was because in the Celestial Realm while it was possible for ordinary pract.i.tioners to be dark celestials by eating the hearts of the celestials, it was nearly rare for ordinary pract.i.tioners to become even the lowest level celestial pract.i.tioners as the Divine Calamity rarely occurred for mortals.
The Ascension G.o.ddess smiled as she saw them, “Wu Han, Feng Mantian, Luo Wei. Have you forgotten who I am already?”
Feng Mantian smiled bitterly, “We dare not. But a major congregation is currently taking place now. It is best that you…”
The Ascension G.o.ddess hummed coldly as she interrupted, “You are suggesting that I do not deserve to attend this congregation?”
Feng Mantian smiled bitterly, “I dare not but…”
He looked at Yi Ping and the Universal Old Man before saying, “I have heard that the new domain lord of the Tranquil City is a dashing young man. Is he the one?”
Yi Ping bowed with his hands, “I am Yi Ping.”
Feng Mantian appraised Yi Ping quietly. He had previously heard that the domain lord of the Tranquil City was just a lowly celestial pract.i.tioner and he was called Yi Ping. However, this young man that was standing in front of him was a golden eye celestial and a true celestial!
How was it possible? Or had they got their information wrong? What they had known about the domain lord of the Tranquil City were from the Four Ascension Reverend Priests and they were all held in high regard within the Holy Ascension Sect.
Wu Han hummed coldly as he looked at Yi Ping but he was also unconsciously looking at the rest of the maidens, “So you are Yi Ping. We have not come looking for you and yet you are so bold enough to court your own death by coming here. Right, Luo Wei?”
He gave a cold look at Luo Wei.
Luo Wei was stammering, “That is right…” His attention had been completely captivated by the eleven beauties.
Lele interrupted with a cold smirk as she stared coldly at Wu Han, “Hey! You are so rude. Are you going to give way immediately and let us through?”
She was even ruder than Wu Han!
Yi Ping immediately said, “We have come to pay our respects to the Lord Supreme. Can you be so kind enough to inform the protégé master of the Holy Ascension Sect that we seek an audience with him?”
Feng Mantian said solemnly, “Our protégé master will not see anyone that is uninvited…”
Lie Qing laughed softly, “However, I know of a way that will surely attract the attention of your protégé master…”
Yu’Er was giggling as she drawn out her beaming divine sword!
Mei’Er had also stepped forward with her divine sword!
Feng Mantian was startled, “This is! Do you know that death awaits you if you dare to trespa.s.s the Holy Ascension Sect?!”
Shen Xingyue said coldly, “Do you think that with the three of you alone, you are able to stop us?”
Feng Mantian said bitterly as he looked at the Ascension G.o.ddess, “Do you think you can fight your way to the top? Do you know how many celestial pract.i.tioners there are along the way to the top? Before you can reach the top, you will be dead!”
Indeed, he was not lying!
There were indeed many celestial pract.i.tioners that were guarding the various intermediate points along the heaven steps of the Holy Ascension Sect. In fact right now, all the movements of the intruders could clearly be seen by the invisible celestial pract.i.tioners that were stationed along the way!
The Ascension G.o.ddess smiled, “Of course I know how many celestial exponents there are along the way. But let me tell you; if I want to force my way to the top, none of you here will be able to stop me!”
Feng Mantian, Luo Wei and Wu Han began to exchange anxious look with each other while the other protégés were looking at their masters nervously.
The Ascension G.o.ddess stroked her long hair as she added, “You must know who I am. Do you think you are able to stop me? Or my friends here?”
The Ascension G.o.ddess was one of the newly seven most powerful celestials in the Celestial Realm. Indeed, it was a difficult thing to stop her!
Just as Feng Mantian, Luo Wei and Wu Han were hesitating; a company of maidens that numbered three dozen had suddenly appeared in the horizon!
They were all dressed in a white-black garbs and holding long swords. Leading them was a beautiful lady with pristine golden eyes.
Except for the beautiful lady, all the other maidens were veiled. Only six others of the veiled maidens had golden eyes while the rest had crimson eyes!
That could only mean one thing! They were dark celestial pract.i.tioners!
Feng Mantian hummed coldly, “Even Lady Snowflake of the Erudite Sect is here today. What a surprise! Do you know how many orthodox celestial clans are here today at the Holy Ascension Sect? Are you courting your own destruction by coming here today?”
Lady Snowflake looked at Yi Ping as she gave him a sly smile before replying Feng Mantian, “I see that the Holy Ascension Sect has some uninvited guests today. Do you want me to help you to drive these intruders away?”
Shen Xingyue, Youxue, Lingfeng and the other maidens gave Lady Snowflake and Yi Ping a cold look.
But Yi Ping did not seem to notice as he stared past Lady Snowflake and he was looking at one of the maidens that were behind her. But that particular maiden began to step discreetly behind and Yi Ping was left wondering, “Why is that her eyes are so familiar…”
Feng Mantian hummed coldly, “We don’t need any help from the dark celestial clans. You know very well that a certain doom awaits you and yet you dare to come. Aren’t you foolish or what?”
Lady Snowflake laughed softly, “Mine, mine. This isn’t the reception that I have been expecting. I have heard that the Holy Ascension Sect has been recruiting several celestial clans as of late regardless if it is a dark celestial clan or not. Therefore we have come to swear fealty to the Holy Ascension Sect. Aren’t you going to welcome us?”
Feng Mantian hummed coldly, “You can leave now. You are not welcome here. Or else I will be forced to sound the heavenly dongs and raise the alarm.”
The Ascension G.o.ddess and Shen Xingyue exchanged curious looks with each other. It was because most celestial clans did not even dare to intrude upon the Holy Ascension Sect, seeking to avoid conflicts as much as possible. This was indeed something weird!
Lady Snowflake was not deterred as she smiled gently, “You are not afraid that after I have left, I will tell the other clans that the Stellar Sanctuary will descend on the Unmoving Mountains?”
Feng Mantian, Wu Han, Luo Wei, Yi Ping, the Universal Old Man and everyone else were startled and had turned ashen!
It was because it was impossible to divine the exact timing and location of the next coming of the Stellar Sanctuary. Yet the Erudite Sect, a small clan with limited resources and strength was able to foretell the next coming of the Stellar Sanctuary?
Feng Mantian regained his composure as he said coldly, “Rubbish! No one can predict the next coming of the Stellar Sanctuary.”
Lady Snowflake laughed softly, “Really? If what I have said is rubbish then why are there so many celestial clans that are gathering here? Even the Celestial Infinity Sword Clan has decided to accept the invitation of the Holy Ascension Sect and has already come. I don’t ever remember the Celestial Infinity Sword Clan has ever accepted an invitation from the Holy Ascension Sect. All in all, at least three thousand celestials and numerous protégés from at least a hundred celestial clans have gathered here today. ”
Yi Ping was startled as he looked at Yunzi and the Ascension G.o.ddess…
He could still remember the hallowing fight with the Celestial Infinity Sword Clan six months ago…
Lady Snowflake smiled at Yi Ping, “Handsome man. If they refuse to let us in, do you want to join hands with us to barge into the grand hall of the Holy Ascension Sect? I have overheard some of your conversations earlier. You are Yi Ping, the leader of the Tranquil City. Do you know that your celestial clan is branded a dark celestial clan by the Holy Ascension Sect too? We have almost fifty of us here. Surely barging in isn’t a problem?”
Yi Ping smiled bitterly as he said, “I didn’t really come to fight…”
Feng Mantian had already drawn out his long sword, “You won’t find us so easy to handle. All Ascendants protégés heed my commands…”
All of a sudden, the entire mountains were reverberating as cold voice could be heard echoing, “Since they are already here and are not afraid of courting their own deaths, why don’t you invite them in?”
Feng Mantian and the Ascension G.o.ddess immediately turned pale.
Feng Mantian immediately stammered, “It is Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage!”
It was because the voice belonged to Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage. He was one of the four most powerful celestials of the Holy Ascension Sect, a Supreme Celestial as well as the Right Protector of the Holy Ascension Sect!
Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage echoed, “Is that the Perpetual Darkness? So the mistress of the Perpetual Darkness has managed to ascend. This is indeed something unusual. I sense the presence of so many divine swords. The Dark Enchantress is here today?”
Shen Xingyue began to tremble at his voice as she said respectfully, “My respects to the Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage. I am indeed the Dark Enchantress but the mistress of the Perpetual Darkness is someone else.”
Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage echoed, “Oh?”
Another voice reverberated, “We can explain to you later. You have just stepped from your retreat and may not be aware of what has happened lately.” It was Reverend Sword Pilgrim who was also a Supreme Celestial of the Holy Ascension Sect!
Reverend Sword Pilgrim echoed solemnly, “The Ascension G.o.ddess, surely you know the fate that awaits traitors and for forsaking the Ascension Fire?”
The Ascension G.o.ddess was solemn as she used her Thousand Miles Resonate Skill, “I know. That is why I am here today to clarify things.”
Actually the Ascension G.o.ddess was pretty close to Reverend Sword Pilgrim. She knew that he was trying to drive her away and that was why he was displaying such hostilities. That was why she did not mind his rudeness at all.
All of a sudden Yu’Er interrupted softly. “Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage. So it is you. Surely you have not forgotten about me?”
Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage asked, “Who are you?”
Mei’Er said coldly, “Surely you have not forgotten how we have helped you to ascend in the past?”
Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage was heard echoing, “You are the Eclipse and Axis Heaven G.o.ddess!?”
Mei’Er laughed softly, “That’s right and it is best that you quickly invite us inside or else you have to bear the consequences!”
Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage quickly said, “Invite them in!”
Reverend Sword Pilgrim reverberated, “Elder, they are traitors. I don’t think we should…”
Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage echoed sternly, “Enough. Invite them in and inform the Lord Supreme.”
The Lord Supreme was the supreme leader of the Holy Ascension Sect!
Reverend Sword Pilgrim was startled, “But the Lord Supreme is still in retreat and did not want to be disturbed…”
Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage said sternly, “Just do as I say. I will bear full responsibilities for this.”
Reverend Sword Pilgrim was heard sighing softly…
Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage paused for a while before echoing, “Mantian, what are you waiting for? Invite them in. A major celestial clan like the Holy Ascension Sect has nothing to fear from a dark celestial clan.”
Feng Mantian muttered, “This is…”
Lady Snowflake laughed softly as she winked at Yi Ping, “So I guess we are invited in as well, all thanks to your group!”
Yi Ping smiled bitterly and he did not dare to look into her eyes openly.
Ch40 End