Shen Hongyi raised her delicate brows and spoke to Feng Wuchen on the mountain path: "From this moment on, you're now a disciple of Wuhen Peak. Aren't you coming up?"
"Hold on a moment!"
At that critical moment, several stewards stepped forward, blocking Shen Hongyi's path.
"This boy injured the reception steward of Qingchen Sect. This issue isn't over yet!"
A hint of severity flashed in Shen Hongyi's eyes.
"Since he's now part of Wuhen Peak, any errors he made will be handled by Wuhen Peak. If you have an issue, go speak with the old master. But if you lay a hand on him here, consider it a direct challenge to Wuhen Peak."
At her words, the four stewards looked at each other, unsure what to do.
They knew very little about this forbidden peak. But if she really was a true disciple of Wuhen Peak, her cultivation level would at least be at the Golden Body Realm. Going against her? That wasn't something they dared to do.
"A challenge?"
At that moment, a deep voice suddenly echoed from behind the crowd.
"A bunch of sect outcasts, long since dismissed—what right do you have to talk about being challenged by us?"
Everyone turned to see a man around his thirties or forties, dressed in black robes, radiating an immensely powerful aura. With every move, a hint of golden light shimmered on him.
A Golden Body Realm master at the peak!
"Elder Lingsong!"
Seeing the man, the elders all knelt in greeting.
Lingsong's face was slightly gloomy as he glared at them. "Such a small task, and you can't handle it? Useless!"
Seeing the flame pattern embroidered on Lingsong's chest, Shen Hongyi raised her brows again. "A member of Chiyang Peak? Why don't you go ask that old man Chilian what happens when someone touches a disciple of Wuhen Peak?"
Chilian!
Hearing that name, sweat began to bead on the foreheads of the four stewards.
He was none other than the master of Wuhen Peak!
This woman dared to call him by name. Just who was she?
Lingsong and Shen Hongyi locked eyes, his gaze dark and profound.
"Hmph... Is Wuhen Peak still covering for its disciples? Very well…"
With that, Lingsong took out a black crystal and walked up the mountain path.
"If he's truly a disciple of Wuhen Peak, I won't touch him! But as of now, he hasn't crossed the mountain path, nor has he entered the mountain gate. How could he already be a disciple of Wuhen Peak?"
Shen Hongyi's beautiful eyes flickered.
In that instant, she understood Lingsong's intent.
He planned to kill Feng Wuchen before he took that final step!
> Only after crossing the mountain path and stepping into the gate does one officially become a disciple of Qingchen Sect.
This was a millennia-old rule of Qingchen Sect.
If they killed Feng Wuchen here, even if Wuhen Peak wanted revenge, they'd have no justification.
"Boy! Hurry up the mountain!" Shen Hongyi shouted, her body flashing as she charged toward the path.
"Stop!"
Lingsong moved just as quickly, blocking her path precisely.
At the same time, he infused the black crystal in his hand with spiritual energy. The crystal shone brightly, and in an instant, a barrier rose at the end of the mountain path, isolating Shen Hongyi, Lingsong, and the injured Chu Feng from the rest.
"Despicable!"
Shen Hongyi's sword shot out, stabbing at the barrier in front of her.
"Boom!"
The spiritual energy exploded at the sword tip, causing an earth-shattering shock.
However, the barrier remained unmoved.
"This formation was set up by the peak masters themselves. With your strength, you can't break it! I'd say Wuhen Peak should stay hidden as always. Why stir up trouble by coming down the mountain?"
Having spoken, Lingsong turned to the three men within the barrier. "You three, kill this boy now!"
"Yes!"
Facing the three attackers charging toward him, Feng Wuchen took a deep breath.
Severing Chu Feng's arm earlier had drained a large amount of his spiritual energy. Now, facing three late-stage Qi Condensation Realm fighters, even if he could win, he'd have to use his trump cards, risking exposure of some of his secrets.
He glanced at Shen Hongyi beyond the barrier, deep in thought.
"As long as I cross the mountain gate, they can't touch me, right?"
Before Shen Hongyi could respond, Lingsong answered for her: "Indeed. But first, you'll have to cross that threshold!"
"Hmph!"
Feng Wuchen sneered and turned, sprinting down the mountain.
"Hmm? Trying to escape?"
"Stay here, boy!"
Seeing this, Shen Hongyi frowned.
"Given the difference in strength, the more you run, the worse it'll get for you."
Feng Wuchen smirked, glancing back slightly. "Who said I was running? I'm just proving that I'm not worthless!"
"What?"
Being a sword cultivator, Feng Wuchen's short-term speed was explosive, and even the late-stage Qi Condensation stewards struggled to keep up.
"Keep chasing him! At that speed, he'll be exhausted soon, unable to keep going!"
At the foot of the snowy mountain, the chill pierced through even Mu Qing's resilience, making her slightly uncomfortable. But Feng Ning seemed not only unfazed but even more energetic than usual.
Seeing this, Mu Qing looked thoughtful.
"No wonder he was so determined to join Qingchen Sect—it was for you!"
At that moment, a commotion erupted from the mountain path, and they saw a group of people charging down at full speed, led by Feng Wuchen himself.
"What's happening?"
The mountain path was reinforced with arrays, making gravity several times stronger than outside. For most people, even a single step was challenging, yet these people moved effortlessly.
This unusual scene left everyone in awe.
"Stop him! Anyone who can stop this boy will be admitted directly into Qingchen Sect!" a steward shouted, rousing the crowd below.
Within seconds, they were all madly swarming toward Feng Wuchen, blocking the narrow path entirely.
They didn't know who he was or why the stewards wanted to catch him, but the promise of admission drove them into a frenzy.
"Courting death!"
With a flash of killing intent in Feng Wuchen's eyes, he drew his Fenyang Sword and slashed out, sending blood splattering as several people fell.
The unluckiest ones didn't even catch a glimpse of his face before they fell.
"He's killing people!"
Amid the chaos, Feng Wuchen leaped forward, stepping on the crowd's heads as he vaulted down the mountain.
"You won't escape! You've injured Qingchen Sect's stewards and have enemies throughout the imperial capital. If you leave Qingchen's territory, you'll never know peace!" one steward shouted, threateningly.
In response, Feng Wuchen merely smiled, confident and unafraid.
"I told you—I never intended to escape!"
With that, he moved even faster, becoming a gust of wind as he sprinted toward another mountain path.
This sight left everyone shocked.
"Kid, what are you doing?"
"Feng Wuchen, come back! Don't go!"
"Brother, no!"
As everyone shouted in alarm, Feng Wuchen had already dashed onto the second snowy path, vanishing after a few leaps.
"Gone?"
Mu Qing's face was blank with disbelief, her teeth biting into her lip, unsure of what to do.
The stewards exchanged grave glances.
"This boy doesn't know his limits. He dares to attempt the second path?"
"Hah… it's for the best. The formation on that path has activated, and he can't turn back now."
"Indeed! A pity, though, he was a sword cultivator. If he had fought us head-on, winning wouldn't have been easy."
"Forget it! It's over now. Let's report back to the elders."
As the elders disappeared up the path, Mu Qing finally snapped out of it.
Had Feng Wuchen truly been forced onto a dead-end path?
She couldn't believe it.
"Sister Mu, what happened? Why did my brother go onto that second path? Was it… because of me?" Feng Ning asked, her face tear-streaked.
Looking at Feng Ning's tearful face, Mu Qing didn't know how to answer.
With Feng Wuchen's potential, countless factions would have welcomed him. But he endured these hardships for his little sister.
With a sword cultivator's pride, any other sect treating him like this would have driven him away in anger.
But Feng Wuchen hadn't backed down; instead, he willingly entered the second path.
Passing the second path would bring him to the attention of the true powers atop the snowy mountain, allowing both siblings to stay in Qingchen Sect.
To Feng Wuchen, more important than his pride as a sword cultivator was his sister's life.
"Qingchen Sect, you're asking for trouble. You better hope Feng Wuchen survives this path. Otherwise, the wrath of a sword sovereign will be upon you!"
With a murmur, Mu Qing sighed and took Feng Ning's hand, leading her up the first mountain path.
"Sister Mu, where are we going?"
Mu Qing smiled gently. "Climb the mountain—to wait for your brother!"