Mystic Mystic Moon let out a mischievous giggle, leaning close to Dunce's ear so her breath tickled his neck. "Tandor't worry, dummy," she whispered. "Just channel some of your sacred-tinged Vital Aura into me. That'll ward off the cold. Plus, I can shield myself with a Divine Blessing! Then I'll nap on your back as usual. Come on, let's go! Tandor't let that guy think we're slowing him down." She called Liaoyi 'that guy', conveniently ignoring that the 'guy' was likely older than both her and Dunce.
"Alright, alright," Dunce conceded. "We'll go now. We can rest properly once we reach the Skyrend Sect."
He turned to the sturdy warriors beside them. "Brother Girln Shi? You guys need a breather?"
Girln Shi shook his shaved head, his expression resolute. "Since he wants to push on, we push," he rumbled, gesturing towards Liaoyi. "Honestly, I'm eager to see Xiwenwen again. Having him guide us," he nodded at Liaoyi, "should save a lot of wandering."
"Good," Liaoyi said curtly. "Keep up." He didn't wait, launching himself forward with practiced leaps and bounds across the rocky trail. Dunce hoisted Mystic Mystic Moon securely onto his back, her slight form barely a burden, and followed instantly, Girln Shi and Girln Li close behind. All three possessed raw power exceeding Liaoyi's, their unfamiliarity with the territory the only thing slowing them down. But with the disciple blazing the trail, they moved with deceptive ease through the moonlit mountains.
Liaoyi's initial condescension evaporated with every stride. Among the Fourth Keanuration disciples of the Skyrend Sect, he considered himself one of the best. Yet here were these foreigners – an odd-looking giant, his shorter, brawny brother, a girl carried by a seemingly simple young man – matching his pace without breaking a sweat. He throttled back slightly, altering their trajectory towards the imposing silhouette of Skyrend Mountain.
The night deepened, wrapping them in a cloak of biting mountain chill. Fearful Mystic Mystic Moon might be cold, Dunce continuously fed threads of his warm, vital `Vital Aura` into her body. It thrummed beneath her skin, a constant, comforting flow against the damp air. Truth be told, Mystic Mystic Moon wasn't overly cold, bundled warmly and sheltered by Dunce's radiating heat. Yet the flood of his pure energy felt like sinking into a warm bath. Soon, wrapped in safety and comfort only Dunce could provide, she drifted into sleep, her cheek resting against his shoulder.
They journeyed through the deep hours of the night. Around the midnight hour, Liaoyi finally halted at the mountain's sheer foot. It was only in darkness they could truly appreciate Skyrend's immensity. Shadows shifted, coalescing as Dunce, Girln Shi, and Girln Li landed beside him, Girln Li letting out a quiet grunt.
Girln Shi squinted upwards. "This is Skyrend Mountain? Where's the path?"
Liaoyi offered a rare, slight smile. "Skyrend's circumference is vast. The main road only exists on the Empire-facing slope. We'd waste half a day going around. This is the backside. There's a hidden pass here, narrow but direct. We climb here."
Dunce shifted, tightening his grip beneath Mystic Mystic Moon's sleeping form. Her rhythmic breaths stirred his hair. "Lead the way, Brother Liao."
Liaoyi nodded and plunged into the dense forest at Skyrend's base. As promised, a treacherous, winding path snaked through the ancient trees. They climbed with a swiftness born of strength honed by endless training. Only at the halfway point, the air growing thinner and colder, did Liaoyi stop again, sinking to the ground with audible gasps. "Rest," he managed, sweat slick on his brow. His cultivated Vital Aura was powerful for his level but not inexhaustible. Girln Shi and Girln Li, too, felt the strain of the relentless ascent, their tribal stamina tested. Oddly, Dunce, carrying Mystic Mystic Moon, appeared the least fatigued. His `Vital Aura` moved like a deep, cold river within him, cycling between liquid and vapor, powering limbs with tireless endurance.
With meticulous care, Dunce lowered Mystic Mystic Moon's legs and turned, gathering her into his arms before sitting gently beside her. The air here bit sharper. Fearing she might catch a chill despite her resilience, Dunce held her close, one palm pressing lightly against her back. A soft, white radiance blossomed around them both, a beacon of warmth in the high-altitude gloom.
Liaoyi stared, slack-jawed. *That glow… that density…* He knew `Vital Aura` intimately. What Dunce was radiating – that manifestation of light and ethereal mist – that wasn't just Third or Fourth Tier power. That felt like… the Fifth Tier! *Impossible!* He scrambled closer, dropping his voice to a hushed whisper. "Hey… kid… that `Vital Aura`… is that the Skyrend method?"
Dunce nodded silently, raising a finger to his lips. His gaze remained fixed on Mystic Mystic Moon's peaceful face.
Liaoyi leaned in, urgency overcoming protocol. "Which Elder Leaf are you studying under? I don't recall seeing you…" His voice trembled slightly. "Your aura… it looks… *Fifth Tier*. Like my Master's! How?"
Dunce met his astonished gaze. "Watanataught me the Skyrend method. I promised not to share his name," he added quietly, his voice heavy with a deeper sorrow. "Before he… before he passed… he told me to find Master Skyrend Blademaster."
Liaoyi's breath hitched. *Wait a minute… Could it be?* He sucked in a sharp breath, eyes wide. "You… you're *Dunce*?"
Dunce blinked, startled. "You know my name?" He'd never met this man.
Liaoyi's astonishment exploded into pure exhilaration. "The stars! It *is* you!" He grinned, a surge of triumph washing over him. "You have no idea! The Blademaster himself issued orders! Disciples were dispatched across the continent to find *you*! My luck just changed!" *Finding the Blademaster's top priority? This practically guarantees a promotion!*
Dunce scratched his head, perplexed. "Tandor't you need rest? The Skyrend Blademaster wants me? Why?"
Liaoyi was practically vibrating. "More than wants you! The whole Sect's mobilized! Forget rest! Come on, move! What happened after Ping Feng got back? Something he said… next thing, the order came down." *Details? Leave those for the Elder Leafs.*
*Ping Feng?* The name sparked a memory. The middle-aged Skyrend disciple he'd met years ago… the one who'd given him the pouch of gold coins. *A decent man.* "Alright," Dunce agreed reluctantly. "I'm not too tired. Brother Girln Shi? Girln Li? Can you keep pace?"
The Dunce brothers had caught every word. Girln Shi stepped forward. "Brother Liao, the Skyrend Blademaster himself wishes to see Dunce? I thought he had long withdrawn from worldly matters?"
Liaoyi waved him off, impatience finally overriding any newfound respect. "Enough questions! Follow me! I'm just a junior. Answers are above my pay grade. Move!" He took off again, driven by ambition this time, racing towards the summit.
Sunrise found them cresting the peak of Skyrend Mountain. Mystic Night dissolved into deep sapphire, then bled into luminous pearl in the east. The mountains below emerged like jagged teeth piercing the roiling sea of clouds. They stood on the edge of the world, breathing thin, pure air.
"You lucked out," Liaoyi remarked, halting to catch his breath as much as admire the vista. "Seeing Skyrend's dawn is rare. It's legend." The first fiery rim breached the horizon, bathing the cloud-sea below in molten gold. The air itself seemed to gild.
They stood bathed in radiance, Mystic Mystic Moon now fully awake and wide-eyed. "It's… it's magnificent," she breathed, the cold forgotten in the face of such splendor.
As the sun climbed higher, Girln Shi scanned the plateau. "Brother Liao? We're nearly at the top. Where's the Sect?"
Liaoyi gestured towards the sprawling center. "The plateau is vast. The compound sits dead center. Walls hide it. Almost there."
"Halt! Who goes there?" Four figures materialized from rocks ahead, young men garbed similarly to Liaoyi, swords held ready. Guards.
"Brother Liaoyi?" Recognition smoothed their tense stances. *Scouting already? They look… winded? With foreigners?*
"Why so early back, Elder Leaf Brother?" one asked.
"Found guests," Liaoyi explained, gesturing towards his companions. "Couldn't risk them getting lost."
The young guards' eyes widened with curiosity. The foreign warriors – their baldness, tattoos, sheer size. The breathtakingly beautiful girl with her strange aura. Even the seemingly simple young man… his presence felt unnervingly deep. Discipline held them in check, but their glances lingered. Especially on Mystic Mystic Moon.
Liaoyi cleared his throat. "Resume your posts. We proceed." The guards saluted and melted back into the stones. Moments later, they stepped through an imposing gate onto Skyrend Mountain's summit plateau.
The compound sprawled before them – walls of colossal, seamless granite soaring twenty feet high. Mystic Mystic Moon slipped down from Dunce's back, stretching with a delighted sigh. Despite the odd sleeping position, Dunce's warmth and protective energy had left her surprisingly refreshed.
"That's it?" Girln Shi sounded almost disappointed, surveying the massive, solid structure. "For a Sect of its legendary fame… I pictured palaces." The sheer scale suggested immense effort, but it was utilitarian.
Mystic Mystic Moon snorted. "Palaces? Up here? At this altitude? It'd take a century, Dunce-for-brains!" She patted the unnaturally smooth wall. "Even this? Ten years of backbreaking work, all done by Sect members themselves. Outsiders couldn't endure it. Solid grey granite, quarried right here."
Liaoyi nodded, pride flickering. "It was done before my time. My Master said their early training *was* splitting these rocks with their blades." He gestured vaguely at the immense enclosure. "Size? Hard to grasp. But know this: inside lies a training yard that could hold hundreds. Hundreds of rooms. Most live two or three to a room. Still plenty of space."
Dunce whistled softly. *The labor…* "Let's get inside, Brother Liao."
Girln Li rubbed his belly loudly. "Food. Drink. Now. Before I collapse."
The sounds intensified within – the rhythmic clang of steel on steel, sharp shouts, the controlled roar of exertion.
Dunce tensed. "Attack?!" His hands balled into fists.
Liaoyi smirked. "Attack? On Skyrend? Who'd be that suicidal? Not even the Assassin's Guild tries direct assaults here. Morning training. Standard." He wasn't boasting. The Skyrend Sect, though not vast in numbers, bred martial powerhouses. The Elder Leafs alone… facing one was like facing three elite killers.
"Complacency is a killer, Disciple Liao." The voice, calm yet resonant as mountain stone, cut the air. Before they could react, a figure stood before them. Snow-white robes, greying hair neatly tied back. Features etched with wisdom, bearing upright and unyielding. Eyes, old but sharp, scanned them – pausing longest on Dunce. *Power. Immense, controlled power.*
Liaoyi dropped instantly to one knee. "Grand Elder Leaf Cultur!"
Cultur inclined his head. "Rise, boy." A casual flick of his hand unleashed a wave of tangible force – pure Vital Aura – that lifted Liaoyi effortlessly, firm yet gentle. Dunce felt the contained energy like pressure against his skin. "Foreign guests, Disciple? Purpose?" The question wasn't hostile, merely assessing.
Liaoyi gestured towards Dunce. "Grand Elder Leaf! This youth is Dunce!"
Cultur's calm gaze sharpened into focus. He didn't speak. He moved. A blur of white robes, crossing the distance in an eyeblink. One hand shot forward, palm enveloped in a nimbus of pure white energy, aimed squarely at Dunce's chest. Not a killing blow, but a tidal wave meant to overwhelm.
*Instinct.* Dunce felt the energy field cocoon him, pinning him. Escape was impossible. The pressure crushed his lungs. Pure instinct kicked in. He crossed his arms before him, pulling deep from the river within. A torrent of his own pent-up Vital Aura erupted from his palms to meet the surge.
**THUD.** The impact echoed dully. Rockforce met force. Dunce felt Cultur's energy not as a hammer blow, but an immense, yielding cushion. It shoved him backwards, his feet skidding on the stone, but it held no sharpness, no intent to harm. He landed, unhurt, heart hammering against his ribs.
Girln Li roared, twin battle-axes flashing from his back in a blur. "What the hell?!"
Cultur ignored him. His piercing gaze remained locked on Dunce, a flicker of surprise, then profound approval in his eyes. "Good. Solid Fifth Tier Aura. Your Vital Flow cycles deep." His voice held the barest hint of wonder. "*How* did disciple Owen manage this…?" He took a step closer, his presence suddenly less terrifying. "Young man. Your teacher… was Owen?"
Dunce met the Elder Leaf's gaze steadily. This man meant no harm. That test proved it. "Gorith? No. Brother Owen… he guided me. He taught me what I know."
Cultur nodded slowly, a trace of deep sorrow clouding his wise eyes. For Dunce, it brought Owen's broken form crashing back into his mind's eye – the paleness, the breathlessness, the final, gasping confession. A familiar, bone-deep ache gripped his chest. *Uncle...*
"Whether he claimed the title or not, he passed the Skyrend legacy to you. That makes you Sect, boy." Cultur turned to Liaoyi, his voice regaining its command snap. "Disciple! Sound the Bell! Nine times! Summon the Elder Leafs!" The weight of history hung in the command.
Liaoyi froze. *Nine chimes?* That was reserved for pivotal moments – Sect-defining events, invasions… *Nine?!* "Grand Elder Leaf Cultur… *Nine*?" he stammered, needing confirmation.
"Nine," Cultur affirmed, firm. *Yes. This warrants the highest call.* He turned back to the group. "Follow me." He led them through another gate, deeper into the heart of the mountain stronghold.
Mystic Mystic Moon grabbed Dunce's arm. "I go with him."
Grand Elder Leaf Xiwen, who had stepped forward, studied her. His presence was different from Cultur's focused intensity. It felt broader, deeper, an authority tempered by the vastness of the mountain itself. "Your aura sings of divine light, young lady. The Holy Hall's signature is upon you." His gaze held an unspoken understanding, perhaps more than she'd faced even from her father. "Matters within concern deep Sect history. Rest will be arranged. Young Dunce will be returned to you." It wasn't a request. It carried the weight of ages.
Mystic Mystic Moon swallowed, the sheer magnitude of the pressure unexpected. She glanced at Dunce. He nodded slightly, reassurance in his eyes. Reluctantly, she let go. She *knew* she'd find him later. Dunce nodded. *"So that's why you avoided Holy Hall talk earlier? Runaway priestess?"*
Mystic Mystic Moon stuck her tongue out at him. *"Like it's any of your rock-picking business!"*
Disciple Cultur returned promptly with two stern-faced senior disciples. They escorted Girln Shi, Girln Li, and an uncharacteristically silent, but deeply scowling Mystic Mystic Moon away towards the living quarters.
Grand Elder Leaf Xiwen surveyed Dunce. The weight of Cultur's initial assessment pressed on him all over again. *Five years? Fifth Tier? Owen… what did you see in this boy? What did you pour into him?* The impossibility tangled with fresh grief.
"Come," Xiwen said, the single word heavy. His five remaining brothers flanked him, their collective presence radiating like a contained storm front.
They moved deeper into the compound, towards the rear where sheer cliff met ancient, carved stone. The domain of the Skyrend Blademaster.
Xiwen walked at Dunce's side. "Dunce," he began, his voice low, probing the deep currents beneath the surface, "how long did you walk beside Brother Owen? Your Vital Flow has reached Fifth Tier – the cycle hums strong within you. He… did wonders." There was an edge in his voice. Xiwen hadn't found such raw, deep-rooted potential in *his* own students in decades. A pang of envy struck him, swiftly buried under a heavier tide of sorrow.
Dunce kept pace. "Five years, Grand Elder Leaf. He taught me much."
Silence, thick and cold as the mountain peak, fell. Six of the Sect's most powerful members exchanged stunned glances. *Five years?!* Normally, ten years of diligent training might bring a Fourth Keanuration disciple to the *brink* of the Third Tier mastery Liaoyi possessed. Reaching the Fifth, where the Aura itself manifested visibly? That should require decades of grueling cultivation, relentless focus, and innate genius bordering on the mythical. It defied every known law of the Vital Flow they understood. *How? Was this boy… a conduit for pure energy itself? A blessing? A curse? Had Owen sacrificed everything in a desperate gamble?* No answers surfaced. Only the unnerving mystery pacing beside them on the path to their master.
The journey ended before a vast, dark archway – the entrance to the caverns housing the Sect's heart and soul. The place where answers, perhaps painful ones, awaited.
The weight of history pressed in. The weight of Owen's fate hung unspoken. And the heavier, stranger weight of the unassuming youth who had climbed the impossible mountain, carrying secrets and power beyond his understanding, and a sleeping goddess on his back.