Chapter 519: Rising Fame

Dust billowed across the sky, parting slowly like a long curtain.

Shen Yi stood with hands at his sides, and in his vision, a mountain of unparalleled grandeur gradually emerged, majestic and imposing, standing before him like a heavenly chasm stretching to the horizon; by comparison, the nameless mountain outside could only be considered a low earthen mound.

The instant he beheld its true form.

A heavy, soul-shaking oppressive pressure fell directly upon Shen Yi.

Boom!

Since what entered the nameless mountain was his soul, there was no possibility of bones being crushed.

Yet Shen Yi still felt as though his entire body was being ground into powder.

His body lurched forward violently, his knees trembling wildly, nearly causing him to collapse to his knees.

Instinctively, Shen Yi sought to summon the Gui Xu Immortal Armor for protection; his fingertips touched his brow, intending to activate the Bai Yujing Immortal City.

However, he summoned nothing.

Now standing here was merely a soul; all his so-called safeguards had completely lost their effect within this nameless mountain, leaving him with nothing to rely on but himself.

Shen Yi finally understood why only body-refining cultivators could possibly approach this opportunity.

Only cultivators like himself, who had experienced demon-core body forging, demon-blood scorching, and phoenix-fire tempering, had even a sliver of a chance to straighten their spines again beneath such heavy pressure.

"Hah."

Shen Yi closed his eyes, his features twisting into something more ferocious.

The palm that could tear apart the demons of Bai Yujing suddenly clenched; it caused no upheaval in heaven and earth, its sole effect being to allow him to take one extremely difficult step forward.

Before this treasure mountain, the figure in the black robe appeared so insignificant, his steps slow, even somewhat stumbling, yet he never stopped.

Compared to the trials endured by other cultivators, Shen Yi's few years of cultivation experience counted for nothing.

But as for the suffering endured for the sake of cultivation.

Even if during panel simulations, only one in a hundred of the returned tortures actually occurred, when the simulated time was terrifyingly long, the accumulated pain likewise reached a horrifying degree.

Enduring hardship was nothing worth boasting about; moreover, the main cause of this pain was largely due to Shen Yi's haphazard modifications of cultivation methods, his blind consumption of pills, and treating demon cores and demon blood like water and rice, leaving even less to say.

Yet these experiences had genuinely helped him reach the foot of the mountain.

Shen Yi lowered his gaze slightly, looking at the winding mountain path beneath his feet; after pondering for a moment, he stepped onto that gravel path.

The instant his boot touched the mountain path, his soul seemed to solidify into a physical form.

Shen Yi heard his entire body crackle; with a boom, he was pressed to the ground by vast force, with not even a shred of room to resist throughout the entire process.

The elbow he used to support his body nearly shattered, and his black robe was quickly stained crimson with blood.

Yet under such immense force, not even the smallest pebble on the mountain path trembled.

After a brief period of regulating his breath, Shen Yi glanced sideways at his elbow, his expression utterly calm.

Even if his actual body had completely split open, or even melted down to bare bones, he had personally experienced it all; moreover, this was merely an illusion created by the nameless mountain.

Yet this sensation was so vivid.

It was clear that this mountain indeed hid something precious.

Upon thinking of this, Shen Yi raised his head to look upward, but his vision was blocked by the mountain cliffs and green shade, unable to see the peak.

He exerted force with both palms again, seeking to prop himself up once more.

Just then, the previous immense force struck again; before Shen Yi could rise, he felt a repelling force, as if it sought to push him out of this realm.

"..."

He suddenly recalled the words of the Banshan Sect's Daozi earlier: when one could no longer endure, the nameless mountain would forcibly eject the soul.

In other words, if he truly tried to stand up, would his soul shatter?

Shen Yi pondered for a moment, then suddenly noticed that the force enveloping him seemed to have softened slightly, as if to allow cultivators to carefully comprehend it.

His expression changed slightly.

This was bad; this wasn't a contest of stubbornness, but a test of intellect.

If this mountain path was a trial, this stage likely did not require cultivators to forcibly withstand the force, but rather to comprehend and assimilate the true meaning within it.

Shen Yi did not lack confidence in himself.

The main issue was that he had no time to slowly comprehend things here; if he truly spent several thousand or even ten thousand years, setting aside whether the Banshan Sect would agree, even if they truly let him observe the mountain here, by the time he emerged, the entire Nanyang Treasure Land would likely have been trampled flat, and Senior Xuan Qing would have been captured and chopped up for firewood.

Even if he truly comprehended an immortal technique, could he turn back time?

Upon thinking of this, Shen Yi summoned the panel; he was not entirely certain whether this mountain in front of him counted as a cultivation method. Logically, it should, it just lacked specific text.

【Mountain Art: Not Yet Entered】

A line of prompt swept across his vision, but like those minor techniques, it lacked specific suffix divisions.

A treasure mountain possessing such profound mystery certainly did not hide a mere minor technique.

It was likely because he had not yet fully viewed this cultivation method.

Shen Yi glanced at his remaining million-plus years of demon lifespan, then raised his gaze again; this time, his eyes seemed to penetrate the stone walls and green shade, looking straight toward the mountain peak.

The only regret was that within this nameless mountain, he could not enlist the aid of a demon soul.

Relying solely on himself, he feared he would waste much of his demon lifespan.

Inside the Banshan Sect, at the foot of the nameless mountain.

Yang Yunheng retrieved the treasure pill and returned through the air; the moment he landed, he discovered an anomaly.

He saw that his own Daozi was not observing the mountain as usual.

The other party had stood up at some unknown time, silently staring at the figure in the black robe sitting on the ground.

"Daozi, the treasure pill has been retrieved."

Yang Yunheng spread his palm, looking at Shen Yi with confusion.

He had not been present earlier, so he did not see that single drop of sweat rolling down, and thus did not know what Yan Chongzhang was so shocked about.

"Good."

Yan Chongzhang finally sighed, turned, took the treasure pill, and shot Yang Yunheng a glare.

It wasn't that he was stingy about the methods in the Nameless Mountain.

He merely resented how the Grand Elder spoke in hesitations, giving him no prior mental preparation—just now, he'd nearly lost composure.

He had considered Shen Xiao's talent to be excellent, but never imagined it would be this astonishing.

At least by current progress, it even surpassed his own when he was young.

He himself had spent all these years and still hadn't touched the second stele on the mountain path—equivalent to having only grasped one and a half techniques.

If it were this Shen Xiao, he'd surely have fully comprehended the second technique long ago.

It's truly a pity—pity that he was born in Yu Nanhong.

"Cough. Cough."

Yang Yunheng suddenly coughed twice.

As if sensing the Daozi's thoughts, he handed over the treasure pill while subtly giving a glance.

It's not too late to make amends now.

If we could recruit this Shen boy into Banshan Sect and give him a proper chance to observe the mountain,

tens of thousands of years from now, even if we ourselves no longer have the chance to cultivate, we could still leave the sect a new, powerful spirit method—one perfectly suited for body-refining martial artists, far surpassing all other spirit methods in significance.

"..."

Yan Chongzhang frowned, took the treasure pill, and stood still, pondering.

He wasn't worried Shen Yi would threaten him—besides the vast age gap, his own status in Banshan Sect made such trivial concerns irrelevant.

The problem was, before the Daozi of Yu Nanhong, he was scheming to poach their disciple—this wasn't an honorable act.

It would bring shame upon him if word got out.

As Yan Chongzhang hesitated, his gaze fell on Yang Yunheng's face, hoping to discuss it further.

At that moment, he saw the Grand Elder's aged, vigorous face suddenly twitch violently, his pupils contracting instinctively—he revealed an expression of gnashing teeth, utterly unbecoming.

"He... he..."

"Daozi Yan!"

Wei Yuanzhou suddenly whispered sharply.

Yan Chongzhang spun around to see Wei Yuanzhou and Su Hongxiu subtly blocking his path ahead, while Bai Wu had fallen back, guarding the meditating Shen Xiao on his side.

The cause of this shift was Shen Yi, who had been sitting quietly—his ink-colored robe was suddenly soaked in sweat, as if he'd just emerged from water.

Beneath his jet-black hair, his already Bai Xi face now showed signs of exhaustion, like a dying lamp.

Even his lips had lost all color.

"..."

Yan Chongzhang stared fixedly at Shen Yi, opened his mouth to speak, but found nothing to say.

He swallowed hard. After what felt like an eternity, he finally came to his senses. Facing the three Daozi's slightly hostile gazes, he had no desire to explain—only handed them the treasure pill: "This is normal. Give it to him. My master is still in seclusion in the sect—if we truly meant to harm him, we wouldn't resort to such underhanded tactics."

Su Hongxiu watched Yan Chongzhang's change in expression.

A strange sense of familiarity suddenly struck her.

Back in Tianjian Sect, when she occasionally guided other direct disciples, they'd often wear the same expression.

She'd seen this look far too many times.

But the problem was... this man was a Banshan Sect Daozi, his strength no lesser than hers—why would he show such an expression toward Shen Yi?

What had Shen Zongzhu done inside this mountain?!

"Thank you, Daozi Yan."

Su Hongxiu nodded, signaling Wei Yuanzhou to take the pill—but she did not give it to Shen Yi.

By her instinct, Banshan Sect now held no ill will toward Shen Yi.

But Shen Zongzhu's status was far too high; as Daozi, we have no right to administer medicine to him without his knowledge—unless we were truly desperate.

"I suddenly feel a deep sense of loss."

Yan Chongzhang turned around, as if he no longer cared about composure or not—only Grand Elder Yang, who had also observed this mountain, might understand his current mood.

"I can't quite grasp it either," Yang Yunheng said, barely suppressing his shock, laughing bitterly.

Having witnessed Shen Yi's earlier display, his expectations for him were even higher than Yan Chongzhang had guessed.

But even in the most extravagant scenario, if Shen Xiao sat motionless for months and grasped even a sliver of the Divine Mountain's true intent, it would already be an exceptional gain.

Yet his condition just now wasn't merely entering the Nameless Mountain—it meant he had seen the mountain path, stepped upon it, and only now, upon rising, would such a reaction occur.

That meant Shen Yi hadn't just awakened the Divine Mountain's true intent—he had almost certainly glimpsed part of the Divine Mountain Method!

This boy has taken Banshan Sect's true treasure!

And it's been less than an hour since he began.

Daozi Yan's mere hint of loss already reveals how unshakable his Dao-heart is; any other, slightly more arrogant cultivator would've already shaken Shen Xiao awake, demanding to know what happened.

"Wait."

Yang Yunheng snapped out of his shock and suddenly scanned the three Yu Nanhong Daozi.

That's odd... what's this reaction?

The instant Shen Xiao showed signs of distress, these three had instinctively shielded him with their bodies—and their actions after retrieving the pill were deeply suspicious.

This young cultivator's identity seems unusually peculiar.

Yet when Wei Yuanzhou paid his respects earlier, he seemed to have overlooked this person, offering no introduction.

Even if Yang Yunheng was curious, he couldn't directly ask—it would offend the Seven Sons of Yu Nanhong.

No rush, no rush—recruiting Shen Xiao must be thoroughly investigated first. Put bluntly, if this boy is the son of some Zongzhu, everything Banshan Sect offers will be wasted.

Thinking of this, Yang Yunheng stepped forward and grabbed Yan Chongzhang, signaling him to calm down first.

Given Shen Yi's earlier reaction, and the fact that these Daozi refused to feed him pills, he would likely be expelled from Wuming Mountain soon.

This matter can be considered concluded.

Just as he had predicted.

As time passed, the sun set behind Xishan.

Shen Yi's motionless figure began to tremble slightly; his face, which had briefly improved, turned pale again.

"Prepare to feed him a pill, or his spirit will be damaged."

Yan Chongzhang exhaled in relief and reminded them again; this long time was enough for these Daozi to check whether the pills were tainted.

Su Hongxiu took the pill, turned, knelt beside Shen Yi, gently supported his shoulders, and waited quietly for the moment he opened his eyes.

Then… she waited a full incense stick's time.

"…"

She looked questioningly at the two Banshan Sect members, but saw Yan Chongzhang and Yang Yunheng equally puzzled, their astonishment even more pronounced than hers.

Shen Yi's eyelids twitched slightly, as if he were about to wake, yet his body remained utterly still.

"Has he fainted?"

Yang Yunheng couldn't help asking; in truth, he wanted to say: Could this young Master Shen be pretending to be in a spirit-severed state just to save face?

Could one resist Wuming Mountain's expulsion by sheer willpower? What nonsense—did anyone here not climb that mountain?

…

Inside Wuming Mountain.

Shen Yi sat cross-legged at the trail's entrance, his dark eyes fixed on the rugged path ahead.

He hadn't stood up, nor taken a single step forward.

Yet the trials required to climb were fully borne by him—and because his comprehension of the true meaning was grounded and slow, his progress was painfully sluggish; the torment he endured may have been far greater than that of any other climber.

Logically, he should have been expelled long ago.

But the panel's simulation continued unceasingly, and the mountain itself was powerless, forced to let Shen Yi stubbornly persist.

"Hah…"

Shen Yi exhaled, steadying himself so he wouldn't topple backward.

Without a demon soul to accompany him, for thirty-seven thousand years he had never set foot on this path—but the scenery along it was already etched into his heart.

In his gradually dimming gaze, a plain, unremarkable stone stele faintly appeared.

It was carelessly stuck beside the path.

Yet not even immortals or gods could budge it an inch.

Two hasty, large characters on the stele seemed to urge climbers to rest for a moment.

Shen Yue!

With his last shred of consciousness, Shen Yi opened the panel.

【Union Dao. Shen Yue Fa: Not Yet Entered】

No suffix, but the description preceding the realm was terrifyingly stark.

Shen Yi felt his mind go utterly blank, then sank heavily backward; he stared upward—the Shen Yue Stele stood only at one-third the mountain's height… What kind of complete mountain art was this?

Until he felt a warmth.

When he opened his eyes again,

he was still seated cross-legged, before him a low earthen slope.

Beside him, the Nan Hong Daozi and the two Banshan Sect members had silently guarded him for three full days.

If Shen Yi did not wake soon,

even Bai Wu, who hated physical contact most, was about to press his fingertip to Shen Yi's third eye.

"…"

Yan Chongzhang glanced at Su Hongxiu and saw her finally lower her hand; only then did he relax.

It wasn't fear of this woman.

Not even with his master present, and even in a one-on-one duel, he didn't believe he'd lose to this Heavenly Sword Daozi.

The main reason was that Yan Chongzhang didn't want a misunderstanding to cause a complete rupture between Banshan Sect and the Seven Sons of Nan Hong.

Of course, the reason he'd remained silent all along,

was that even he, a Banshan Sect Daozi, had begun to suspect something might be wrong with Wuming Mountain before Shen Yi opened his eyes.

How could a cultivator in such a depleted state still not be expelled?

"Young Master Shen, you've finally awakened," Yang Yunheng relaxed completely, forcing a smile to break the tension: "Any insights?"

Hearing this, Yan Chongzhang also looked intently—though feigning calm, his tightly clenched fingers betrayed his solemn inner weight.

What had he gained inside Wuming Mountain over these three days?

Wei Yuanzhou and the others, though worried, also looked over with quiet curiosity.

Who knew how they'd endured these three days? Now that Shen Zongzhu had finally awakened, even Su Hongxiu could barely contain herself.

"Mm."

Shen Yi eased his spirit's fatigue, paused a moment, then softly said: "Minor insight."

Upon hearing these four words,

Yang Yunheng and Yan Chongzhang froze, about to speak further—when suddenly, a faint, unintentionally leaking aura emanated from Shen Yi.

It was a harmonious Shen Yue true meaning.

"…"

Shen Yi pressed his lips together—dammit, he'd just escaped that heavy pressure and had let his guard down too much; he'd slipped up.

He wasn't worried that Banshan Sect was stingy—he just didn't want anyone else to discover the panel.

"You—"

Yan Chongzhang suddenly staggered back two steps—what bullshit "slight insight"? If the true essence was perfectly harmonized, that meant the other man had already memorized the entire Divine Yue Fa!

That was something he had spent ten thousand years of lifespan to accomplish.

This man had done it in three days?!

Yan Chongzhang steadied himself with a stumble, lost in thought, then suddenly spun around and strode toward the main hall!

To hell with shame! To hell with the Seven Sons of Nan Hong!

Bullshit Daozi position.

This disciple—he was taking him, Banshan Sect was claiming him!

He might be the only one since Banshan Sect's founding with even a chance to glimpse the full method of Gaoshan.

He might elevate Banshan Sect to the scale of Liangdaohuang Sect, one of the supreme powers of Hongze.

Before such an opportunity,

Even if the Seven Daozi of Nan Hong came, or even a Shen Zongzhu, he owed them no respect!

(End of Chapter)