Ye Chu did not stay long in the imperial capital. Three days later, he set off for Wuxin Peak with Yaoyao and Bai Xuan.
Bai Xuan had a refined and elegant nature. She disliked ostentatious places. Although she had followed Ye Chu to the imperial capital, Ye Chu knew she still felt some resistance toward it. All along, he had wanted to bring Bai Xuan to Qingmi Mountain.
However, outsiders could not enter Qingmi Mountain freely. If not for the jade pendant Ruoshui had given him, Ye Chu would not have dared bring anyone in.
Qingmi Mountain was a mysterious place. Only by entering it could one truly feel its wonder. Ye Chu believed such a place suited Bai Xuan perfectly. Moreover, at Wuxin Peak on Qingmi Mountain, he would not have to worry about anyone troubling her. Bai Xuan was far too beautiful and captivating. Outside, too many people coveted her, and since she had never cultivated, Ye Chu could not guarantee her safety at all times.
Ye Chu told Bai Xuan he would take her to the place where he had spent three years. Naturally, Bai Xuan was delighted. The imperial capital had always felt foreign to her. Leaving held no reluctance.
Though she did not know where Ye Chu had spent those three years, thinking of it as his hometown filled her heart with warmth.
When Ye Chu left, he did not alert anyone. After leaving a note for Huang Lin, he set off lightly with Bai Xuan and Yaoyao.
Wuxin Peak on Qingmi Mountain was quite far from the imperial capital, thousands of miles away. Even travelling by carriage at full speed took more than half a month to reach the foot of Qingmi Mountain.
As the carriage entered a mountain range, Ye Chu followed an odd trajectory. Bai Xuan felt the carriage turning this way and that. Unable to hold back her curiosity, she asked Ye Chu, “Ye Chu, what are you doing?”
“Qingmi Mountain is protected by a grand formation. To enter, you must follow a specific path around it. Otherwise, you could search your whole life and never find Qingmi Mountain. All you would see is an endless stretch of mountain ranges.” Ye Chu explained. After driving a while longer, he stopped the carriage, picked up Yaoyao, took Bai Xuan’s hand, and stepped out.
Bai Xuan wore casual clothes that day, yet they could not conceal her sensual, alluring figure. Her graceful curves made hearts race. Ye Chu looked at her voluptuous body and could not help letting some thoughts arise. But since that night, Bai Xuan had not given him another chance. She had no idea how captivating she was, or how unbearable it was for him to be unable to touch her.
Suppressing those thoughts, Ye Chu held Yaoyao and took a few steps forward. The ordinary mountain range suddenly opened up. Before Bai Xuan appeared a majestic, grand scene, as though another world entirely. Towering peaks stood proudly, each one soaring high like sharp swords piercing the clouds.
There were one hundred and eight peaks in total. Each one emanated vast artistic conception, shocking the heart. The interwoven intents of one hundred and eight towering peaks could shake heaven and earth.
Bai Xuan was stunned, gazing at the peaks wrapped in radiant light, each possessing peerless grace.
“Qingmi Mountain has one hundred and eight main peaks. Each main peak has a peak gate that manages it. Outsiders know very little about Qingmi Mountain, but every single one of these main peaks possesses power capable of ruling as a king or emperor outside.” Ye Chu explained.
Bai Xuan’s gaze fell on the main peaks. Each one surged with light, releasing astonishing intent that carried breathtaking, world-shaking power.
Bai Xuan could not imagine how terrifying the person controlling such a peak must be. And here, there were one hundred and eight such peak gates.
She felt this was a divine land. How else could it be so terrifying?
“Every main peak here has transformed into a heaven and earth artifact, and of extremely high grade. Each peak master who controls a main peak has reached the realm of ‘seizing the creation of heaven and earth.’” Ye Chu said, sighing with emotion.
Bai Xuan fell silent at his words. Though she had never cultivated, she knew how terrifying those who had seized the creation of heaven and earth were. Outside, they would be revered as gods.
Yet here, there were one hundred and eight peak masters at that level. If word of this spread, it would shock the world. With such power, how many forces in the world could withstand them?
Even the empire would likely collapse like a house of cards, without even a chance to resist.
“Let us go,” Ye Chu said to Bai Xuan. “Among the one hundred and eight peaks, one is the most special. I will take you into that main peak.”
Ye Chu led Bai Xuan toward one of the main peaks. It was neither taller than the others nor at the centre, but rather at the edge. Ye Chu carried Yaoyao as they stepped onto the bluestone stairs. The moment Bai Xuan set foot on them, she felt a power flowing into her body. The fatigue from the long journey vanished instantly, replaced by a refreshing clarity. On the peak, rare and precious plants grew everywhere. Some herbs over a hundred years old could be seen casually.
Bai Xuan was amazed. Looking at this vibrant, colourful world, she felt as though she had entered a fairyland. How many mortals could ever witness such a place?
Yaoyao, held in Ye Chu’s arms, kept looking around curiously. The beauty and clarity of the place delighted her.
The climb was long, yet it did not feel tiring. It was as though an invisible force carried them upward. Everything revealed something miraculous.
At the end of the stairs, a massive altar appeared before Bai Xuan. The altar was built from thousands upon thousands of pounds of giant stones, forming a towering platform. Ye Chu, Bai Xuan, and the others stood below it like ants. At the top of the platform stood a long sword covered in rust. Though the sword was not large, every gaze was involuntarily drawn to it.
Ye Chu walked to the base of the platform, set Yaoyao down, and bowed respectfully to the long sword.
Bai Xuan had never seen Ye Chu treat an object with such reverence. She could not help asking curiously, “Is it…?”
“While you are at Wuxin Peak with Yaoyao, you can touch anything and play with anything. But you must never touch this long sword!” Ye Chu said to Yaoyao. “If there is one rule at Wuxin Peak, it is that you must never touch or pull this sword.”
“Big Brother Ye Chu, it is all rusty!” Yaoyao muttered. “Yaoyao does not want to play with it!”
Ye Chu laughed. “When you grow up, if you dare play with it, the entire Wuxin Peak will welcome you to do so.”
Ye Chu thought it was childish talk. Even the old madman did not dare touch or pull this sword. Who would dare act recklessly? It was not that the sword could not be pulled. Quite the opposite. Anyone from Wuxin Peak could pull it easily. But no one dared touch it, because its significance was far too great.
No one dared move it lightly. Even someone as powerful as the old madman could not bear such responsibility.
Seeing Ye Chu speak so seriously, Bai Xuan nodded. “I understand. But this is the first time I have seen you show such respect to an object.”
As she spoke, Bai Xuan could not help giggling.
Ye Chu knew he had always been unrestrained and irreverent in front of her, rarely showing awe toward anything. This had given her the impression that he feared neither gods nor ghosts.
“If Sister Bai Xuan knew the story of this sword’s owner, perhaps you would feel the same.” Ye Chu said with a smile.
His words sparked Bai Xuan’s curiosity. She looked at Ye Chu.