Atop The Dao Xuan Mountain

• Chapter 11: Atop the Dao Xuan Mountain

PS: Hehe no Su Mu, no Empress and no Pei Xuanyin for the next few chapters. Btw sorry in advance these chapters might not be as good as previou ones .

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** Dao Xuan Mountain **

The towering Dao Xuan Mountain (Hanging Mountain) floated above Qie Ming Lake (Bright Theft Lake), like a mirror image suspended in the world.

Floating stones formed a winding path up the mountain, winding endlessly. Occasionally, divine birds flew past, casting shadows below. Disciples bustled back and forth, engaged in their cultivation or tasks.

In the very center of Dao Xuan Mountain, a pillar of light shot continuously into the sky, supporting the mountain's seemingly impossible suspension.

At this moment, no one noticed a white-clad figure climbing up from the base of the mountain, scaling the layers of floating rocks.

As for why he didn't take the main entrance? Xie Yun Zhao thought, "Seriously, have you ever seen someone succeed in sabotage by going through the front door?"

While considering his next steps, he took a dagger from his robe and gently slashed in front of him, cutting through a transparent barrier.

"Good, the first step is done. The mountain-protecting array is dealt with. Next..."

Xie Yun Zhao took an ancient-looking small cauldron from his qiankun pouch. Mystical energy swirled on its surface, while a sinister, oppressive mist churned inside.

"Here we go!" Xie Yun Zhao tossed the small cauldron through the slit he'd created and muttered, "Little brother, your senior brother is here to avenge you."

His expression grew complex, as he remembered the wonton noodles his junior used to make. After every closed-door cultivation session, there'd always be a bowl of wonton noodles waiting for him at the door. It seemed those days were gone forever.

At the same time, at the mountain gate of Dao Xuan Mountain, a paper crane landed and transformed into scattered spiritual light.

"Who goes there?"

"The one who will kill you all." A cold female voice echoed from the spiritual mist.

"Yeah! Kill them all!" A cute, impish voice chimed in.

The woman, dressed in light red palace robes, looked cold and indifferent, anger slowly spreading across her delicate features.

Behind her, a small hand clutched the hem of her clothes tightly.

"Jiang Ci Xue?" One of the disciples recognized her.

With a blank expression, Jiang Ci Xue said, "Tell Zhou Si to come out and die."

"Presumptuous! Jiang Ci Xue, how dare you insult Senior Brother Zhou!"

Her face darkened as she looked at the insolent disciple. Scarlet spiritual energy swirled around her as she raised her hands to her hair. "If Zhou Si doesn't come out, I'll block your mountain gate. I'll kill anyone who dares to steps out. Try me if you don't believe it."

In the tense atmosphere, her slender hands drew two hairpins from her hair. Her silky black hair fell over her face, partially obscuring her exquisite features.

No one had the leisure to admire this moment. Instead, a heavy tension settled in, as the oppressive aura of a Nascent Soul peak cultivator weighed on them, making their faces pale.

"You...do You.. people of Yao Guang Sect intend to declare war on us at Dao Xuan Mountain?"

Jiang Ci Xue's face hardened, remembering the precarious state of her sect. Her expression wavered but was quickly replaced by a look of anguish. "My junior brother is dead. I must do something to avenge him."

"Enough talking. I'll be here at your gate. If you want to pass, prepare to die trying."

The hairpins elongated and began to dance around her, spinning like red butterflies. Spiritual energy formed a domain around the mountain gate.

The disciple who had been speaking looked grim and instructed his companion, "Jia Zi, go up the mountain and ask Senior Brother Zhou how to handle this. Also, fetch the elder from the main hall."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Jiang Ci Xue ignored them, blocking the gate as more disciples gathered, their voices rising in anxious chatter.

Seeing this, Jiang Ci Xue glanced down, her expression softening into a gentle smile. She knelt and hugged the small figure clinging to her, "Little Xuan Ji, can you tell me which of those people are associated with Zhou Si?"

The little girl nodded and produced a broken tortoiseshell from her hand. She shook it vigorously towards the crowd, then clutched the coin that fell out, chanting, "The omen is dire, the seasons favorable. Heaven and earth without limit..." (Made-up divination chant).

Opening her bright eyes, she pointed to a man in luxurious clothes in the crowd, "Him! He's Zhou Si's cousin, Zhou Xing Duan. Sister, kill him and avenge our brother!"

The little girl, dressed as a daoist, looked quite fierce.

Jiang Ci Xue patted her head approvingly, "Well done, little Xuan Ji."

The girl happily leaned into the touch, enjoying the praise.

Then, Jiang Ci Xue turned to Zhou Xing Duan, "You're Zhou Xing Duan?"

Sensing a powerful aura lock onto him, Zhou Xing Duan's face turned grim, "Yes, but I advise you, my cousin is in seclusion, about to break through to the Divine Transformation stage…"

Jiang Ci Xue cut him off, "Then I'll start with you."

With that, she pulled him towards her with a forceful aura. As the other disciple returned with an elder, the latter shouted, "Stop! Young girl, do you think we have no one to deal with you at Dao Xuan Mountain?"

An elder with upturned eyebrows appeared on the steps, glaring at Jiang Ci Xue, who now held Zhou Xing Duan by the throat.

Jiang Ci Xue picked at her ear, "Old fool, you're too noisy. Don't worry, you're next."

"You! Such arrogance!" The elder hesitated, clearly wary of her reputation.

Jiang Ci Xue's hairpin slashed down, and a stream of warm blood splattered. A scream followed, making the elder's face grow darker.

Zhou Xing Duan's arm fell to the ground, and he howled in pain, "Ah… my hand… ahhh…"

Jiang Ci Xue stomped his head into the dirt, silencing him.

At that moment, a Divine Transformation stage aura descended. The disciples present bowed, "Greetings, Seventh Elder."

The ethereal figure exuded a majestic presence, and despite being indistinct, a cold aura pressed down on Jiang Ci Xue.

She retorted, "When the weak can't fight, they call the stronger. When the stronger can't fight, they call the ancient. No wonder my junior brother fell to Zhou Si. This is the ethos of Dao Xuan Mountain."

The figure responded calmly, "Such eloquence. It was just a fight for resources. He died. So we offered compensation, didn't we?"

"Died? Compensation?" Jiang Ci Xue's rage boiled over. "Today, I'll dye your Qie Ming Lake with blood!"

The figure sighed, extending a hand. "I didn't want to interfere, but you leave me no choice."

Jiang Ci Xue glared at the approaching hand, feeling its overwhelming spiritual power that could seriously injure or kill her.

This was never about right or wrong. Su Mu's death was unbearable for Jiang Ci Xue, but in this world of survival of the fittest, his death was nothing unusual.

Determined, she closed her eyes, ready for a desperate fight. Her mind burned with one thought: "My junior brother was the most important person to me. You took my most cherished treasure!"

The spiritual projection casually waved its hand, shattering the spiritual domain Jiang Ci Xue had created .

With a "puff", Jiang Ci Xue spat out blood but still shielded her junior sister with most of her remaining energy.

As the hand was about to strike her, a hiltless sword descended from the sky, embedding itself in the ground before her.

The powerful strike was deflected by the sword's edge, splitting the force to either sides, causing the mountain to quake.

Jiang Ci Xue exhaled in relief, putting away the teleportation charm in her sleeve and then with a pale smile, she said, "Senior Brother, you're here."

To be continued...