Chapter 59

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Chapter 59: Fish Leaping Over the Dragon Gate

On the outskirts of Dongfeng City, the Eastern Region Main City.

Ming He lightly raised her hand to block a deadly attack from a shadow behind her, then swiftly executed the Unsheathing Style, taking the shadow’s life in an instant. Without even glancing back, she turned her gaze to the distance behind her.

There, two shadows were locked in a life-and-death struggle. The shadow on the left was clearly no match for the one on the right, quickly falling under the right shadow’s long sword.

The shadow on the right glanced at Ming He, nodded, and then vanished into thin air.

Ming He remained silent; she had no idea why the shadow had nodded at her.

She had traveled nearly seven days from Ding Kang City to Dongfeng City, and during these seven days, she had faced numerous assassins. The most perilous encounter involved more than a dozen shadows attacking her simultaneously.

At that moment, she had exhausted her strength and was nearly resigned to her fate when, out of nowhere, a shadow had saved her and followed her all the way to Dongfeng City—it was the very shadow that had just disappeared.

Someone must have emerged from the shadows to kill her, only to be intercepted, which was why she only needed to deal with the one behind her, an assassin of average cultivation and skill.

Black clothes and shadows—Ming He recalled the group of assassins she had encountered on the outskirts of Ding Kang City, Team Seventy-Five from Misty Rain Tower.

They weren’t the same group, but they were all cut from the same cloth, including the shadow that had aided her.

How intriguing; some were paid to kill her, while others were paid to protect her, yet she didn’t even know who was behind them.

A faint smile played on Ming He’s lips, but her eyes were icy. She glanced at the shadow’s corpse on the ground, committing it to memory, before walking into the city.

Desperate assassins, relentless in their pursuit—how amusing.

…

“Friend, are you here to participate in the Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings competition?” As Ming He entered Dongfeng City, a cultivator in a uniform robe of mixed black and white colors addressed her respectfully.

“Yes,” Ming He nodded, glancing around at the sharp auras of many young cultivators, all likely here for the same battle as her.

“Then please participate in the Dragon Gate Trial first; it is a prerequisite for entering the rankings competition.” The cultivator bowed slightly, performing a respectful yet polite gesture, and continued, “I am Yu Jing from the Eastern Region Lord’s Mansion, responsible for the first trial of the Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings, the Dragon Gate Trial. Only by passing the Dragon Gate Trial can you continue to participate in the rankings competition.”

“I would like to hear more,” Ming He responded earnestly.

“The Dragon Gate is crafted by powerful figures in our Eastern Region Lord’s Mansion. It is specifically designed for the Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings competition, built with the true blood of the ancient divine beast, the Azure Dragon, and a piece of dragon bone as its core. It stretches for a hundred miles and contains a world of its own.”

Yu Jing raised his head proudly, unable to hide his pride. “The Dragon Gate Trial is the entry barrier for the Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings and a gift from our Eastern Region Lord’s Mansion to the young talents of the Eastern Region, symbolizing the meaning of fish leaping over the dragon gate.

Any cultivator standing before the Dragon Gate will be blessed by the dragon’s energy. Each strand of dragon energy is an invaluable fortune on a cultivator’s path. It will subtly enhance their talent and deepen their understanding—even a small amount is a rare opportunity that cannot be sought after.”

“What are the standards for passing the Dragon Gate?” Ming He asked curiously.

“Enter through the front hall door of the Dragon Gate and exit through the back hall door,” Yu Jing replied concisely. “There is no limit on the number of participants or the time allowed. After passing, each cultivator will receive a strand of dragon energy. The amount of dragon energy will be determined by the cultivator’s performance within the Dragon Gate, as judged by the artifact spirit of the Dragon Gate. This strand of dragon energy will serve as a standard during the Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings competition, so do not underestimate it.”

Artifact spirit! Ming He’s heart jolted. Spiritual artifacts that possess artifact spirits are at least the work of a heavenly rank refiner.

From the mundane to the profound, a heavenly rank refiner is equivalent in rank to a cultivator in the Human Race’s Heaven Origin realm, yet their status far surpasses that of Heaven Origin realm cultivators, for the path of the refiner only grows more arduous as one ascends.

“You’ve arrived just in time. The Dragon Gate, as the entry barrier for the Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings competition, will remain open for up to twenty days, and today is the first day. Will you observe or attempt the trial immediately?” Yu Jing returned to the main topic.

Ming He tightened her grip on her sword. “Is there a difference?”

“Of course there is,” Yu Jing looked at her in surprise. “Observing might allow you to glean some techniques from the reactions of other cultivators attempting the trial, increasing your chances of success. Attempting the trial immediately might be a bit rushed.”

In previous years, he had welcomed many cultivators wanting to participate in the rankings competition; most chose to observe first before starting their attempts. He thought this one would be no exception.

“The Eastern Region Lord’s Mansion will arrange accommodation for you, but of course, the treatment will be better for those who succeed in the trial,” after all, if one failed the trial, there was little reason to stay.

“Oh,” Ming He replied lightly, “I choose to attempt the trial now.” She shifted her long sword in response to Yu Jing’s surprised gaze. “Please, lead the way.”

“Alright,” Yu Jing thought to himself, realizing he had misjudged once again. “Please, Friend, follow me.”

“Okay,” Ming He replied in a low voice, trailing behind him. She caught a glimpse of the bustling Eastern Region Main City, with its towering pavilions, ancient trees, and resplendent buildings. The shops were artfully arranged, filling every corner of the city. Young yet powerful cultivators walked with vibrant energy and confidence, their spiritual energy so dense it seemed to rise like a tangible force into the sky.

“This is the Dragon Gate Hall, also known as the Dragon Gate,” Yu Jing explained as he led her through the gates of Dongfeng City to the front of a grand hall. The hall stood majestically on the right side of the road leading into Dongfeng City, its imposing presence guarding much of the city. It was clearly a key defensive stronghold.

Ming He looked up, sensing an aura vastly different from the rich spiritual energy—a mysterious and ancient power. Standing there, she thought she could hear the clear, resounding roar of a dragon echoing through the heavens.

Dragon Gate, true blood of the Azure Dragon, dragon energy, heavenly rank refiner.

She pursed her lips slightly and noticed many young cultivators standing in front of the hall, watching with keen interest.

Interestingly, the front and back doors Yu Jing mentioned were not aligned but stood side by side, making it immediately obvious who succeeded and who failed the trial.

“If you wish to begin now, you may enter the hall,” Yu Jing gestured to Ming He.

Ming He nodded. “Please wait for me a moment,” she said, then swiftly stepped into the front door, where all eyes were focused.

“Look! Another one is attempting the trial!” someone exclaimed excitedly.

“But she’s only at the Third Level of Xuan Wei Realm; nothing remarkable,” a companion remarked lightly.

“Wait a moment?” Yu Jing chuckled. Naturally, passing through would take more than a moment. If she failed, a moment would indeed suffice.

He leaned against a towering tree, lazily waiting to see how long this “moment” would last.

Dragon Gate, fish leaping over the dragon gate.

Ming He let out a soft laugh as she stepped through the hall’s entrance. Before her loomed a steep, cliff-like ladder, suspended and blocking her path entirely. To proceed, she would have to cross this daunting chasm.

It reminded her of the Floating Cloud Ladder.

She channeled her spiritual energy and took a step forward, immediately feeling a crushing weight, as if a mountain pressed down on her. She had no choice but to move forward under this immense burden.

Second step.

“Whoosh!”

The sound of an arrow slicing through the air startled her. Ming He’s heart skipped a beat as she swiftly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding a cold arrow shot from below the hall. More arrows followed, and she hastily drew her sword, cutting through the incoming projectiles. She moved like the wind in the confined space, careful not to rush ahead.

The Dragon Gate was indeed a mechanism.

Ming He observed the dark arrows shooting from the walls within the hall. While relentless and difficult to evade, they were not insurmountable. Was this all there was to the Dragon Gate?

She pressed on, gradually adapting to the increasing gravity. Suddenly, a shiver ran through her, and faint, mournful cries echoed around her, as if she had stepped into a realm of torment.

Opening her eyes, she found herself enveloped in darkness—the very darkness she had once feared most. Yet she knew she was still within the Dragon Gate Hall of Dongfeng City. Ming He listened to the voices trying to drag her down and understood: she was challenging the Dragon Gate.

So, was this an illusion?

She murmured to herself, unaffected, and continued forward. Ahead, the shadow of the back door of the Dragon Gate Hall began to emerge.

At that moment, a bright light flashed within the hall, and she felt herself pulled into another realm. Unlike the malevolent voices before, this time she heard the sounds of battle—clashing weapons and the roar of combat.

The battlefield of the heavens.

Ming He paused, recalling the phrase “battlefield of the heavens.” After a moment’s hesitation, curiosity got the better of her, and she cast her gaze toward the scene. She saw a powerful human cultivator locked in fierce combat with a group of shadows. The shadows resembled the foreign creatures she had encountered in the Liu Yun Mountains—the Tian Yan Tribe, as her Master had called them.

But these were far stronger, their auras, appearances, and attacks surpassing those she had defeated.

Foreign creatures.

Ming He stood there, feeling both near and distant as she watched the human cultivator battle the foreign creatures. Blood pooled beneath the swords of the humans, but the foreign creatures also claimed lives with their claws.

The battle had reached its climax, with the human cultivator locked in a life-and-death struggle against the foreign leader. Their swords and claws clashed, a fierce contest of spiritual energy that seemed to stretch on endlessly.

After what felt like an eternity, the human cultivator faltered. Ming He could see he was nearing his limit. Blood trickled from the corner of his lips, staining his dust-covered white robes. The outcome was inevitable.

The other human cultivators were too engaged in their own battles to offer any assistance. Ming He stood before the struggling warrior, her sword in hand. She could see the fine cuts on his face from the flying debris and smell the foul stench emanating from the foreign leader’s gaping maw.

But she was here to challenge the Dragon Gate! Should she intervene? Would it make a difference? Was this part of the trial?

Ming He closed her eyes, her mind racing. She thought of the human cultivator’s determined face, her Master’s disdain for the foreign races, and Qin Chu Yi’s passionate tales of the battlefield of the heavens.

That fervor belonged to them. She was an outsider in this world, or so she believed. Yet, witnessing this scene, she couldn’t remain passive.

She felt an inexplicable urge to act. They were fighting to protect the human race, and they deserved her respect.

When Ming He opened her eyes, she drew her sword and struck. The blade pierced the foreign leader’s heart, dispelling the fog before her. The human cultivator, the foreign creatures, and the battlefield itself shattered and vanished as she swung her sword.

Before the scene disappeared completely, Ming He saw the human cultivator smile at her. His eyes shone like the stars she had once admired, and he watched as she walked away…

Simultaneously, beneath the Star Lock and the jade pendant near her heart, her heartbeat synchronized with the rhythm of the Great Path. A faint golden light, accompanied by the silent vibrations of the Star Lock, began to expand, hinting at a flow of energy that might soon envelop her entire heart.

Ming He stood in a daze for a moment. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself a hundred miles away, standing at the base of a cliff.

Beyond the cliff lay the hall door, the passage forward.

The Dragon Gate had tested her with hidden traps, the sounds of demons, and the illusions of the battlefield. The challenges were formidable, befitting the threshold for the Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings.

Was each person’s trial the same, or did they differ?

Ming He pondered this deeply. For a cultivator at the Third Level of the Xuan Wei Realm, the cliff wasn’t particularly high—a single leap should suffice. But was it truly that simple?

She stopped her speculation and focused. After circulating her inner spiritual energy, she lightly tapped the ground and soared into the air, using the rebound to leap higher. She reached the cliff’s edge, where a bright light shimmered, marking the hall door and the path forward.

"Boom."

The atmosphere shifted abruptly. Fierce winds and a chilling aura forced her back, while the sounds of demons echoed once more.

Amidst the chaos, a voice resonated in her heart, suggesting that stepping forward would lead to hell, a long night, and suffering, while retreating offered a bright path.

The voice grew louder, more insistent, tempting her to step back. Many young cultivators had reached this point only to be halted by this very voice.

This seductive voice was the Dragon Gate’s final test, probing the depths of a cultivator’s heart and soul.

"Retreat!" The voice took on a physical form, like a weary elder speaking with deep concern.

Ming He… Ming He wanted to laugh. She even considered saying to the Dragon Gate’s spirit, "Is that all?" But her good upbringing kept her silent.

She smiled lightly, her gaze steady as she looked ahead. With a graceful motion, she stepped over the thin branches on the cliff and leaped again, landing firmly on the cliff’s edge.

Before the cliff, Ming He glanced back at the cultivators below, those who had chosen to challenge after her.

As she turned her gaze toward the cliff, her eyes drifted far. Beside the cliff stood a golden stone tablet, boldly inscribed with the words "Dragon Gate."

Fish leaping over the dragon gate—had she transformed from a carp into a dragon?

Ming He chuckled softly, observing the golden dragon energy, about a foot long, that settled upon her. She felt a sense of clarity, as if something within her had been purified, leaving no trace. It was a serene sensation, reminiscent of the night she had gazed at the stars.

Azure Dragon energy.

Ming He blinked, committing that moment to memory, and pushed open the hall door. She stepped out to find Yu Jing leaning against a tree, his astonishment evident.

"Friend, you have waited long."

"Just… a quarter of an hour!" Yu Jing couldn’t hide his shock. She had asked him to wait just a moment, and indeed, it had been just a moment.

Where had such a prodigy come from?

Yu Jing sized her up, his gaze filled with admiration. "You passed the Dragon Gate?" he asked, voicing the doubts of the cultivators present.

She was only at the Third Level of the Xuan Wei Realm. No matter how talented, it shouldn’t have taken just a quarter of an hour.

The Dragon Gate served as the threshold for the Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings, its difficulty undeniable. Though each cultivator faced different challenges within, those were determined by the spirit of the gate, directly addressing the cultivator’s deepest flaws and fears.

Did she have no fears? Her heart was so pure that it was unaffected?

Yu Jing felt a little dazed, his thoughts wandering to a figure from a past Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings battle. That person had taken first place, leading the Young Dragon List, far ahead of all other talents in the Eastern Region.

At that time, he had just begun his journey, watching from afar in the audience with his father, captivated by a mesmerizing silhouette.

It was said that that person had passed through the Dragon Gate in just a few breaths, the shortest time in the thousands of years of the Dragon Gate’s existence.

Later, an elder from the Domain Lord’s mansion remarked that the reason that person could pass through the Dragon Gate so quickly was due to their untainted heart.

An untainted heart; thus, the Dragon Gate had been as level ground for them.

"What do you think?" Ming He smiled warmly at the astonished crowd. "Please guide me."

She repeated her previous invitation to Yu Jing, indicating it was time for him to take her to the Domain Lord’s mansion for accommodations.

Yu Jing nodded, contemplative as he added, "The Dragon Gate will close in twenty days. Won’t you have a look at the other cultivators’ performances?" After all, they would be competitors in the upcoming ranking battle.

"No need," Ming He replied succinctly. With twenty days left, she naturally wanted to focus on cultivating and enhancing her strength. As for the other cultivators, she felt there was nothing worth watching.

"Then please follow me," Yu Jing said, his expression visibly brightening.

He guided Ming He through much of Dongfeng City to a tall building. "This is the residence constructed by the Domain Lord’s mansion for ranking battle cultivators, called Qingyun Tower, meaning ‘to stride smoothly to greatness.’" Rumor had it its original name was Lingyun Tower, though it was unclear why it had been changed.

"Inside Qingyun Tower, there are earth-level spirit-gathering arrays to collect spiritual energy. Feel free to pick a room to settle in. The ranking battle will begin in twenty days, and our Domain Lord’s mansion will send someone to invite you. If you need anything in the meantime, you can ask anyone in the mansion’s uniform for help, as we are all servants of the Domain Lord’s mansion."

Yu Jing noticed Ming He nodding in understanding. After hesitating for a moment, he could not contain his curiosity and asked, "May I know how long the dragon energy you obtained from the Dragon Gate is?"

"About a foot," Ming He answered, revealing no hint of secrecy in her tone. She turned and stepped into Qingyun Tower, taking one step after another, quietly walking toward greatness.

"One… one foot!" Yu Jing exclaimed, nearly losing control of his expression. "It seems this year’s Small Dragon and Tiger Rankings will be quite spectacular," he murmured to himself as he walked away.