Chapter 136

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 136: Shadowless Peak

Yang Qingfeng didn’t pay much attention to whether Ye Yun and the others left. In his eyes, a few outer disciples at the body refinement stage could never gain anything significant in the great tomb. Besides, being a fair-minded person, he knew the sect’s rule: outer disciples from the first group to enter the great tomb could keep any treasures they obtained if they survived.

“Junior Sister Su Ling, please convey my greetings to Peak Master Su when you return to Shadowless Peak,” Yang Qingfeng said, smiling at her. Building a connection with the daughter of Shadowless Peak’s master was worthwhile.

“Senior Brother Yang, you’re too polite! I’ll definitely tell my father,” Su Ling replied with a bright smile, clearly in good spirits.

Yang Qingfeng led the four to the teleportation array. Without further words, he motioned for the guarding disciples to activate the array and set the destination.

“Junior Sister Su Ling, Junior Brother Ye Yun, report to the sect upon your return. I won’t escort you further,” Yang Qingfeng said, clasping his hands in farewell.

Ye Yun cupped his fists. “Senior Brother Yang, visit Shadowless Peak when you’re free. We’ll properly thank you then.”

Yang Qingfeng nodded and waved.

The teleportation array flared to life, bathing the area in dazzling starlight. In an instant, the four figures vanished.

Watching them disappear, Yang Qingfeng chuckled. “You youngsters must’ve reaped rewards to flee so hastily. I’ve helped all I can. Stay low-key after returning—don’t attract trouble.”

Unaware of Yang Qingfeng’s suspicions about their gains, the group finally relaxed as the array activated.

Their time in Hualun Secret Vault had lasted mere days, yet felt like decades. Of Tian Zhu Peak’s hundred outer disciples, only these three and Su Ling remained. Survival in that deadly tomb depended on luck, not strength.

Ye Yun shuddered recalling the risks. Without fortune’s favor—meeting Su Ling, the Heart of Immortals and Demons altering his body—he’d have faced death and spirit’s dissolution in that tomb.

As the light and shadow faded, Ye Yun blinked at a faintly visible mountain.

“We’re here!” Su Ling’s cheerful voice rang out.

Before them loomed a mist-veiled peak.

“Is this Shadowless Peak?” Yu Minghong asked eagerly.

“Yes, Little Yu! This is my home. I’ll show you around later,” Su Ling said, grinning.

Duan Chenfeng glanced around. “Where are the guards? Shouldn’t the teleportation array have watchers?”

Only then did they notice no disciples guarded Shadowless Peak’s array.

Su Ling laughed. “Who’d steal an array? A few Qi refining stage seniors patrol outside. That’s enough.”

She hopped off the platform, beckoning them. They followed.

“Halt!” Three white-robed disciples emerged from a corner.

“Senior Brother Kou! I’m back!” Su Ling skipped toward them.

The leader, Kou Tianheng—a sharp-eyed man in a white sword robe—frowned. “Junior Sister? You dare return? Peak Master swore to lock you up this time!”

“He always says that,” Su Ling retorted, sticking out her tongue.

Kou Tianheng’s gaze hardened as he spotted the others. “Who are these three?”

“Kou Tianheng, they’re my friends. If not for their protection in the Hualun Secret Vault, you might’ve never seen me again,” Su Ling turned and blinked.

Ye Yun smiled faintly, clasping his fists. “We’re outer disciples from Tian Zhu Peak participating in the sect trial. I’m Ye Yun. These are Duan Chenfeng and Yu Minghong.”

“So the first layer of the Secret Vault truly opened. You outer disciples did well. Tian Zhu Peak sent a hundred—how many returned?” Kou Tianheng’s expression softened slightly.

Ye Yun’s face darkened. “Only us three. Without Junior Sister Su Ling’s aid, we’d have perished too.”

Kou Tianheng nodded. “The Hualun Secret Vault’s dangers were anticipated by the sect. Surviving itself is a merit. Junior Brother Xie, take them to the Task Hall for rewards. Junior Sister comes with me to meet Master.”

Su Ling hurried forward. “Wait! Senior Brother Kou, I’m taking them to see Father.”

Kou Tianheng’s brow twitched. “Lowly outer disciples meeting the Peak Master?”

“We’ve urgent matters to discuss. The rewards can wait,” Su Ling insisted.

Kou Tianheng stared coldly at the trio before nodding. “Very well.”

Su Ling beckoned the group, bowed to Kou Tianheng, and left.

Kou Tianheng watched them depart, eyes glinting thoughtfully. A disciple nearby whispered, “Senior Brother Kou, letting Junior Sister mingle with these ants—”

“Silence. Tend to your duties,” Kou Tianheng cut him off icily. The disciple retreated.

Shadowless Peak lived up to its name—shrouded in perpetual mist, appearing deceptively close yet remaining distant. Walking through its fog felt like chasing a mirage; what seemed far suddenly became near, only to shift again.

But Su Ling, raised here since childhood, navigated the haze effortlessly. Under her lead, the trio from Tian Zhu Peak—who’d barely set foot beyond their own mountain’s base—now stood awestruck on one of Heavenly Sword Sect’s four main peaks.

Sunlight pierced the thinning fog, casting golden threads across the slopes. Dappled light speckled the ground like scattered coins.

“Pretty, right? Only Shadowless Peak has sunlight that turns golden through the mist,” Su Ling grinned, pointing at the glowing patches.

“Unbelievable…” Yu Minghong breathed, face alight.

“Little Yu, you’ve been oddly excitable since leaving the great tomb,” Su Ling remarked.

Yu Minghong stiffened. “Surviving that hellscape… can’t I be happy?”

“Tch. Over a mere escape?” Su Ling scoffed.

Ye Yun and Duan Chenfeng exchanged glances. The boy’s heightened mood had been noticeable since Qu Yiping’s death. Still, considering his youth and recent horrors, his fervor was understandable.

Instead of heading to the main hall, Su Ling led them down winding paths to a bamboo courtyard. The half-height fence encircled a two-story bamboo house.

“Mom! I’m home!” Su Ling shoved the bamboo gate open.

The trio blinked—they’d expected to meet Peak Master Su Hao, not his wife.

The bamboo door creaked open, revealing a middle-aged woman in white. Her hair flowed simply down her back, secured by a blue ribbon. Grace personified.

“You remembered to return,” she said mildly, warmth underlying her tone.

“I came straight to you!” Su Ling threw herself into the woman’s arms.

A gentle finger tapped her forehead. “Afraid Father will punish you for sneaking out, so you hide behind me first?”

Su Ling giggled, eyes crinkling. “You see right through me!”

The woman glanced past her. “Aren’t you introducing your friends?”

Su Ling waved them over. “Ye Yun, Duan Chenfeng, Yu Minghong—outer disciples from Tian Zhu Peak. Met them in the Secret Vault. This is my mom, Shui Qingxuan. Call her Madam Su or Auntie.”

“Greetings, Madam Su!” The trio bowed deeply.

“No formalities. Since you’re Ling’er’s friends, call me Aunt Xuan.” She shot her daughter a look.

They bowed again. “Aunt Xuan.”

Shui Qingxuan’s gaze settled on Ye Yun. “To cultivate Thunder Spirit Qi and master the Little Absorption Technique… remarkable.”

Ye Yun’s heart lurched.