Chapter 260
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Chapter 260: The Mysterious Mountain Peak
The hundred zhang spirit beast even pressured Su Yinxue at the foundation establishment stage. Such a creature far surpassed what Ye Yun’s group could handle, leaving them chilled by their first glimpse of the Soul-Cutting Mountains.
"What now?" Su Ling clutched Ye Yun’s sleeve, fear in her eyes.
"Brother Ye mentioned two days of safety. Should we wait another?" Yu Minghong frowned, his usual calm strained.
"Why panic? Five teams entered these mountains. We’re not alone facing powerful spirit beasts—others must’ve met similar threats." Duan Chenfeng shrugged, his tone careless yet reasonable.
"Chenfeng speaks sense. Focus on our tasks." Su Yinxue nodded. As their strongest member, she knew other teams also battled dangers here.
"Drop the formality, Yinxue! Call me Chenfeng—we’re family!" Duan Chenfeng grinned shamelessly.
Su Yinxue’s eyes turned icy. A flick of her wrist sent light and shadow slamming into Duan Chenfeng’s chest.
He flew backward with a yelp, smashing into a stone. Rock fragments sprayed as he scrambled up, unharmed but scowling. "You nearly killed me!"
"Next time, I won’t hold back," Su Yinxue stated, her voice freezing the air.
"Enough." Ye Yun raised a hand. "Sister Yinxue, since we can’t fight these threats, waiting helps nothing. Let’s claim the mountain peak—it might offer advantages."
"You lead. I’ll support," Su Yinxue replied gently.
"Then we move. Ling’er, watch for signs of the spatial magical array. Finding it could aid us, but don’t fret if not—others fare no better." Ye Yun turned to Su Ling.
She nodded, comforted by his presence.
"Yu Minghong, Duan Chenfeng—guard our flanks and rear. Sister Yinxue and I take point. Retreat immediately if danger strikes," Ye Yun ordered.
"No! We fight together!" Duan Chenfeng thumped his chest.
Yu Minghong stayed silent but resolute.
"They’ll distract us in battle," Su Yinxue said bluntly.
Ye Yun sighed. "Truth is, foes here match the foundation establishment stage. We can’t protect you and fight fully."
"I’m not weak!" Duan Chenfeng protested.
"I understand," Yu Minghong murmured.
"Guard Su Ling," Su Yinxue commanded, her glare sharp.
Duan Chenfeng rolled his eyes but followed as Ye Yun and Su Yinxue sped toward the distant peak. The group covered ten miles cautiously in one incense stick’s time, though they could’ve raced twenty miles faster.
Lush greenery surrounded them, birdsong mingling with thick spiritual energy. Ye Yun frowned. Why exile criminals here? Wouldn’t they grow stronger? This place held twice the Heavenly Sword Sect’s energy—perfect for rapid cultivation.
"The nearer we get, the richer the spiritual energy grows," Duan Chenfeng whispered, eyeing the looming mountain.
"That’s right, I sensed it too. Truly strange," Ye Yun nodded. Since others felt it too, this confirmed it wasn’t an illusion.
"Nothing strange about it. The Soul-Cutting Mountains were carved out as an isolated space through Great Technique, completely separated from other realms. With countless unusual flowers and herbs planted here and spiritual energy remaining undiminished for centuries, its density naturally increases over time," Su Yinxue explained gently.
"Did father tell you this?" Su Ling asked curiously.
Su Yinxue gave a rare smile. "Of course not – this sister figured it out herself."
Ye Yun stayed silent. While he understood her reasoning, he remained skeptical. If true, the Heavenly Sword Sect would be fools to imprison vicious criminals here – there must be other reasons.
Their pace slowed as they neared the mountain. After walking half an hour, they’d only covered twenty miles to reach the base.
The five-to-six-hundred-zhang peak stood cloaked in lush vegetation. Towering trees sprouted from its slopes, massive treetops shielding it from elements.
Ye Yun squinted at the summit where the air seemed distorted. "Look at the mountaintop."
As the group gazed upward, surprise crossed their faces.
"What do you see?" Ye Yun pressed.
"A spatial magical array," Yu Minghong observed. "The view shifts between clear and blurred."
Su Yinxue nodded. "Likely spatial array interference. Shall we investigate?"
Duan Chenfeng’s eyes lit up. "Yes! Maybe that hundred-zhang spirit beast we saw was just an array illusion!"
"Possible," Ye Yun conceded.
"No!" Su Ling shook her head firmly. "That beast was real. Spatial illusions can’t appear so vivid from twenty miles away. We saw it clearly until it absorbed spiritual energy from the world and starlight, causing distortions."
Su Yinxue countered calmly, "Our enhanced vision still struggles at that distance. Current summit distortions prove the array exists. Illusions remain plausible."
"Sister, my instincts say we mustn’t approach the peak yet." Anxiety colored Su Ling’s voice.
"Don’t fear, Ling’er! We’ll protect you!" Duan Chenfeng boomed.
Su Ling silently appealed to Ye Yun with her eyes.
After thoughtful silence, Ye Yun decided, "We’ll heed Ling’er’s instinct. Let’s wait for developments."
"But others might seize advantages!" Duan Chenfeng grumbled.
"Let them." Ye Yun smiled confidently. "With Senior Sister Yinxue and me, we can overtake any rivals. My true concern isn’t them, nor beasts or criminals – it’s the Soul-Cutting Mountains’ hidden dangers."
"So be it," Su Yinxue agreed. They settled in a hidden observation spot.
"Ye Yun," Su Yinxue noted, "your true qi has plateaued. Is a breakthrough imminent?"
He nodded. "The Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique requires perfect body-qi balance. I’m ready but uncertain of duration. A five-day breakthrough would complicate things."
"Delaying helps none," she advised. "Reaching third level of Qi refining here would boost our strength."
Meeting her gaze, Ye Yun saw her resolve. "I’ll guard your meditation," she promised.
With a faint smile, Ye Yun sat cross-legged. Light and shadow shimmered as top-grade spirit stones materialized around him.
