A Top Scholar in Everything-Chapter 894 - 880: Ascending the Mountain

Bao Yue's strength had become a mystery. No matter how you looked at her, she was not at the level of a Grandmaster. Baiyu had seen Grandmasters in action before, and with his current Tier Four Peak Martial Artist strength, he should be able to exchange a few blows with a Grandmaster.

In fact, with all sorts of trump cards revealed and disregarding the consequences, he should be able to kill a Grandmaster.

Not to mention anything else.

Just the Black Moon Giant alone was enough to give these Grandmasters a run for their money. Baiyu wasn't afraid of a Tier Three Grandmaster, but he had no room to resist against a Tier Two or even a Tier One Grandmaster.

So to speak.

Bao Yue's strength should at least be between Tier Two and Tier One. As for above Tier One, Baiyu hadn't thought about it; that was the Realm of the Great City's City Lord and not for him to consider.

Just like this.

After a night's commotion, Baiyu and Long Potian finally survived to see the next day's Sun.

The entire temple's main hall had been burned down by Baiyu.

After burning all night, the hall had completely turned into a charred black. Most of it had turned into charcoal, showing no signs of its former grandeur. Long Potian felt a little regretful; after all, it could have been his burial ground, and it ended up like this.

But if it weren't for Baiyu, he probably would have been in the dark, possibly tormented to death by that Mad Monk.

"Brother Yu, are we really going to find that Withered Zen Master? I suspect he might be just like this Mad Monk, doing harm for gain. I'm not worried about myself, but you're still alive. If you get killed, it would be a problem."

Long Potian was full of concerns.

But Baiyu was never one to hesitate. Once he decided something, it wouldn't change. He was determined to visit the Withered Zen Master, as the latter might know those histories buried by time and, given his age, would surely understand this city better.

This visit could yield many things.

The key point is.

Baiyu was confident the Withered Zen Master wouldn't be insane. Even the Mad Monk was normal during the day, so the Withered Zen Master, regardless, must be a normal person by day. If he turned mad at night, Baiyu could just leave early.

Bao Yue, the opera troupe, and the empress mentioned by the troupe, he knew nothing about them. If not clarified, they could lose their lives in the city. Just like last night, when over ten Cultivators were killed in an instant.

...

The Withered Zen Master resided at the Withered Zen Mountain, the only peak in the city.

Not exactly a peak.

More like a small hill, with a humble temple on top. This was where the Withered Zen Master meditated.

Within the Withered Zen Mountain's range, everything was harmonious, and the scenery was splendid.

Unlike the savagery he saw in the city, everything here felt more genuine, more akin to human life.

"Hello, Brother Ghost, is the Withered Zen Master up there?" Baiyu and Long Potian stopped an elder brother at the base of the hill.

The elder brother wasn't surprised. Every day hundreds, if not thousands, came looking for the Withered Zen Master, making such inquiries common.

"Yes, but not everyone can go up the Withered Zen Mountain. Only those who received an invitation from the Withered Zen Master can ascend."

"An invitation?"

"When you approach the mountain's base, you'll understand. The Withered Zen Master values fate. Whoever is destined to meet him will. You might even meet him without actively seeking him." This man spoke in riddles, somewhat mysteriously.

Baiyu didn't dwell on this question but turned to ask: "Brother, I noticed something odd on my way here; the situation is different from other parts of the city..."

The man laughed heartily: "Indeed, it's different. In most parts of the city, people have gone mad, trying to figure out how to leave, stimulate themselves, or dispel the void of endless time. Only here, with the Withered Zen Master presiding, have we not lost our original selves, nor forfeited our human rights." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Long Potian was genuinely surprised.

He never thought that in such a Ghost City, there could still be a Great Saint.

The two did not pursue further but stepped into the domain of the Withered Zen Mountain. The hill was lush and vibrant, with trees thriving, and not the slightest bit eerie. Instead, it felt refreshing, like a cool breeze, warming one's whole body.

Just from this.

It showed.

This Withered Zen Master was indeed extraordinary, distinct from other flamboyant charlatans.

"What do we do now?"

Long Potian, after stepping into Withered Zen Mountain, felt lost and directionless, but Baiyu continued to walk forward firmly without looking back, saying, "Doesn't the Withered Zen Master look at fate? Let's walk straight up the mountain. If we aren't destined, we naturally won't make it up."

Long Potian suddenly understood, realizing it was a path he hadn't considered.

Just like this.

The two started walking uphill. Although the hill didn't look high, it became increasingly tiring to climb.

It felt like they were carrying a thousand-pound boulder.

Long Potian became weakened halfway up, unable to even move a finger: "I can't do it. I don't have any destiny with the Master. Brother Yu, you go on; I can't go any further, I feel like I'm about to split apart."

He wasn't speaking nonsense.

If he continued, he might indeed burst. The journey had visibly drained him, causing his body to appear fainter.

"Then stay here, I'll go up alone."

Baiyu began to move step by step, continuing up the stairs toward the summit.

After two-thirds of the stairs, he felt exhausted, and by the end, Baiyu had to muster all his strength. He even used his Golden Blood directly. The power of a drop of Golden Blood exploded within him, and he instantly felt light and swift.

But after a brief sprint, the sense of hindrance returned.

With no other option,

Baiyu had to explode another drop of Golden Blood.

Finally, when he reached the summit, he had already used the power of four drops of Golden Blood. The summit was furnished quite simply with a small temple, a small courtyard, and a well outside the courtyard gate.

At that moment.

An elderly monk was drawing water from the well.

Judging by his struggle, the well must have been very deep.

"Withered Zen Master?"

Baiyu tentatively asked, the elderly monk before him didn't exude the aura of an enlightened sage. But on second thought, many sages liked to appear humble and unassuming to elevate their status.

"Oh, I didn't expect anyone could actually climb up here." The elderly monk's action of drawing water slowed but didn't pull up the bucket. He glanced at Baiyu, and Baiyu looked back at him, and for a moment, the two were frozen in place.