Gateway of Immortality-Chapter 885: Jade Finger Peak

The Daoist boy activated a bead-shaped artifact, which gave rise to a sphere of white light. It wrapped around the two of them and carried them toward Landou Sect.

With the incarnation’s eager flattery, the boy found him increasingly pleasing to the eye, his tone turning quite amiable.

Of course, the incarnation also understood well that he held nothing yet worthy of the boy’s regard. Such kindness was only skin deep. If he so much as uttered one wrong word and provoked displeasure, punishment would surely come without hesitation.

Since he had already entered Landou Sect, there was no need to rush. He could take his time to probe its secrets. Thus, he responded to the boy’s questions with great patience, rarely asking anything himself.

Daoist Huayang had left them near the sect already. After a brief flight, the two arrived before a mountain range shrouded in thin mist.

The Daoist boy produced a command token, gave it a shake, and the mist parted to both sides, revealing a narrow path that led straight to the summit. He swept the incarnation along, and in the blink of an eye their evasion light passed through the path. The incarnation let out a voice of awe. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"This is where the gates of our Landou Sect stand. Those three peaks are Canglan Peaks, and those two mountains facing each other are our Yin-Yang Peaks..." The boy pointed ahead as he spoke, smiling with satisfaction at the expression he saw on the incarnation’s face.

The incarnation’s awe was not entirely feigned. The grand sight within Landou Sect surpassed even Shaohua Mountain. It was the first strongest sect he had ever witnessed. No wonder Landou Sect could claim a place in Canglang Sea. Even in decline, its foundations were still astonishing.

The sky stretched clear and boundless, white clouds drifting leisurely. Amid such a paradise-like scene rose five towering peaks, each tens of thousands of zhang tall, thrusting into the heavens like giant swords. They were no less magnificent than Shaohua Mountain’s main peak, and it was these five mountains the boy had pointed toward.

The three Canglan Peaks were spread apart, while the Yin-Yang Peaks leaned tightly together, separated only by a slit of sky, which from another angle looked like a single mountain. This sight reminded the incarnation of Sword Pass at Shaohua Mountain.

Aside from these five, the other peaks, though beautiful, were ordinary scenery. The boy guided the white light away from the Yin-Yang Peaks and instead toward a nearby cluster of long, lofty peaks.

The mountains there were verdant and thick with life. From time to time, cultivators appeared, though their cultivation levels were low.

The incarnation, as if just coming to his senses, still lingered on the five peaks with reluctant eyes. Then, as if suddenly recalling something, he asked casually, "Senior Uncle Yang, the Douniu Peak that Grandmaster mentioned back at Yanmiao Pavilion... Which one is it?"

"Douniu Peak?"

The boy’s expression froze. His gaze swept across the familiar mountains of his sect, then he said with puzzlement, "Now that you mention it, I realize I’ve never heard of any Douniu Peak. I don’t know which peak Master meant. I’ll have to ask my senior brothers later..."

Seeing the boy’s expression, the incarnation thought to himself in surprise. Even this Foundation Building cultivator who has cultivated in Landou Sect for years knew nothing of Douniu Peak. No wonder I could not find any news about it outside. The sect has sealed off all information about Douniu Peak with such strict secrecy, and for what reason?

The incarnation’s heart thumped uneasily, doubt stirring within him. He had come here because of a vague rumor, placing his hopes on Douniu Peak. But now it seemed that even its handed-down teachings had been completely severed. That art he sought might have serious problems. Could he really find what he wanted here? In comparison, the chances of finding Scorpion Venom Grass seemed greater.

Since he had come, he would simply adapt. He had gone through much trouble to infiltrate Landou Sect. At the very least, he had to investigate thoroughly before leaving.

"Up ahead is Jade Finger Peak. According to sect rules, before you condense the Yin-Yang Armor, you must remain on this peak to cultivate. Jade Finger Peak is also called the outer sect. Only after you are taught the handed-down arts may you enter the Yin-Yang Peaks to train. I’ll first take you to see Senior Brother Lu..."

The boy, unable to solve the riddle of Douniu Peak, put it aside and continued his introduction.

"Junior Brother Yang!" A voice called out from afar. A sword light swept over, arriving in an instant and revealing the figure of a middle-aged cultivator.

He greeted the boy warmly. "I heard Junior Brother Yang has already reached the Foundation Building Realm. I was planning to visit and congratulate you, but learned you had gone out with Senior Uncle Huayang. I did not expect to meet you here at Jade Finger Peak. Has Junior Brother Yang already been accepted as Senior Uncle Huayang’s true disciple?"

"It’s Senior Brother Lu!" The boy cupped his fists in greeting. "I was just on my way to find you. Reaching the Foundation Building Realm was pure luck. Master did mention the matter, but I’ve not yet been formally accepted as a true disciple."

Senior Brother Lu congratulated him with envy in his eyes. "Even if not now, it is only a matter of time. Let me be the first to congratulate you, Junior Brother Yang. To have Senior Uncle Huayang’s personal guidance, your future is boundless. Forming a Golden Core is only a matter of time..."

After a short exchange, Senior Brother Lu seemed to notice the incarnation. "Hmm? This face looks unfamiliar. Is he perhaps your newly accepted disciple?"

The boy shook his head with a faint smile. "I would not be so reckless. I only just achieved Foundation Building. My main task is to stabilize my cultivation, so how could I have the ability to train disciples? I actually came to you for his sake. His name is Zhang Yue. Master just brought him into the sect and sent me to have his name entered into the jade records."

"Since he was personally received by Senior Uncle Huayang and escorted here by you, he must indeed have good talent. Come with me, both of you." Senior Brother Lu did not seem surprised at all and immediately led them back to Jade Finger Peak.

The three landed before a wooden hall atop one of the Jade Finger Peaks. With a wave of his hand, Senior Brother Lu opened the hall’s barrier and walked inside, reminding as he did, "Junior Brother Yang, although Zhang Yue was brought in by Senior Uncle Huayang, some sect regulations cannot be omitted."

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Lu. I understand. I brought him precisely for this matter. But there is one thing I must trouble you with." The boy gestured for the incarnation to step forward and answer the inquiries.

Senior Brother Lu busied himself while smiling slightly. "And what is it that you wish to talk to me about?"

The boy sighed helplessly. "Why ask what you already know? The state of our Yin-Yang Branch is well known in the sect. According to the rules, every disciple sent to Jade Finger Peak must be assigned mundane tasks. But in our branch, we must devote ourselves to condensing the Yin-Yang Armor. If burdened with such heavy chores, when will we ever break free?"

A troubled look crossed Senior Brother Lu’s face. "When the new disciples entered at the start of the year, I did make exceptions for them, but everyone keeps a close watch on such affairs. It drew much criticism. Why not have Senior Uncle Huayang issue a decree directly? That way, I would not be caught between both sides as a mere Foundation Building cultivator."

"Master has said before that the laws of our ancestors are not to be discarded by a single branch’s word..."

The boy sighed softly. "Master and the others plan to petition once Grandmaster returns. Until then, I can only ask Senior Brother Lu to make allowances once more."