Chapter 76: Chapter 71: Exotic Fragrance, Entering the Mountains (Double-Length) (2)

It is said that in ancient times, a Great Demon died in battle here. Its bloody skeleton crushed the mountains and turned into riverbed ores. Afterward, continuous storms gave rise to the Red Moon River.

On both sides of the Red Moon River lay endless mountains, with thousands of peaks and valleys covered in snow, and the sound of beasts roaring ceaselessly.

As the Treasure Boat ventured deeper, a huge and peculiar mountain range appeared in everyone’s view.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

It was a vast and magnificent mountain, with numerous strange peaks and a total of 108 towering summits.

On each mountain peak, a mighty waterfall cascaded down.

The 108 waterfalls roared in unison, causing the entire mountain to seem as if it was vibrating.

Amidst the sky, water vapor mixed with snowflakes was swept up by the fierce wind, forming a unique icy mist that enveloped the mountain, making it appear like an Immortal Realm.

"Waves fly into clouds, mountains resonate together, this is Wave Mountain!"

On the Treasure Boat, someone couldn’t help but sigh in awe at the peculiar landscape before them.

Gu Yuan walked to the front of the deck, gazing at this splendid scene, and couldn’t help but become slightly captivated.

If such a magnificent Spirit Mountain were his own, how wonderful would that be?

"Wave Mountain has arrived. Using Spiritual Ape Valley as the boundary, it is divided into Eastern and Western battle regions. The Eastern Realm is for disciples below the Qi Refining Sixth Layer to invade, while the Western Realm is for disciples above the Qi Refining Sixth Layer."

"Remember, plant the Array Disc, set up the Grand Array, and hold firm for a day before it counts as occupying the Spirit Peak!"

"The Jade Water Fire-Eyed Ape clan hasn’t completely withdrawn its forces; there are also powerful demon beasts on the mountain, so don’t be careless."

"This conquest lasts for three days. I hope you all return safely."

"Now go!"

A grand voice echoed from the sky, and then the Treasure Boat turned in different directions, carrying various disciples to the Eastern and Western Realms.

Soon after, the drums beat urgently, urging everyone to depart.

"Fellow brothers, I, Tang, will go ahead!"

On the Treasure Boat, a disciple from a Humble Lineage laughed and didn’t even ride the Cangyun White Crane, directly controlling a blue Escape Light at an extremely fast speed toward one of the Spirit Peaks.

An Array Disc, a Spirit Peak.

Confident ones venture alone, not seeking others, claiming a peak by themselves.

But some worry about lacking strength and want to invite others to join forces.

"Junior Sister Yun, why don’t you and I team up? We could first subdue the Demon Race, take over a peak, and split the profits? Then, if we have strength left, we could occupy a second peak?"

On the Treasure Boat, someone proposed to Yun Hanyou.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Senior Brother, but Hanyou still wants to be a Peak Master alone."

"Besides, the path is solitary, and if disputes arise, it would be unpleasant."

"I hope Senior Brother doesn’t compete with me for a Spirit Peak."

Yun Hanyou shook her head, not even partnering with the female cultivator beside her, choosing to ride a Cangyun White Crane alone toward a Spirit Peak below.

The 108 Spirit Peaks seem numerous, but the number of cultivators summoned this time is also many. It’s impossible for each person to have a peak; there must be competition.

But the Spirit Peaks vary in quality, and everyone’s choices differ, so the intensity varies too.

Whether to form alliances or overpower peers depends on everyone’s strength and strategy.

In any case, the battlefield is here.

Seeing Yun Hanyou reject him, the disciple felt somewhat surprised but shook his head and then teamed up with another companion, heading to another Spirit Peak.

Noble Family disciples gathered in threes and twos, heading toward the targets chosen by their clans.

The Noble Family disciple who had first invited Yun Hanyou shared a glance with his companion, then with cold laughter, chased after Yun Hanyou’s Escape Light.

Two Humble Lineage disciples hesitated and then followed the two, descending after them.

On that single Spirit Peak, it seemed there were already five cultivators.

Before encountering the Demon Race, the situation began to become complicated.

...

On the Treasure Boat, a disciple contemplated, unsure of which Spirit Peak to choose.

Wave Mountain has 108 peaks, with Spiritual Ape Valley as the boundary. The Eastern Realm has 50 peaks, all Lower-class Spirit Peaks, with lesser yield and weaker Demon Race, allocated by the Daoist School to disciples below Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

The Western Realm has 58 peaks, including eight top-tier Spirit Peaks, 20 Upper-class Spirit Peaks, and 30 Medium-class Spirit Peaks.

Those eight top-tier Spirit Peaks are destined to be the most fiercely contested.

Not only cultivators in the Qi Refining Ninth Layer but even strong Noble Family disciples with Qi Refining Eighth Layer cultivation dare to venture in.

After all, it’s just the Qi Refining Realm; if one’s techniques are formidable, it might not be impossible to fight beyond one’s level.

And the targets of ordinary disciples’ competition can only be those fifty middle-upper-class Spirit Peaks.

Hundreds vying for fifty Spirit Peaks, along with the mountain’s Demon Beasts, this is destined to be a chaotic battle.

And the Daoist School has only given three days.

In five days, one must subdue the mountain’s Demon Beasts, defeat fellow disciples, set up the Array Disc, and defend for one day. The time is very tight.

So for ordinary disciples, choosing which Spirit Peak is very important. If they choose wrong, and after toiling over a Demon Beast half a day, find they can’t handle it, or someone else plucks the fruits of their labor, it’s over.

But Gu Yuan didn’t bother, casually choosing an upper-class Spirit Peak and diving down directly.

No matter how complex the situation, it’s nothing more than a battle in the Qi Refining Stage...

As long as he doesn’t participate in the fight for the top Spirit Peaks, Gu Yuan still has some confidence.

...

...

"Puff puff puff puff!"

Gu Yuan hadn’t yet landed on the Spirit Peak when he encountered an attack.

Dozens of water arrows, each as large as a bowl’s mouth, shot out from under the waterfall, crossing the icy mist with a sky-covering stance, attacking Gu Yuan.

"Clang!"

With a thought, Gu Yuan activated the Profound Turtle Seal, which immediately floated out, carrying a heavy aura, blocking in front of Gu Yuan.

But although these water arrows weren’t powerful, they were numerous; after one wave, came a second wave of hundreds of water arrows with considerable might.

The Profound Turtle Seal emitted a mournful sound, struggling to hold on.

"Woo!" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Gu Yuan didn’t move, only gently activating the Little Giant God Seal within his Dantian.

The Profound Turtle Seal instantly radiated as if it had taken a Great Nourishing Pill, emitting golden light, shining brightly, with golden symbols seemingly lighting up on the turtle shell, greatly boosting its defensive power, like a mysterious golden sky blocking Gu Yuan.

"Clang clang clang!"

The water arrows rained down but couldn’t harm Gu Yuan.

His Escape Light didn’t stop, landing at the base of the Spirit Peak, and he saw the real culprit behind the attack.

Dozens of cyan toads, with a jade-colored ape leading them, lined up like an army, launching an attack against Gu Yuan.

"Shoo shoo shoo!"

And behind the cyan toads were dozens of yellow mountain deer, extending their antlers to shoot out strange demon lights at Gu Yuan.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

Following the mountain deer were countless black bats, opening their mouths to spit black smoke, quickly coalescing into a dark cloud that enveloped Gu Yuan entirely.

And within the Spirit Peak, many other Demon Beasts were cautiously observing the situation with their heads tucked in.

"Interesting, they really united... Making me look like the villain."

Gu Yuan looked at the dense group of Demon Beasts before him and couldn’t help but chuckle.

Though calling him a villain isn’t wrong.

The Jade Water Fire-Eyed Ape previously had a laissez-faire policy for Wave Mountain; as long as mountain Demon Race offered some spirit herbs and medicines, the Jade Water Fire-Eyed Ape clan paid no further mind.

But Gu Yuan’s party this time was to set up an Array Disc in the mountain, systematically bringing the mountain under the Daoist School’s rule and fully collecting everything from the mountain.

To these Demon Race, Gu Yuan’s party was indeed the villains, so with just a few words, the Jade Water Fire-Eyed Ape had these Demon Race completely allied against Gu Yuan and his group.

Overall, the contest of the Dao is without good or evil, no blame to others...

Gu Yuan mused this sentiment and then blew a breath, and dense fog and torrential rain instantly enveloped the place within ten zhang.

"Woo woo woo!"

All the Demon Beasts suddenly cried out in panic.

The Cloud-Walking Seal is a weapon of chaos in battle. Unless one’s strength surpasses Gu Yuan, these Demon Beasts cannot see through the thick fog, getting trapped within, with all their techniques suppressed.

"Roar!"

The red Flame Flood Dragon soared within the fog, crashing into and stunning each Demon Beast but not killing them.

These Demon Beasts are the living assets of the Spirit Peak; to kill them now would be akin to sapping the source dry.

In the blink of an eye, the Demon Beast "army" at the mountain base was broken by Gu Yuan.

However, just at that moment, a golden light suddenly broke through the fog, carrying an extremely powerful intent, stabbing toward Gu Yuan’s eyes.