Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 813 - 343: Mountain and Sea Secrets (Part 2)

A cold snort escaped from the Mountain and Sea Realm Will, clearly showing its irritation.

The Sea of Emotions it mentioned was none other than the Sea Ancestor's title.

The Mountain Ancestor chuckled and responded: “Realm Venerable, you're overestimating our capabilities. Do you truly think that without taking your power, you can still reach the Supreme Immortal Realm? I doubt it!”

The Mountain and Sea Realm Will faltered for a moment, then regained its composure.

“It's impossible for me to safeguard Ning Qi on my own. You know well that my influence is confined to the node coverage area during the spiritual realm war, and only when our cultivators control those nodes.”

“Yet, if you and the Sea of Emotions would release your grip on me, I could guarantee his protection without fail.”

The Mountain Ancestor shot back: “Realm Venerable, don't jest. The equilibrium we've upheld so far is fragile and hard to disrupt. Even if it were feasible, even if I consented, would the Sea of Emotions go along? If you can persuade her, then I'll have no objection.”

“Haoshan, you...”

The emotional projection of the Mountain and Sea Realm Will was subdued, yet it appeared to flare up once more.

As the will that emerged from the Mountain and Sea Realm, it was meant to be the realm's supreme authority, but upon the birth of spiritual awareness, it was found out by the Mountain Ancestor and Sea Ancestor, who together siphoned its power for their benefit.

Therefore, its role as Realm Venerable was little more than a hollow title!

That's why, when it previously showed up before the Domain Masters serving under the Mountain Ancestor in the Celestial Fire Realm, they paid lip service to respect but inwardly dismissed it.

At present, the vast Mountain and Sea Realm is co-ruled by the Mountain Ancestor, Sea Ancestor, and itself across this expansive Spirit Realm.

Moreover, the Mountain Ancestor and Sea Ancestor have fully confined its true form, permitting only this shadow will to wander freely, leaving it powerless to resist.

Were it not for the utility of its shadow's power to them both, the Mountain and Sea Realm Will suspects they would bar it entirely from venturing out, rendering it perhaps the most wretched realm will in all the Sea of Realms.

Regarding the launch of the spiritual realm war, beyond its aim to ascend, didn't it also harbor hopes of bargaining with other spiritual realms to escape this bind—a desperate gamble.

Luckily, ever since that point, tensions have simmered between the Mountain Ancestor and Sea Ancestor, their bond no longer as tight as before, opening a window for it.

The Mountain Ancestor declared: “That Ning Qi serves as a vital fierce general for our ascension and needs thorough protection. Given the limits on your power, I'll handle the arrangements.”

With that, he turned his head, glancing at the attendant nearby.

“Call those few here.”

“At once!”

In that instant, the servant mustered the courage to stand tall.

He proclaimed: “Summoning the three Domain Masters from Celestial Fire Realm, Earth Gold Realm, and Vine Wood Realm to appear.”

His voice boomed widely, creating endless reverberations that echoed down from Heaven-Reaching Peak.

Beneath Heaven-Reaching Peak.

A pristine white jade Heavenly Ladder spiraled downward to the base.

It led to a plaza known as Immortal Peak.

Two cultivators with fluctuating auras stood watch over this path to immortality, barring any approach.

Right then, Fan City, Jin Guanghua, and Mu Qingtian—the three Domain Masters—waited reverently in the square for the Mountain Ancestor's call.

Lacking the Mountain Ancestor's order, they wouldn't dare climb the ladder.

Otherwise, those two guards would ensure they never made it up unscathed.

As the summons from Heaven-Reaching Peak rang out, delight immediately brightened the faces of the trio.

One guard stated: “Please proceed, esteemed sirs!”

Only then did Fan City and his companions cautiously ascend the ladder.

Legends claim this white jade Heavenly Ladder is a mighty Spiritual Treasure brimming with immense might.

Further tales suggest it's the mountain dragon vein of the Mountain and Sea Realm, reshaped by the Mountain Ancestor through profound magical arts into this Heavenly Ladder.

Once the three began their climb up the Heavenly Ladder, while Fan City had done so previously, this marked the debut ascent for Jin Guanghua and Mu Qingtian.

Fan City had scaled it before, though he could scarcely recall how many years ago; time had blurred the memory.

The trio hurried up the steps.

Fan City led the way, followed by the other two.

The higher they went, the more it felt like an infinite path, stretching on without cessation.

Shock gripped the three.

Particularly Fan City, whose expression turned profoundly grave.

On his prior visit, the sensation hadn't been this daunting.

Evidently, the Mountain Ancestor's prowess had surged to an alarming new height.

After an indeterminable stretch of time—despite starting together—the three found themselves oddly isolated.

They sat at scattered spots along the Heavenly Ladder, blocked from advancing further, their bodies soaked as though pulled from a river.

Sweat poured from the three, streaming over their skin, while what couldn't drip away rose in steamy bursts.

Suddenly, a massive hand like swirling smoke and fog descended from above, morphing into three separate palms that swiftly lifted them to the summit.

Soon enough, the three arrived at the loftiest part of Heaven-Reaching Peak.

They positioned themselves below ten steps, gazes lowered in deference, offering profound bows.

“Your subordinates greet the Mountain Ancestor!”

“Rise, no need for formalities.”

The three then stood upright.

Gazing toward the peak, all they beheld was an immense, limitless silhouette from behind.

Atop it all, who commands the heights? None but the Mountain Ancestor!

And in the rear stood a somewhat stooped form, donned in a dragon-shaped mask, clad in black robes—a devoted servant.

“What matter brings you here?”

The black-robed servant questioned.

Faced with the query about their visit, the three promptly wore expressions of deep sorrow.

“Mountain Ancestor, we've come regarding our sons.”

Hearing this, the black-robed servant glanced at the Mountain Ancestor and noted no sign of him turning.

Thus, he pressed: “The Mountain Ancestor commands the sun and moon, overseeing countless matters—must your sons' issues also demand his attention?”

His words held a subtle rebuke.

The dragon-shaped mask's eye slits seemed to gleam with an eerie light, fixing upon the three.

A bone-deep chill seized them, as though their bodies or primordial spirits were invaded by an unseen force, overwhelming them with terror!

The Domain Masters of Earth Gold and Vine Wood Realms—Jin Guanghua and Mu Qingtian—remained silent, too afraid to utter a word.

Only Fan City managed to respond, after all, he held a rank among the top fifty generals under the Mountain Ancestor's banner.

“This subordinate dares not!”

Cold sweat beaded on Fan City's brow, yet he didn't dare wipe it away.

Dread clawed at his heart; had the dragon-masked servant's cultivation reached an invincible realm?

During his earlier audience with the Mountain Ancestor, this servant hadn't projected such overwhelming pressure!

Fan City felt a pang of regret in that moment; had he known beforehand, he wouldn't have burdened the Mountain Ancestor this way.

Still, emotions surged within him; though stern with underlings, the Mountain Ancestor cherished his offspring above all.

Moreover, with his two sworn brothers, all three had lost their sole heirs at once—he couldn't hold back, determined to beseech the Mountain Ancestor for a resurrection divine artifact.

Besides, he burned with urgency to avenge himself against Ning Qi without delay.

“Allow them to proceed.”

Abruptly, the Mountain Ancestor interjected.

“Understood!” The dragon-masked servant acknowledged, then added, “Go on.”

The three sensed relief like a pardon from execution, the oppressive weight from the servant lifting at once.

Jin Guanghua and Mu Qingtian still held their tongues, relying on Fan City to voice their plea.

Fan City wasted no time, declaring forthwith: “Mountain Ancestor endures eternally; this subordinate seeks the Divine Artifact to resurrect our three fallen sons.”

The dragon-masked servant intoned coldly: “Make it clear, every detail!”

“Yes!”

With that, Fan City wove a heartrending narrative.

He described how the sons of the three had fearlessly plunged into the spiritual realm war to serve the Mountain and Sea Realm, laboring desperately to clinch an early triumph in the spirit realm war by whatever means.

Yet, they crossed paths with a figure named Ning Qi, a lowly prodigy.

This Ning Qi disregarded rank and privilege, neglecting to warn their sons before the inter-realm clash, leading to their demise at the hands of Vast Realm's three mighty armies—one seized, the others abducted.

All the details stemmed from intelligence provided by the Mountain and Sea Realm Will.

Curiously, the Mountain and Sea Realm Will held nothing back, revealing the full truth to the three without concealment.

Thus, Fan City clenched his jaw as he detailed how Ning Qi, clearly able to rescue their captured sons, instead struck them down with a single palm right before Vast Realm's cultivators.

He recounted the tale with raw passion, tears streaming down, while the two beside him sobbed uncontrollably.

“This subordinate implores the Mountain Ancestor to bestow the Divine Artifact for reviving our sons. Furthermore, we hope the Mountain Ancestor will censure the insolent Ning Qi!”